Making Light of Christ and Salvation: To the Reader

Beixg called on in London to preach, when I had no time to study, I was fain to preach some sermons that I had preached in the country a little before. This was one, which I preached at St Laurence, in the church where my reverend and foithful brother in Chiist, Mr Richard Vines, is pastor: when I came home I was followed by such importunities by letters to prmt the sermon, that I have jielded thereunto, though I know not fully the ground of then* desires. Seeing it must abroad, vnll the Lord but bless it to the cure of thy contempt of Christ and gi-ace, how comfortable may the occasion prove to thee and me! It is the slighting of Christ and salvation, that undoes the world. O happy man if thou escape but this sin! Thousands do spUt their souls on this rock which they should biuld them on. Look into the world, among rich and poor, high and low, young and old, and see whether it appear not by the whole scope of their conversations that they set more by something else than Christ? And for all the proclamations of his gi’ace in the gospel, and our common professing ourselves to be his disciples, and to believe the glorious things that he hath promised us in another world, whether it yet appear not by the doceitfulness of our service, by our heartless endeavours to obtain his kingdom, and by our busy and delightful following of the world, that the most who are called Christians do yet in their hearts make light of Christ; and if so, what wonder if they perish by tlieucontempt? Wilt thou but soberly peruse this short discourse, and consider well as thou readest of its truth and weight, tiU thy heart be sen-

sible yvhsxt a sin it is to make light of Christ and thy own salvation, and till the Lord that bought thee be advanced in the estimation and affections of thy soul, thou shalt hereby rejoice, and fulfil the desires of

Thy servant in the faith,