DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0031
a Devout and Holy Life. 29
this, that I never had so much as a general intention of living
up to the piety of the Gospel. This never so much as entered
into my head, or my heart. I never once in my life considered,
whether I were living as the laws of Religion direct, or whether
my way of life was such, as would procure me the mercy of God
at this hour.
And can it be thought, that I have kept the Gospel terms of
salvation, without ever so much as intending in any serious and
deliberate manner, either to know them, or keep them ? Can it
be thought, that I have pleased God with such a life as he
requires, though I have lived without ever considering, what he
requires, or how much I have performed ? How easy a thing
would salvation be, if it could fall into my careless hands, who
have never had so much serious thought about it, as about any
one common bargain that I have made ?
In the business of life I have used prudence and reflection.
I have done everything by rules and methods. I have been
glad to converse with men of experience and judgment, to find
out the reasons why some fail, and others succeed in any busi-
ness. I have taken no step in trade but with great care and
caution, considering every advantage, or danger that attended it.
I have always had my eye upon the main end of business, and
have studied all the ways and means of being a gainer by all
that I undertook.
But what is the reason that I have brought none of these
tempers to Religion ? What is the reason that I, who have so
often talked of the necessity of rules and methods, and diligence
in worldly business, have all this while never once thought of
any rules, or methods, or managements, to carry me on in a life
of Piety ?
Do you think anything can astonish, and confound a dying
man like this ? What pain do you think a man must feel, when
his conscience lays all this folly to his charge, when it shall show
him how regular, exact, and wise he has been in small matters,
which are passed away like a dream, and how stupid and sense-
less he has lived, without any reflection, without any rules, in
things of such eternal moment, as no heart can sufficiently con-
ceive them ?
Had I only my frailties and imperfections to lament, at this
time, I should lie here humbly trusting in the mercies of God.
But, alas! how can I call a general disregard, and a thorough
neglect of all religious improvement, a frailty or imperfection ;
when it was as much in my power to have been exact, and care-
ful, and diligent in a course of piety, as in the business of my
trade.
this, that I never had so much as a general intention of living
up to the piety of the Gospel. This never so much as entered
into my head, or my heart. I never once in my life considered,
whether I were living as the laws of Religion direct, or whether
my way of life was such, as would procure me the mercy of God
at this hour.
And can it be thought, that I have kept the Gospel terms of
salvation, without ever so much as intending in any serious and
deliberate manner, either to know them, or keep them ? Can it
be thought, that I have pleased God with such a life as he
requires, though I have lived without ever considering, what he
requires, or how much I have performed ? How easy a thing
would salvation be, if it could fall into my careless hands, who
have never had so much serious thought about it, as about any
one common bargain that I have made ?
In the business of life I have used prudence and reflection.
I have done everything by rules and methods. I have been
glad to converse with men of experience and judgment, to find
out the reasons why some fail, and others succeed in any busi-
ness. I have taken no step in trade but with great care and
caution, considering every advantage, or danger that attended it.
I have always had my eye upon the main end of business, and
have studied all the ways and means of being a gainer by all
that I undertook.
But what is the reason that I have brought none of these
tempers to Religion ? What is the reason that I, who have so
often talked of the necessity of rules and methods, and diligence
in worldly business, have all this while never once thought of
any rules, or methods, or managements, to carry me on in a life
of Piety ?
Do you think anything can astonish, and confound a dying
man like this ? What pain do you think a man must feel, when
his conscience lays all this folly to his charge, when it shall show
him how regular, exact, and wise he has been in small matters,
which are passed away like a dream, and how stupid and sense-
less he has lived, without any reflection, without any rules, in
things of such eternal moment, as no heart can sufficiently con-
ceive them ?
Had I only my frailties and imperfections to lament, at this
time, I should lie here humbly trusting in the mercies of God.
But, alas! how can I call a general disregard, and a thorough
neglect of all religious improvement, a frailty or imperfection ;
when it was as much in my power to have been exact, and care-
ful, and diligent in a course of piety, as in the business of my
trade.