The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

AND now is our greatest work yet behind;¹ the improvement of so momentous a truth to the affecting and transforming of hearts. That (if the Lord shall so far vouchsafe his assistance and blessing) they may taste the sweetness, feel the power, and bear the impress and image of it. This is the work both of greatest necessity, difficulty, and excellency, and unto which all that hath been done hitherto is but subservient, and introductive. Give me leave therefore, Reader, to stop thee here, and demand of thee ere thou go further, hast thou any design in turning over these leaves of bettering thy Spirit? of getting a more refined, heavenly ⟨p. 186⟩temper of soul, art thou weary of thy dross, and earth, and longing for the first fruits the beginnings of glory? dost thou wish for a soul meet for the blessedness hitherto described! What is here written, is designed for thy help, and furtherance. But if thou art looking on these pages, with a wanton, rolling eye, hunting for novelties, or what may gratify a prurient wit, a coy and squeamish fancy; Go, read a Romance, or some piece of Drollery; know here's nothing for thy turn; and dread to meddle with matters of everlasting concernment without a serious Spirit;² read not another line till thou have sighed out this request, Lord keep me from trifling with the things of Eternity. Charge thy soul to consider, that what thou art now reading must be added to thy account against the great day. 'Tis amazing to think with what vanity of mind the most weighty things of Religion are entertained amongst Christians. Things that should swallow up our souls, drink up our Spirits, are heard as a tale that is told, disregarded by most, scorned by too many. What can be spoken so important, or of so tremendous consequence, or of so confessed truth, or with so awful solemnity, and premised mention of the sacred name of the Lord, as not to find either a very slight entertainment or contemptuous rejection? and this by persons avowing themselves Christians! We seem to have little or no advantage in urging men upon their own principles, and with things they most readily and professedly assent to. Their hearts ⟨p. 187⟩are as much untouched, and void of impression by the Christian Doctrine, as if they were of another Religion. How unlike is the Christian world to the Christian Doctrine!