The saints everlasting rest

Would you not think that man or woman unnatural, that would let their children or neighbours famish in the streets, while they have provision at hand? And is not he more unnatural, that will let his children or neighbours perish eternally, and will not open his mouth to save them? Certainly this is most barbarous cruelty. We account an unmerciful, cruel man, a very monster, to be abhorred of all. Many vicious men are too much loved in the world, but a cruel man is abhorred of all. Now that it may appear to you what a cruel thing this neglect of souls is, do but consider these two things. First, how great a work it is. Secondly, how small a matter it is that thou refusest to do for the accomplishing so great a work. First, it is to save thy brother from eternal flames, that he may not there lie roaring in endless remediless torments. It is to bring him to the everlasting rest, where he may live in inconceivable happiness with GOD. Secondly, and what is it that you should do to help him herein? Why, it is to persuade him, and lay open to him his sin, and his duty, his misery, and the remedy, till you have made him willing to yield to the offers and commands of Christ. And is this so ⟨p. 224⟩great a matter for to do, to the attaining such a blessed end? Is not the soul of a husband, or wife, or child, or neighbour, worth a few words? It is worth this, or it is worth nothing. If they lay dying in the streets, and a few words would save their lives, would not every man say, he was a cruel wretch that would let them perish rather than speak to them? Even the covetous hypocrite, that James reproveth, would give a few words to the poor, and say, Go and be warmed, and be clothed. What a barbarous, unmerciful wretch then art thou, that wilt not vouchsafe a few words of serious, sober admonition, to save the soul of thy neighbour or friend? Cruelty and unmercifulness to men's bodies, is a most damnable sin; but to their souls much more, as the soul is of greater worth than the body, and as eternity is of greater moment than this short time.

Alas! you do not see or feel what case their souls are in, when they are in hell, for want of your faithful admonition. Little know you what many a soul may now be feeling, who have been your neighbours and acquaintance, and died in their sins, on whom you never bestowed one hour's sober advice for preventing their unhappiness. If you knew their misery, you would now do more to bring them out of hell: but, alas! it is too late, you should have done it while they were with you; it is now too late. As one said of physicians, That they were the most happy men, because all their good deeds and cures were seen above ground to their praise, but all their mistakes and neglects were buried out of sight. So I may say to you, many a neglect of yours to the souls about you, may be now buried with those souls in hell, out of your sight, and therefore now it doth not much trouble you; but alas! they feel it, though you feel it not. Jeremiah cried out, My bowels, my bowels, I cannot hold my peace, because of a temporal destruction