438 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS now before you ;and as you think of them, labour to be affected with them, in some measure according to their exceeding weight ; as Moses said to Israel, Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day ; which he shall command your children to do, 4c. For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life.(i) ' And as Christ said, Let these sayings sink into your ears.(k) Só I say to you, let the matters which you think of go to your hearts, and sink down to the quick of your affections. And if your hearts would slip away from the work, and other thoughts would creep into your mind, and you are weary of these considerations before they have done their work, see that you give not way to this lazi- "less, or unwillingness ; but remember it is a work that must, be-done, and therefore hold your thoughts upon it, till your hearts are stirred and warned within you. And if after all you cannot awake them to seriousness and sensibility, put two or three such awakening ques- tions as these to yourselves. I. Quest. What if it were but the case of my body, or state or name, should I not earnestly consider of it. If one do but wrong me, how easily I can think of it, and how tenderly do I feel it ; and can scarce forget it? If my good name be blemished, and,I be but disgraced, I can think of it night and day : if. I lose but a beast, or have any cross in the world, or decay in my estate, I can think of it with sensibility :. if I lose a child or a friend, I can feel it as well as think of, it. If my health be decayed, and my life in danger, I am in good earnest in thinking of this. And should I not be as desirous in the matters of ever- lasting life ? Should I not think of it, and soberly and earnestly 'think of it, when body and soul do lie at the stake, and when it coneerneth my everlasting joy or torment? 2. Quest. What if I had but heard 'the Son of God himself calling on me to repent, and be converted, and seconding his commands with that earnest ex- (i) Deut. xxii. 46. (k) Luke ix. 44.
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