Parties approve of them as useful and needful for mutual and common Advice though they differ in the Point of Jurisdiction and the proper seat and extent of it Now why may not a Brotherly Amity well consist with these Differences since on neither side any essential thing is wanting to render them true Ministers and Churches of Christ and such as for the most part do otherwise agree in all matters of Doctrine and Practice Nay why may they not so far mutually agree as to walk together in holy Fellowship one Church with another as occasions serve the Members of one Church communicating with the Members of the other How sad is it that where the way for a closure lies so fair and easie good men should stand at so great a distance for so long a time each from other What bitterness what angry reflections what unbrotherly exasperations are still found between these differing Parties Whence comes it Is it not from the Devil the great Author and Fomenter of all Divisions When shall the Spirit of Meekness Plain-heartedness and True Christian Love put an end to these Wranglings When shall it once be Why should any on one side or the other remain under their own Passions Prejudices and inflexible Morosities Is there not great cause to suspect that Carnal Policy Self-opiniativeness Pride of Heart or something worse lies at the bottom Is it possible that where Sincerity Humility and such a Gracious Disposition as alwayes is accompanied more or less with the Sweet Spirit of Christ should dwell long in any that are true Members of him Who can be said truly to have learned of him that are not like him in the Grace of Meekness and Lowliness of heart Sure if any thing in the world be just matter of Wonder this is that no endeavours hitherto us'd no nor no severe Providences from God himself can reconcile Brethren that have cost Christ so dear are so dear to Christ and ought to be so to each other Do we not see how in Stormy Times the poor Sheep and other Cattel will run together how they get into their Folds and Flocks how they herd themselves with a kind of united force especially when the worrying Dogs and Wolves are abroad do they not all then hasten to their Shelters and their Shepherds And shall the very Instinct of Nature teach the Brute Beasts by this their mutual Vnion to defend themselves against present mischiefs or approaching dangers and shall not the most Noble Principle of Grace called in the Scripture the Wisdom from on high much more teach men good men to do the like What is it would or could more disanimate the very worst and most potent Enemies the truly Reformed Protestant Religion hath than to see the several dissenting Parties of sound Protestants firmly to unite together and by mutual Allowances in the few things wherein they differ to strengthen each other in the maintenance of the Faith which they have received from Christ and his Apostles and do on all hands think it their highest concernment to profess and bear testimony unto This therefore may well challenge the first place in the Methods humbly offered for restoring the aforesaid Protestant Religion to a flourishing state Secondly An universal constant and conscientious care and endeavour in all Protestant Families throughout these Three Kingdoms diligently to instruct their Children and Servants in the sound Principles of the said truly Reformed Protestant Religion The like care to be used by all Schoolmasters Tutors Guardians and others that have any charge of Souls under them but most of all by Preaching Ministers where-ever opportunity for such Work can be had For the better accomplishment whereof care is to be taken that such Catechisms may be made use of as have no mixtures of Error in them or are in any thing contrary to or not agreeing with the Holy Scriptures particularly in the Doctrine of the Christian Sabbath and the Morality thereof in which Calvin himself though otherwise a very famous and sound Divine was defective The Mistake of whose opinion therein hath had too much influence upon the Protestant Churches abroad most of all in France and the seven Vnited Provinces as to the looseness of their Lives and whole Christian Profession And here without offence let it be enquired whether the strict observation of the Chrrstian Sabbath as a Divine Institution of Christ here in England hath not rendred the sincere Professors of this Nation more eminent in all practical holiness than others of Foreign Parts A firm belief of the Morality of our Lords-Day-Rest and a due observation of it accordingly contains no small part of the very Power of Godliness in it as well as the Form thereof The truth is the careful and reverent regard unto this Day as well in mens secret Closets and private Families as in Publick Assemblies hath kept up a pure and warm Religion more in England than in any part of the world besides Even to this day who do we find to be the most savoury and spiritual in Discourse the most exemplary and worthy of imitation in their Lives but those that are most strict in an holy observation of this Day That have turned away their feet from the Sabbath as the Lord speaks by the Prophet Isa 58.13 from doing their pleasure on his holy day and have called the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and have honoured him not doing their own wayes nor finding their own pleasure nor speaking their own words I say who so much as these doth God himself delight in and all good men But if any say that this concerns the Jews only and those that keep the Seventh-day-Sabbath I answer If those that are of that mind will but take pains to read what Bishop Vsher in his Sum and Substance of Christian-Religion hath written upon the translation of the Sabbath or time of rest from the Seventh day to the First day of the Week with the Reasons of it as also what is published upon this Subject not only formerly by many Learned Writers but also of late by Mr. Hughes of Plimouth Mr. Baxter Mr. Wells and others but especially that most excellent Treatise upon it lately Printed with this Title Exercitations concerning the Name Original Nature Vse and Continuance of a day of Sacred Rest together with an Assertion of the Divine institution of the Lord's Day and Practical Directions for its due Observation I say whosoever will procure and take pains to read over these Books will soon find sufficient reason to believe that the aforesaid words of the Prophet Isaiah concerning the Sabbath are very aptly applicable to the due Observers of our Christian Sabbath Now of all the spiritual employments of this Day next to an attendance upon Publick Ordinances in the Solemn Assemblies of the Saints what hath been ever found to be more profitable than when the Heads of Families and others in their respective capacities have by
livelihood in this world But which is a greater thing give advantage to the improvement of the Parts and Natural Gifts of many a Fine Wit for publick Services that otherwise would be in a manner wholly lost and become useless both in Church and State for want of an ingenious education And which is yet more will they not keep up a learned and able Ministry and thereby in time make up the lamented loss of those many famous burning and shining Lights which of late years have been extinguished and still are more and more extinguished every day and will they not by this means likewise have the Prayers of Multitudes continually sent up to Heaven for them that Blessings of all sorts may be poured down upon them and theirs Yea and will not as the Apostle sayes in much the like case 2. Cor. 9.11 12 13. this very thing namely this bountifulness and liberal distribution for so brave a Service unto the Saints as well those that are not yet born as those that are cause many Thanksgivings unto God Hereafter at the great Tribunal of God how great a reward will it lay up for them and how high a place will it mount them to in heaven all those thousands of men and women that shall come to a true knowledge of God and the saving of their precious Souls in after-ages as a consequence and effect of this their so pious disposal of their wealth will they not pass for such as they have some way been instrumental in the saving of The Conversions wrought by those men which they shall have brought up and have given a liberal and holy Education to will they not in part be ascribed to them The Rule in Philosophy is true here Causa causae est causa causati in all noble acts the first and remote Cause is to be acknowledged the spring and fountain of the next and more immediate causes and the good effects thereof When stout and valiant Champions which they instrumentally shall have thus raised up not only for the propagating of the truly Reformed Protestant Religion but for a strenuous defence of it also against all Opposers whatsoever and when the minds of people every where shall thereby be so fixed and established as to be able to stand against all shocks and storms so that no Errors no Powers no Factions Conspiracies Subtilties or combined interest of a Popish Party no Priests or Jesuites or their Adherents shall be ever able to hinder the growth of true Protestantism much less exterminate it out of these Kingdomes what matter of Joy will this be to all such Rich Protestants as upon the consecrating of their Estates to the uses aforesaid shall see such blessed effects and fruits thereof yea and as was before said what high reward too shall they be sure to be enriched with in the other world upon this account But now on the contrary how much otherwise will it be with all such rich Protestants especially such of them as pretend to a profession of Religion and it may be amongst the most zealous Protestants too and yet have hearts so eaten into yea so eaten up and even gangren'd with Covetousness that First They are so far from doing good to others with the abundance of wealth which they reckon themselves Masters of that they live like slaves themselves to it so penuriously so sparingly so pinchingly that every wise observer of them cannot but wonder at their folly and every good man pity it Secondly When any opportunity is offered them for advancing any work of publick or private Charity be the necessity and excellency thereof never so visible and apparent yet they either find pitiful excuses or frivolous Arguments against it and so plainly reject it or if 〈◊〉 part with any thing it is in so small a pittance and with so much pain and difficulty as if they were letting out so much of their Heart-blood I say concerning such miserably-minded rich men as these how lamentable is their condition here and how much more lamentable is it like to be hereafter for the evincing of both which it would be well for this sort of men frequently and with all seriousness to read and consider these following great Scripture-Truths wherein they are deeply concerned and for whose sake after an especial manner they seem to be made a part of the Divine Oracle and to be left upon record First The manifold mischiefs hurts and dangers that this wretched spirit of theirs inevitably hurries them into as is expressed at large in Prov. 28.20 22. and in Eccles 5. from v. 10 to 18. compared with Mat. 13.22 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Jam. 4.4 5. from v. 1 to 5. Secondly With as much seriousness and frequency to read and consider that passage 1 John 3.17 Whoso hath this world's good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him And what advantage will he have by his wealth if God hath no love for him nor he for God and his people in a right use and improvement of it Thirdly and lastly Let them seriously consider that being but Stewards for God and must give an account of their Stewardship as is fully set forth in the Parable of the rich man's Steward in Luke 16. Their account of all others is like to be the most dreadful and thereupon have they not need to use this or the like Letany From an excessive love unto insatiable desires after the world with a vehement and most eager pursuit thereof from the sordid spirit of the vile person mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 32. from v. 5. to 8. from the God-provoking soul-damning and detestable sin of Covetousness which is Idolatry from an exclusion out of Heaven and the loss of eternal life from the Treasures of wrath heaped up against the day of wrath and from the everlasting burnings of unquenchable flames among the Devils in Hell which are the Miser's portion Good Lord deliver us And now for a Close of all I will end with this earnest request and desire that all such especially such rich persons as would be further instructed and invited to the practice of what in this small Treatise is here humbly offered would purchase to themselves and carefully read over a Book of small price but as pithy a Book and as argumentative though in a plain stile as any I know The Title of it is The Surest and Safest Way of Thriving Published by Mr. Tho. Gouge Minister of the Gospel And Printed for W. Rawlins at the Hand and Pen over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1673. An Appendix THe consideration of two things methinks should very much affect all sound and true-hearted Protestants First The great and continual decay of the old Stock of our Learned Able Orthodox Faithful Laborious Protestant Divines How fast do they drop away how do they die daily And how are the Flocks and People they were
pregnant Parts apt to learn and by perswasions of them their Parents would easily be inclined to the Service of Christ in the aforesaid glorious work of the Ministry or in case they have no such Sons of their own yet would please to adopt such as are in the said Treatise already suggested and not only bring them up to the said Service in manner as is propounded but settle a liberal maintenance upon them during their lives at least in case they continue sound in the Faith painful in their Work and holy in their Conversations I say whether those that shall do such a noble work as this besides the giving proof of their Love to Christ they will not by this means render the Children which they thus bring up dedicate to the Lord's work and settle Estates upon them in consideration of it whether they be their own Children or such as are adopetd by them I say whether they will not render them doubly happy First in putting them into so honourable and heavenly an employment Secondly In delivering them from the Snares and Temptations they would otherwise be endangered by if not thus provided for upon account of their faithfulness and constancy in their work whatsoever discouragements and troubles they may meet with for their works sake 5. Whether it would not be one of the most Glorious works that some Ages have produced if certain rich Protestants amongst others the aforementioned Acts of Piety humbly moved to be promoted by them here in Old England should agree together to setâ—le a perpetual liberal maintenance upon the Vniversity of Cambridge in New-England and so to endow it that it might be a standing and lasting Nursery to all succeeding Ages not only to train up such hopeful and well educated Youths for the service of the Gospel there as shall be born in that Countrey but such also as shall be sent from hence for the same purpose in due tâ—me to return hither richly furnished with sound Learning and abilities to do the like service here Methinks 50 or 60 if not 100 persons might easily be found in this Kingdom of Old-England that might each of them give an hundred pounds a year for ever to the said Vniversity in New Engâ—and for so pious and renowned a work and thereby not only perpetuate and embalm their Names here but prepare the more abundant entrance for themselves into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and so be he higher in happiness hereafter For though I am far from that Popish Opinion of Merit whether of condignity or congruity and do not in the least think that any man whatsoevâ—â—â—an deserve any thing at the hand of God for any good work or work that can be done by him yet that every one receives according to his wâ—â—ks is no false Doctrine if those Scriptures be true in 2 Cor. 5.10 〈◊〉 14.13 20.12 13. 6. Whether this small Treatise if it shall be judged useful and seasonable will not be so most of all by being dispersed abroad into many hands and into those principally that it is more particularly intended for as into the hands of all dissenting though sound in the main true-hearted Professors into the hands of the Parents and Governors of numerous Families into the hands of the several sorts of the aforementioned rich Protestants into the hands of all religiously affected young persons especially such as are under the age of sixteen years And whether it would not be Money well laid out to print so many Impressions and take care and pains to disperse them as might replenish all the aforesaid Parties in these Three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland Perhaps some of the things humbly proposed in the Treatise may take with some others with others some may be prevailed with by it to dedicate their own Sons to the Service of the Sanctuary some to adopt others some that cannot or have no mind to do this may settle Countrey-Schools and give yearly Stipends for teaching poor Children to read in great and populous Towns and where is greatest Ignorance and least Means for Knowledge in the remote and dark parts of the Kingdoms particularly in the Northern and Western Parts and all over Wales A Passage out of Mr. Increase Mather his Excellent Book Entituled The Mystery of Israel's Salvation And shall I tell you yea from the Lord I will tell you that the Prayers of the despicable ones that know and fear and serve God can do great things with him that doth whatsoever he pleaseth in Heaven and in Earth and in all deep places Oh consider of it I remember Melancthon that great and Learned Divine saith he was much encouraged to hope that God would carry on the work of Reformation in Germany and the Lord did carry it on with great success in those days because he understood that there were many poor Godly women that were wont to meet together to pray that the work of Reformation might go forward Even so if the Lord stir up the hearts of his poor Saints to favour the dust of Zion and to shew it by earnest Prayer before him at all times surely the day will not be long before the Lâ—rd appear in his Glory to build up Zion for he will have rgard unto the Prayer of the destitute and will not despise their Prayer Thus far he at the very close of his Book The same say I here Fervent Prayer all England over among such as truly fear the Lord and know how to pray aright may possibly set hundreds on work to help on the ends of this small Treatise and the Matters propounded in it FINIS