The saints everlasting rest

What can you answer Christ, when he shall thus convince you? Is it not enough that your children are poor and miserable here, but you would have them be worse for everlasting? If your children were beggars, yet if they were such beggars as Lazarus, they may be conveyed by angels into the presence of GOD. But believe it, as GOD will save no man because he is a gentleman, ⟨p. 253⟩so will he save no man because he is a beggar. GOD hath so ordered it in his providence, that riches are common occasions of men's damnation, and will you think poverty a sufficient excuse? The hardest point in all our work is to be weaned from the world, and in love with heaven; and if you will not be weaned from it, that have nothing in it but labour and sorrow, you have no excuse. The poor cannot have time, and the rich will not have time, or they are ashamed to be so forward: the young think it too soon, and the old too late; and thus most men instead of being saved, have somewhat to say against their salvation; and when Christ sendeth to invite them, they say, I pray thee have me excused. O unworthy guests of such a blessed feast, and worthy to be turned into everlasting burnings!

Object. 4. But some will object, we have been brought up in ignorance ourselves, and therefore we are unable to teach our children.

Answ. Indeed this is the very sore of the land: but is it not a pity that men should so receive their destruction by tradition? Would you have this course to go on thus still? Your parents did not teach you, and therefore you cannot teach your children, and therefore they cannot teach theirs: by this course the knowledge of GOD would be banished out of the world, and never be recovered. But if your parents did not teach you, why did not you learn when you came to age? The truth is, you had no hearts for it; for be that hath not knowledge, cannot value it, or love it. But yet, though you have greatly sinned, it is not too late, if you will but follow my faithful advice in these four points.