Sluggard! art thou asleep still?  Art thou resolved to sleep the sleep of death?  Will neither tidings from heaven nor hell awake thee?  Wilt thou say still, yet a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little folding of the arms to sleep?  Wilt thou yet turn thyself in thy sloth, as the door is turned upon the hinges?  O that I was one that was skilful in lamentation, and had but a yearning heart towards thee, how would I pity thee! how would I bemoan thee!  O that I could with Jeremiah let my eyes run down with rivers of water for thee!  Poor soul, lost soul, dying soul, what a hard heart have I that I cannot mourn for thee!  If thou shouldst lose but a limb, a child, or a friend, it would not be so much; but poor man, it is thy soul!  If it was to lie in hell but for a day, but for a year, nay, ten thousand years, it would (in comparison) be nothing; but O it is for ever!  What a soul-amazing word will that be, which saith, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!” &c.

Objection.  ’But if I should set in, and run as you would have me, then I must run from all my friends; for none of them are running that way.’

Answer.  And if thou dost, thou wilt run into the bosom of Christ, and of God; and then what harm will that do thee?

Objection.  ’But if I run this way, then I must run from all my sins.’

Answer.  That is true indeed; yet if thou dost not, thou wilt run into hell fire.

Objection.  ’But if I run this way, then I shall be hated, and lose the love of my friends and relations, and of those that I expect benefit from, or have reliance on, and I shall be mocked of all my neighbors.’

Answer.  And if thou dost not, thou art sure to lose the love and favor of God and Christ, the benefits of heaven and glory, and be mocked of God for thy folly.  “I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.”  If thou wouldst not be hated and mocked then, take heed thou by thy folly dost not procure the displeasure and mockings of the great God; for his mocks and hatred will be terrible, because they will fall upon thee in terrible times, even when tribulation and anguish take hold on thee; which will be when death and judgment come, when all the men in the earth, and all the angels in heaven cannot help thee.

Objection.  ’But surely I may begin this time enough, a year or two hence; may I not?’

Answer.  First, Hast thou any lease of thy life?  Did ever God tell thee thou shalt live half a year, or two months longer?  Nay, it may be, thou mayst not live so long.  And therefore, Secondly, Wilt thou be so sottish and unwise, as to venture thy soul upon a little uncertain time?  Thirdly, Dost thou know whether the day of grace will last a week longer or no?  For the day of grace is past with some before their life is ended; and if it should be so with thee, wouldst thou not say,