Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

This is what is certainly required of you: and this is what many stick at; this giving up other Things for Salvation, is a stumbling Block that few get over. While others pressed into the Kingdom of God, at the preaching of John the Baptist, there was Herod, one of his Hearers, that was pretty much stirred up by his Preaching; it is said, he heard him, and observed him, and did many Things; but when he came to tell him that […] part with his beloved Herodias, here he stuck; this he never would yield to, Mark 7. 18, 19, 20. The rich young Man was considerably concerned for Salvation; and accordingly was a very strict Liver in many Things […] when Christ came to direct him to go and sell all tha• he had, and give to the Poor, and come and follow him, he could no• find in his Heart to comply with it, but went away sorrowful; he had great Possessions, and set his Heart much on his Estate, & could not ⟨p. 149⟩hear to part with it. It may be if Christ had directed him only to give away a considerable Part of his Estate, he would have done it; yea, perhaps, if he had bid him part with half of it, he would have complied with it; but when he directed him to throw up all, he could not grapple with such a Proposal. Herein the Straitness of the Gate very much consists, and 'tis on this Account that so many seek to enter in, and are not able. There are many that have a great Mind to have Salvation, and spend great Part of their Time in wishing that they had it, but they will not comply with the necessary Means of it.

This is what is certainly required of you: and this is what many stick at; this giving up other Things for Salvation, is a stumbling Block that few get over. While others press'd into the Kingdom of God, at the preaching of John the Baptist, there was Herod, one of his Hearers, that was pretty much stirr'd up by his Preaching; it is said, he heard him, and observed him, and did many Things; but when he came to tell him that 〈…〉 part with his beloved Herodias, here he stuck; this he never would yield to, Mark 7. 18, 19, 20. The rich young Man was considerably concern'd for Salvation; and accordingly was a very strict Liver in many Things when Christ came to direct him to go and sell all tha he had, and give to the Poor, and come and follow him, he could no find in his Heart to comply with it, but went away sorrowful; he had great Possessions, and set his Heart much on his Estate, & could not