A sermon of judgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Major and aldermen…A sermon of iudgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Maior and aldermen…

To the Ignorant, or Careless Reader.

Seeing the Providence of God hath commanded forth this plain Discourse, I shall hope (upon experience of his dealing in the like cases, with me) that he hath some work for it to do in the world. Who knows but it was intended for the saving of thy soul by opening thine eyes and awaking thee from thy sin, who art now in Reading of it! Be it known to thee, it is the certain Truth of God, and of high concernment to thy soul that it treateth of; and therefore requireth thy most sober Consideration. Thou hast in it (how weakly soever it is managed ⟨image 12⟩by me) an advantage put into thy hand from God, to help thee in the greatest work in the world, even to prepare for the great approaching Judgement. In the name of Go•, I require thee, cast not away this advantage: Turn no away thine ears or heart from this warning that is sent to thee from the living God! Seeing all the world cannot keep thee from judgement, nor save thee in Judgement: let not all the world be able to keep thee from a speedy and serious preparation for it. Do it presently, lest God come before thou are ready! Do it seriously, lest the Tempter over-reach thee, and thou shouldest be found among the foolish self-deceivers, when it is too late to do it better. I entreat this of thee on the behalf of thy soul, and as thou tenderest thy everlasting Peace with God, that thou wouldest afford these matters thy deepest Consideration. ⟨image 12⟩Think on them, whether they are not True, and weighty: Think of them lying down and rising up. And seeing this small Book is fallen into thy hands, all that I would beg of thee concerning it, is, that thou wouldest bestow now and then an hour to read it, and read it to thy family or friends as well as to thy self: and as you go Consider what you read, and Pray the Lord to help it to thy heart, and to assist thee in the Practise, that it may not rise up in Judgement against thee. If thou have not leisure at other, take now and then an hour on the Lords days, or at a night to that purpose, and if any passage through brevity (specially near the beginning) seem dark to thee, Read it again, and again, and ask the help of an Instructor, that thou mayest understand it. May it but help thee out of the snares of sin, and promote the saving of thy Immortal