by Writ at sometimes so express our imaginations thereof as may be through the blessing of God a mean to bring us to an affectionate endeavouring to perform what as Christians we are called to and a heart hatered to the innumerable Evils the Devil the World and the Fesh drags us daily to commit We need be at little pains in finding out subject for Meditation and that from all that is the practice of both the Great and Mean in the world at this time what we heard the other day from that worthy Minister M. G. M. anent the frailtie of Man and his being by the Prophet Isai excellently likened to Grass his goodliness to the flower of the field may very usefully be taken under our consideration And since this morning some spare time invits me I shall imploy this little Paper and Ink in telling you that all men and I my self in particular does in so little minding our approaching Death not only speaks out fullâ— but the hight of Stupidity yea the Actions of almost all men and Women does proclaim their being Atheists For however every one is ready to say they believe in God and hopes to be saved in and through the Merits of Christâ— yet does almost every thing we do say or think manifestly declare we have no sixed Belief that there is a Judgment to come Oâ— the unexpressible Madness that is in poor Man who does with so much eagerness pursue after empty Vanities and utterly to slight the great End of his being in the World Yea I may say that all sublunary Enjoyments are Vanities to Degrees beyond expression and that the truth of this saying is beyond contradiction paâ—pably obvious even to mean Capaâ—â—â—â—â— whilst they are in the true 〈…〉 Reason for if we 〈◊〉 our Eyes upon Meâ— of all Ranks and Qualities is it not apparant that there is in every one a Toyling and Endeavouring after what they propose as the Mean for reaching their Satisfaction which Mean when attained proves always such as reached not the end and often it is as casting Oyl into Fire whereby the Hear and Violence thereof is more increased and truly there is nothing in all that occurs to Man but the due Consieration thereof will not only stir us up to live as muâ—â—ing we must certainly die but will satifie that we endeavouring with all our Strength to live up to the Rules in the Gospel there is into doing not only a serene Peace and Satisfaction which is unknown to the most of Men but thereby the Terror and Sting of death is â—one away in and through Christ our blessed Saviour â—â— would take much time even to 〈◊〉 at the particulars in all our dealing and Conâ—â—â—â— that we are called to manage as having a prospeâ—â— of our approaching death And I shall only mind you of that common Adagie Hâ—â—â—age quâ—â— cras moriâ—urus agas I remember the desireable Author of the Winter Evening Conference taxeth this saying as if thereby Christians were to do nothing but what they would do being to die the Morrow but I conceive the meaning of it is not as to the Matter but Manâ—â—â— of performing what ever we do which is to be so done as if we were to die the Morrow And surely if we were at all times under the due apprehension of approaching Dâ—â—â—th of the uncertainty of the time thereof and thâ—â—â—tainty of a Judgment to come where we shall appear before a Tribunal whose Judâ— albeit wonderful in mercy yet is a God of Jâ—stice unacessible to sinners not coming to Hiâ—â— in and through Christ our Lord. it would of 〈◊〉 self God blessing the same be sufficient 〈◊〉 deter from all Injustice toward God our Neighbour or our selves let us therefore stir up 〈◊〉 Hearts to an awful sense of God's Omnipresenâ— and Omniscience and of the certaintie of Death and of our Beeing to account for all our guâ—â— before a just and omnipotent God that there by we may be induced to endeavour in all hâ—mility a suitable Christian Conversation aâ— wherein we come short with all our Heart at all our Strength to flie to Christ who is the 〈◊〉 lone Refuge of sinners which that we may serously and cheerfully perform is the Prayâ— of Your affectionate Neighbour 〈◊〉 Servant THEOCRITVS Jan. 8. 1692. D. THEOPHILUS IN my last I exprest some sense I had of it being our interest to advantage our selves by Meditation upon what does hourly occâ—â— from the Actions of men And indeed but seriously othink upon what is the common Practicâ— of all without Exception not only offers ground for Meditation but for Wonder for if we could divest our selves of our own corrupt Inclinations and habitual Byass to do as the world generally does we would in looking upon Mankind as they live in the world clearly see how extravagantly ridiculous the Actions of almost all men are Consider Rulers and these that ought to be ruled of all Degrees and Qualities and not one of a thousand will be found to act with a true Design of living up to his Calling and therein serving God in his Station for surely as God the Creator of all things made every Creature for some rational use in the world so Man particularly is to be serviceable to his Creator in the Station which in Providence he is called to live in Sometimes when I am alone I fancie an over-flowing fullness of Matter for meditation of this kind yet having this morning taken my Pen in hand resolving to express something thereof I find the shortness of my Reason bounds my Fancie and hinders my giving you any rational Account of my thoughts herein but since what I do is to meet with no critical Censure and that it may offer ground for being bettered from your Meditation I shall give you a view of my thoughts of the actions of persons of several Stations I am sensible it is not the part of every one to enquire into the Actions or meddle with what is the Duty of Rulers yet so strange and wonderful are the late Providences in relation to them as such as are least concerned in enquiring into the Actions of supream Magistrats cannot forbear the having of what is past under Consideration I can truly for my self say I not only had in some competent Degree that due respect for Magistracy which I think is necessar for all Subjects and made me consider it our Interest at least in our particulaâ— concerns to suffer to Degrees of extremity rather than by our Resentments to trouble thâ— Peace of a society but I had also that Veneration for the persons of our late Kings as induâ—ed me to an affectionat and serious wishing that they might by their Government gain that trâ—â— Honour of being serviceable to God in their Stâ—tions It were an improper Task for me 〈◊〉 canvass the late Kevolutions and approve 〈◊〉 censure what has been lately acted in thir Kingdoms I am satisfied that as all required 〈◊〉 Man is
and the Prophets and for the histocal part of the Bible I think it not so necessary that you do so often read it After your reading endeavour to enlarge your self in Confession and Prayer to God and lift up your heart not only in a general acknowledgment of his mercies but in particularly acknowledging him for the mercies you are ever meeting with In your Petitions pray for all especially these you have interest in and such as are in Authority yea omit not your very Enemies and forget not to be earnest with God in behalf of his Church and People And certainly you cannot better at some times conclude your wandering and sinful Prayers then in the words of that unconceivable excelling Prayer of our blessed Lord and Saviour Our Father c. You would endeavour duly to perform the duties of Prayer Reading and Meditation at the times set a part by you and not to omit them unless some special Reason occur obleiging you to alter in which case you would redeem the lost occasion by a new opportunity albeit I be not against the length of Prayers when fitness of frame and occasion enables you to enlarge therein yet I incline you should for ordinar be frequent albeit succinct in that Duty and besides the ordinar times for your Divotion Evening and Morning you would not only throughout the day be frequent in ejaculatory Petitions to God but as occasion offers of any privacy you would upon your Knees with thankfulness of heart humbly put up your desires to God for strength against your Corruption and a supply of your Souls wants which upon little Recollection you will always find to be many 4. When you eat or drink neglect not that Christian Practice of seeking a Blessing before your doing thereof and giving of Thanks after your partaking of what God in great merey has bestowed upon you it may truly be said to be a Christian Practice being as you may be satisfied from the Evangelists the Custom of our blessed Saviour But as ye are called to avoid Formalitie in Christian Duties so ye would especial-beware of it in this the Corruption of our wretched Hearts prevailing but too much to our being formal in the Duties we more frequently gâ— about it is to be feared that the Motives to this Duty with the most part is allanerly Custom or to shun some kind of publick Reproach that attends the neglect thereof And alas too seldom are our hearts intent upon what we are doing therein I desire ye may seriously mind that it is not Words but the Heart that God requires and whether by your self alone or as the mouth of others that with you doth partake of what he in Mercy gives be serious in expressing succinctly desires suitable to the occasion and especially if you do it with and for others I am satisfied of its being very suitable for Persons qualified at some occasions to enlarge in that Duty but I think it would be done with discretion for unless some singular Circumstance require it or that the Speaker be satisfied of an inclination in these that joyn with him to go along heartily in the Petitions put up to God not directly tending to the craving of a Blessing to or giving Thanks for the present Mercy He would beware of doing what the unsuitable frame in others and very likely in himself may be but a Snare to the Company Indeed we are not only in all our Approaches to God to forbear the doing thereof so as may evidence Formality and want of Attention to the Duty we go about but even in the most single Petition we put up it were fitting we did so express a sense of our own unworthiness and Gods infinite Goodness for which at all times we should praise him yet our Experience from a smal Observation may satisfie that tediousness therein reaches not to bring the hearts of these that should joyn in it to a serious doing thereof 5. With your Petitions in Prayer and at other occasions either in word or thought magnifie the Name of God for his Mercies they are unexpressibly Great in all that occurrs to us but oh the Greatness of the Love of God! in sending His Son to satisfy Divine Justice for wretched miserable rebellious Man Forget not at all times the Praising of God by word and in thought Our most Blessed Lord in that excelling Pattern of Prayer doth begin and conclude with the Father's Praise and surely the duty of Praise is of all that is required by God of Man what do's most immediatly tend to His giory what we are else call'd to do or seek of Him hath the immediat tendency to our own or our Neighbour's Well but our conscientious hearty praising of God of all Duties do's most directly glorify Him and it is the beginning here what shall be the delightful and ever continuing work of such as shall in and through Christ at the Great Day of His appearance be accepted of Him to all Eternity I have told you of my unfitness to direct you particularly in your duty God-ward and I pray God for Christ's sake give you knowledge in Duty and sanctify your heart let the World have nothing of the room of Christ therein for it is unspeakably vain and wicked Solomon doth uncontravertedly hold forth the vexatious Vanities incident to the life of Man and it is certainly evident there is nothing truly desireable but an Interest in Christ and that they are only happy whose God is the Lord and not only is the Evidence of an Interest in Christ desireable but it is attainable as is plain from the Mouth of our Blessed Lord who says what all the enemies to the use of Marks or Evidences can lay no exception against Mat. 6.21 For where your treasure is there will your heart be also And I recommend to your serious perusal Mr. Guâ—hrie's Tryal of a Saving Interest which will direct you therein and the Means for attaining to it 6. Let your whole walk throughout the day be as I have hinted to you have upon your heart the awful sense of Gods presence wherever you are or whatever you do or think I deny not but the World may and must be minded by you but still in its place secondarly and subordinatly for what is the World to your Soul What is Bread or Cloaths or Money or a house or Lands to an everlasting Kingdom Let the Lord have the whole ordering of you make no Purchase but where God who is present allows of the Bargain and go about no Business concerning which you cannot say I am herein trading for God That is your doing either what immediatly tends to his Glory or your serving Him in your Station and Calling as he hath appointed by the 15 Psalm you will see what is acceptable to God 7. Meditation is a Duty in which there is much delight to such as seriously practise it and it is what will truly tend to the bringing your heart
to and keeping it in a tender frame yea the advantages thereof are so great as may stir up to the redeeming time for the exercise thereof even from what may lawfully be allowed to our worldly Concerns or bodily Refreshment and how much more then ought we when we are alone guard against our minds going out after foolish and vain fancies if not what is grossly sinful in the sight of God Surely if we had an awful sense of his omnipresence and omniscience we would dare to be thinking upon what is unallowable in his sight and if we had a sense of our miserable condition through sin our hearts would ever be ready to take hold of all occasions of serious thinking how we should evite the Curse and Wrath of God to all eternity which unavoidably will be the Portion of hardned sinners not coming to God in and through Christ David in Ps 4.4 Requires we stand in aw and sin not and that we commune with our hearts upon our beds whereby you may be satisfied it hath been the practise of the Godly seriously to meditate at all times The subject Matter for your meditation is obvious and will easily occur as the Debt we ow to the Justice of God for sin the certainty of Death and after that of Judgment the misery of such as shall be Doomed to Hell with the Devils and so for ever separate from the Presence of God His incomprchensible Mercy to lost sinners in Jesus Christ and the Fulness of the unspeakable Joys that is secured to such as heartily and humbly lays hold thereof yea innumerable are the Subjects of that exercise that will with ease offer themselves and I advise for your Direction and encouragement to that Duty that you read the last Part of Mr. Baxter's Saints rest which doth fully Treat thereof 8. Every Evening set some short time apart and state your self as before God's Tribunal take a back-look upon your Actions of that day and what you have done towards God or your Neighbour amiss acknowledge it with contrition and brokenness of heart and seek of God Grace enabling you to a due Reparation either by a sorrowful even publick acknowledgment thereof in so far as they are sins against our good God providing the same may tend to the Edification of His Church and People or by repairing the prejudice of any hurt done to your Neighbour in so far as it is possible within your power and in your Evening Prayer acknowledge the goodness of God throughout all the days of your time and in particular acknowledge Him for the Mercies of that day and enlarge your self in Prayer as in the Morning 9. As you are called to own a Profession of Godliness so you are to avow the publick performance of Duty wherever Providence shall tryst your Being yet for the most part you would endeavour its Being as retired and as private as possible at least beware that to be seen or heard of men or any self end be not a Motive to your doing thereof I remember to have heard of a woman meeting with godly Mr. Fox upon the Street and after some discourse she pulling out her Bible told him she was going to hear a Sermon upon which he said to her if you will be advised by me go home but said she when shall I then go to Church To whom he answered when you tell no body of it 10. Beware of Hypocricie and be assured God will not be dissembled with he hath in many places of Scripture ranked Hypocrites with the worst of sinners you will find Mat. 23.13 they are amongst the number of such against whom our Lord denounces a Wo and in Chap. 14.51 the misery of their condition is held forth in the Sentence of the unjust Servant where as an aggravation of his punishment it is said his portion shall be with the hypocrites where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Do not you appear to be what you are not and let the design of being thought religious or the making use of a Profession to cloak your carnal and worldly ends be far from you I acknowledge to be morally honest is not to be religious but mind that without endeavouring to be so in all your Actions there is no Religion And it is the height of folly for any to think that their being of a Perswasion with those that are the most godly or their own practising even with much appearing sincerity the Duties of Religion where there is not Moral Honesty doth so much as truly entitle them to the name of Christians it is true every man is subject to Failings and an entire doing of what is required of us is not within the power of sinful man but as truly are our Failings in Moral Duties either where they are customary and habitual or not repented of and endeavoured against difect indications of the want of Religion and that our Lord notwithstanding the Name and Profession of such will disown them in their greatest extremity and you may see the Prophet Micah holding forth that the outward performing of what was legally required of the Jews was not the principal part of their Duty and says in Chap. 6.7 8. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oyl shall I give my first-born for my transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God And God by the Prophet Jeremiah Chap. 4.24 saith Let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness judgement and righteousness in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. Yea our Lord himself in that most excellent Sermon upon the Mount hath said Mat. 7.21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven 11. Mind what you are engaged to in your being Baptized and live up to that solemn engagement you are to fight out your Warfare under the Banner of Christ our Lord and renounce the Devil the World and the Flesh seek of God for Jesus sake that He may give you knowlegde and enable you to see and live up to the solemn Tyes you are under through your baptismal Covenant and as ye will answer to our good God at the day of your Appearance before his Tribunal be not among the number of such as never thinks of Baptism being otherwise useful then as a Ceremony for their having a Name 12. I expect that you will be able as the Apostle requires to give an Answer to every man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope or Belief that is in you with Meekness and Fear Forbeâ—â— Debates and Disputings upon Controversies in Religion what
Day and of the Duties of it have been of singular comfort and advantage to me and I doubt not but it will prove so to you God Almighty is the Lord of our time and lends it to us and as it is but just we should consecrate this part of that time to Him so I have found by a strict and diligent Observation that the due Observation of the Duties of this Day hath ever had joined to it a Blessing upon the rest of my time and the Week that hath been so begun hath been blessed and prosperous to me and on the other side when I have been negligent of the Duties of the Day the rest of the Week hath been unsuccessful and unhappy to my own secular Employment so that I could easily make a◠estimat of my success in my own secular Employment the Week following by the manner of my passing this Day and this I do not write lightly and Inconsideratly but upon a long and sound Observation and Experience These being the words of that Grea◠Man are much to be considered he not only being of great Integrity but uncontrovertedly o◠a sound Judgment and great Knowledge almost in every thing 15. In the Evening of the day preceeding you would be more then ordinarly earnest with God that He may by his Grace fit you for 〈◊〉 suitable going about the Duties of the ensuin◠Sabbath And when it is come consider that as God did appoint in the Old Testament the Sacrifice to be doubled on that Day so he require◠of us Christians that we should therein double our Duties of Prayer Praise and Meditation◠and as at all times you are bound to remember the Church and People of God in your Prayers so especially in a Sabbath pray with earnestness that our Lord's Kingdom may be advanced throughout the world and that the Offers of Grace in his Gospel may be the Portion of the Land you live in Pray that God for Christs sake may send forth Ambassadors fitted for that Work and that he bless the Word and Ordinances where you are to be present in the discharge of the Duties of a Sabbath 16. Rise early that Morning and mind you are to spend the whole day in God's service When you repair to the place of Publick Worship do it so as you be there before any part of it begin and come not from the same whilest it be fully ended and in the time of Worship have your heart intent upon the Duties it is the heart especially that God requires and not only ought we to have presence of mind in hearing the Word preached but especially in Prayer and Praise for it is an intollerable contempt of God who searcheth the heart and knoweth the most secret of our Thoughts to draw near to Him in Worship and to have our hearts going out after any other Object whatsoever Yea it is a direct Saying practically that we are bruitish Fools and wretched Atheists in worshipping of God as knowing our Thoughts and doing it in that manner as evidences manifest contempt and directly draws down His Vengeance upon us 17. If the Sacrament of Baptism be administred where you are present you would not only with all your heart concur in the Petitions up to God before and after the Administration but hearken to your own Duty in what is held forth by the Minister and let such Occasions stir you up to new Resolutions to live up to your own Baptismal Engagements Mind that the whole Sabbath is to be a Mercat-day for your Soul and by dealing in the Duties thereof gain strength against the Corruptions of the ensuing part of your time 18. When occasion offers of your Communicating you are to consider that it is not indifferent to you to come or not to come to the Table of the Lord but that you are obliged to be serious in examining your self as to your Knowledge and your being otherwise fitted to partake of that Sacrament Instituted by our Saviour First in the remembrance of His Sufferings which were only able to expiate the Guilt of lost undone Sinners And next to be a Seal of Sinners Covenanting with God in Jesus Christ And 3dly to be a Mean of Communion with our merciful Lord that suffered for our Sins It is plain 1 Cor. 11.26 That the great end of the Sacrament is to hold forth to the Church the Lords Death and Suffering whilest he come again to Judgement And by the 27 28 and 29. Verses you see the absolute necessity for the worthy participating thereof You must search your heart and find out all your iniquity and hate it not only as it procures Gods Curse in this life and to all Eternity but especially as it is contrare to the Commandments and holy Nature of our God and as a needy Wretch having examined your heart and found out your Wants you are in coming to the Table of the Lord to bring with you some Faith some Love and some hope c. Your Errand being for more and cry with earnestness that you may be amongst the number of such of whom the Psalmist speaks Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy Power At such Occasions make conscience of mourning for every Sin and with all your heart magnifie Gods Mercy in his Dispensations to you and seek with earnestness of heart Grace enabling you to that and every duty and beg of God for Christs sake that he give a heart in a truly fitted frame So as in the Sacrament you may by the eye of Faith behold our lovely Lord and Saviour crucified and His Blood shed to expiate the Guilt of vile sinful Wretches and in particular to stand betwixt your self a vile sinful Wretch and the Vengeance of God due to you in Justice Seek with all earnestness from God a heart filled with love to Christ our Lovely Saviour who so loved loft undone Sinners as He took upon him the nature of frail man and to satisfy Divine Justice which could not be otherways satisfied for the sins of all that would truly come to Him and by Faith rely upon Him He suffered the shameful Death of the Cross it Representation whereof is this Sacrament Institute by our Lord himself before His suffering And before and at the time of your drawing near to the Table of the Lord have your heart filled with suitable Meditations and ejaculatory Petitions to God as saying within your self O my Soul can'st thou behold Justifying Blood and not love Him that shed it for thee Canist thou behold Precious Quickening softening Bloods and not love Him that gave it to quicken and soften thy heart and to Redeem the from Sin from Hell and everlasting Wrath O my God and Saviour enable me to say if my love were better it should be thine but such as it is thou shalt have it make it greater and make it better and I firmly resolve in thy Strength it shall ever be set upon thee 19.
lawfully in a great Degree stir us up to come to Him But let your great Endeavour be that your heart may be filled with love to the only Living and True God who is wonderful in Mercy and make love to Him the great Motive to whatever you go about let the manner of your doing thereof evidence your sense of God's knowing the most secret of the thoughts of your heart It is much to be lamented that the Duty of Prayer is so generally neglected but alas How great is the guilt of such as but seemingly goes about the performance thereof in not coming aright as in the Presence of God It is the heart that God sees and requires and how wicked are its wanderings at all times especially in that Duty as you expect to be owned of God in Christ Jesus the day of your Appearance before His Tribunal Strive against this Wickedness and as an useful Help through the Blessing of God after you have been about the Duty by your self or joyning with others meditate upon your particular Failings in the motives to and manner of your Performance and hold them up to God as being hateful to you and with a full desire seek He may strengthen you against such in all time coming and this without any seeming affectation yea without being noticed even by these in company with you you may do by serious Meditation whatever be you Diversion in worldly Concerns and if you do it with earnestness you may with confidence expect the weakning of the Corruptions of your evil heart and as your subordinate ends in Duty may be His blessing you even in this Side of time but especially to all Eternity so let your great end in this and whatever else you do be His Glory 37. My heart doth much serve me in repeating my Desires that ye prize the Goodness of God in allowing wretched mankind to put up their Desires to Him in Prayer for His Mercy therein is Incomprehensible yet I incline to Caution you that your coming to Him in that Duty may not be your Snare for as there is but too many that do's slight the doing thereof so there are not wanting such who are not only hypocritical or selfish in their Ends therein but there are who mistakes the Means for the End and think their praying may and will atone for Immoralities in their Conversation and are ready too much to consider the performance of that Duty as the carnal Jews did sacrificing under the Law We ought indeed with joy to consider that our Blessed Lord was once offered a Sacrifice to satisfie for Sin and that we are not only allowed but enjoyned to apply our selves by Prayer to our Merciful God that in Him we may be accepted But as I have said to you that without being morally honest all your Endeavours to religious Duties will be but lost labour so where one of your Ends in praying is not for Grace enabling you so to live you want not Reason to regrate your doing of it for as the First and Great Command is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy mind so the Second is Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self And no way can a Christian more adorn the Gospel of our Blessed Lord then by such a Conversation towards all men as the Apostle enjoyns Rom. 13.14 Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Riâ—ting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof And as hating what the same Apostle dehorts 2 Cor. 12.20 Debates Envyings Wraths Strifes Backbitings Whisperings Swellings Tumults and let us mind that it is our Duty what he says 2 Tim. 2.19 And let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity 38. You know the summ of the whole Commands is to love the Lord your God with all your Soul c. and to love your Neighbour as your self A due Consideration of this great Precept and making use of that short Rule of doing as we would be dealt by and that in every thing that may relate to our Neighbour might be instead of Advice to you upon that head 39. Be tender of his Goods and Good Name as of your own in so far as ye have access to interess your self therein and hate in your self or others detracting or speaking to the prejudice of any for Charity towards your Neighbour and being charitable in order to the Relief of his wants are Duties then which there are none more clearly and positively held forth in Scripture We are called to judge charitably of every thing our Neighbour does or says and ever to put the best Construction upon the same that it will suner The Apostle in the 3. to the Col. 14. Exhorteth thereto and presseth that above things ye may put on Charity which is the Bond of Peace The said 3 to the Col and 12. to the Rom. Ye often would read they containing many excellent Precepts And a charitable relieving of your Neighbour in his wants is as fully enjoyned and as great Promises annexed thereto as almost any other Duties in the Scriptures It is true as we are required to give liberally so we are to do it with discretion and not only to give what is our own alanerly but even what in our Stations our Circumstances being considered we may spare but what we do therein we are to do it with a liberal and chearful heart You shall know that there are no sort of Duties which God hath more expresly commanded than that of Bounty and Mercy toward our Brethren whence evidently the high value thereof in God's Esteem may be inferred in the Old Testament it is said Deut. 15.7 Thou shalt not harden thine heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother and in Vers 11. Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy Brother unto thy Poor and unto thy Needy in the Land And when Daniel would prescribe to King Nebuchadnezzar the best way of Amendment and the surest Means of averting God's Judgements impendent on him he says to him Dan. 4.27 Wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable unto thee break off thy sins by righteousness and thine Iniquities by shewing mercy to the Poor this he pitched upon as chiefly grateful to God and clearly testifying Repentance Yea we not only have a positive Command from God for being charitable but we have in Prov. 19.17 His express Obligation for its repayment He that hath pity upon the Poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Men are rationally satisfied when their Stook is intrusted in the hands of an apparent sufficient Creditor and certainly the only true Wisdom and reasonable improving of what is within our Power must be in the disposal thereof so as that we have our God who is
so doing will be beyond what can be well expressed D. Theophil if Men and Women of whatsoever Degree or Quality had the serious Belief of a Judgment to come it would be easie to perswade to Duty and which time surely approaches and will come to the grievous Conviction of Sinners For however mans Corruption may lead him to Atheism yet not only does the concurring Consent of all Nations speak forth a Deity but that there is a particular Providence in relation to Mankind and all worldly Concerns is beyond all contradiction and which Providences are ordered by our Only and Almighty God My being unqualified and the narrow Bounds of this Letter hinders my making plain from Reason that the owning of a Providence is the owning of God and that our God is the only living and true God Yea such a God to whom it is vastly unsuitable even in the thoughts of Man to compareall Heathenish Vanities or pretended Deities whatsoever How manâ— things occurring to Man may satisfie him of thâ— certaintie of a Judgment to come I have mâ— self been satisfied in the certainty of a day foâ— Gods Judging of Men from the consideration 〈◊〉 the great Wickedness of the grosly Prophane And that the Omniscient and Omnipotent God however He in his wise ordering of all thingâ— for his own Reasons unfathomable by frail Maâ— suffers for a time so far as wretched man can dâ— even to the contempt of his glorious Power wiâ— doubtless require an account of all Actions 〈◊〉 say I have in being present among such lewâ—â— Compancy which alas has not been at thâ—â— time nor since my hearts grief from a rigâ—â— Principle had the full satisfaction of the certainty of God's punishing Sinners Let it be oâ—â— Work to bring our Hearts to such a stavâ—â— Frame as we may fully see that God oveâ—â— rules the Actions of Men and that he will 〈◊〉 His due time vindicate his Justice where wretâ—â—ed Mankind has not a Claim to Mercy in aâ—â— through Christ And let us so live as knowâ—â— that all sublunary Enjoyments are of no worâ—â— without God's blessing and that frail Man 〈◊〉 propose no solid Satisfaction in the enjoyment any thing under the Sun excepting in thâ—â— having their Hearts towards God their seekâ—â— with earnestness of Him for Christs sake Graâ—â— and their fully endeavouring toward God aâ—â— Man so to live as the Saviour of Sinners 〈◊〉 be their Portion I have my self much reaâ—â— to lument the great wickedness of my corrâ—â— Heart yet blessed be God I can and does least sometimes say with Reverend Elavil 〈◊〉 of his occasional Meditations printed with his Husbandry spiritualized For my own part I wish I may so order my Conversation in the world that when I am dead I may live in the affections of the best and live a honourable Testimony in the Conscience of the worst and whilst I live I may oppress none do good to 〈◊〉 say when dying as good Ambrose did I am neither ashamed to live nor arrayed to die or as he says in another of the same Meditations Die I must but I wish I may lay up that good Treasure before I go Mat. 6.20 â—arry with me a good Conscience when I go 2 Tim. 4.6 â— And leave behind me a good Example when I aâ—â— gone and then let deathâ—â—mâ— and 〈◊〉 but least I should exceed in what may be but too iustly considered little worth your Consideration I shall conclude assuring you I continue D. Theophil Your Theocritus Dear THEOPHIL AS I am this Morning taking my Peâ— to express to you what has been some part of my thoughts since my last writing I am not without an sense that even the time I imploy in doing thereof may be very truly reckoned amongst what is spent in my insignificant Actions which alas does not only with what I otherways sinfully and vainly do and think take take up a part but almost the whole of my Life yet if I could by Writ make plain my Notion of what does often occur to me I am satisfied I imploy much of my time worse than I would in so doing Mi. Theophil I can from my Experience speak of the Distractions of a wretcheâ— Heart in poor frail miserable Man And 〈◊〉 think what may be said thereof might not only exceed the bounds of this Letter but truly would offer Matter for more than either my Time 〈◊〉 Capacity can comprehend yea the wickedneâ—â— in the heart of Man is not fathomable and thâ— consideration thereof holds forth the Strength of that Argument for the Scriptures being from men influenced by the Spirit of God that they speak so elegantly what carnal Reason could never reach and particularly in expressing the deceitfulness of Man's Heart as in the Gen. 6.5 Gen. 8.21 and the 17. Jerem. 9â— Saying that it is evil yea only evil and containually evil and that the Imaginations aâ—â— so from the youth of Man and that it is deceiâ—ful above all things and desperatly wicked who can know it The due pondering whereof should induce to the serious and entire Dependence upon our God that He for Christâ— sake may guard us against every wicked Inclination and direct and strengthen to Dutyâ— which Dependance is absolutely necessar to fraâ—â— miserable Man And it would be our work intently to ply the means for bringing up our Hearts to and keeping them in that Duty Our having the benefite of the Scriptures is an unvaluable Mercy but we are little earnest that God by his Spirit may enable us aright to read them which if we would in humility and with Hearts desire endeavour our Happiness and Advantage therefrom were beyond what I can express and as it is our Duty to depend upon God for Strength and Direction in reading his Word so we are to do it not only with what seriousness and presence of mind we can but also for our better understanding thereof to make use of for our assistance what helps we are trysted with I remember we have sometimes whilst together been speaking of the Notes lately printed with the Bible and a beit some parts thereof give but too much ground to such whose Hearts delight not in that blessed Book to Cavil yet as our Saviours Sermon upon the Mount is what cannot be too often read so I have with satisfaction read the Notes thereupon â—ea the whole Notes upon the Evangelists which appears according to my Capacity to have been done by one who deservedly may have the respect due to a worthy and solid Divine These Notes upon the first three Evangelists which in appearance are the works of one Man has many things desirable I remember what he has upon the Prayer of the Cananitish woman to our Saviour is worth our Consideration and indeed that Prayer gives both Direction and Encouragment to a sinner sensible of it's Sin in drawing near to God and what the Anonator says thereupon would be imprinted on our Hearts he therein tells us three
especially in the New Testament by our Lord and his Apostles is beyond exception the most rational and convenient even for the well-being of Society and good of Mankind in the World and far preferable to the best of Rules and Laws that ever were given by any man or Societie of men I shall forbear writing of many things which might occur to me and does intreat your whole Conversation may evidence the belief of your Being to appear before the Tribunal of God in Judgment and shall recommend your being careful of some few things in your Walk First towards God Secondly Towards your self and Thirdly Towards our Neighbours You are in all you do to respect the Glory of God there being no action of your life but it truly ought to be done to that end We are with all carefulness to avoid every thing sinful and to go about even the most indifferent of our Concerns in obedience to his Command Love to him being the Motive and his Glory the Aim of all we do wherefore make Conscience of seeking of God strength enabling you to every Duty I shall not nor am I fitted to enlarge upon what might be said to what is Duty and shall recomend your reading practical Pieces of Divinity but above all be in a constant and humble dependence upon God for his Grace enabling you to serve him and seek for Christ's sake a broken heart and strength against every Corruption Cry with earnestness that you never be left to the power of your wicked self and beware of seeing any Merit in what ever is possible for you to do for only in Christ is your acceptance with God Son whilst I am writing what occurs to me of your duty God-ward I am sensible it may be truly said to be duty towards your self the Salvation of your Soul not of Merit but Free-grace being what is annexed thereto 1. Have your heart filled with faith in God and his Son Christ Jesus and love to him and the fear of his holy Name seek not to satisfie your shallow Reason in divine things but as the Apostle requires 2 Cor 10.5 Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ For to give your Assent meerly upon a sensible or rational Demonstration is no divine faith and truly to believe in a divine sense is to assent to a preposition upon the credit of the Revelation though we cannot make it out by our Reason And this is to have our thoughts brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ for mans reason being corrupted by Adam's fall it objects against several divine Propositions Saying how can one be three and three one How could the divine and humane Nature unite in one Person How can the Dead rise These and what else are above â—â—r Reason and contained in the blessed Word of God are to be believed because asserted therein and at all times our hearts ought to be fill'd with Love to God and his Son our Saviour and Redeemer whom we are to love with all our Soul with all our Mind and with all our strength for whatever in Creatures may be a Motive to love as Goodness Power Kindness Veracity c. Are in our blessed God in an unspeakable superlative degree He is of infinite goodness and excellencie and there is nothing good in the world but what hath received all its Goodness from him and he is wonderfully Kind and Merciful to Souls and Bodies of poor Sinners Having when miserable Man had lost himself by sinning against his Command offered that wonderful way of satisfying Divine Justice by sending his Son to the world who took upon him the nature of frail Man and suffered that shamefull death of the Cross and all to stand betwixt Sinners and Justice And are not our Bodies supplyed with all good things we enjoy through his care and providence 2. Make Conscience of living as in the sight of Him the only living and true God before whose Tribunal you must appear to give an Account of your Actions Be diligent having Faith with Knowledge and attention of Mind in reading the Scriptures and seek of God and depend upon him for his Holy Spirit enabling you to that and every Duty I have from my experience observed that being up late at night and lying a Bed in the morning are a hinderance of the Duties required of us for not only has God appointed the Night for rest and sleep and the Day for Exercise but you will find the advantage of making use of the Morning for your private Devotion and that so early as you may have convenient and uninterrupted time for the performance thereof before either Business or Companie may have the occasion of tempting you to a Diversion You will find David's practise in the 5th Psalm and 3 v. In the morning O Lord will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up 3. The end of your living being Gods Glory your last thought at night and first in the morning ought to be of God Think with seriousness of your own misery through your Original and Actual Sin and of the unexpressible Goodness and Mercy of God in Jesus Christ to you and every lost Sinner that shall have grace to lay hold on him in and by Christ And when you arise endeavour by meditation to bring your heart to such a Frame as may fit you for drawing near to God who albeit he be merciful yet is the great and only God altogether unaccessible to sinners not coming to him in and through Christ And surely an Ignorant Wandering Unbelieving and hardned Heart has no ground to expect Access to God in Christ our Lord. You would stirr up your self not only to Prayer in the morning but to reading some part of the Scriptures and I do advise you when first you do retire your self after you have endeavoured by some suitable Mediation to bring up your heart to an awfull Sense of the presence of God to whom you are about to dare to speak that you fall down upon your Knees and lifting up your heart to God in some few and suitable words seek to him with earnestness for Grace enabling you to read his Word aright and suitably to put up your desires in prayer and whenever you do pray always express your thankfulness and magnifie the Name of God for his Mercy to lost Sinners in Jesus Christ then read a portion of Scripture as you find convenient to stint your self to I think it would not be amiss you did every morning read a Psalm or two and an Chapter of the new or old Testaments as you have read through the Psalms you would begin again and think it not too much if you should read them a thousand times and for the old and new Testament there is no part of either ought to be omitted but especially you would read the new Testament
plainly holds forth the duty of Christians in their whole life is uncontravertedâ— clear from the Scriptures and all Debates 〈◊〉 religious matters that have not the alone prospect of bettering and advancing of Knowledge are certainly not allowable And as your heartâ— all times ought to be over-filled with true love 〈◊〉 God and such as bears his Image so especially be respective to the Ministers of the Gospel being Ambassadors for Christ and Administrator of the Ordinances appointed by him in the Neâ—â— Testament as the Apostle enjoyns 1 Thes 5 1â—â— I beseech you brethren mark them which labour amongst you and are over you in the Lord and adminish you and esteem them very highly in Love for the works sake And let not the infirmities of any 〈◊〉 them procure in your heart any disrespect to thâ—â— holy Calling But mind what the same Apostle saith 2 Cor. 4.7 That we have this Treasure in earth en Vessels that the exeellency of the power may be 〈◊〉 God and not of us 13. As you are to have a Pity and Love eveâ— towards such as altogether wants Religion 〈◊〉 worships God not truly as he hath appointed 〈◊〉 his Word so ye would altogether avoid the least of Animosity with such as with Charity 〈◊〉 may judge differs only anent Church-government or any thing else not inconsistent with the salvation of their Souls not doubting but ye will sinâ— at the day of Judgment that the many Niceitieâ— which a great part do but too much concern themselves in are the effects of want of Charit and a gospel Frame and disposition of heart 14. The wickedness of our hearts is such as doth altogether unfit for the doing of Duty Have we any prosperity in the enjoyment of health or any thing desireable in the world we are seldom or never in a frame for rightly acknowledging God for his Mercies and improving them to the end of our having thereof And if Providence tryst our being crossed in what is delightful to us how ready are we to dejection of mind and what does unfit for Duty let every Dispensation of God to you-ward lead you to the consideration of failings in your bypast life and stir you up to a suitable walk under what you are trysted with Endeavour an equality of Temper in all your ways if Dispensations any ways prosperous be your Lot consider you have them from God and humbly acknowledge his Mercy in what ever you meet with and if what is more cross befal you repine not thereat but mind that the worst of Conditions is above your desert Seek of him with earnestness that you may truly learn his holy Will in all his Dispensations and in Prosperity or Adversity let all your care be to know what ye are called to as Duty and to endeavour with diligence the doing thereof even in things relating to this life then with chearful Submission leave the event of all your concerns to God who is wonderful in goodness to such as fear and trust in him 15. When the Lords day is come remember to keep it holy as God has expresly appointed in his 4th Command And in order thereto prepare your Heart for the Duties thereof before it approach for however a great many in this Age may contravert the Morality of that Precept for the due observation of the Sabbath yet may you be satisfied with what is fully held forth by I may say all the most serious and godly of Divines that it is from the Practise noâ— only of the Primitive Church being the mospure of Christians but even of the Appostles whâ— were immediately inspired of God and whose Example we are bound to follow And as the due Observance of the Sabbath under the Law was enjoyned under the certification of greâ—â— wrath from God as in Nehemiah 13. cap. v. 17. and 18. What evil is this that ye do and prophaâ—â— the Sabbath did not your Fathers thus and did 〈◊〉 our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this Câ—ty yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profanity the Sabbath So the Promises to the doing there of were great as in Isa 56.2 Blessed is the mâ—â— that doth this and the son of man that layeth holdâ—â— it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Aâ—â— 58.13 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath and from doing thy pleasure on my holy day aâ—â— call the Sabbath of the Lord a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not finding thiâ—â— own pleasure nor speaking thine own words then shaâ—â— thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thâ—â— to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed the with the heretage of Jacob thy father for the mouâ—â— of the Lord hath spoken it Yea not only from History the judgments of God upon Sabbath-breakers are manifest but such as are of small Experience may evidently perceive the dreadful consequences thereof in the confession of almost all Malefactors that comes to publick Execution It is trâ—â— such as are pleased to have no respect to the dâ— Observation of the Sabbath and to object againâ— the obligation upon Christians for keeping it holy doth answer to that of its being so generally confessed by dying Penitents that the same flows but from their Education and its being inculcat in them to be so sinful but what answer will such I may say prophane Wretches give to this so palpable Evidence of God's displeasure with the profanation of that Day that He in his over-ruling Providence often permits notorious Breakers of the Sabbath to fall in such sins as even brings them to open and shameful Punishment in this World And albeit the ways of God's Providence are not to be fathomed and gross Sinners of every kind do's in things relating to this life Die without any appearing Marks of God's displeasure which may fully satisfie all rational Persons that there is a Judgment to come so the temporal Calamities sometimes trysting Sinners in this World are an Earnest of what shall be Dispensed at that dreadful Day to such and it may plainly appear to you that the Cavilling against the Obligations for keeping Holy the Sabbath of our Lord is of the Devil being that only such as want tenderness of Conscience and Love not to live in any thing according to the Rules of the Gospel do thus declare themselves whereas Persons whose hearts are God-ward however their Frailty may hinder the due performance of their Duty are ever ready to acknowledge their Obligation to the observation of that Day to be kept a Sabbath Holy to the Lord. Yea Sir Matthew Hale late L. Chief Justice of England whose Memory is Savoury to all good men that knew or heard of him in his Directions to his Children for keeping the Lords Day doth press it upon them for several Reasons and in one whereof he saith because I have found by long and sound Experience that the due observance of that
Whatever may be the Station that God shall call you to make Conscience of doing therein what is required of you Evite idleness as the Bane of well-being in this side of time or to Eternity Your acting diligently in your Station is commended from 2 Thess 3.10 11 12. For even when we were with you this we commanded you that if any man would not work neither should he eat c. In many places of Holy Scriptures is diligence in our Calling not only commended but required and the temporal inconveniencies following idleness are manifest from Prov. 19.15 Sloathfulness casteth into a deep sleep and an idle soul shall suffer hunger 20. Such a competency of Riches and other temporal Blessings as is consistent with a comfortable Being in this World is desireable and what you may not only by lawful Means in your worldly Station endeavour to acquire but you are allowed yea required with submission to seek them of God only in this and whatever else you do make your principal end His Glory Do not exceed to satisfie your carnal and worldly Appetites either in your Prayers for or your Endeavours after temporal Enjoyments Let the Prayer of Agur the Servant of God be your Rule Prov. 30.8 9. Remove far from me vanity and lies give me neither Poverty nor Riches feed me with Foâ—d convenient for me lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord Or lest I be poor and steal and take the Name of my God in vain And what it pleases God to bless you with you would mind your Tyes to the Gracious Giver and endeavour with all your strength so to use it with relation to your self and others as may evidence your thankfulness and if it shall please our Wise and infinitely Good God to refuse your desires and render your Endeavours without success seek of Him that His Dispensations to you may be sanctified and beware of repining for the frailty of foolish man under any cross Dispensation befalling him makes him but unwillingly examine why the Lord contendeth and sinking under his trouble do's not readily fly to Him in and through Christ Jesus by fervent and earnest Prayer but is rather poring upon his Calamities and aggravating them to the raising in his heart thoughts inconsistent with Faith and true Love to the Glorious and Merciful God which upon serious Reflection will appear the most unreasonable of Practices for every man upon due consideration will see what befalls him to be God's dealing with him in wonderful Mercy and far from what in Justice his Iniquity calls for And man's being tempted to lament his troubles in comparison of others and to aggravat them from Circumstances too readily occurring to him under any affliction will upon little examination evidence the height of folly for by a true comparison betwixt the Circumstances of the Afflicted and these of such as He judgeth more desirable if they were alike apparent to Him it is more then probable he would have no desire to exchange and undoubtedly such as are most pressed under worldly Calamities has manifold Mercies to be thankful for and it will be their own default if such of God's Dispensations as are even burdensome to corrupt carnal man tend not it is like to their temporal but surely their spiritual advantage sometimes because He loveth he chastiseth indeed miserable man from his blindness cannot rightly see into the Causes of God's dealing with him yet however blinded with Ignorance he may be and surrounded with all imaginable difficulties it it is obviously apparent that he hath infinit reason to magnify God's Mercy in not only allowing but inviting the most miserable of Wretches to draw near to Him as their God and Portion in and through Christ Jesus the merciful Saviour of Sinners And I do advise your being earnest in seeking after Grace enabling to true contentment with your Condition for being content with what God in His Providence is pleas'd to tryst you with as it is your duty toward Him so it is what contributes most to your worldly satisfaction yea it is uncontravertedly apparent that it is not our attaining to what in the World we propose as the Means of reaching satisfaction that answers our expectation be it Riches Honour Pleasures or whatever else And as it can be truly said that true Happiness consists only in an Interest in Christ so one of the great Consequents of that Happiness is the quiet and peaceable acquiescing with a contented mind in whatever is our worldly Lot I remember to have heard one asked the Question if he were to have one wish granted what would it be To which it was answered an Interest in Christ Jesus nay but says the Inquirer that I grant is beyond all exception the only answer to my Question but I desire to know what you could wish as most conducive to your worldly satisfaction To which he again answered a contented mind with whatever in Providence is dispensed to me which is indeed beyond what it is not possible for man to wish for as the ultimat end of all the desires the toil and labour of man is his reaching contentment so it is apparent the attaining what he desires toils and labours for reaches not the end and mans endeavour to do with diligence what he is called to do and resting contented with what Providences dispenses to him is truly most to be desired in things relating to our temporal Being and is attainable if we would but put in exercise the little Reason we have for discontent and anxiety avails nothing to the bettering of our Condition and doth certainly more fret and torment Solomon in Prov. 19.3 tells you The foolishness of man perverteth his way and his heart fretteth against the Lord. Yea mans wickedness and stupidity is manifest in repining against what is done by our Creator and Disposer of what concerns us for every thing be it great or mean is ordered by Him as in Psal 113.5 6. Who is like the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Who humbleth himself to behold â—he things that are in Heaven and in the Earth And so particular are the Providences of God in relation to mankind as our Blessed Lord hath said Mat. 10.29 30. Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father but the very hairs of your head are all numbred And it may be said the great and only Mean of attaining true Contentment is a free and absolute Resignation of our Wills to the Will of God who is not only able but willing to do for the best to such as trust and love him as the Apostle tells you Rom. 8 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God c. Let us make sure the full resignation of our Wills to Him and Contentment will undoubtedly follow the doing thereof yea consider that all Endeavours after true Contentment
herein mentioned Consider what I have said to you upon it I do not intend ye should think it any ways full or Perfect my Capacitie not allowing me to pretend to any fitness for doing thereof and having but in some things given you my Opinion but if from your heart ye seek after God and depend upon him for Direction He will for Jesus sake give Knowledge and what else will be necessar for you And I intreat ye may consider this as the Advice of an affectionate Father that with his Heart and Soul wishes your eternal Wel-fare You are now at a distance from me and in a Society that makes me the more solicitous anent you for often do's Youth at Colledges instead of acquiring Learning and any thing desirable procure to themselves an habite of vitious Living and this sometimes happens to such as may be judged in probability would without the temptation be free thereof I intreat you beware of keeping such Company as may be a Snare to you and seriously ply your Book which is the end of your being in the place Be careful not only in giving a dutiful obedience to your Regent and the other Masters of the University but also of paying that due Reverence and Respect that is owing to their several Places be observant of their Orders not from fear but for Conscience sake and attend duely to the Diets appointed for your Class let your Converse where you lodge evidence your Discretion and Respect not only to the Head of the Family but to your Comrads and all within it and be sure you be not absent from Family-exercise nor from your Chamber at late or unseasonable hours Mind my Directions to you anent the Sabbath and beware of spending any part thereof in idle Converse forbear in that day your being in the Streets except when you go and come from the Church and attend the Diets of your Class before and after Sermon but above all make Conscience of seeking with earnestness of heart that our God for Jesuâ—â— sake may keep you from all evil let it be you great Work to grow in greater nearness to God for surely the World is Vanity and every thin we so much pursue after will appear to us wheâ—â— Death is at our door as the height of Vanity and most contemptible Think often of thâ—â— certainty of Death and that to the healthiest 〈◊〉 Youth it may come in a Moment mind thâ—â— also certainly after Death will come Judgment where even the most secret of our sinful thought shall be laid open before the Tribunal of a Juâ—â—â— God and a most dreadful and horrible Sentence pronounced against all such as shall 〈◊〉 be found in Christ our Blessed Lord who 〈◊〉 only able to stand betwixt Sinners and the Stroke due to them in Justice It is most lamentable that the Generality even of such as profess to be Christians are either truly Atheistical and among the number of such Fools as in Psal 14.1 Says in their heart there is not a God Or they vainly pretend an Interest where they have no Title the Apostle in Heb. 12.14 Having expresly said that without Holiness it is impossible to see the face of God It is true all that possibly wretched man can perform do's little deserve to be call'd Holiness but our hearty endeavour after Duties a serious continued sense of our Failings our hearts mourning because thereof and our humble coming to and relying upon Christ our Saviour in Faith for Mercy is graciously accepted of by our infinitely Good and Merciful God Ye would consider how our corrupt hearts agreeing with the general Practice and Belief of almost all owning themselves to be Christians seeks to perswade us to an Indifferency and Unconcern'dness in our Souls well-being and would make us believe that the punctual performing of Duty as Christians is but an over-doing if not Hypocrisy and every Person is ready to befool themselves with a groundless Confidence that they will be saved where they are little concerned in the Salvation of their Souls or the means of attaining to it wherefore think ye often with seriousness upon what is said Mat. 7.13 Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it This â—aying ought to be much in your mind for stirring you up to Duty lest you be found to be amongst the great number that goes in the Broad-way to everlasting and dreadful Damnation for in any worldly Concern if to a Society of Persons were offered that a few number of them upon doing of some Duty required should undoubtedly have Riches and worldly Honour every one without Arguments inducing them to it would be earnest in doing what might include them in that Number and what unspeakable Degrees are poor â—inners more concerned to endeavour with all their Power the giving Obedience to the Gracious Commands of our God that we may enter in at the Strait Gate leading into that everlasting Blessed Life I have already something signified to you the excellency of Humility it is truly most desirable and without which a Sinner hath not any Ground to expect access to God for as Pride in ordinar Converse and in worldly Affairs is hateful so in what relates to our Duty as Christians any tincture of Conceit and Pride is utterly to be abominat as being a principal Engine of the Devil for the destruction of the Souls of Mankind and that Excelling Grace of true Humility is the great Ornament of a Christian as Pride is the undoubted Marâ— of corrupt Natures prevailing yea so great 〈◊〉 the excellency of Humility as it may be saiâ— without Hyperbole that our infinitely Merciful God will not yea such is His free Mercy cannot refuse the Acceptance of a sincerely humbled Sinner it is indeed much to be prized and most advantagious and it necessarly must be where there is a true sense of our miserable Condition I do again intreat your being frequent and serious in your Prayers to God from whom every thing must come to you and let every one of your Thoughts and Actions speak forth your being truly humble in the sight of God and Man The Apostle Peter in Cap. 5. vers 15. of his First Epistle desires ye may be cleathed with Humility for God resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace to the Humble Let all your Actions flow from a true Principal of love to God and sincerely designing His Glory Often is Duty gone about when the motive to the doing thereof is sinful Self which is our very great Enemy for it wickedly leads and forces us to every evil Thought and Action therefore strive with all your might that no selfish sinful Inclination prevail over you and that the Principle moving you may be truly love to God and the end
of whatever you do or think His Glory It is true we may have subordinat Ends consisting with our Duty but let what tends directly and immediatly to the Glory of God have the first and great Room in your heart and when you repeat the Lords Prayer let your heart go out more earnestly in desiring that His Name may be Hallowed His will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven and His Kingdom come then you desire He may give you your daily Bread and forgive you your sins c. This may seem hard to be required that we desire any thing more earnestly than the Salvation of our Souls but if our Love be in any degree as it ought we will surly see it to be our Duty which being performed our Salvation is secured to us in and for Christ's sake and there can be no surer Mark of our Hearts being right with God than our truly finding that really above all things whatsoever we longingly desire that God's Name may be hallowed his Kingdom come and his Will be done The saying of that holy Man Quench Hell and burn Heaven yet will I love and fear my God did hold forth the most desireable frame of his heart and that it did flow from a right and excellent Principle Herein he acted meerly from a principle of Love to God without the immediat prospect of his eternal or temporal Advantage there is indeed nothing more certain than that either Salvation or utter Destruction will in end be the irretrivable Doom of all Mankind and that we are called with our power to endeavour the avoiding of that Sentence and the goodness of God is unexpressibly great in promising his Spirit enabling us to Duty in living up to his Precepts which even in relation to our temporal Beeing are so advantageous as it is obvious that if there were neither Heaven nor Hell the ways of true Wisdom have in themselves an excellencie and desireableness a thousand degrees beyond what is possible to find in giving way to our wicked Inclinations and living as may be pleasing to corrupt and depraved Nature Be you intreated by me not to make the Practice of such as only own themselves to be Christians your Rule Minde what is said Prov. 23.17 18. Let not thy heart envy Sinners but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long For surely there is an end and thine Expectation shall not be â—ut off Let all your thoughts and Actions be aâ— minding you are in the presence of a dreadfully just albeit merciful God and endeavour with all your Strength that your heart may be filled with knowledge of Christ faith in and love to him and be diligent in using the means of Grace which in providence you are trysted with I have hinted at some things of your Duty and you have the benefite of the Word preached publick Prayer and Praise and the administration of the Sacraments which I pray God in his mercy may continue to this Land you have also the benefite of many Pieces of practicall Divinity written by serious and Godly Men such as Flavel's Writings the two Allens Joseph and Richard and many others the serious reading of which with Prayer for a Blessing upon your doing thereof will be Strength to your Soul and at the hour of Death unexpressibly more savourie than the Consideration of having done what is generally the Practice of the world I desire ye may write over a Double of this and keep the Principal carefully by you for I have no exact Copy thereof And that you at sometimes read what I have written to you and whilst you are at the Colledge stint your self to the reading thereof excepting what is Advice relating to a married state once in the Week Let me know with your first Conveniencie if Joseph Allen's Allarum to unconverted Sinners be to be had in any Stationers Shop where you are and if it be not I will endeavour the sending it to you within a short time Make conscience of reading it seriously and diligently and when fitness of Frame in your heart enables you engage your self to God in the terms set down by that seriously holy Man But see to it that your whole heart go out after God in the Duty The Sin of an unfitted Frame of heart in what ever we do is great in Gods sight but in so solemn Approaching to him the doing of it unsuitably is a great Aggravation thereof I think it not amiss that sometime ye put in write to be kept by you what may evidence your Frame at such occasions if you have a suitable sense of Sin or your heart go out after God in Faith for Mercy or if in the expectation of particular Mercies or the Receit thereof you engage your self to any particular Duty or in the general more solemnly to serve God I think ye would put down in Writ your Engagements to God and what may evidence your Frame of Heart at these occasions I have my self considered with satisfaction even some few Petitions which may heart has gone out after God in the desire of and which at the time I have set down in Write not so much with a design more fully to imprint on my Memorie the Expressions of my Desires albeit my Memorie be very frail as to have the satisfaction of knowing by my reading them that at such times my heart did in some measure go out with earnestness in these desires and that my Remembrance of the Endeavours albeit frail and faint I have had to bring my Heart to that Frame might afterward shame me from any Sluggishness of Temper or any proness to gratisle my many Corruptions so as may be inconsistent with what God at the time enabled me to attain to Make Conscience always your Friend it is Gods witness within you beware of doing what may harden or kill it depend upon God that it may be in you according to knowledge and so walk in every thing as it may witness for you in the day of your greatest need I do intreat your whole Life and Conversation may be humble and serious in the sight of God have always upon your Heart a Sense of your unexpressibly great misery which will stir you up to the performance of Duty in which you must ever be most intent and serious And besides your daily Performance set at times some Hours and at some times one day a-part for your wrestling with God that He for Christs sake may subdue Corruption in you and give knowledge in every Duty and Grace to perform it and I hope our good God in his mercy will so far discover to you the filthiness of Sin and how Desireable Lovely and Advantageous it is to serve him That times so set a-part will be your delight for your direction in such Duties you have many means as Scudders daily walk and the Works of many other serious and godly Divines both of this and the English Nation and that
shall thy Doubts be preserved from Despair 41. If thou stand guilty of Oppression or wrongfully possessed of anothers Right see thou make Restitution before thou givest an Alms if otherways what are thou but a Thief and makest God thy Receiver 42 When thou prayest for spiritual Graces let thy Prayer be absolute when for temporal Blessings add a Clause of God's pleasure in both with Faith and Humiliation so shalt thou undoubtedly receive what thou desirest or more or better never Prayer rightly made was made unheard or heard ungranted 43. Not to give to the Poor is to take from him not to feed the hungry if thou hast it is the outmost of thy power to kill him that therefore thou mayest avoid both Sacriledge and Murder be charitable 44. So often as thou rememberest thy sin without grief so often thou repeatest these sins for not grieving 45. In thy Apparrel avoid Singularity Profuseness and Gaudiness be not too early in the Fashon nor too late Decencie is the half way between Affectation and Neglect the Body is the Shell of the Soul Apparel is the Husk of that Shell and the Husk often tells you what the Kernel is 46. Be not Censorious for thou knowest not whom thou judgest it is a more dextrous Errour to speak well of an evil man than evil of a good man and safer for thy Judgment to be misted by simple Charity then uncharitable Wisdom he may tax others with Priviledge that hath not in himself what others may tax 47. If thou canst desire any thing not to be repented of thou art in a fair way to Happiness if thou hast attained it thou art at thy ways end He is not happy who hath all if it were possible that he desires but that desires nothing but what is good 48. Hath any wronged thee be bravely revenged slight it and the work is begun for give it and it is finisht he is below himself that is not above an injury 49. Deride not him whom the looser Worlâ— calls Puritan lest thou offend a little one 〈◊〉 he be a Hypocrite God that knows him will râ—ward him if zealous God that loves him wâ—â—â— revenge him if he be good he is good to God Glory if he be evil let him be evil at his oâ—â— Charges He that judges shall be judged 50. As thou desirest the love of God and Man beware of Pride it is a Tumor in thy Mind that breaks and poysons all thy Actions is is a Worm in thy Treasure which eats and ruines thy Estate it loves no man is beloved of no man it is the friend of the Flatterer the mother of Envy the Nurse of Fury the Bawd of Luxury the Sin of Devils and the Devil in Mankind it hates Superiors it scorns Inferiors it owns no Equals in short till thou hate it God hates thee 51. Beware of Drunkenness lest all good Men beware of thee where Drunkenness reigns there Reason is an Exul Vertue a Stranger and God an Enemy 52. Take no pleasure in the folly of an Idiot nor in the frenzie of a Lunatick nor in the extravagancies of a Drunkard make them the Object of thâ— Pity not of thy Pastime when thou beholdest them behold how thou art beholding to Him that suffered thee not to be like them there is no difference between thee and them but God's favour 53. Use Law and Physick only for necessity they that use them otherways abuse themselves into weak Bodies and light Purses they are good Remedies bad Business and worse Recreations 54. In every relative Action change Conditions with thy Brother then ask thy Conscience what thou would'st have done to the being truly resolved exchange again and do thou the like to him and thy Charity shall seldom or never err it is injustice to do what without Impatience thou canst not 〈◊〉 55. Things temporal are sweeter in the expectation Things 〈◊〉 are sweeter in the fruition the first shames thy Hope the second crowns it it is a vain Journy whose end affords less pleasure then the way 56. If thy words be Luxuriant confine them lest they confine the he that thinks he can never speak enough may easily speak too muchâ— a full Tongue and an empty Brain are seldom parted 57. Of all Vices take heed of Drunkenness other Vices make their own way this make way for all Vices he that is a Drunkard is qualified for every evil 58. Let the words of a Virgin though inâ— good Cause and to as good purpose be neitheâ— violent many nor first nor last it is less shamâ—â— For a Virgin to be lost in a blushing silence theâ—â— to be found in a bold Eloquence 59. If thou hast but little make it not leâ—â— by murmuring if thou hast enough make 〈◊〉 not too much by unthankfulness he that is nâ—â— thankfully contented with the least favour 〈◊〉 hath received hath made himself uncapable of the least favour he can receive 60. Dost thou want things necessar grumbâ—â— not perchance it was a necessar thing thâ—â— shouldst want them endeavour lawfully to suppâ—â— it if God bless not thy Endeavour Bless hâ—â— that knoweth what is fittest for thee thou 〈◊〉 God's Patient prescribe not the Physician 61. Look upon thy Affliction as thou usestâ— do upon thy Physician both imply a Diseaâ—â— and both are applyed for a Cure that of the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 if they work they promise 〈◊〉 if not they threaten Death he 〈…〉 that 〈◊〉 not afflicted but he that findâ— happiness by his Affliction 62. Many times when we are in heavy Affliction and â—â—sperate of all outward Means our Faâ—â—â— is more strong then afterwards when Goâ—â—â—â—th mercifully delivered yea so far doth the Devil prevail upon the heart of wretched man wiâ—â—â—st in any pleasing Prosperity that in the day of his Accounts it will at least often be found that his Troubles have been his greatest Mercies 63. It is good to suffer twice before one complain once for those that often though justly complain come with disadvantage especially iâ— it be to a Party who from the too common Infirmitâ— incident to Mankind is ready to determine persons under straitâ—â—ing Circumstances to be â—â—â—lish if not worse as they are ready to overprize the Actions of the worldly prosperous 64. He that desires but what he may may have â—hat he desires therefore he that is sparing in his desires may have Pâ—enty even in a moderate â—state FINIS Dear THEOPHILUS YOu may remember that in our discoursing together some Weeks since we considered that Love was the great Duty required of Man and the Apostle having said 1 Joh. 4.7 Let us love one another for love is of God yea our Blessed Lord in the Evangelist Joh. 13.35 Declares that By this shall all men know such to be his Disciples as have love one to another And having said in Mat. 22.37 38. That the First and Great Commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul And the
second was like unto this Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Let us therefore resolve in the strength of our God to take up and retain such an affectionat and innocent Correspondence as shall evidence our Endeavouring to have the lively Marks of being the Disciples of our most Blessed Saviour which that we may do effectually we must cast from us Pride as what is destructive to our Christian Converse As I am writing the word Pride my Pen runs in adding as further to be thrown away Anger Self-conceit Revenge or what else may take up in our hearts the room that love to our God and our Neighbour ought to have but if we could so take up the folly and sin of being Proud as to bring our selves to hate and forsake the same we would in eviting that great Wickedness which has drawn down the everlasting Sentence of Gods Wrath even upon Angels easily master these Evils I have mentioned and many others which are the proper Brood and develish Issue thereof which Evils being in the Strength of God weakned in us we must further strive for Humility and meekness of Spirit and these being acquired the Vertues opposite to the mentioned Vices will through the Blessing of God with great easiness become habitual unto us yea so great are the advantages of true Humility and meekness of Spirit as even the worst of Men are from some small Beam or Ray of primitive Purity yet left in Fallen man forc'd to acknowledge the worth thereof and value the person enriched with these unvaluable Blessings D. Theophil as their can be no earthly Blessing preferable to this christian and affectionat Converse amongst Friends and Neighbours we would make it our care to prevent every thing that may occasion the least Breach thereof the Devil is ever ready to ruine the Peace of Mankind here and to all Eternity and is always feeding Fuel to our Lusts thereby to render us miserable in Soul and Body and for disturbing a Neighbourly and Christian Correspondence besides Pride and what is naturally consequential to it makes our worldly Interests to open a Gap for division amongst Neighbours this flows from Covetousness which is an Evil much reprehended in Scripture yea Branded by our Blessed Lord with the Name Idolatry It is true it is the Duty of every man to concern himself in managing and retaining what is justly his own Propriety yet for keeping fast that Chain of a Christian and Neighbourly Converse it may be his Duty in some measure to recede therefrom and if Interest shall at any time bring Neiâ—hbours to differ so as neither may consider it Duty to yield surely their is a Rule for Determining which may be obvious to an â—â—â—â—terested Person of such a Choice would be made to whom the Difference in great Affection would be submitted and his Determination with much love amongst all Parties acquiesced in and if Pride and Self were thus set aside amongst Neighbours and they giving hearty obedience to the Apostle his Advice to us Philip. 2 3. Let nothing be done through strife or envying 〈◊〉 iâ— lowliness of mind let each esteem others better tâ—en themselves The satisfaction that would flow therefrom would be incomprehensible and only the envy of Devils and wicked Men and a Neighbourly Concord being resolved upon it would come next under our Consideration how the same besides the satisfaction arising from it may be improven to our temporal and eternal Advantage in all things that may concern either of us if we would firmly practise that Rule of doing as we would be dealt with it is so easily laid to all we are called to do and so comprehensive as may spare our Pains in laying down any other Rules as to our temporal Interests but our eternal Wellfare being of greatest Moment unto us in this especially we would endeavour our being helpful to each other I am satisfied if under the Apprehension of approaching Death it were possible to lay before us all our Actions Speeches and Thoughts that scarcely one of a thousand of either we would repeat and could not but palpably see our Failings either in matter or manner the consideration whereof should make every one cautious how the time that Neighbours and others makes use of in conversing together is imployed it were a severity having no allowance from Scripture to say that all neighbourly and friendly Converse should only be about our Souls and things Heavenly for our Lord by Himself and His Apostles do's plainly require our Concernment in our particular Callings and surely a recreative Diversion is necessar to both Body and Mind yet is it to be regrated that such as profess to be Christians should in their so often meeting together so seldom speak of God and things heavenly Our great God his Command to the Israelites was that they should speak of his Precepts given by Moses whilst they walked by the Way and albeit the indiscreet Zeal of some people in their meeting together for Prayer and spiritual Conference may give offence yea may be hurtful to themselves when their Ends are not serious in the sight of God or when there is want of Prudence for regulating Meetings of that kind yet surely it were delightsomly advantageous in Christians meeting together that they at least sometimes by suitable Discourse relating to their Souls Condition would raise up in themselves a Warmness of Affection towards their God in Jesus Christ and a heart-hatred to Sin that only can separate betwixt Him and them and which would be a Mean for putting and keeping their hearts in that Frame as He by His Spirit would Dwell in them yea it were desirable that at sometimes when fitness of Frame and Occasion offers that they did upon their Knees joyntly put up their Petitions to God and humbly acknowledge His unexpressible Goodness for the particular Mercies they are ever meeting with and never to be forgetful of the wonderful Mercy of God in His offering to wretched and miserable Man Salvation in and through Christ But lest my insisting further should make this exceed the Bounds of a Letter I shall only add that I am in sincerity Decemb. 22. 1691. Your truly affectionat Neighbour and Servant Theocritus Mi THEOPHILE IF I could bring up my heart to meditat with any seriousness upon the manifest Vanities of all that is almost the constant Practice of frail Man I am sensible I could not better at some occasions imploy my time but such are the distractions thereof and it's Irregularities in all it's motions as I may truly say with the Prophet Jeremiah 17.9 It is deceitful above all things and desperatly wicked who can know it My dear Theophilus I have this night considered that as ground for our Meditation occurs either from providential Dispensations or what is the constant practice of Mankind in their most usual dealing and converse it may be behovefull our marking the same and as Conveniencie allows that we in Conference or