The Saints' Everlasting Rest

¹I Would not have bestowed this time and labour in urging you with all these fore-going Considerations, but that I know how backward man is to this duty. And though I am certain that these Motives have weight of Reason in them, yet experience of mens unreasonableness in things of this Nature, doth make me Jealous, lest you should lay by the Book when you have read all this, as if you had done, and never set your selves to the practise of the duty. Reader, Thou seest the Case in hand is of greatest moment: It is to know, Whether thou shalt Everlastingly live in Heaven or Hell? If thou hast lived hitherto in dark uncertainty, it is a pitiful case: but if thou wilfully continue so, thy Madness is unexpressible: And is it not wilfully, when a through Trial might help thee to be Resolved, and thou wilt not be persuaded to be at so much pains? What sayest thou now? Art thou fully resolved to fall upon the Work? Shall all this labour that I have bestowed in persuading thee be lost, or no? If thou wilt not obey, I would thou hadst never read these lines, that they might not have aggravated thy guilt, and silenced thee in Judgment. I here put this special Request to thee in behalf of thy Soul; nay I lay this charge upon thee in the Name of the Lord, That thou defer no longer, but take the next opportunity that thou canst have, and take thy Heart to task in good earnest, and think with thy self, Is it so Easy, so Common, and so Dangerous to be Mistaken? Are there so many wrong ways? Is the heart so guileful? Why then do I not search into every corner? and ply this work till I know my state? Must I so shortly undergo the Trial at the Bar of Christ? And do I not presently fall on Trying my self? Why what a case were I in if I should then miscarry? May I know by a little diligent Enquiry now? and do I stick at the labour? And here set thy self to the duty.— Object. But it may be thou wilt say, I know not how to do it. Ans. That is the next Work that I come to, to give thee Directions herein: but, alas, it will be in Vain if thou be not resolved to practise them. Wilt thou therefore before thou goest any further here promise before the Lord, to set thy self (to thy power) upon the speedy performing of the duty according to these Directions which I shall lay down from the Word? I demand nothing unreasonable or impossible