Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

Let me say this to you, and to my self (and I pray consider of it) the more frequently and seriously we do think on Christ crucified, and what Christ did leave and forsake for us, the more willing shall we be to leave and forsake any worldly interest for Jesus Christ. I should think thus: What, shall Christ leave his Heaven for me, and shall not I leave my Earth for him? What, shall Jesus Christ leave the bosom of his Father, and that sweet Relation for me, and shall not I leave the bosom of my Relation for him! What, shall Jesus Christ suffer for me a cursed death, and shall not I be willing to suffer a blessed death for him? The Death of Christ hath blessed our death: Christ hath suffered a cursed death for us, and our death is made blessed by the death of Christ. And shall Christ suffer a cursed death for me, and shall not I be willing to suffer a blessed death for him? Think much of what Christ left for you, and then you will be willing to forsake any worldly interest for him. Fifthly, Get your hearts filled with the divine sweetnesses of the Ordinances. O Lord, saith Austin, when once thy sweetness came into my Soul, how sweet was it to me to want my own sweetnesses! Oh! when the sweetnesses of God shall come into our Souls, this begets Love; and much water cannot quench Love. Go therefore and labour to get your hearts filled with Divine sweetnesses. Sixthly, Whatsoever you do now in a way of service, do it because your Father wills it. If you ⟨p. 90⟩do therefore serve God now because your Father wills it; then when you come to suffer, you will willingly suffer, because your Father wills it. So that now, use your selves to this, to serve all your service upon this score, because my Father wills it. Seventhly, Take heed that you do not stand lessening of a sin, or of an error, and greatening of a suffering. What's the reason that many are so unwilling to suffer? The reason on't is this: they lessen the error and the sin in the yielding; and they aggravate and greaten the suffering. O saith one, Is this a great matter, to yield in such a thing as this! 'tis an indifferent thing; but if I don't yield, I am undone for ever. But take heed of this, that you do not lessen the sin, and aggravate your suffering: for you will never be willing to suffer for the name of Christ, if this be your way.

Let me say this to you, and to my self (and I pray consider of it) the more frequently and seriously we do think on Christ crucified, and what Christ did leave and forsake for us, the more willing shall we be to leave and forsake any worldly interest for Jesus Christ. I should think thus: What, shall Christ leave his Heaven for me, and shall not I leave my Earth for him? What, shall Jesus Christ leave the bosome of his Father, and that sweet Relation for me, and shall not I leave the bosome of my Relation for him! What, shall Jesus Christ suffer for me a cursed death, and shall not I be willing to suffer a blessed death for him? The Death of Christ hath blessed our death: Christ hath suffered a cursed death for us, and our death is made blessed by the death of Christ. And shall Christ suffer a cursed death for me, and shall not I be willing to suffer a blessed death for him? Think much of what Christ left for you, and then you will be willing to forsake any worldly interest for him. Fifthly, Get your hearts filled with the divine sweetnesses of the Ordinances. O Lord, saith Austin, when once thy sweetness came into my Soul, how sweet was it to me to want my own sweetnesses! Oh! when the sweetnesses of God shall come into our Souls, this begets Love; and much water cannot quench Love. Go therefore and labour to get your hearts filled with Divine sweetnesses. Sixthly, Whatsoever you do now in a way of service, do it because your Father wills it. If you