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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34165	A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.	Calamy, Edmund, 1600-1666.; Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Nalton, James, 1600-1662.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.; Ashe, Simeon, d. 1662.	1663 (1663)	Wing C5638; ESTC R8646	623,694	660

hath given you saith the Apostle here This is the love of God that we keep his Commandments It is not a love in word and in tongue but in reality a love discovering it self by a consciencious care to hold conformity to all the will of God and if any should object This is a hard saying who can bear it saith the Apostle No such matter there is never a believing soul will say the Commandments of Christ are grievous or burdensome No they are light to them that are brnught over to the faith of the Gospel And the last thing I have to charge upon you upon the account of your Gospel-believing and being brought over to a closing with Christ it is this and so upon the matter I have given you an account of the substance of this precious Chapter having reduced it to that general Doctrine I propounded before I say the last thing is this That you would walk suitable to a believing state by being very careful concerning your Worships that you do perform that they be according to God and according to the Gospel and this is that which the Apostle closes the Chapter withall in the 21. verse Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen As I take it in the former Translation it was Babes Babes keep your selves from Idols here it is Little Children I observe in this Epistle the Apostle makes a distinction of Believers into three Ranks as you shall finde in the second Chapter I write unto you little Children I write unto you young men and I write unto you Fathers in the close of this Epistle he concludes with this charge to little Children now whether he includes all the rest under this Title of Little Children I forbear to dispute but sure I am it is a duty lies upon one and the other whether they be Babes or young men or Aged Fathers in Christ Whatever our rank or condition be I am sure of this this is a great duty that lies upon all that will approve themselves in Godliness and be brought over to the Faith of the Gospel that they look to their worship and that they take heed of Idols as if he should say He that is born of God he keeps himself that the wicked one doth not touch him Oh Little Children shew forth that spiritual ability that by Grace you are furnished withall by being able to keep your selves from Idols It might be said what is this to us Are we in danger of Idols True well might the Apostle give in such a Charge to them in those ●●mes when the greatest part of the World were in a state of Heathenism and in estrangement from Christ and the mysteries of the Gospel But this I say it doth really concern Christians in Gospel-times that have had the breakings out of the Gospel-light and the knowledge of the Gospel-mysteries to be careful of this Charge that they keep themselves from Idols there were the Idols of the Heathens grant it and so still there are a generation of people that our souls should mourn over to consider their state and are wrapt up in ignorance of God know nothing of the true God and our Lord Jesus Christ and it is the state and condition of the Jews at this day and what a sad condition are they in Grant it they worship not Idols after the manner of the Heathens yet they worship not the true God because they worship not God in Christ for saith the Apostle Whoever sins and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ he hath not God He that abides in the Doctrine of Christ he hath the Father and the Son And so the Jews at this day they not abiding not owning the Doctrine of Christ they have not God because they have not the Father and the Son this is their condition and thus I say there were not only the Idols of the Heathen Oh! but sadly be it spoken there are Idols among Persons pretending to Christ and Gospel Faith and the Doctrine concerning Grace by Jesus Christ How man Idols and Idolaters are there I might tell the Govetous person is an Idolater the voluptuous person and the self-justitiary sets up his own Righteousness and Idolizeth that But I say this there are Idols among Christians Papists hold forth the Name of Christ but yet what woful Idolatry is there among them There was the Dragon worship in the time of the Heathens and in the room of that there is come up the Beast-worship and of that worship the generality of the world runs upon and it concerns us to keep from Popish Idolatry it being the grossest Idolatry that ever was because there is the suitest petence of Worshipping JESUS and yet they turn him into an Idol What else means their worshipping and bowing to Image their Breaden gods and the like Oh therefore it concerns us to keep our selves from Idols and there is a Scripture if it were but well studied would cause trembling of heart and make all that have any care of their souls to look about them that Scripture I referr you to is in Rev. 13. compared with Rev. 20. In Rev. 13.11 whereas before there was Dragon-worship it is said here I beheld another Beast coming out of the earth and he had two Horns like a Lamb and he shake as a Dragon and he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him and ●auseth the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed now look at verse 8. says he And all the dwellers upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb sl●in from the foundation of the World Oh! it is a terrible word and that that should make us to fear and tremble lest in any kind we should be drawn into the worship of the Beast for as many as were not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb they were drawn into the Worship of the Beast This is that that should make us keep our selves from Idols from whatsoever hath but so much as a tincture of Superstition and Idolatry and the rather considering that other Scripture Rev. 20.15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire All that are not written in the Lambs Book of Life are prevailed to perform the worship with the Beast and not being writ there must be tumbled into the Lake for ever This therefore concerns us to keep from Idolatry from whatever hath a tendency that way and that hath any tincture of Superstition upon it and consider with your selves that our Duty is in matters of Worship and in things concerning the Worship of God to see to it that we keep a humble dependance upon God that we walk not according to the will of Men but according to the will of God You were bought with a price be not servants of men We are to walk by a Line by a

Be stedfast and unmoveable knowing that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Mal. 3.13 there is the like instance Your words have been stout against me saith the Lord yet ye say what have we spoken so much against thee this God is always quarrelling with us and laying things to our charge what have we said in the 14 verse Ye said it is in vain to serve God and what prosit is it that we have kept his Ordinances we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts and now we call the proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered well now what follows They they that feared the Lord spake often one to another as if they had said let not these things take any thing off the edge of our affections or quench any flame of our love did God take any notice of this now that he had any such friends in the world yes saith he God hearkned and heard and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name and they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serves him there is a time coming the day will declare whether it be serving God or the Devil well then beloved as ever you would hold fast the profession of your Faith take heed of the error of the wicked never think it vain to serve God though you may lose b● it for if ye lose for him ye shall never lose by him Thirdly Would you hold fast the Profession of your Faith then lay up the word of Faith in a good and honest heart Luke 8.15 It is said there of the good ground they are they which have heard the Word kept it or hold it fast where do they lay it up now in a good and honest heart so that you must pull out his heart before that you can pull out the Word and will any man suffer his heart to be torn from him you never hold it fast till you lay it up in a good and honest heart if it be only in the hands as a Bible in your hands or in the head it will be gone but if it be in your hearts you will never let it go therefore observe saith he Having heard it they keep it and hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bring forth fruit with patience they had a great deal of sufferings to bring with patience for if they were not under suffering what need were there of patience Well beloved consider a little further as to this the Connection between the verse preceding the Text and the Text saith he Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled with a pure conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Let us hold fast the profession of our faith the purity of the heart is the best preservative of the Faith 1 Tim. 3.9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience a good and honest heart will never part with the mysteries of faith Lastly Would you hold fast the profession of your Faith then look much to and often consider Jesus Christ the Author and finisher of your Faith David had got the faculty of walking with God and how was it saith he I will keep thy loving kindness before mine eyes that I may walk with thee Oh! if we do but keep the loving kindness of God in Jesus Christ before our eyes we shall certainly keep the faith Saith the Apostle having a high Priest over the House of God let us draw near and let us hold fast a high Priest that is Jesus Christ our great high Priest Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy Brethren he partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that ye have a great high Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Profession Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despised the Shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God! Oh! let us be thinking of and looking to this Jesus You will say what shall we think of him Oh! think of this condescension in the world of that vouchsafement which as was never the like of his how he humbled himself and suffered being God for man Think how he became poor that was rich that we that were poor might become rich think how he became a curse think how he became sin for us think what a good Confession he made before Pontius Pilate even to death and was obedient to the death Think how he conquered death by dying and how he rose again by his Almighty power and ascended into Heaven and ever lives to make intercession for those that come to the Father through him Think how he lived here on earth in a sad condition and joyed in it so that it might be for our good and shall we leave such a Christ as this Oh! can you look upon Christ and leave the Profession of your Faith It cannot be keep Christ before your eyes make him your pattern and you will not you cannot do amiss He that saith he abides in him ought to walk as he walked he walked in obedience all his days and was obedient to the death So must we we must walk in all obedience all our days though we dye for being obedient You see now how many Arguments there are for our holding fast the Profession of our Faith There are many now that might be added but the time is past therefore I shall shut up all in the words of Jude from the 20 ver of this Epistle to the end But you Beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God and Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and for ever Amen Mr. Matthew Newcomen His Farewel-Sermon Preached at Dedham in Essex Aug. 20.1662 Rev. 3. Verse 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received heard and held fast and repent I Began this Scripture the last Lords day in this Congregation I told you then there were three Doctrines obvious in the Text the first was Doct. 1. That it is the Duty of Christians to remember those Truths that they have heard and received Doct. 2.

Now give me leave this morning to speak three things to these sort of men and O that my words might prevail with them 1. Consider it is sin only that makes trouble deserve the name of trouble for when we suffer for Gods sake or a good Conscience these troubles are so sweetned by the consolations of Heaven that they are no troubles at all therefore in Queen Maries dayes the Martyrs wrote to their friends out of prison If you knew the comforts we have in Prison you would wish to be with us I am in Prison before I am in Prison saith Mr. Sanders Famous is the story of the three Children they were in a great strait when cast into the fiery Furnace Bind them 〈◊〉 and and foot and cast them into the Furnace but when they were there they were unbound Dan. 3.25 saith Nebuchadnezzar Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire and loe I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God I have often told you when three are cast into the fire for a good Conscience God will make the fourth therefore I say straits and sufferings for God are not worth the name of straits David was often driven into straits 1 Sam. 30.6 he was sore distressed when his Town was burnt and his Wives and Children taken captives by the Amalekites I but that was a distress of danger not of sin therefore he encouraged himself in the Lord his God Jehosaphat was in a great strait 2 Chron. 20.12 We know not what to do saith he this was a strait of danger not caused by his sin and God quickly delivered him but the strait that David was in was caused by his sin and that made it so bitter I am loath to enlarge here St. Paul was in a great strait Phil. 3.23 but this was a blessed strait an Evangelical strait saith St. Chrysostome He knew not whether to die for his own sake or to live for the Churches sake were best he was willing to adjourn his going to Heaven for the good of the people of God Nay Christ was in a strait Luke 12.15 I have a baptism to be baptized withal and how am I straitned till it be accomplished I am to shed my blood for my Elect this is the baptism he speaks of This was a strait of dear affection to the Elect of God all these were blessed straits but now a strait caused by sin these are imbittered and envenomed by the guilt of sin and sense of Gods wrath It is sin that maketh straits deserve the name of straits therefore you are spiritually mad that commit sin to avoid straits 2. There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest outward calamity whatsoever this the world will not believe therefore St. Austin saith That a man ought not to tell a lye though he might save all the world from hell for there is more evil in one lye than there is good in the salvation of all the world I have often told you the story of St. Austin saith he If Hell were on one side and sin on the other and I must chuse one I would chuse hell rather than sin for God is the Author of Hell but it is blasphemy to say he is the Author of Sin There is a famous story of Charles the ninth King of France he sent a message to the Prince of Conde a zealous Protestant gives him three things to chuse either to go to Mass or to be put to death or to suffer banishment all his life long saith he Primum Deo juvante nunquam eligo The first God helping I will never chuse I abhor the Idolatry of the Mass but for the two other I leave it to the choice of the King to do as he pleases there is more evil in the least sin than the greatest misery 3. The third thing I would have you consider that whosoever goeth out of Gods way to avoid danger shall certainly meet with greater danger Balaam went out of Gods way Numb 22.22 and God sent an Angel with a drawn sword and he riding upon an Asse verse 26. the Angel stood in a narrow place where was no way to go from the right hand or from the left if his Asse had not fallen under him he had been run thorow by the sword of the Angel Jonah for fear of the King of Nineveh went out of Gods way but he met with a mighty tempest he met with a Whale What do you do when you commit sin you make way to be cast into the eternal prison of Hell you destroy your precious souls to save your perishing bodies Vse 2. If sin be the father and mother of all perplexity and distresses then I beseech you let us above all things in the world abhor sin all the curses of the Bible are all due only to a sinner and all the curses not named in the Bible for that is observable Deut. 28.36 every plague that is not written in the Book shall light upon him there are strange punishments to the workers of iniquity Job 31.3 Is not destruction to the wicked a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity sin it bringeth the sinner to little ease little ease at death little ease at the day of Judgment and little ease in Hell tribulation and anguish the word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little ease to every soul that doth iniquity O my beloved will you promise me to look upon sin and consider it in all its woful consequence as the Father Mother and Womb out of which come external eternal and internal straits more particularly there are twelve sins I especially command you to take heed of and avoid 1. Take heed of Covetousness the love of the world will pierce you thorow with many sorrows the love of money is the root of all evil the love of the world drowns men in perdition 2. Take heed of the sin of Pride into what a woful strait did Pride bring Haman God crossed him in what he most desired God made him hold the stirrup while Mordecay rode in Triumph and God hanged him on the Gallows which he had made for Mordecay 3. Take heed of Drunkenness Look not on the Wine when it gives its colour in the cup c. Drunkenness will bring you into snares in will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder 4. Take heed of Disobedience and Rebellion against the Commandments of God it brought Jonah to the three nights and three days in the Whales belly 5. Take heed of Fornication and Adultery and all uncleanness this brought Sampson to a woful strait this brought David and Solomon into great perplexity 6. Take heed of Oppression and all acts of Injustice this brought Ahab into great straits insomuch that the Dogs licked his blood 7. Take heed of unnecessary familiarity with wicked men this brought Jehosaphat into a

would prevent your fears if God would continue forfeited mercies dearer to you than your lives you would set apart some special thing for God something for the propagation of the Gospel abroad for the maintenance of a godly Ministry at home for setting up the preaching of the Gospel in the dark corners of the Kingdom c. This must have some cautions with it As 1. We must be sure our vow be of what is in our own power we must not make vows of that which is none of our own I hate robbery for burnt-offerings We must not make a vow to God of that which hath been unjustly or unrighteously taken away or with-held from any 'T is Sacriledge instead of a Sacrifice 2. It must be of things warrantable and justifiable by the Word 3. It must be of such things that we are not bound to do before vows by the standing obligation of Religion and of our profession but of something that is in our own choice that we will voluntarily make a free-will offering of it to God 4. We must take heed that we do not entertain a superstitious thought of our own vows as if we had merited a mercy at Gods hands by our vows God looks for some special vow at our hands that we may shew how much we prize and value the mercy we would have that we would be content to part with any thing though to the half of our estate for it 2. Another thing I find is that in the mean time we should do something by way of extraordinary bounty and charity to the relief of Gods indigent servants Thus the Prophet Daniel Wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable to thee break off thy sins by righteousness and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthning of thy tranquility Dan. 4.27 The Prophet advises him to break off his sins by Righteousness there 's Reformation and besides Reformation that he would do something in an extraordinary way to the relief of the poor Mercy to the poor what 's that Interpreters conceive by the poor here he understands Gods poor i.e. the poor Jews that were now in the Babylonian Captivity he advises he would do something by way of sympathy to the Jews to ease their yoaks and oppressions break off thine iniquities by pittying and shewing mercy to thy poor Captives under thy power now at this time take off their yoak ease their burdens and restore them to their liberties again Thus do you and those that have been the instruments of your conversation or edification set apart something extraordinary for their relief and supply The Prophet Daniel seems to advise this to the King as it were by way of satisfaction There be two things in repentance in wrongs we have done there must be confession and satisfaction or restoration he seems to advise this to make up compleat repentance namely to make restoration and retribution of what he had injuriously taken from the Jews Oh then let me say without breach of charity that whatsoever except it be in this case of extraordinary supplies for his poor it will be found but making restitution and satisfaction It may be upon a twofold ground 1. With some it may be truly restitution and restoration of what he hath taken away by unjust means God knows how that 's between God and their own souls what unlawful means have been used to augment the heap and swell their Estate If there be any that hear me this day whose consciences shall tell them that they have increased their estate by undue and unwarrantable means Oh Restore Restore break off your iniquities by shewing mercy c. by making reparation as you can it will be but like Zacheus giving half his goods to the poor and restoring four-fold c. in a liberal Contribution to the poor 2. It will be restitution in another sense in reference to an unjust withholding some have injuriously and I am afraid too too many have kept injuriously Have we not rob'd the poor by an unjust denying of what God hath commanded us to distribute to their necessties there is that withholdeth more than is meet c. Prov. 3.17 and 11.24 It may be God hath given you so much there 's Gods share there 's the Ministers portion c. Now all that you have with-held beyond the Rule of Scripture is all stolen goods and is like a Wheat-sheaf on fire will burn down the whole Barn of Corn. That which I would exhort you to is for every one to set a part some considerable part of your Estate and account it as a hollow thing dedicated to God as a thing which to touch were sacriledge that you may be ready on all occasions in all regular and due ways to bring out for the relief of the poor you know objects abounding in every place and you may expect warrantable means for dispensing of what God shall put into your hearts in this matter Mr. Jenkin's Forenoon Sermon Heb. 11.38 The former part of that Verse Of whom the world was not worthy THe Apostle in this excellent Chapter that by some is deservedly called a little Book of Martyrs discovers the tryumph of faith or victory against all difficulty we meet with 1. Faith it assents to truths be they never so improbable 2. It puts men upon duties be they never so irrational or against carnal interest 3. It enables to sufferings be they never so afflictive These Worthies went through all by the victory that overcame the world the bitterness as well as the sweetness thereof In these verses the Apostle doth two things First he sets down the greatness and smartness of their sufferings which are by some learned men reduced to three heads First those sufferings that were to tempt them and draw them from God by those pains and tortures they were to undergo Secondly Those sufferings they underwent in dying Thirdly their sufferings in regard of wandering and leaving their comforts rather than they would lose God There were all kind of persecutions laid upon these Saints through all which they waded and never would be brought to forsake God and his truth for any of them 2. We have here the excellency of the sufferers and that is in that expression These men or these persons when they were under all these distresses from the world yet they were such of whom the world was not worthy Brethren the excellency of these saints and servants of God is considerable two ways that we may proceed distinctly and clearly First in reference to the wicked their excellency was so great that the wicked World was not worthy of them Secondly their excellency is discovered from the estimate or judgment that the Apostle passes upon them who tells us that he accounted them to be such though they were under such distresses and troubles yet they were a people of whom the world was not worthy I shall fall upon the due estimation the blessed Apostle

conception but it was never compleatly declared to the World till after his Resurrection for before Christ was a Prince in disguise the beams of the Divinity was abated by the vail of his Humanity but then he was declared by power to be the Son of God It followes That great Shepherd of the Sheep for the opening of this 1. We will consider this Title of Christ 2. The Person for whom this Title relates First This Title The great Shepherd 'T is a wonderful condescention in Christ that he will take upon him the Title of a Shepherd that which rather expresses Love and Care than Power and Dominion yet he is pleased to assume this Title to express his affection to us For the opening of it wherein he appears to be the great Shepherd I shall lay down these particulars 1. He is great in the Dignity of his Person for he that is Lord of Angels is become the Shepherd of the Sheep and the humiliation of his person in this respect is the exaltation of his Office It is looked upon in the World as a mean and low employment to have the care and inspection of a Flock but now herein appears the love of Christ he was pleased to become our Shepherd that so he might secure and bring us to the Fold of Heaven and there make us to feed upon those Pastures and to drink of those Rivers of pleasures which flow from the presence of God 2. In the derivation of his Authority That Authority which is communicated to him whereby he is our Shepherd and that is originally from God himself It is not by any mediate deputation but from God himself He is our Shepherd and hath a Title to his Flock upon a double account 1. They are committed to him as his charge and custody John 6.37 c. All the Elect of the world were given by God the Father to Christ not by way of Alienation but by way of Opigneration as so many pledges which he was to bring to grace and glory And this charge he doth most fully execute for there is none missing of those committed to him 2. They are given to him by way of Reward and Recompense for all his Bloud and Sufferings Isai 53.10 The Lord put such a value on souls that he purchased an interest in them by his own bloud and he thinks himself exceedingly recompensed for all his pains on the Cross Agonies in the Garden Temptations in the Wilderness c. if souls will submit to his care And here observe the course of Heaven God would endear souls to Christ upon all Reasons by vertue of his command and that charge he gives to them and by vertue of his own purchase 3. If you confider the extent of his care and affection For all the Saints of the World those who are dispersed in all places in all ages they are all his Flock and therefore 't is the Royalty of his Administration John 10.16 There shall be one Fold and one Shepherd As Christ is the onely Catholick King so he is the onely Vniversal Bishop For all other Shepherds have but particular Portions of his Flock committed to their charge and they should be such portions as they have regard to and are under their inspection And at the last day all his sheep shall congregate together and stand at his right hand All the Saints of God that are now scattered as so many Stars in the Firmament shall be united in one constellation when they shall appear in glory before him 4. In respect of his endowments and qualifications which fit him for the discharge of his Office And 1. Take notice of his affection and love to us and that is the wonder of Heaven and Earth Christ laid down his life for his sheep Joh. 10.11 This is strange that Christ should be a sheep for the slaughter that he might become our Shepherd that he should be a sacrifice before he could take his Office upon him Other sheep lay down their lives for the Shepherd but Christ laid down his life for the Sheep So great was his love that it brought him from Heaven to seek and find those that were lost he left a Palace to come to a Wilderness a Throne of Heaven to come to a Fold here upon Earth We read of David that he exchanged a Sheep-hook for a Scepter but Christ quite contrary he exchang'd a Scepter for the Rod and Staff of a Shepherd It was said by one There is nothing so conspicuous in Christ as the prodigality of his love to us Oh! do but consider how great love that was that should make him to die for us that he might bring us home to his Fold We were all of us like erring sheep who had strayed from him and fell to the Lord of the Soil as strange Cattel we were gotten into the possession of the God of this World the Lord Christ would buy us off from thence though we forfeited our right in him vet he would not lose his right in us but he laid down his life that he might reduce us to his Fold that of Wolves he might make us Lambs and sit us for the comforts of his Presence 2. In respect of his exact diligence and inspection over them When but one Sheep went astray from his Fold we read he left the ninety and nine and went and sought for that One Luke 15. where we have that Parable to express the diligence and watchfulness of Christ over his Sheep There is no person be he never so mean never so obscure though lost in the number and account of the World if he be one of Christs Sheep he is always under his inspection and watchfulness We read of the High-Priest that he carried the names of the Tribes upon his Brest-plate the Lord Christ carries the names of all his Sheep in his heart therefore Rev. 13. speaking concerning the Saints all that dwell upon Earth Whose names are written in the book of Life His diligence and care is so exact that he hath all their names writ in his Book He that tells the Stars counts their hairs and always exercises the most watchful providence over them for good You know Sheep are either liable to rage or erring and wandring Christ's diligence is such that he protects them from the rage of Satan reduces them from all their wandrings and brings them home to himself 3. In making proportional all their services and sufferings to those degrees of strength which he gives to them Isai 40.11 He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd he shall gather his Lambs with his Arms and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young Christ always makes a proportion between the Services Sufferings and strength he calls them to He it is that with that tenderness speaks to Peter Peter lovest thou me feed my Lambs He hath provided for them the most ample and most satisfying nourishment the Ordinances of the Gospel

my beloved these twenty Directions that I desire you to take special notice of which I would leave as advice and counsel with you about your Souls First I beseech you keep your constant hours every day with God the Godly man is a man set apart Psal 4.3 not onely because God hath set him apart by election but because he hath set himself apart by devotion give God the Aurorae fitiam begin the day with God visit God in the morning before you make any other visit wind up your hearts towards Heaven in the morning and they will go the better all the day after Oh! turn your Closets into Temples read the Scriptures the two Testaments are the two lips by which God speaks to us these will make you wise unto salvation the Scripture is both a glass to shew you your spots and a laver to wash them away besiege Heaven every day with prayer thus persume your houses and keep a constant intercourse with Heaven Secondly Get good Books into your houses when you have not the Spring near to you then get water into your Cisterns So when you have nor that wholsom Preaching that you desire good Books are Cisterns that holds the waters of life in them to refresh you When Davids natural heat was taken away they covered him with warm cloaths 1 Kings 1. So when you find a chilness upon your souls and that your former heat begins to abate ply your selves with warm cloaths get those good Books that may acquaint you with such truths as may warm and affect your hearts Thirdly Have a care of your Company take heed of unnecessary familiarity with sinners we cannot catch health from another but we may soon catch a disease the disease of sin is very catching I would be as fraid of coming among the wicked as among those that have the plague Psal 106.35 They were mingled with the heathen and learned their works If we cannot make others better let us have a care that they make not us worse Lot was a miracle he kept fresh in Sodoms salt water My beloved take heed of the occasions of sin evil company is an occasion of sin The Nazarites in the old Law as they might drink no wine so they were forbidden grapes whereof the wine was made as you read in Num. 6. to teach us that all occasions of sin must be avoided evil company is belluo animatrum the Devils draw-net by which he draws millions to Hell how many families and how many souls have been ruined and undone in this City by evil company many there are that go from a play-house to a Whore-house and from a Tavern to Tyburn Fourthly Have a care whom you hear it is our Saviour Christs counsel Mat. 7.15 Beware of false prophets that come to you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly are ravening wolves Let me tell you the Devil hath his Ministers as well as Christ Rev. 12.15 The Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood over the woman that is as the Learned expound it Satan by his Ministers and Emissaries cast out the floud of Arian Doctrine to drown the Church There are some who by the subtilty of their wit have learnt the Art to mix error with truth and to give poison in a Golden cup. Take heed who you hear and how you hear be like those Noble Bereans that searched the Scriptures whether the things that they preached were so or not Acts 17.11 Your ears must not be like spunges that suck in puddle-water as well as wine but your ears must be like a Fan that fans out the chaff but retains the pure Wheat you must be like those in the Parable Mat. 13.48 that gathered the good Fish into vessels but cast the bad away the Saints are called Virgins for their wisdom they will not let every one defile their Souls with error they have a judicious ear and a critical palate that can distinguish between truth and error and put a difference betwixt meat of Gods sending and the Devils Cooking Fifthly Study sincerity Psal 51.6 Behold thou desirest truth in the inward part Be what you seem to be be not like Rowers in a Barge that look one way and Row another Do not look Heaven-ward by your profession and Row Hell-ward by your Conversation do not pretend to love God and yet love sin simulata Sanctitas duplicata Iniquitas counterfeit Piety is double Iniquity Let your hearts be upright with God the plainer the Diamond is the richer it is and the more plain the heart is the more doth God value his Jewel a little rusty Gold is far better than a great deal of bright brass a little true grace though rusted over with many infirmities is better than all the glistering shews of Hypocrites a sincere heart is Gods current Coin and he will give it grains of allowance Sixthly As you love your souls be not strangers to your selves be much and often in the work of self-examination amongst all the books that you read turn over the book of your own heart look into the book of Conscience see what is written there Psal 77.6 I commune with mine own heart set up a judgement-seat in your own souls examine whether you have grace or not prove whether you are in the faith be as much afraid of a painted holiness as you would be afraid of going to a painted heaven do not think your selves good because others think so let the Word be the touch-stone by which you try your hearts let the Word be the looking-glass by which you judge of the complexion of your soul for want of this self-searching many live known to others and die unknown to themselves Seventhly Keep your spiritual watch Mat. 13.37 What I say unto you I say unto all watch if it were the last word I should speak it should be this word Watch. Oh! what need hath a Christian to be ever upon his Watch the heart is a subtile piece and will be stealing out to vanity and if we are not careful it will decoy us into sin we have a special eye upon such persons as we suspect thy heart is a suspicious person Oh! have an eye upon it watch it continually it is a bosom Traitor Job set a watch before his eyes Job 31.1 We must every day keep sentinel sleep not upon your guard our sleeping time is the Devils tempting time let not your watch-candle go out Eighthly You that are the people of God do you often associate together Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another Christs Doves shall flock together one Christian will help to heat another a single coal of Juniper will soon die but many coals put together will keep life in one another Conference sometimes may do as much as Preaching one Christian by good discourse drops holy Oyl upon another that makes the lamp of his Grace to shine the brighter It is great wisdom to keep up the Trade in a Corporation