The saints everlasting rest

If the world were not mad with malice, they could never be so blind in this point as they are: to think that diligence for Christ, is folly and singularity: and that they who set themselves wholly to seek eternal life, are but precise Puritans! The time is near, when they will easily confess, that GOD could not be loved or served too much, and that no man can be too busy to save his soul: for the world you may easily do too much, but herein (in GOD'S way) you cannot.

10. Consider, they that trifle in the way to heaven, lose all their labour. If two be running in a race, he that runs slowest, had as good never run at all: for he loseth the prize, and his labour both. Many, who like Agrippa, are but almost christians, will find in the end they shall be but almost saved. GOD hath set the rate at which the pearl must be bought; if you bid a penny less, you had as good bid nothing. As a man that is lifting up some weighty thing, if he put to almost strength enough, it is as good he put to none at all, for he doth but lose all his labour.

O how many professors of christianity will find this true to their sorrow, who have had a mind to the ways of GOD, and have kept up a dull task of duty, but never came to serious christianity? How many a duty have they lost, for want of doing them throughly. Many shall seek to enter and not be able: who, if they had striven might have been able. O therefore put to ⟨p. 147⟩a little more diligence and strength, that all be not in vain that you have done already!