The heads of some sermons preached at Finnick, the 17 of August. 1662 By…

First of all, Ye would labour to know with your self, in what hazard your life is in, when the Cause of Christ is upon the stage, ye would reckon with your selves, how many ways ye may run the hazard of your life, when Christ's Cause is upon the stage, either by not doing and omitting that which ye should do, or by committing and doing that which ye should not do, it were not amiss to consider these hazards, and what the Scripture speaks of folks seeking to save their lives, any of these ways.

First of all, Ye would labour to know with your self, in what hazard your life is in, when the Cause of Christ is upon the stage, ye would reckon with your selves, how many wayes ye may run the hazard of your life, when Christ's Cause is upon the stage, either by not doing and omitting that which ye should do, or by committing and doing that which ye should not do, it were not amiss to consider these hazards, and what the Scriptur speaks of folks seeking to save their lives, any of these wayes.

Secondly: Do not hold up, nor satisfy your selves with any of your broken pretences, that I have named, or others, that I have not named, they hold no weight before God, ye must be even-down in the matter, for he that seeks any way to save his life, shall lose it. Ye need not speak of this, there is Law and Authority for such a false cause; ye need not speak of your proving your loyalty to your Prince, that way; ye need never pretend that such a way ye thought best for peace; ye need never pretend your usefulness to God's People, by your taking such a gate; ye need never say, ye are keeping your life till a better time; ye need never tell us, ye had no ill intentions, or that your bare testimony would not have don good: these are fools devices, he that seeks to save his life, shall lose it. That word hath more weight, than all the foolish intentions and pretexts that ye have, he that seeks to save his life, shall lose it.

Secondly: Do not hold up, nor satisfie your selves with any of your broken pretences, that I have named, or others, that I have not named, they hold no weight before God, ye must be even-down in the matter, for he that seeks any way to save his life, shall lose it. Ye need not speak of this, there is Law and Authority for such a false cause; ye need not speak of your proving your loyalty to your Prince, that way; ye need never pretend that such a way ye thought best for peace; ye need never pretend your usefulness to God's People, by your taking such a gate; ye need never say, ye are keeping your life till a better time; ye need never tell us, ye had no ill intentions, or that your bare testimony would not have don good: these are fooles devices, he that seeks to save his life, shall lose it. That word hath more weight, than all the foolish intentions and pretexts that ye have, he that seeks to save his life, shall lose it.