The saints everlasting rest

1. Quest. What manner of persons should those be, who have felt the smart of their negligence, in the new birth, in their several wounds and trouble of conscien•• in their doubts and fears, in their various afflictions: they that have groaned and cried out so oft, under the sense and effects of their negligence, and are like enough to feel it again, if they do not reform it? Sure one would think they should be slothful no more.

2. Quest. What manner of persons should those be who have bound themselves to GOD by so many covenants as we have done, and in special have covenanted so oft to be more painful and faithful in his service? At every sacrament; on many days of humiliation and thanksgiving; in most of our deep distresses and dangerous sicknesses; we are still ready to bewail our neglects, and to engage ourselves, if GOD will but try us and trust us once again, how diligent and laborious we will be, and how we will improve our time, and reprove offenders, and watch over ourselves, and ply our work; and do him more service in a day, than we did in a month? The LORD pardon our perfidious ⟨p. 160⟩covenant-breaking; and grant that our engagements may not condemn us.

3. Quest. What manner of men should they be in duty, who have received so much encouragement, as we have done? Who have tasted such sweetness in diligent obedience, as doth much more than countervail all the pains; who have so oft had experience of the wide difference between lazy and laborious duty, by their different issues; who have found all our lazy duties unfruitful; and all our strivings and wrestlings with GOD successful, so that we were never importunate with GOD in vain? We who have had so many deliverances upon urgent seeking; and have received almost all our solid comforts in a way of close and constant duty: how should we above all men ply our work?