Do you need motives? 1. How much are you behind hand? Oh the fair advantages that we have lost! What time, what sabbaths, sermons, sacraments, are upon the matter lost? How much work have we yet to do? Are you sure of heaven yet? Are you fit to die yet? Surely they that are under so many great wants, had need to set upon some more thriving courses.
Secondly, Consider what others have gained, whilst we it may be sit down by the loss: Have we not met many vessels richly laden, while our souls are empty? Oh, the golden prizes that some have won? While we have folded the hands to sleep! Have not many of our own standing in religion, left us far behind them?
*Thirdly, Consider you will all find little enough when you come to die: The wise among the virgins have no oil to spare, at the coming of the bridegroom; temptation and death will put all your graces to it. How much ado have many had at last to put into this harbour! David cries for respite, till he had recovered a little more strength.
Fourthly, Consider how short your time for gathering in probably is? The Israelites gathered twice so much manna against the sabbath as they did at other times, because at that time there was no manna fell. Brethren, you know not how long you have to lay in for. Do you ask for marks how you may know your souls to be in a thriving case?
First, If your appetites be more strong. Do you thirst after God and after grace, more than heretofore? Do your cares for and desires after the world abate? And do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Whereas you were wont to come with an ill-will to holy duties, do you come to them as an hungry stomach to its meat?
Secondly, If your pulses beat more even. Are you still off and on, hot and cold? Or is there a more even spun thread of holiness through your whole course? Do you make good the ground from which you were formerly beaten off?
*Thirdly, If you do look more to the carrying on together the duties of both tables. Do you not only look to the keeping of your own vineyards, but do you lay out yourselves for the good of others, and are filled with zealous desires for their conversion and salvation? Do you manage your talk and your trade, by the rules of religion?
*Do you eat and sleep by rule? Doth religion form and mould, and direct your carriage towards husband, wife, parents, children, masters, servants? Do you grow more universally conscientious? Is piety more diffusive than ever with you? Doth it come more abroad with you, out of your closets, into your houses, your shops, your fields? Doth it journey with you, and buy and sell for you? Hath it the casting voice in all you do?
Fourthly, If the duties of religion be more delightful to you. Do you take more delight in the word than ever! Are you more in love with secret prayer, and more abundant in it? Cannot you be content with your ordinary seasons, but are ever and anon making extraordinary visits to heaven? And upon all occasions turning aside, to talk with God in some short ejaculations? Are you often darting up your soul heavenwards? Is it meat and drink for you, to do the will of God? Do you come off more freely with God, and answer his calls with more readiness of mind?
*Fifthly, If you are more abundant in those duties which are most displeasing to the flesh. Are you more earnest in mortification? Are you more strict and severe than ever in the duty of daily self-examination, and holy meditation? Do you hold the reins harder upon the flesh than ever? Do you keep a stricter watch upon your appetites? Do you set a stronger guard upon your tongues? Have you a more jealous eye upon your hearts?