The travels of true godliness, from the beginning of the world to this present…

Besides all this, Consideration, to induce him to open to True Godliness, bid him ask his Soul where it was, what it was a doing, and whither it was a going? First, He endeavoured to show him where his Soul now was, and made it out by the help of Gods Word, that it was in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity, being under the Law, and Curse of God, both in respect of Original and Actual Sin; he having not yet closed with Christ, nor received True Godliness. Secondly, Then as to what he was a doing; he bid him see if he did not neglect that one thing needful. Have you, said Consideration, made Religion your chief business since you come to live in this place? Have you not rather spent too much of your time about Notions and airy Speculations? Thirdly, Whither are you a going? said he: Are you fit (being well prepared) to die? Are you a going the way to Heaven? Sure that cannot be, unless you receive True Godliness; for I have heard that he consists in a right Faith, as well as in a holy Life. Oh what Cost, Labour, Pains, Means, Motives and Arguments hath God used to make men sensible of the everlasting interest of their Souls, and to engage them to a serious preparation for another World. And this serious preparation must necessarily be ⟨p. 112⟩a through Work of Regeneration, Faith and spotless conversation; for the Nature of the Means (saith he) must ever be suitable and agreeable to the Nature of the End. And Heaven being a holy place, nothing but perfect Holiness reigning there, so it was impossible to enter into it hereafter, without a considerable progress was made in Holiness here; and that it was not to be thought a man could reach to the highest step of a Ladder without ascending the lowermost first. Who (said he) ever hoped for a Crop of Corn without sowing any) or expected to reap Wheat, and sowed nothing but Tares? He laid also before him the Nature and Holiness of God, his infinite hatred of sin, and great severity against all unbelieving and impenitent Souls, together with the perfect knowledge he had of the hearts, thoughts and ways of the Children of men; together with his dreadful Judgments, Commands, Threats, and precious Promises. He brought to his mind also the evil of Sin, showing him what an abominable thing it was for men to seek to please, obey, and do the will of the Devil, and offend, disobey, and cross the will of God.

Besides all this, Consideration, to induce him to open to True Godliness, bid him ask his Soul where it was, what it was a doing, and whither it was a going? First, He endeavoured to shew him where his Soul now was, and made it out by the help of Gods Word, that it was in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity, being under the Law, and Curse of God, both in respect of Original and Actual Sin; he having not yet clos'd with Christ, nor received True Godliness. Secondly, Then as to what he was a doing; he bid him see if he did not neglect that one thing needful. Have you, said Consideration, made Religion your chief business since you come to live in this place? Have you not rather spent too much of your time about Notions and airy Speculations? Thirdly, Whither are you a going? said he: Are you fit (being well prepared) to die? Are you a going the way to Heaven? Sure that cannot be, unless you receive True Godliness; for I have heard that he consists in a right Faith, as well as in a holy Life. Oh what Cost, Labour, Pains, Means, Motives and Arguments hath God used to make men sensible of the everlasting interest of their Souls, and to engage them to a serious preparation for another World. And this serious preparation must necessarily be