The application of redemption

Whereby men labour to put by the stroke of the truth, ¹that either it shall not hit at least not wound, either not touch them, or not trouble them, it is they FORGET their duty wholly and therefore did it not. The throng of business pressed in upon them, and that something unexpectedly, did distract them, that crowd of occasions coming in like a mighty sea did so take up their thoughts & surprise and hurry them, they remember not what they should do and therefore did not perform what they ought, it was the slip of a mans memory, no such great matter, nor will be so sadly charged upon a man they hope, It were hard if it should, It was but my forgetfulness. But? forget thy duty man? what couldest² thou say more wherein thou mayest aggravate thy fault in a most heavy manner? Is not this the express will of God, that a man should do with all his might what his hand finds to do Eccles. 9. 10. That he should abide in the calling unto which God hath called him, 1 Cor. 7. 20. Is not this the great errand of a mans life, the end why we came into the world to do Gods will? the only charge that is laid upon us by the Almighty, we ⟨p. 135⟩are not charged to be rich or honourable, to gain the profits and pleasures of this world, there is not such a […] to be seen in the whole Bible; thou only livest to discharge thy duty, if thou forgettest that, thou forgettest why thou livest, and the very excuse is a far greater sin than that was which thou didst seem to excuse, and thy punishment will be answerable when out of thine own mouth thou wilt be condemned. As it was said to him in the story, when the Prophet in his own person would discover the Kings carelessness, to him he disguised himself as the King passed by, and so passed by him and said; 1 Kings, 20. 39. Thy […] went out into the midst of the […], and […] a man brought a man to me, saying, Keep this man, if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, and as thy servant was […] here and there, he was gone; and the […] of Israel said, so shall thy judgment, thy self hath decided it. Let me speak to thee in a like manner. The Lord hath given thee his holy commands in charge, the Grace of God, the Gospel of Grace which hath appeared and which bringeth Salvation teacheth men to deny ungodly & unworldly lusts, & to live Godly & soberly in this present evil world, & to be Zealous of good works, 2 Titus, 13. 14.