Page:Black book of conscience, or, God's great and high court of justice in the soul (1).pdf/9

Rh conscience, Lord, I confess, I have been a covetous wretch; but I have not coveted after heaven. It hath been my whole trade to cheat and cozen others, and to grind the faces of the poor; all that I could do to undo others; but alas for me! what have I done? I have quite and clean undone my own soul, and that to all eternity. I have been very cruel and unmerciful to others; I would not forgive my poor brethren in the least. O Lord! I deserve no mercy at thy hands, the hottest place in hell would be too cold for me.

What have you done with all your wealth, saith God to rich men, all these great estates which I lent you, or rather entrusted you with as stewards? How have you improved them? What of them have you laid out in relieving my poor members? Have you laid up any thing for eternal life? O! no, saith conscience, I have not, Lord, I have not, but this have I done, I have treasured up wrath against the day of wrath. My gold and my silver is rusted, my riches are corrupted, and is rich garments moth-eaten, as St. James saith, chap. v. 3, 4. My gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them is now a witness against me, to condemn me, and eats my flesh as it were fire. And now also, behold the hire oft my labourers, which have reaped