15. Consider, They that have been the most serious, painful christians, when they come to die, exceedingly lament their negligence. Those that have wholly addicted themselves to the work of GOD, and have made it the business of their lives, and have slighted the world, and mortified the flesh, and have ⟨p. 151⟩been the wonders of the world for their heavenly conversations; yet when conscience is deeply awakened, how do their failings wound them? Even those that are hated and derided by the world for being so strict, and are thought to be almost beside themselves for their extraordinary diligence; yet commonly when they lie a dying, wish, O that they had been a thousand times more holy, more heavenly, more laborious for their fouls! What a case then will the negligent world be in, when their consciences are awakened, when they lie dying, and look behind them upon a lazy, negligent life; and look before them upon a severe and terrible judgment? What an esteem will they have of a holy life? For my own part, I may say as Erasmus, They accuse me for doing too much, but my own conscience accuseth me for doing too little, and being too slow: and it is far easier bearing the scorns of the world, than the scourges of conscience. The world speaks at a distance without me, so that though I hear their words, I can choose whether I will feel them: but my conscience speaks within, at the very heart, so that every check doth pierce me to the quick. Conscience, when it reprehends justly, is the messenger of GOD: ungodly revilers are the voice of the devil. I had rather be reproached by the devil for seeking salvation, than reproved of GOD for neglecting it: I had rather the world should call me Puritan in the devil's name, than conscience should call me loiterer in GOD's name. As GOD and conscience are more useful friends than Satan and the world; so are they more dreadful, irresistible enemies.
15. Consider, They that have been the most serious, painful christians, when they come to die, exceedingly lament their negligence. Those that have wholly addicted themselves to the work of GOD, and have made it the business of their lives, and have slighted the world, and mortified the flesh, and have ⟨p. 151⟩been the wonders of the world for their heavenly conversations; yet when conscience is deeply awakened, how do their failings wound them? Even those that are hated and derided by the world for being so strict, and are thought to be almost beside themselves for their extraordinary diligence; yet commonly when they lie a dying, wish, O that they had been a thousand times more holy, more heavenly, more laborious for their fouls! What a case then will the negligent world be in, when their consciences are awakened, when they lie dying, and look behind them upon a lazy, negligent life; and look before them upon a severe and terrible judgment? What an esteem will they have of a holy life? For my own part, I may say as Erasmus, They accuse me for doing too much, but my own conscience accuseth me for doing too little, and being too slow: and it is far easier bearing the scorns of the world, than the scourges of conscience. The world speaks at a distane without me, so that though I hear their words, I can choose whether I will feel them: but my conscience speaks within, at the very heart, so that every check doth pierce me to the quick. Conscience, when it reprehends justly, is the messenger of GOD: ungodly revilers are the voice of the devil. I had rather be reproached by the devil for seeking salvation, than reproved of GOD for neglecting it: I had rather the world should call me Puritan in the devil's name, than conscience should call me loiterer in GOD's name. As GOD and conscience are more useful friends than Satan and the world; so are they more dreadful, irresistible enemies.
