Three treatises tending to awaken secure sinners

13. Lastly consider, When judgement comes, enquiry will be made, whether you have lived as your own, or as his that bought you: then he will require his own with improvement, Luke 19. 23. The great business of that day will be, not so much to search after particular sins, or duties, which were contrary to the scope of heart and life; but to know whether you lived to God, or to your flesh; whether your time, and care, and wealth, were ⟨p. 51⟩expended for Christ in his members and interest? or for your carnal selves, Mat. 25. In as much as you did it not to these, you did it not to him. You that Christ hath given Authority to, shall then be accountable, whether you improved it to his advantage? You that he hath given honour to, must then give account, whether you improved it to his honour? In the fear of God, Sirs, cast up your accounts in time, and bethink you what answer will then stand good: It will be a doleful hearing to a guilty soul, when Christ shall say, I gave thee thirty or forty years time: thy flesh had so much in eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and labouring, in idleness and vain talking, and recreations, and other vanities; but where was my part? how much was laid out for the promoting of my glory? I lent you so much of the wealth of the world; so much was spent on your backs, and so much on your bellies, so much on costly toys, or superfluities, so much in revengeful suits and contentions, and so much was left for your posterity; but where was my part? how much was laid out to further the Gospel, and to relieve the souls or the bodies of your brethren? I gave thee a family, and committed them to thy care to govern them for me, and fit them for my service: but how didst thou perform it? O Brethren, ⟨p. 52⟩bethink you in time what answer to make to such Interrogatories; your judge hath told you, that your doom must then pass according as you have improved your talents for him; and that he that hideth his Talent, though he give God his own, shall be cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 25▪ 30. How easily will Christ then evince his right in you, and convince you that it was your duty to have lived unto him? Do you think sirs, that you shall then have the face to say, I thought Lord, that I had been made and redeemed for my self?