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A93857 A letter to a lady concerning the due improvement of her advantages of celibacie, portion, and maturity of age and judgment : which may serve indifferently for men under the same circumstances. Stephens, Edward, d. 1706. 1695 (1695) Wing S5428A; ESTC R42770 5,615 8

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A LETTER TO A LADY Concerning the due Improvement of her Advantages of Celibacie Portion and Maturity of Age and Judgment Which may serve indifferently for Men under the same Circumstances Madam THE Consideration of the Circumstances which the Good Providence of God which is over all his Works and extends to the most minute Concerns of the Children of Men hath put you in in this World and of the Principles of Grace which he hath planted in you hath excited in me first The Affections of Good Will to you and Desires and Wishes that you may wisely improve the same and go on to Perfection and then some Thoughts of Endeavours to assist you and offer you my Service in faithful Admonitions and Advices in order thereunto The Circumstances which I intend are 1. A State of Celibacie or single Life and of Freedom from the Incumberances and Distractions and Avocations and Diversions of a Married State 2. A plentiful Portion of the Things of this World and Freedom from the Necessities of Labour for a Livelihood And 3. an Age of Maturity and Growth not only above the Crudities of Youth but above the Prevalence of the Affections of Flesh and Blood through Experience and the Exercise of Reason and the kind Influences and Irradiations of Grace And upon the Consideration of these I must immind you and desire you to consider and ruminate upon it 1. That you are no self-subsistent Being but a dependent Creature in your Natural State and besides you are not your own you are bought with a Price and redeemed out of a State of miserable Slavery in order to be translated into a glorious and blessed State in the Kingdom of Heaven if you suffer not your self to be cheated allured or frighted out of it but fight the good Fight and strive lawfully 2. That these Advantages are Talents committed to your Management and Improvement and that you have a Lord this Lord who hath bought you and redeem'd you to whom you must give Account for the same you must appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ and receive the things done in the Body according to that you have done whether it be Good or Bad 2 Cor. 5.10.3 That you live not only in a Wicked World but in a more than ordinary degenerate Age and wicked Generation wherein not only the Manners but the Sentiments and Notions of Men and even such as should be Teachers and Examples of Righteousness and Holiness are greatly corrupted much after the manner that they were among the Jews at our Saviour's Coming in the Flesh 4. That the Wisdom of the World is Foolishness with God and therefore if we will be wise indeed we must not be conformed unto it but be transformed by the Renewing of our Mind that we may prove and curiously discern in those things which the blind World cannot see what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God that after we have escaped the gross Pollutions we be not insnared with more subtle Tentations 5. That our Saviour hath distinguished Two sorts of his Disciples one of those who build upon the Sand who make great Profession but do nothing the other of those who do whatsoever he commands and that the Terms of the Gospel are such That without forsaking all and taking up the Cross whereof bearing Reproach and Censures of the World and even of Friends and Relations is but the first step there is no being his Disciple no Purchase of the hidden Treasure and Pearl of great Price without selling all for it 6. That the Goodness and Favours of God and the Greatness of his Reward hereafter do infinitely exceed all that we can do or suffer for Him here nay the very Foretastes here do far exceed all the Enjoyments of this World and more than countervail all that we can part with or suffer here 7. That of the Good things of this World there is a far nobler Use to be made by the Wise than Enjoyment of them viz. by Sacrificing that to the Service and Honour of our Lord as the Spiritual Free-will-Offerings of the Gospel 8. That such Miscarriages and Improvidence as shall not utterly exclude from the Kingdom of Heaven may yet be Matter of much Ingratitude to our Lord great Hinderances of Grace and Comfort here and Occasions of Loss and of Diminution of Reward hereafter When you have well considered and digested these Truths till they have stirred up the Grace of God in you that you may abound in good Spirits good Resolution and quick Understanding in the Fear of the Lord it will be fit then to consider How these Talents and Advantages may be best imployed and improved for the Honour and Service of your Lord and the Advancement of your self in Holiness and Comfort here and Happiness and Glory hereafter And first the State and Condition of Celibacie whether of Virginity or Widow-hood when it comes to be Voluntary and of Choice and Preference to which our wise Governour by his secret Conduct doth often bring Souls by degrees hath the Approbation of our Saviour of the Holy Scriptures and hath always been esteemed very Honourable in the Christian Church and believ'd to be Matter of great Reward hereafter It is true it is not Matter of strict Obligation to all nor could it be because inconsistent with the Propagation of Mankind but very often when Souls are come to good Maturity in Spiritual things they have such evident Calls to it both by the special Providence and by Motions of the Grace of God as lay a special Obligation upon Them and which They cannot break through but they run themselves into the Briers and into inextricable Difficulties which makes them experiment the Accomplishment of St. Paul's Prediction whereof I have known divers remarkable Examples It is therefore both Prudence and a noble Act of Gratitude and Devotion upon true Principles to embrace and follow St. Paul's Advice and Resolution upon mature Deliberation of the Case 1 Cor. 7.1 8 25 26 29. and what he so earnestly presseth elsewhere to present our Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God It must be upon right Principles and for a right End which is expressed by St. Paul by taking care for the things of the Lord how you may please the Lord v. 32. and v. 35. for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction for otherwise neither will it be accepted with God who looks principally at the Heart and Intention nor will it be like to continue with any Comfort and good Success to your self And it must be imployed to that end by Abstraction from unnecessary Visits unprofitable Conversation and impertinent Employments and Retirement for Spiritual Exercises the Worship of God in Publick and Works of Charity to Men. And this brings us to the Consideration of the Second of those Advantages before-mentioned your Talent of the Portion of the Things of this World which you have received The