SEEKING THE SAINT'S REST. 131 they are able to weep and groan in pity to themselves ! As thou hast bid thy servant speak, so speak now thy- self; they will hear thy voice speaking to their hearts, who will not hear mine speaking to their ears. Lord, thou hast long knocked at these hearts in vain ; now break the doors, and enter in !" § 17. Yet to show the godly why they, above all men, should be laborious for heaven, I desire to ask them, What manner of persons should those be, whom God hath chosen to be vessels of mercy ? who have felt the smart of their negligence in their new birth, in their troubles of conscience, in their doubts and fears, and in other sharp afflictions ? who have often confessed their sins of negligence to God in prayer? who have bound themselves to God by so many covenants ? What manner of persons should they be, who are near to God as the children of his family ? who have tasted such sweetness in diligent obedience ? who are many of them so uncertain what shall everlastingly become of their souls ? What man- ner of persons should they be in holiness, whose sanctification is so imperfect ? whose lives and duties are so important to the saving or destroying a mul- titude of souls ? and on whom the glory of the great God so much depends ? Since these things are so, I charge thee, Christian, in thy Master's name, to con- sider and resolve the question What manner of per- sons ought we to be in all holy conversation and god- liness? And let thy life answer the question as well as thy tongue.
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