abundantly reward and crown all their patient humble suffering in a quiet submission to his will Mat. 24.13 Rev. 2.10 12 26. for his sake and well-doing Mat. 5.11 12 13. Rom. 8.17 18. 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Further God in afflictions and suffering very often helps the memories of his servants to call to mind these and such like gratious sutable promises and helps their faith to believe them and rest on them for assistance the comfort and accomplishment of them in his best time for all the promises in Christ are Yea and Amen sure and certain 2 Cor. 1.20 by which they are inabled to overcome all sufferings and temptations and to triumph in the end 1 John 5.4 Consider therefore the patience of Job and what end the Lord made of it Jam. 1.1 2. and 5.11 also of Josephs sufferings and the happy issue the great preferment and honour that followed and the very great good he was inabled to do not only to the Egyptians but to the Church of God Gen. chapt 41.45 and 50. For the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy Jam. 5.11 7. Be sure to endeavour truly to repent to believe in Jesus Christ to walk holily and to make your calling and election sure that you are in the favour of God and that he afflicts in mercy out of love and with faithfulness for our eternal good 2 Pet. 1.10 14. In Temptations to sin consider these things 1. Be not self-confident go not out in your own strength be always jealous and suspitious of your selves and look unto God for wisdom to see the evil in them for grace and power to withstand and overcome them Remember Peter a good soul but relying too much on his own strength was sham fully foiled Mat. 26.33 71 72 73 74. 2 Arm your serves in the best wise ye can 1. by prayer 2. with some good Scriptures as sutable as you can find to your occasion and present temptation the word is The sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.17 3. The shield of faith whereby you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil ver 16. and 4. Confider and rest your selves on the promises the power goodness and faithfulness of God and 5. with an holy resolution to suffer any thing rather than to sin 3. Consider what a shameful and dishonorable a thing it is to yeeld to Satan and be overcome of sin and Satan and the sad consequents ufually follow and then consider also the comfort peace and honour of not yeelding but overcoming with the encouraging promises made to them that do overcome and hold out in well-doing to the end Rev. 2.17 26. But resist him stedfastly in the faith 1 Pet. 5.9 that is by laying hold on 1. the faithfulness of God believing the promises as most true the threatnings also the precepts as holy just and good 2. By laying hold on the power mercy wisdome and goodness of God Faith reasons thus the Promises are true and sure why should I nor believe them and rest upon them The Threatnings are sure why should I then venture on sin the Precepts are all holy just good therefore all reason I should observe keep them God hath been loving good and merciful to me therefore I would not offend him and he is able all sufficient to support strengthen me in and deliver me out of all in due time therefore I will rest upon him alone 4. As God gives in wisdom to discover the evil in temptations and ability and strength of Grace to resist and overcome them so give to God all the praise and glory he is most worthy of it Thankfulness for benefits received is as I may say an holy inducement to move God to do more who delights to do good to thankful Souls 15. Study unity peace and love towards one another and towards all men 1. Study unity both in judgment and affection As much as possibly may be labour to be all of one judgment and one mind in the Lord and where you cannot be all of one judgment yet labour to be all of one heart to love all that are sound in their judgments in all truths necessary to life and godliness and joyn with them in all Ordinances of Christ How can I separate from them whom Christ owns and receives and where any do differ only in circumstantials or lesser matters that may stand with Godliness bear with them pity them cover their weaknesses in love and use all loving means to inform them a right and gain them to the truth Beware of censuring others that are not of the same judgment and way with your selves in those smaller matters being otherwise found holding the foundation and blameless in their lives Titus 3.2 God doth not give alike knowledge and understanding to every one And especially beware of division and separation from any whom Christ owns and receives The censoriousness division and separation of Professors hath almost undone us weakned the Protestants very much given a great wound to the Protestant Religion brought a great scandal upon Professors Religion and Godliness given occasion to many loose Protestants to slight all Religion many to turn Atheists others prophane and given the common Adversary very great advantage by our divisions to destroy both the Protestant Religion and the Professors of it You know that a bundle of sticks or arrows taken singly one after another may all easily be broken but joyntly bound together they cannot Therefore the Romish Adversaries have of late years endeavored and do still endeavour what in them lieth to sow errors debauch others and make divisions amongst the Protestants that they may destroy them and the Truth also and set up their Romish Antichristian idolatrous Masses and superstition But let not any of you I beseech you and I hope in the Lord you will never be the Jesuites and Devils instruments to make divisions rents and separation in the Church of Christ which is a work of the flesh and forbidden of God 1 Cor. 3.3 and 1.10 Rom. 16.17 The Lord doth often and much command and press to unity Read 1 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 16.17 Phil. 2.1 2 to 8. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves and so on Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. Endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Observe his weighty Reasons 1. There is one Body namely mystical the Church of Christ 2. One Spirit by whom they are united and governed 3. Ye are called into one hope to wit of life eternal 4. Have the same Lord even Christ 5. Have one faith namely in Christ 6. Have the same Baptism to wit into the Name of
2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction And so on to v. 11. And this knowledge must not be an idle meer notional knowledg swimming in the brain but an operative practical powerful transforming knowledge such as workes on the heart and puts on to believe and practice what a man knoweth and doth transforme change and make a man to endeavour to be like unto God himself loving merciful good gratious holy just true and spiritual Many wicked men yea enemies and persecutors of the true Religion and godly men have do know much as to a speculative and notional knowledge and can speak well when they please but make no conscience to practice what they know Secondly Faith is necessary to the right participation of the Lords Supper also to live and die comfortably and happily A particular distinct Faith which is a recieving and resting on Christ alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the Gospel More largely and generally Faith is a resting and relying on God the Father for all good things both for soul and body this life and that to come only for the alone mercy of God and merit of Christ the Mediatour John 1.12 and 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whose believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Mark 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God Thirdly Repentance is also necessary to live and die well and happily Luke 13.3.5 Said our Saviour Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Therefore it is called Repentance unto life Acts 11.18 Now repentance is a conversion or turning of the heart and whole man from sin all sin in affection and endeavour unto God Therefore it is so often expressed in the Scripture by turning as Deut. 4.30 and 30.10 1 Kings 8.35 Nehem. 1.9 Psal 7.12 and very often elsewhere There are two parts of Repentance Humiliation and Reformation 1. Humiliation and sorrow for sin past and present because sin a transgression of the holy just and good law of God Rom. 7.12 and because offensive and hateful to God a filthy thing defiling and dangerous to our selves yea damnable if continued in 2. Reformation or amendment of life an unfained leaving of all sin in affection and also in practice in respect of sincere desires purpose and endeavour daily to amend whatsoever is amiss and to lead a life according to the command of God without which sorrow for sin and humiliation availes little Fourthly sincere love true hearty Christian love is another necessary grace both love to God the Father Jesus Christ and to our Neighbour 1 Love to God even the whole blessed Trinity in unity who is the only chief and all-sufficient good most lovely in respect of his most excellent wisdome love goodness holiness mercy truth faithfulness justice and all other his transcendent perfections Also for what he hath done for us and is still most ready to do for his people Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy might So Deut. 10.12 Mat. 23.37 2. We must love our Neighbour also Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self that is truly heartily and really making it appear by the fruits and effects of it as occasion requireth and opportunity serveth and as we are able and that both to good and bad men 1. Good men with a love of complacency and delight because of the Image of God in them Psal 16.2 3. 2. Bad men evil yea wicked men yea enemies with a love of benevolence that is so as to pity them wish them good pray for them counsel instruct admonish and reprove also when there is just cause occasion opportunity and we may do it with any hopes of doing good Levit. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour not suffer sin upon him or not bear sin for him as the margin hath it Mat. 5 44. I say unto you said the Lord Jesus Love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven Not rendring evil for evil 1 Pet. 3.9 Yet hate and shun their sins and have no fellowship in the unfruitful workes of darkness Eph. 5.11 Sixthly sincere obedience an hearty desire purpose and endeavour to observe the whole will of God and obey him in all his commands both of piety and holiness towards God and of justice equity and mercy towards men sobriety towards ones self Tit. 2.11 12. This I mention particularly though it might have been included in the former because Christ will be a Saviour to none but to them that do sincerely obey him Heb. 5.9 Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. And because I would have it particularly minded and observed Now consider I beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake and that seriously 1. Whether you have these such a knowledge of God and of your selves whether you do in some measure see your misery by sin the remedy thereof by Christ know the doctrine of the Sacraments and that not with a bare notional knowledg but a working and practical knowledg And have you a true living faith in God through Jesus Christ whom he hath sent such a faith as applies the righteousness of Christ for justification and draws virtue from him for sanctification and holy conversation Do you truly repent of your sins and heartily endeavour to amend what is amiss are you new creatures and endeavour to live in newness of life Do you mak conscience of obeying Gods commands of living holily and dealing truly faithfully and justly with all men Do you truly love God for himself and above all things and your neighbour truly and heartily for Gods and Christs sake wishing his good and be ready to do any Christian neighbourly office of love for him or any of them forgiving private wrongs and injuries as you would that God for Christs sake should forgive you or do you heartily desire and truly endeavour after these things if so in truth then happy are you blessed be God for this great mercy and goodness to you he has done more for you then if he had given you very many thousands and made you great the greatest persons in the world yea then if he had given
you all the world when he has left many even great ones as well as others to live and dye in their sins and perish in their ignorance unbelief and impenitency The Lord increase it in you daily more and more where it is begun and preserve you to his heavenly kingdom But if you be still grosly ignorant or in your unbelief and impenitency you so many of you as so continue are in the state of nature in the gall of bitterness without Christ servants to sin slaves to the Devil children of wrath and so living and dying must perish eternally Give me leave therefore plainly to tell you the truth for you will finde it so and no way possible of escaping the wrath to come if you will not believe me read your selves Psal 9.16 The wicked and all that forget God shall be turned into Hell that is all that do not so know God as to remember him and obey his command Read also Hos 4.6 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. Then 2. Consider the absolute necessity of divine knowledg in some degre of faith repentance love to God and men of sincere obedience to his commands and of holyness unto life and salvation For without knowledge of the doctrine of the Gospel and law also in some measure there can be no true faith nor repentance nor love nor true obedience nor holyness of heart and life no justification no pardon or forgiveness of sins nor any true peace or comfort in life nor death neither here nor hereafter To this end I beseech you read and consider seriously these and other such like places of Scripture though some of them have been mentioned already before viz. concerning the necessity of Knowledge John 17.3 Hos 4.6 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. Of Faith John 3.16 Mark 16.16 Of Repentance Luk. 13.3 5. Ezek. 18.30 31. Of new obedience to God of righteousness and holiness of heart and life Heb. 12.14 Rev. 21.8 27. and 22.14 15. 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. and 6.7 8. 3. Consider your miserable condition without some measure of knowledge faith and other saving graces and holyness If you be destitute of these and so go on still in your ignorance or unbelief and impenitency and disobedience to the commands of God there will be no hope or possibility you shall for ever be shut out of Heaven deprived of Gods favour health peace liberty ease and of all worldly good things of every good thing that may afford you any the least joy comfort ease or content moreover you cannot so living and dying escape being condemned and turned into hell when you dye there to be tormented for ever with the Devil and the damned spirits read and consider in the fear of God Mat. 25.41 46. without any hope of an end release ease or mitigation Revel 14.10 11. Luke 16.23 24 25 26. They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb the smoake of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever they have no rest day nor night O woful that word of being tormented for ever and ever is the most transcendent astonishing thing the very fore-sight or fore-thought of it is very dreadful to them that have their consciences any whit awakened See Isai 33.14 The sinners in Zion were afraid fearfulness surprized them so that they cryed out Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings If the sight or thought of it at so great a distance was so dreadful as that nothing run in their minds and mouthes but devouring fire and everlasting burnings what will the torment it self be when felt and if the pain of one member here tormented with the gout stone head-ach tooth-ach cholick or the like sometimes be so grievous especially when in an high degree which usually is but for a few hours or dayes at most what will the torments of hell be which shall continue not onely for a few daies or years but for very very many thousand and hundred thousands of years yea for ever and ever never to have any end or any the least ease or mitigation of pain no not after millions and millions of years You know the sad story or parable of the rich glutton Luke 16.19 c. who immediately after death was cast into hell and being in great torments could not obtain so much water to cool his tongue as would hang on the tip of ones finger no not of merciful Abraham his Father as he truly called him according to the flesh The Lord help you and I seriously to consider this so as to prevent it 4. Consider how long you have lived how much of your time is spent already how uncertain your life is how short it may be and how suddenly death may come on you Many in the world yea some which many of us have known have been alive and well in the morning and dead ere night and some that have gone to bed well were the next morning dead and of some alive well ill and dead in a few houres I shall privately minde you of one whom divers of you and my self very well knew an antient Gentleman of very good parts that in harvest last 1669 was in good health supt very well was very cheerful and lively walked abroad after supper his wife one or two more being present fell down suddenly dead without so much as giving a groan or sigh And as death suddenly befell him so it may do any of us that survive Oh that they were wise said God Deut. 32.29 that they understood this that they would consider their latter end But if any will not hearken to God repent and return to him but go on still in sin presuming on the mercy of God how just may it be with God and what cause is there to fear that he will not hereafter give them time to repent or else not give them the means or if both time and means yet not the grace to use that time and means so as to repent to salvation who have and do willingly neglect the present time and means We all know well enough that God himself hath said Pro. 1.24 25 26 to 32. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c. I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh as a whirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not finde me for that they hated knowledg and did not chuse the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their
Christ or blessed Trinity 7. and have one God and Father Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions among you and avoid them He that separateth from a true Christian a child of God or any one whom Christ ewneth and receiveth though never so weak and mean doth so far separate and disown Christ himself who is the Head of that Member Consider Titus 3.2 Speak evil of no man also Jude ver 19. 2. Endeavour what in you lieth the peace of the Church and Common-wealth Mark 9.50 Have peace one with another Rom. 14.19 Follow after the things which make for peace and wherein one may edifie another Heb. 12.14 Follow after peace and holiness without which no man shall see God 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Gospel is the Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 Peace is the frequent wish and prayer of the Apostle in every Epistle one end of our calling 1 Cor. 7.15 God is the God of peace Rom. 15.33 Christ is the Prince of Peace Ephes 2.14 Our peace and peace-maker Col. 1.10 It is one of the last Legacies Christ gave to his Church John 14.27 A fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Therefore let the peace of God rule in your hearts Col. 3.15 For blessed are the peace-makers Mat. 5.9 Labour therefore for a peaceable disposition avoid contentions study to be quiet and mind your own business 1 Thes 4.11 Many and great are the benefits of peace but woful are the fruits of contentions and divisions especially of War 3. Also love one another yea all men godly persons for Godliness sake civil and moral men for their civility and morality temperance justice truth civilities and the like Yea also evil men and enemies love their persons pity them pray for them exercise civility and Christian carriage towards them but shun their evil courses and wicked opinions and ways 1 Pet. 3.8 Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous 1 Pet. 1.22 See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently It is Christs command Mat. 5.44 Love your enemies bless them that curse you pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you and do good to them that hate you that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to shine on the good and on the bad c. 1 John 4.7 8. Beloved let us love one another every one that loveth i. e. truly heartily for God's and Christs sake is born of God He that loveth not knoweth not God 1 Joh. 3.14 15. We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren He that hateth his brother abideth in death whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and you know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him See before 16. Endeavour to be and alwayes walk in the fear of the Lord I mean an holy fear of offending God any way out of love to God Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long for happy is he that feareth always Prov. 28 14. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Prov. 1.7 and 9.10 A good understanding have all they that do thereafter Psalm 111.10 The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil Prov. 3.7 and 8.13 and 16.6 It prolongeth life Pro. 19.27 Tendeth to life Prov. 19.23 And a little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure without it Consider I pray that you are always in his presence and that he takes notice of all your deeds words and thoughts and that we must give an account of our selves and all our ways unto God Eccles 12.13 14. Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man For God will bring every work into judgment c. So 2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 14.10 And therefore as much as in you lieth endeavour to live every day as if it were the last To this end mind two things First be careful to avoid and shun all evil and occasions of sin 1. All sin as much as may be in deed word or thought Sin is the transgression of the Law of God 1 Joh. 3.4 any swerving from the Law of God in the matter manner order time measure or end And sin and nothing but sin is evil in it self or own nature forbidden of God hated of him and severely punished by him is filthy defiles the Soul dangerous and damnable the only meritorious cause of all evil of suffering and sorrow whatsoever in body estate name liberty Soul mind here and both in Soul and body hereafter for ever in Hell Therefore be always afraid of sinning against God out of love of God and holiness which are so transcendently good and out of hatred of sin that is so exceedingly evil and will bring nothing but shame and sorrow most intolerable misery for ever How pleasing soever sin seems to sinners now it will be extreme bitter in the end And especially 2. Shun all occasions of sin As first Evil company there is a great danger of being ensnared and brought into sin by evil company at least of being grieved by them consider Dinahs case Gen. 34.1 2. Also Gen. 39.9 10 c. Prov. 13.2 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed Observe not the fool only but he also that accompanies with him therefore saith Solomon Prov. 4.14 15. Enter not into the path of the wicked avoid it pass by it turn away from it Very many hopeful persons have been utterly undone every way in their name estates bodies and souls by evil companions In any company where you have not a necessary obligation to be with them where you have no hope of doing good nor receiving good so soon as with civility you may leave them Pro. 5.8 7.22 23 27. 1 Cor. 16.13 and 15 33 1 Cor. 5.9 10 11. And especially take heed of being tainted with the foul errors corrupt opinions and the sins and abominations of the times wherein you live The fuller the world is of defilements the greater must your care be to keep your selves unspotted of the world Jam. 1.27 As Noah kept himself clear from the corruptions of the old World Lot preserved himself pure from the pollutions of Sodom Daniel was not defiled with the idolatries of Babylon Thus the fish retains his freshness in the salt Sea the rose its sweetness amongst the noysome weeds and the Diamond its brightness though it lie in the dust Keep your selves pure from foul errors and sins as you would have God preserve you safe in dangerous times as he did Noah in the Ark Daniel and the three Nobles in Babylon Ezekiels mourners Jeremiah and many others Secondly avoid evil places places of evil resort and of evil report for uncleanness drinking gaming or any other vice or ungodliness Thirdly
Avoid also all evil times some times and seasons as well as some places are evil dangerous to walk in especially at some places as the night late or very early in some places Every man by nature is like to dry wood yea to dried tinder which is apt to take fire so soon as any spark of temptation to sin is cast into us by Satan and if the Devil do not tempt us yet our corrupt hearts are apt to take fire as soon as the least occasion is offered to us or we meet with it as too frequent experience proves Yea Fourthly Labour to mortifie sin every inordinate lust Col. 3.5 Mortifie your members which are upon the earth i. e. your sinful lusts desires and motions that are born and bred up with us and are as dear to us as our natural members are as a right hand or right eye Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye by the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Secondly Mind well and look to these things 1. Make choice of and improve good company yea the best company you can I count that the best company that is truly religious and godly which will further us in the best things especially be furthered by us to whom we may do good and by whom we may receive good And I count him my best friend that will help me most in the way to Heaven Worldly company I count also good company in this respect and so far as being otherwise civil and unblameable they may be helpful to me for the managing of my worldly affairs wisely and discreetly so as they may be most subservient to the highest ends You know Davids profession and practice Psal 16.23 My goodness extends not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Psal 119 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of all them that keep thy Commandments Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God Let your most familiar intimate bosome-friend be as much as in you lieth one that is a most godly wise and grave experienced Christian 2. Look well to your actions give a good Example and the greater and more esteemed any of you are the more cause to look well to your actions every where to give a good Example of godliness humility gravity faithfulness justice righteousness and the like Do nothing but what is commendable virtuous and praise-worthy Beware of doing any thing that may leave an ill savour behind you which may open the mouths of evil men to speak or think evil of you or of Religion harden them in their evil ways or sadden the hearts of good men or be a stumbling-block to weak Christians that are coming on not light vain foolish idle vile and prophane carefully shun and avoid all such 3. Look to your words that they be true sober grave and seasonable not false idle filthy vain foolish ridiculous bitter or railing Ephes 4 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man the truth unto his Neighbour ver 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Jam. 5.12 Above all things my Brethren swear not Ephes 5.3 4. But fornication and all uncleaness and covetousness let it not be once named among you as it becometh Saints Nor filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting that is scurrility or jeering scurrilous jesting and unseemly mirth are much unbeseeming the gravity and sanctity of a Christian For we must give an account of every idle word at the day of Judgment Matt. 12.36 37. much more of scurrilous and unclean words And if any man seem to be religious and yet bridleth not his tongue that mans Religion is vain Jam. 1.26 Not but that Christians may be cheerful and merry in company but their mirth must be harmless and innocent not light vain idle foolish much less vile and prophane In all things labour to shew your selves Patterns especially elder persons of goodness truth faithfulness righteousness uprightness c. and in all your dealings that you may adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and gain credit to Religion by your good conversation Let the Name of God Christ and his word be seldome in your mouths unless in an humble reverent manner to do or receive some good not in ordinary worldly discourse but let them be often in your minds hearts let them be to you as hony in your months and musick to your ears that you may say as David Psal 139.17 18. How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God How great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more than the sand when I awake I am still with thee Titus 3.2 Speak ill of no man be gentle shewing all meekness to all men Make the best construction of other mens words and actions as far as may be with a good conscience Love thinketh no evil is not easily provoked beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.5 7. Be not jealous be not suspitious yet labour wisely to foresee and prevent evils that may be Use not many words in speaking be not full of speech for as Solomon observes Eccles 5.7 In many words there are also divers vanities but fear thou God ver 3. A fools voice is known by a multitude of words It is often observed that even some very good persons and worthy to be honoured for the truth that is in them who are of a free speech when they speak of a person or thing which they like or dislike suppose it be of some distemper are sometimes so superlative and excessive in their expressions that they do speak often very much beyond what the thing in truth is to the grief of some tender consciences to hear such persons lash out beyond measure and which 't is believed if themselves did before God in their own consciences seriously consider surely they would not speak so largely It is good to speak always within the bounds of apparent truth also to perform what they promise lest some others censure us as lyers and say as too many are apt to do without cause Professors will not swear but they will lye or stretch foully This is sad and to be bewailed 4. Look to your affâ—ctions love desire delight hope fear joy sorrow anger hatred and the like that they be set on right objects so as to desire hope love delight and rejoyce in good things especially spiritual so to sorrow and grieve for sin to shan and hate it Col. 3.2 Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth Let David be your pattern Psal 16.3 In the Saints and the excellent in whom it all my delight Psal 119.104 I hate every
thanks-worthy if a man for conscience towards God indure grief suffering wrongfully for what glory is it if when ye are buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God for even hereunto are ye called because also Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow him who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth See here is Gods command Christs example their own duty comfort and benefit to themselves do all bind servants to a meek and patient bearing of reproof and correction blows also 5. Bear with your Masters infirmities for the best of men have their infirmities are subject to like passions as other men as 't is said of Elias Jam. 5.17 as you your selves also have yours and therefore make conscience of bearing with them in others especially in your Governors concealing and covering them in love as much as may be It is a sinful thing to publish or blaze them abroad to the dis-credit of their Master is indeed to their own discredit shame in the end yet it is too common for servants when they meet together to talk of and blaze their Masters and Governors infirmities and secrets also that others abroad know what is said and done secretly in the house Such the Holy Ghost condemneth as tale-bearers Prov. 11.13 and 20.19 and the Apostle as tatlers and busie-bodies wandring from house to house and speaking things they ought not 1 Tim. 5.13 I say also it redounds to their own discredit and shame for who will credit or like such as tattle abroad what they see or hear at home or knowingly receive or willingly retain such in their houses All sober persons will utterly dislike and condemn such persons for so doing To back all these duties and put all servants on to make conscience of performing these duties consider these weighty Reasons 1. The will and express command of God as you have heard so that in a willing neglecting any of these you sin against God and provoke God against your own souls 2. You wrong your Masters whose good you ought to endeavour heartily and honour their persons and authority 3. The great reward you shall receive if not of men yet to be sure of God who has undertaken to be your pay-master Eph. 6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free 4. The place Masters are in namely over you in the Lord as your Head and Governour and you in the place of subjection to them so that whatsoever the birth parentage estate parts or former conditions of any of you were yet now being servants by your own voluntary choice or Divine Providence you must be subject and do the duty of servants and it is much better to do that cheerfully and faithfully which must be done and will be much for your comfort and benefit 5. The faithful discharge of these duties is a good way to adorn the Gospel credit Religion and Godliness honour the Name of God the contrary will be an occasion of blaspheming the Name of God and of the Gospel and the ways of Godliness 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2.10 and hindring the good of Souls 6. This is one end of your calling to Grace to serve others faithfully 1 Pet. 2.21 22. whereunto also you are called though the place speaks especially and particularly of suffering patiently for well-doing yet excludes not the other but includes it 7. Fellow-servants must be loving one to another and be a help and comfort one unto another in all well-doing and by all lawful means as much as may be that their lives may be more sweet and comfortable to themselves more pleasing to God and their service more acceptable unto their Master and give one another and others a good example of faithfulness diligence chastity sobriety godliness and all Christian vertues and well-doing 8. I might add there will be a day of Death and Judgment in which both Masters and servants must give an account unto God the Judge of all the world how they have carried themselves in their relations one towards another 2 Cor. 5.10 Eccles 12.14 27. Lastly To those that are poor in the world I must add a few words particularly for their comfort and direction and I pray observe them well 1. If now for your comfort you be truly Godly that is know God and Jesus Christ savingly and if you do truly desire to believe and endeavour to serve God daily and faithfully though but weakly as your education 't is probable hath been but mean then you are rich and great in the sight of God God is your Father and Jesus Christ your Redeemer Justifier and Saviour the Holy Spirit is your Sanctifier and Comforter and Heaven your in heritance all is yours if you be Christs 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Bless God with all your Souls serve him with all your heart you are happy in a far better condition than many thousands though you have little or nothing in the world and they have hundreds or thousands by the year if they be Christless ungodly and graceless and such I am confident some of those to whom I intend this are Fear not you shall never want things necessary any thing that God your Heavenly Father knows to be good and necessary for you Consider Psal 34.9 10. 84.11 Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Consider well Mat. 6.25 to the end where you shall read how Christ argues for your comfort and ours also Where God gives life which is the greater better gift says Christ he will give meat and drink which is the lesser and he that gives a body will give raiment which is the lesser good He that will give a hundred or thousand pound to his childe will not be wanting to give him a little meat drink and clothes a few shillings for his present necessaries He that cloth s the field with grass and corn and the Lillies that neither toil nor spin Yea He that feeds the ravens kites and other Birds and Beasts that live on prey God provides for them when they awake in the morning they sing and are merry and yet they do not know where they shall have one small bit and they praise their Maker in their kind depend on him without distracting or carking distrustful cares and he provides for them every one food convenient in the due season Read Psal 104.27.28 and 147.15 16. How much more will he provide for you who truly desire and endeavor to serve and fear him Be not faithless but beleeve But 2. If you have not true saving knowledge and sanctified Grace an interest in Jesus Christ if ignorant or unholy and unrighteous then I beseech you whatsoever you do neglect yet neglect not any longer to give diligent endeavour
to get sound knowledge of the thigns that concern your everlasting welfare Be diligent to get sound knowledg saving Grace true justifying faith sincerely to repent love God and make conscience of serving him daily and faithfully according to his revealed will in his word If you first that is chiefly and above all worldly things seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness the righteousness of Jesus Christ for your justification and the righteousness of an holy and upright conversation all outward things shall be given to you of God you have Christs own word for it Mat. 6.33 you being careful and diligent to use lawful means in some honest imployment Object Alas may some say we are poor have no time all our time is little enough to get a sorry livelybood and poor rayment otherwise had we time we should be willing Answ Yea Why hath not God set apart a whole day the Christian Sabbath or Lords day one day in seven in a special manner to provide for your precious and immortal Souls Spend that well and conscientiously in using the means to get knowledge and Grace and you will have no cause to complain of the want of time So that this is but an idle excuse of an unwilling mind in too many Besides you may ply your worldly calling on the six days and yet have many an opportunity in the six days to think of better things of what you have read or heard on the Lords day and to put up many a request to God for knowledge grace and holiness 2. That namely to neglect the Sabbath and other opportunities on the week days is the way to be always ignorant poor miserable and cursed also If you do neglect God no wonder if he neglect you but if you seek him and to your power craving assistance from him to serve him to the best of your power he will be found of you and provide for you Mat. 7.7 8 9. 3. Know that to learn to know God and his will and to serve him daily and faithfully out of conscience love and obedience is the only necessary thing absolutely necessary to serve God and so to save your own souls the great end of your creation living and being in the world neglect this and you do nothing at all that is absolutely good and necessary that will stand you in any stead or do you any good when you must die and to eternity Without this no obtaining Heaven or escaping Hell Whatsoever you get in the world yet without true piety and holiness you must perish eternally Oh! that word eternally is the most astonishing to be always for ever and ever in the torments of hell with the Devils after ten hundred thousand years are past to be as far from an end of misery as the first day it began because it never shall have an end Oh! that will be ten thousand times worse than to be always very poor and miserable in this world Therefore 1. whatsoever you do I beseech you for the Lord Christs sake do not neglect this one necessary thing to learn and practice daily to serve and glorifie God and to enjoy him for ever 2. And be also diligent in some honest and lawful imployment careful and provident to get keep and save what you honestly get for your comfortable being while you are here Cast off all distrustful carking cares shun idleness laziness vain and unnecessary spending of what you honestly get be diligent and provident Pro. 10.4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand but the hand of the diligent maketh rich Prov. 12.24 The slothful shall be under tribute but the hand of the diligent shall be made fat Prov. 13.4 Read also Pro. 21.5 and 22.29 And be always truly thankful for and contented with what you have whatsoever it be 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with contentment is great gain Pray daily for a blessing on your labour serve him faithfully and he will provide for you This is the way to have always so much as the most wise God and gratious Father seeth best for his people Mat. 6.33 Psal 84.11 And be sure in what want or strait you shall at any time be to use no unlawful or unwarrantable means to help your selves as lying stealing defrauding over-reaching for that is the way to be always poor and cursed also of God in your souls body and name I have observed some sorts of poor people which I cannot but much pity blame and condemn as they justly deserve 1. One sort is those that are ignorant pitiful ignorant many of them loose also and prophane and are content and willing to be so will take no pains to know and serve God as they ought and might and be better These are like to perish eternally These also bring up their children in ignorance and irreligion and many times idly also so help to fill the world with persons ignorant loose prophane ungodly and beggars also to the great shame of Christianity and great impoverishing the Common-wealth they live in increasing the number of Atheists prophane persons and the Devils Kingdom and hell in the end The Lord open their eyes and awaken their consciences to see whither they are going before it be too late 2. A second sort is of those that are idle lazie trifle away a considerable part of their time sometimes half a day a whole day and more in a week God says Six days shalt thou labour Exod. 20.9 Solomon says What thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Eccles 9.10 The Apostle says He that will not labour neither let him eat that is do not pity him do not relieve him unless in case of extreme want 2 Thes 3.10 3. A third sort are those that will work hard and as soon as they get a little mony will go to the Ale-house and spend it there to the dishonor of God abuse of his creatures and themselves mispence of necessary and pretious time bringing guilt on their Souls distempers and sometimes death by drinking or quarrelling on their bodies and wrong their poor wives and children who at home pinch hard for it which otherwise might be comfortably provided for It is great pity a severe Law is not made and put in due execution against such guzling fellows and on the Ale-houses and persons that harbor the very sinks of sin irreligion and Atheism many of them 4. A fourth sort are those that are given to fingering and filching any thing of other mens which they can lay hand on and fairly carry away and think all is gained that is so gotten whereas alas they little consider that for this very thing God may and often doth blast and curse that little they have gotten honestly 'T is Godliness only that with contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6.6 for it hath the promise of this life the good things of this life and that which is to come 5. I may add a fifth sort some few which