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

O love me, who would lead thee into Christ's bosom, and cause thee to sit in heavenly places, make thee to triumph with Seraphims, and sit down with thy glorified Redeemer upon the Throne of God for evermore. Is it possible such a friend should fare no better than my great Master, have no place where to lay his ⟨p. 120⟩head? Is it possible men should deal with me and my poor Friend Consideration as the Inhabitants of Sodom did deal with the three heavenly Messengers that entered into Lot's house, viz. quarrel with us, abuse us, and offer violence to us, show their spleen against us, who seek to preserve them from being consumed, and who whilst we are with them, stay the hand of Heaven from falling upon them, the hand of the destroying Angel, that they perish not, and endeavour to make them for ever happy, possessing all true felicity, and free them from all misery. Does not every man desire after that which is good? Was ever any man in love with Torment? Is it not every ones Interest to study how to prevent it? Why then sure, Thoughtful, Consideration cannot but have thy affection, unless thou dost contemn Rivers of Pleasure, inconceivable Glory, even the inexhaustible Riches of both Worlds, and choosest rather Anguish, Death, Hell, and sulphurous Smoke and Flames for thy Portion.¹ And now to take off what Difficulty says against entertaining of Consideration, he basely insinuates, that to muse and ponder upon the great concerns of Godliness, and another World, is a hard and difficult Work. Whereas to undertake great and hazardous, and dangerous Achievements, for worldly advantages, this is notwithstanding presently undertook; men do not care how difficult the work is if it be but profitable; and shall this be a stumbling block in thy way? What will not men call difficult, if they have no mind to it? How should some Houses be built, Bridges over great Rivers be ⟨p. 121⟩made, Fields be sowed, and dangerous Voyages to Sea be undertaken? Shall the Carpenter say, O 'tis difficult; and the Husbandman say, O 'tis difficult; and the Mariner say, 'tis difficult, and so lay it all aside? Nay, Is it not sad that bloody Papists, and other wicked enemies of the Gospel, should not think any thing too hard and difficult to undertake to suppress and destroy Godliness?