136 EXCITEMENT TO SEEK [Chap. 9. meeting together, besides publicly in the congregation; not as a separate church, but as a part of the church, more diligent than the rest in redeeming time, and helping the souls of each other heaven -ward. Labor also to keep the ordinances and ministry in esteem : no man will be much wrought on by that which he despiseth. An apostle says, " We beseech you, brethren, to know them who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Secondly. Let us inquire, what may be the causes of the gross neglect of this duty; that the hinderances, being disco- vered, may the more easily be overcome. One hinderance is, men's own sin and guilt. They have not themselves been ravished with heavenly delights ; how then should they draw others so earnestly to seek them ? They have not felt their own lost condition, nor their need of Christ, nor the renewing work of the Spirit; how then can they discover these to others ? They are guilty of the sins they should reprove, and this makes them ashamed to reprove. Another is, a secret infidelity prevailing in men's hearts. Did we verily believe, that all the unregenerate and unholy shall be eternally tormented, how could we hold our tongues, or avoid bursting into tears,' when we look them in the face, especiallywhen they are our near and dear friends ? Thus doth secret unbelief consume thevigor of each grace and duty. O Christians, if you did verily be- lieve that your ungodly neighbors, wife, husband, or child, should certainly lie for ever in hell, except they be tho- roughly changed before death shall snatch them away, would not this make you address them day and night till they were persuaded ? Were it not for this cursed unbelief, our own and our neighbors' souls would gain more by us than they do. These attempts are also much hindered by our want of charity and compassion for men's souls. We look on miserable souls, and pass by, as the priest and Levite by the wounded man. What though the sinner, wounded by sin, and captivated by Satan, do not desire thy help himself; yet his misery cries aloud. If God had not heard the cry of our miseries, before he heard the cry of our prayers, and been moved by his own pity before he was moved by our importunity, we might long have con-
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