Fain would I have had you all up along with me, to meet my Lord; and if I could have been instrumental to convert, and turn you unto him, my joy and crown would have been the greater: O how glad should I have been of your company in this Triumph: some did hearken and believe; some did awaken when they were called, and repent, and reform their lives: some were wise, and did fore-think and make provision for this day; and now see how they shine; see the mirth and joy in their countenances; see the issue and fruit of their tears, and self-denial, of their faith, and love, and holy walking. Now, now, we are going together to our Lord, whom we have sought, and served, and trusted for our happiness: and O that you would have hearkened, and been persuaded to have joined your selves to our number, that we might have gone together; O that you would have joined your selves to our Lord, and have had fellowship with them who head fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and broken •ff your fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and workers of iniquity; but you would go on in the broad way, because it was more easy; the way to heaven was too narrow and difficult for you: if profession would have been enough, and external joining you selves to Gods people would have brought you to heaven, this some of you could do with readiness sufficient; but when you must have a power as well as a form, and when you must mourn for sin, crucify the flesh, mortify the deeds of the body, deny ⟨p. 56⟩your selves, take up the cross, be so strict in your lives, make conscience of thoughts, words, and all your actions, this you could not away with: you could brook to be religious sometimes by the by, and when you had nothing else to do; but to make it your business to be religious, you could not endure: you could put on a form and outward visor of godliness on the Sabbath days; but to be religious on the week days, and every day, to be holy in all manner of conversation, this was too much, and a hard saying which you could not bear: and if you did not like the terms of the Gospel, and would be the servants of the Devil, whilst you seemed to be the servants of Christ; and go on covertly in the way to Hell, whilst you seemed to be going in the way to Heaven; what can I do for you now?
Fain would I have had you all up along with me, to meet my Lord; and if I could have been instrumental to convert, and turn you unto him, my joy and crown would have been the greater: O how glad should I have been of your companie in this Tri•mph: some did hearken and believe; some did awaken when they were called, and repent, and reform their lives: some were wise, and did fore-think and make provision for this day; and now see how they shine; see the mirth and joy in their countenances; see the issue and fruit of their tears, and self-denial, of their faith, and love, and holy walking. Now, now, we are going together to our Lord, whom we have sought, and served, and trusted for our happiness: and O that you would have hearkned, and been perswaded to have joined your selves to our number, that we might have gone together; O that you would have joined your selves to our Lord, and have had fellowship with them who hed fellowship with the Father, and his Son Iesus Christ, and broken •ff your fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and workers of iniquity; but you would go on in the broad way, because it was more easie; the way to heaven was too narrow and difficult for you: if profession would have been enough, and external joyning you selves to Gods people would have brought you to heaven, this some of you could do with readiness sufficient; but when you must have a power as well as a form, and when you must mourn for sin, crucifie the flesh, mortifie the deeds of the body, deny ⟨p. 56⟩your selves, take up the cross, be so strict in your lives, make conscience of thoughts, words, and all your actions, this you could not away with: you could brook to be religious sometimes by the by, and when you had nothing else to do; but to make it your business to be religious, you could not endure: you could put on a forme and outward vizard of godliness on the Sabbath daies; but to be religious on the week daies, and every day, to be holy in all manner of conversation, this was too much, and a hard saying which you could not bear: and if you did not like the terms of the Gospel, and would be the servants of the Devil, whilst you seemed to be the servants of Christ; and go on covertly in the way to Hell, whilst you seemed to be going in the way to Heaven; what can I do for you now?
