The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…

Now the good Lord persuade all our Hearts unto this fruitful Obedience and Life of Love. Oh you young Men, you have a fair Time before you to do much for Christ in; how pleasing will it be to him to see such young Trees hang full of Fruit! You aged Men have now one Foot in your Grave, and you have forgotten the Lord Jesus most of your Time, and your Time which now remains is very little, and then your Lamp is out, your Sun is almost set, and all your Work is yet to be done for Christ, O therefore awaken now at last before you awake when it is too late; you rich Men have Abilities, and wherewithal to set forward Christ's Kingdom in the Towns and Villages where you live; you poor Men may do much by ardent and instant Prayers Day and Night, for the Advancement of the Lord Jesus. You Husbands, Wives, Masters, ⟨p. 256⟩Servants, remember if you are not good in your Places, you are not good at all, whatever your Profession be; a good Woman, but a froward Wife; a good Man, but a hair-brained curst Husband; a good Servant, but a very sore Tongue; these cannot stand well together. If you have any Love to Christ, the Life of Love will make you move best in your proper Place: Oh therefore love much, and so think much and speak much of, and converse much with, and do much, and suffer much for the Lord Jesus Christ; content not your selves with doing small Things for him, that hath done and suffered much for you; if you can do but little, yet set God on Work by being fervent and frequent in Prayer, not only that Christ may be honoured in your selves, but also in your Families, and in all Churches and Kingdoms of the World. If you cannot do much, yet maintain alive a Will to do much, which is accepted as if you did, 2 Cor. 8.17. If thou art a poor Man, and hast nothing to give, yet keep a Heart as liberal as a Prince; if you can do but little your selves, yet encourage others that they may, thou art not a Preacher called to convert Souls, yet do thou encourage the Messengers of Christ in their Work, by thy Prayers, Counsel, Help, and at the last Day the Conversion of Souls shall be attributed unto thee, as well as unto them; if thou canst not do any Good, yet prevent what Evil thou canst in thy Place, to keep off Judgments, at least to delay them;

Now the good Lord perswade all our Hearts unto this fruitful Obedience and Life of Love. Oh you young Men, you have a fair Time before you to do much for Christ in; how pleasing will it be to him to see such young Trees hang full of Fruit! You aged Men have now one Foot in your Grave, and you have forgotten the Lord Jesus most of your Time, and your Time which now remains is very little, and then your Lamp is out, your Sun is almost set, and all your Work is yet to be done for Christ, O therefore awaken now at last before you awake when it is too late; you rich Men have Abilities, and wherewithal to set forward Christ's Kingdom in the Towns and Villages where you live; you poor Men may do much by ardent and instant Prayers Day and Night, for the Advancement of the Lord Jesus. You Husbands, Wives, Masters,