( 28 ') I mufi ferioufiy profefs to yoa, that I am confitained by the · word and teachings of God, and by undenyable reafon it felf, t<> look upon a-Il the labour of your lives, the higheft, and.the ·buiiefl, but as the picking of flraws, or playing with a feather; or ridingupon a fiaff or ahobby-horfe, or itJch like actions as children, fools or mad men ufe, as long as you mind nor, amd fee.k not after the One thing neceJJary. ·What ever they may be ro others, t?ley areno wifer or bttter to your fe/ves : This is my judgement; yea, this is the judgement of the Spirit of God: Phi/. 3. 8. If Paul was not mifiaken, your gain it felf is – to beaccounted LfJ{s, and all b#t dung in comparifon 0f the k!;o'Wing AUa winning ofChrift, !hat pu might be found in him; ~tna have hi& righteoufnefs: Thmk not the name of dung tooi bafe, when God himfelf bath written it here upon your highefl:– endowments and hon<>urs, by his Spirit. And indeed what will . .theyall do more thendung to pro.cure you the favour ofGod, . or the pardon. of ·youd1ns? If you offer him gold, will it do any more then if you offered him fo ·much dirt? Is not the prayer of ~ a beg~ar heard as foon as of a Lord or Gentleman ?· If they would do any thing to .buy you peace of Confcience, . or everlafii~g life, .or if they would buc keep you aJive on earth·, I !hould notmarvail at your courfe : But when they - will do none of this, but make your way to Heaven-more dif~ ficult, yea, your falvation a thing impoffible ·while you thus – iive after the fle{h ( Rom. 8; 1 3•) how then can any eafier fentence be paH: upon your choice ?· Be you the Grcatefi or the Wifefi in your own efieem, or in the efleem of others of your mind, I le/ieve., yea, lam Jure, that you are all this~ while but Iaborio1:11ly idle, and honourably debaGng· your felves, and delightfully tormenting -your felves, and wi ;.ely befooling your · felves, and .thriftily undoing yonr ·felves for ever. I have rea- - fon to fa:y that your riGng ·and honourable and voluptuous im· ployments, are not only like childrens . play~ng in tbe fand, and making them houfes ·. with Hicks and fiones : btu fo much more pitifuti, as the reafon which you~abufe exceederh theirs. . _ ·And could you all attain to be Lords and Ladies, I !hould lo@k . upon you but as aKing or.~~en upon·a Ghefs.board; as to any felicity that it bringeth toyou~ fel ves; .whatfoever nfe the over- · ruling providence of God' may make of you for his Churches. ";Tbe,. wif~ Mtnhar;.t is he .that fee~ing pe11r/s·do;h find this One ,r - - --- - - -:-- - -. . .. . . -_ of J
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