Religion & morality > Human nature in its fourfold state

lOi Conclusion of the First Head. State II. !
And now, to shut up this weighty point, let the consi- |
deration of what is said, commend Christ to you all. Ye ^
that are brought out of your natural state of corruption
unto Christ, be humble; still coming to Christ, and im¬
proving your union with him to the further weakening of
the remains of this natural corruption. Is your nature
changed ? It is but in part so. The day was you could .
not stir: now you are cured; but remember the cure is ;
not yet perfected, you still go halting. And, though it
were better with you than it is; the remembrance of what
you were by nature, should keep you low. You that are
yet in your natural state, take with it: believe the cor¬
ruption of your nature; and let Christ and his grace be
precious in your eyes. O that you would at length be
serious about the state of your souls! What mind you to
do ? You must die ; you must appear before the judgment
seat of God. Will you lie down and sleep another night
at ease, in this case ? Do it not: for before another day
you may be sisted before God’s dreadful tribunal, in the
grave-clothes of your corrupt state; and your vile souls cast
into the pit of destruction, as a corrupt lump, to be for- ever
buried out of God’s sight. For I testify unto you all, there
is no peace with God, no pardon, no heaven for you, in this
state: there is but a step betwixt you and eternal destruc¬
tion from the presence of the Lord: if the brittle thread
of your life, which may be broke with a touch, ere you are
aware, be indeed broken while you are in this state, you
are ruined for ever, and without remedy. But come speed¬
ily to Jesus Christ; he has cleansed as vile souls as yours;
and he will yet “ cleanse the blood that he hath not cleans¬
ed,” Joel iii. 21. Thus far of the sinfulness of man’s na¬
tural state.