Two treatises tending to awaken secure sinners viz., 1. The terror of the day…

To the Ignorant or Careless Reader.

Seeing the Providence of God hath commanded forth these plain Discourses, I shall hope (upon Experience of his dealing in the like Cases with me) that he hath some work for them to do in the World. Who knows but they were intended for the saving of thy Soul, by opening thine Eyes, and awaking thee from thy Sin, who art now in reading of them! Be it known to thee it is the certain Truth of God, and of high Concernment to thy Soul that they treat of, and therefore require thy most sober Consideration. Thou hast in them (how weakly soever managed 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 Judgment, and not to slight Christ and his Gospel. In the Name of God, I require thee cast not away this Advantage: Turn not 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 Judgment, 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 art ready. Do it seriously, lest the Tempter over-reach thee, and thou shouldst ⟨image 3⟩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 th• und•••st thy everlasting Peace with God, that […] wouldest afford these Matters thy deepest Consideration. 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 wouldst 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 to the Lord to help it to thy Heart, and to assist thee in the Practice, that it may not rise up in Judgment against thee. If thou have not leisure at other, take now and then an Hour on the Lord's Days, or at Night to that purpose: and if any Passage through brevity (specially near th• 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 Soul, and thy Comfortable Appearance at the great Day of Christ, I have the thing which I intended and desired.