flatt'ries to allure Foundations being out of sight A mountain they present secure What can the righteous do say they Now their upholders are destroy'd All will come down they are our prey Our snares and baits they can't avoid But these did not build us upon Themselves to Christ as surely laid The standing good foundation They us directed for our aid He is the holy Temple where God is and with respect to whom His chastisements now ordered are And so shall be the wickeds doom Let us likewise now in our Grief Direct to him our earnest pray'r To send unto us some relief And this our grcevous Breach repair The Father who out liv'd the Son Is in like manner taken hence He who hath turned many a one To God from sin and ignorance But Death him always shall not keep Nor yet his glorious splendour hide When he is raised out of sleep His shining brightness shall abide An Acrostick by the same hand The breach before was much to be bewail'd His taking from us that was fil'd with skill On all occasions and who never fail'd Minding men daily of Gods holy will And have we not a fresh occasion now Since that presented to lament afresh May we not fear God with a further blo Our hearts will humble for our stupidness O Let us hast our selves to humble then Returning to the Lord acting like men Ere he come over with his blow agen Surely God is beginning for to rise Even up from off his Mercy-seat No greater sign is set before our eyes In holy Writ than gather'ng thus his whea O when he takes his precious Grain away Ruine is threatned unto them that stay An Epitaph by the same HEre breathless lies our Brother dear Who spent his breath to make us hear The joyful sound our hearts to chear But of how few was it believ'd Nay by our deafness we him griev'd Aâ—â— he by death is now repriev'd Death put an end unto his pain Which while he liv'd he did sustain And is to him an endless gain In service he did oft go forth Setting before us Christs great worth But God with us shew'd himself wroth Which he of times hath done before But in this stroke He wounded Moore The wound to us was very sore Oh may it now be laid to heart That with our Idols we may part Before we feel a further smart So may we meet with in the end The good God doth by all intend And be made happy with our Friend But we awhile must bid Adieu And bide the sorrows that ensue The Death of him like whom there 's few Which few the Lord continue still To publish his most blessed will Till they their numbred years fulfil An Anagram upon the name of his Honoured Friend Tho. Moore Son by Thom. Goddrick O man t is love Homo amor est or Homo est amor The man is love 1. The man is love this is too much to say Of any man but one though some may be Conformd so farto him through grace this day That much of 's image men in them may see Who Being with his Father always one Is truely love even Jesus Christ alone 2. God manifested in the flesh is love In Him thereto is nothing contrary He is the light that shineth from above In Him 's no darkness nor obscurity O man its love as it in him doth shine That thou shouldst mind to it thy heart encline 3. Tongues Prophesie and knowledge bounty faith With constancy to death continued in If Love be wanting so the Scripture saith Advanceth nothing doth nor profit win Nor Circumcision nor its contrary Availes but faith which works by Charity 4. Love 's the fulfilling of the holy Law What it to God what it to man doth bind us That worship service reverence and aw Which is our Makers due as it doth mind us To love the Lord with all the soul heart Comprehends all includeth every part 5. Love to our Neighbour never worketh ill What 's due to him it therefore comprehendeth Our Lord to us the substance of his will In those two words alone briefly commendeth On which the weight and stress of what was said By Moses and the Prophets both is laid 6. The man whose name you see prefixed here Was exercis'd in shewing forth Gods love In its extent making it to appear That charity descendeth from above That men in knowing God might somewhat be In love mercy perfected as he 7. The Scriptures only made him wise to be An instrument of winning souls and sure without the help of vain philosophy Through faith in Christ their virtue doth endure Throughly to perfect and to furnish us To each good work This man was furnisht thus 8. Who more than half the age of man assayd By word and pen the mists to drive away Which do obscure the true foundation laid By God for men to build on in this day That men might neither slight not yet mis-place The precious corner-stone that gift of grace Who hold forth truth in its simplicity Unveil the love which mens traditions hide Turn many to Gods righteousness and by His special favour ever shall abide Even as the brightness of the firmament And shine as stars in glory permanent READER my absence from the Press â—…ath occasioned these following Errata's which thou art hereby desired to mend As also the Learned Reader may easily discern â—…me Hebrew Letters in p. 84. l. 26. 122. l. 15. â—…rossly mistaken which I leave to his ingeâ—…uity to mend PAge 14. line 30. read that which was p. 25. l. 20. for thy r. they p. 30. l. 21. for nursing r. musing p. 34. l. 7. â—…seeth p. 37. l. 20. r. that that p. 43. l. 1. r. Mat. 18.20 l. 18. â—…or Joh. 2. r. 2 Joh. p. 25. l. 26. dele him p. 46. l. 7. for can r. 〈◊〉 l. 18. for deprives r. can deprive p. 60. l. 22. d. 〈◊〉 p. 66. l. 〈◊〉 8. r. understand p. 68. l. 18. r. orderly p. 7. l. 28. r. and did p. 73. l. 12. r. other l. 7. for race r. rate p. 76. l. 27. for to r. too p. 81. l. 1. set the figure 2 before pure p. 85. l. 9. r. Psal 49. p. 88. l. 20. d. got p. 97. l. 11. for Isa 45.14 r. 45.19 p. 102. 〈◊〉 3. for or r. as l. 10. r. kept p. 105. l. 13. for to r. too p. 106. 〈◊〉 19. d. that l. 29. r. my sayings p. 124. l. 10. r. Gentiles p. 125. l. 2. for Luk. 29. r. 24. p. 127. l. 8. for 2 Cor. 44. r. 2 Cor. 6.14 p. 136. l. 15. for an r. and. at folly d. Comma p. 140. 〈◊〉 18. for has r. hast p. 141. d. be l. 29. r. this iâ—… p. 142. l. 6. 〈◊〉 things p. 155. l. 5. for God r. good
foresight of dangers with a prudent provident care to prevent them and this also because his Eyes are in his Head and he makes use of them to look before him even to what is yet to come And he hath so good a fight through the spirit of wisedome given him in and through the faith of Christ and shewing him things to come as that he sees things afar off and what others see not even the end of ways and events and issues of courses good or evil before they be come upon men He sees the effects in the causes and the fruit in the root and in the nature of the stock and juice it springs from whereas the fooâ—… and evil man seeth not things till they bâ—… come or just upon them for he wants thâ—… eye of Faith or which the Faith or Gospeâ—… of Christ received gives and he hath noâ—… or uses not that heavenly prospective-glasâ—… which makes evident things not otherwise seen and shews the things that are far of in their true magnitude as if they werâ—… near hand thus it s said The prudent maâ—… foreseeth the evil and hideth himself the spirâ—… tually wise and good man seeth it before 〈◊〉 be come into other mens sight or view oâ—… before it be upon him and he seeth thâ—… place of refuge where he may be safe from it and escape its dint and thither betake himself and there hides himself that 〈◊〉 find him not out He knows that in Chriâ—… Jesus there is salvation and deliveranâ—… from all that is evil and may hurt him froâ—… the World or Devil and that in repentinâ—… if gone astray from him returning to anâ—… believing on him and obeying his Worâ—… and Doctrine and abiding therein hâ—… shall not perish under whatever may happen to or in the world but he shall havâ—… everlasting life and therefore he betake himself to him his counsels and instructâ—…ons and follows them trusting to hâ—… Promises and so he is safe and hidden but the simple pass on and are punished they transgress and go beyond the bounds God hath set them they abide not in the Doctrine of Christ to believe and obey that and seeing no evil come upon them nor any appearance of it they go on on on in their deceitful ways till the sad issue of them come upon them they cry peace peace hoping for and promising themselves safety and security till punishment befals them till sudden destruction comes upon them as Travail upon a Woman with Child and they shall not escape it Prov. 22.3 27.12 1 Thes 5.2 3. But the Wise with the prudent and provident Ant they foresee a Winter before â—…t be arrived while yet the Summer and Harvest last and the Sun shines warm upon them and they provide against it come provide their meat in the Summer and gather their food in the Harvest Prov. 6.7 8. 30.25 They know that though no Wild-Beast be yet upon them yet many such there are many evil spirits and evil men full of Craft Power and Cruelty and that they are not 〈◊〉 themselves able to encounter with them and make their party good against them they being a feeble folk in themselves and therefore preparing against the worst they with the Conies make their houses and habitatiâ—…ns in the rock they make the Lord their refuge the most High their habitation Pro. 30.26 Ps 91.9 They know that though the light be sweet its a pleasant thing for the eye to see the Sun yet the time of darkness will come too and that though a man may live many days rejoice in them all yet the days of darkness will or may be many because all that cometh is vanity and therefore they remember God their Creator in the days of their youth or choise before the evil days come and those years draw neer in which they shall say they have no pleaâ—…ure in them Eccles 11.7 8. 12.1 knowing and minding that in the world the followers of Christ must have tribulation and are lyable to many tryals and temptations and that they are often and may be so to themselves deep and heavy and of long continuance They with the wise Virgins are careful to furnish their Vessels with Oyle before they give rest to their Souls that so if long tryals come upon them and Christ defer his coming to help and deliver them figured out in the Parable by the Bridegrooms staying till midnight yet their Lamps may burn and shine and not go out that is they mind the word of God and knowledge of Christ and treasure it up within them laying up in store a good foundation therein against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life They meditate the Law and Doctrine of the Lord day and night and walk therein that they may have such hope and trust in the Lord as to be made like the tree planted by the waters side and that spreads out her roots by the Rivers that is not careful in the year of drought sees not or is not hurt by any evil nor ceases from bearing fruit c. Mat. 25.1 4 7 10. Jer. 17.7 8. and so they lay up knowledge and keep it within them Prov. 10.14 14.33 22.18 and yet so as they make use of it too to shine as Lamps by it and give light to others and so there is in them also 7. A right use making of their knowledg as it is said the lips of the righteous feed many Pro. 10.21 the tongue of the righteous useth knowledge aright Prov. 15.2 for as they keep knowledge Prov. 5.2 so they disperse it too Prov. 15.7 and so they use it not for pride and ostentation to puff up themselves with it or do hurt by it to others as fools sinners do increasing therethrough their own guilt punishment but to do good to instruct others so they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Teachers as the Margin reads it or such as make others wise that is are Instruments of it in the hand of God As it is also said The wise in heart they thai with the hart believe the Gospel unto righteousness shall be â—…alled prudent and the sweetness of the lips â—…ncreaseth learning with the mouth confession is made to salvation For understanding is a well spring of life both to himself and others to him that hath it Whereas the instruction of fools is folly The heart of the wise teacheth or maketh wise his mouth and addeth learning to his lips Pleasant words are as honey comb sweet to the soul and health to the bones of them namely that hear and duly receive them Prov. 16.21 22 23 24. Rom. 10.10 and so we may take in here that other reading The Teachers or Instructers shall shine c. but then we must couple in the former reading with it and understand it of such Teachers as are also themselves wise in the points spoken to and explicated such as do first hear and obey
light was with them John 12.35 36. and not as the Poet observed to be the common practise of men Presentem virtutem odio habere absentem quaerere invidi Horat. Slight present good out of envy of it and then when it is withdrawn seek for it when it cannot be had Surely it 's matter of lamentation for the Church and World to be deprived of any useful persons in them As also cause of sadness we have as the taking away such may presage judgments approaching upon us as is often found and as is implyed in Isa 57.1 2. The righteous man perisheth namely from among men and no man layeth it to heart And men of mercy or kindness are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken from the evil either the evil that is already predominant as Lot from the evil that vext his righteous soul or as we read it the evil to come as Lot also was and Noah when taken into the Ark from the approaching deluge He shall enter into peace c. In respect of him therefore we have cause of gladness as our Saviour said to his Disciples John 14.28 But in respect of our selves cause to grieve And God grant that that of our Saviour when the women wept for him when he went to his death may not be applicable to us Weep for you selves and for your Children for behold the days come in which they shall say Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare and the paps that never gave suck c Luke 23 28 29. Well what of judgment and correction to us there is in it it is good for us to bear Searching and trying our ways and turning again to the Lord who in divers such strokes and breaches made upon us hath been smiting us Blessing him that we enjoyed him so long and that he lived to fill up so fully the number of his years in which respect there is the less of judgment I conceive in his being now taken away And whereas we can now have no farther usefulness of him by any personal care of or service among us let us bewailing our unprofitableness under what we have had have the more regard to his Relicks I mean those good and useful Books and Writings the best and truest Relicks of the Saints to be made much of by the surviving lest behind him In and by which we may yet be minded of the sum and substance of what he spake to us and hear him as it were yet instructing us and reap the labours of his spirit for us Luke 16.29 2 Pet. 1.15 And let it be also our care as being in this his Death and Burial aptly minded thereof and provoked thereto so to number our days as to apply our hearts unto the heavenly Wisdom So as we following after the knowledge thereof and walking therein we may be accepted of God also and be accounted worthy to have our lot and portion among those that be wise who shall shine as the brightness of the Firmanant in the Kingdom of God and if it may be that we also may be instruments of turning many unto righteousness that we may shine then too as the Stars for ever and ever Amen Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift THE END A DOUBLE ACROSTICK Thy Race is Run and Having thy work done Oh may we too do Merit we can't but At Christs appearance Shall rise again and Thou full happily Home t' Heaven didst ply Ours so as we may Mercy find that day At that day when we Shall judg'd by him be More more such useful Once was the Prayer of Old Master Power 't was Rome's and Geneva's Even when thou dst shewd their Moores to us God send One who did attend Of old Bullinbrook Rocks when thou dst shook Errors by Gods Book So be it may we Either with us or Neither the Learned In many places On whom like gifts were Rarer endowments Say for few there be Else where like to thee Nor Vnlearned can Instance such a man Of Gods grace so show'd Richer parts bestow'd 〈◊〉 Epitaph on Mr. Tho. Moore Sen. HEre lies a man wrapt up in dust Whose better part 's in heaven we trust â—…he who through Grace with diligence â—…tain'd to great experience â—…d was with heavenly gifts indu'de â—…ove the common multitude â—…undantly Yea few there were â—…ny in Gods truth more clear 〈◊〉 many wisely did instruct â—…nvert to righteousness conduct â—…ways of Truth and Piety â—…herein himself did live and dy â—…d therefore though as all else must 〈◊〉 now be laid in clay and dust 〈◊〉 at the coming of the Lord 〈◊〉 make good what He in his Word â—…th promised He shall no doubt â—…m thence to glory be rais'd out â—…d then in brightness as the sky â—…ll shine and as the Stars on high â—…h gain hath godliness So good God to such as here have stood â—…his good counsels and have chose â—…th Christ above all things to cloâ—… â—…ving their sins his truth to 〈…〉 〈◊〉 minding seek the things 〈…〉 〈◊〉 such as read these 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Faith and pure Câ—… 〈…〉 To follow after Christ believing God will be faithful none deceiving Who trust to his good Word and so Let 's chuse in such good ways to go As this deceased Friend and all Whom holy men the Scriptures call For there 's no glory may compare With theirs who truly godly are John Horne Another Here lies a Father Friend and Brother Where 's he can shew me such another Learn'd not i' th' learning of the School But in that which who wants are fools His preaching writing walking-one His hands did not bely his tongue Christ in whom's all in all be blest And having done his work 's at rest Bâ—… Thomas Moore Anagr. O harm to some A Help he was to many Souls who His heavenly teaching had their heaâ—… 〈…〉 unto Christ in whom they met 〈…〉 â—…enly peace and blessed safety 〈◊〉 〈…〉 in 's such a sense 〈…〉 as a rock of offence â—…o such as his good counsels did reject â—…ot suff'ring them to have their due effect â—…or better not to have Gods grace set forth â—…han to reject or count it little worth â—…nd o to some his death's harm who depriv'd â—…f what advantage by him while he liv'd â—…hey had in Gods good ways are likely now â—…heir former love thereto away to throw â—…ea to the countries 't is more generally â—…harm where good men live for them to dy â—…r good mens worth and usefulness is oft 〈◊〉 such like names as these in Scriptures taught â—…ch treasures jewels lights o'th'world or stars â—…ods grain earths salt and sometimes its pillars â—…oss of which O what a harm t' would be â—…ightless heaven or grainless earth to see 〈◊〉 loose our jewels or rich treasures and â—…ose pillars whereon our choice buildings stand â—…d yet no less Churches or world's less when â—…d takes away therefrom his godly men â—…n such in Sodom had its safety been â—…r had
own sinful ways because Christ hath died for them but for those things they must forsake the foolish and leave their own waies and come in to him and his waies For 2. God is not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness evil may not dwell with him fools may not stand in his sight he hates as to fellowship with them all the workers of iniquity Psal 5.4 5. No unclean thing or unrighteous thing or person therefore may enter into or inherit his his Kingdom 1 Cor. 6.9 Rev. 21.27 and therefore there is a necessity that we be washed sanctified justifiied made wise and righteous which we cannot be but by turning to God in and by Jesus Christ believing on and obeying him 3. It was Gods end in sending his Son and Christs in giving himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Not that he might justifie and save us and make us happy in our sins and uncleaness cleaness Tit. 2 13 14. He dyed for all that they that live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.15 4. Neglecting and refusing to come to Christ to believe on and follow him therefore men must needs perish in thir sins and uncleaness For 1. All things in this life and world will fail being vain and momentany All flesh is grass and the goodliness thereof as the flower of grass 1 Pet. 1.24 The world passeth away and the fashion and lust or desire of it 1 Joh. 2.17 1 Cor. 7.31 and all our own wisdom is bruitishness and folly with an enmity to God and he will destroy it Jer. 10.14 1 Cor. 1.19 3.19 20. and all our righteousnesses and goodness though after the Law but as a menstruous ragge so as we cannot live in or be justified by and on account of it Isa 64.6 Rom. 3.20 Gal. 3.10 nothing but Christ will preserve us from perishing Acts 4.11.12 2. Yea mens neglects of and rejections of Gods Grace and great Salvation provokes his heavy anger and displeasure which will kindle a fire that will never be quenched but will for ever burn upon them Mat. 22.7 Mark 9 44-48 Heb. 2.3 10.26.29 12.25 Such things are to be talked of proposed to and urged upon men sometimes one and sometimes another of these things to convert them to righteousness as also the discovery to men of what is the good acceptable and perfect will of God as to what he would have them do and practice in their believing on Christ that they may please him and have the fellowship of his spirit and his blessing And so what God and Christ require of them and his grace obliges them to do or deny or to forbear With the manifold incouragements to obedience and heartnings thereto against all temptations persecutions and whatever other discouragements in proposing Gods pretious promises and gratious readiness in Christ to pardon sins and accept of weak if upright endeavours and the like as the Scriptures abundantly evidence to which it would be too long to speak here particularly Such things are to be held forth by believers in holding forth the word of life in shining as lights among men Which they are to do also 2. In their works and conversation As the Apostle also implies when he saith Do all things without murmuring and disputing that ye may be blameless and harmless or fincere the Sons of God Without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine or shine ye as lights Namely in so walking and demeaning your selves Both these ways Levy is said to have exercised himself in in his turning many away from iniquity Mal. 2.6 The Law of truth as the Gospel is called the Word of truth Ephes 1.13 was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips There is the first thing And then the second follows viz. He walked with me in peace and equity and turned many from iniquity And indeed they that will not be won by the word may sometimes be won to the word by a good Conversation as is implyed 1 Pet. 3.1 For herein also we may shew forth the virtues of Christ and God in him while we as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts and have our Conversation honest among the Gentiles the uncircumcised in heart a Conversation that becomes and is answerable to the Gospel of Christ an holy humble charitable courteous upright and blameless Conversation So as that whereas they are apt to speak evil of us as of evil doers they may glorifie God by occasion of the good works that they shall behold in and from us in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2.9 11 12. which our Saviour also evidently implies in his exhortation to his Disciples aforementioned in Mat. 5.16 When he saith Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works walk so well and blameless before them in your holding forth the word of life that your works may testifie of you and evidence the force and power of the truth believed and grace received and declared by you so as men may behold them and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven For this way also we may declare or shew forth his salvation even shew forth in our selves as evidences of it the saving virtue that is in the Gospel and Grace believed by us that the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to Salvation even to save men from their sins in the power and pollution of them yea and from the clogging force in sins guilt in the conscience â—…ausing deadness or sadness to every one â—…hat believeth whither Jew or Gentile And â—…erein we may shew forth his righteousness namely that god is upright faithful and â—…nd true in what he saith and promises while according to his promises we receive â—…is blessings in and upon us to the filling us with the fruits of his righteousness making â—…s apt to every good work and chearful â—…nd hopeful in God under all evils of adversity Psal 92.13 14 15. And also while we exemplify in our selves before men the righteous ways and practises which God would have men walk in And indeed without this all our profession or preaching is rendered vain and ineffectual exceedingly and instead of glorifying God as He is and will be in trees of righteousness of his planting Isa 61.3 God is dishonored among men by such as talking of and professing his love and grace do walk otherwise witness what the Apostle saith in Rom. 2.17 24. Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law and makest thy boast of God and knowest his will and tryest the things that differ or approvest the things that are excellent being instructed out of the Law and art confident that thou thy self art 〈◊〉 guide of the blind a light of them that are in darkness an instructor of the foolish
a teacher of babes which has the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law Thou therefore that teachest another teachest thou not thy self thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit Sacriledge thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonorest thou Gods for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Let us take heed we be not such lights or such vain boasters and talkers of light and truth and of the Gospel of Christ but yeild we up our selves to the grace of God and its teachings and walk we in the spirit in all goodness righteousness and truth and so let us endeavour where God hath given any furniture and fitness for it according to what God hath given us to seek and promote the good of others With both these forementioned particulars adding and joyning earnest and faithful and fervent prayers and supplications to God that He would be merciful to us and bless us and make his face â—…o shine upon us that so his way may be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations c. Psal 67.1 2. as knowing that all our success in all our work and service for him and endeavours with men depends upon his grace and blessing without which they that labour to build the house of God convert souls to Righteousness will be â—…ut labor in vain Ps 127.1 Thus we find Christ â—…ur Lord rising early and going apart to pray â—…o God before he went to teach the people Mark 1.35 38. and so let us endeavour to â—…o make others wise and to turn many to â—…ighteousness considering also that it is â—…ere farther implyed and that this may serve Vse 4. 2. To inform us That this the â—…nd of Gods giving the knowledge of himself and grace in Christ to us with any gifts more or less for usefulness that we should live to him therein and seek his honor glory and interest in endeavouring the good of others not living to our selves or minding our own thing only no not only the good of our own souls much less inferior worldly advantages but that we should look upon others and seek their good also No saying to our brethren as Cain to Abelâ—… Am I my Brothers keeper but letting the samâ—… mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus whâ—… being in the form of God and thinking it no robbery to be equal with him yet so looked up on our needs and miseries as to abase and empty himself and take upon himself the form of a servant and the fashion of a man yea and therein also to humble himself and become oâ—… bedient to the death the death of the Crosâ—… that he might ransome and redeem us from the death and judgment that was upon us and become our Saviour that He might lifâ—… the poor out of the dust and take the needy from the dunghil and set them upon the Throne with Princes even the Princes of his people Phil. 2.5 6 7 8. Psal 113.6 7 8. especially those that are stronger and more gifted And moâ—â— especially yet if also called to Office and Ministry among others ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and look after that thaâ—… is lost not pleasing themselves but every one seek his Neighbours good and how to please him for his edification and salvation seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness both that they may be more and more subject to his Kingdom and Government and filled with the fruits and benefits of it and to that purpose with his righteousness without which there is no inheriting his his Kingdom As also to promote his Kingdom enlarge his Church bring in more souls and souls more and more into it And to that purpose shew forth and seek the manifestations and discoveries of his righteousness both in word and conversation as is before noted Not first to seek our selves no not necessaries for our life food and raiment much less great matters in this world honors and preferments riches pleasures and the like Rom. 15.1 2 3. Mat. 6.22.23 Luke 12.30 31 32. Yea they that have but one Talent we may see it 's Gods mind and Christs that they trade for him with it in seeking to bring an increase to him that 's evidently declared to be his mind in the judgment awarded upon him that neglected to improve his one Talent And that it is pleasing to God that we endeavour the good of others and their salvation with our own is in this also plainly made manifest in that they that instruct and make wise others and turn many to righteousness shall receive such honor at the hands of God as to shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars for ever and ever Yea this also may serve Vse 5.3 To inform us what is the right use and improvement that we should make of those advantages and means of grace that God affords us in sending wise men and prophets and holy men among us who instruct us and hold forth the light of the knowledge of God and of his ways among us in word or conversation or both As also when his grace therein is received effectually to purpose and not in vain by us Viz. That that is the end of God in such vouchsafements to us and the use and improvement which we are to make thereof that we be made wise and righteous thereby And so far is the grace of God received to purpose by us as it hath that effect in us and we become thereby wise and righteous are turned from our iniquities and brought into and made partakers of the divine nature and virtues of Christ Jesus Therefore we are not to rest content that we have Gods servants words and ordinances with and among us or that we get by them some light into our understandings so far as to fill us with notions of truth and to make us able to talk and make profession of it There is great difference between such a knowing as may but puff us up and make us proud and true wisdome and righteousness the more we have of opportunities and means of knowledg yea and the more knowledg we get thereby of what is good and true and what is Gods will concerning us and the more profession we make thereof the more or greater fools are we if we be not brought into subjection to Christ and his gracious government thereby and if we be not made just and righteous therethrough Yea the more unrighteous are we towards God and men and our own souls if having more of such means and knowledg we are not yet therethrough brought into subjection and obedience to Christ so as to love Him above all and denying our selves with all ungodliness and worldly lusts to â—…ive soberly righteously and godly and â—…o