A Saint or a Brute, Part 1 · Section 1
I Thought here to have ended this Firſt Part of my Diſcourſe; but yet compaſſion calls me back: I fear leſt with the moſt I have not yet prevailed; and leſt I ſhall leave them behind me in the bonds of their iniquity. I daily hear the voice of men poſſeſſed by a ſpirit of uncleanneſs, ſpeaking againſt this Neceſſity of a holy life, which Chriſt himſelf ſo peremptorly aſſerteth. I hear that voice which foretelleth a more dreadful voice, if in time they be not prevailed with to prevent it. One ſaith, What need all this ado? This ſtrictneſs is more ado then needs. Another ſaith, You would make men mad, by poring ſo much on matters that are above them. Another ſaith, Cannot you keep your Religion to your ſelfe; and be Godly with moderation, as your neighbours be? Another ſaith, I hope God is more merciful then to damn … that … not ſo preciſe. Another ſaith, I ſhall never endure ſo ſtrict a life▪ and therefore I will venture as well as others. The ſumme of allis, They are ſo far in love with the world and ſin, and ſo much againſt a holy life, that they will not be perſwaded to it; and therefore to quiet their conſciences in their miſery, they make themſelves believe that they may be ſaved without it, and that it is a thing of no Neceſſity, but their coming to Church and living like good neighbours may ſerve the turn without it, for their ſalvation. And thus doth the malicious Serpent, in the hearts of thoſe that he poſſeſſeth, riſe up againſt the words of Chriſt. Chriſt ſaith that this is The One thing needful: And the Serpent ſaith, It is more ado then needs: and What needs all this ado? Though I have fully anſwered this ungodly objection already in my Treatiſe of Converſion, ſect. 36. pag. 284. &c. and more fully in my Treatiſe of Reſt, Part 3. Chap. 6. yet I ſhall once more fall upon it. For death is coming, while poor deluded ſouls are loytering: and if Satan by ſuch ſenſleſs reaſonings as theſe, can keep them unready in their ſin, till the …atal ſtroak hath cut them down, and caſt them into endleſs eaſeleſs fire; alas, how great will be their fall? and how unſpeakably dreadful will be their miſery? Whoever thou be, whether h…gh or low, learned or unlearned, that haſt diſliked, oppoſed or reproached ſerious godly Chriſtians, as Puritanes, and too preciſe; and that thinkeſt the moſt diligent labour for ſalvation to be but more ado then needs, and haſt not thy ſelf yet reſolvedly ſet upon a holy life, I require at thy hands ſo much impartiality and faithfulneſs to thy own immortal ſoul, as ſeriouſly to peruſe theſe following Queſtions, and to go no further in thy careleſs, negligent, ungodly courſe, till thou art able to give ſuch a rational anſwer to them, as thou dareſt ſtand to now at the Barr of thine own Conſcience, and hereafter at the Barr of Chriſt.
Queſt. 1. Canſt thou poſſibly give God more then is his due? Or love him more then he deſerveth? Or ſerve him more faithfully then th… art bound, and he is worthy of? Art thou not his creature? made of nothing? and haſt thou not all that thou art and haſt from him? and if thou give him all, doſt thou give him any more then what is his own? If thou give him all the affections of thy ſoul, and all the moſt ſerious thoughts of thy heart, and every hour of thy time, and every word of thy mouth, and every penny of thy wealth (in the way that he requireth it) is it any more then is his due? Should not he have all that is Lord of all?
Queſt. 2. Is it not the firſt and great Commandment. [Thou ſhalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and ſoul, and might?] And do not heathens confeſs this by the light of nature: And hath not thy tongue confeſt it many a time? And doth not thy conſcience yet bear witneſs that it is thy duty? And is it poſſible thou ſhouldſt thus Love him, with all thy heart, and ſoul, and might, and yet not ſeek and ſerve him with all thy heart, and ſoul, and might? Or can the moſt ſanctified perſon do any more, if he were perfect?
Queſt. 3. Doſt thou not confeſs that we are all ſinners? And that the beſt is ſtill too bad? And that he that loveth and ſerveth God moſt, doth yet come exceeding ſhort of his duty? And yet wouldſt thou have ſuch men come ſhorter? and dareſt thou perſwade them to do leſs? Muſt not the beſt confeſs their daily failings, and beg pardon of them from the Lord, and be beholden to the blood of Chriſt, and lament their imperfections? And yet wouldſt thou have them be ſuch odious hypocrites, as to think they ſerve God too much already, while they confeſs that they come ſo ſhort? Shall they confeſs their failings, and reproach thoſe that endeavour to avoid the like? Shall the ſame tongue ſay, [Lord be merciful to me a ſinner] and [Lord, I am good enough already: What need there ſo much ado to pleaſe and ſerve thee any better?] What would you think of ſuch a man?
Queſt. 4. Is it not an unqueſtionable duty to grow in grace? and to preſs towards perfection as men that have not yet attained it? 2 Pet. 3. 18. Phil. 3. 12, 13, 14. And muſt Paul, and Peter, and the holyeſt on earth, ſtill ſeek to grow and labour to be more holy? and ſhall ſuch a one as thou ſay, What need I be any more holy? that art utterly unſanctified.
Queſt. 5. Is it not one of the two grand Principles of faith and all Religion, without which no man can pleaſe God, Heb. 11. 6. Whoever cometh to God muſt believe, firſt, that God is (that there is a God, moſt powerful, wiſe and good) ſecondly, that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him?] yea this is one of natures principles. It is the Diligent ſeekers of God that he will reward. And yet dare a fleſhly negligent ſinner, reproach the diligent ſeeking of God, and take it for a needleſs thing, and ſay, What needs all this ado? Are not theſe the Atheiſts ſeconds; even next to them that deny that there is any God, or that blaſphem… him? And indeed, if he be not worthy of all the Love and ſervice that thou canſt give him, he is not the true God! Conſider therefore the tendency of thy words, and tremble.
Queſt. 6. Doth not that wretch ſet up the fleſh and the world abo… the Lord, that thinks not moſt of his thoughts, and cares, and words, and time, and labour for the world to be too much ado, and yet thinks leſs for God and heaven to be too much? And doſt thou think in thy conſcience that the fleſh is better worthy of thy Love, and care, and labour▪ then the Lord? or that earth will prove a better reward to thee then Heaven? Who, thinkeſt thou, will have the better bargain in the end? The fool that laid up riches for himſelf, and was not rich to God, and ſhall loſe all at once that he ſo much valued, and ſo carefully ſought, (Luke 12. 20, 21.) or he that laid up his treaſure in Heaven, and there ſet his heart, and ſought for the never fading Crown? Matth. 6. 20, 21, 33. and counted all as loſs and dung for the excellent knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 3. 8. Do you think that there is any thing more worth your care, and time, and labour, or can you more profitably lay it out?
Queſt. 7. Have you not immortal ſouls to ſave or loſe? And are not your bodies for their ſervice? and to be uſed and ruled by them? And ſhould not your ſouls then have more of your care and diligence, then corruptible fleſh that muſt turn to dirt?
Queſt. 8. Dare any one of you ſay that you are wiſer then the Allknowing God? Is not thy wiſdom leſs to his, then a glow-worms light is to the Sun? And hath not God moſt plainly and frequently in his Word commanded thee a holy life? Yea every part and parcell of it, is nothing elſe but the obeying of that Word: For if it be not preſcribed by the Lord, it is not Holineſs, nor that which I am pleading for. And when the living God hath told the world his mind and will, ſhall a ſinful man ſtand up and ſay, I am wiſer then my Maker? I know a better way then this? What need there all this ſtir for Heaven? What doſt thou leſs then thus blaſpheme, and ſet up thy folly above the wiſdom of the Lord, when thou condemneſt or reproacheſt the holineſs which he commandeth?
Queſt. 9. Dare you ſay that God is not only ſo unwiſe, but ſo unrighteous and tyranical, as to give the world unneceſſary Laws, and ſet them upon a needleſs work? What King ſo tyranical as would require his ſubjects on pain of death to go pick ſtraws againſt the wind? What Maſter or Parent ſo fooliſhly cruel as to command their ſervants or children, to weary themſelves with hunting butter-flies, and following their own ſhadows? And dareſt thou impute ſuch fooliſh tyrannie to the God of heaven? as if he had made a world, and ſet them upon a needleſs work? and commanded them to tire themſelves in vain?
Queſt. 10. Can a man be too diligent about that work which he was made for, and is daily preſerved and maintained for, and for which he hath all the mercies of his life? Thou hadſt never come into the world but on this buſineſs, even to ſerve and pleaſe God, and prepare for everlaſting happineſs: And are you afraid of doing this too diligently? Why is it, thinkeſt thou, that God ſuſtaineth thee? Why dyedſt thou not many years ago? but only that thou mighteſt have time to ſeek and ſerve him. Was it only that thou mighteſt eat, and drink, and ſleep, and go up and down, and fill up a room among the living? Why beaſts, and fools, and mad-men do all this, as well as thou. Why haſt thou thy Reaſon and underſtanding, but to know and ſerve the Lord? Is it only to know how to ſhift a little for the commodities of the world? Or is it not to know the way to life eternal? Look round about thee on all the creatures, and on all the mercies which thou doſt poſſeſs; every deliverance, and priviledge, and accommodation; every bit of bread thou eateſt, and every hour of thy precious time, are all given thee for this One thing needful: And yet wilt thou ſay that this One thing is needleſs, for which thou haſt all things? Thou mayeſt then ſay, that God made the world in vain; and preſerveth and governeth it in vain. For all this is but for his ſervice, which thou calleſt vain.
Queſt. 11. Doth not Reaſon tell thee, that the place in which thou muſt live for ever, ſhould be more diligently minded (and prepared for) then this in which thou muſt continue but for a while? Alas, it is ſo ſhort a time that we muſt be here, that it makes all the matters of this world (as ſuch) to be inconſiderable things, as dreams and ſhadows. What great matter is it for ſo ſhort a time, whether we be rich or poor, well or ſick, in credit or in contempt! whether we laugh or weep! When our part will be ſo quickly acted, and we muſt go naked out of the world as we came into it. For ſo ſhort a time, a poor habitation may ſerve the turn, as well as the moſt ſplendid Palace: A painful, obſcure, afflicted life, may do as well as the moſt plentiful proviſions, and the greateſt eaſe and worldly honours. The purple and fine linnen, the ſilks and bravery will be ſoon forgotten; and the ſoul in Hell will be no more the better for them, then the rotten carkaſe in the grave. The taſte of the delicious meats and drinks will quickly be forgotten: and ſportful youth will be turned into cold and languid age: and the moſt confirmed health into dolorous ſickneſs; and mirth and laughter into mournful groans. And is ſuch a tranſitory life as this, more worthy of your care and greateſt diligence, then life eternal? O one would think that the world that you muſt be ever, ever in, ſhould never, never be forgotten! There is the company that you muſt live with for ever: There is the ſtate that you ſhall never change: There is the Joy or Torment that ſhall have no end; and while you forget it, you are poſting to it, and are almoſt there. And can you be too careful for eternity?
Queſt. 12. Conſider alſo but the infinite Joyes of Heaven, and tell me, Whether thou doſt think, they are not worthy the greateſt coſt or pains that thou canſt be at to get them? Doſt thou think that Heaven is not worthy of the labour; that is beſtowed for it by the holyeſt Saints on earth? Will it not requite them to the full? Will any that comes thither repent that they obtained it at ſo dear a rate? If now thou couldſt ſpeak with one of thoſe Believers, mentioned in Heb. 11. that lived as ſtrangers and pilgrims on earth, as ſeeking a better, even a heavenly Countrey, that preferred the reproach of Chriſt before the treaſure of the world, and choſe affliction with the people of God, before the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, that were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might receive a better reſurrection; that had tryal of cruel m…kings and ſcourgings, and of bonds and impriſonments, and were ſ…oned, ſawn aſunder, tempted, ſlain with the ſword, wandred about in ſheep-skins, and goat-skins, being deſtitute, afflicted, and tormented, though men of whom the world was not worthy: Would any one of theſe now tell you, that they did or ſuffered too much for Heaven? Or that it was not worth ten thouſand times more? If thy tongue dare ſay that Heaven is not worth the coſt or trouble of a holy life, (or if thy life ſay ſo, though thy tongue dare not) thou judgeſt thy ſelf unworthy of it, and ſentenceſt thy ſelf unto damnation.
Queſt. 13. And are the torments of Hell ſo ſmall and tolerable, that thou thinkeſt a holy life too dear a means for to prevent them? Doſt thou believe the threatnings of the Lord, that he will come in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power! 2 Theſ. 1. 8, 9. and yet canſt thou ſay, What needs all this ado, to ſcape ſuch endleſs miſery! Thou wilt take any medicine to cure but the gowt or ſtone, if once thou have felt them? Thou wilt draw out a tooth to prevent the pain of it. And is Holineſs ſo hateful or grievous a thing to thee, that thou wilt venture on Hell it ſelf to avoid it? If ſo much of Hell be in thy heart already, blame none but thy ſelf if thou have thy choice.
Queſt. 14. Why waſt thou baptized into the Covenant of holineſs, to God the Father, Son and Holy-Ghoſt, if thou think it n…dleſs to perform thy Covenant? A holy life is no more then▪ in Baptiſm thou waſt ſolemnly engaged too: There didſt thou renounce the fleſh, the world and the Devil; and tookeſt God for thy portion and abſolute Lord, and gaveſt up thy ſelf to be ruled by him, and ſaved by Chriſt, and ſanctified by the holy Spirit; and doſt thou now ſay, What needs all this ado? Are we all by our Baptiſmal Vow engaged to a needleſs thing? I tell thee, there is not the holyeſt man on earth, that doth any more then what he is bound to by the Covenant-Relations which he undertook in Baptiſm.
Queſt. 15. Moreover, What an Hypocrite art thou to profeſs thy ſelf a member of the Holy Catholick Church, if Holineſs which is the life of the Church, ſeem needleſs to thee? Why doſt thou profeſs to believe and deſire the Communion of Saints, if the life of Saints ſeem needleſs to thee, and thou wilt not have Communion with them in their ſanctity? Doſt thou not plainly renounce thy Covenant, and faith, and duty, when thou renounceſt a holy life as a thing unneceſſary?
Queſt. 16. Doſt thou think, or dareſt thou ſay, that the bloody death, and holy life of Jeſus Chriſt were more then needs in order to thy ſalvation? Unleſs thou be a proſeſſed Infidel, I know thou dareſt not ſay ſo: And if thy ſoul were worth the ſufferings of the Lord of Life, is it not worth all the coſt and labour of thy duty? Chriſt lived a life of perfect holineſs: he never ſinned: he fulfilled all righteouſneſs: he prayed all night, and with greateſt fervency: preaching and doing good was his employment. Though he hated Phariſaical ſuperſtition, and the teaching for doctrines the Commandments of men, and ſerving God according to mens traditions, yet was there never ſo holy, and pure, and preciſe, and ſtrict, and heavenly a life as Jeſus Chriſt's: And this was for our redemption, and our example. And dareſt thou ſay that this was needleſs? Should we not endeavour to imitate our pattern? Are they better that are likeſt Chriſt, or they that are moſt unlike him? And which doſt thou think is liker Chriſt, the holy or the unholy? Sure we that fall ſo ſhort of the example that Chriſt hath given us, are far from being more diligent then needs, when Chriſt went not too far, nor was too ſtrict, that went ſo very far beyond us.
Queſt. 17. Look upon all the inſtitutions of the Lord: On Magiſtracy, and Miniſtry, and the great works of their office: On prayer, and preaching, and Sacraments, and Diſcipline, and all other Ordinances of God; and alſo on all the frame of the holy Scripture; and alſo on all the workings and graces of the Holy-Ghoſt; and tell me whether thou dareſt ſay, that all or any of theſe are in vain? and whether that Holineſs which all theſe are appointed for, can be a vain and needleſs thing?
Queſt. 18. Dareſt thou ſay that Chriſt doth more then needs, in his Interceſſion for us with the Father now in Heaven? It is he that ſendeth the ſpirit to ſanctifie us: It is he that prayeth that we may be ſanctified by the truth? We have no grace and holineſs but what we have from him. And dareſt thou ſay he doth too much? It is he that ſends his Miniſters to call men to a holy life: Look into his Word, and ſee whether the doctrine which they preach be not there preſcribed to them; and the duties of holineſs there commended. If therefore it were erroneous or exceſſive, it would be long of Chriſt, and not of his Meſſengers or Diſciples, that ſpeak and do no more for holineſs, then he bids them; but fall exceeding ſhort.
Queſt. 19. Art thou wiſer in this, and more to be believed, then all the antient Prophets, and Apoſtles, and ſervants of God in former ages, and then all that are now alive on earth, that ever tryed a holy life? The Scripture will tell thee that Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, David, and all the reſt of the Saints that were then moſt dear to God, were ſo far from thinking that a holy life was more then needs, that they thought they could never be holy enough, and blamed their defects when they excelled ſuch as now thou blameſt as too preciſe. And if thou wilt preferr the words and example of a worldling, or of a ſottiſh ſenſual man, before the judgement and example of theſe Saints, the company that thou chooſeſt, and the deceivers whom thou followeſt, ſhall be alſo thy companions in calamity, where ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, when ye ſhall ſee the Saints from Eaſt and Weſt, from North and South, ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, and all the Prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you, and ſuch as you thruſt out: Even when the laſt in time (whom you here deſpiſed) ſhall be equal to the firſt and antient Saints, Luke 13. 27, 28, 29, 30. Why do you hypocritically honour the names and memorials of the Prophets, Apoſtles, and other former Saints, and keep Holy-dayes for them▪ and yet reproach their holy courſe, and preferr the judgement of a drunkard or a malignant enemy of godlineſs before theirs? For ſo you do when you argue againſt a holy life.
Queſt. 20. Doſt thou think that there is now one ſoul in Heaven or Hell, that is of thy prophane opinion, and would ſay, that a diligent holy life is more ado then needs for mens ſalvation? Certainly thoſe in Heaven have more knowledge; and experience, and love to God and man, and goodneſs, then to be of ſo impious a mind, or once to entertain ſuch beaſtly thoughts: And thoſe in Hell, though ſtill … holy▪ have learned to their coſt to know the great Neceſſity of …ſs: And would tell you, if they could ſpeak with you, that the moſt ſtrict and heavenly life for millions of ages were not too dear, for the eſcaping of the everlaſting miſery. Why elſe do we find one of them in Luke 16. deſcribed as ſo deſirous, that o… the dead might be ſent to his Brethren, to warn them that they come not to that place of torment? And what is it that he would have had them warned of, but that they ſhould live a holy ſelf-denying life and with all their diligence lay up a treaſure in the life to come, inſtead of liying ſo ſenſual, and voluptuous, and ungodly a life as he had lived. The ſcope of the ſtory tells us that this would have been his meſſage, if he might have ſent.
Queſt. 21. Doſt thou think in thy Conſcience that at the hour … thy death, or at leaſt at Judgement, thou ſhalt think thy ſelf that Holineſs was unneceſſary? Doth not thy heart tell thee that then thou ſhalt be of another mind? and wiſh with the deepeſt deſires of thy ſoul, that thou hadſt lived as ſtrictly, and prepared for everlaſting life as ſeriouſly, and ſerved God as diligently, as ever did any Saint on earth? But alas, thoſe wiſhes will be then too late. Now is thy day: and now thou takeſt thy work to be needleſs: And to ſee the Neceſſity when time is gone, will be thy torment, but not thy remedy. Not one in this Congregation, or Town, or Countrey, not one in England, or in all the world, but ſhall be forced at laſt, whether he will or no, to juſtifie the wiſdom of the godly, and the worſt of you ſhall then with ten thouſand fruitleſs groans deſire, that you had imitated the holyeſt perſons that you knew. Not a tongue then ſhall ſay, What needs all this ado for heaven? Not a man there dare call his neighbour Puritane, nor take up a contemptuous jear, againſt the diligent ſervants of the Lord.
Queſt. 22. Is not that man at the heart againſt the Lord, that reproacheth his ſerious diligent ſervants, and counts his work a needleſs thing? Men are more willing to pleaſe thoſe that they love; and more ready to do the works they love. If your ſon or ſervant ſpeak againſt your ſervice, but as you do againſt Gods, what would you think of their affections? Doubtleſs it is no better then a ſecret hatred to the holineſs of God, and a Serpentine e…ity to his holy wayes, that cauſeth all theſe ſenſleſs cavils, and impious ſpeeches, againſt the life that he hath commanded us to live.
Queſt. 23. Is it not moſt unreaſonable impiety, for that man … ſpeak againſt too ſtrict exact obedience, and againſt ſerving God … much, that hath ſerved the world, the fleſh, and the Devil in … vigour and flower of his dayes, and this with pleaſure, and never ſaid, It is too much? When thou waſt drinking and ſporting, thou waſt not aweary: When it comes to a matter of riches, or honour, or eaſe, or pleaſure, to gratifie thy worldlineſs, pride, lazineſs and voluptuouſneſs, then thou never ſaiſt, It is too much? And is all too little for ſin and the Devil, and all too much for thy ſoul and God? Let Conſcience tell thee whether this be juſt.
Queſt. 24. Is it not a fooliſh wickedneſs, for that man to cry out againſt making haſte to heaven, and going ſo faſt in the wayes of God that hath loytered already till the evening of his dayes, and loſt ſo much time as thou haſt done? If thou hadſt begun as ſoon as thou hadſt the uſe of reaſon, and remembred thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, and never loſt an hour of thy time ſince then till now, thou hadſt done no more then what thy God, thy ſoul, and all right reaſon required of thee! For ſurely he that made thee, hath in wiſdom proportioned thy time to thy work, and hath not given thee an hour too much. A long life is ſhort enough to prepare for everlaſting. And ſhall a loytering Rebell that hath waſted ſo much of his little time, cry out, What needs ſo much ado?
Queſt. 25. Is it not the graceleſs miſerable ſort of men, that cry out, What needs all this ado? Certainly it is: For Scripture, and Reaſon, and Experience tell us, that all that are godly, are of another mind: The more grace they have, the more they would have: The more they love God, the more they would love him. The more good they do, the more they would do. Do you not ſee how they labour after more grace? and hear how they complain that they are no better? O how it would glad them to be more Holy and more Heavenly! It is therefore the ſtrangers and deſpiſers of grace, that never knew by experience, the nature, and power, and ſweetneſs of it, than ſay, It is more ado then needs. And is it not a moſt unreaſonable thing for a man that hath no ſaving grace and holineſs at all, to cry out againſt exceſs of holineſs? And for a man that is in the captivity of the Devil, and ready ſuddenly to drop into Hell, if death do but ſtrike the fatal blow, before he be regenerate, to talk againſt doing too much for heaven? And for a man that never did God one hours pleaſing ſervice, (Heb. 11. 6.) to prate againſt ſerving God too much? O poor wretch! were thy eyes but opened, thou wouldſt ſee that of any man in the Town or Countrey, this language ill beſeemeth thee. When God hath been ſo long offended; and thy ſoul is almoſt loſt already, and death and hell is hard at hand, and may ſwallow thee up in endleſs deſperation for ought thou knoweſt, before thou haſt read this Book to the end, or before thou ſee another year, or monethmonth, or day, is it time for ſuch a one as thee to ſay, What needs ſo much ado? One would think if there be any life in thee, thou ſhouldſt ſtir as for thy life: and if thou have a voice to cry, thou ſhouldſt cry out to God hoth day and night duplicate page duplicate page in the fervour of thy ſoul, even now while mercy may be had, leſt time ſhould over-ſlip thee, and thou be ſhut up in the place of torment: If Hell-fire will not make thee ſtir, What will? Should a weak Chriſtian that is caſt behind hand by his negligence, but once ſpeak againſt a diligent life, he were exceedingly too blame. But for thee that art yet in the gall of bitterneſs, and the miſery of an unregenerate ſtate, to ſpeak againſt holy diligence for ſalvation, when thou art in ſuch great and deep diſtreſs, and like a man that is drowning, or a houſe on fire, that muſt preſently have help or periſh; this is a madneſs that hath no name ſufficient to expreſs it by; which its a wonder that a rational ſoul ſhould be guilty of.
Queſt. 26. Art thou not afraid of ſome ſudden vengeance from the Lord, for thus making thy ſelf his open enemy, and contradicting him to his face? Mark his language, and then mark thine. Chriſt ſaith, [Enter in at the ſtrait gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deſtruction, and many there be which go i… thereat: becauſe ſtrait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.] Matth. 7. 13, 14. [Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate: for many, I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able.] Luke 13. 24. [See then that ye walk circumſpectly (or exactly) not as fools, but as wiſe, redeeming the time.] Epheſ. 5. 15, 16. [For I ſay unto you, th… except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scrib…s and Phariſes, ye ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdom of heaven.] Matth. 5. 20. [Wherefore brethren, give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure.] 2 Pet. 1. 10. [Workout your ſalvation with fear and trembling.] Phil. 2. 12. [Seeing then all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought ye to be in all holy converſation and godlineſs, looking for and haſting to the coming of the day of God.] 2 Pet. 3. 11, 12. [And if the righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, where ſhall the ungodly and the ſinner appear.] 1 Pet. 4. 18. [Lay not up for your ſelves a treaſure on earth, &c. but lay up for your ſelves a treaſure in heaven, &c. For where your treaſure it, there will your hearts be alſo.] Matth. 6. 19, 20, 21. [Seek firſt the Kingdom of God, and his righteouſneſs] Matth. 6. 33. [Labour not for the meat that periſheth, but for that which endureth to everlaſting life.] John 6. 27. [The Kingdom of heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.] Matth. 11. 12. [Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain: And every man that ſtriveth for the maſtery, is temperate in all things: Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore ſo run, not as uncertainly: ſo fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into ſubjection; leſt that by any means when I have preached to others, I my ſelf ſhould be a caſt-away.] 1 Cor. 9. 24, 25, 26, 27. [Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, eat ye that which is good, and let your ſoul delight it ſelf in fatneſs; encline your ear, and come unto me; hear and your ſoul ſhall live; and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you.] Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3. [Be ſervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord.] Rom. 12. 11. [For the grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to all men; teaching us that denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world: Looking for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and ſanctifie to himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works.] Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14. [Curſed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully.] Jer. 48. 10. [Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdom in the grave whether thougoeſt.] Eccleſ. 9. 10.
Theſe and ſuch like are the ſayings of God, by which thou mayſt eaſily underſtand his mind concerning the neceſſity of a ſerious, diligent, holy life. And ſhall a blind and wretched worm come after, and dare to contradict him, and unſay all this, and ſay, What needs ſo much ado? What! dareſt thou thus openly reſiſt God to his face? What art thou? and what is thy word, that we ſhould regard it before the Word of God?
Queſt. 27. Doſt thou not know that by thy ſpeaking againſt a diligent holy life, thou gratifyeſt the Devil, and openly ſerveſt him, and ſaiſt the very things that he would have thee ſay? What can more pleaſe him, and advance his Kingdom, and ſuit his malicious ends, then to ſtop and cool men in the ſervice of the Lord, and make them believe that holineſs is but a needleſs thing? If the Devil might have leave to walk viſibly among men, and ſpeak to them in their language, he would ſpeak to them as thou doſt, and ſay the ſame things which he … into thy mouth; and would do all that he could to keep men from a holy life. And dareſt thou thus openly play his part?
Queſt. 28. Canſt thou think (when eternal life is at the ſtake) that a man ſo weak in the midſt of ſo many hindrances and enemies, hath cauſe to count his diligence unneceſſary? When Satan like a roaring Lyon, is ſeeking day and night to devour thee (1 Pet. 5. 8.) when his malice, ſubtilty, and diligence is ſo great, and ſo unwearied; when his inſtruments are ſo many, ſo ſubtile, and ſo powerful; when the world aboundeth round about thee with ſuch dangerous enticing ſnares and baits; when thy trayterous fleſh ſo near thee is thy moſt perilous enemy, unceſſantly drawing thee from God unto the creature; and when thou art ſo impotent to reſiſt all theſe aſſaults; art thou then in a condition fit to cry out againſt the greateſt diligence for thy ſoul? Should a man going up the ſleepeſt hill, when it is for his life, be afraid of going too faſt? When thou haſt done all thou canſt, it is well for thee that ever thou waſt born if it ſuffice. If weakneſſes and enemies cauſe ſuch a difficulty that the righteous themſelves are ſcarcely ſaved (that is, with much ado) is it then time for thee to ask What needs ſo much ado?
Queſt. 29. D…ſt thou not deal exceeding unthankfully and unequally with God? When he thinks not the Sun and Moon and all the creatures too good to ſerve thee, nor all his mercies too great for thee; no not the blood of his beloved Son, nor his Spirit, nor Heaven it ſelf if thou wilt accept them in his way; wilt thou think thy beſt too good for him? and thy moſt diligent ſervice to be too much? When thy All is next to Nothing; and thy Beſt doth not profit the Almighty, but thy ſelf, and the gain will be thy own. If a man ſhould think it too much to put off his hat and thank thee, when thou haſt given him a thouſand pound; or to go a mile for thee, when thou haſt ſaved his life; thou wouldſt ſay he were not a man, but a monſter of ingratitude. But thy unthankfulneſs is ten thouſand-fold worſe to God, who would deliver thee from everlaſting torments, and give thee everlaſting glory, and ſave thee from Satan and all thy ſins, if thou wilt but take his ſafe remedies▪ and thou churliſhly refuſeſt, as if all were not worth ſo much ado.
Queſt. 30. Doſt thou know what a life it is that thou accounteſ… an unneceſſary toil? It is a life of the greateſt Safety, Commodity, Honour, and Delight, (beſides the juſtice and honeſty of it) of any in the world; and indeed thou canſt not chooſe any other but at thy peril, and to thy greateſt loſs and ruine, and to thy preſent and everlaſting ſhame and ſorrow: It is the ſweeteſt and moſt pleaſant life on earth, that thou ignorantly accounteſt ſuch a tedious toyl. The manifeſtation of this ſhall be my work in the ſecond Part of this Diſcourſe.
And now I dare affirm, that when the dreadful God ſhall ſhortly judge thee who haſt read or heard theſe words, it will be found indelibly written upon thy Conſcience, that thou hadſt here ſuch Reaſons laid before thee, to prove the Neceſſity of a ſerious, diligent, holy life, as all the wit in earth or Hell, is not able ſolidly to confute; and that an ungodly ſenſual life is moſt unreaſonable; and that, if after this, thou continue in an unſanctified fleſhly ſtate, thou ſhall juſtly periſh as one that wilfully refuſed ſalvation, as in deſpight of God, his mercies and his meſſengers, and of the plaineſt undenyable Truth and Reaſon: And that in refuſing to be a SAINT, thou madeſt thy ſelf in the greateſt matters no better then a BRUTE, wilfully ſubjecting thy Reaſon to thy ſenſuality, and judging thy ſelf unmeet for everlaſting Happineſs.