The Sincere Convert

Doct. 2.¹ That those that are saved, are saved with much difficulty: or it is a wonderful hard thing to be saved.

Doct. 2.¹ That those that are saved, are saved with much difficulty: or it is a wonderfull hard thing to be saved.

1. 1Doct. 2.

The gate is straight, and therefore a man must sweat and strive to enter; both the entrance is difficult, and the progress of salvation too. Jesus Christ is not got with a wet finger. It is not wishing and desiring to be saved, will bring men to heaven; hells mouth is full of good wishes. It is not shedding a tear at a Sermon, or blubbering now and then in a corner, and saying over thy prayers, and crying God mercy for thy sins, will save thee. It is not Lord have mercy upon us, will do thee good. It is not coming constantly to Church; these are easy matters. But it is a tough work, a wonderful ⟨p. 145⟩hard matter to be saved, 1 Pet. 4. 18. Hence the way to Heaven is compared to a race, where a man must put forth all his strength, and stretch every limb, and all to get forward. Hence a Christians life is compared to wrestling, Ephe. 6. 12. All the policy and power of hell buckle together against a Christian, therefore he must look to himself, or else he falls. Hence it is compared to fighting, 2 Tim. 4. 7. a man must fight against the Devil, the world, himself, who shoot poisoned bullets in the soul, where a man must kill or be killed. God hath not lined the way to Christ with velvet, no strewed it with rushes; He will never feed a slothful humour in man, who will be saved, if Christ and Heaven would drop in their mouths, and if any would bear their chages thither: If Christ might be bought for a few cold wishes and lazy desires, he would be of small reckoning amongst men, who would say, lightly come, lightly go. Indeed Christs yoke is easy in it self, and when a man is got into Christ