Here then is a Touch-stone by which you may examine your selves: Here is a Balance of the Sanctuary, wherein you may weigh your graces, and see whether they be light or no. It is one of the vainest and most foolish things in the world for men to cheat themselves of eternal happiness. We ⟨image 5⟩count it folly for a man to suffer himself to be cheated in a bargain, and yet what is lost in one bargain may be regained in another. But here he that is cheated, is cheated irrecoverably. The loss of the soul is irreparable. Precious is the redemption of souls, and it ceaseth for ever. And yet there is a strange stupidity among the sons of men, whereby they are willing to be deceived, and juggled out of their soul-happiness. They are willing to rest themselves upon any groundless presumption, though it be so weak that they dare not put it to trial in their own hearts, themselves being Judges. O all you poor deluded souls! How long will you love vanity, and follow 1after lies? When you may go a sure way, why will you run a hazard? Awake therefore O thou that sleepest, and seriously betake thy self to this ⟨image 5⟩weighty, necessary and profitable duty of examination; and in this work we hope this Treatise will be useful and acceptable; which if it be done, and the other branch not left undone, the Authors desire in preaching is satisfied, and our expectation in publishing answered; and that both those ends may be obtained, is the earnest desire of
Here then is a Touch-stone by which you may examine your selves: Here is a Balance of the Sanctuary, wherein you may weigh your graces, and see whether they be light or no. It is one of the vainest and most foolish things in the world for men to cheat themselves of eternall happinesse. We ⟨image 5⟩count it folly for a man to suffer himself to be cheated in a bargain, and yet what is lost in one bargain may be regained in another. But here he that is cheated, is cheated irrecoverably. The losse of the soul is irreparable. Precious is the redemption of souls, and it ceaseth for ever. And yet there is a strange stupidity among the sons of men, whereby they are willing to be deceived, and jugled out of their soul-happinesse. They are willing to rest themselves upon any groundlesse presumption, though it be so weak that they dare not put it to triall in their own hearts, themselves being Judges. O all you poor deluded souls! How long will you love vanity, and follow 1after lies? When you may go a sure way, why will you run a hazard? Awake therefore O thou that sleepest, and seriously betake thy self to this ⟨image 5⟩weighty, necessary and profitable duty of examination; and in this work we hope this Treatise will be usefull and acceptable; which if it be done, and the other branch not left undone, the Authors desire in preaching is satisfied, and our expectation in publishing answered; and that both those ends may be obtained, is the earnest desire of
- 1Psal. 4.
