THE UNCONVERTED. i~S are further out of the way than worldly, fleshly, unconverted sinners; for they do not only err in this or that opinion, as many sects do, but in the, very scope and drift of their lives. If you were going a journey that your life lay on, would you stop or turn again, because you met with some cross-ways, or because you saw some travellers go the horse-way, and some the foot-way, and some perhaps break over the hedge, yea, and some miss the way? Or would you not rather be the more careful to inquire the way? If you have some servants that know not how to do your work right, and some that are unfaithful, would you take it well of any of the rest that would therefore be idle and do you no service, because they see the rest so bad? Object. 11. I do not see that it goes any better with those that are so godly, than with other men; they are as poor, and in as much trouble as others. .!lnsw. And perhaps in much more, when God sees it meet. 'They take not earthly prosperity for their wages; they have laid up their treasure and hopes in another world; or else they are not Christians indeed ; the less they have, the more is behind, and they are content to wait till then. Object. 12. When you have said all that you can, I am resolved to hope well, and trust in God, and do as well as I can, and not make so much ado. .!lnsw. 1. Is that doing as well as you can, when you will not turn to God, but your heart is against his holy and diligent service? It is as well as you will, indeed, but that is your misery. 2. My desire is, that you should hope and trust in God. But for what is it that you will hope? Is it to be saved, if you turn and be sanctified? For this you have God's promise, and therefore hope for it and spare not. But if you hope to be saved without conversion and a holy life, this is not to hope in God, but in Satan, or yourselves; for God hath given you no such promise, but told you the contrary; but it is
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