N01663:65
The greatest concern in the world. A short and plain essay, to answer that…
The greatest concern in the world. A short and plain essay, to answer that most concerning and all concerning enquiry, What must I do to be saved? : Published, with a design to assist the addresses of good men unto their neighbours, whom they press to mind, the one thing that is needful.
printed by T. Green, 1718
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
You must be no strangers to such Soliloquies as these; I have Sinned, I have Sinned; And, Woe is unto me, that I have Sinned. I have Lost the Knowledge of GOD, and Lost the Image of GOD, and Lost the Favour of GOD. My Sin renders me obnoxious to the Vengeance of GOD. Lust Enchants me, Enslaves me; Satan Tyrannizes over me. I am in Hourly Hazard of an Eternal Banishment from GOD, into Outer Darkness, into the place of Dragons. Oh! Wretched man that I am: I can do nothing to deliver my self. I Perish, I Perish, except a Glorious CHRIST be my Deliverer.
You must be no strangers to such Soliloquies as these; I have Sinned, I have Sinned; And, Wo is unto me, that I have Sinned. I have Lost the Knowlege of GOD, and Lost the Image of GOD, and Lost the Favour of GOD. My Sin renders me obnoxious to the Vengeance of GOD. Lust Enchants me, Enslaves me; Satan Tyrannizes over me. I am in Hourly Hazard of an Eternal Banishment from GOD, into Outer Darkness, into the place of Dragons. Oh! Wretched man that I am: I can do nothing to deliver my self. I Perish, I Perish, except a Glorious CHRIST be my Deliverer.
The Degree of this Distress, on the minds of them that shall be Saved is Various. There is a Variety in that Preparatory work, which does Distress the ⟨p. 14⟩Elect of God, in their coming to a Saviour. Converts do sometimes needlessly Distress themselves, and even Deceive themselves, by insisting too much on the Measure of this Preparation. But so much of this work, as will render us Restless without a CHRIST; so much of this work, as will render a whole CHRIST Precious to us; Be sure, there must be so much in our Experience, if we would be Saved.
The Degree of this Distress, on the minds of them that shall be Saved is Various. There is a Variety in that Preparatory work, which does Distress the ⟨p. 14⟩Elect of God, in their coming to a Saviour. Converts do sometimes needlesly Distress themselves, and even Deceive themselves, by insisting too much on the Measure of this Preparation. But so much of this work, as will render us Restless without a CHRIST; so much of this work, as will render a whole CHRIST Precious to us; Be sure, there must be so much in our Experience, if we would be Saved.