The saints everlasting rest

1. Set upon the work sincerely, and with right intentions. Let thy end be the glory of GOD in the party's salvation. Do it not to get a name or esteem to thyself; or to bring men to depend upon thee; or to get thee many followers: do not as many parents and masters will do, viz. rebuke their children and servants for those sins that displease them, and are against their profit or their humours, as disobedience, unthriftiness, unmannerliness; but never seek in the right way that GOD hath appointed to save their souls. But be sure, the main end be to recover them from misery, and bring them into the way of eternal rest.

2. Do it speedily: as you would not have them delay their return, so do not thou delay to seek their return. You are purposing long to speak to such an ignorant neighbour, and to deal with such a scandalous ⟨p. 202⟩sinner, and yet you have never done it. Alas, he runs on the score all this while; he goes deeper in debt; wrath is heaping up; sin taketh rooting: custom doth more fasten him; engagements to sin grow stronger and more numerous; conscience grows seared; the heart grows hardened; while you delay, the devil rules and rejoiceth; Christ is shut out; the Spirit is repulsed; GOD is daily dishonoured; his law is violated; he is without a servant, and that service from him which he should have; time runs on; the day of visitation hasteth; death and judgment are at the door: and what if the man die and miss of heaven, while you are purposing to teach him and help him to it? If in case of his bodily distress, you must not bid him go and come again to-morrow, when you have it by you; how much less may you delay the succour of his soul? if once death snatch him away he is then out of the reach of your charity. That physician is no better than a murderer, that negligently delayeth, till his patient be dead or past cure. Delay in duty is a great degree of disobedience, though you afterwards perform it. It shows an ill heart that is undisposed to the work. O how many a poor sinner perisheth or grows rooted, and next to incurable in sin, while we are purposing to seek their recovery! Opportunities last not always. When thou hearest that the sinner is dead, or removed, or grown obstinate; will not conscience say to thee, how knowest thou but thou mightest have prevented the damnation of a soul? Lay by excuses then, and all lesser business, and obey GOD'S command, exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.