to their estates:  how shall they live else?  They must have their pleasure, whatsoever becomes of Christ and salvation:  as if they could live without Christ better than without these:  as if they were afraid of being losers by Christ or could make a saving match by losing their souls to gain the world.  Christ hath told us over and over that if we will not forsake all for him we cannot be his disciples.  Far are these men from forsaking all, and yet will needs think that they are his disciples indeed.

7.  That which men highly esteem, they would help their friends to as well as themselves.  Do not those men make light of Christ and salvation that can take so much care to leave their children portions in the world, and do so little to help them to heaven? that provide outward necessaries so carefully for their families, but do so little to the saving of their souls?  Their neglected children and friends will witness that either Christ, or their children’s souls, or both, were made light of.

8.  That which men highly esteem, they will so diligently seek after that you may see it in the success, if it be a matter within their reach.  You may see how many make light of Christ, by the little knowledge they have of him, and the little communion with him, and communication from him; and the little, yea, none of his special grace in them.  Alas! how many ministers can speak it to the sorrow of their hearts, that many of their people know almost nothing of Christ, though they hear of him daily!  Nor know they what they must do to be saved:  if we ask them an account of these things, they answer as if they understood not what we say to them, and tell us they are no scholars, and therefore think they are excusable for their ignorance.  Oh if these men had not made light of Christ and their salvation, but had bestowed but half as much pains to know and enjoy him as they have done to understand the matters of their trades and callings in the world, they would not have been so ignorant as they are:  they make light of these things, and therefore will not be at the pains to study or learn them.  When men that can learn the hardest trade in a few years have not learned a catechism, nor how to understand their creed, under twenty or thirty years’ preaching, nor can abide to be questioned about such things, doth not this show that they have slighted them in their hearts?  How will these despisers of Christ and salvation be able one day to look him in the face, and to give an account of these neglects?

JAMES A. BAYARD (1767-1815)