The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ

To the Church of Christ in North-Hampton.

A Main part of the Work which the Lord Jesus has committed to me at present, is to be doing service to your Souls, and the Souls of your Children; to be directing, quickening and encouraging of you in the way unto eternal life: which work requires the utmost care and diligence, not only in respect of the necessity that you stand in, of that blessedness which is the design and tendency thereof, but also in respect of that difficulty that you will unavoidably meet withal, in your pursuit of that blessedness: ⟨image ?⟩however many men that know not their own hearts, and are utterly unexperienced in the way of life, may fancy it to be a matter of case to go to heaven, as if there wer• but a step between them and heaven, and upon that account are bold to cast off all care about it at present; yet such as have tried it, and are walking in that way, can upon plentiful experience witness to what Christ has taught us, That strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leadeth unto Life: every thing in corrupt nature is opposite to it: and upon this account he requires Ministers to use their utmost industry in their work, Luk. 14.23. Compel them to come in.

I have travelled in this work among you for many years, and I may say without ostentation, that I have obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful: I have made it my business to gain Souls to Christ, and build them up in Faith and holiness: principally insisting upon such things as have reached the heart of Religion; and I reckon it one of the choicest mercies of the Lord towards me, that I have not run in ⟨image ?⟩