The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

and this sufficiency God gives not in an immediate way, but by appointed means, which he requireth their care to make use of (as he did the Israelites ⟨p. 41⟩hands, to gather and bake their Manna) and so by blessing his means, and their care in using of it, their Spiritual life is preserved and nourished unto Eternal life. Now, when any shall thus extend his care to the use of all appointed means, and intend the faculties of his Soul industriously (as he ought) in the use of them, and shall have continued some considerable time in this exercise; then, and not till then, will he be a competent judge, to tell us whether it be a slighty business, to be a Christian indeed or not.

Secondly, A few words to those who will acknowledge the labour of Christianity to be great; but that is it which is their discouragement, and scares them from entering into that service, which will cost so much pains, and bring so much trouble. I shall leave some Considerations to be pondered by them, which, I hope, may ease them of this too deep an apprehension of the Christians labour.

Secondly, A few words to those who will acknowledge the labour of Christianity to be great; but that is it which is their discouragement, and scares them from entring into that service, which will cost so much pains, and bring so much trouble. I shall leave some Considerations to be pondered by them, which, I hope, may ease them of this too deep an apprehension of the Christians labour.

First, Christianity, 'tis confessed, is a ⟨p. 42⟩labour, but a necessary labour; it is not, indeed, the part of a wise man, to labour, or hazard much for that he little needs; yet for such things is it (God knows) that most men bestow their greatest toil and travel; to obtain that which they may have (specie aut valour) and spare this their pains also; as Cyneas told Pyrrhus, when he said, after such and such Kingdoms Conquered by him, then we will sit down and live a merry life. But why, quoth Cyneas, may we not do that already without all this trouble? I confess (considering the present frame of Carnal mens hearts) they are under a kind of necessity of what they inordinately desire. The Covetous man must have his Gold, the Voluptuous man his Pleasures; or else they cannot enjoy themselves: but this necessity is no other than that of a Dropsy man, for his unmeasurable drinking; for was this mans disease, and the other mans lusts purged out, both their necessities would cease alike; but Heaven is absolutely necessary to