and that you have followed him with complaints. against your corruptions, and with earnest inquiries after the Lord? Can your neighbours about you witness, that you reprove the ungodly, and take pains to save the souls of your brethren? Let all these witnesses judge this day between God and you, whether you are in earnest about eternal rest. You can tell by his work, whether your servant has loitered, though you did not see him; so you may by looking at your own works. Is your love to Christ, your faith, your zeal, and other graces, strong or weak? What are your joys? What is your assurance? Is all in order within you? Are you ready to die, if this should be the day? Do the souls, among whom you have conversed, bless you? Judge by this, and it will quickly appear whether you have been laborious or loiterers.

9. O blessed rest, how unworthily art thou neglected! O glorious kingdom, how art thou undervalued! Little know the careless sons of men, what a state they set so light by. If they once knew it, they would surely be of another mind. I hope thou, reader, art sensible, what a desperate thing it is to trifle about eternal rest; and how deeply thou hast been guilty of this thyself. And I hope also, thou wilt not now suffer this conviction to die. Should the physician tell thee, "If you will observe but one thing, I doubt not to cure your disease," wouldest thou not observe it? So I tell thee, if thou wilt observe but this one thing for thy soul, I make no doubt of thy salvation; shake off all thy sloth, and put to all thy strength, and be a Christian indeed; I know not then what can hinder thy happiness. As far as thou art gone

from God, seek him with all thy heart, and no doubt thou shalt find him. As unkind as thou hast been to Jesus Christ, seek him heartily, obey him unreservedly, and thy salvation is as sure as if thou hadst it already. But full as Christ's satisfaction is, free as the promise is, large as the mercy of God is; if thou only talk of these, when thou shouldest eagerly entertain them, thou wilt be never the better for them; and if thou loiter, when thou shouldest labour, thou wilt lose the crown. Fall to work then speedily and seriously, and bless God that thou hast yet time to do it. And to shew that I urge thee not without cause, I will here add a variety of animating considerations. Rouse up thy spirit, and as Moses said to Israel, set thy heart unto all the words which I testify unto thee this day; for it is not a vain thing, because it is your life.* May the Lord open thy heart, and fasten his counsel effectually upon thee!

§ 10. Consider how reasonable it is, that our diligence should be answerable to the ends we aim at, to the work we have to do, to the shortness and uncertainty of our time, and to the contrary diligence of our enemies.-The ends of a Christian's desires and endeavours are so great, that no human understanding on earth can comprehend them. What is so excellent, so important, or so necessary, as the glorifying of God, the salvation of our own and other men's souls, by escaping the torments of hell, and possessing the glory of heaven? And can a man be too much affected with things of such moment? Can he desire them too earnestly, or love them too strongly, or labour for them too diligently? Do not we know, that if our

* Deut. xxii. 46, 47.

prayers prevail not, and our labours succeed not, we are undone forever ?-The work of a Christian here is very great and various. The soul must be renewed; corruptions must be mortified; custom, temptations, and worldly interests, must be conquered; flesh must be subdued; life, friends, and credit must be slighted; conscience on good grounds be quieted; and assurance of pardon and salvation attained. Though God must give us these without our merit, yet he will not give them without our earnest seeking and labour. Besides, there is much knowledge to be got, many ordinances to be used, and duties to be performed: every age, year, and day; every place we come to; every person we deal with; every change of our condition; still require the renewing of our labour: wives, children, servants, neighbours, friends, enemies, all of them call for duty from us. Judge then, whether men that have so much business lying upon their hands, should not exert themselves; and whether it be their wisdom either to delay or loiter.-Time passeth on. Yet a few days, and we shall be here no more. Many diseases are ready to assault us. We that are now preaching, and hearing, and talking and walking, must very shortly be carried, and laid in the dust, and there left to the worms in darkness and corruption; we are almost there already; we know not whether we shall have another sermon, or sabbath, or hour. How active should they be, who know they have so short a space for so great a work!-And we have enemies, that are always plotting and labouring for our destruction. How diligent is Satan in all kind of temptations! Therefore be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a

roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith.* How diligent are all the ministers of Satan! False teachers, scoffers, persecutors, and our inbred corruptions, the most busy and diligent of all! Will a feeble resistance serve our turn? Should not we be more active for our own preservation, than our enemies are for our ruin ?

§ 11. It should excite us to diligence, when we consider our talents, and our mercies, our relations to God, and the afflictions he lays upon us.-The talents which we have received, are many and great. What people breathing on earth have had plainer instructions, or more forcible persuasions, or more constant admonitions, in season and out of season? Sermons, till we have been weary of them; and sabbaths, till we have profaned them? Excellent books in such plenty, we knew not which to read? What people have had God so near them? or have seen so much of Christ crucified before their eyes? or have had heaven and hell so opened unto them? What speed should such a people make for heaven? How should they fly that are thus winged? And how swiftly should they sail that have wind and tide to help them? A small measure of grace beseems not such a people, nor will an ordinary diligence in the work of God excuse them.All our lives have been filled with mercies. God hath mercifully poured out upon us the riches of sea and land, of heaven and earth. We are fed and clothed with mercy. We have mercies within and without. To number them is to count the stars, or the sands of the sea-shore. If there be any, difference betwixt hell and earth;

* 1 Pet. v. 8, 9.

yea, or heaven and earth; then certainly we have received mercy. If the blood of the Son of God be mercy, then we are engaged to God by mercy. Shall God think nothing too much or too good for us; and shall we think all too much that we do for him? When I compare my slow and unprofitable life, with the frequent and wonderful mercies received, it shames me, it silences me, and leaves me inexcusable.-Besides our talents and mercies, our relations to God are most endearing. Are we his children, and do we not owe him our most tender affections, and dutiful obedience? Are we the spouse of Christ, and should we not obey and love him? If he be a Father, where is his honour? and if he be a Master, where is his fear ?* We call him Master, and Lord, and we say well. But if our industry be not answerable to our relations, we condemn ourselves in saying, we are his children or his servants. How will the hard labour, and daily toil, which servants undergo to please their masters, judge and condemn those who will not labour so hard for their Great Master? Surely there is no master like him; nor can any servants expect such fruits of their labours as his servants.-And if we wander out of God's way, or loiter in it, how is every creature ready to be his rod, to reduce us, or put us on! Our sweetest mercies will become our sorrows. Rather than want a rod, the Lord will make us a scourge to ourselves: Our diseased bodies shall make us groan; our perplexed minds shall make us restless; our conscience shall be as a scorpion in our bosom. And is it not easier to endure the labour than the spur? Had we rather be still afflicted, than be up and doing? And + John xiii. 13.

* Mal. i. 6.