3 '18 VERSE 3. Chrylspeople a willingpeople. 1IYIPIIINDIVIO*1*,. happiea thing would it be,ifmen could ferveGod with the fameproportionofvigour and willingneffeofmind, as they ferved Satan and themfelves before ? I was ne- ver tired in that way, I went on indefatigably towards hell,like a fwift Dromedary, or an untamed heifer, I purfued thole defires which had vanity for their object, and mifery for their end,no fruit but fhame,and no wages but death. But in the fervice ofChria I have a price before mee, an abiding Citie, anenduring fub- fiance, an immarcefcible crowne to fix the highefi of my thoughts upon : I have the promifes of Chrifi to flrengthen me, his Angels to guard, his Spirit to lead, his Word to illighten me. In one word, I have a foule to Pave, and a God tohonour. And why fhouldnot I ap- ply mypower, to ferve him, who did reach forth his owne power to convert me ? A long way Ihave to goe, and I muff doe it ina fpanne oftime; fo many temptati- ons toovercome, fo many corruptions to (hakeoff, fo many promifes tobeleeve, fomany precepts to obey, fo many mytieries to (Indy, fomany workes to finiCh, and fo little time for all : myweakneffes on one fide, my bu- fineffes onanother, mine enemies and my finnes round about me take away fo much, that I have fcarce any left ,-to giveto God. And yet, alas, if I could ferve Godon earth, as he is ferved in heaven, if I had the firength of Angels, and glorified Saints, to doe his will, it would come infinitely fhort ofthat goodwill ofGod in my re- demption, or of his power in my converfion. If God ihouldhave Paid to all the Angels inheaven,there is fuch a poore wretch polling with full firength towards hell, goe hand in his way and drive himback againe,all thole glorious armies would have beene too kw to blocke up thepaffages betweene fin andhell, without the concur- rence of Gods owne Spirit and power, they could have returned noneother anfwerbut this,we havedone all we can to perfwadeand turne him,hut he will not be turned. If
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