The Great Concern, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Wherein more particular helps, and directions are laid down, in order to the ſetting of things right, and making all ready for a dying hour.
BUt I would come nearer this great buſineſs, and give you ſome more particular directions, in order to your making all ready for a dying hour: and Firſt, would you indeed have all things right in the matters of your ſouls for a dying hour? then get into Chriſt, get union with Chriſt, and an intereſt in Chriſt by believing: union with Chriſt, and an intereſt in Chriſt, is moſt requiſite and neceſſary, to fit and prepare us for a dying hour; and without it we have, we can have nothing ſet right, nothing in order, nothing in readineſs for that hour: You know how the Scripture ſpeaks, He that hath the Son, hath life; but he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life, 1 John, 5.12. and there is no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus, Rom. 8.1. O my beloved, we ſhall live, or die, be ſaved, or damned for ever; according as we do, or do not get union with Chriſt, and an intereſt in Chriſt: This is what lies at the bottom and foundation of all, of all our hopes, of all our mercies, of all our comforts, of all our acceptation, and communion with God, of all Grace on Earth, and of all Glory in Heaven: and without it, whatſoever our attainments in Religion are, whatever our Profeſſion may be, whatever place or eſteem we may have to the Church of God though never ſo raiſed and eminent, yet we have nothing that will avail us in a dying hour. I remember a ſaying of a learned man, That thou maiſt live in death, ſaith he, get into Chriſt, implant thy ſelf into Chriſt by believing, Faith joyns and unites us to Chriſt, and they that are in Chriſt cannot die, for Chriſt is their life: And indeed, if we have union with Chriſt, he will be life in death it ſelf to us: Bleſſed are the dead which dye in the Lord; that is, die having union with Chriſt, being implanted into Chriſt, Rev. 14.13. If we have union with Chriſt, he will not be only life in death to us, but he will even turn death it ſelf into life; the King of Terrors into a King of Comforts; inſomuch that the ſoul ſhall be able to triumph over it, as the Apoſtle doth, 1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57. whereas without this, without union with Chriſt, and an intereſt in Chriſt, we ſhall never be able to look death in the face with comfort, but ſhall, when we come to die, be ſome of the miſerableſt ſpectacles in the world. It is the ſpeech of a worthy Divine, who is long ſince gone hence, A Chriſtleſs dying man or woman (ſays he) is one of the ſaddeſt ſpectacles in the world: For a man to be dying, and not Chriſtleſs, that is comfortable, for ſuch an one dies but to live for ever; he dies the death of Nature, to live the life of Glory: for a man to be Chriſtleſs, and not dying, is ſomething tolerable; for who knows, but that the next meeting at an Ordinance, may be the time of God's love to him of drawing him into Chriſt? but for a man to be dying and Chriſtleſs, Chriſtleſs and dying too, that is intolerable, that is terrible indeed; for ſuch an one dies to be damned, and he is going off from all hopes and poſſibilities of mercy for ever: Oh therefore, above all, preſs after union with Chriſt, and an intereſt in Chriſt, this was Pauls great care and ſolicitude to the very laſt, that ſo he might go off the Stage with comfort; and that for which he accounted all things but dung, as moſt baſe and vile, Phil. 3.8, 9. O Soul, didſt thou indeed know and conſider of how much weight and importance an intereſt in Chriſt is to thee, with reference to thine eternal happineſs, thou would cry out as eagerly for Chriſt, as ever Rachel did for children, ſaying, Give me Chriſt, or elſe I die; give me union with Chriſt, and an intereſt in Chriſt, or I am undone eternally: Oh look to the great uniting act of Faith, make a right choice of Chriſt, chuſe him as your Lord and Head, your King and Saviour, and renew your choice of him every day, reſigning up your ſelves entirely to him, to be ſaved and governed by him in his own way.
Secondly, Would you indeed have all ſet right, and made ready, in the matters of your ſouls, for a dying hour? then preſs after a firm and unſhaken aſſurance of an intereſt in God, and his love, and of your right and title to eternal life, of another, and a better life than this is here, without ſome good evidence for Heaven, and ſome well-grounded aſſurance of an intereſt in God, and Eternal Life, things are not ready with us, nor are we in ſuch a preparedneſs for a dying hour, as we ought to be; though a man hath an intereſt in God, and his love; though he hath a right and title to eternal life and happineſs; yet as long as he is in the dark, and at an uncertainty in his own ſoul about it, things are out of order with him, and he is greatly unready for a dying hour: For pray mark, as our intereſt in this is requiſite to our dying happily, ſo the ſight and aſſurance of that intereſt is requiſite to our dying comfortably. Indeed, when a man hath attained to ſome good evidence for heaven, to ſome well-grounded aſſurance of his intereſt in God and Chriſt, then are things in a good poſture with him, in reference to a dying hour, then he can play with Death, and triumph over it; as Job did, when he could ſay, I know that my Redeemer liveth, Job 19.25, 26. And as the Apoſtle ſeems to ſpeak of it, 2 Cor. 5.12. We know, that when our earthly houſe of this tabernacle ſhall be diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; for this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to be cloathed upon with our houſe which is from heaven: None of you do comfortably leave your houſe, unleſs you have another to go unto; much leſs can you comfortably quit this world, unleſs you have ſome well-grounded aſſurance of another, and a better life: Take a man that is in the dark, and at a loſs as to his intereſt in God and Chriſt, and he knows not what Death will do to him, nor where it will lodge him, whether in heaven or in hell, whether upon the Throne of Glory, or in the Priſon of eternal Darkneſs; in the Boſom of Chriſts love, or under the Revelations of his infinite and eternal wrath: and is ſuch a one ready for a dying hour? Surely no: As ever therefore you would have things right and ready within indeed for a dying hour, you muſt preſs after an aſſurance of your intereſt in God and Chriſt; you muſt do as the Apoſtle exhorts, give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. You muſt every day preſt after a fuller and firmer aſſurance, as to your eternal intereſt; you muſt be much in faith, much in prayer, much in examining your evidences, much in proving your ſtate, much in looking after the ſeal and evidence of the bleſſed Spirit, which is indeed all in all; and never reſt till you can ſay, My Lord, and my God, my Heaven, my Glory, God is the rock of my heart, and my portion for ever; O then all will be ſweet and well with you; this is that which the Saints of old have laboured after with their whole might; Say unto my ſoul (ſaith David to God) I am thy ſalvation, Pſal. 35.3… ſet me as a ſeal upon thy heart, and as a ſeal upon thine arm, Cant. 8.6. This Auſtin preſſed much after; Lord, ſaith he, tell me what thou art to me, ſay unto my Soul, I am thy ſalvation; ſo ſay it that I may hear it: behold the ears of my heart are before thee, open them, O Lord and ſay unto my Soul, I am thy Salvation. O, my Beloved, this is worth preſſing after; for this is the welcomeſt news a poor ſoul can poſſibly hear, to be told that God is his, and Heaven is his, and Eternal Life is his; and when once this news is come, then welcom life, and welcom death, welcom time, and welcom eternity; then the Soul can ſay, O ſweet Eternity, O bleſſed Eternity! O Sirs, be not ſatisfied without ſome good aſſurance of Gods love to your ſouls, and your right and title to heaven and eternal life; yea, without the fulleſt aſſurance that is attainable here; for know, that there are degrees in Aſſurance it ſelf; the Scripture mentions three degrees of aſſurance. Firſt, there is aſſurance, The work of righteouſneſs is peace, and the fruit of righteouſneſs is aſſurance for ever, Iſa. 32.17. and give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, as in the place before quoted. Secondly, there is much aſſurance, Our Goſpel came unto you, not in word only, but in power, and in the demonſtration of the Spirit, and much aſſurance, 1 Theſ. 1.5. Thirdly, there is a full aſſurance, We deſire that every one of you do ſhew the ſame diligence, to the full aſſurance of hope unto the end, Heb. 6.11. Now, my Beloved, I would not have you ſatisfied without aſſurance, without much aſſurance, yea, without a full aſſurance; the more full your aſſurance is, the more chearfully, joyfully, and triumphingly will you die.
Thirdly, Would you indeed have all all right, all in order, in the matters of your ſouls, for a dying hour? then labour to maintain a conſtant, actual peace with God, every day making even with him, and renewing the ſenſe of his pardoning love in your ſouls, as a firm union with Chriſt, and a well-grounded aſſurance of an intereſt in God, and eternal Life; ſo alſo, an actual peace with God, and a daily renewed pardon from him, is requiſite to a thorough readineſs and preparedneſs for a dying hour: David had an intereſt in God, yea and his intereſt was clear to him; yet how ſollicitous was he to get all even between God and him, and how uncomfortable was it with him, till he had renewed his peace with God, when by his fall it had been broken? Pſal. 51.8, 12. This alſo is what is evidently held forth Job 7.21. where Job pleads thus with God, Why doſt thou not pardon mine iniquity, and take away my tranſgreſſion? for now ſhall I ſleep in the duſt, thou ſhalt ſeek me in the morning, but I ſhall not be. In the verſe before, he acknowledged he had ſinned, and here he intimates, that God frowned on him for his ſin; the ſenſe of pardoning love was not renewed in his ſoul, which here therefore he pleads for, and that upon this account, becauſe he was ſpeedily to die; intimating he could not die with comfort, till he had a renewed ſenſe of Gods pardoning love: And this is the very thing which David begs in the Pſalm of my Text, in order to his comfortable going hence, (viz.) that God would take away his tranſgreſſions, Pſal. 39.8. As long as there is any ſin, any guilt lying upon our Conſciences, any ſin unpardoned, any difference between God and us, any frowns in his face towards us, we are unready for death, and cannot with that comfort and boldneſs of ſpirit, welcom it as we ought; but when our peace with God is maintained, and we have a renewed ſenſe of his pardoning love in our ſouls, then are things right, and in order with us indeed; deed; and we may think of death with boldneſs and comfort, and therefore mind this, as ever you would be found ready for a dying hour; every day even things between God and you, every day get a freſh ſenſe of pardon from him.
Firſt, as near as poſſible may be, do nothing that may occaſion any breach between God and you, or raiſe any frowns in his face towards you: if you do not break with God, he will not break with you; all breaches, as to peace and friendſhip between God and us, begin on our part; yea, neither will God break with us for little things, in caſe they be not allowed by us, but watched and ſtriven againſt; therefore, as near as poſſibly you can, do nothing to break and interrupt your peace with God for one moment: And becauſe when you have done all, many things may and will fall out (we having ſinful ſinning hearts, and living in a world of ſnares and temptations) for which God may juſtly frown upon us; let us
Secondly, every day make even with him: in the cloſe of every day let us conſider wherein we have broken with God, come ſhort of duty, given any grief, any diſtaſte to his Holy Spirit; and by Faith and Prayer let us ſue out the pardon of it; and let us not lie down, if poſſible, without ſome intimation of his pardoning love: for which end,
Firſt, We ſhould act Faith on the Blood and Advocateſhip of Jeſus Chriſt, whom God hath ſet forth to be a Propitiation, through faith in his Blood, to declare his righteouſneſs for remiſſion of ſins, Rom. 3.24, 25. And indeed, Chriſt hath ſet up a Standing Office in Heaven, which we may call the Pardon-Office; he procureth new Pardons for his People daily under their new ſins; We have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our ſins, 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Have daily recourſe to the Blood of Chriſt; truly without it there is no living; the beſt, the holieſt on earth, have daily need of his Blood, and ſhould have daily recourſe unto it, for the maintaining of their peace, and for the renewing of Gods pardoning love in their ſouls.
Secondly, We ſhould be humbly and earneſtly importunate with God in prayer, reſolving not to let him go without this bleſſing, carrying upon our ſpirits the ſenſe of the worth, and alſo of our unworthineſs of it. Thus the holy men of God of old have done, they have ſued out the pardon of their ſins by Faith and Prayer, and gotten a freſh ſenſe of Gods love when they have broken with him; as I might inſtance in Job, in David, and others; we ſhould every day pray as that Father did, O Lord, ſaith he, do not after the manner of a Judge weigh or conſider what I have done, what I have ſpoken, what I have thought, but blot out all my ſins with thy own Blood: And as another of them did, Lord, ſaith he, there is that in me which may offend thy holy eyes, I know and confeſs it; but who ſhall cleanſe me? or to whom ſhall I fly for relief, but to thee? O hide not thy face from me. Truly when we have walked moſt watchfully, moſt circumſpectly, many things may, and will fall out, that may offend the pure eyes of Gods Glory, which we ſhould confeſs and bewail before him, ſuing out the pardon of them by the Blood of his Son. Some of the Saints have made this their daily practiſe, and ſo have maintained their peace for many years together; and when they have come to die, have gloricuſly triumphed over Death; and have gone off the Stage with much comfort; and ſo ſhould we.
Fourthly, Would you indeed have all right; all in order in your ſouls for a dying hour? then be true and faithful to your own Conſciences; that you may have them for you, and not againſt you, both while you live, and when you die. Conſcience (my Beloved) is Chriſts Deputy, or Vicegerent in the Soul, it is both a Judge and a Witneſs for God within us, it either accuſes, or excuſes, acquits, or condemns, Rom. 2.15. and according as Conſcience is either for us, or againſt us, ſo we are either ready, or not ready, prepared, or not prepared, for Death and Judgment: If we have the Witneſs and Judgment of our Conſciences for us, then have we boldneſs and comfort both in life and death, then we can welcom Deaths approach to us, but if the Witneſs and Judgment of Conſcience be againſt us, then Death cannot but be terrible to us, This is our rejoycing (ſaith the Apoſtle) the teſtimony of our Conſciences, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not in fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our converſation in the world, 2 Cor. 1.12. And again, If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things; but if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God, 1 Joh. 3.21. O, my beloved, as a peace with God, ſo a ſound and holy peace with a mans own Conſcience (that is to ſay, to have the witneſs and judgment of a mans Conſcience for him, and not againſt him) is highly requiſite for a right diſpoſing and preparing of us for a dying hour: As ever therefore you would have all ready, and in order againſt ſuch an hour, mind this, and look after this; be ſure you carry it ſo to your own conſciences, as that you may have them always for you, and not againſt you, while you live; and for you, and not againſt you, when you come to die: In order to which, mind theſe two things.
Firſt, Labour to get your Conſciences well inlightned and informed, and be much with God in prayer in order thereto; beg and implore God for a true and faithful Conſcience, a Conſcience that will bear a true and faithful witneſs in your ſouls, and that will paſs a right judgment upon things, both upon your ſtate and actions. In Heb. 10.21. we read of a true heart, or a true conſcience, that is, a conſcience rightly informed, a conſcience that bears a true and faithful witneſs, and that paſſeth a true and faithful judgment upon things, ſuch a conſcience ſhould we beg of God, and labour by all means poſſible to attain unto. O, my Beloved, it is a dangerous thing to have an erroneous conſcience, a miſtaking conſcience, a conſcience not rightly inform'd: For pray mark, this is what leaves a man under a neceſſity of ſinning, and ſo of grieving the Spirit of God on the one hand, and it endangereth his peace and comfort on the other hand: for having an erroneous conſcience, whether we obey it, or obey it not, we ſin; if we obey it, we ſin, becauſe conſcience commands what is not agreeable to the Word of God; if we obey it not, we ſin, becauſe we rebell againſt the light and dictates of Conſcience, omitting that which Conſcience tells us is a duty, though it be not a duty, or doing that which Conſcience tells us is a ſin, though it be not a ſin: Labour therefore to get your Conſciences well informed and inlightened.
Secondly, Be ſure you do nothing againſt the light and dictates of Conſcience, being rightly informed, but obey it in all things. In Job 24.13. we read of ſome that rebel againſt the light, that is, that do ſin againſt their own Conſciences, with is a double ſin, a ſin cloathed with great aggravations, and greatly diſcompoſeth us for a dying hour: but we muſt take heed of this and liſten to the voice of Conſcience, Conſcience regulated by the word of God: God ſpeaks to us by our Conſciences, he ſpeaks to us through his word by our Conſciences, and he ſpeak to us through his providences by our Conſciences and we ſhould take heed of violating the Dictates, or ſpeaking of Conſcience in the leaſt. Doth not Conſcience many times tell us, ſuch as ſuch ways which we walk in are not good, and muſt be turned from, or we are undone for ever? And now we ſhould be true and faithful to our own Conſciences, and ſpeedily turn from thoſe ways, we ſhould have nothing to do with any thing that Conſcience condemns us in and for. Again, Doth not Conſcience many times tell you, that ſuch and ſuch duties are totally neglected, or elſe ſeldom or ſlightly performed by you, which yet you ought to be converſant and diligent in the performance of? Now you ſhould herein alſo be faithful and true to your own Conſciences, living up to the conſtant, diligent, ſpiritual performance of thoſe duties. Again, Doth not Conſcience many times tell you, that things are nor right with you, that it is an evil frame of ſpirit you live in, that you are too carnal, too light, too vain, too frothy, too eager in your purſuits of this World, and too remiſs in your purſuits of Heaven and Eternity? Now as ever you would be ready for a dying hour, you ſhould be faithful to your own Conſciences, ſetting that right which is amiſs, and haſtening out of that evil frame, into the contrary gracious frame. (Oh my Beloved) if you be true and faithful to Conſcience, Conſcience will be true and faithful to you; witneſſing for you, and not againſt you, both while you live, and when you die. In a word, in all things labour to keep a good conſcience; this was Paul's great care and exerciſe, Acts 24.16. Herein do I exerciſe my ſelf, to have always a conſcience void of offence towards God, and towards man. O this will be a ſweet and bleſſed exerciſe, and the more we are found in it while we live, the more comfort will it afford us when we come to die.
Fifthly, Would you indeed have all things right, and in order in the matters of your ſouls, when a dying hour comes? Then labour for much purity of heart and life, and by no means admit of any ſin, any corruption whatſoever; the more pure and holy we are, the more ready are we, and in the better poſture things are with us for a dying hour: Without holineſs, ſaith the Apoſtle, no man ſhall ſee God, Heb. 12.14. Holineſs is neceſſary unto happineſs; holineſs is the way unto happineſs; holineſs is what ſits and prepares us for happineſs, and brings us unto happineſs; yea, holineſs is a part of our happineſs, a great part of the happineſs of Heaven it ſelf lies in holineſs; accordingly the more holy we are, the more we are ſuited to, and prepared for the future happineſs, and ſo for Death and Judgment; for that which prepares us for the future happineſs, that alſo prepares us for death, which is but an in-let into that happineſs for ever: Therefore, if you would have all things right, all things ready indeed for a dying hour, then labour for the exacteſt purity and holineſs that poſſibly you can: This is that which the Apoſtle aims at, and prays for, on the behalf of the Theſſalonians, as moſt conducing to the preparing of them for their latter end, 1 Theſ. 3.12, 13. And the Lord make you to abound and increaſe in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you, to the end he may eſtabliſh your hearts unblamable in holineſs before God, even our Father, at the coming of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt with all his Saints. The poſture he would have them to be in at the coming of Chriſt, is the poſture of unblamable holineſs, which indeed is the beſt and readieſt poſture: The ſame thing he prays for, in order to the ſame end, in 1 Theſ. 5.23. And the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly, and I pray God that your whole ſpirit, ſoul and body be preſerved blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. This is that alſo which that other Apoſtle injoyns in order hereunto, 2 Pet. 3.14. Be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without ſpot, and blameleſs; the more ſpotleſs and blameleſs we are in our ſpirits and ways, the more ready we are for Death and Judgment: O preſs after an eminency in holineſs, admitting of none, no not the leaſt taint or tincture of ſin, or ſinful defilement, upon any terms whatſoever: unholy ſouls are unready ſouls, they are unready for Death, unready for Judgment, unready for the future life: and for men to talk of being ready for theſe, and yet be unholy, is the greateſt folly in the world: therefore labour for much purity and holineſs.
Firſt, Labour for much purity and holineſs in your lives and walkings: this is what God indiſpenſably calls for, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16. As he which hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation; becauſe it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy. We ſhould preſs after univerſal holineſs: there ſhould be a vein and tincture of holineſs run through all we do, even our Civil, as well as our Religious actions, we ſhould as near as poſſibly be dedicated and devoted to God, and our Lives ſhould be lives of walking with him: they, and they onelyonly, who walk with God while they live, are thoſe who will be found ready to live with God, when they come to die: As for all careleſs, licentious ones, let them never talk of being ready for death, and the future life; for they are at an utter diſtance from any ſuch thing: indeed ready they are; but for what? ready for Hell, ready for the wrath of God, ready for deſtruction; but they are not at all ready for a bleſſed Eternity: The Apoſtle weeps over ſuch, as being indeed thus ready, Phil. 3.18, 19. Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies to the Croſs of Chriſt, whoſe end is deſtruction, whoſe God is their belly, whoſe glory is their ſhame, who mind earthly things. Many there are who profeſs and hope well of themſelves, as to another life, who yet are looſe and carnal, wicked and licentious in their lives and walkings: they do not watch and keep their garments, but wallow in the mire of their luſts and pollutions: they ſtain their profeſſion with foul, groſs, and ſcandalous ſins; at leaſt they live and allow themſelves in ſome ſecret way and haunt of ſinning, indulging this and the other Luſt: But (my Beloved) theſe are far indeed from being ready for a dying hour; and muſt expect to be caſt off from God and Chriſt for ever: Such were thoſe, Mat. 7.22, 23. They came, and cried Lord, Lord: came with their gifts, parts, and privileges; but Chriſt ſent them away, with a depart from me, ye workers of iniquity: So in Jer. 7. and beginning, we read of ſome that made profeſſion of God and his ways, and yet walked in ſin, and wallowed in all manner of abomination: And what is the iſſue? Verſe the 15th ſaith God, I will caſt you out of my ſight. God will at laſt caſt off all looſe, licentious walkers. Pſal. 21.9. David prays thus, Gather not my ſoul with ſinners: And truly, if you would not be gathered with ſinners at laſt, you muſt not walk in ſin with ſiners now: and as for the Saints themſelves, ſo far as they let down their watch, and neglect their walking with God; ſo far as they give way to a looſe, vain, heedleſs way of living, ſo far they have things out of order with them, and they are unready for a dying hour: Behold, I come as a Thief, (ſaith Chriſt) bleſſed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments, leſt he walk naked, and they ſee his ſhame, Rev. 16.15. So far as the Saints carry it unbecoming their high and holy Profeſſion (which is too too frequent with them) ſo far they are ſhort of that compleat readineſs for Death and Eternity they ſhould preſs after.
Secondly, Labour for much purity and holineſs in your hearts and affections: we muſt be pure and holy within, as well as without; in our hearts and affctions, as well as in our lives and walkings, if we would have all right indeed for a dying hour; Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord? and who ſhall ſtand in his holy place? The anſwer is, He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, Pſal. 24.3, 4. And Chriſt expreſly tells us, Bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God, Mat. 5.8. Indeed impure hearts are unfit to ſee God; he is a pure and holy God; nor may impure-hearted ones expect that bleſſed ſight. I remember a ſaying which I have read in one of the Ancients, (which I look upon to be a great ſaying) Woe and alas, O Lord, (ſaith he) how prepoſterous is it? how raſh and unadviſed? how inordinate? how remote from the rule of the Word of thy Truth and Wiſdom, for a man to deſire to ſee God with an unclean heart? Oh have a watchful eye upon your hearts, and labour to keep them as free from any taint and tincture of ſin as poſſibly you can?
Firſt, Be ſure you ſuffer no luſt to get up into the Throne, where it is too too often found. When ſin is conſented to by the Will, the luſt is on the Throne in the heart: and indeed it is wonderful to think how ſoon one or another corruption will mount up into the Throne in the Soul, if we let down our Watch but a little: But oh take heed of this! ſo far as any one luſt whatſoever is predominant within us, ſo far we are marvellous unready for a dying hour: And not onelyonly ſo; but,
Secondly, Watch narrowly againſt the very firſt riſings and motions of ſin within: Nip Luſt, if poſſible, in the very Bud and Bloſſom: It is true, this calls upon us to have a very curious eye upon our hearts, and indeed ſuch an eye we ſhould have upon them, we muſt have upon them, if we mean to be Chriſtians indeed: Grace will teach a man not onelyonly to oppoſe the acts of ſin, and to watch againſt the reign of any heart-luſt; but alſo to oppoſe the very firſt motions and riſings of ſin in the Soul: And the more you do this, the better poſture you are in for a dying hour.