forget not that he hath laid claim to you, and to all that you have, and all that you can have, and all that you can ⟨image 7⟩do I am bold with all possible earnestness, to entreat you, yea as Christs Minister to require you, in his Name, to study and remember his business and interest; and see that it have the chief place in all your consultations: Watch against the encroachments of your own carnal interests, consult not with flesh and blood, nor give it the hearing when it shall offer you its advice. How subtly will it insinuate, how importunately will it urge you, how certainly will it mar all, if you do not constantly and resolvedly watch! O how hard, but now happy is it to conquer this carnal self: Remember still that you are not your own, that you have an unseen Master that must be pleased, whoever be displeased; and an unseen Kingdom to be obtained, and an invisible soul that must be saved, though all the world be lost. Fix your eye still on him that made and redeemed you, and upon the ultimate end of your Christian race; and do nothing wilfully, unworthy such a Master, and such an end. Often renew your self-resignation, ⟨image 7⟩and devote your self to him; sit close at his work, and be sure that it be His, both in the Matter, and in your Intent. If Conscience should at any time ask, (Whose work are you now doing?) or a man should pluck you by the sleeve, and say, (Sir, Whose Cause are you now pleading?) See that you have the answer of a Christian at hand; delay not Gods work till you have done your own, or any ones else: You'll best secure the Common-wealth and your own interest, by looking first to His. By neglecting this, and being carnally wise, we have wheeled about so long in the Wilderness, and lost those advantages against the Powers of Darkness, which we know not whether we shall ever recover again. It is the great astonishment of sober men, and not the least reproach that ever was cast on our holy Profession, to think with what a zeal for the work of Christ, men seemed to be animated in the beginning of our disagreements; and how deeply they did engage themselves to him in solemn Vows, Protestations, and ⟨image 8⟩Covenants; & what advantages carnal self hath since got, and turned the stream another way! so that the same men have since been the instruments of our calamity, in breaking in pieces, and dishonouring the Churches of Christ;
forget not that he hath laid claim to you, and to all that you have, and all that you can have, and all that you can ⟨image 7⟩do I am bold with all possible earnestness, to entreat you, yea as Christs Minister to require you, in his Name, to study and remember his business and interest; and see that it have the chief place in all your consultations: Watch against the incroachments of your own carnal interests, consult not with flesh and blood, nor give it the hearing when it shall offer you its advice. How subtilly will it insinuate, how importunately will it urge you, how certainly will it marr all, if you do not constantly and resolvedly watch! O how hard, but now happy is it to conquer this carnal self: Remember still that you are not your own, that you have an unseen Master that must be pleased, whoever be displeased; and an unseen Kingdom to be obtained, and an invisible soul that must be saved, though all the world be lost. Fix your eye still on him that made and redeemed you, and upon the ultimate end of your Christian race; and do nothing wilfully, unworthy such a Master, and such an end. Often renew your self-resignation, ⟨image 7⟩and devote your self to him; sit close at his work, and be sure that it be His, both in the Matter, and in your Intent. If Conscience should at any time ask, (Whose work are you now doing?) or a man should pluck you by the sleeve, and say, (Sir, Whose Cause are you now pleading?) See that you have the answer of a Christian at hand; delay not Gods work till you have done your own, or any ones else: You'l best secure the Common-wealth and your own interest, by looking first to His. By neglecting this, and being carnally wise, we have wheel'd about so long in the Wilderness, and lost those advantages against the Powers of Darkness, which we know not whether we shall ever recover again. It is the great astonishment of sober men, and not the least reproach that ever was cast on our holy Profession, to think with what a zeal for the work of Christ, men seemed to be animated in the beginning of our disagreements; and how deeply they did engage themselves to him in solemn Vows, Protestations, and ⟨image 8⟩Covenants; & what advantages carnal self hath since got, and turned the stream another way! so that the same men have since been the instruments of our calamity, in breaking in pieces, and dishonouring the Churches of Christ;
