A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 190 (Questions 67-68)
SERMON CXC.
QUESTION LXVII.
WHICH is the Sixth Commandment?
ANSWER.
THIS Sixth Commandment is, Thou ſhack not Kill.
WE obſerved, That the Fifth Command peculiarly Reſpects the Orders which God hath placed among Men, and the Relative Duties ariſing from theſe Orders. Now as all the other Commands in the Firſt Table, may be reduced to the Firſt Command, ſo may all that follows in this, be referred to the Fifth. Yet becauſe there are the Common Concerns of Men one with another, which refer not ſo much to any Special Relation, as to Mankind in General, conſidered as a Sociable Creature, and under a neceſſity of Dwelling together, and maintaining Communion; and there are ſeveral ſorts of Good things which they are concerned in, in every whereof their Love one to another, ought to exert it ſelf in promoting their Good and Benefit thereby, and avoiding the doing them Harm: Theſe therefore are laid in the following Precepts.
THERE are diverſe Diſtributions given of theſe Precepts; which Difference mainly ariſeth from various Thoughts about the ſpecial Deſign of the Tenth Command; for, That there muſt be ſomething ſpecial aimed at in every Precept, we formerly obſerved; inaſmuch as the Decalogue is an Epitome of the whole Moral Law; and yet that the Tenth hath a reſpect to the ſame Subject matter, which is laid down in the Four nextly going before it, is manifeſt by the Words of it. And there are two Opinions here, which bid faireſt for our Information in this matter.
SOME would have the Four following Commands to refer to the ſeveral Kinds of Good which we ought to ſeek for our Neighbour; and the Laſt to his Proſperity in each Kind.
OTHERS think that the former reſpect the things themſelves, which are Committed againſt our Neighbour in either of theſe; and the Laſt the firſt Motions of Original Sin in us, which have not gained the Conſent of our Will. But this may be further Deliberated, when we come to the Laſt Command.
AS for thoſe who think, That in the former there is only forbidden the Outward Act, and in that latter the Inward Deliberations and Concluſions of the Heart; they are to be rejected; for the Law is Spiritual, Rom. 7.14. And therefore every Precept of it commands the Heart, as well as the Liſe.
NOW the Four following Commands, my be reduced to Two Heards,
1. Such as refer to our Neighbours Perſon, in Command … and Secerth.
2. Such as refer to his … Concerns, in Command Eighth & Ninth.
And under each of theſe, there are alſo Two things pointed at,
[1.] In reſpect of his Perſon.
1. His Liſe.
2. His Cha…lity.
[2.] In regard of his outward Concerns,
1. His Goods.
2. His Cr….
Which muſt be diſtinctly conſidered.
THE proper Subject of the Sixth Command, is the Life of Men, Thou ſhall not Kill. The Meaning whereof follows to be Enquired.
QUESTION LXVIII.
WHAT is required in the Sixth Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Sixth Commandment required, all lawful Endeavours to Preſerve our own Life, and the Life of others.
THE Words in the Precept are G…, ſome therefore have extended it to all things that have Life in them, and made the Precept unlimited: But the Word uſed in & Hebrew, is obſerved by Criticks, to be uſed only with reſpect unto Mankind; and doubleſs the Command hath a principal regard to them, tho' all regard to the Life of other Cru…, is not to be excluded; for we read, Prov. 12.10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his …. Nevertheleſs, God hath put the Lives of … and Plants under the Diſpoſal of Man, for their Uſe and Benefit.
THE great and main Duty therfore required in this Command, is uſually called Humanity; which cenſiſts in a tender Regard to and Care of the Life of Man; and that of …, no further than it prohibits Cruelty to be exercised towards them.
AND how far the Liſe of Man is …ernal in it, will come to be conſidered in the ſecond.
HERE then we may obſerve.
1. THE Subject about which this Duty is to be exerciſed, viz. Life. And this being the main and principal thing, ſeems to challenge the firſt Place in Order of theſe particular Precepts; for Killing of a Perſon properly intends, the taking away of his Life from him; which is accompliſhed by procuring the ſeperation of Soul and Body. Now, As Man conſiſts of Two Eſſential Conſtituent Parts, Soul and Body, and there is a Life of Both to be conſidered, the out a Spiritual, the other a Natural; ſo we … look on them both as coming under the Comprehenſion of this Precept: For all the Duties of Love to Man are reducible to one or other of the Precepts of the Secon. Table: And to which of them can the Life of the Sour, be better applied than this?
AND unde Life is comprehended all the Governance and Comfort of Life, or whatſoever is requiſite to the Health, Eaſe, Freedom, Satisfaction, by which the Life may be r…snd…ed Delightful.
II. THE Comprehenſive Duty of this Com…ed, is, the uſing all lawful …a…e…vours for the Preservation of Life. There is an Aſſi…a…, as well as a Negative part in every Pre…: So that it is not enough to Abſtain from doing any thing which directly tends to the …ming or taking away of the Life; but there are the proper Means to be uſed for the …ance of it, and maintaining the Health, Vigour and Comfort of it: An this requires not only good Words, but good Deeds, which it plainly intimated by that of the Apoſtle, J…. 2.15, 16. Iſ a brother or ſiſter be naked, and deſtitute of daily food: And one of you ſay … thew. It part in peace, be you warmed and …: notwithſtanding ye give them not th…ſe things which are needful to the body, what doth it pre…t? It comprehends the Deſires of it, and where the Deſires are regular, they will be ſ…red with Endeavours anſwerable; only theſe Endeavours muſt be ſuch as are Lawful; for the Precept not only requires the Uſe of …s for an End, but ſets …ounds to the …s, beyond which it is not permitted that …e paſs: For that is a general Rule, which … no Exception, that we may not do Evil … Good may come of it. And the principal limitations here to be obſerved, are ſuch as theſe:
1. IT is no way lawful for a Man to deny his Religion, that be may ſave his Life. This hath often been the Caſe of the Godly, in Times of Perſ…tion; and many of the Mar…s have been offered their Lives on theſe Terms: But it is a conſtant Rule, that one Command is not to be broken, under pretence of keeping another, for there is no Claſhing of Duties: But for a Chriſtian to Renounce his Religion is a Notorious Breach of the Firſt Command: And we are told what our Duty is i… this regard, 1 Pet. 3.14, 15. If ye ſuffer for righteouſneſs ſake, happy are ye: and be not … of their terrour, neither be troubled; But jus;tify the Lord in your hearts: and the ready …ys to give an anſwer to every man that asked you a reaſon of the hope that it in you, with weakneſs and fear.
2. NOR is it lawful for any to tell a Lye, … preſerve his Life. As litile a matter as many make of ſpeaking Falſly upon every triſting …; yet he pays too dear to redeem his life, who will Lye for it; that is a Sin as ſuch forbidden in the Ninth, as Marder in the Sixth Command; and by thus doing, he alſo hurts the Life of his Soul, which is of …mparably greater worth, than that of his …dy: And if he may not do it for himſelf, ſurely he ought not to do it for his Neighbour. For will the Examples of the Godly in Scripture, juſtify this, it being their Sin.
3. NOR may we Reſiſt lawful Authority, to deſend Our, or our Neighhour's Life. We obſerved under the Fifth Command, That God hath ordained Civil Government, and requires due Subjection to it from the Subject; not can Human Society conſiſt without it: Their wholſome Laws are therefore to be Comp…ed withal, and not forcibly Reſi…ed by us if Criminal: Much leſs may we Reſcue others from it by Force; for this were to break the Orders eſtabliſhed by God: Whereas the Apoſtle tells us, Rom. 13.5. Wherefore ye muſt needs be ſubject, not only for wrath, but alſo for conſcience ſake.
4. NOR ought we to with-hold our Teſtimony againſt Capital O…ers, when …a…ſuily called for. When Men are Arraigned for ſuch Crimes as the Law of God, as well as Men, Adjudgeth them to Death, and we are required to give our Teſtimony againſt them, we are not in Pity to their Lives, to Refuſe it; becauſe hereby we Provoke God, and do what lies in us, to procute a P…lick Guilt. We are therefore adviſed, Prov. 2….17. A man that doeth violence to the blond of any perſon, ſhall ſlee to the pit, let no man ſtay him. Deus. 13. 6, —9.
III. THE Object of this Duty is, Ourſelves and Others. The Command is expreſt Univerſally and ſo it graſps Mankind under it, according to the forecited Limitation, i. e. ſo far as it may be done Lawfully. The Object of the Love required in the second Table, is our Neighbour, Marth. 22.39. Thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelf. i. e. Mankind. And this doth not exclude, but include, a Man's Self; for regular Self-Love, is the Rule of our Loving our Neighbour, which preſumes it. But that we miſtake not in this Affair, let us more particularly Confider, that all Killing is not here prohibited. Now there are Caſes in which it is Lawful, nay a Duty to put Men to Death, and be Acceſſory to it; and it would be a Sin not to do it.
MORE particularly,
1. IT is warrantable in a juſt Self-Defence. Caſuiſts handle this Caſe warily, and with good Reaſon; for our of doubt it ought not to be, but upon unavoidable Neceſſity; for the Man is in this Caſe, Plan off, Witneſs, Judge, and Executioner, which is too much, except there be no avoidance: But when a Man is ſ…t upon by ſuch as offer forcibly to take his Life from him, and hath no other way to ſave his own, but by taking the Life of the Aggreſſor, the Law of Sely-Preſervation obligeth him to do it: And when we ſee our Neighbour ſet upon by Murderers, who offer to take away his Life, and there is no other way to Reſcue him; the Law of Loving our Neighbour as our ſelves, warrants it. Only we muſt take heed that it be not in Revenge, or ſtanding meerly upon a Spirit of Honour, or barely to Reſcue our Goods, taken away by a Robber; but for the Preſervation of Life it ſelf, when threatned: Tho' ſome add, Where a Rape is offered, and the Chaſtity can be no other ways defended. If therefore are can Defend ourſelves by F…t; … in our Defence put the Aggreſion to F…ght, or …ſable him from accompliſhing of his Purpoſe upon us, it is not lawful for as to … him, becauſe it belongs to the Order of …v…l Maga…i…y to Avenge Injuries done … us, which we are not to take out of their hands, but upon Extream Nec…ſſury; but then the Light of Nature teachers it, and it belongs to the Duty of Preſervation of the Life, directed to in the Preceps: And to this belongs that of the Wiſe Man, Prov. 24.11, 12. If than forbear to deliver them that are drown …s death, and theſe that are reaſy to be ſtain: If thou ſayeſt, Behold, we know it not: doth not be that pondereth the heart conſider it? and be that …eepeth thy ſoul, doth not be know it? and ſhall not be render to every man according to his works?
2. THIS Command doth no way l…ſringe the Power of the Civil Magiſtrate. to Puniſh Cap…t…l Crimes with Death. That Civil Magiſtracy … Order, …dained by God; and that they have a Sword put into their hands, which they are to uſe as the Miniſters of God, was taken Notice of under the former Command; and is aſſerted by the Apoſtle, Rom. 13 begin. Where therefore God Commands him to put any to Death, he by his Office owes Obedience to that Command: He doth not Sin by Killing, but would Sin if he did not Kill. Now that God hath by His Precept ordained Capital Puniſhments for Capital Crimes, is evident in the Holy Scriptures: And that there are ſuch Capiral Crimes, which call for ſuch Puniſhment, Experience it ſelf tells us; and without it, the Publick Tranquillity could not be preſerved. And it is in vain pretended by ſome, That theſe Laws belonged to the Je…ſh Polity, and a… not of Force to Chriſtians, and in the New-Teſtament Times: Doubtleſs it was a Moral Law, Gen. 9.6. Whoſe ſho…deth man… blond, by man ſall his blond be ſhod. And this did not give every Man leave to do it of his own head, but made it a Duty of the Civil Magistrate, to take Care about it: And that it abodes in Force in the Goſpel Times, is evident from that of our Saviour, Ma…th. 26.52. For all they that take the ſword, ſhall periſh of the ſword. Which was not a Prediction of what ſhould always be, for then it had not been True; but a Reference to this Law, to the Penalty whereof, … Murderers were liable: And there are notorious Crimes, which if not Puniſhed with Death, by lawful Authority, will bring Guilt upon a Land, and expoſe it to the awful Judgment of God. It is therefore given as one part of the Character of a Wiſe King, by Salomon, Prov. 20.26. A wiſe King ſca…reth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. And in vain do our Adverſaries plead that theſe things were warrantable before Chriſt, but that the Goſpel requires an… ther Spirit; for Chriſt did not come to deſtroy the Order which God ſat up among Mankind, or lay open the World to all Miſchiefs without any Guard againſt them; which could not be, unleſs Capital Laws be in force, and a Power of Extenting them, be in ſome Order of Men. When therefore the … approves of … Ka…rs, and puts the Sword into their …oo…, certainly, it …oth not together with that, make it a Sin, for them to apply it a …, for them to apply it as the… ….
3. THIS Ire… … in…er… …ſtrans the Liberty of making War, upon that Opp…ve Neighbour. It is true, … or is … awful thing in it ſelf, and the Aliſe…es an… ding it are ſuch, as would make Men of Underſtanding to avoid Ri…ſneſs in Uncertaking of it: Hence that, Prov. 20.1…. — With good advice make war. It is certain, That in War b…ſ…ed cannot be avoided; but it is as ſ…ve. That God approved and appointed His People to make War, under the Law of Meſes, and by the Moral Law; and that this was Aboliſhed by the Law of Chriſt, Socinians in vain a…empt to prove. Chriſt came not to Ab…ſh the Mord Law, or the Law of Nature; nor did be make void Civil Polity, or Civil Magiſtracy, b… conformed it, and appointed that C…ſ…r ſhould have his Doe. The Apoſtacy hath R…wled the World into Confuſion, and Men are become Wolves to one another: Now M…g…trance … by their Office, to Deſend the Righteous, and Supporeſs the Unrighteous; and that not only by the Adminiſtration of Juſt Laws over th… Subjects, but by Securing their Dominions … the Injurious Oppres…ions of their Neighbour: And that by a Juſt Deſence of them from the Invaſion of Enemies; and Avenging the …n… ries that are offered them, by ſuch as are in Hoſtility againſt them: They are therefore called ſhields of the Earth, Pſal. 47. …li. and Avengers, Rom. 13.4. But I am not he… to lay forth all the Cauſes which refer to the Lawful making of War; but only ſnow, that the thing it ſelf doth not Interfere with this Command: We therefore not only Read in the Old Teſtament, of the Wars of the Lord, ſo called, becauſe taken up by His Approbation and Appointment, and for His Cauſe; but this alſo is confirmed in the New Teſtament: When the Soldiers came to John Baptiſt, to enquire their Duty, he doth not Cenſure their Calling, (which he would if it was Unlawful,) but only Regulates it, Lake 3.14. And what elſe … we gather from theſe Texts, 1 Tim. 2.3, 4. R…. 13.6. Luke 22.36. He that b…thn… ſw…d, … him ſell his garment, and buſ one. Not is that Precept Prophetical, Rev. 1….6. Reword b… even as ſhe rewarded you, and double unto … double, according to her works: in the c…p which ſhe bath ſilled, ſill to her double: to be interpreted meerly Spiritually, but alſe Temperally: and reſers to the Ruin of Antichriſt. In a word If it be no Breach of this Precept, to Puniſh Offenders with Death, if the Cauſe be Cop…l, it cannot be ſo to make War upon the open … …ies of a People, who ſeek their Hurt a… Ruin.
We may now proceed to lay forth this Day in the ſeveral Parts of it, or Particulars contained in it; and that both in reſpect of Our ſelves and Others.
1. IN reſpect of Our ſelves. There is a Se…-Love which is condemned in the Word of God, … a…cided; but there is a Selſ… which is Command…d, and not to exerciſe … contrary to Nature: Hence that, Eph. 5.29. For …word ever ye… bated his own …leſh; but …ſ…th and cheriſheth it. Here then, It is every Man's Duty to love his own Life, to deſee the Continuance of it, and to take Pleaſure is it, and accordingly to Uſe the proper Means for the Preſervation of it: For the Reaſon of this Conſideration is uſed by the Spirit of God, as a Motive to excite Men to Duty, Pſal. 32.12. You man is he that d…ſireth liſe, and l…veth …y days, that be …ay ſee good? And God ſuch put into Human Nature a Principle which caves Life, and avo…s Death, and is afraid of the App…aches of …. For which reaſon it is …ed the K…ng of Terro…s; and therefore we are aſſured, that nothing in this World can … in Compariſon with it, but can be parted with for the ſake of …; this Satan knew and …ged. Job 2.4. And Satan anſwered the Lord, … ſ…d, S…in for ſkin, ye all that a m…n h…th, will be give for his life. And proportionable to this Love, if it be real will be the Ende…ur; for as the Affections are moved, ſo will the wh… Man be managed.
NOW the Duties are many and diverſe, acc…ſing to the next Subject which is concerned, … …al and Body. Hence,
[1.] IT is every Man's Duty to uſe all Endeavours, to Preſerve the Life of his own Soul. Is there is a Bodily, ſo there …s a Spiritual Death, which inſers a contrary Life, whereof …is Death is a Privation. Now as a Natural De…ta conſiſts in the ſeparation of the Body and S…l, ſo the Spiritual in the ſeparation of the Sool from the Favour of God; hence that, Pſal. 3…. …. In his favour is life. Now, this Life is the Man's firſt and moſt weighty Concern to ſ…ek the ſecuring and advancing of; as will be evident from the Pref…rrableneſs of it before the other. Matth. 16.26. For what is a man p…ſ…ed, of … ſhall gain the whole world, and life … one … what ſhall a man give in ex… for his ſoul? A Man may loſe his Body Life and be Happy, but if the Life of his S…l be loſt, he is Undone for ever, Ver. 27. In the S…n of man …ſhall … we in the glory of his Father wi…h his angels; and …en …e ſhall reward …ry man according to his works.
NOW there are the Means appointed by God, … declared in the Goſpel, which it is every M…n… in diſp…nſible Duty to Uſe, in order to …e obtaining the Salvation of his Soul; which be cannot Neglect, without incurring the Guilt of Self-…der. And here,
(1) … muſt ſeek …erne…ly the Recovery of the Life of his S…al. It is the woful Inſelicity of fallen Man, that he is born under the …ca… of Spiritual Death, hence that, Eph. 2.1. —… were dead in …ſp…es and ſins. And … Efficacy which this hath upon … him without any Life of … …im of the Image of God, wherein … Life …ſiſted; and hath laid him under a …, which holds him faſt bound to … the … of God in …is Soul. I …k. I z…k. … The Soul that ſinneth, is …al… die. Now this is not a Con…tion to be Con…ented in, but the diſcoveries of it in the Word of God, are to raiſe him to ſee his Woful Miſery by reaſon of this; and put him upon Enquiry, Whether there be not a Way, by which he may be Delivered from it: This Senſe put the very Jaylor upon ſuch an Enquiry, Acts 16.32. What muſt I do to be ſaved?
(2.) HE ought therefore to Uſe the Means, for …b…ning of this …rvery. God only can by his mighty Power Reſcue him; but He hath ſhewn us the Way in which we are to ſeek it, and made it our Duty to apply ourſelves thereto, in order to our compaſſing of it; and the reglect of theſe Means will make the Sinner inexcuſable, and bring the Blood of his Soul upon his own head. Theſe Means are then to be carefully Attended on, and God is to be ſought to for His Bleſſing in the Uſe of them.
AND there are Tow things which the Sinner is peculiarly to ſeet in the Uſe of Means:
1. HE muſt ſeek Reconciliation to God, thro' Chriſt. God's Anger is the Soul's Rain; till that be removed, it is under the Power of Death, by reaſon of the Condemnation which is paſt upon it. There is a Reconciliation made by Chriſt, and is offered to Sinners by the Goſpel, and they are urged to embrace it, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 2…. To wit, That God was in Chriſt, reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as tho' God did beſeech you by us: we pray you in Chriſt's ſtead be ye reconciled to God. And the way to obtain it, is by Faith in Chriſt, by which we are Entituled to Pardon, Peace and Glory, Rom. 5.1. Therefore being juſt fied by ſaith, we have peace with God, thro' our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And this Faith is God's Gift, which muſt be ſought of Him thro' Chriſt, Eph. 2.8. For by grace are ye ſaved, thro' ſaith; and that not of your ſelves: it is the gift of God.
2. HE muſt alſo ſeek for the Renovation of the Image of God upon him, that ſo he may Live again to the Glory of God. A Power to Serve God in Newneſs of Life, belongs to the Life of the Soul; by it a Sinner paſſes from Death to Life; and without it, he can no more do Spiritual Actions, than a dead Man can do thoſe that are Vital: This alſo muſt came from God, and He will be ſought to do it, Ezek. 26.37. Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquaired of by the houſe of Iſrae…, to do it for them. And the Pr…m…ſ… is made to Seekers, Matth. 7.7. Ask, an… it ſhall …e given you: ſeek, and ye ſhall find, kn…k, and it ſhall be opened unto you. When God laid that Command on them. Ezek. 1….31. Caſt a…t…ay from you of your tranſgreſs us, whereby ye have tra…ſ…ſſ…d, and make you …ew heart, and a new ſp…r…, f…r why will ye …, O …e…ſe of … It doth not …ppoſe that they can do it of themſelves of it that they ſhould reſi…ſly in a ſenſe of the War… of it, w…t upon God in all the M…a…s l…r it, is thoſe that cannot ve … it.
(3.) HE ought to uſe utmoſt Endeavours …r the M…ntaining, Preſerving and Strengthning of this Life in him, when obtained. He is not to think that his Buſineſs is done, when he hopes that he is by Grace pa…ed from this woful Death, to Spiritual Life; the Life of the Soul needs Maintenance, as well as that of the Body; and ought therefore to be as Induſtriouſly endeavoured.
AND here there are theſe Two Duties incumbent,
1. TO uſe all proper Helps, for the Maintenance and Groath of this Life in us. God hath appointed and provided ſuch Helps, and affords them to us, and unleſs we diligently Improve them, our Souls will Languiſh; hence that Direction, 1 Pet. 2.2. As new-born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. God hath made it out Duty, to Endeavour to grow in Grace; 2 Pet. 3.18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Christ. And how is that done, but by applying ourſelves to that which is the true Manna, that comes from Heaven? The Word, the Ordinances of God's Houſe, Prayer, Meditation, Sacraments, Converſe with the Children of God, are Ordained for this End; and if neglected, or ſlightily attended, our Life will flag, our Grace will languiſh.
2. TO avoid all thoſe things, which have a yeal tendency to wound & weaken our Spiritual Life: There are the things that will of their own Nature do ſo; and we are in no little Danger of, if we do not uſe the more Care in avoiding of them: And tho' God will not ſuffer this Life to be loſt in His Regenerated, yet they will bring it very Low. Such is the Indulgence of the remaining Luſts in us, by over-gratifying, our Senſitive part; againſt which we are for that reaſon warned. 1 Pet. 2.11. Dearly beloved, I beſeech you as ſtrangers and pilgrims, obstain from fleſhly laſts, which war againſt the ſoul. Such is ou… over-much Familiarity and Intimacy with vain Perſons, which will tend to deaden our Grace, and enliven Concupiſcence in us; Prov. 13 20. He that wa…keth with wiſe men, ſhall be wiſe: but a companion of f…ols ſhall be deſtroyed. Such is our over deep engaging of our ſelves in the Affairs and Incumbrances of this Life, which tends to ſtifle the fruits of Grace that are in us; Matth. 13.22. He alſo that received ſeed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word: and the care of this world, and the d…cenfulneſs of riches …h…ke the word, and he become… unfruitful. And there are a great many more things of like Nature; which, if we would maintain the Life of our Souls in Health and Vigour, we ought very watchfully to avoid, elſe we ſhall be Guilty.
USE. THIS may then ſerve to diſcover to us, the great Folly and Miſery of the muſt of th…ſe that Live under the G…ſpel. Not is it; thing only to be feared, but … manifeſtly to … obſerved, that the bigger Number by far, of thoſe that would be thought Chriſtians, are little … nothing Sollicitous for their Souls Life and Health; but …eave all their Spiritual Concerns at peradventures, and ſay they will truſt God with them; whilſt all their Plo…s and Purſuits are for the Body & outward Man, as if that were to bou…d a…l their Care and Endeavour. How f…w believe that their Souls are l…ead & Undone; or ſeriouſl… ſeek their Recovery; but think all is well? How much the things of this Life and Time thruſt out and put by the Spiritual Religious Duties, whereby they may in intain the Life of their Souls by Communion with God! Certainly theſe deſpiſe and wrong their own Souls; and how Wife ſoever they think themſelves for the preſent, the Li…e will come when they ſhall Repent of their Folly, and Bemoan it bitterly, and Wi… they had d…ne as much for their Immortal Souls, as ever they did for their Periſhing Bodies.
[JULY 25.1704.]