A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

What shall we do? Take these Directions.

1. Get a sense of your dead and lost Condition by Nature. The killing Letter makes way for the Word of Life: The Law shows us that we are dead, and then we enquire after the way of Life and Salvation. The Son of Man came to seek, and to save that which was lost, Luke 19.10. We must be lost in our own sense and feeling, before we can be saved. It is very notable, that only those that were pricked in Heart, said, What shall we do to be saved? Acts 2.37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their Heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? So Paul, Acts 9.6. And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? So the Jailer, Acts 16.29, 30. He came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? Till we are pinched in Conscience, we trouble our selves with other Questions. As the Disciples had many superfluous Questions, John 9.2. Master, who did sin, this Man, or his Parents, that he was born blind? and nice Disputes, Acts 1.6. Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel? they were taken up with terrene Expectations. Such a Question Peter propounded to Christ, John 21.21. Lord, and what shall this Man do? But when we are soundly humbled, we say, Lord, what must I do to be saved? I see I am a lost Creature; an hunger-bitten Beggar will seek Relief. Such Questions are rare now, because the Law has not a kindly Work. Men think the Gate of Heaven wide, and the Way easy to find, they never came to see how far off they were. But those that know themselves to be lost, are inquisitive after a Remedy, and more pliable to God's Counsel; O, where is the Word of Salvation? what shall we do? They are ready to submit to any Terms God shall prescribe. Others make dry Confessions of Sin, and give in a Narrative, but are not so solicitous about the Remedies and Redresses: but poor wounded Spirits, that are sensible of their Misery by Nature, say, Good Sir, show us the way; let God write down what Articles he pleaseth, we would be glad to subscribe to them. Bonds of Iniquity are much more sure than Bonds of Duty.