The souls worth and danger, or A discourse exciting and directing to the due care of its eternal salvation upon the words of our blessed saviour Armstrong, John, 1634 or 5-1698. 1677 Approx. 109 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 39 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-02 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A25835 Wing A3708B ESTC R214882 99826935 99826935 31347 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A25835) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 31347) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1901:15) The souls worth and danger, or A discourse exciting and directing to the due care of its eternal salvation upon the words of our blessed saviour Armstrong, John, 1634 or 5-1698. 77, [1] p. printed for the author, Cambridge : 1677. Attributed by Wing to John Armstrong. Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Salvation -- Early works to 1800. Devotional literature, English -- Early works to 1800. 2005-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-09 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-12 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2005-12 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-01 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Souls Worth and Danger , OR A DISCOURSE Exciting and directing to the Due Care of its Eternal Salvation ; UPON THE WORDS OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR : S t Mat. 16. 26. What is a man profited , if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul ? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul ? CAMBRIDGE . Printed for the Author . 1677. THE Souls Worth and Danger . S t Mat. 16. 26. What is a man profited , if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own Soul ? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul ? OUr Saviour v. 24. tells the Apostle Peter , and all other his faithful disciples ; that rather then deny him , they must deny themselves for his sake ; and that so far as should be needful , they must take up their Cross , and follow him . In all which they must not be hindred , 1. with the loss of life , for , says he , v. 25. the words before the Text , Whosoever will save his life shall lose it , &c. nor 2. should they be hindred with the loss of reputation , for , says he , v. 27. the words immediatly following the text , The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father , and reward every man according to his works ; and then there shall be a resurrection of their names , as well as of their persons . Nor 3. should the loss of the world hinder them , for says he in the words of the text it self , What is a man profited though he should gain the whole world , and lose his own Soul ? The question is put so as to include a strong denyal : What is a man profited ? That is , he is not profited at all . And again , what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul ? that is , there is nothing that he can give in exchange for it . And therefore our Saviour is to be understood , as if he had said , They that will disobey me , may 't is true be gainers in the world for a while , but if they should be gainers of the whole world , their gains would not be so great as their loss , the incomparable , invaluable , irrecoverable loss of their precious Souls Job 27. 8. What is the hope of the Hypocrite , though he hath gained : ( though he hath gained never so much ) when God taketh away his Soul ? For as it is Psal . 49. 6 , 8 , 17. He that trusted and boasted in his wealth here , when he dieth , he shall carry nothing away , his glory shall not descend after him . Or if it might , it would not buy his pardon , or be a sufficient ransome to God. For the redemption of the Soul is precious , and ( therefore thus ) ceaseth for ever . Whence we may observe , as the subject of the following discourse , That each ones Soul is to them , more worth then the World. Or , that they will be exceeding great losers that lose their own Souls , though it should be by the gaining of the whole World. And this may be made out , by considering first , what it is to gain the World ; and the worhtlesness thereof though gained ; and next , by shewing what it is to lose the Soul ; and the preciousness of that if lost . First therefore as to the gaining of the world , we are to remember that 1. By the world , as S t John 1. 10. is sometimes meant , the whole visible fabrick of the heavens we breath in , and the earth we tread upon ; and thus the Text must be understood only by way of supposition ; for otherwise neither Ahasuerus , nor Alexander , nor any the greatest Conqueror ever gained so much , as to become absolute Master of the whole earthly Globe . 2. By the world may sometimes , as S t John. 15. 19. be meant the wicked of the world . And so , but too many think they have gained what they most desire , if they may but enjoy the frequent Society of the most lewd and wicked people ; concerning whom says Saint Hieron : Discamus Sanctam superbiam , & sciamus nos esse illis meliores . As if he should have said , Let us Christians learn an holy pride , and ( as it may be without any Pharisee-like boasting ) let us know our selves too good for the Company of such infectious lepers of the world . 3. By the world may here be Chiefly meant the things of the world , worldly profits , honours , and pleasures ; As 1 John. 2. 16. The lusts of the flesh , the lusts of the eyes , the pride of life . And so with some to gain the world , is by men-pleasing or time serving , by flatteries or briberies to get honours and preferment in the world . Not a few being willing to give away the world in this sense , to gain it in another . Again with others , to gain the world , is by immodest apparelling , or inticing behaviour , or by the frequent use of unseasonable and immoderate recreation , or by luxurious and riotous living to get the sinful sensual pleasures of the world . And further with the most , to gain the world , is to get the wealth and profits thereof , by covetousness , or by oppression & extortion , or by fraudulent unrighteous dealing , or by abusing a lawful calling ; or using that which is unlawful , so as to live much upon the sins of others , in furthering their pride , or idleness , or prodigality , or quarrelsomness , or wanton lewdness , or beastly drunkenness or the like . In a word , to gain the world in this sense , is by any undue means to get whatsoever in the world the heart of carnal wretches can most desire , and which is as a world to them . Between whom and sincere Christians there is always this vast difference ; Good and faithful Christians seek the favour and fruition of God in Christ , and their own Souls salvation , as their main end ; and in order thereunto , make religion their business ; and all worldly things , even which may be innocently used , with them come in but on the by ; so as , if it shall seem good to God , they can either have them , or be without them . Whereas to carnal people that lose their Souls in the pursuit of the world , their main end is , the pleasing of the flesh thereby some way or other , which their sex , age , education , constitution of body , or condition of life most tempts and leads them to . And with them , Religion , that comes in but on the by ; and if they need it not for a pretence , they can most easily be without it . Yet after all , when such people have , with the contempt of Gods service , the wounding of their consciences , and the abuse of their pretious Souls , gotten the most they can of the world ; at the last they are forced by their own sad Experience to confess the vanity and worthlesness of it . 'T is true these outward worldly things , as they proceed from God , and may lead to him ; as they may fit men for great offices , and noble imployments ; as they may be used for our own and others wellfare , and as they are a means to sustain us in this life , while we are seeking after eternal life , so they are the good blessings of God , which we may labour after , and ought to be thankful for . But as they are abstracted from God , and inordinately loved , sought , and trusted in , so they have this five-fold vanity , which is but too easily discovered in them , namely , their unsatisfactoriness , their commoness , their deceitfulness , their unsuitableness , and unprofitableness . 1. That which speaks the little worth , but great vanity of worldly things , is their unsatisfactoriness . Ahab had the possession of a wealthy Kingdome , and yet for want of Naboths vineyard only , how was he heart-sick , so as to take no content in all his other enjoyments ? 1 Kings 21. 4. In like manner , to what a wonderful height of dignity and earthly happiness was Human advanced , and yet how did so inconsiderable a thing , as the want of poor Mordecaie's knee , damp all the delights of his proud heart ? Esther 5. 11 , 12 , 13. Knock at the door of the Choicest earthly possessions , and they will tell you one by one , sufficiency is not in me . The creature if parted from God , is empty , and the Soul too ; and what fulness can be had by adding one emptiness to another ? Many a poor man hath thought ; if I had but enough to supply such necessaries , and discharge such debts , how chearfully would I serve the Lord without distraction , and not care so much for the world any more ? But when these desires have been granted , they have found themselvs still unsatisfied ; being ready now to thirst as much after fulness , as before after necessaries . It is God only who is All-sufficient , both as to his own happiness , and our satisfaction , Gen. 17. 1. It is Christ the uncreated Wisdome , Prov. 8. 21. Who fills the treasures of those that love him , and causeth them to inherit substance . And if he do not make God ours , as well as the creature , our condition will be but like theirs mentioned Haggai 1. 6. Ye have sown much , and bring in little : Ye eat , but ye have not enough : Ye drink , but ye are not filled with drink : ye clothe you , but there is none warm : and he that earneth wages , earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes . Solomon that was so rich to compass all worldly accommodations , and so wise to find out what was best in them to be enjoyed ; after a full experience , tells us , that if they lead not to God , they will be but vanity and vexation of Spirit . 2. How doth the Commonness of these worldly things abate the value of them ? Eccl. 9. 1 , 2. They come alike to all , and none can certainly know by them either love or hatred ; whether they be the friends or enemies of God. You cannot say , God gives me poverty , therefore he hates me ; or he gives me riches , therefore he loves me ; such conclusions are weak and deceitful . For the good may be afflicted as well as the bad , and sometimes undergoe the heaviest burden of earthly trouble . Luke 16. 15. And on the other hand , the wicked may flourish for a while as well as the righteous , and sometimes enjoy the greatest measure of worldly prosperity . Psal . 17. 13 , 14. Renewing grace is a certain sign of Gods favour , and a special distinguishing mercy , and therefore highly to be esteemed , and earnestly sought after ; but outward comforts , common natural gifts , and acquired abilities , as a fair estate , an healthful body , a faithful memory , a quick understanding , a ready utterance , or the like ; these , though blessings in themselves , yet are but blessings of the left hand , such as are given to the heathen Idolater , as well as to the Christian Worshipper , to the clean and unclean , to him that sacrificeth and him that sacrificeth not . And therefore this their commonness shews much of their vanity and worthlesness . 3. How is there in worldly things a vanity of deceitfulness which also speaks them less valuable ? How many people come to the world as to a lottery , looking for a prize , but go away cheated with a blank ? How often doth the world by promising much , and performing little , first abuse our Judgements , and then frustrate our hopes and expectations ? Have you not sometimes found creature-confidences , like the trusting in the Staff of a brokenreed , whereon if a man lean , it will go into his hand and pierce it ? Isa . 36. 6. Have you not sometimes enjoyed the pleasures of sin for a season , and flattered your self with the long continuance of them ? Whereas that season is gone , and never returns again . Can you not remember what happiness you may have promised your self in such a friend , such a purchase , such a preferment , but some unexpected disappointment or other , some Crosse or other , hath much imbittered them unto you , and lessened your comfort in their enjoyment ? The mutability of the world is the great deceit of it ; which that we may avoid , let us duly consider what the Apostle hath written , 1 Tim. 6. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 17 , 18 , 19. And again 1 Cor. 7. 29 , 30 , 31. Oh let us not suffer our selves to be imposed upon , counting that to continue long , which he , according to the experience of all , tells us shall abide but a short while and then passe away . Oh let us not think with them Isa . 56. 12. what carnal delights we will have this day , and to morrow much more abundant . Oh let us not say with him S t Luke 12. 19 , 20. Soul take thine ease , eat drink , be merry , thou hast much goods layd up for many years . Least we be awakened with that terrible voice of God , saying , as unto him ; Thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee ; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided ? Why should we inordinately set our hearts and affections on that which is not ? for as Prov. 23. 5. Riches ( honours , pleasures ) make themselves wings and fly away . When we think our selves most sure of them , when we trust most in them , when by the abuse of them , we are become most proud , stomackful , secure and negligent of Gods service , then are we most sadly deceived , then the wing of prodigality , of oppression , of casualty sweeps them from us ; or else the wing of death carries us away from them in a moment . But suppose the world to perform more then it promiseth , and that we could be sure of it for a very considerable while ; yet have we not immortal Souls to provide for ? Have we not matters of life or death to look after ? And what can all the world be to this ? Oh therefore how nearly doth it concern us to lay up in store for our selves a sure foundation for the time to come ; to anchor our Souls upon Christ the rock of ages who will never deceive us ; and not to hazard them for any thing , in this worthless , because deceitful and changeable , world . 4. That which further shews the worthlesness of the things of the world , is their vanity of unsutableness in respect of the precious Soul. Those are corporeal and fading , this is spiritual and immortal . Those are limited and finite beings , this a substance of unbounded desires , and can be fully satisfied with nothing but communion with the Father , and the Son through the Spirit ; with nothing but a state of grace and salvation , and the fruition of God. All that worth which silver and gold , and such worldly things have , is not so much in their own nature , as from our esteem , or from some outward humane appointment ; but we can never thus make them equally excellent with our selves . 'T is true , by a wilful slavery to sin , we may ( as the Prophet speaks , Jerem. 6. 30. ) turn our selves into brasse , and iron , and reprobate silver ; we may unman and unchristian our selves ; we may undervalue and debase our Souls , blotting out the image of God , and writing upon them the superscription of earth and the world ; Thus indeed , the Epicure may greatly delight in sensual pleasures , and the ambitious mind in flattering titles , and the frothy wit in abusive lightness ; Thus , 't is true , carnal and worldly things , to carnal , and worldly hearts may become but too sutable , dear , and precious . But the desires of a gracious heart are after higher and better things . For every faithful Christian considers that God hath made even our bodies upright , and our faces lifted from the earth ; that we might conceive how far from it , our heaven-born Spirits should be elevated towards himself , and Christ , and heavenly Glory , which are therefore most excellent , because most proportionable and sutable to our Souls , in their utmost capacities . 5. And lastly , the worthlesness of the world appears by its unprofitableness . As Samuel said to the people , 1 Sam. 12. 20 , 21. Turn ye not aside from serving and following the Lord ; for then should ye go after vain things , which cannot profit , because they are vain . Too many indeed are ready to think the profits of the world worth their gaining , even by the loss of their consciences , of heaven , and God himself . And as for those who make conscience of their waies , and endevour to walk circumspectly , closely , and humbly with God ; who scrupulously forbear prophane rash oaths and idle discourse , who are sensible of the least secret sin , who avoid what they can all occasions and appearances of evil , who withstand the corruptions of the times and places they live in , though they gain less in the world ; these are often accounted , such as know not what is best for themselves . But S t Paul assures us , that such Godliness with contentment is the truest gain ; whereas the world , when you have spent all your thoughts , and the labour of your lives upon it ; though it may further you in some lesser respects , yet it cannot profit you in the main thing necessary . It cannot procure us the favour of God , who regardeth not the rich man more then the poor , for they are all alike the work of his hands . He accounts of all , not according to their meanness , or greatness , but according to their real piety and goodness ; Prov. 19. 1. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity , then he that is perverse in his lips , and is a fool . Prov. 28. 6. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness , then he that is perverse in his ways , though he be rich . Observe , They are the poor that walk in their integrity , that know , love , and serve God ; not that kind of poor who are grossely ignorant and neglectful of God , and who lead sensual , sloathful , and heathenish lives ; though they above others , might be most easily convinced of the emptiness and unprofitableness of the world , and so have greater care of their Souls salvation , seeking out after God in Christ to supply their Spiritual necessities , that it may be better with them in the life to come . Again , the world cannot ease the pain of an afflicted conscience ; nor can it give us the grace we want . Ordinarily 't is so abused , that it makes people not more thankful , but more forgetful of God ; nor doth it ( as it ought ) draw their hearts nearer to God , but sets them at a further distance from him ; nor doth it make them more humble , but more haughty ; nor more constant and sincere in duties , but more unfit for any good word or work . Nor can the world profit us in the day of wrath . When the sinful pleasures of youth are ended by sickness , age , or death , what can be left , but the worm of conscience bred out of them to torment the Soul for ever ? Have you not sometimes considered with your self , how soon the world and its pleasures will turn you off ? How can you but now and then take notice of your own frailties which tell you , how certainly and shortly you must lie down in the dust ? Do you not sometimes go to the house of mourning , or stand by dying people , confessing the world to be nothing worth , and complaining of the losse of their time and strength spent upon it ? And do you not see how little it doth for them in their greatest need ? Oh therefore let this prevail with us to prize our Souls above the world ; let this ( with what hath been considered in the foregoing particulars ) make us set as light by it , as it doth , or will do by us . Let us henceforth make Christ our treasure , and count it our happiness to honour and worship him as we ought to do . Let us make God our portion , and sit down content with him alone , and let them who can get no better , take the world and the pleasures of it . Having now seen , what it is to gain the world , and the worthlesness thereof though gained , we are in the next place to consider , what it is to lose the Soul , and the preciousness of that if lost . As to the losing of the Soul , the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here rendred , to lose , signifies to have a mulct or punishment inflicted , and so may import , not only the fatal final losse or damnation of the Soul , but also any losse or damage that belongs to it , here or hereafter . 1. Therefore to lose the Soul is to lose ones self . A mans Soul is the principal part of himself , and so it is in S t Luke ch . 9. 25. What is a man advantaged , if he gain the whole world , and lose himself ( Soul and body too ) and be cast away . 2. To lose the Soul implies a being deprived of all further opportunities and seasons of grace , of all virtuous and gracious endowments , which are as the life of the Soul. When Christ calls by death or Judgement ; they that like the foolish virgins , have not oyl in their lamps , and their lamps trimmed , that have not their Souls adorned with the saving graces of his Spirit ; they shall not enter with him . Having waited so long already , and all in vain , he will now stay no longer , till they go and buy for themselves , but will shut the door of mercy against them for ever . 3. The losing of the Soul implyes the losse of all such earthly enjoyments , as sensual hearts love and prize above their Souls , and for which they undoe themselves for ever . Oh who can express the wretchedness of such people , when they shall stand before the Judgment seat of God , to receive their just doom , in the most forlorn and desolate condition , stript and forsaken of all carnal comforts , friends , possessions , and outward accommodations whatsoever ; which to the hazard of their Souls , they have grasped at , and used in a sinful way ; and therefore must now lose both the Soul and them too eternally . 4. The losing of the Soul implyes the losing of Christ , and Heaven , and the blessed Vision of God for ever . And this indeed is the loss of losses , such as there was never the like before , nor ever can be again after it . The fore-mentioned might be born , but hardly ; but this is intollerable . This worst effect of sin , Depart from me , or go away from me , is as terrible a word , as everlasting fire . For alass ! Whither shall they go , that go from God , when he alone hath the power of eternal life . Ten thousand words cannot speak a Soul more unhappy , then those two words , without God , Eph. 2. 12. Thou mayst be without riches , without friends , without health , without liberty , nay , without all outward blessings , and yet be blessed ; but if without God , thou art cursed with a curse . The hypocrites hell which is the hottest of all other , is set out by this , Job 13. 16. The hypocrite shall not come before God. When God would most powerfully perswade to dutie , this is his motive , Jerem. 7. 27. Obey my voice , and I will be your God. When he would most effectually disswade from sin , this is his argument , Jerem. 6. 8. Be instructed , O Jerusalem , least my Soul depart from you . And again Hos . 9. 12. Wo unto them , when I depart from them . How sad a saying is that of Sauls , 1 Sam. 18. 15. I am sore distressed , for the Philistins are upon me , and God is departed from me . How mournfully doth Micah bemoan the loss even of his helpless idols , Judges 18. 24. Ye have taken away my Gods , and what have I more , and what is this ye say unto me , what aileth thee ? How sadly is holy David and our Blessed Saviour afflicted at Gods absence in part , and for a while ? My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? says the one . Lord ( says the other Psal . 88. 14 , 15. ) why castest thou off my Soul ? Why hidest thou thy face from me ? I am afflicted and ready to dye , while I suffer thy terrours , I am distracted . Do these so complain of Gods absence in part , and for a while ? how bitterly then will the lost Soul complain when forsaken of God utterly and eternally ! Some are ready to say to God , as Job 21. 24. Depart from us , for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways . They think him sometimes too near them in a Sermon , in a private instruction , in a motion of his Spirit , or in a conviction of conscience ; and could wish him , with his holy Laws farther off , that they might sin more securely ; but let such beware , least he take them at their word , and give them their wish to their woe , in banishing them everlastingly from his comfortable presence . Oh with what tormenting grief will they then behold those Soul-ravishing delights , which the righteous have in the presence of God , the fountain of all good ; whilst they are sentenced to an eternal separation from him ! How sad and deformed a spectacle is the body from which the Soul is parted ; oh how sad then shall the condition of that Soul be from which God is parted for ever ? This though very grievous , yet is not all , for 5. and lastly , the losing of the Soul implies further it s being brought to the highest degree of sin , and consequently to such a fulness of sorrow , and such a weight of Gods burning eternal wrath , as no heart can conceive , or tongue express . They that would choose sin , to save themselves from a little trouble or affliction , will find , that now what they feared , and ten thousand times more is come upon them . The wicked could now wish their Souls were so lost as to cease to be , that they might cease to be tormented ; but God by his infinite power will both uphold them in their being , and make them more sensible of pain then ever , that they may be the subjects of greater punishment . And now the Conscience of a lost Soul gnaws to think , so many nights I went to bed prayerless ; so many times I swallowed down unlawful gain ; so many hours I spent in revelling , foolish sporting , or idle unprofitable talking ; so many opportunities of receiving good at the Lords-supper and other ordinances , I have lost , because I would not prepare for them , nor so much as defile my foot , or endure a little cold or trouble , to be present at them . Oh that I had been more diligent in the practice of religion and holiness ; oh that I had kept the Lords-day better , and been more innocent in my walking all the week after , though a less gainer in the world ; Oh that I had never known such or such a sin , which I loved , lived in , plotted and contrived , and by which I have now wrought my own eternal ruine ; Oh that I had spent but half my mis-spent time in praying , and studying Gods Word , in doing good , and watching over my ways , then had I been yonder in Heaven , but now I must be for ever tormented in these flames . Thou mayst now so under value thy Soul , as to spend much more time upon thy beasts then upon it ; though Truth it self tells us in the Text , that it is more worth then a world . But that which is now despised , in hell will be esteemed ; and the damned shall fully know the price of this Pearl , whether they will or no. But it is far better to know and believe it now , that we may be more careful of its preservation . Consider therefore , I beseech you , in the next place , the preciousness of the Soul in these several respects . 1. As to God our maker , for did not he at first make it in innocency , after his own glorious image in knowledge , righteousness , and holiness , Gen. 1. 26. Eph. 4. 14. Col. 3. 10. And ever since , how is it the body of the Child only , the frailer and viler part , which is from the substance of the Parents ? ( as it was at first formed of the dust of the ground Gen. 2. 7. ) whereas the precious Soul , which is of a Spiritual nature , and shall never die , hath its immediate being and original from God the Father of Spirits , Heb. 12. 9. Infundendo creatur , & creando infunditur . How is it God only , from whom it is , who can effectually command the Soul to subjection ? ( while the Magistrate can but force the outward man ) And God only who can punish it ? ( while man can but kill the body , S t Mat. 10. 28. ) Still even under the state of corruption , how is it the Candle of the Lord , and the master-piece of his creation , shewing the dignity of its nature by its various and noble operations ? He that by these knows not what the Soul is , knows not what a man is . For what is it but the Soul which thus distinguisheth us from brute beasts ? What is it but the Soul , by which you are thinking , reading , or asking , what a Soul is ? What is it but the Soul which is the fountain of precious life , and therefore much more precious in it self ? Prov. 6. 26. The adulteress will hunt for the precious life . The words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the precious Soul. What is the Soul but the rational nature containing the sensitive and vegetative ; The Principle or first Act by which we move , perceive , understand and freely will ? And how do these acts speak the excellency of the Powers from whence they flow ! and how do those Powers shew the worth of the Soul it self ? 2. Consider its Excellency in relation to Christ our Redeemer . What can more clearly demonstrate the preciousness of it , then the greatness of that price which he payd for it ? Being willing to lay down his life to deliver the Soul from eternal misery . 1 S t Pet. 1. 18 , 19. The Apostle says we are not redeemed with gold or silver , or any such corruptible things ; but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ . The more noble the person taken captive , the larger is the summe required for his ransome . Our Saviour in all likelihood would not have done what he did , to keep the whole frame of heaven and earth from being dissolved ; but to save those precious immortal Souls from perishing , which were capable of enjoying so much good from God , and bringing so much glory to him ; he was ready , to take our nature , to suffer his Fathers wrath , to live a painful life , and dye an accursed death , by all which we may read in most fair and large Characters the worth of the Soul. 3. Consider its excellency in relation to the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier . Oh how precious must that needs be , which is cleansed , quickned , and beautified with precious faith , as 't is called , 2 Pet. 1. 1. And so we may say with precious hope and charity , with precious wisdome , meekness , temperance , patience . Oh the Excellent supernatural operations of such a Soul ! The mind is busie to know God in Christ , and to understand his will revealed in his word . The memory thinks of him , the conscience stands in awe of him , the Will chooseth and embraceth him , the heart trusts in him and is set upon him ; The affections are taken up in loving him , rejoycing in him , fearing to offend him , desiring to please and enjoy him . These are the truly noble , and worthy imployments of the Soul as redeemed and sanctified , and renewed after the image of God. 4. Consider further its excellency with relation to the heavenly Angels . For why should they attend us as ministring spirits , if our Spirits were not of an excellent angelical nature , and fit to minister unto God ? Nay 5. may not the faln accursed angels , and Satan himself tell us the worth of a Soul , by his being so much the enemy of its Salvation , when he compasseth the earth , Job 1. 7. and goeth about night and day to devour and deceive them , 1 Pet. 5. 8. 6. Why should God , if it were not for our precious immortal Souls , give us the Scriptures , and an excellent religion to shew us the way to happiness ? Or why should he in the Scriptures dignifie us with such honourable titles , as to be called his Friends , his Children , to be called the spouse , and the members of Christ ? 7. Why too should Ministers be appointed by him , to preach , and pray , and labour for us , if we had not such precious Souls to save or lose ? Hebr. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you , for they watch for your Souls . Why should they preach in season and out of season , and be so reviled , and suffer so much to perform their work , but that they know That he that winneth Souls is wise , Prov. 11. 30. And that he which converteth a sinner from the errour of his ways , shall save a Soul from death , and shall hide a multitude of sins . 8. Moreover , why should such store of other mercies be provided for us ? Why should a world of creatures ( whose corporeal substance seems as excellent as ours ) attend and serve us , if we were but an ingenious sort of brutes , and had not reasonable immortal Souls more worth then the world ? Other Creatures are made for man , and man for God , to glorifie him by them , and for them . And surely they have a right estimate of the Souls worth , who measure by it the worth of all worldly things ; who reckon of their in-comes , their friends , estates , preferments according as they help or hinder them in the service of God ; counting them more or less excellent , as they are more or less subservient to his honour , and their own or others Souls everlasting happiness . 9. Consider the precious Soul in its tendency , which is to an eternal enjoyment of God , an infinite good ; and that , as fully as humane nature is capable of , and that in a state of absolute perfection . Intellectus quaerit Deum . The Soul reacheth after God , and this speaks its excellency that he alone can satisfie it . O Lord ( says S t Augustin ) thou hast made us for thy self , and our heart is unquiet till it comes unto thy self . Here , O Christian , thy weaknesses are thy grief , and thy afflictions or meanness may render thee despicable in the eyes of the world , but being sincerely converted , thy Soul is in a tendency to that happiness , where it shall be enlarged , and perfected to partake the more of God. Where it s best faculties shall be united to the best object , in the best and fullest manner to eternal ages . If sincerely converted to God , thy Soul is in a tendency to that illustrious heavenly glory , which is only sutable to it , and which will render far more precious and illustrious , both it , and thy body too , after the resurrection . 10. Hence we adde one consideration more of the Souls excellency , and that is , in respect of the body here . David speaking of the body , Psa . 139. 14 , 15. O Lord ( says he ) I will praise thee , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made ; marvellous are thy works , and that my Soul knoweth right well . My substance was not hid from thee , when I was made in secret ; and curiously wrought ( or imbroydered ) in the lowest parts of the earth . Galen more atheistical before , when he came to see the anatomy of mans body , and considered the excellent frame thereof , Now ( says he ) I adore the God of nature . Yet we know the body is but the case or instrument of the Soul , which so far exceeds it , that in many things , with God , the willingness and pure intention of the mind is chiefly lookt at , without which bodily exercise profiteth little . Though a man give his body to be burnt , if there be wanting the charity of the Soul , it availeth nothing , 1 Cor. 13. 3. Nay there are several actions of the Soul which are beyond that which concerns the body at all ; as the knowing of God , and the life to come , and many notions in mathematicks and other sciences which are abstracted from bodily substances . In adversity , there may be solid joys in the mind ; as there may be real torments upon a mans spirit , which the Primitive Christians and Martyrs being freed from , made little reckoning of their outward sufferings , but endured them ( as Sozomen says ) as if their bodies had been other folks , and not their own . In prosperity too there may be a power in mans Soul to curb the body in that which is most sutable and pleasing , which a beast cannot do . 1 Cor. 9. 27. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection , St Mat. 18. 8 , 9. Prov. 23. 1 , 2. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler , consider diligently what is before thee . And put a knife to thy throat , if thou be a man given to appetite . Again , when the body faints with age or sickness , the Soul may have strong desires after God and eternity . And when the body returns to the dust , the immortal spirit goes to him that gave it to be judged to weal or woe . I desire ( says the Apostle ) to be dissolved , and be with Christ . Father ( says our Saviour ) into thy hands I commend my spirit , S t Luke 23. 43. and 46. to the penitent thief , This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise . The body , you see then , though curiously wrought or imbroydered , is but the cabinet of a more precious Soul , which as was said , is chiefly the man. Oh therefore let us not live as if we were all of a piece , and the body was the man ; as if that only was to be adorned , pampered , and provided for . God having given us Souls capable of all those excellencies which he is pleased to impart to the best of his Creatures , let us count them richly worth the care and labour of an holy Christian life . Far be it from us , to be willing of so much pains for the world , and to call farless for the Soul too much ado . Far be it from us , to think our precious Souls , no more worth then honour , wealth , or foolish mirth . Oh , far be it from us , to count them so worthless , as to be abused to the basest drudgery , to be poysoned with sin and sensuality , or to be ventured for a thing of nought . But thus you have seen , both what it is to gain the world , and what to lose the Soul ; as also the worthlesness of the one though gained , and the preciousness of the other if lost ; which if you compare , and duely consider ; you will acknowledge , as our Saviour here hath taught us , That each ones Soul is of such worth and excellency , that they must needs be exceeding great losers who lose their Souls , though it could be by the gaining of the whole world . As for the more full and particular improvement of this weighty truth , which so nearly concerns every one of us , you may take it in the following inferences . Use 1. Is the Soul of any man or woman whatsoever more worth then a world . Hence then , O Christian , learn to entertain right thoughts concerning the dignity of thy nature , and let this 1. make thee hate to dishonour thy self , by thinking , speaking , or doing any thing unworthy of a rational Soul , much more of a Christian . Let this make thee afraid to live and dye so vilely , as at last with the wicked to wish thou hadst been made a toad or serpent , or that thou hadst never been born . 2. Rather let this consideration make thee careful to live holily to Gods glory ; and so to praise him for thy Soul , made capable of so excellent a work , as to love , serve , and honour him here ; and of so glorious a reward , as to enjoy him hereafter . 3. Let the same consideration move thee to praise God also for Christ , the Lover of Souls , who hath done and suffered so much for their eternal welfare ; and in him , to praise the Lord , especially for all other Soul mercies and advantages . Though he should be pleased to keep thee short of other things , say with a thankful heart , as Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ . Gaius had a Sickly body , but was happy in the prosperous state of his Soul. Beloved ( says S t John Epistle 3. v. 2. ) I wish that thou mayst prosper , and be in health , even as thy Soul prospereth . 4. Let this dignity of thy humane nature help thee to see the dignity of thy holy religion . And remember , though every thing else be mean about thee , yet thy sincere religiousness relating to the precious Soul , is no mean , but an excellent thing ; which as Solomon says , makes the righteous more excellent then his neighbour . 5. Let this further make thee to carry they self alwaies humbly and courteously towards the meanest people thou canst meet with ; considering , that though thou mayst differ from them in some outward respects , yet they have Souls , which in their own nature , are as precious as thine own . Use 2. Is the Soul more worth then a world ? and shall they be such exceeding great losers that lose their Souls , though by the gaining of the whole world ? See then a great help Christians have to beat back Satans temptations , when tempted to evil , as Eve and our Saviour , by any thing in the world . Should a Chapman bid thee for any part of thy goods , not so many pence as they are worth pounds ; wouldst thou not turn away with scorn from one that offered thee so much to thy loss ? Or if but for thy life , thou couldst have an earthly crown , or the whole world layd in thy hand ; wouldst thou not utterly refuse it , knowing it could do thee no good at all when thy life was gone ? Wilt thou then exchange thy so precious Soul to its eternal undoing , when offered for it but a morsel of base gain , or a cup of stoln pleasure which will vanish in a moment ? Therefore 1. When about to lye , dissemble , curse or swear blasphemously , if the next abuse of thy tongue would cost thee the certain loss of that unruly member , would not self-love make thee refrain from such evil ? and wilt thou not do so much more for the love of God , and to prevent the loss of thy precious Soul. Take not his name , who made thy mouth , in vain : It gets thee nothing , and hath no excuse : Lust and wine plead a pleasure , avarice gain : But the Cheap swearer through his open sluce Le ts his Soul runne for nought , as little fearing : Were I an Epicure ; I could bate swearing . Again 2. when tempted to drink more then will do thee good , if one should assure thee that the next needless cup was mixed with deadly poyson , thou wouldest certainly refuse it ; counting thy life more precious then to be so vilely cast away ; shouldst thou not then much rather , resolutely and constantly avoid such beastly drunkenness ; as manifestly endangers the life and happiness of thy far more precious Soul ? 3. So when tempted next to Ale-house gaming and stage-plays , in hopes of a little sordid gain or pleasures ; mayst thou not remember how deeply thou makest thy own and others Souls guilty of abundance of sin , vanity , and prophaneness ; and then think how dear bought thy mirth would be , if that nights laughter should ( as it may for any thing thou knowest ) end in weeping and gnashing of teeth ? As also how little gainer thou wilt be , when thou hast staked and lost , if not the maintenance of thy family ; yet , thy time , reputation , and the credit of religion , and therewith the favour of God , the peace of thy conscience , and the happiness of thy Soul. 4. Moreover how powerfully should the same consideration perswade each one to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the spirit , 1 Pet. 2. 11. As also 5. not to covet to be rich in a sinful way , because they that do so , fall into temptation and a snare , and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition . For the love of money is the root of all evil : which while some have coveted after , they have erred from the faith , and pierced themselves through with many sorrows , 1 Tim. 6. 9 , 10. And again , Jerem. 17. 11. As the Partridge sitteth on eggs , and hatcheth them not : so he that getteth riches and not by right , shall leave them in the midst of his days , and at his end shall be a fool . The next temptation that comes to draw thee , like Esau , Judas , Ahab , or Achan , to gain some little trifle , or to get some swinish pleasure , Thy conscience may tell thee , that if thou dost deliberately commit such a sin ; thou dost at the same time , wilfully in a manner , sell or pawn thy Soul which is of so great value ; or at the best , dost for a small matter most sadly venture the loss of it . For thou knowst , that the sin is damning in its own nature ; and thou canst not tell but thou mayst dye with the guilt of it upon thy conscience ; being thou canst not tell , whether God will give thee time , or an heart to repent of it or no. Which of us should not be afraid to consent to any wilful sin , if we verily thought we should dye presently upon the doing of it ? Should the Tempter offer us all the Kingdomes of the world , as a reward of our iniquity ; surely we should see sufficient reason , like our Saviour , to refuse to fall down and worship him , or any ways to yield unto him ; considering that by dying instantly upon the deed done , we might lose a Soul , as our Saviour tells us , more precious then the world . Or as in an ancient inscription upon a certain monument in this Land : Who so him bethoft , Inwardly and oft , How hard it were to flit , From bed unto the pit , From pit into pain , That nere shall cease again , He would not do one sin , All the world to win . If therefore tempted to any of the fore-mentioned evils , or any other , think seriously with thy self , would I now do this if I were to leave this world presently , and my Soul call'd to an account as soon as it is done ? And then think further with thy self , that thus it may be for ought thou knowest ; for thus in Gods just judgment it hath been with many a one . Many like Belshazzar , Elah , or Amnon have dyed in the midst of their drunken Cups , Dan. 5. 6. 1 Kings 16. 9 , 10. 2 Sam 13. 26. More like Corah and his company have been swept away in their rebellious courses either against Minister or Magistrate . Others like Zimri or Cozbi have been smitten with death in the act of their uncleanness . Not a few have begun frivolous and malicious law-suits , and dyed in the prosecution of them . In some peoples mouths , a lye , a curse , or a rash oath have been their last words . In other peoples lives , a fraud or oppression have been their very last actions . Christian Reader , surely this should lay a constant restraint upon thee , and make thee watchful against all vicious practices ; least thou be tempted , so to sin against thy own Soul at any time , that on the morrow it will be too late to repent thee of it ; least on any worldly account , for a thing of nought , thou hazard thy Soul more worth then a thousand worlds . Oh resolve henceforth stedfastly with thy self , however tempted to any destructive wickedness of life , by Gods assistance , to keep thy precious Soul safe and innocent , whatever thou gettest , or whatever thou losest , in this worthless and perishing world . Use 3. Is the Soul so precious , and the loss of it so dreadful ? Let this then be further improved to make every faithful Christian watchful against errour in Judgment , as well as against wickedness of life and conversation . Heresies are reckoned by the Apostle among the works of the flesh , Gal. 5. 19 , 20. And some are said to be damnable , 2 Peter 2. 1 , 2 , 3. and 2 Thes . 2. 10 , 11 , 12. Because they received not the love of the truth , that they might be saved . For this cause God shall send them strong delusions , that they should believe a lie . That they all might be damned who believed not the truth , but had pleasure in unrighteousness . This Use much concerns thee , if thou livest near or among Seducers , who by their often gainsaying in private what thou hearest in publick ; by their interest and familiarity with thee ; by their seeming piety and sheeps-cloathing ; by their confident assertions and proud pharisaical boastings ; by their cunning reasonings , their fair flattering words , or their terrible threats , would bear thee down from truth and unity . But to keep safe thy Soul be intreated to these few things . 1. Forget not how errour leads to schism and separation , which is full of horrible impiety . For is not schism or causless dividing from the congregations of Christian people ; a breach of peace ; and so a violation of the very Testament of our Lord ? St John 14. 27. As also of love , and so a disowning the Chief badge whereby Christs disciples are known from the infidel world , S t John 13. 35. Is not schism further a subdividing of the Church into factions and parties , who expose and discover each others infirmities to the wicked , and to the common adversary ? so that they are scandalized , and entertain hard thoughts of religion , and of God the Authour of it , and are prejudiced against all the perswasions of the Gospel though designed for their own good . Oh how heavy an account will such discredit of religion , such dishonour of God , such frustrating of Christs Gospel-designs , and the miscarriage of such a multitude of Souls amount to ! Again , is it not schism and division that lessens the Common strength by dispersing it into many smaller societies ? Did those who withdraw from us , joyn with us , and strengthen our hands , ( as they may do , and be never the lesse holy , but the more ) we might hinder more evil , and more convince the ungodly , and do much more good . But now separating from us , and speaking all the evil they can against us , and against what we do , they hinder much the work of Christ in our hands , and must sadly answer for it . Moreover , do not they who run into ways of schism hinder discipline , and bring contempt upon authority , and weaken it , and so make great liberty for all the vices and scandals of wicked men , by a consequent impunitie ? And thus are they not guilty of increasing those sins in others , which they themselves complain of , because they disrespect and weaken that Authority , whether of Magistrates or Ministers , which might otherwise restrain or reform them . Besides , are not all divisions , hatreds , animosities , and such like filthinesses of the spirit , which are to the tearing and rending of the Church , most passionatly disclaimed by our Saviour and his Apostles ? And do we not find in S t Jude v. 19. Separation joyn'd with a wanting of the Spirit of Christ ? Surely they who have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them , they love the Church , Order , Discipline , Ordinances and Ministers of Christ , and will not easily be drawn from them . That one spirit of his inclines them to unity , and makes them fear divisions , as a man fears the mischief of dividing and wounding his own body . By this they feel such insufficiency and ignorance in themselves , that they rather think themselves exceedingly beholden to Ministers that will teach them , then grudge or scorn to be taught . And by the same spirit they have that sense of their own unworthiness , that humility , and that charity to others , that they are far readier to say , we are not worthy to joyn with the Church ; then to say , The Church is not worthy to joyn with us . Now that thy Soul may not be subverted with errour , remember this in the first place , the great impiety of separation which it leads to . 2. Beware of an itching ear after new-fangled opinions . He is half gone to errour that covets , and lissens after novelties . We read of itching eares , 2 Tim. 4. 3 , 4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves Teachers , having itching ears . And they shall turn away their ears from the truth , and shall be turned unto fables . We read also of following after another Gospel , Gal. 1. 6. But repentance towards God , and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ , and sincere holy obedience , is that Good old way which we , with other Christians , must walk in to heavenly glory . 3. Take heed of pride , conceitedness , and confidence in thine own judgement or understanding . The humble God will teach , but he resists the proud , 1 Pet. 5. 5. Pride usually is the mother of heresies : it was of old the condemnation of the devil , 1 Tim. 3. 6. the ruine of our first Parents ; and therefore no wonder if it ruine so many Souls in these days . 4. That thy Soul may not be subverted with errour , labour to be well grounded in the foundation-truths of the Christian religion , and to turn thy knowledge into practice . And to this end , be intreated to make good use of the foregoing Book , and especially , study the Scriptures with humility , and be much in prayer , that God would guide thee by his holy Spirit into all saving truth , and keep thee from falling into errour . And remember , That what has been commonly received by the people of God , and embraced and practised by the Saints in all ages , is not lightly to be rejected and deserted . We agree with the first and best Christians . We have the same God , the same Christ , the same Holy Ghost . We have the same Ministers , and Doctrine , and for the main , the same Worship , Discipline , Prayers , Praises , and Solemn Assemblies . We have the same Scriptures , the same Baptism , the same Lords-supper , Lords-day , Lords-prayer ; as also the same Creed and Ten Commandments ; We have , blessed be God , in many of us , the same holy and gracious disposition of heart which they had ; and there is nothing in our holy religion hinders , but it may be so with the rest . Moreover there is no sin , which they disliked which we do not dislike ; neither is there any duty of holiness , which they ( or any other ) could justly commend , which we do not also commend and allow , and by Gods grace many of us more safely practice , then those who accuse and separate from us . How can any rational man think God would leave the generality of his people in all ages and places thus seeking him , thus as careful of their Souls welfare as any other , thus as earnestly desiring to be led by his word and spirit into the ways of truth and holiness ; how , I say , can any rational man imagine , that , till of late years , God would leave the generality of his people to errour and seduction of mind . And then consider with thy self , whether it be not safer to follow the foot-steps of the flock of Christ , then to be led away by pretenders to any new light whatsoever . 5. When tempted by cunning deceivers which thou art not able to grapple with , seek the assistance of others ; That they may help thee to be valiant for the truth , and to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints ; and that both on thy own behalf , and for the benefit of posterity , Jerem. 9. 3. Jude v. 3. People are careful to leave their lands to their children ; and should they not be much more careful to leave them the saving knowledge of God. Gospel-truth is the treasure of the Soul ; wilt thou then so tamely and easily part with it , or suffer those crafty persons that are now abroad to rob thee of it , without so much as repairing to those , who would help thee in the defence of it ? If thou fearest the losse of any part of thy estate thou takest the Lawyers advice ; If but thy beast be ill thou wilt ask of others ; and if they direct thee to a cure in writing , which thou canst not read thy self ; wilt thou not diligently get others to read it to thee again and again , till thou knowst what it is , and how to use it . Much more , if thy own , or thy childs bodily health be in danger , thou carefully consultest the Physician ; why then art thou not willing , when thy own or thy Relations Soul is much more in danger , to go to them for direction , whom God hath made by their office spiritual Physicians and Guides in the waies of truth and holiness ; being ready to learn and practice the directions which they shall give thee ? Oh what a wretched thing is it , that people should so contemn their own Souls , as to part with their religion before they have throughly understood it ; or before they have sincerely and humbly tried and practised it ; or when they have only heard what is cunningly said against it , and not what may be truly and rationally said for it ! Oh that any should be so unjust and cruel to their precious Souls , as prodigally to cast them away , and not take the pains to hear and read that , whereby they might come rightly to know the things which concern their everlasting peace ! 6. That which I would chiefly , and in the last place intreat for thy Souls safety is this ; Expose not thy self to the temptations of Seducers . The Soul is more precious then to be hazzarded upon the mistaken sense of the Apostles words , 1 Thess . 5. 21. To trie all things thou needst not be of all religions how false or dangerous soever . Among several poysons thou wouldst not trie any of them , whether it would kill thee or no. Therefore the meaning of this place must be , that we are to examine the Doctrines that are delivered unto us , by the Scripture , whether they are built thereon or no. Like the Bareans commended , Acts 17. 11. who searched the Scriptures whether those things were so , that were delivered to them for the truths of God. And let that place , Rom. 14. 1. be considered by all such as are not throughly grounded in the Principles of Christianity . Him that is weak in the faith , receive , but not to doubtful disputations . Every private Christian is not fit to cope with hereticks , and such as are skilful to destroy the faith of others . You would not allow a man to come and undermine the foundation of your house ; This do they , and worse , that go about to undermine your Faith , and labour to shake and unsettle you in the grand truths of the Gospel . Therefore I say again , Expose thy Soul as little as may be to the temptations of seducers . 'T is in vain for any to pray to God to keep them from the infection of errour , if they wilfully ( against the express word of God ) and without any just warrant and call , run into the company of Seducers and read their Books . Observe well , how God in the Scripture bids us , To beware of them , S t Mat. 7. 15. not to go after them , S t Luke 21. 8. To avoid them , Rom. 16. 17. To turn away from them , 2 Tim. 3. 5. If they come to us , not to receive them , or bid them God speed , or encourage them , 2 Ep. Joh. 10. Though they come with seeming zeal , Gal. 4. 17. They zealously affect you , but not well ; Yea they would exclude us , that you might affect them . Though they come with pretences of Gods Spirit , this they may easily do who are led by their own spirit or a worse . 2. Cor. 11. 3. But I fear lest by any means , as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty , your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity , which is in Christ . v. 4. For if he that cometh , preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached , or if ye receive another spirit , which ye have not received , or another Gospel , which ye have not accepted , ye might well bear with him . v. 13. For such are false Prophets , deceitful workers , transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ . v. 14. And no marvel , for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light . v. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of righteousness , whose end shall be according to their works . And to this we may adde but two Scriptures more and so finish this use . The one 2 Pet. 3. 17 , 18. Ye therefore , beloved , seeing ye know these things before , beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked , fall from your own stedfastness . But grow in grace , and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ . The other Jude v. 24 , 25. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling , and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy . To the only wise God our Saviour , be Glory and Majesty , Dominion and Power , now and ever , Amen . Use 4. Is the losse of the precious Soul so exceeding great and dreadful ? How very careful then , so far as concern'd , should we be of the welfare and salvation of the Souls of others ? And how fearful should we be to have any hand in their utter undoing ? If thy friend , after thou hast warned him , will take such ways , as but to ruine his estate , dost thou not think it well , when thou canst say ; praised be God , in that I am not guilty of it . Much more , if any of thy relations , neighbours , or acquaintance , after thou hast endeavoured thy duty towards them , will follow such courses , as to ruine their Precious Souls , is it not a great mercy , when thou canst say ; blessed be the Lord , in that I have had no hand in it . In a Country , a Parish , a neighbour-hood , a family , by setting a good example , and so furthering the work of Christ in the hands of his Ministers ; thou mayst not only benefit thy self , but be always doing good to others , as long as thou livest ; and the Souls of those , whom , time after time , thou hast encouraged in the ways of holiness , may come to bless God for thee , and with thee for ever . Whereas by shewing a bad exampl , thou hinderest the messengers of Christ in his work and service , and art continually doing mischief to thy self , and others about thee , all thy life long . And the perishing Souls which thou hast any way drawn to sin and ruine , may curse thee eternally , as a wretched miscreant doing more hurt , then if thou hadst ruined a whole Kingdome , as to the outward estate of it . Oh therefore if thou hast inticed any to sin , and they be yet a live , seek to do their Souls as much good , as thou hast been a cause of evil . But if they be dead , and swallowed up in the torments of Hell , think what a case thou art in , and how justly thou mayst fear to follow them , if a great repentanee prevent it not . But this chiefly concerns those who in a more special manner are entrusted with the Souls of others , whether Ministers , or Parents and Family governours . 1. As for every faithful Minister of Christ , how exceeding careful should they be for the Souls committed to their charge ? How exceeding careful should they be to save themselves , and those that hear them ? And to keep themselves ( as S t Paul says he did ) pure from the blood of all men . 'T is true God hath made our Calling excellent and honourable ; but people would see little cause to envy us that double honour of respect and maintenance which the Apostle would have given 1 Tim. 5. 17. did they rightly consider , how weighty our charge is , how dangerous our condition , how many and difficult our duties , and how troublesome our fears and cares touching the estate of their Souls . I know some may think , we take more care then needs ; wishing we would meddle less with them in their ignorant , careless , and secure ways ; which we could wish too , if it would consist with Gods honour , the credit of religion , and their and our own safely . But , I besech you , consider , if any of you was intrusted with a Jewel of five or ten thousand pound price , would you not see it needful to watch all ways and by all means to keep it safe and secure ? and if you had many such in your custody , would you not be the more sollicitous , especially if you saw they were in continual danger ; and if further , you knew that if any of them should be lost by your default , you should certainly lose your life for it ? But now , which is much more , we are entrusted with many , very many precious Souls , each of them more worth then a world ; and they are , we see , in great and apparent danger to be ruined for ever , by manifold errour and wickedness , and by innumerable temptations of the flesh , the devil , and the world ; and we know moreover , that if any of them perish through our neglect , our own Souls may come to perish with them , and for them ; as was said to him who had one to keep , 1 Kings 20. 39 , 42. If thou let this man go , or be missing , thy life shall go for his life . Have we not then need to be watchful to the uttermost of our power , and to be carefull all the ways we can , for their safety and preservation ? Consider well Acts 20. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 26 , 27. — Ye know after what manner I have been with you at all seasons , serving the Lord with all humility of mind , and with many tears and temptations which befell me . — And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you , but have shewed you , and have taught you , publickly and from house to house ; Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks , repentance towards God , and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ . Wherefore I take you to record this day , that I am pure from the blood of all men . For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsell of God : and Ezek. 3. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. 21. as also Ezek. 33. 2 , to 9. O son of man , I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth , and warn them from me . When I say unto the wicked , O wicked man thou shalt surely dye : If thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way , that wicked man shall die in his iniquity : but his blood will I require at thine hand . Nevertheless , if thou warn the wicked of his way , to turn from it ; if he do not turn from his way , he shall die in his iniquity ; but thou hast delivered thy Soul. If we be faithful , as every honest man should be in his trust , we may ( you see ) deliver our own Souls ; but if we be negligent watchmen , there are these things ( among many others ) which will sadly aggravate our condemnation . 1. When admitted to places of imployment , we take upon us the cure of Souls for their edification and salvation . 2. That we may attend this care the better , we receive a benefit piously given to free us from all other cares . 3. In order to this ( I mean , the care of Souls for their edification and Salvation ) our Masters and Tutors instructed us ; and our parents devoted us to the service of Christ . 4. To this too , we devoted and gave up our selves , professing or hoping , that we were thereunto inwardly called and moved by the Holy Ghost . 5. For this end we have also been outwardly called , or set apart by the Church for the work of the Ministry . 6. Moreover when ordained we did solemnly promise and engage this way to bend our studies , and to use both publick and private monitions and exhortations , as well to the sick , as to the whole within our cures , as need should require and occasion be given . 7. And which we may adde in the last place , we were then by the Bishop ordaning , most gravely charged , and exhorted , in these words : Brethren , we exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ , that you have in remembrance , in how high a dignity , and to how weighty an office and charge ye are called : That is to say , to be messengers , watchmen , and stewards of the Lord ; to teach and to premonish , to feed and to provide for the Lords family ; to seek for Christs sheep that are dispresed abroad , and for his Children who are in the midst of this naughty world , that they may be saved through Christ for ever . Have alwaies therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge . For they are the sheep of Christ , which he bought with his death , and for whom he shed his blood . The Church and Congregation whom you must serve , is his Spouse and his Body . And if it shall happen , the same Church , or any member thereof , to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence , ye know the greatness of the fault , and also the horrible punishment that will ensue . Wherefore consider with your selves the end of your Ministry towards the Children of God , towards the spouse and body of Christ ; and see that you never cease your labour , your care and diligence , untill you have done all that lieth in you , according to your bounden dutie , to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge , unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God , and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ , that there be no place left among you , either for errour in religion , or viciousness of Life . Now after all this , If we do our utmost for the Souls health of them committed to our charge ; if we leave no good means thereof unattempted ; If we should labour for this night and day with tears , as the Apostle says he did ; If we should never so often and earnestly beseech you to practice the fore going printed Directions put into your hands , and what ever Christian duties our Saviour requires of us ; If we should follow you from the Church-house to your own houses ( if no better could be ) with the most passionate intreaties , as for the life of our own Souls and yours ; who could justly think us too importunate ? who could reasonably count us too earnest or too busie ? who could justly blame us for making more a do then needs ? for all this would be but enough as to some , and as to others it would be too little . 2. Parents and Family-governours , how carefully should they look to it , lest any under them should perish by their negligence or wickedness . Be assured Christ will erelong say to the , as Eliab to David , with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? what are become of those precious Souls of thy Children or Servants which I intrusted thee with ? Nor will it be enough for thee only to answer , For my children , I brought them up without the charge of the Parish ; I put them out to trades , or I left them competent estates or portions . And as for my servants , I paid them their wages , and gave them meat and drink according to my agreement with them . For all this , chiefly respects but the body ; and thy heart would be filled with horrour , if the blood of their Souls should be required of thee . Oh the cry of a lost Soul is a dreadful thing . Suppose any of thy Servants should now be in hell cursing the time that ever they came into thy family , where they saw so much wickedness , where there was no worshiping of God , or means to come to the knowledge of him , whereupon they went on securely in sin , and are now swallowed up in the bottomless pit of destruction . Or suppose any of thy children following thy steps in wickedness , and contemning Gods word and worship as they saw thee do , should now be sunk down to eternal misery , there cursing the day that ever they were born of such a Parent , or crying out against thee for neglecting them , for suffering them to swear , lye , and do evil without severe rebukes , for letting them prophane the Lords-day , for neither instructing them thy self , nor causing them to be instructed by others in the waies of God. Were this so , it might make the most flinty heart to ake and tremble . Therefore that it may never be so with thee , resolve duly to promote godliness in thy family however thou standest therein related . Dwell with thy wife as a man of knowledge , as heirs together of the grace of life , that your prayers be not hindred , 1 Pet. 3. 7. Labour that thy servants may know and serve God ; they will be to thee more faithful . Bring up thy children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; they will be to thee more dutiful . Pray with them , and for them , put them upon learning such verses of Scripture as will further their holy walking . Encourage all under thy roof to observe better the Lords day . Suffer them not to mis-spend so much of that precious time in such idle , trifling , and unlawful practices as too many do . Thou hadst need chuse a right path that hast thy servants , and children , or others near thee , following thee to heaven or hell . Be therefore exact in thy actions , that they may have the fairer copy to write after . Weigh thy words , considering that they will learn thy language . Remember that Faith and Troth sound not so well as yea and nay , our Saviour being Judge , S t Mat. 5. 37. Be afraid to have the Devil so often in thy mouth , lest others about thee have him , both in their tongue and their heart too . Repeat not others oaths , nor speak irreverently of the great God and his Word : Let no corrupt communication proceed out of thy lips , but that which some ways tends to good . In all thy religious performances be very serious and sincere , that they may see thou art in good earnest about Soul-affairs , and matters of eternity . Oh be careful thus if it be possible , by thy pious exhortations , thy devout prayers , and thy exemplary behaviour to bring the Souls of all under thee , and near thee , unto Christ . And make that still thine , which once was good Joshua's resolution and practice , Josh . 24. 15. As for me and my house , we will serve the Lord. Use 5. Is each ones Soul of so great worth , and the losse of it to them so dreadful and undoing , as not to be recompenced with the gaining of the whole world ? See then further how exceeding careful we should every one of us be of our own Souls ; and how we may not always count them the happiest people , who have all worldly things here for a while that heart can wish ; but those rather who are most careful of their precious Souls everlasting happiness in the world to come . Now if thou wouldst understand , whether thou thy self art herein rightly careful , or no ; thou mayst know it by looking to the sincerity of thy conversion , or thy due care of believing such truths , exercising such graces , and performing such duties as God requires of all regenerate Christians . And which thou mayst find set down in the Directions , Questions and Answers of the foregoing Book , especially from page 84 to page 93. As also in the prayers thereof , which teach us at once both what to ask , and what to do , and be , in order to the Souls eternal welfare . For having such prayers to use , we may study our petitions before , and so the sense of our minds may keep pace with our words ; and our affections go along with our sense . Thus Gods Spirit assisting , our devotion would beenlivened ; and our prayers become the rule of our conversation ; & when we swarve from them , they would make us blush into amendment . But more particularly , to know that thou art in good earnest desirous to save thy Soul. 1. Being Christ the Physician of Souls works not a cure upon one every whit whole , nor is prized by them that feel no need of him , S t Mat. 9. 12 , 13. hast thou had an imbittering sense of the evil and danger of sin , and an humbling sight of thy Souls lost condition by nature , as fallen from God , and inordinately set upon worldly vanities ? Hast thou seen that this is not a state to be rested in , and therefore been solicitous after a better , carefully in effect asking like them , Acts 2. 37. what shall I do to be saved ? 2. Hast thou hereupon been heartily willing to receive Christ as offered in the Gospel , for thy Lord , as well as thy Jesus or Saviour ? And as thy Lord , dost thou yield to the sanctifying work of his word and spirit ? and art thou so guided by his Laws , as ordinarily to practice the most strict , holy , costly , and self-denying duties which thou knowest him to require of thee ? And again as thy Jesus , dost thou feel the power of his death killing sin in thee ? doth he by his bloodshed not only pardon thy sins , but also save and deliver thee from them ? so that thou heartily strivest against all known sin , and overcomest all grosse sins ; and when fallen under any prevailing temptation , risest again by repentance , begging forgiveness of God in his blood , and resolving by his grace to watch and resist more carefully for the time to come ? Acts 16. 30 , 31. Ezek. 36. 25 , 26 , 27 , Acts 3 , 26 Tit. 2. 11 , 12 , 14. 3. Art thou so sensible of what Christ thy Redeemer hath done and suffered for thee , and of thy many engagements to him upon that account , as to love him above all , and constantly to cleave unto him in every condition . And hath Christ so brought thee back again to God , that thou takest him for thy portion and lovest him with all thy heart , Soul and strength ; and chusest to live with him in his favour and glory , without sinning , or offending him any more ; rather then sinfully to enjoy the delights of the world , and want the favour of God ? Eph. 6. 24. Phil. 3. 8. S t Mat. 22. 38. Psa . 73. 25 , 26 , 27 , 28. 4. Moreover art thou so convinced of the Souls worth , and the worlds vanity ; of the certainty and excellency of heavenly glory , and the intollerableness of eternal misery ; of the goodness of the Divine precepts , and the need of obeying them ; art thou ( I say ) so convinced of this , as sincerely to set thy self to perform all those holy spiritual duties in heart and life , which God hath absolutely commanded thee ; being sorry thou canst perform them no better , no more evenly , and chearfully ; yet holding on with a settled resolution , and a constant spirit , to do thy best , though with thy present losse of esteem , or ease , or worldly enjoyments , or life it self ? Hebr. 11. 25 , 26. 1 John 5. 3. Psa . 19. 11. Rom. 2. 6 , 7. S t Mat. 10. 37 , 38 , 39. If this be thy condition thou rightly prizest thy Soul above the world , and providest for its welfare ; but if it be not ; oh how earnestly shouldst thou labour that it may speedily be so ! Delays are dangerous , and thou hast too long dishonoured God , and hazarded thy Soul already ; shouldst thou go on in presumption and security , might not the Lord be provoked to cut thee off suddenly ? or give thee up to a spirit of slumber and stupidity ? Or leave thee to thy self , to follow thy own hearts lusts ? Or cause thy day of grace to end before thy natural life ? Or may not the love of the world be deeplier rooted hereafter , and the incumbrances of it hinder thee more , as it hath done too many before thee . As for some of the meaner sort , which it may be , do not so much as learn to read in their younger years , or if they do , soon forget it again , without making up that want by their diligence other ways ; when they are grown to any bigness , either they are set to trades or otherwise to work for a livelihood . And when they come to be settled in the world , and to have wife and children , then they have no heart , or leasure , to mind the welfare of the Soul ; but think all their time , labours , thoughts , and strength little enough to provide a bodily sustenance for themselves and families . And if they live to be aged , though we would take never so much pains to teach and guide them in the ways of Christ , they ( some of them ) think themselves too old now to learn ; and are too deep rooted in their own secure and sensual ways , to be drawn to forsake them , without little lesse then a miracle . And though they have all their lives the gracious opportunities , of the whole Lords-day , yet they spend the most of it in idle talk , or sports , or trifling worldly occasions ; and if they chance upon a faire day , to come now and then to Church , for an hour or two ; yet it is but in a customary manner , without considering seriously what they hear , or come thither for ; and so they spend their days in sorrow and vanity , and passe out of the world , before they know that great and good and blessed errand they were sent hither about . And as for some others , when they should resolve to forsake every wilful sin , and unfeignedly devote themselves to the service of God , and mind the one thing necessary ; how is some or other of those many unnecessary things which they trouble themselves about , still ready to stand in their way ? Either they are eating or drinking , sleeping or playing , dressing or undressing , or have some whither to go , or some body to speak with , or some bargain to drive , or some work or company which they cannot leave , Or they are casting in their heads how to disintangle their estates , or raise their families , or to avoid the Crosse-blows of their adversaries . Or else they are under violent sickness that unfits them for action ; or some disappointment , or quarrel , or law-suit , or some such trouble hath befallen them which puts their minds out of order ; or some worldly success and prosperity which puffs them up with a foolish flashy joy . Or they have some brave things in expectation which they are musing on , and pleasing themselves with before hand , till they find themselves deceived , when they feel that sting which they bring with them in their enjoyment . How do such matters as these fill the heads and hearts of many from year to year ; in the morning they crowd first into their thoughts ; and when they are up , they accordingly set about one or other of them , or fall into some company which takes them up for that day , and the like happens to morrow and the next day ; thus still the multiplicity of earthly cares , prevail against the care of their Souls ; and the love of their sins and pleasures , still prevailes against the love of God ; and for many superfluous things , any time is thought convenient , but none is found convenient for the one thing necessary , till it come to be too late ; so that the fore-mentioned Soul-saving work must cease for ever . Oh therefore let it ( I say ) be done speedily , and withal sincerely and throughly ; or else the losse of the Soul may have these further aggravations ; to be wilful and shameful , unexpected and unpitied , incomparable and irrecoverable . 1. It will be a wilful losse . S t John 5. 40. Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life . Ezek. 33. 11. Turn ye from your evil ways ; for why will ye die , O house of Israel ? It is a great vexation to a man in this world to see himself ruined meerly by his own wilfulness : but if thou shouldst obstinatly destroy thy self to eternity ; suppose , by thy wilful ignorance , when thou mightest have been taught better ; or by any wicked courses , when thou wast advised better ; oh what inexpressible anguish will seise upon thy perishing Soul for ever ! 2. It will be a shameful losse . What can follow but confusion of face , when thou shalt see thy neighbours and acquaintance most happy , and thy self most miserable ? What a grievous shame will it be to hear some of those that lived near thee , or with thee , joyfully praising God ; and as it were pointing to thee , and saying , Loe , this is the man , or the woman , that made not God their stay . They had the same word , the same means with us , but they loved their sins more then their Souls or God ; and therefore while we are raised to everlasting life , they are layd under shame and everlasting contempt . 3. It will be an unpitied losse . If thou losest a friend , or liberty or livelihood , 't is a comfort , that thou mayst find those who will pity and condole with thee , and be ready to supply thy necessities ; but if thou losest thy Soul , in that sad condition thou wilt have none to help or pity thee . Now the gracious God and merciful Redeemer of the world , and all good Christians pity thee , but thou pitiest not thy self , nor wilt leave thy sins to save thy Soul ; shall not then the very mercies of God and bowels of Christ be hereafter most justly turned against thee ? and shall not the Saints and Angels , be so far from pitying , as rather with rejoycing to glorifie Gods Justice in thy utter destruction ? 4. It will be an unexpected losse . How grievous to cry peace , and then be overtaken with trouble , and sudden destruction unawares ? Prov. 29. 1. How grievous to lose thy Soul , when perhaps thou wert near the saving it ? or when thou groundlessly flatteredst thy self , thinking thou shouldest do well enough ? what amazement seiseth on that mans spirit , who being in a fair way of thriving , hears unexpected news , that all he had is lost and gone ? 5. It will be an incomparable losse . What will it profit a man though he gain the whole world , and lose his own Soul ? It will be a great losse for a small matter ; the losse of that which is most precious for that which is most vile , shouldst thou set thy Soul to sail , not for a few pence , or a lye , or a base lust , but for a kingdome or a world , thou wouldest be such a loser , as to be utterly undone by the bargain . 6. It will be an irreparable , and so an eternal losse . If thou losest one eye , thou hast another ; if thou losest one limb , thou hast another . If thou losest thy goods thou mayst recover them again ; or if thou losest thy life , thou mayst be a gainer by it , thou mayst find it again , Mat. 16. 25. but if thou losest thy Soul , thou hast not another , and all is lost with it , and nothing left to redeem it . Thy Soul once lost is lost for ever ; and its ruine is most lamentable , because irrecoverable . If thou missest at death , thou missest for ever and for ever ; there is no aftergame to be play'd , but thou must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire . If the great work for which thou wert born be not then done , thou art undone to all eternity . O eternity , eternity ! they that here could never have enough of the world and sin , in thee shall have wrath enough , and pain enough . After a thousand millions of years space their misery shall be never the nearer an end , because it shall have none , being easless , endless , remedyless . What shall a man give in exchange for his Soul ? why there is nothing at all he can give in exchange for it ; the redemption of it is so precious , that it ceaseth for ever . Oh that the careless world did but believe and consider the word of God , and in particular , these words of our Saviour , surely they would mind their Souls otherwise then now they do . Therefore , good Reader , be intreated not only to suffer others who are , or may be intrusted with the care of thy Soul , to be very solicitous for the welfare thereof ; but be thou as careful too thy self , resolving as he did , who sayd , volo servare animam meam , I will , O God , by all means save my Soul. Say with thy self , and look up unto God for his grace and spirit to enable thee , to say it sincerely ; O Lord , I am sensible of the evil of my ways , and of my lost condition without thee ; and therefore with a penitent Soul I flee unto thee , trusting in thy mercy , and the merits of thy dear Son Jesus Christ . I believe him making satisfaction to thy Justice for the sins of the world , to be the only Saviour thereof ; and thereupon , with the full consent of my heart , I accept him for my Lord-Redeemer ; to save me henceforth , as well from the power , as the guilt of my sins . I am unfeignedly willing , that henceforth he should rule in me , and reign over me by his word and spirit . I am , O God , willing to be saved through him , in forbearing to my utmost , all that evil which thou hast forbidden ; in using all those ordinances which thou hast instituted ; in performing all those duties which thou hast commanded ; and in doing to my utmost all that good which thou hast required . And I further resolve by thy grace assisting , so to love thee , and believe in thee my God and Saviour , as henceforth while breath is continued , to serve , please , worship , and glorifie thee , all that I can , and all the ways that I can . If thou hast thus resolved heretofore , yet do it again , and do it often in the course of thy life ; it cannot set thee back at all in thy gracious estate , it may and will much further and quicken thee in thy holy walking . Such an earnest care of thy Souls welfare let it be thy principal care , because , among others , it may have these deserved commendations , to be holy and easy , safe and successeful , prudent and profitable . 1. It is an holy care , making them that have it desirous to be holy in all manner of conversation and godliness . 2. 'T is a prudent care , being most earnest for that which is most precious , and best deserves it . He in the parable might be justly commended for his wisdome , who cared not so much what became of other things , so he might obtain the pearle which was of great price , and purchase the field which had a rich treasure hidden therein . 3. 'T is a blessed and successeful care . Many are at much care and pains for the world , but all in vain ; but here Christ hath made such provision by the covenant of grace , that if we sincerely believe in him , and endeavour to be in will , word and deed , what he requires , we shall without fail obtain the end of our faith , even the salvation of our Souls . 4. 'T is a safe and satisfactory care . And if thy Soul be first set a right God-ward and heaven-ward , if thou art first devoted unto Christ , stedfastly purposing to observe his word and will in all things ; thou mayst in the next place , mind that which concerns thy ingenuous education , or the works of thy honest calling more seasonably , piously and regularly ; and by far more safely then others can do . For who can with such safety and comfort , follow those studies or labours which concern the preservation of life , or their natural welbeing ; as they who have first made sure as to the main stake , that which concerns their everlasting well-being ? Others , though in the strongest castle , or highest dignity , are not free from the danger of hell one minute of an hour . But such as these , God will keep as the apple of the eye , and none can take them out of Christs hands , S t John 10. 28 , 29. Deut. 33. 27. Zach. 2. 8. They may say upon good grounds , our Souls are safe to eternity , our salvation we shall not misse of , and other things we shall have too , as God seeth best for our spiritual good , and his own glory , Mat. 6. 33. 5. The care of the Soul is comparatively an easie care . 'T is the ready way to provide also for our bodily welfare , not only hereafter , but for the most part , here too . Religious temperance is cheap and healthful . Exod 23. 25. Ye shall serve the Lord your God , and he shall blesse thy bread and thy water , and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee . We are sure that the body hath no annoyance which we can prevent ; and for that the most trades are followed with restless care and toyle ; but certainly the Soul being much more precious , deserves the far greater diligence . Yet , be but at half that pains to do well , which others are at , who weary themselves in doing evil ; take but half that care for thy precious Soul , which some do about the affairs of the body , and thou mayst be most happy for ever . 6. And lastly , 't is a delightful and profitable care , and that as to whatever befalls the Christian either in this life or that to come . If in this life God give prosperity , this care of the Soul will make thee use all outward blessings soberly and temperatly . This will make thee ready to honour God with them by works of piety and charity , Prov. 3. 9. This will make thee endeavour to enjoy God in all such enjoyments ; and to tast in their sweetness the sweetness of his love in Christ Jesus . And thus thy earthly comforts will prove doubly comfortable , and thy gaining in the world become the greatest gain to the Soul. Or if God send adversity , this will make all thy troubles and calamities to work together for thy good . He that lost all by shipwrack , and then was more careful for his Soul and eternity , sayd well , I had been undone , if I had not been undone . The world by its hard using of Gods servants , gets nothing ; nor do their Souls lose any thing . If it turn our breath into sighs and groans , we shall with the Apostle , 2 Cor. 5. 2. groan more earnestly , desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven . And after death the holy Soul cannot but be well . Christ who hath redeemed it , and prepared heaven for it , and it for heaven , will thither receive it unto himself , where joyntly with the glorified body , it shall be most happy for evermore . Thus , my beloved neighbours , you have seen the Souls worth and danger , and what care we should have of its eternal salvation ; to which end , you have nothing urged but such solid and weighty truths and duties , as are generally owned , and manifestly tend to make us holy and happy . And now , though I be separated from all troublesome affairs , that I may thus wholly attend the welfare and service of your Souls ; and though my eternal life lies out , as indeed yours too , I can do no more then what I have been endeavouring , and am further , according to this printed gift , ready to do for you . The things herein contained , still abide to be read and considered by you , as often as you please ; but if any be unwilling thereunto , slighting and refusing whatever may thus profit them , who can help it ? How many of those who saw the miracles , and heard the sermons of our Blessed Saviour himself , and his holy Apostles , continued unconverted ? with what unwearied patience and diligence did the great Evangelical Prophet Isaiah preach above sixty years together , to a rebellious and a gainsaying people ? Isa . 65. 2. Rom. 10. 21. Their profitings for a long time , did not answer his labours among them ; but he might comfort himself with a remarkable passage in his own prophecy , Isa . 49. 4 , 5. Then I said , ( the words are meant chiefly of Christ sent to the Jews and complaining of them ) I have laboured in vain , I have spent my strength for nought , and in vain , yet surely my judgment is with the Lord , and my work ( or my reward ) with my God. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant , to bring Jacob again to him . Though Israel be not gathered , yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord , and my God shall be my strength . God will reward his faithful servants both according to what they have done , and moreover according to what they truly desired and endeavoured to do . If a few , if but any one be really advantaged by what I am endeavouring , I shall count my labour well bestowed ; as 't is said of the reverend and learned D r Hammond , a passionate Lover of Souls , that he used often to break out in these words with an extraordinary vehemence . O what a glorious thing , how rich a prize for the expence of a mans whole life , were it , to be the instrument of rescuing any one Soul ? But ( which I often and humbly pray ) if God shall bow the hearts of more , making us all a willing people in the day of his power ; making us seriously mind our Souls salvation in the fore-mentioned ways of true Christian piety ; oh how greatly should we rejoyce in his goodness , and in one anothers happiness ! O how blessed a thing would it be , when the Lord our maker should thus have the Souls which he hath created , and be glorified by them ; when Christ our Saviour should thus have the immortal spirits which he hath redeemed , and be magnified in them ; when further his unworthy servant should come thus to have the fruit of his ministerial labours ; and you your selves to have the comfort and everlasting gain . FINIS .