A poor Creature thinks with himself, if I should turn into the way of Salvation, then I must never see a merry day more; here his Soul sticks and perisheth. And as for the evil things of the World, these are also great obstacles in the way to life, e. g. The cares of that World, the Thorny-ground hearer, tho' he did and suffered much in order to Salvation, he went far, and held out long in an high and glorious Profession of the Gospel, yet after all, the care of this world proved his ruin, Mat. 13.22. Alas, men take more care how they shall live in this World, wherein they shall continue but for a moment, than they do how they shall live in another World, where they must be to all Eternity. And hence it is that Salvation is neglected, & the means conducing thereunto are neglected: Men ⟨p. 246⟩are not so frequent and diligent in hearing the Word as they ought to be, and prayer in Families; but especially prayer in secret is lamentably neglected; & the pretence is, they cannot spare time from their worldly occasions, to attend these duties of their Christian Calling Thus doth the World eat out the heart and life of Religion. So for the Crosses of the World, they are also a very great snare. Men would fain have their Heaven here and in Heaven too, they would fain have their Paradise upon Earth: But when they see that that cannot be, then they are discouraged, and knocked off from Religion, and from Salvation. There have been that have begun to work about their Salvation, that yet have not been able to work it out, or to finish what they begun, because of this which you now hear. The Lord Jesus Christ spake an excellent Parable to this purpose, which you may see, Luk. 14.27, 28, 29. Whosoever doth not bear my Cross, cannot be my Disciple: Which of you intending to build a Tower, doth not first count the cost; lest after he hath laid the foundation, he is not able to finish it. Alas there are that enter upon Religion, and do not think what it will cost them; and thence when they meet with unexpected, ⟨p. 247⟩temptations and difficulties, though they made a good beginning, they come to a miserable end at last. Now then inasmuch, as the Profits, Pleasures, Cares, Crosses of the World, are such Impediments in the way to life, men had need work out their Salvation with fear and trembling. Yet there is another Enemy more dangerous than all these, that is, Self.
A poor Creature thinks with himself, if I should turn into the way of Salvation, then I must never see a merry day more; here his Soul sticks and perisheth. And as for the evil things of the World, these are also great obstacles in the way to life, e. g. The cares of that World, the Thorney-ground hearer, tho' he did and suffered much in order to Salvation, he went far, and held out long in an high and glorious Profession of the Gospel, yet after all, the care of this world proved his ruine, Mat. 13.22. Alas, men take more care how they shall live in this World, wherein they shall continue but for a moment, than they do how they shall live in another World, where they must be to all Eternity. And hence it is that Salvation is neglected, & the means conducing thereunto are neglected: Men ⟨p. 246⟩are not so frequent and diligent in hearing the Word as they ought to be, and prayer in Families; but especially prayer in secret is lamentably neglected; & the pretence is, they cannot spare time from their worldly occasions, to attend these duties of their Christian Calling Thus doth the World eat out the heart and life of Religion. So for the Crosses of the World, they are also a very great snare. Men would fain have their Heaven here and in Heaven too, they would fain have their Paradise upon Earth: But when they see that that cannot be, then they are discouraged, and knocked off from Religion, and from Salvation. There have been that have begun to work about their Salvation, that yet have not been able to work it out, or to finish what they begun, because of this which you now hear. The Lord Jesus Christ spake an excellent Parable to this purpose, which you may see, Luk. 14.27, 28, 29. Whosoever doth not bear my Cross, cannot be my Disciple: Which of you intending to build a Tower, doth not first count the cost; lest after he hath laid the foundation, he is not able to finish it. Alas there are that enter upon Religion, and do not think what it will cost them; and thence when they meet with unexpcted, ⟨p. 247⟩temptations and difficulties, though they made a good beginning, they come to a miserable end at last. Now then inasmuch, as the Profits, Pleasures, Cares, Crosses of the World, are such Impediments in the way to life, men had need work out their Salvation with fear and trembling. Yet there is another Enemy more dangerous than all these, that is, Self.
