Heautonaparnumenos

Upon the whole matter then; we may well affirm in that Parable of our Saviours, He that enters upon the Christian profession this way, (as our Saviour here calls upon every one to do;) he, enters in by the Door, and to him the Porter opens, he may go in at liberty, and find pasture; but he that enters upon it else-where, as by being at many Sermons, long Prayer, or an ill-grounded Zeal, he, clambers up elsewhere, he enters not by the Door; and that with as manifest danger of his Ruin, as little hope of Proficiency. And accordingly, the Self-denying man, entering the only right way on his Religion, is so firm to it, that rather then forgo it, he will forgo his life first: but he that takes up this or that Virtue on some squint-eyed by-respects, being but a Mercenary, no sooner sees the Wolf come, but instantly he flies for't.

Upon the whole matter then; we may well affirme in that Parable of our Saviours, He that enters upon the Christian profession this way, (as our Saviour here calls upon every one to doe;) he, enters in by the Doore, and to him the Porter opens, he may goe in at liberty, and finde pasture; but hee that enters upon it else-where, as by being at many Sermons, long Prayer, or an illgrounded Zeale, he, clambers up elsewhere, he enters not by the Doore; and that with as manifest danger of his Ruine, as little hope of Proficiency. And accordingly, the Self-denying man, entring the onely right way on his Religion, is so firme to it, that rather then forgoe it, he will forgoe his life first: but he that takes up this or that Vertue on some squint-ey'd by-respects, being but a Mercenary, no sooner sees the Wolf come, but instantly he flies for't.

Or, we may compare one that is exercised in this Virtue, to him that built his House upon the Rock, which stood out all storms and tempests that beat upon it: But those that are Strangers to it, to him that built his House upon the Sands, which upon the first Tempest that beat upon it fell, & that with a mighty Ruin. ¹In a word; this Doctrine being that stumbling stone laid in Zion, must be that Foundation spoken of by the Apostle, other then which no man can lay. If any one having truly laid it, build thereon Wood, Hay, and Stubble, his Work indeed shall be burnt, and he thereby be damnified: but himself yet shall escape, howbeit so as through the fire. But, if any one say, he has laid this Foundation, when indeed he never did, he is a liar, he and his Works both shall be consumed by unquenchable fire; for he knew his Master's will, but did it not.