The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and through [sic]…The unsearchable riches of Christ, and of grace and glory in and thorow [sic]…

I know such will be ready to Object, Who are they that come this length? To which I shall only Answer, That, as I would be very loth to quench any smoking flax, or to break any bruised reed (whereof our Lord and Master is very tender) or to cast water of discouragement upon any the least spark or spunk of sincerity, where there is any honest aiming to walk according to this Rule; So, I cannot, I dare not but say to others, in the first Place; have ye walked under the conviction of this as a duty incumbent on you? and have ye seriously Proposed it to your selves as your great business in the World, to be sincerely aiming at, and endeavouring after this Conversation in Heaven? or have ye not rather had peace (such as it was) when ye said your prayers morning and evening, though ye did not so much as design or aim at this throughout the day? And can ye with any shadow of reason think, ye have attained it or can attain it, who never seriously proposed this as a Rule to your selves to walk by, nor never had a Conscience-disquieting challenge for such neglect and manifest short-coming? 2. What Labour are ye at, what pains take ye to prosecute such a design and blessed project as this? It's one thing to pray, to be about external duties of Religion, and to be a Christian in the letter; and another thing to be in these duties after a ⟨p. 123⟩heavenly manner, and to be a Christian indeed, a Christian inwardly and in the spirit, whose praise is not of men but of God; Is it really your honest aim, design and endeavour (whatever be the attainment) to be as much Heavenly in your conversation, as it is to be civil and formal, or to attend the outward Ordinances? I fear many of you cannot say, it is. 3. What weight lies on your spirits, for your short coming in this? Ye will (be like) say, we are all short; which is a sad truth, for indeed so we are; but are ye really weighted and grieved for your short-coming in this? Have there been any times taken, to deal purposely with the Lord to remove the earthly mind, and to help to Heavenly-mindedness? Have there been challenges and any measure of serious heart-exercise, because of the want of a heavenly mind? and that not only sometimes at the hearing of a Sermon, or in time of sickness, or when under some other trouble; but in your more constant and habitual walk?

I know such will be ready to Object, Who are they that come this length? To which I shall only Answer, That, as I would be very loth to quench any smoking flax, or to break any bruised reed (whereof our Lord and Master is very tender) or to cast water of discouragement upon any the least spark or spunk of sincerity, where there is any honest aiming to walk according to this Rule; So, I cannot, I dare not but say to others, in the first Place; have ye walked under the conviction of this as a duty incumbent on you? and have ye seriously Proposed it to your selves as your great business in the World, to be sincerely aiming at, and endeavouring after this Conversation in Heaven? or have ye not rather had peace (such as it was) when ye said your prayers morning and evening, though ye did not so much as designe or aime at this throughout the day? And can ye with any shadow of reason think, ye have attained it or can attain it, who never seriously proposed this as a Rule to your selves to walk by, nor never had a Conscience-disquieting challenge for such neglect and manifest short-coming? 2. What Labour are ye at, what pains take ye to prosecute such a designe and blessed project as this? It's one thing to pray, to be about external duties of Religion, and to be a Christian in the letter; and another thing to be in these duties after a