evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse 2 Tim. 3.13 deceiving and being deceived Behold therefore that which follows and read it deliberately if thou canst read it without horror p. 76. line 13. p. 76. R. Many boast of God's preserving the Hebrew and Greek Bible c. Mr. R.'s Horrid Speech But as he was pleased to deliver up Christ and his People so hath he delivered the Scriptures also into the hands of Sinners to be used at their pleasure Oh Mr. R. which way are you tending whither do you mean your Pen shall run What can you think of these black words Examined or what spirit can you suppose did inspire you with them You seem to have a design to shake the foundations of all Piety and Religion as well as the Pillars of Hell-Torments for that end I confess your speech is very proper for if the Scripture be corrupted as to the main in its perfection and purity as your words seem to suggest then farewel to our Religion our Faith to use your own smooth phrase must needs reel and stagger and stumble as having no ground to stand upon You professed to write your Book for the glory of God in your Title page and I beseech you let it be considered whether it tends to God's glory to bring the Authority of his Word into question And as you desire to comfort sinners so methinks you should have more love towards Professors than to lead them to infidelity in hopes of winning them to your own Opinion God hath delivered the Scriptures into the hands of sinners to be dealt with as they pleased i. e. to be depraved and corrupted how themselves would O monstrum horrendum informe ingens A bold Man indeed He is Doctor Resolutus though not Durandus He is resolved to carry it He will turn all things Arsie versie and weaken the Scripture's authority if it will not stand on his side like him in the Poet. Flectere si nequeat superos Acheronta movebit i.e. More ways than one He will try all If God will not him help the Devil shall But Reader fear not too much his fearful Assertion though it be fierce yet 't is but weak yea notoriously false All those Arguments which Protestants use to prove that the Scripture is not imperfect of such the Learned may see Polanus Scharpius Bishop Ushers Body of Divinity p. 17. Gerrardus de S. Scriptura and others and the meer English Reader may consult those in the Margin * Mr. Leigh's Treatise of Divinity l. 1. cap. 6. p. 116. Proofs that the Scripture is not corrupted by men I say all those Arguments will serve against my Author in this particular as well as against the Papists in the other I shall now urge one or two Arguments in the case If men had corrupted the Scriptures and made them speak in any points of Divinity otherwise than at first it must be supposed to have been done before the coming of Christ in the flesh or after If before surely Christ who taxed many other errors in the Jews would not have suffered such a wickedness to pass without Reprehension And 't is not unknown how careful the Jews were in keeping the Oracles of God committed to them And that they were not corrupted since the Death of Christ is clear for Copies being dispersed in the world more and more one age after another how could such a thing be acted by some but others would soon discover it And it may not be doubted but God's Providence did watch somewhat extraordinarily as to this matter which so much concerned his own glory and the good of his people to the worlds end Surely he that so often discovers those that have corrupted the Coin of Princes and States would not conceal those long that should attempt to corrupt and pervert his Sacred Laws And here I shall borrow an excellent passage of the worthy Mr. R. Baxter Saints Rest part 2. cap 4. Sect. 6. in the last page of the cited Section which may shame all the wittiest men of Mr. R's Religion as to the point If any man saith he be so blind as to think it uncertain whether these be the same Books which the Apostles wrote I would ask him by what assurance he holds his Lands 1. How doth he know that his Deeds Conveyances and Leases be not counterfeit writings or that they are the same that their Fore-fathers made Surely they have nothing but mens words for it and yet they verily think their Lands are their own 2. And whereas they hold all by the Law of the Land how know they that these Laws are not Counterfeit and that they are the same Laws that were made by such and such Kings and Parliaments long ago They have nothing but mens words for all this And yet if this be uncertain then any man may be turned out of all he hath as if he had no certain Tenure And is it not certain that those Laws that are kept and practised throughout the Land cannot possibly be counterfeit but it would have been publickly known And yet a word in a Statute Book may be false Printed And much more certain is it that the Scriptures cannot be counterfeited because it is not in one Kingdom only but in all the world almost that they have been used and the Copies dispersed and Ministers still in Office to preach them and publish them So that they could not be generally and purposely corrupted except all the world should have met and consented together for that end which could not be done in secret but all must know of it And yet many Bibles may be here and there misprinted but then there would be Copies enough to Correct them by So that if it be uncertain whether these be for substance and in the main the same Books that the Apostles writ then nothing in the world can be certain to us but what we see and why we may not as wisely question our Eye-sight I do not well know So far that Learned person And after all this The Author's Proofs I shall add something more to this same end for it is hard to speak too much in such a case farther to confirm the Faith of the weak Christian against the attempts of this mighty Shaker who I think hath out gone most of the Shakers that have went before him Gregory Martyn that grave profound Popeling in Queen Elizabeths Reign did practise this Art with the greatest care and skill he had and discovered if he did not lye a great many gross corruptions in our English Translation to the advantage of our Heresies as he calls it But since the Learned Dr. Fulk * In his defence of the English Translation against Gr. Martin hath took him in hand and shook him soundly for his pains he was never able to recover himself so far as to write any thing more for that purpose and his Brethren in
the Word of God or knowest but little reason why thou should'st believe so then I would advise thee to read those that may confute thy unbelief or confirm thy faith in that particular as Bishop Ward 's Sermon against Anti-scripturists Dr. Stillingfleet's Orig. Sacr. and the truly Honourable Sir Charles Woolsley his Grounds and Reasons of Scripture-Belief Dr. Allestry his Sermon of the Authority of the Scriptures Mr. Baxt. Rest part 2. cap. 4. with these in the Margin But if thou dost believe it to be so I trust thou wilt believe the Doctrine I plead for For the Scripture testifies of it in words as plain as can be desired viz. in Matth. 25. last verse and many other places To begin with that Matth. 25. last verse These the ungodly that shall be set on Christ's left hand Matth. 25.46 in the former verses shall go away into Everlasting Punishment What can ever be spoken more plain or more plainly to our purpose than this is They shall go away into Everlasting Punishment 1. Vrged therefore they shall be punished everlastingly For if one were to tell us such or such are to be imprisoned perpetually How could he express it more clearly than by saying That they must go into perpetual Imprisonment And these words are the words of Him who was and is the Son of the Father and most perfectly acquainted with his Counsels Purposes Truths and Ways and had no need to fright the wicked World with such a sad Doctrine if it were not a Truth This is that Marpesian Rock which Mr. Richardson was not able to fasten his Teeth in yet nevertheless 2 Vindicated from Mr. R.'s Exceptions He hath snapt at it Five Times together p. 18 c. where he hath several glosses upon the word everlasting which as by Him applyed are worthy to be had in everlasting detestation 1. He tells us That the Fire of Tophet is so called His first Exception because it did burn Day and Night But here our Lord speaks not of the Fire of Tophet Removed but of the Everlasting Punishment of the Wicked And let Him shew us where any punishment is call'd Everlasting Punishment because it lasted for some days and nights Job his Pains were doubtless Day and Night yea for a considerable time too yet 't is not said he suffered Everlasting Pains The Psalmist said God's hand was heavy upon him Day and Night Psal 32.4 yet it is no where said that he was under Everlasting Affliction The word Ever and Everlasting His second Exception p. 19. are used to note a Limited Time as in Exodus 40.15 We read of an Everlasting Priesthood yet that Priesthood did not last for ever in the largest sense but only till the Son of God was come in the Flesh This is the substance of that which he saith in the greatest part of the 19. Page of his Book Removed And it is easily removed out of the way Let us put it into a form of Arguing and it will be exactly thus The word Everlasting in some places is used to signifie but a limited time therefore it must signifie just the same when 't is spoken of the Punishment of the wicked in Matth. 25. last verse Now were not this a pitiful way of reasoning and most apparently inconsequent See a parallel case in the word save To save sometimes signifies only to be a means of Salvation and an Instrument in God's hand of bringing Men into the way of Salvation as when Ministers are said to save them that hear them 1 Tim. 4.16 Shall we therefore say that Christ is but an Instrumental means of Salvation God forbid for He is the Author of Eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 Phil. 3.20 And The Saviour by way of Emphasis Answer 2d 2. Though in some places of the Old Testament the word Everlasting doth signifie a limited Time yet Mr. R. doth not shew us any place in the New Testament where it is so taken much less can he shew any Texts therein that call a Temporal Punishment an Everlasting Punishment or any thing like it Answer 3d. 3. Those things which were called Everlasting and yet lasted but for a time were such as were not capable of an absolute and proper Everlastingness The Priesthood in Exodus 40. was not capable of perpetuity being Typical of the Priesthood of Christ that great High-Priest Heb. 4.14 as the Apostle calls him who was appointed to put an end to all former priesthood and Sacrifice by offering up Himself once for All. But the Wicked shall be capable of Everlasting Punishment properly so called for their very Bodies shall be raised Incorruptible 1 Cor. 15.52 In 1 Cor. 15. The Trumpet shall sound and the Dead i. e. All the Dead shall be raised incorruptible Answ The 4th 4. It must needs be meant of an endless Punishment for I find it is the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used in Matth. 25.46 that is used by St. Paul 2 Cor. 4.18 where he speaks of things Eternal in contradistinction to Things Temporal in 2 Cor. The things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea it is the same word in the Original which is used by our Lord to express the Eternity of the Saints Happiness Matth. 25.46 These shall go away into Everlasting Punishment and the Righteous into Life Eternal So that if the Punishment of the wicked that continue such be not an endless Punishment we may be at a great doubt whether the Happiness of the Saints shall be endless happiness or not since the same word as was said is used of both of them And now having Answered his first and chiefest Exceptions against this Proof we shall not fear to Examine those which follow and thirdly thus R. Fire may be said to be Everlasting His third Exception p. 19. when it doth not go out till the Combustible Matter is consumed and then he adds The Fire that destroyed Sodom is called Eternal Fire because it went not out till the City was consumed Jud. 7. Answered This is his third gloss upon the word Everlasting in the latter part of the 19. Page And first A Fire may be called Everlasting by his Logick when it goeth not out till the Combustible Matter is consumed It seems then if Mr. Richardson should be pleased to roast his Cat His absurdity shewed in another case to make a Breakfast for those worse than Antichristian Priests that fright the World so needlesly by their Doctrine of Everlasting Punishments for the Wicked he might then bespeak them thus Behold Sirs and see for here is an Everlasting Fire And if the poor ignorant Men should ask him how that can be true since the Fire will be out in a little time He could answer them That it may be called Everlasting because it will last till the Faggots are consumed but if
of Atra Bilis and to have no ground at all in the Scriptures Sol. What he hath done in this particular is too well known in the World and how well he hath done it is my Business to discover in this Book And I trust Good Reader that thou wilt perceive by that which follows that he hath not done it well nor indeed any better than the Socinian hath proved that there is no Trinity or than the Atheist hath proved that there is no God The Method observed And now I shall proceed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this following Method 1. To lay down some Arguments to prove the Everlasting Punishment of the wicked that live and dye such 2. To examine the said Book in all the principal parts and passages of it for it will not be worth while to speak of all he hath written there being very many Impertinencies in it 3. To improve the Doctrine in a practical way for Instruction Exhortation c. But before I speak of either of these it may seem needful to say something of the Author of this precious Piece which I am to deal with 1. Who the Author was If any Man should ask me who it was I would answer It was O Grande nomen Mr. S. Richardson even that admired Resolute Richardson whom the good Men of his Party did boast of so greatly and supposed to be a fit Match for the London-Ministers viz. indefinitely for any of them or for All of them to deal with See the Author in the Margin * Mr. J. Collings Vindic. Ministerii my Preface to the Reader sub finem And therefore some may imagine I have been too venturous to engage voluntarily with so great a Champion as He But yet Reader I am not discouraged I hope to come off clear and to pass without hurt through all the Pikes of his Arguments and Subtilties for God and his Truth are greater and stronger than Mr. R. and his Fallacies But to return to that which I was speaking of I say it was He whom the World is so much beholding to for the Book I am opposing For I have seen his Name prefixed to it though it be not set in that Edition of it which I have and perhaps it might be as good policy to conceal his Name in the second Edition as it was to mention it in the former 2. What he was But though it may be easily gained what his Name was yet it may be more difficult to discover what Himself was I remember the old saying Noscitur ex socio c. A dark Fellow is to be expounded by his Companions It might be questioned whether Mr. R. were himself of any Religion for all Religions have a Hell in their Creed and yet he hath none in his wherefore his Opinion concludes him of the doubtful gender in point of Religion so that we must be forced as was said to expound him by his Companions And if you would know who they were and what Perswasion they were of you may fitly consult the Anabaptists Confession of Faith Printed Anno Dom. 1644. which that * Dr. Featly Light of our Church now fixt in a Higher Orb was sometimes pleased to pass some Animadversions upon I mean in his Book called The Dippers dipt Where he tells you and you may safely take his word for it That the said Confession was subscribed by Paul Hobson Thomas Gunne and others of the same stamp and amongst the rest by S. Richardson to whom I would wish if he be living saving Mercy and a sound Mind And thus much by way of Introduction to my following Discourse The first particular whereof is now to be presented to thy serious thoughts and favourable censure CHAP. I. SECT II. An endless state of Punishment for the Wicked and Impenitent proved and the Proofs thereof vindicated from the Exceptions of Mr. R. and his Brethren THE fittest Method of procedure in my present Design seems to be that which is mentioned viz. To prove the truth of the Doctrine contended for before I meddle with the main Body of Mr. R. his Sophistical Argumentations namely that abovesaid And herein I do not undertake to convince the Atheist or drive him out of his Resolved Infidelity but rather to confirm the Christian in the Belief of this Doctrine which he hath been so often put in mind of by his Teachers And the first Argument that I would propose Scripture-Testimony the strongest Argument is the Testimony of God in Scripture and that is indeed the strongest of all Arguments and the most convincing to the Soul and Conscience As the learned have sufficiently evinced Vid. Crakanthorp Logic. de Argum. à Testimonio Logicos passim de Testimonio Disputantes for Truth is Essential to the True God Item Scheibl Topic. cap. 31. sect 50. Titus 1.2 He cannot lye A Man may be a Man though he be not true in his word but God could not be a God if he were not so Keckerm Log. lib. 3. cap. 13. for God to be false in his Word implies a manifest contradiction And there is nothing more natural to a Man in his right Wits than to conceive his Maker to be True in all that he saith or revealeth Wherefore if we have the Testimony of God for it in his written Word we may safely build upon it I say His written Word for that 's the Testimony that we are to enquire of Esay 8.20 And as for those inward Impulses Revelations A digression of Revelations Enthusiastick impressions c. and Suggestions of the Spirit which some have sufficiently boasted of and more than sufficiently trusted to as to Divine Testimonies they have often proved to be the Delusions of the lying Spirit and the false lights which the Prince of Darkness hath set up in the blinded hearts of those that shut their eyes against the light of that Word which is able to save our Souls having them so dreadfully dazelled with the glory of the light within them as they use to speak whose Enthusiastick Errors have been examined by many worthy Men. Spanhem Syntag Theol. Beckman Exercitat in Appendice c. And their vanity hath been shewed by famous or infamous instances in Mr. Sam. Cleark His Mirror Cap. 27. Exampl 17. Concerning the horrid Delusions which a Gentleman in Warwick-shire fell into after he looked to be taught by Revelations and Inspirations and had refused to hear any conformable Minister preach c. As also of one Mr. Gilpin in the same Chapter The sum of which History I have briefly set down in my Caution against Quakerisme Near the end I say if we have the Testimony of God in his written Word for the Doctrine I assert then we may be bold to believe it and must believe it though Mr. R. and his Companions in Infidelity should write never so many Books against it Reader if thou dost not believe the Scriptures to be
the Popish iniquity have thought it their best Policy to be silent concerning it since that time But my Author will go higher than so aâ—d shake the Authority of the Hebrew and Greek Copies that are extant in the world And well might he contend with the London Ministers as his friends boasted he should if he could prove the word that they preached to be uncertain and their Greek Testaments supposititious Books but though he cannot prove them to be so yet he will give men occasion to suspect them for such witness his Speech aforementioned possibly he might remember the Counsel of the Poet Horatius Si vis esse aliquis facinus aliquod Audeas egregium c. i.e. If thou wouldst be a man of Fame Thou must do something of great name Other Considerations to prove the Purity of the Original Copies of Scripture And now Reader That thy heart may be throughly antidoted against Mr. R's most pestilent suggestion I shall offer thee these following Considerations 1. That Books of another nature are seldom questioned after this manner when did you hear any man making any doubt whether the Books of Plato of Aristotle Hippocrates and of Pliny and Galen Plutarch of Theophrastus and Cicero of Homer and Hesiod of Suetonius and Florus Tacitus and Livy were the writings of those men whose names they bear or whether they are agreeable to those Copies which they wrote at first So that the Writings of Philosophers and Poets Physicians Historians Naturalists Moralists though very ancient shall pass currantly for theirs whose names they go under and are not imagined to be corrupted or altered from what they were at first Mr. R. doth not insinuate any doubt in that case But when it comes to that which concerns our precious Souls that word which contains our rules in Life our comforts at death and our foundations of hope as to a better world hereafter O then his patient heart is moved his Doubts and Fears and Suspicions are suggested he kicks and flings and lays about him extreamly he throws his blackest dust in our Faces that we may have no eyes to see nor no reason to apprehend that those Copies of the Bible which we have among us are the same in sense and substance with them that the Pen-men of Scripture wrote And all because we have not those Original Copies to shew as we have not of the other for he cannot shew us any of Plato's c. hand-writing Is it not manifestly the work of the Devil to cast doubts in mens minds about the one while he raiseth no doubts about the other It seems he can be content to have us believe that other Books are what they pretend to be but he is not so willing that we should believe the same of God's Book and no wonder for he knoweth the belief of that will be more likely to do us good than the belief of the other Argu. 2 2. If the Scripture were corrupted in the Originals it must be by such as believed it to be the word of God or such as did not If he say by them that believed it so to be then I would fain know how those that had so much Religion as to believe it should at the same time have so much profaneness as to go about to corrupt the Copies of it Would not the heart of the wickedest man fail him when he was about such a horrid design if he had but the least thought that it was the Word of his Maker that he set himself to corrupt If he say it was corrupted by those that did not believe it to be the Word of God but looked upon it as a piece of deceit and a politick innovation to keep fools in awe then why should they trouble themselves to corrupt it doubtless they would think it were corrupt enough already and would not much envy the holy Christians any of those delights and comforts which they had in it or from it And if they should ever have undertaken such a work it being that which would require much time and pains to do it to any purpose it must be supposed that they must have had some considerable motives from credit or profit of which no rational account I dare say can ever be given Nor can it be proved that ever any such thing was designed by the enemies of Christian Religion Julian the Apostate Emperor Acerrimus ille Christi hostis as an excellent Author styles him * Zanchius in Tom. 8. Orat. 1. He I say is well known to have been as fit a man to manage such a work as most ever was in the world for he had wit and learning in abundance he had also great power without him and an impenitent hardned heart within him and employed all his power and policy to the ruine not only of Christians but Christianity and accordingly he proceeded in mischiefs by Banishments and Imprisonments fire and Sword and by pulling down Churches and by putting down all Schools of Learning the two latter of which some that go for Christians among us could have wished him good success in yet I have not found that ever he did any such thing as this we are speaking of or that he employed any others about it to corrupt the Copies of Scripture that were in the hands of Christians or to counterfeit it by any other writing He was crafty enough to take other courses against Christianity that were easier to be followed And if any such thing were done how soon would it be discovered If a Protestant should Print some Mass-Books with some considerable alterations leaving out a prayer to the Virgin Mary and putting in a Prayer to Christ instead of it how quickly would the Romanists espy the change how soon would the Bulls roar from Babylon * Revel 17.5.9.18 How many Declarations Manifesto's and Testimonies would be published speedily in the world to prevent the intended mischief and to assure all that were concerned that those Books were not Authentick or Catholick or allowed under the Hands of the Pope's Holiness And do ye think that the Christians in the Primitive times were not as zealous for the Scriptures as the Papist's are for the Mass-Books or that they would not have been as careful to discover such forgeries in or about them if any such things had been A 3d. Argument for the Purity of Scripture c. 3. If the Scripture were counterfeited or the Original Copies corrupted by any it must be by blockish and ignorant Persons or by Men of considerable Wit and Learning The former would not undertake such a work or if they should they could not manage it and carry it on Nor may we well imagine the latter for certainly Men of wit in any tolerable sense could not but apprehend the difficulty of such a work the Copies being dispersed among Christians that valued them more than all the wealth of the World and would be as careful to preserve
no reason why he should be mis-shapen by any monstrous fashions In a word as he is Religious so he is not afraid to own and follow the Exercises of Religion in publick as well as in private He seeks not for the Golden mean between Saintship and Atheism but is resolved to be a Saint so far as he may though the proud should call him Puritan for it He goes as joyfully to God's house as the Sensual gallants to a Play-house and comes out with more as well as better satisfaction He goes not to Church to save his Credit or his Purse to see Fashions or to censure his Minister but to discharge his Duty and adorn his Profession to Serve his God and Save his Soul and therefore he had rather go Twice a day than Once a month This Reader is the nature and quality of these excellent Persons I am speaking of and however thou mayst wonder at it I dare affirm there are some such to be found among us and to them I am now with all Christian respectfulness to address my self The Exhortation Honoured Sirs since Hell is no Fancy since the miseries thereof are real intolerable and eternal give me lieve I beseech you to urge upon you these following Duties The First Duty 1. To rejoyce in the Lord and delight your selves in the Thoughts of his Great Goodness towards you For he hath freed you for ever from all this Misery That Cloud of Vengeance which will fall upon the Careless Gallants at the last day shall be far from you You may meet with many distresses but nothing of Damnation shall ever come near you for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 2. Whosoever believeth on him to wit with a holy and True Faith such as is attended with a Religious life shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16 When the awakening Trumpet shall send forth its Echo's to the ends of the Earth it shall be no matter of amazement unto you when you shall look out of your Graves and see the Lord of Glory Armed with irresistible power clothed with shining Majesty and flaming Vengeance attended with all his Troops of holy Angels Cherubins and Seraphins honoured with their loudest shouts their highest praises their joyfullest Acclamations c. yet then I say your hearts shall not fail for you shall come forth to the Resurrection of life Joh. 5.29 and be raised up for heaven not for hell wherefore serve your God with gladness and do not so much humor the Devil or honour this malignant world as to be afraid of its enmity or to be discouraged at the worst it can do against you That Gracious God whom you serve is able to deliver you from all evils and as he hath saved you from the power of sin and the punishment of Hell so he will be your shield from smaller dangers Psal 84.11 The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Second Duty Secondly To be often in the Heavenly Duty of Praise and Thanksgiving This Tribute you owe for every Mercy you partake of how much more for your deliverance from the Everlasting Punishment Methinks Sirs you should delight your selves abundantly in Paying of it and Praise your great deliverer with enlarged hearts O let that be a main part of your work here which shall be your Beatifying employment in the high and Holy place When Sensualists are delighting themselves in Songs of Lewdness and Vanity let your hearts be delighted with Songs of Praise If the Blind man in the Gospel Luke 18. ult could follow Christ so joyfully glorifying God merely because he was cured of his blindness O what Joyful Praises should your hearts be filled with and your glory your Tongues be exercised in when you are saved through Christ from the Everlasting Darkness and destruction and shall shortly see an end of all your Sorrows Third Duty Value not overmuch the Scorns and Censures of the ungodly world fear not the reproach of men Esay 51.7 nor be afraid of their revilings while you walk in the Holy way No reason for it for why should they fear the contempt of any that are secured from the everlasting shame Fourth Duty Another duty which I would humbly exhort you to is this To do what you can to save others from Hell Not that you can save them in a way of absolute yower by working saving Grace in their Souls nor in a way of Merit by procuring Heaven for them This 't is confessed you cannot do But yet you may do that which the Scripture calls a Saving of them namely Perswade them to be careful of their own Salvation and occasion them to use the means of Salvation that are afforded them And what can be imagined more excellent and honourable or more truly worthy of a Religious Gentleman than this Motives to it I might add in great variety from the Glory of God the Worth of the Soul the Love of Christ the Honour of his Gospel the honourableness of the Duty in it self To conquer Towns and Castles and Kingdoms is but a poor and worthless project to the furious endeavours of Saving a Soul But methinks God's goodness to your selves might be a very powerful engagement upon you so to do if there were no other reason for it As the King in the Parable Oughtest thou not to have forgiven thy fellow-servant seeing I forgave thee so may it be said much more in this case ought you not to do your best to save others from Hell since your God hath been so merciful as to save you And I beseech you Sirs let it be remembred what opportunities and advantages you have above other men to do good to your Neighbours Souls Your Place and Authority will bear a great sway with them they will regard your words and examples when they will not regard ours Happy would many a poor Minister account himself if his People would mind the commands of God which he urgeth upon them in the name of Christ half so much as they would mind the words of a Man of Place and Wealth If you shew a love to a Church and a plain Sermon they will seem to do so for their credit sake and will not dare to call the one a Steeple-house or the other a Puritanical Preachment Now you may be Instrumental to their Salvation or deliverance from Hell many ways especially these following 1. In general by your own example by living godly righteously and soberly in your general course They will be more capable of believing profaneness sottishness and injurious doings to be hateful things when they see them so carefully shunned by such as you In particular If you would be a means of saving your Neighbours Souls from Hell let it please you to observe these following Directions 1. Endeavour to engage them to