The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Reverend Brethren! if other men can rise early, go to b•d late, and eat the bread of carefulness, spend their lives and strength to do their own work, and propagate their own conceptions, under a pretence of doing the work of God: if the envious man watcheth all night and waits all advantages to sow his tares, how will you be able to lift up your hands with joy, and behold your Masters face with boldness at his coming, if having received such eminent Abilities, endowments, and furnishments from him, for his service, and the service of his sheep and lambs, as you have done, you gird not up the loins of your minds, and lay not out your strength to the uttermost, for the weeding out of the field and vineyard of the Lord every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted, and for feeding the flock of Christ with sincere milk, and strong meat according as they are able to bear▪ what you have received, more then others, is of free grace, which is God's way of dealing with them, on whom he lays the most unconquerable, and indispensable obligation unto service. Flesh and blood hath not revealed unto you the truth of God, which you do profess ⟨image 5⟩but our Father which is in heaven; you do not upon any endeavour of your own, differ from them who are given up to the sore Judgment and ever to be bewailed condition before mentioned. It hath not been from your own endeavours or watchfulness, that you have been hitherto preserved under the hour of temptation; which is come to try the men that live upon the face of the earth. It is not of your selves, that you are not industriously disturbing your own souls and others, with this, or that entrenchment upon the doctrine of the Gospel, and the free Grace of God in Jesus Christ, which not a few pride themselves in, with the contempt of all otherwise minded. And doth not the present state of things, require the full disbursing of all, that you have freely received for the glory of him, from whom you have received it? You are persons who not only as Doctors & Teachers in an University, have a large, distinct, disciplinary knowledge of Divinity; but also such as to whom the Son of God is come, and hath given an understanding to know him that is true: into whose hearts God hath shined to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ; & therefore may say, what shall we render to the Lord?

Reverend Brethren! if other men can rise early, go to bd late, and eate the bread of carefulness, spend their lives and strength to do their own work, and propagate their own conceptions, under a pretence of doing the work of God: if the envious man watcheth all night and waites all advantages to sow his tares, how will you be able to lift up your hands with joy, and behold your Masters face with boldness at his coming, if having received such eminent Abilities, endowments, and furnishments from him, for his service, and the service of his sheep and lambs, as you have done, you gird not up the loines of your minds, and lay not out your strength to the uttermost, for the weeding out of the field and vineyard of the Lord every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted, and for feeding the flock of Christ with sincere milk, and strong meat according as they are able to beare what you have received, more then others, is of free grace, which is God's way of dealing with them, on whom he layes the most unconquerable, and indespensable obligation unto service. Flesh and blood hath not revealed unto you the truth of God, which you do profess