DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0025
a Devout and Holy Life. 2,3
because many will fail, who only seek to enter. By which we
are plainly taught, that Religion is a state of labour and striving,
and that many will fail of their salvation ; not because they took
no pains or care about it, but because they did not take pains
and care enough; they only sought, but did not strive to
enter in.
Every Christian therefore, should as well examine his life by
these Doctrines, as by the Commandments. For these Doctrines
are as plain marks of our condition, as the Commandments are
plain marks of our duty.
For if salvation is only given to those who strive for it, then
it is as reasonable for me to consider, whether my course of life
be a course of striving to obtain it, as to consider whether I am
keeping any of the Commandments.
If my Religion is only a formal compliance with those modes
of worship, that are in fashion where I live ; if it costs me no
pains or trouble ; if it lays me under no rules and restraints ; if
I have no careful thoughts and sober reflections about it, is it
not great weakness to think that I am striving to enter in at the
strait gate ?
If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses, and
regale my appetites ; spending my time and fortune in pleasures,
in diversions, and worldly enjoyments, a stranger to watchings,
fastings, prayers, and mortifications, how can it be said that I
am working out my salvation with fear and trembling ?
If there is nothing in my life and conversation, that shows me
to be different from Jezvs and Heathens; if I use the world, and
worldly enjoyments, as the generality of people now do, and in
all ages have done, why should I think that I am amongst those
few, who are walking in the narrow way to heaven ?
And yet if the way is narrow, if none can walk in it but those
that strive, is it not as necessary for me to consider, whether the
way I am in be narrow enough, or the labour I take be a sufficient
striving, as to consider whether I sufficiently observe the second
or third Commandment.
The sum of this matter is this: From the above-mentioned,
and many other passages of Scripture, it seems plain, that our
salvation depends upon the sincerity and perfection of our
endeavours to obtain it.
Weak and imperfect men shall, notwithstanding their frailties
and defects, be received, as having pleased God, if they have
done their utmost to please him.
The rewards of charity, piety, and humility, will be given to
those, whose lives have been a careful labour to exercise these
virtues in as high a degree as they could.
because many will fail, who only seek to enter. By which we
are plainly taught, that Religion is a state of labour and striving,
and that many will fail of their salvation ; not because they took
no pains or care about it, but because they did not take pains
and care enough; they only sought, but did not strive to
enter in.
Every Christian therefore, should as well examine his life by
these Doctrines, as by the Commandments. For these Doctrines
are as plain marks of our condition, as the Commandments are
plain marks of our duty.
For if salvation is only given to those who strive for it, then
it is as reasonable for me to consider, whether my course of life
be a course of striving to obtain it, as to consider whether I am
keeping any of the Commandments.
If my Religion is only a formal compliance with those modes
of worship, that are in fashion where I live ; if it costs me no
pains or trouble ; if it lays me under no rules and restraints ; if
I have no careful thoughts and sober reflections about it, is it
not great weakness to think that I am striving to enter in at the
strait gate ?
If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses, and
regale my appetites ; spending my time and fortune in pleasures,
in diversions, and worldly enjoyments, a stranger to watchings,
fastings, prayers, and mortifications, how can it be said that I
am working out my salvation with fear and trembling ?
If there is nothing in my life and conversation, that shows me
to be different from Jezvs and Heathens; if I use the world, and
worldly enjoyments, as the generality of people now do, and in
all ages have done, why should I think that I am amongst those
few, who are walking in the narrow way to heaven ?
And yet if the way is narrow, if none can walk in it but those
that strive, is it not as necessary for me to consider, whether the
way I am in be narrow enough, or the labour I take be a sufficient
striving, as to consider whether I sufficiently observe the second
or third Commandment.
The sum of this matter is this: From the above-mentioned,
and many other passages of Scripture, it seems plain, that our
salvation depends upon the sincerity and perfection of our
endeavours to obtain it.
Weak and imperfect men shall, notwithstanding their frailties
and defects, be received, as having pleased God, if they have
done their utmost to please him.
The rewards of charity, piety, and humility, will be given to
those, whose lives have been a careful labour to exercise these
virtues in as high a degree as they could.