N01663:68
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.
Your Impotency must not now be made an Excuse for your Impenitency. Your Inability must Affright you Exceedingly, Affect you Exceedingly; It may not Excuse you in a slothful Negligence. You must not remain Careless of doing any thing, because you ⟨p. 15⟩can thoroughly do nothing. Having first Cried unto GOD, that He would help you to do, what you have to do, you must now Try to do it; Now Try, whether He do not help you to do it.
Your Impotency must not now be made an Excuse for your Impenitency. Your Inability must Affright you Exceedingly, Affect you Exceedingly; It may not Excuse you in a slothful Negligence. You must not remain Careless of doing any thing, because you ⟨p. 15⟩can thoroughly do nothing. Having first Cry'd unto GOD, that He would help you to do, what you have to do, you must now Try to do it; Now Try, whether He do not help you to do it.
Thirdly; This must be done; You must Admire, You must Adore, You must Address, a Glorious CHRIST, in all His Offices, for all His Benefits. Oh! Hear a Compassionate Redeemer calling to you, Isa. 45.22. Look unto me, all ye Ends of the Earth, and be ye Saved. Comply, Reply; Lord I look unto thee: I will be Thine, save me!
And here, You are to Remember, that the First Thing you want, is, Atonement and Acceptance with GOD. For this purpose, You must Behold a Glorious CHRIST, as a Priest, bringing a Sacrifice, and making a Righteousness for you. Accordingly, Your First Address to Heaven must be this; Lord, Let my many and horrid Sins be Forgiven me, for the sake of that Great Sacrifice, which thou hast had in the Blood of Jesus Christ thy Son, which Cleanseth from all sin. And, Lord, Let me, who am a poor Sinner, utterly hopeless of working out for my self a Righteousness, now stand before thee in the wondrous Righteousness, of that Lord who is the Head of His Church, & who has wrought out a Spotless Righteousness for us.