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…

THE tenth Direction. Do all your works as men that must be judged for them. It is not enough (at least in point of Duty and Comfort) that you Judge this preparation in General to be the main business of your lives, but you should also order your particular Actions by these Thoughts, and measure them by their Respects to this approaching day. Before you venture on them, enquire whether they will bear weight in Judgement, and be sweet or bitter when they are ⟨p. 274⟩brought to trial? Both for matter and manner, this must be observed. Oh that you would Remember this when Temptations are upon you. When you are Tempted to give up your minds to the world, and drown your selves in earthly cares, will you bethink you soberly whether you would hear of this at Judgement? and whether the world will be then as sweet as now? and whether this be the best preparation for your Trial? When you are Tempted to be Drunk or to spend your precious time in Ale-houses, or vain unprofitable company, or at Cards or Dice, or any sinful or needless sports; bethink you then, Whether this will be comfortable at the Reckoning? and whether time be no more worth to one that is so near eternity, and must make so strict an ⟨p. 275⟩account of his Hours? and whether there be not many better works before you, in which you might spend your time to your greater advantage, and to your greater comfort when it comes to a Review? When you are tempted to wantonness, fornication, or any other fleshly intemperance, bethink you soberly, with what face these Actions will appear at Judgement, and whether they will be then pleasant or displeasant to you•? So when you are tempted to neglect the daily worshipping of God in your families, and the Catechizing and Teaching of your children or servants, especially on the Lords Day, bethink your selves then, what account you will give of this to Christ? when he that entrusted you with the care of your children and servants, shall call ⟨p. 276⟩you to a reckoning for the performance of that trust?

THE tenth Direction. Do all your works as men that must be judged for them. It is not enough (at least in point of Duty and Comfort) that you Judge this preparation in General to be the main business of your lives, but you should also order your particular Actions by these Thoughts, and measure them by their Respects to this approaching day. Before you venture on them, enquire whether they will bear weight in Judgement, and be sweet or bitter when they are