Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	christian_a	faith_n	life_n	1,074	5	4.4282	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B03501	The mystery of faith opened up: or Some sermons concerning faith (two where of were not formerly printed.) Wherein the nature, excellency, and usefulness of that noble grace is much cleared, and the practice thereof most powerfully pressed. Whereunto are added other three sermons, two concerning the great salvation, one of these not formerly printed, and a third concerning death. / By that pious and worthy servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Andrew Gray, late minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. All these sermons being now carefully revised, and much corrected.	Gray, Andrew, 1633-1656.; Traill, Robert, 1642-1716.; Stirling, John, b. 1621?	1668 (1668)	Wing G1616; ESTC R177630	121,416	225

ladder that reacheth betwixt heaven and earth by the steps of which a Christian doth dayly go up to heaven and converse with the higher House Faith is that grace as the Apostle speaketh by which we have access to the Throne of his grace Faith ushers in the believer to the Throne and without it he can have no access there nor joy when he is there V. Here is this advantage that attendeth the exercise of Faith a believing Christian is a praying Christian according to that word in Mark 9.24 where these two are conjoined together Lord I believe and then he falleth to his prayer presently after that confession Help thou our unbelief And it is clear from Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul Christeth for thee And sometimes Faith is a most impatient grace but we may alwayes say of it that it is a most diligent grace Oh! is not the neglect of this precious exercise of Faith and of the duty of secret prayer that makes our lean●ness testifie to our face and maketh our souls as a barren wilderness I am perswaded of this that sinc0e Ch i st had any followers and since ever this everlasting Gospel was preached in Paradise the exercise of secret prayer was never so much neglected we have turned over all our prayers into complements with God We know not what it is to rise at mid-night and call upon God and to enquire after our Maker under the silent watches of the night O but it is a sweet diversion from sleep to retire our selves in the silent seasons of the night from all thoughts about worldly matters and to converse with that invisible Majesty IV. There is this sixth consideration to point out the advantage of Faith that Faith is that grace that doth facilitate a Christians obedience and maketh it most pleasant and easie this is clear from Heb. 11.8 By faith Abraham when he was commanded to go to a strange land obeyed and went out not knowing whether he went The word may be rendered he did chearfully obey And vers 17. By faith he offered up his only son Would ye know the reason why his commands are your burden And why his preceps are your cresses It is because of this ye do not believe And so it is most certain that it is impossible for a Christian to attain to a pleasant way of obedience without the exercise of faith Faith holdeth up the crown to a Christian and this crown maketh him to obey Faith gathereth strength from Christ and that strength maketh obedience very easie Faith taketh up the excellency of Christ and this maketh a Christian to look upon his duty more as his dignity then his duty And we are perswaded of this that our chariot-wheel should move more swiftly like the chariots of Aminadab if we were more in the exercise of the grace of Faith Would ye know an answer to that question what is first more requisite for a Christian while here below Faith And what secondly is most requisite Faith And what thirdly is most requisite for a Christian Even Faith Faith above all things and above all things Faith VII There is another advantage of it that by Faith our services and prayers are accepted of God Would ye know what is the prayer of a Christian that is not in Faith It is a smoak in his nostrils and a fire that burneth all the day The unbelivers sacrifice is an abomination to the Lord. This is clear from Heb. 11.4 By faith Abel offered up unto God a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain And we conceive that there are many unanswered prayers which we do put up because we want that noble exercise of Faith VIII And lastly we shal likewise add this that faith is the grace by which a Christian hath that pefect and immediate sight as is were of great things that are promised to him Faith bringeth a Christian within sight of Heaven and Faith bringeth a Christian within sight of God according to that word Heb. 11.1 Faith is the evidence of things not seen And that noble Paradox that is said of Faith Heb. 11.27 By faith Moses saw him that is invisible Is it not an impossible thing to see that which cannot be seen But the meaning of it is this that Faiths discoveries of God are as certain and sure as the discoveries of our bodily eyes are Faith is an intelligent grace yea it is a most sure and infallible grace What will Faith not do And what can you do who want Faith Now to enforce the advantages and excellencies of Faith a little more we shal propose to you the disadvantages of that woful sin of unbelief 1. There is this disadvantage of the sin of unbelief that all the actions that proceed from an unbeliever they are impure and defiled according to that in Tit. 1.15 But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled their prayer is unclean yea as Solomon speaketh their plowing in sin yea their going about the most excellent duties for matter is an abomination to God according to that word Rom. 14.23 What ever is not of faith is sin So the want of Faith is the great polluter of all our actions and of all our performances 2. There is this second disadvantage of misbelief that it is impossible for one in the exercise of unbelief to mortifie a lust or idol and we may allude unto those words in Matth. 17.20 when his Disciples came to him asked him this question Why could not we cast out this devil Tha● was given as an answer Because of your unbelief Unbelief is that which taketh up arms for out idols and doth most strongly defend them for there is nothing that will kill corruption so much as the exercise of Faith and when that is laid aside we have laid by our weapons and have in a manner concluded a treaty of peace with our idols that we shal not offend them if they do not offend us 3. There is this disadvantage that waiteth upon the sin of unbelief that such an one cannot win to attain to the grace of establishment but is alwayes as the waves of the sea tossed to and fro until once he win to the exercise of Faith as is clear from Isai 7.9 Except ye believe ye shal not be established 4. There is this disadvantage that waiteth on it is the mother of hardness and stupidity of heart according to that word in Mark 16.14 where he upbraideth them because of their unbelief and then that danger followeth to with hardness of heart this is clear also from Acts 19 9. where these two sister-devils are conjoined and locked together unbelief and hardness of heart because it is unblief indeed that hindereth all the graces by which the grace of Tenderness must be maintained 5. There is this disadvantage in the sin of unbelief that it is big with child of apostasie from

there are these seven advantages which attend those who live within the continual sight of this truth that they must dye First the faith of approaching death will make a soul exceeding diligent in duty This was our blessed Lords Divinity John 9.4 I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day the night ●meth when no man can work That i● death is approaching therefore I must work It is clear also 2 Pet. 1.12 compared with verse 14. In the 12. verse Peter is exceeding diligent in his duty and the ground of his diligence is in the 14. verse Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle c. Yea it is even the Epicures argument Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shal dye And should not the Christian much more cry out Let me watch and pray for to morrow I may dye I say if the Epicures did make use of that notion to make them vigorous in the pursuit of their pleasures O how much more should a Christian improve it for making him vigorous in the pursuit of his duty Therefore I say unto you all O! be diligent for your night is drawing near O Christians and expectants of heaven are you not afraid lest you be nighted before you have walked the half of your journey For if you be nighted on your journey to Heaven before you come to the end of your race there is no retiring place whereunto you may turn aside to lodge therefore O work work work while it is day for behold death is approaching and then shal we all be called to an account 2. The faith of approaching death will make a Christian exceeding active in his duty he will not only be diligent but also exceeding serious and zealous in the exercise of his duty This is clear from that notable exhortation Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might and the reason is for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Wherefore O be active while you are alive for you shal never work any more after you are dead and if ye leave but one work undone there is no doing of it after death There is no work saith Solomon in the grave therefore O be active 3. The faith of this truth that we must all dye will help a Christian to be exceeding mortified to the things of a present World Oh covetous men and women would you shake hands with cold Death but once every morning I should defie you to pursue the World so much as you do Paul was much in the meditation of his change which made him 2 Cor. 4.18 to overlook those things that are temporary VVhile we look not saith he to the things that are seen which are temporal but to the things which are not seen which are eternal Therefore chap. 5.1 Knowing that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens therefore in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven What aileth you Paul might one have laid may you not take a look of the World No saith he for I know that if this earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved I have a house with God not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens That is I know that ere long the pins of my Tabernacle will be loosed and it will fall down about my ears therefore I must look for another dwelling house And 1 Cor. 7.24 The fashion of this world passeth away therefore saith he verse 32. I would have you without carefulness caring to please the Lord. And Phil. 4.2 Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand As if he had said death is approaching and at hand therefore I intreat you be sober But I think many of us will be found like Saul hid amongst the stuff that is we will be lying amongst the midst of the pleasures of this passing World But I say to thee who art such an one that death will break the strings of thy harp and thy musick will quickly cease O! but death will make thee have a low esteem of the World O! blessed is the person who hath those thoughts of the World all along his way which he shal have of it at his death Have not the most cursed wretches been forced to cry out Oh! I would give ten thousand worlds for Christ Have not some persons who have had the Moon upon their head and that have made their belly their God being forced to cry forth at death O cursed person that I am that ever I made the world my God! Alace that I contented my self with the World Therefore I say unto thee who art such an one O! stay thy pursuit after the World for death is approaching that will cause all thy worldly comforts to evanish 4. When a Christian believeth this truth that he must dye it will be an exceeding great restraint to keep him from sinning as is clear Job 31.13 compared with verse 14. where Job reckoning over many good deeds done by himself saith What then shal I do when God riseth up And when he visiteth what shal I answer him As if he had said Sirs mistake me not I am not boasting much of my self for I could not have done otherwise else what should I do when God riseth up How could I answer to God if I had done otherwise I think it were a notable practise for each of you when temptations begin to assault you to say O temptation what shal I answer to God when he riseth up to reprove me if I should yeeld unto thee Likewise Eccles 11.9 where Solomon disswading young men to pursue after vanity bringeth this as a reason Know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement Therefore I say unto thee who art often tempted to sin let death and reckoning with God be still in thy sight and I defie thee then to embrace half so many temptations as now thou dost I intreat you to answer all your temptations with that one word What shal I do when he riseth up And what shal I answer when he visiteth me 5. When a Christian liveth within the sight of this truth that he shal once see death it shal make him exceeding patient under every cross wherewith he meets Such a Christian will hardly meet with a cross but he will quiet himself with this Death will put me beyond this cross This is but a cloud that will quickly pass away And for this cause did David so composedly put up that desire Psalm 39.4 Lord make me to know mine end and the measure of my days He was sure that the knowledge of his end would put him in a sober and patient frame The sixth advantage is this The faith of approaching death will teach the person that hath

content to bestow some hours upon it according as other necessary employmēts would permit And now having sought out all the Notes of these Sermons which we could find from other hands and compared them with the Copie above mentioned we do again present them unto the Lords people not with anie confidence that our pains hath put anie new lustre upon them onlie we have some hopes that the whole subject being now before them and these things in the way of expression helped which either might seem to be somewhat unpleasant or lyable to mistakes they shal not now be less edifying nor less acceptable then formerlie they were We did not think fit to make anie considerable alterations as to the method or other things of that kind lest haplie by straining his excellent purposes too much to shape them to the ordinarie rules or to reduce them to that order which might best have pleased our selves vve should have vvronged the matter it self at least have put them to a loss vvho did hear him preach and it may be now upon their reading things in that same order as they heard them vvill be the more readilie brought under the impressions of that liveliness power and vveights which it may be formerly they felt upon their heartvvhen he vvas speaking If the method do not altogether satisfie some spir rits or the explication seem not so full or if they firse some introductions which possibly lead not in so close or seem not so sutable to the subject of the Sermons or haply now and then there be some little digressions from the main purpose we shal desire that this may not at all be constructed to be the Authors ignorance of rules and method or his want of abilities in humane learning it being well known to those who were best acquainted with him that he had a scholastick spirit and was in reading far beyond his age and opportunities for studying but as to all these we shal intreat you rather to consider 1. His age and that his gift was but in the very moulding and breaking as we speak in the point of order and method when the Lord was pleased to call him home from his work 2. That every man hath his proper gift of God who in his great wisdom and certainly for the good of the Church doth so order that there is somewhat singular and peculiar almost in every mans way as to these things 3. For any thing we know he had never that high esteem of this or any other of his labors as to design any of them for publick view and these are but Notes taken from his mouth 4. We are perswaded he studied more his hearers then himself Ye will easily perceive when ye have but read a little that he hath been a man of a very zealous temper that the great benfil of his spirit and that which he did wholly spend himself about was to make people know their dangerous condition by nature and by all means to perswade them to believe and lay hold upon the great salvation And truly that a man in such a frame should less attend to these lesser things is not to be wordered at And indeed though these things be good in themselves and worthy to be looked to in their own place yet for a Minister of the Gospel in all Auditories and upon all occasions to pin upon every purpose to such a method and insist unto such a measure of explications and criticismes upon words it is but to setter himself and to starve his people 5. Consider the dulness of the most part of hearers in this age and how hard a thing it is to awake a sleeping world and to get them but to think that it doth concern them to hear in earnest and possibly it was not a small piece of spiritual wisdom in him and it may be not unfit to be imitated by others to b●gin or end all his Sermons with an awaking word concerning Heaven or Hell or Judgement and the danger of choosing the evil and refusing of the good 6. For digressions the truth is that his soul was so filled with such longings after Heaven and Glory and so inflamed with the love of Christ especially toward the latter end of his race that when he fell upon those subjects upon which you will see most of these digressions are he could not well contain himself nor easily bring off his own spirit a thing not unusual to the Saints in Scripture And howbeit such things might seem somewhat singular in the time and not so coherent yet now we have grounds to apprehend that they were often strong influences of the Lords Spirit stirring up a lamp as it were into a sudden blaze that was not to burn long in his Church But now we shall detain you no longer only this we may assure you of that although these Sermons are neither so exact nor so full as doubtless they would have been if they had come from the Authors own pen yet as I dare say they were studied with prayer preached with power and backed with success so also if ye shal read them with consideration meditate with prayer and practise with diligence ye shal never find your time nor pains ill bestowed but shal have cause to bless the Lord for this amongst other helps that he hath given for making you meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light That it may be blest to this end is the earnest desire and prayer of your servants in the work of the Lord RO. TRAIL JO. STERLING THE MYSTERY OF FAITH OPENED UP SERMON I. JOHN 3.23 This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ c. THIS everlasting Gospel in which there are drawn so many precious draughts and divine lineaments of the transcendent beauty of a crucified Saviour and of the riches of his unsearchable grace is a most precious and excellent thing not only because it doth contain most absolute sublime precepts commands in the exercise and obedience of which we do not only attain unto the highest pitch in holiness but likewise because it containeth most rich and precious promises in the possession and fruition of which we are advanced to the highest pinacle of eternal blessedness this is clear in the grace of Faith for what doth more purify the hearts and stamp it with the Image of the invisible God then this grace of Faith And what richer promises are annaxed to any duty then to this duty of believing to wit everlasting life and fruition of God so that if we had dwelt forty dayes at the foot of Mount Sinai and had been under the greatest discovering and condemning power of the Law we may yet come with boldness to Mount Sion and there embrace Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law for righteousness to such as believe Upon which Mount he standeth holding forth the golden Scepter of his peace desiring us to embrace him

Christian when he is much in the exercise of secret Prayer and of much conversing and corresponding with God in that duty as is clear in that word from Dan. 2.21 When Daniel was praying at the evening oblation ●n the 23 verse he meets with a divine intimation of his peace with God O man greatly beloved of God as the Original hath it O man of great desires for he was desireable indeed and precious to him who holdeth the Saints in his right hand IV. This is also a fealing time to a Christian when he is called to the exercise of some great work and is to be put upon some eminent holy imployment this is clear Jer. 1.5 where Jeremiah being called to preach the Gospel unto such a rebellious people then he hath his eternal election declared unto him Before thou wast formed in the womb I knew thee Christ as it were giveth them that to be meat to them for fourty dayes and that in the strength of it they may go many a days journey V. There is also another sealing time when a Christian is first begotten to a precious and everlasting hope for when at first Christians begin to be acquainted with Christ even then sometimes 〈◊〉 declareth to them his boundless everlasting love And this is the ground why some of those who a●… but babes in Christ are so much in the exercise 〈◊〉 diligence so much in the exercise of the grace 〈◊〉 love and so much in the exercise of the grace 〈◊〉 tenderness it is even because of the solemn impresion of their interest in Christ that as it were they are dayly taken in to read their own names 〈◊〉 legible letters in the lambs book of life VI. And there is that last time that is a sealing time to a Christian and that is when he is p●… under some sad and afflicting dispensation Wh●… the furnace is hot seven times more then ordinary Then doth God condescend to manifest himself 〈◊〉 his own When was it that John met with mo●… of the revelations of heaven Was it not wh● he was in the I le of Patmos for the testimony 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ his Kingdom and patience of our ble●sed Lord Rev. 1.9 And that place 2 Cor. 4 1● Though our outward man decay yet our inward man is renewed day by day Now we would press you to be more serious 〈◊〉 the exercise of this precious grace And I shal 〈◊〉 you the cōpend of Christianity in these few words 1. By faith to solace your selves in Christs invisible vertues and excellencies And 2. by hope to b● viewing that precious crown and those everlasting dignities that are to be given to the Saints And 〈◊〉 by mortification to be crucifying your idols And 4. by patience to be possessing your souls unti● once ye shall pass through that dark land to the valley of everlasting delight And as for those that contemn and undervalue the blood of this everlasting Covenant and I would have all those that delight not in closing with Christ and those who have not misbelief as their cross to consider this The wrath of the living and eternal God doth abide upon them who do not believe according to that word John 3.36 He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him It is a remarkable phrase because of this the wrath of God will not be a pilgrim to a misbeliever that will turn aside to tarry but for a night but the wrath of God to them who will not believe shal be their houshold companion and shall dwell with them And wo wo to them eternally who have this sad and everlasting companion to abide with them the wrath of a living God There is one thing we would have those knowing that amongst all those who are eternally to be debarred from Jesus Christ mi●believers are put in the formost rank Revel 21.8 There he is to put away the the fearfull and unbelieving And from 2 Thess 1.18 When Christ shall come from Heaven with ten thousand of his Saints What to do It is even to execute vengeance on those that obey not the truth of the Gospel That is who do not believe and I pose your own hearts with this whether or not your names be written there in that roll amongst those who shall be cut off And that word 2 Thess 2 12. That they might be damned wh● be believed not but took pleasure in unrighteousness O but the wrath of a dying Christ and of a crucified Saviour is drea●ful It is more sad and terrible then the wrath 〈◊〉 God should have been if Christ had not die● I will tell you O hypocrits in Zion the wor● news that ever was published in your ears and 〈◊〉 is this Christ died and rose again and to tho● that are begotten to a lively hope they are gla●tyding of great joy and therein they may comfo● themselves but ye may wear a rough garment 〈◊〉 deceive and go to heaven in your own apprehensions but O the sad disappointments that is wa●ting on many such And to close with this w● would obtest you as you would answer to you terrible and dreadful Judge that shal stand o● day upon his Throne which he shal fix in th● clouds we obtest you by all the joyes of heave● and we obtest you by all the everlasting pains 〈◊〉 hell and we obtest you by all the curses that a●… written in the volume of this book and by a● the sweet and comfortable promises that are i● the everlasting Gospel and by the love that yo● own to your immortal souls and as you would not crucifie Christ afresh believe and embrac● the offers which are presented now unto you● Know ye whether or not this shall be the las● summons that you shal get to believe That so● if ye do reject it Christ shal come from heaven and pronounce that sad and lamentable Sentence to you Depart from me ye cursed I know you not Now to him that can bless these things unto you we desire to give praise SERMON III. JOHN 3.23 This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ c. IT was a command that Solomon gave unto his son Prov. 22.26 That he should not be surety for debt nor be one of those that striketh hands But O! what spotless breaches of that command hath our blessed Lord Jesus committed when he did condescend to be surety for our debt and to pay that which was impossible for us to satisfy Hath not Christ made a precious exchange with sinners He wreathed about his own precious neck that bond and yoke of our iniquities and hath given to us that unweariable easie and portable yoke of his commandments amongst which this is one That we should believe on him spotless Christ was made sin for us that sinful we might be made the righteousness of God in him And is not this the condemnation of the World that we will not believe on him That

God and of defection from him according to that word Heb. 3.12 Beware lest their be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief and there the fruit of it to depart from the living God And certainly it is no wonder that unbelief travels in birth till that cursed child of apostasie be brought forth not only because of this that an unbeliever looseth the thought of the excellency of Christ but also because he increaseth in his thoughts of love towards his Idols for Christ doth decrease in those who misbesieve and their Idols do increase in their love and in their desires and in their estimation 6. There is this sixth disadvantage in the sin of unbelief it hindereth the communication of many single workings and tokens of the love and favor of the most High according to that sad word that is in Matth. 13.58 at the close He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief Unbelief as it were laid a restraint on Christ that he could not effectuat those things which he was willing to perform And to shut up our discourse at this time I would only add these two aggravations which may somewhat enforce what we have spoken I say there are these two aggravations in the sin of unbelief even in his own who have a right also his call to believe 1. That after that Christ hath given most sensible discoveries of himself Wherein we have seen him as it were face to face yet ye will not believe This is clear from John 6.36 Though ye have seen me saith Christ yet ye do not belive in me There is not a manifestation of Christs presence but it i● a witness against you of your unbelief Woul● you hear the voyce of sense that is rectified It i● this believe on the Son of God 2. That notwithstanding of the signal demonstrations of the power of Christ yet though it were the mortifying of some lust and Idol within them yet they will not believe but upon new temptations will doubt of his love to them Christ preacheth Faith by his Word he preacheth Faith by his sufferings he preacheth Faith by his dispensations he preacheth Faith by his promises he preacheth Faith by his rods and if these five instruments will not ingage your hearts to believe who can move them Doth not his two wounds in his precious hands preach out this point of Faith Believe him Doth not that hole opened in his side preach this doctrine That we should believe in him And these two wounds that he received in his precious feet do they not preach this That we should believe on a crucified Saviour And we would only say this that sometimes it is the ca●e of his own that after the convictions of this that it is their duty to believe and also after some desires to close with Christ yet they find inability to close with him Is it not certain that to will to believe is sometime present with you but how to perform you know not And I would have a Christian making this fourfold use of such a dispensation as that which is most ordinarily when convictions of our duty to believe and some desires to close with Christ is not followed with actual performances 1. To study to have your convictions more ●eeply rooted within you for it doth sometimes ●…llow that resolutions and mints to believe are ●ot blest with actual believing because the con●iction of our duty to believe is not deeply im●rinted upon our conscience 2. Be convinced of that desperate enmity and ●hat mystery of iniquity that is within you that ●e can have some will to do without ability to ●erform We confesse it is not an ordinary dis●ase in these dayes to have such a contrariety betwixt a Christians will and his practice our will ●or the most part being no better than our prastice but somtimes it is which may make you ●ry forth O wretched man that I am who shall de●iver me from this body of death 3. That ye would be much in the imploying of Christ that as he hath given you to will so also he might make you to do Christ is about to convince his own in such a dispensation as that That Faith is the gift of God Faith is so noble a grace that it cannot be spinned out from our resolutions not from our endeavors Faith is such a divine plant as the Fathers right hand must plant in our souls 4. Let it convince you of the excllency of the grace of Faith for the difficulty of the attaining to any thing may speak out the excellency of that thing there is no sin but it may be easily win at there is an easinesse and facility to overtake the paths of our Idols but the graces of the Spirit are so excellent things that we must figh● before we attain them And you who are stra●gers to Christ Jesus and have never know what it is to close with him we would reque● you in Christs name to be reconciled to him What know ye O men or rather Atheists be this shall be the last summons that ye shal get 〈◊〉 believe And that because ye disobey this precious summons there shal be one presented t● you that ye cannot sit I remember of one ma● who looking upon many thousands that we●… under his command weeped over them whe● he considered how that within a few years all these should be laid in their graves and should be in eternity O but it were much of our concernment to be trying our selves how it is with us we are not afraid that it is a breach of charit to wish that but one of each ten that are within these doors were heirs of the grace of life and had the solide and spiritual expectation of heaven I think if Christ were to come presently to speak to us He might not only say to each twelve that are here One of you shal betray me but we are afraid that he should say to each twelve that are here Eleven of you shal betray me and but one only shall passe free O doth it not concern you to enquire where you shal rest at night when the long shadows of everlasting evening shal be stretched out upon you I think there are some that are so setled upon their lees that if they were one day in hell and saw all the torments that are there and were brought from it the next day to live on earth they would ●ot repent And more there are some that take ●hem up on day to see the joyes of Heaven and bring them back again they would not pursue after these blessed and everlasting enjoyments O is not Christ much undervalued by us But I must tell you this One wo is past but behold another wo is coming O the searchings of those spirits who are entered into their everlasting pri●on house out of which their is no redemption What shal be your choise when Christ shall come in the clouds I am