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And doth it not become us to do as much to save men as we have done to<br />
destroy them? Consider how diligent are all the enemies of these poor souls<br />
to draw them to hell. <strong>The</strong> devil is tempting them day and night; their inward<br />
lusts are still working for their ruin; the flesh is still pleading for its delights;<br />
their old companions are increasing their dislike of holiness. And if nobody<br />
be diligent in helping them to heaven, what is like to become of them?<br />
Consider how deep the neglect of this duty will wound when conscience<br />
is awakened. When a man comes to die, conscience will ask him, "What<br />
good hast thou done in thy lifetime? <strong>The</strong> saving of souls is the greatest good<br />
work; what hast thou done toward it? How many hast thou dealt faithfully<br />
with?" I have often observed that the consciences of dying men very much<br />
wounded them for this omission. For my own part, when I have been near<br />
death, my conscience hath accused me more for this than for any sin: it<br />
would bring every ignorant, profane neighbor to my remembrance, to whom<br />
I never made known their danger; it would tell me, "Thou shouldst have<br />
gone to them in private, and told them plainly of their desperate danger,<br />
though it had been when thou shouldst have eaten or slept, if thou hadst no<br />
other time." Conscience would remind me how, at such or such a time, I was<br />
in company with the ignorant, or riding by the way with a wilful sinner, and<br />
had a fit opportunity to have dealt with him, but did not; or at least did it to<br />
little purpose. <strong>The</strong> Lord grant I may better obey conscience while I have<br />
time, that it may have less to accuse me of at death! Consider what a<br />
seasonable time you now have for this work. <strong>The</strong>re are times in which it is<br />
not safe to speak; it may cost you your liberty or your life. Besides, your<br />
neighbors will shortly die, and so will you. Speak to them, therefore, while<br />
you may. Consider, though this is a work of the greatest charity, yet every<br />
one of you may perform it; the poorest as well as the rich: every one hath a<br />
tongue to speak to a sinner.<br />
Once more, consider the happy consequences of this work where it is<br />
faithfully done. You may be instrumental in saving souls, for whom Christ<br />
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