Thy privileges will not do it; circumcision is nothing, nor uncircumcision but a new creature, Gal. 6.15. Thou mayst enjoy Scripture, and Sabbaths, and Sacraments, and many seasons of grace, and hell at last. Nay the higher thy exaltation (in regard of these privileges) if thou diest unconverted, the greater thy condemnation will be. None go to such Chambers of utter darkness, as they that are lighted thither with the torches of Ordinances. Heathen will keep holy day in hell, in comparison of those that are now lifted up to heaven and perish. If the sweetest wine make such sharp vinegar, and the cold lead when melted be so hot and scalding; how pure and weighty will that wrath be which shall ⟨image 20⟩be extracted out of abused love and mercy! Grace is the sweetest friend, but the bitterest enemy. If thou waste the riches of grace, God will recover out of thee riches of glory. Thy performances also can be no infallible evidence of thy good estate. The Pharisees prayed, fasted, did (many of them) abound in outward acts of charity, righteousness and holiness (which are commanded by God, and must be minded by all that will be saved) and yet Christ telleth us expressly, That except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, we shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5.20. There was in them a• in the young man one thing wanting, and that was the regeneration of their natures, the actual predominancy of the interest o• God and Christ in their hearts above all interest of the flesh and world. I beseech thee therefore make sure of the new birth, without which it is impossible for thee to escape the second death. I have in the third use of this Treatise endeavoured to awake• thee to, and to direct thee about this great work, as in the first use I have discovered the unspeakable endless misery of them that dye before it be done. Those which had ⟨image 20⟩the Sudor Anglicus or sweating sickness, dyed assuredly if suffered to sleep; those were their best friends that kept them waking, though they (possibly) had little thank for it. It may be thou mayst think I am too sharp; but truly the wound is deep, dangerous, yea deadly, and therefore though I put thee to pain by lancing it, I am forced to it, otherwise thou wilt not be cured. Sin and hell, and holiness and sanctification are other manner of things then the sleepy world dreameth of.
Thy priviledges will not do it; circumcision is nothing, nor uncircumcision but a new creature, Gal. 6.15. Thou mayst enjoy Scripture, and Sabbaths, and Sacraments, and many seasons of grace, and hell at last. Nay the higher thy exaltation (in regard of these priviledges) if thou diest unconverted, the greater thy condemnation will be. None go to such Chambers of utter darkness, as they that are lighted thither with the torches of Ordinances. Heathen will keep holy day in hell, in comparison of those that are now lifted up to heaven and perish. If the sweetest wine make such sharp vinegar, and the cold lead when melted be so hot and scalding; how pure and weighty will that wrath be which shall ⟨image 20⟩be extracted out of abused love and mercy! Grace is the sweetest friend, but the bitterest enemy. If thou waste the riches of grace, God will recover out of thee riches of glory. Thy performances also can be no infallible evidence of thy good estate. The Pharisees prayed, fasted, did (many of them) abound in outward acts of charity, righteousness and holiness (which are commanded by God, and must be minded by all that will be saved) and yet Christ telleth us expresly, That except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, we shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5.20. There was in them a• in the young man one thing wanting, and that was the regeneration of their natures, the actual predominancy of the interest o• God and Christ in their hearts above all interest of the flesh and world. I beseech thee therefore make sure of the new birth, without which it is impossible for thee to escape the second death. I have in the third use of this Treatise endeavoured to awake• thee to, and to direct thee about this great work, as in the first use I have discovered the unspeakable endless misery of them that dye before it be done. Those which had ⟨image 20⟩the Sudor Anglicus or sweating sicknes•, dyed assuredly if suffered to sleep; those were their best friends that kept them waking, though they (possibly) had little thank for it. It may be thou mayst think I am too sharpe; but truely the wound is deep, dangerous, yea deadly, and therefore though I put thee to pain by lancing it, I am forced to it, otherwise thou wilt not be cured. Sin and hell, and holiness and sanctification are other manner of things then the sleepy world dreameth of.
