TO A SOUND CONVERSION. 449 ook off him. One would think that such matters as heaven and hell should follow thy thoughts which way ever thou goest, so that thou shouldst not be able to look besides them, or to think almost of any thing else, unless with great neglect and disesteem. O,what a thing is a stony heart, that can forget not only the God that he liveth by, but also the place where he must live for ever! yea, that will not be persuaded to the sober consideration of it for one hour ! 2. And as these are the greatest matters, so they are your own matters; and therefore one would think you should not need so much ado to bring you to con- sider them. If it were only other men's matters, I should not wonder at it. But self -love should make you regard your own. In outward matters all seek their own things. And have they not more reason to seek their own salvation ? It is your own souls, your own danger, your own sin, your own duty, that I per- suade you to consider of. It is that God and Christ, that would be your own, it is that heaven, that bless- edness, that may be your own, if you lose it not by neglect : it is that hell and torment, that will cer- tainly be your own if you prevent it not. And should not these be thought on ? You will think of your own goods, lands, or riches ; of your own families, your own business, your own lives; and why not also of your own salvation ? 3. Especially, when it is not only your own, but it is the one thing needful : It is that which your life or death, your everlasting joy or torment, lieth on ; and therefore must be considered of, or you are utterly undone for ever. Necessity lieth upon you; and woe be to you if you consider not these things.- - It is not so necessary that you eat or drink, or sleep, or live, as it is necessary that you make sure your everlasting life. And the profit also doth answer the necessity. Buy but this one pearl, and you will be infinite gainers, though you sell all that you have in the world to buy it. Get God, and get all : make sure of 15 3 L
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