The application of redemption

Though it were a sharp, yet it was a sure & safe word that I have often heard, but would never receive, It were better to cut off my hand & to pluck out mine eye and to enter lame and maimed into the Kingdom of Heaven, lame and maimed in comforts and credit, and carnal and sensual delights, than to have […] these and go to hell, where the worm never dyes and the fire never goes out, and now my Conscience confesseth it is so, Lord where was my mind that could not ⟨p. 398⟩see this? how hard and senseless my heart that could not be affected with this? the sinner thus wounded, his hand is ever upon the sore, his eye upon his distemper, as the extreme danger that hangs over his head, and the deadliest enemy that is in pursuit of his soul; he sleeps & wakes & eats, and drinks with this, as his daily diet, & a standing dish; carries it up and down as his daily companion, Psal. 51. 3. My sin is ever before me; listen to him when he sighs out his prayers in secret, ye shall observe his complaints run upon this, confer with him, enquire of his condition, his speech ever returns to this point, and all his questions lead still to the discovery of the loathsomeness of his rebellions. As it is with a commander or General of the field when he sees the enemy come on furiously, his numbers many, his power great, his soldiers skilful and courageous so that he sees ally at stake, the shock is like to be sudden & fierce, either conquer all or loose all; A prudent commander seeing where the stress of the battle and the strength of the enemy lies, and the safety or ruin of the whole consists; he leaves the thoughts of comforts, conveniences, wife and family, the profits and privileges which he hath formerly enjoyed and prized; bends all his thoughts, exerciseth the utmost of all his […] now to defeat the enemy how to encounter him, how to overcome him, and this takes up the whole mind and the whole man, its vain to attend other things when the neglect of the enemies approach is the loss and overthrow of all. So it is with a broken hearted Christian when the numberless company of those hellish abominations of heart and life, lay siege against and threaten his everlasting ruin, either he must destroy them or they will undoubtedly destroy his comforts; he leaves the consideration of other things and looks to the main chance.

Though it were a sharp, yet it was a sure & safe word that I have often heard, but would never receive, It were better to cut off my hand & to pluck out mine eye and to enter lame and maimed into the Kingdom of Heaven, lame and maimed in comforts and credit, and carnal and sensual delights, than to have these and go to hell, where the worm never dyes and the fire never goes out, and now my Conscience confesseth it is so, Lord where was my mind that could not