Three treatises tending to awaken secure sinners

But it is yet a closer application which I intend. Though we are, not our own, yet every mans welfare should he so dear to himself, that methinks every man of you should presently enquire how far you are concerned, in the business which we have in hand. I'll tell you how far. The Case here described is all our own. ⟨p. 20⟩We are bought with a price, and therefore not our own, and therefore must live to him that bought us. We must do it, or else we violate our Allegiance, and are Traitors to our Redeemer. We must do it, or else we shall perish as despisers of his blood. It is no matter of indifferency, nor a duty which may be dispensed with. That God who is our Owner by Creation and Redemption,, and who doth hitherto keep our souls in these bodies by whose mere will and power you are all here alive before him this day, will shortly call you before his bar, where these matters will be more seriously and searchingly enquired after. The great, Question of the day will then be this, Whether you have bin heartily devoted to your Redeemer, and lived to him? or to your carnal selves? Upon the resolution of this Question, your everlasting Salvation or Damnation will depend. What think you then? Should not this Question be now put home, by every rational Hearer to his own heart? But I suppose some will say, There is no man that wholly lives to God, for all are sinners: how then can our Salvation depend so much on this? I answer in a word: Though no man pay God all that he oweth him, yet no man shall be saved, that giveth him not the preeminence. He will own none as true Subjects, that do not cordially own him in ⟨p. 21⟩his Sovereignty. Be it known to you all, there shall not a man of you enter into his kingdom, nor ever see his face in peace, that giveth him not the chiefest room in your hearts, and maketh not his work your chiefest business. He will be no underling or servant to your flesh. He will be served with the Best, if he cannot have All And in this sense it is that I say the Question will be put, in that great day, by the Judge of all, Whether God or our carnal selves were preferred? and whether we lived to him that bought us, or to our flesh? Beloved Hearers!

But it is yet a closer application which I intend. Though we are, not our own, yet every mans welfare should he so dear to himself, that methinks every man of you should presently enquire how far you are concerned, in the business which we have in hand. I'le tell you how far. The Case here described is all our own.