Chap. 7.] THE SA Ts' REST, 95. honor of more worth than eternal rest ? And will they recompense the loss of that enduring treasure ? Can . there be the least hope of any of these ? Ah, vile, de- ceitful world ! how oft have we heard thy most faithful servants at last complaining, " 0, the world hath de- ceived me, and undone me ! It flattered me in my pros- perity, but now it turns me off in mynecessity. If I had as faithfully served Christ as I have served it, he would not have left me thus comfortless and hopeless." Thus they complain ; and yet succeeding sinners will take no warning. As for the profane multitude, they will not be persuaded to be at so much pains for salvation, as to perform the com- mon outward duties of religion. If they have the Gos- pel preached in the town where they dwell, it may be they will give the hearing to it one part of the day, and stay at home the other; or if the master come to the congrega- tion, yet part of his family must stay at home. If they have not the plain and powerful preaching of the Gospel,. how few are there in a whole town, who will travel a mile or two to hear abroad ; though they will go many miles to the market for provisions for their bodies ! They know the Scripture is the law of God, by which they must be ac- quitted or condemned in judgment; and that " the man is blessed who delights in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth meditate day and night;" yet will theynot beat the pains to read a chapter once a day. If they carry a Bible to church, and neglect it all the week, this is the most use they make of it. Though they are commanded to pray without ceasing, and to pray always, yet they will neither pray constantly in their families, nor in secret. Though Daniel would rather be cast to the lions, than for- bear praying three times a day in his house, where his enemies might hear him, yet these men will rather ven- ture to be an eternal prey to Satan, the roaring lion, than thus seek their own safety. Or their cold and heartless prayers invite God to a denial ; for among men it is taken for granted, that he who asks but slightly and seldom, cares not much for what he asks. They judge themselves unworthy of heaven, who think it not worth their more constant and earnest requests. If every door was marked, where families do not, morning and evening, earnestly
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