t 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,
'O that I had begun to run before the day of grace had been past, and
the gates of heaven shut against me!' But, Fourthly, If thou shouldst
see any of thy neighbors neglect the making sure of either house or
land to themselves, if they had it proffered to them, saying, 'Time
enough hereafter,'--when the time is uncertain; and besides, they do
not know whether ever it will be proffered to them again, or no: I
say, wouldst thou not call them fools? And if so, then dost thou think
that thou art a wise man to let thy immortal soul hang over hell by a