but you would go on in the broad way because it was easy: the way to Heaven was too •arrow, and difficult for you: If profession would have been enough, and external joining your selves to Gods people would have brought you to heaven, this some of you would do with readiness sufficient: but when you must have a power as well as a form, and when you must mourn for sin, crucify the flesh, mortify the deeds of the body, deny your selves, take up the cross, be so strict in your lives, make conscience of thoughts, words, and all your actions, this could ye not away with: yea, could brook to be Religious sometimes by the by, and when you have nothing else to do, but to make it your business to be Religious, you could not endure: you could put on a form and outward visor of Godliness on the Sabbath-days: but to be religious on the week-days, and every day, to be holy in all manner of conversation, this was too much, and a hard saying which you could not hear: and if you did not like the terms of the Gospel, and would be the servants of the Devil, whilst you seemed to be the servants of Christ, and go on covertly in the way to Hell, whilst you seemed to be going in the way to Heaven: What can I do for you now? I thought you would have shined and gone with us, when you shined so much in profession: and is your Lamp now gone out, when the Bridegroom is come? Alas! who can supply you now with Oil? I have little enough for my self, and none to spare for you: and do you ask me for O•le? Alas! If I had enough, I could not part with it, and put any into your vessels: Now, now it is too late, I came with Oil often to sell from my Lord and Master, and you might have had it for nothing, you might have bought it without money, and without price: but then you slighted and refused all proffers of Grace, which were made; you valued your lusts, which you must have parted withal for it, at a higher rate; you refused the Oil altogether, or at least, took […] more then would light your Lamps: you would not receive any into the vessel of your hearts: and do you think I can supply you with Oil now? some of you had convictions once in the time of the Plague when death raged amongst you, ⟨p. 45⟩and some good work was beginning then in you: and is it now worn off, and come to nothing, and dwindled into an empty profession? Alas! what shall I do for you now?
but you would go on in the broad way because it was easie: the way to Heaven was too •arrow, and difficult for you: If profession would have been enough, and external joyning your selves to Gods people would have brought you to heaven, this some of you would do with readiness sufficient: but when you must have a power as well as a form, and when you must mourn for sin, crucifie the flesh, mortifie the deeds of the bodie, denie your selves, take up the cross, be so strict in your lives, make conscience of thoughts, words, and all your actions, this could ye not away with: yea, could brook to be Religious sometimes by the by, and when you have nothing else to do, but to make it your business to be Religious, you could not endure: you could put on a form and outward vizard of Godliness on the Sabbath-days: but to be religious on the week-days, and every day, to be holy in all manner of conversation, this was too much, and a hard saying which you could not hear: and if you did not like the terms of the Gospel, and would be the servants of the Devil, whilst you seemed to be the servants of Christ, and go on covertly in the way to Hell, whilst you seemed to be going in the way to Heaven: What can I do for you now? I thought you would have shined and gone with us, when you shined so much in profession: and is your Lamp now gone out, when the Bridegroom is come? Alace! who can supply you now with Oyl? I have little enough for my self, and none to spare for you: and do you ask me for O•le? Alace! If I had enough, I could not part with it, and put any into your vessels: Now, now it is too late, I came with Oyl often to sell from my Lord and Master, and you might have had it for nothing, you might have bought it without money, and without price: but then you slighted and refused all proffers of Grace, which were made; you valued your lusts, which you must have parted withal for it, at a higher rate; you refused the Oyl altogether, or at least, took 〈…〉 more then would light your Lamps: you would not receive any into the vessel of your hearts: and do you think I can supply you with Oyl now? some of you had convictions once in the time of the Plague when death raged amongst you, ⟨p. 45⟩and some good work was beginning then in you: and is it now worn off, and come to nothing, and dwingled into an empty profession? Alass! what shall I do for you now?
