oftentimes fall into the sins also which he should not and 't is like would not to his shame and sorrow when too late to repent them therefore 1 Thes 5.22 says the Apostle Abstain from all appearances of evil 4. And where occasions cannot be avoided there especially arm your selves by prayer meditation on the word power justice and goodness of God and by holy resolution constantly and resolutely to oppose the evil the motions of sin temptations of Satan and the allurements of the world looking unto God and relying on him for assistance strength and wisdom to withstand and overcome them Jam. 4 7. 1 Pet. 5.9 Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray always that ye enter not into temptation And we have great reason so to do to be watchful if we consider what enemies we have viz. the Devil the world and the flesh 1. The Devil a most cunning malicious subtil vigilant and diligent and deceitful adversary to tempt and draw us to sin and destruction See 1 Pet. 5.8 one that is invisible a spirit and so can be present and see us outwardly inwardly that knows our nature temper and disposition by his great knowledge and thousands of years diligent observation and can and doth sute his temptations accordingly and press them home again and often and not be seen nor discerned of us because a spirit and invisible 2. The World another great enemy both the men of the world and worldly things The men of the world earthly carnal sensual men and men of corrupt judgments and evil conversations that will be tempting and drawing to sin by their counsel promises threatnings fair and foul usage hard dealings by their examples habits carriage and the like Therefore there are so many warnings given us by the Lord in his word as Pro. 1.10 My son if sinners intice thee consent thou not Prov. 4.14 Enter not into the path of the wicked c. Mat. 10.16 17 18. Beware of men Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets that come unto you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves i. e. with fair pretences but with foul malicious devouring hearts Phil. 3 2. 1 Cor. 15.32 Evil words corrupt good manners 2 Tim. 2.17 Their words do eat as doth a canker One man is oftentimes a wolf a devil to another and yet many discern it not Also the things of the world as profit pleasure preferment ease liberty credit and the like are great snares many times to draw into sin Who is not many times ensnared by them or too much taken up with them therefore great cause we have to be watchful 3. The flesh within us is as bad an enemy or worse than either of the other because within us natural to us born and bred up alwayes up with us as near to us as a right hand or a right eye that is always present with us and ready to open to Satan who is not always present therefore be watchful And thus labour to walk circumspectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exactly precisely for so the word most properly signifies not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil Ephes 5.15 16. from pleasures recreations idle words and frivolous discourses which are apt to steal away and swallow up much time though not evil in themselves also from vain thoughts and unprofitable musings which are very apt to steal in upon us in the bed at night in the morning and at other times at home and abroad walking and journeying also from sight frothy and amorous Books Romances and the like very unfit for Christians professing Godliness to read or hear for they steal much precious time move the affections in vain corrupt youth and take their affections off from and disrelish the spiritual appetite to the Holy Scriptures and other divine Treatises very necessary to be read frequently and seriously thought of Also redeem the time from unnecessary journeys visits yea even from sleep and worldly businesses for spiritual exercises to get and grow in knowledge grace and holiness to make sure of Gods favour pardon of sin interest in Christ and eternal life and to be useful in your generation that you may be able to to say with the Apostle Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies c. 11. As God gives and according to your abilities be ready to be good to and relieve them that are sick weak in want or other affliction Gal. 6.10 As we have opportunity let us do good to all men especially unto them that are of the houshold of faith i. e. that are of the same Religion with us especially such as are Godly Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased It is an odour of a sweet savour a sacrifice acceptable well-pleasing to God Phil. 4.18 And do it chearfully and liberally not grudgingly and sparingly for God loveth a cheerful giver and will plentifully require them in full measure pressed down and running over Luk. 6.38 It is compared to a sowing-seed 2 Cor. 9.6 He that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully Liberality supplieth the want of the necessitous giving occasion of much thanksgiving and of glory to God doth adorn the Christian Religion honor the Gospel of Christ stop the mouths of worldly men but opens the mouths and hearts of them that are relieved refreshed and comforted to praise God for you speak wel of you pray to God for you and doth as I may in some sense say engage God to deal liberally with you for your liberal distribution to others though our good works do not merit in the least degree and to inrich you with every good thing to all bountifulness 2 Cor. 6.7 8. and 9.8 to the end The Holy Ghost often presseth this duty Read Eccles 11.1 2. Cast thy bread upon the waters though it seem in the eye of natural reason as bread cast into the River quite lost yet saith he after many days thou shalt find it again yea with much advantage as the husband-man doth his corn cast into the earth and long buried yet after many moneths he receives it again many for one many times ten twelve yea more for one bushel Ver. 2. Give a portion to seven and also to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be on the earth that is what plundering times or casualties may come when all may be taken away or consumed and then it will not repent you that you were liberal and charitable whilst you had it to poor Christians and other prous uses that is so given is sure and safe but that which is not given but taken away or consumed is quite gone lost unless lost for Christs sake But remember as to give cheerfully and liberally to also for Christs sake love to God and obedience to his command
of which for the most part being the fruit of some hours thoughts in my bed and in a very plain phrase and method being intended for the meanest and weakest capacities as well as others And though it be but as Goats-hair towards the building of the Tabernacle yet notwithstanding may and I hope in the Lord will through his blessing help also others memories stir up their affections and hearts to a more serious walking in the good way of holiness and righteousness which will bring to heaven and eternal happiness Into which way I am fully persuaded many of you are already entred and walking but I cannot say so of all to whom this is intended and offer'd and therefore hope you will not be offended though I do adde divers directions for the better information instruction and direction of others towards the more easie getting preserving and increasing sound knowledge true and living grace to enable for the right use of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper too much neglected by many and all other Ordinances of Christ and especially to be prepared to live and dye holily comfortably and happily which next to the glorifying of God is the great business which we have all to do while we are here in this world and for which end we came into the world and God hath given us life the use of reason and understanding and the Word and Sacraments the means of grace and salvation which if any do neglect they are utterly and everlastingly undone and must perish eternally But rather I judge it will be a rejoycing of hearts to you who are already made wise unto salvation to see or hear that others also that are made wise or any ways helped in the way to get true wisdom I intended this only as an Epistle to another Treatise on a necessary subject but seeing it swell in the penning very much beyond my expectation I publish it by it self and it may be the other hereafter if life health liberty and the croud of other mens workes that press to be abroad do not hinder There are divers qualifications and things required as absolutely necessary to them of years of discretion to be had and exercised as to be enabled rightly to partake of the Sacrament of the Lords supper as a priviledge and benefit so to live and dye comfortably and happily which is the earnest desire of my soul and daily prayer unto God for you all namely sound knowledge of the things of God saving faith true repentance sincere love and charity and new obedience or holiness of heart and life and therefore I intend to speak something of each of them severally by the assistance of God 1. Knowledge a particular distinct grounded knowledge is necessary to salvation in all that are of years of discretion Let me mind some of you of some of the most necessary points of the Christian Religion the doctrine which is according to godliness Namely that there is only one true and living God and three distinct persons or manner of subsisting in that one undivided divine nature and Godhead the Father Son and Holy-Ghost or Spirit 1. That there is a God Because we live in an Age in which that damning sin of unbelief and Atheism is much more frequent then I think in any Age heretofore amongst Christians a sad sign that some grievous judgment from God if not destruction is drawing near I shall here set down a few Arguments to prove That there is a God which a man would think most clear and needs no proving which I hope may be of some use to confirm many though not to convince professed Atheists or wilful Cavillers Besides the Testimony of the holy Scriptures which have many demonstrative arguments in them to prove cleerly the divinity and infallible verity and certainty of the holy Scripture and so most fully and plainly that there is a God consider seriously these few of many that might be produced 1. The Heavens and Earth and all the Creatures in them as the Sun Moon Starrs c. do clearly prove it to all that are not wilfully blind and judicially given up to blindness to their eternal destruction for nothing can be the cause of it self the world could not make it self for then it should be both the cause and the effect both before and after it self Therefore the world and all things in it must have their being and beginning from some one first and supream cause which is of infinite wisdom power and goodness and of it self which gives being and continuance to all other things and this is God Also the first creature was made of nothing of no foregoing existant matter otherwise if not made it could not be subject to change and alteration And all Creatures are finite compounded and imperfect unable to make themselves or the least fly or worm or to sustain themselves and therefore of necessity there must be a first supream cause which is of it self of infinite power wisdome and goodness and most perfect which gives a being and continuance to that first Creature and to all things which are very good in their kind Gen. 1.31 2. The great wonders and miracles that have been done as the dividing the red Sea and Jordan causing the Sun and Moon to stand still and at another time to go back ten degrees and the Miracles wrought by the Prophets by Christ himself and the Apostles as raising the dead making them that were born blind to see the lame to go the dumb to speak the dead to live again and very many more which many thousands of eye and ear-witnesses saw heard all which were not only above the ordinary course of nature but simply above the power of nature do plainly and evidently prove that there is one supream absolute cause of infinite knowledge power and goodness which is God 3. The acts of conscience do prove that there is a God which are to excuse and comfort in well doing against disgraces slanders and sufferings and to accuse condemne and terrify for evil doing though committed never so secret and so that somtimes the sinners to free themselves of the terrous troubles of conscience make away themselves thousands have done so in all Ages which proves that there is a supream Judge that sees all though never so secret will call the sinners to account and condemne for their evil deeds and punish the evil doers 4. The powers of the Soul prove that there is a God The Soul is a substance spiritual invisible immortal ever-living exceeding active that can move its thoughts and eyes from one place to another from one kingdome and part of the world to another from earth to heaven in a moment is indued with understanding will reason and affection and is capable of eternal happiness and of eternal misery and therefore must of necessity be from a cause that is spiritual invisible immortal infinite in understanding wisdom power and goodness which only can
and brotherly compassion to the poor with an humble heart looking to God only for a reward of his bounty according to his gratious and free promise Luk 6.38 2 Cor 9. v. 6. to the end also 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Remember the poor widow that gave two mites all that she had by her and was highly commended for it by the Lord himself Mar. 12.42 43 44. Mat. 10.42.43 12. In prosperity as in health strength ease peace liberty plenty courteous respects from others good success in lawful undertakings and the like 1. Labour to see the good hand of God in all outward good things for God is the God of all mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Every good gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights Jam. 1.17 1 Chron. 29.11 12. It is God that giveth power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 even when men are most industrious and instrumental Promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West but God putteth down one and setteth up another Psal 75.6 2. Thankfully acknowledge Gods goodness in every thing and give him the praise Psal 103.1 2. 3. Use all his benefits in those ways and to those ends and uses to which God hath appointed and serve him more cheerfully with them and for them It is a great abuse of Gods benefits and dishonour to God to hoard them up covetously to look on or delight in excess of eating drinking apparel lavish idle expences gaming to bribe some to oppress others or to be proud of them and Lord it over others or to slight and neglect them 4. In abundance labour to keep thy heart humble and be courteous towards all even to the meanest Take heed of being proud or domineering over the poor or slighting them as rich men are apt to do for who made thee to differ from the meanest and poorest 5. Even in abundance take heed of trusting in any worldly things but labour to live in the world above the world trusting and relying on God alone Psal 62.10 If riches increase set not your hearts upon them 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Take heed of being ensnared by them Deut. 8.10 11 12 13 14. 6. Use the world with weaned affections Sit loose to all worldly things as friends children worldly goods that you may be ready to part with them whensoever or howsoever God shall please to take them from you or you from them 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. If outward things stick to us or we to them as our skin on our back as a right hand or right eye they will very hardly be parted with but if they fit loose in our affections as a loose garment on us or as a wooden legg or arm or glass-eye then it will be easie to part with them To this end consider how vain empty uncertain and unsatisfying all worldly things are especially to give us any true comfort peace ease of Conscience or of outward pain many times to procure Gods favour pardon of sin freedom from wrath and the like also how many cares and troubles do usually accompany worldly estates consider Judas his case his money then would not comfort him and Hamans Esth. 5.9 11 12 13 and 7.7 8 9 10. 13 In adversity viz. in sickness weakness pain reproaches poverty in juries losses crosses and the like 1. Labour to see Gods hand in all these things for God hath a righteous wise and gratious providence in all these things and for good to all his Amos 3.6 Is there any evil in the City namely of punishment or suffering and the Lord hath not done it Isa 45.7 I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Afflictions come not out of the dust Job 5.6 Therefore own acknowledge and justifie God in all his dealings though never so sharp and grievous to flesh and blood 2. Labour if it may be to find out the particular cause the sin that is the cause of your suffering ingeniously confess your sins bewail them and resolve to amend what is amiss 1 Cor. 11.30 31. If we would judge our selves we should not be condemned with the world c. 3. Be patient humble and quietly submit to the good pleasure of God Be willing to be what God would have you to be he knows best what is fittest for us take heed of murmuring repining fretting at his hand distrusting God much more of using any unlawful or unwarrantable means to be freed Above all take heed of seeking unto cunning men or women for help or ease that is in plain terms to go to the devil for help when God afflicts a hainous crime for what or whosoever is the instrument yet God is the Author of afflictions and troubles therefore Job though his sufrings were exceeding great from the Chaldeans the Sabeans and the Devil that set them all on did not say the Chaldeans or Sabeans or the Devil but the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken and blessed be the Name of the Lord he looked at Gods hand in all and justified God God lays afflictions on his people either to correct them for sin humble and bring them home to himself or to exercise and discover the truth and strength of their faith and other graces as patience c. and to brighten them and make them more illustrious Also consider that out greatest and sharpest sufferings are much less than we deserve and we suffer most justly but Jesus Christ most unjustly and yet bore it most patiently 4. Look on the Examples of the Godly and how patiently they suffered Heb. 10.34 and Heb. Chap. 11. especially ver 37. to the end Jam. 5.7 8 9 10. yea the Lord Christ himself though most innocent and made it his whole work to go about to do good 1 Pet. 3.18 and 4.12 13 14. Heb. 12.1 2 3 4. 5. Consider how many good things you have which many others want be thankful and contented consider also that many others suffer as well as you yea in the same kind and others in some kind or other as much as large and some much more grievously even such as are dear unto God as Job David Paul and many others even unto the death 6. Consider also the many promises God hath made As 1. That he will lay no more on his Servants than they shall be able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 And if he lay on more burden he will give them more strength 2 Cor. 1.4 5. And so a very great burden or suffering will be no more troublesome than a small matter with little strength 2. That he will be present with you in afflictions and troubles Read Isa 41 12 13. and 43.2 3. 3. That all afflictions and seeming cross-Providences are out of his love in mercy and faithfulness for their good Psal 25.10 4. That he will deliver his out of all troubles and sufferings make a way for them to escape in the best time 1 Cor. 10.13 5. That he will
Avoid also all evil times some times and seasons as well as some places are evil dangerous to walk in especially at some places as the night late or very early in some places Every man by nature is like to dry wood yea to dried tinder which is apt to take fire so soon as any spark of temptation to sin is cast into us by Satan and if the Devil do not tempt us yet our corrupt hearts are apt to take fire as soon as the least occasion is offered to us or we meet with it as too frequent experience proves Yea Fourthly Labour to mortifie sin every inordinate lust Col. 3.5 Mortifie your members which are upon the earth i. e. your sinful lusts desires and motions that are born and bred up with us and are as dear to us as our natural members are as a right hand or right eye Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye by the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Secondly Mind well and look to these things 1. Make choice of and improve good company yea the best company you can I count that the best company that is truly religious and godly which will further us in the best things especially be furthered by us to whom we may do good and by whom we may receive good And I count him my best friend that will help me most in the way to Heaven Worldly company I count also good company in this respect and so far as being otherwise civil and unblameable they may be helpful to me for the managing of my worldly affairs wisely and discreetly so as they may be most subservient to the highest ends You know Davids profession and practice Psal 16.23 My goodness extends not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Psal 119 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of all them that keep thy Commandments Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God Let your most familiar intimate bosome-friend be as much as in you lieth one that is a most godly wise and grave experienced Christian 2. Look well to your actions give a good Example and the greater and more esteemed any of you are the more cause to look well to your actions every where to give a good Example of godliness humility gravity faithfulness justice righteousness and the like Do nothing but what is commendable virtuous and praise-worthy Beware of doing any thing that may leave an ill savour behind you which may open the mouths of evil men to speak or think evil of you or of Religion harden them in their evil ways or sadden the hearts of good men or be a stumbling-block to weak Christians that are coming on not light vain foolish idle vile and prophane carefully shun and avoid all such 3. Look to your words that they be true sober grave and seasonable not false idle filthy vain foolish ridiculous bitter or railing Ephes 4 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man the truth unto his Neighbour ver 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Jam. 5.12 Above all things my Brethren swear not Ephes 5.3 4. But fornication and all uncleaness and covetousness let it not be once named among you as it becometh Saints Nor filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting that is scurrility or jeering scurrilous jesting and unseemly mirth are much unbeseeming the gravity and sanctity of a Christian For we must give an account of every idle word at the day of Judgment Matt. 12.36 37. much more of scurrilous and unclean words And if any man seem to be religious and yet bridleth not his tongue that mans Religion is vain Jam. 1.26 Not but that Christians may be cheerful and merry in company but their mirth must be harmless and innocent not light vain idle foolish much less vile and prophane In all things labour to shew your selves Patterns especially elder persons of goodness truth faithfulness righteousness uprightness c. and in all your dealings that you may adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and gain credit to Religion by your good conversation Let the Name of God Christ and his word be seldome in your mouths unless in an humble reverent manner to do or receive some good not in ordinary worldly discourse but let them be often in your minds hearts let them be to you as hony in your months and musick to your ears that you may say as David Psal 139.17 18. How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God How great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more than the sand when I awake I am still with thee Titus 3.2 Speak ill of no man be gentle shewing all meekness to all men Make the best construction of other mens words and actions as far as may be with a good conscience Love thinketh no evil is not easily provoked beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.5 7. Be not jealous be not suspitious yet labour wisely to foresee and prevent evils that may be Use not many words in speaking be not full of speech for as Solomon observes Eccles 5.7 In many words there are also divers vanities but fear thou God ver 3. A fools voice is known by a multitude of words It is often observed that even some very good persons and worthy to be honoured for the truth that is in them who are of a free speech when they speak of a person or thing which they like or dislike suppose it be of some distemper are sometimes so superlative and excessive in their expressions that they do speak often very much beyond what the thing in truth is to the grief of some tender consciences to hear such persons lash out beyond measure and which 't is believed if themselves did before God in their own consciences seriously consider surely they would not speak so largely It is good to speak always within the bounds of apparent truth also to perform what they promise lest some others censure us as lyers and say as too many are apt to do without cause Professors will not swear but they will lye or stretch foully This is sad and to be bewailed 4. Look to your affâ—ctions love desire delight hope fear joy sorrow anger hatred and the like that they be set on right objects so as to desire hope love delight and rejoyce in good things especially spiritual so to sorrow and grieve for sin to shan and hate it Col. 3.2 Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth Let David be your pattern Psal 16.3 In the Saints and the excellent in whom it all my delight Psal 119.104 I hate every
are those that having by their labour gotten a little money either lavish it out in some finery or dainty fare and strong drink above their ability in a moderate way at some special time is not to be blamed And so feasting as it were one day and then are forced to fait or go with an empty belly two or three days after whereas a wise husbanding that little they get might supply their wants at all times something comfortably Thus living and walking according to these and the former rules and directions none need to fear either want or death but may comfortably say with David The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want Psal 23.1 and apply that of Isaiah Isa 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds None need to fear want that hath an All-sufficient God and a most tender Father to provide for them nor need to fear death seeing to die to a Godly man is to enter into peace and rest in his bed none fear to go to bed when they know they shall rest Object Thus to live perhaps some will say or at least think were to banish all joy and comfort and to live an heavy mopish melancholy life Ans 1. The world is much mistaken and deceived The Godly man is forbidden or debarred no joy natural or worldly that is lawful and convenient for matter and other circumstances but only meer carnal sensual delights and others when and so far as they are evil in respect of circumstances which worldly delights so far worldly and voluptuous men must and will repent of when they shall give an account of themselves and their sinful pleasures and delights unto God 2. None under Heaven have so much true joy delight and content as the truly Godly man hath or may have even the most strict and most religious of them But indeed their joy and delights are not carnal but spiritual not outward in the face voice and lungs but inward in the heart a true sound solid joy but the joy of worldlings is a slight superficial underling joy of the bo y not of the soul like the flash of a bavin in the fire or straw it will make a great flame and noise but yeeld little hear it doth scorch rather than heat kindly and is quickly gone and out but the Godly mans joy is in his soul Luk. 1.46 47. Psal 13.5 and 33.21 a substantial hearty and lasting joy What greater joy can there be What greater comfort and cause of rejoycing than to know and be assured or have some comfortable grounds of hope that they are freed from the reigning and condemning power of sin from the destroying power of the devil death and hell have their sins pardoned God reconciled Christ to be their Saviour God to be their Father the Holy Ghost to be their sanctifier instructer guide and comforter and Heaven to be their everlasting inheritance and that in the mean time all things even the worst shall work together for their spiritual and everlasting good comfort and happiness the all wise and over-ruling gratious Providence of God Rom. 8.28 Psal 25.10 Therefore says the Apostle Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say Rejoyce Such a joy as the world can neither give nor take away nor understand Isa 9.3 Prov. 14.10 John 16.22 Object 2. Yet again p ssibly some may think this seems to be too much preciseness and niceness more than needs What shall none go to Heaven but such as live very precisely and strictly Answ I cannot deny but many shall go to Heaven yea all that are truly Godly and live holily though they are not of so strict a life as some are But 2. I never heard or read of so much as one in all my life that was truly Godly that thought himself too holy and strict but of many no doubt truly Godly strict who have complained and were troubled that they were no more holy and conformable to the will and Law of God and to Jesus Christ Read and consider David Psal 119.5.14 15 16 33 34. and many other places Paul also Rom. 7.18 19 c. and Phil. 3.9 10 12 13 14. 3. I say also that even wicked loose prophane persons when themselves come to die if the eyes of their understandings be truly open and conscience awaked they will justifie the most holy strict Christians and heartily wish that themselves had lived so I have heard and seen some do so on their sick beds when they had dying thoughts 4. Consider what Christ saith and commandeth us and all men Mat. 5.48 Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect and what the Apostle saith and enjoyns in the name of God 1 Pet. 1.15 16. As he which has called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I that is God or Christ am holy Now who can be perfect in this life for degree as God our Father in Heaven is Holy And who can be so holy in all manner of conversation while in the state of mortality as Jesus Christ is holy yet this we are all commanded to endeavour after here And now dear Friends and Christians give me leave to add only a few choice places of Scripture to be always ready at hand and before your eyes Ephes 4.22 23 c. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be you renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour for we are members one of another Be angry namely when there is a just cause but sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devil Let him that stole steal no more but labour with his own hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths but that which is good for edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are souled up unto the day of redemption Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be ye kind to one another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake hath or as you desire God should forgive you Phil. 2.1 2 to 7. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship in the Spirit if any bowels of mercy fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife and vain-glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of another Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Rom. 12.1 2 I beseech you by the mercies of God Brethren that ye present your selves a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed in the renewing of your minds Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things 1 Pet. 3.8 9 10 11. Be all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing For he that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Colos 3.12 13. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel one against another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye are called in one body and be ye thankful Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks unto God and the Father by him Act. 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of peace and love shall be with you Heb. 13.18 20 21. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 11. And the God of all Grace who hath called us to his eternal Glory by or in Jesus Christ after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Now dear Christians Brethren and friends consider what I have written and the Lord give you understanding in all things and forget not to pray for him and his who is April 1670. Your very affectionate kinsman and friend to love and serve your Souls good while he is T. M.