The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

The second Use is a word of instruction, and it shall be but a word or two; That it all the Saints of God must walk in the same way of life and salvation that Abraham did, then there is no by-way to bring a man to happiness. Look what way Abraham went, you must go; there is no more ways: the same course that he took must be a copy for you to follow, a rule, as it were, for you to square your whole conversation by: There is no way but one to come to life and happiness. I speak it the rather, to dash that idle devise of many carnal men, that think the Lord hath a new invention to bring them to life, and that they need not to go the ordinary way, but God hath made a shorter cut for them. Great men, and Gentlemen, think God will spare them; what, must they be humbled, and fast, and pray? that is for poor men, and mean men: their places and estates will not suffer it; therefore surely God hath given a dispensation to them. And the poor men, they think it is for Gentlemen, that have more leisure and time: alas, they live by their labour, and they must take pains for what they have, and the refore they cannot do what is required. But be not deceived: if there be any way besides that which Abraham went, then will I deny my self: but the case is clear, the Lord faith it, the Word faith it; the same way, the same footsteps that Abraham took, we must take, if ever we will come where Abraham is. You must not baulk in this kind, whoever you are; God respecteth no mans person: if you would arrive at the same haven, you must sail thorough the same sea; you must walk the same way of grace, if you would come to the same kingdom of glory. It is a conceit that harboureth in the hearts of many men, nay, of most men in general, specially your great wise men, and your great rich men, that have better places and estates in the world then ordinary; What, think they, may not a man be saved without all this ado? what needs all this? is there not another way besides this? Surely, my brethren, you must teach our Saviour Christ, and ⟨p. 185⟩the Apostle Paul another way; I am sure they never knew other: and he that dreameth of another way, must be content to go beside. There is no such matter as the Devil would persuade you: it is but his delusion to keep you under infidelity, and to shut you up to destruction under false and vain conceits.

The second Use is a word of instruction, and it shall be but a word or two; That it all the Saints of God must walk in the same way of life and salvation that Abraham did, then there is no by-way to bring a man to happinesse. Look what way Abraham went, you must goe; there is no more wayes: the same course that he took must be a coppy for you to follow, a rule, as it were, for you to square your whole conversation by: There is no way but one to come to life and happinesse. I speak it the rather, to dash that idle devise of many carnall men, that think the Lord hath a new invention to bring them to life, and that they need not to goe the ordinary way, but God hath made a shorter cut for them. Great men, and Gentlemen, think God will spare them; what, must they be humbled, and fast, and pray? that is for poor men, and mean men: their places and estates will not suffer it; therefore surely God hath given a dispensation to them. And the poor men, they think it is for Gentlemen, that have more leasure and time: alas, they live by their labour, and they must take paines for what they have, and the refore they cannot doe what is required. But be not deceived: if there be any way besides that which Abraham went, then will I deny my selfe: but the case is clear, the Lord faith it, the Word faith it; the same way, the same footsteps that Abraham took, we must take, if ever we will come where Abraham is. You must not baulk in this kind, whoever you are; God respecteth no mans person: if you would arrive at the same haven, you must saile thorough the same sea; you must walk the same way of grace, if you would come to the same kingdome of glory. It is a conceit that harboureth in the hearts of many men, nay, of most men in generall, specially your great wise men, and your great rich men, that have better places and estates in the world then ordinary; What, think they, may not a man be saved without all this adoe? what needs all this? is there not another way besides this? Surely, my brethren, you must teach our Saviour Christ, and