this course! Most of them in most places do set their hearts on earthly things, and seek not first the kingdom of GOD and the righteousness thereof, but look at holiness as a needless thing; their families are prayerless, or else a few heartless lifeless words must serve instead of hearty fervent daily prayers [or perhaps only on the Lord's day in the evening] their children are not taught the knowledge of Christ, and the covenant of grace, nor brought up in the nurture of the Lord, though they safely promised all this in their baptism.

They instruct not their servants in the matters of salvation, but so their work be done they care not. There are more railing speeches in their families, than gracious words that tend to edification. How few are the families that fear the Lord, and enquire at his word and ministers how they should live, and what they should do, and are willing to be taught and ruled, and that heartily look after everlasting life! And those few that GOD hath made so happy, are commonly the by-word of their neighbours; when we see some live in drunkenness, and some in pride and worldliness, and most of them have little care of their salvation, though the cause be gross, and past all controversy, yet will they hardly be convinced of their misery, and more hardly recovered and reformed: But when we have done all that we are able to save them from their sins, we leave the most of them as we find them. And if according to the law of GOD, we cast them out of the communion of the church, when they have obsti

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nately rejected all our admonitions, they rage at us as if we were their enemies, and their hearts are filled with malice against us, and they will sooner set themselves against the Lord and his laws, and church and ministers, than against their deadly sins. This is the doleful case of England; we have magistrates that countenance the ways of godliness; and an happy opportunity for unity, and reformation is before us, and faithful ministers long to see the right ordering of the Church, and of the ordinances of God; but the power of sin in our people doth frustrate almost all. No where can almost a faithful minister set up the unquestionable discipline of Christ, or put back the most scandalous impenitent sinners from the communion of the church, and participation of the sacraments, but the most of the people rail at them, and revile them; as if these ignorant careless souls were wiser than their teachers, or than GOD himself. And thus in the day of our visitation, when GOD calls upon us to reform his church, though magistrates seem willing, and faithful ministers seem willing, yet are the multitude of the people still unwilling, and hath so blinded themselves, and hardened their hearts, that even in these days of light and grace, they are the obstinate enemies of light and grace, and will not be brought by the calls of GOD to see their folly, and know what is for their good. O that the people of England knew at the least in this their day, the things that belong unto their peace, before they are hid from their eyes! Luke xix. 42.

Oh, foolish miserable souls! Gal. iii. who hath ber witched your minds into such madness, and your hearts into such deadness, that you should be such mortal enemies to yourselves, and go on so obstinately towards damnation, that neither the word of GOD, nor the persuasions of men can change your minds, or hold your hands, or stop you till you are past remedy! Well sinners! this life will not last always; this patience will not' wait upon you still. Do not think that you shall abuse your Maker and Redeemer, and serve his enemies, and debase your souls, and trouble the world, and wrong the church, and reproach the godly, and grieve your teachers, and hinder reformation, and all this upon free cost. You know not yet what this must cost you, but you must shortly know, when the righteous GOD shall take you in hand, who will handle you in another manner than the sharpest magistrates, or the plainest dealing pastors did, unless you prevent the everlasting torments by a sound conversion, and a speedy obeying of the call of GOD. He that hath an hear to hear, let him hear, while mercy hath a voice to call.

One objection I find most common in the mouths of the ungodly, especially of late years; They say, “We can do nothing without GOD, we cannot have grace, if GOD will not give it us; and if he will, we shall quickly turn; if he have not predestinated us, and will not turn us; how can we turn ourselves, or be saved; it is not in him that wills, nor in him that runs." And thus they think they are excused.

I have answered this formerly, and in this book! but let me now say this much. 1. Though you cannot cure yourselves, you can hurt and poison yourselves. "Tis GOD that must sanctify your hearts; but who corrupted them? Will you wilfully take poison, because you cannot cure yourselves? Methinks you should the more forbear it. You should the more take heed of sinning if you cannot mend what sin doth mar. 2. Though you cannot be converted without the special grace of GOD, yet you must know that GOD giveth his grace in the use of his holy means which he hath appointed to that end; and common grace may enable you' to forbear your gross sinning (as to the outward act) and to use those means. Can you truly say, that you do as much as you are able to do? Are you not able to go by an alehouse door, or to forbear the company that hardeneth you in sin? Are you not able to hear the word, and think of what you heard when you come home? And to consider with yourselves of your own condition, and of everlasting things? Are you not able to read good books from day to day, at least on the Lord's day, and to converse with those that fear the Lord? You cannot say that you have done what you are able. 3. And therefore you must know that you can forfeit the grace and help of GOD by your wilful sinning or negligence, though you cannot without grace turn to GOD. If you will not do what you can, it is just with GOD to deny you that grace by which you might do more. 4. And for God's decrees, you must

know that they separate not the end and means, but tie them together. GOD never decreed to save any but the sanctified, nor to damn any but the unsanctified. GOD doth as truly decree whether your land this year shall be barren or fruitful, and just how long you shall live in the world, as he hath decreed whethyou shall be saved or not. And yet you would think that man but a fool that would forbear plowing and sowing and say, If GOD have decreed that my ground shall bear corn, it will bear, whether I plow and sow or or not. If GOD have decreed that I shall live, I shall live, whether I eat or not; but if he have not, it is not eating that will keep me alive : Do you know how to answer such a man, or do you not? If you do, then you know how to answer yourselves; for the case is alike. GOD's decree is as preremptory about your bodies as your souls; if you do not, then try first these. conclusions upon your bodies, before you venture to try them on your souls: see first whether GOD will keep you alive without food or raiment, and whether he will give you corn without tillage and labour, and whether he will bring you to your journey's end, without your travel or carriage; and if you speed well in this, then try whether he will bring you to heaven without your diligent use of means, and sit down and say, We cannot sanctify ourselves.

Well, Sirs, I have but three requests to you, and I have done.