128 NECESSITY OF DILIGENTLY the sun to compass the world ! The fountains are always flowing for thy use; the rivers still running; spring and harvest keep their times. How hard does thy ox labour for thee from day to day ! How speedily does thy horse travel with thee ! And-shalt thou only be negligent? Shall all these be so serious in serving thee, and thou so careless in thy service to God ? The servants of the world and the devil are serious and diligent. They work as if they could never do enough. They make haste as if afraid of coming to hell too late. They bear down ministers, sermons, and all, before them. And shall they be more diligent for damnation, than thou for salvation ? Hast thou not a better master, sweeter employment, greater encouragements, and a better reward ?. Time was, when thou wart serious thyself in serving Satan and the flesh, if it be not so yet. How eagerly didst thou follow thy sports, thy evil company, and sinful de- lights ! And wilt thou not now be as earnest and violent for God? You are to this day in earnest about the things of this life. If you are sick, or in pain, what serious complaints do you utter ! If you are poor, how hard do you labour for a livelihood ! And is not the business of your salvation of far greater moment ? There is no jesting in heaven or hell. The saints have a real happiness, and the damned a real misery. There are no remiss or sleepy praises in heaven, nor such lamentations in hell. All there are in earnest. When thou, Reader, shalt come to death and judgment, O what deep heart - piercing thoughts wilt thou have of eternity ! Methinks I foresee thee already astonished to think how thou couldest pos- sibly make so light of these things. Methinks I even hear thee crying out of thy stupidity and madness. § 15. And now, Reader, having laid down these undeniable arguments, I do, in the name of God, de- mand thy resolution : Wilt thou yield obedience, or not? I am confident thy conscience is convinced of thy duty. barest thou now go on in thy common,
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