Ah my brethren! Why should you not be all happy? I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, lest a promise being left you of entering into his rest, any of you should come short of it. O look diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God! How it grieves me that any of you should fall short of mercy at last! That any of that flock over which the Holy Ghost made me overseer, should perish: when Christ hath done so much for you, and when we, (through his grace,) have done somewhat to save them. Ah dear brethren! I was in great earnest with you, when I besought you out of the pulpit, many a time, to give a bill of divorce to your sins, to accept of the mercy that in the name of God Almighty I did there offer to you. Alas! how it pitied me to look over so great a congregation, and to think that I could not for my life, persuade them, one quarter of them, to be saved? How it moved me to see your diligence in flocking to the most hazardous opportunities, since the law forbad my public preaching; and yet to think that many of you that went so far, were like to perish for ever for want of going farther! How fain would I carry you farther than the outward profession: O, how loath am I to leave you there? How troubled to think that any of you should hazard much for religion, and yet miscarry for ever by the hand of secret pride or untamed passion, or an unbridled tongue, or which I fear most of all, a predominant love of the world in your hearts. Alas, is there no remedy, but I must carry you to heaven’s gate and leave you there? Oh, that I should leave the work of your souls but half done; and bring you no farther than the _almost_ of Christianity! Hear, O my people, hear! Altho’ I may command you, upon your utmost peril, in the name of the Lord Jesus that shall shortly judge you, I beseech you, I warn you as a father doth his children: to look to the securing of your everlasting condition: take heed of resting in the outer part of religion, but be restless till you find a thorough change within, that you are quite new in the bent of your hearts; for here is the main of religion: for Christ’s sake, for your soul’s sake look to it, that you build upon the rock, that you unfeignedly deliver yourselves to the Lord to be under his command, and at his disposal in all things. See that you make no exceptions, no reserve, that you cast over-board all your worldly hopes, and count upon parting with all for Christ: that you take him alone for your whole happiness. Wonder not that I often inculcate this: if it be well here, it is well all; if unsound here, the error is in the foundation, and you are undone. Brethren, I see great trials coming, when we shall see professors fall like leaves in autumn. Therefore is it that I would so fain have you look to your standing, and to secure the main. O make sure whatever you do; get and keep your evidences clear! How dreadful would your temptation be, if you should be called to part with all for Christ, and not be sure