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eadest the threatenings, for any thing thou knowest, thou readest thy own<br />
sentence. No wonder thou art an enemy to plain preaching, and sayest of the<br />
minister, as Ahab of the prophet, "I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good<br />
concerning me, but evil." How canst thou without terror join in prayer?<br />
When thou receivest the Lord's supper, thou knowest not whether it be thy<br />
bane or bliss. What comfort canst thou find in thy friends, and honors, and<br />
houses, and lands, till thou knowest thou hast the love of God with them, and<br />
shalt have rest with him when thou leavest them? Offer a prisoner, before he<br />
knows his sentence, either music, or clothes, or preferment; what are they to<br />
him, till he knows he shall escape with his life? for if he knows he must die<br />
the next day, it will be small comfort to die rich or honorable. Methinks it<br />
should be so with thee till thou knowest thy eternal state. When thou liest<br />
down to take thy rest, methinks the uncertainty of thy salvation should keep<br />
thee waking, or amaze thee in thy dreams and trouble thy sleep. Doth it not<br />
grieve thee to see the people of God so comfortable in their way to glory,<br />
when thou hast no good hope of ever enjoying it thyself? How canst thou<br />
think of thy dying hour? Thou knowest it is near, and there is no avoiding it,<br />
nor any remedy found out that can prevent it. If thou shouldst die this day,<br />
(and who knows "what a day may bring forth?") thou art not certain whether<br />
thou shalt go to heaven or hell. And canst thou be merry till thou hast<br />
escaped from this dangerous state? What shift dost thou make to preserve thy<br />
heart from horror, when thou rememberest the great judgment-day, and<br />
everlasting flames? When thou hearest of it dost thou not tremble as Felix? If<br />
the "keepers shook, and became as dead men, when they saw the angel come<br />
and roll back the stone from Christ's sepulchre," how canst thou think of<br />
living in hell with devils, till thou hast some well-grounded assurance that<br />
thou shalt escape it? Thy bed is very soft, or thy heart is very hard, if thou<br />
canst sleep soundly in this uncertain case.<br />
If this general uncertainty of the world about their salvation were<br />
remediless, then must it be borne as other unavoidable miseries. But alas! the<br />
common cause is wilful negligence. Men will not be persuaded to use the<br />
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