The saints everlasting rest

Oh the formal, frozen, lifeless sermons which we daily hear preached upon the most weighty, piercing subjects in the world! How gently do we handle those sins, which will handle so cruelly our people's souls! And how tenderly do we deal with their careless hearts, not speaking to them as men that must be awakened or damned! We tell them of heaven and hell in such a sleepy tone, and slight way, as if we were but acting a part in a play; so that we usually preach our people asleep with those subjects, which one would think should rather endanger the driving some beside themselves.

In a word, our want of seriousness about the things of heaven, doth charm the souls of men into formality, and hath brought them to this customary, careless hearing, which undoes them. The LORD par•on ⟨p. 137⟩the great sin of the ministry in this thing, and, in particular, my own.

And are the people any more serious than magistrates and ministers? How can it be expected? Reader, look but to thyself, and resolve the question. Ask conscience, and suffer it to tell thee truly. Hast thou set thine eternal rest before thine eyes as the great business, which thou hast to do in this world? Hast thou studied, and cared, and watched, and laboured with all thy might, lest any should take thy crown from thee? Hast thou made haste, lest thou shouldst come too late, and die before the work be done? Hath thy heart been set upon it, and thy desires and thoughts run out this way? Hast thou pressed on through crowds of opposition towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus? When you have set your hand to the work of GOD, have you done it with all your might? Can conscience witness your secret cries, and groans, and tears? Can your families witness that you have taught them the fear of the LORD, and warned them all with earnestness and unweariedness to remember GOD and their souls? Or that you have done but as much for them, as that damned glutton would have had Lazarus do for his brethren on earth, to warn them that they come not to that place of torment? Can your ministers witness that they have heard you cry out, What shall we do to be saved? And that you have followed them with complaints against your corruptions, and with earnest enquiries after the LORD? Can your neighbours about you witness, that you are still learning of them that are able to instruct you? And that you plainly and roundly reprove the ungodly, and take pains for the saving of your brethren's souls? Let all these witnesses judge this day between GOD and you, whether you are in good earnest about eternal rest.