by Nature as the most wicked you would Reform and worthy to be as poor as the most Indigent you 〈◊〉 and not too good to be employed 〈…〉 in the meanest Services 〈◊〉 really honoured to be used in such as this 〈…〉 irs and this seems har 〈…〉 s too debasing ask may not that 〈◊〉 better fit me which was in Christ Iesus my Lord who made himself of no reputation Phil. 2.5 2. Be weaned from the World mortified to all in it and well content with what God hath reserved in Heaven for you what you make your Portion that will prescribe your Work If your Happiness is confined to Flesh and Time you 'll soon quit what seldom contributes to it and is daily exposing it to hazard yea oft to ruine Even Publick Spirited Men for their Country venture all in common Danger yet after Success they get the least it 's oft more than so with Men who are engaged for the Testimony of Christ and good of Souls Worldly Affections can never drive this Trade Covetousness Effeminateness fondness of Relations excessive love of Life Ease and Pleasure will obstruct you when the Expences Losses Pains and Dangers of Eminent Undertakings present themselves Therefore be Crucified to the World if ever you would be Useful in it and let it be a dead Carkass in your Account if you would not be hindred by it in your best Designs Cherish Heavenly Affections and with pleasure oft view your chosen Portion otherwise an irregular Appetite will press too hard to let you be much of long engaged in a Work that 's so far from gratifying it This way Moses became so profitable to his People Heb. 11.25 26. and Paul to Iews and Gentiles 2 Cor. 5.12 15 18. 3. Get true Christian Fortitude And this will unite fix and steel the Heart against all Onsets which try your Patience Courage and Resolutions Rev. 2. 3. A pusillanimous Man will refuse what 's difficult and forsake what 's dangerous or so demean himself under it as to frustrate a good Effect The truest Courage will be put to a stand for Satan singleth out the eminently Useful to level all his Darts against his own Votaries he 'll employ to persecute them whatever in civil Men is to be made use of shall conspire to make your Work difficult and you unhappy and uneasie nothing shall be wanting to terrifie or bribe you to tire or distress you Rev. 2.102.3 2. Envy also still accompanieth signal usefulness which oft renders your Friends more grievous to you than your professed Enemies In every Age it 's found the spirit within us lusteth to envy Jam. 4.5 I wish all good Men yea we Ministers could also find with the Apostle but God giveth more grace Yet as unreasonable and devilish as Envy is you must expect it and be prepared to endure the Effects thereof but still with a Mind no more averse from your Work or indifferent to it other than avoid all Oftentation to conceal what of your Work you can and to but omit none unless you can get it done by another hand 3. If you are called to serve your Generation by opposing the Errors or Church-dividing Practices of any considerable Sects pretending to Zeal for Truth tho' never so falsly and to a purer Form of Administration tho' in all that highly Superstitious you 'll find those violent and base Methods to asperse and sink you which very Pagans would abhor to use yet this must not abate your Testimony nor incline you in the least to betray the Truth or to seem to approve of their Unchristian Attempts against the Common Good neither suffer your Spirit to be infected and debased to a resemblance of theirs in Malice Rancour Wrath Rage or Revengefulness which is so contrary to the Spirit of Christ as to make you justly suspect you were no appointed Advocate for his Truth and Interest And alike careful must you be that the highest provocations prevail not with you to vindicate your self by ways that all things duly considered appear a greater damage to the Publick Good than the single Interest of your Person can countervail I have given you some hints of the Exercise which you ought to provide against lest a surprize cause you to quit or disserve the Blessed Work you are called to 4. Yet it 's true it may prove more creditable safe and easie if it be only beneficial to Men's Bodies or Estates for against that sort Satan and the World make less resistance unless it affect the Publick in somewhat wherein Factions are concerned Yea it may be less hazardous and grievous if it profit Mens Souls if it be only in points which Christ hath gained a reputation to and that you have many to assist you in the Defence of especially if your motion be but equal with those many because such things are familiarized or have obtained a greater interest in the Consciences of Men and the remaining Stream of Opposition is divided 5. But the most eminent Usefulness is much determined to those points which are difficult as still deciding and wherein the Interest of Christ in your Day and Place is the subject of a present Contest between Christ with his Instruments on the one side and Satan with his on the other In such cases there will be great opposition as far as Satan can influence any either by their Ignorance Malignity worldly Considerations Pride or Custom c. And generally the Contenders on Christ's part are at first but few especially the more eminent ones and therefore it necessarily follows that such must be exposed It were easie to instance all this in the case of introducing the Gospel where it was not before in the reformation of Worship or Discipline where they have been corrupted in opposing and detecting false Doctrines which many have imbibed and long entertained in reclaiming a degenerate People from evil practises much indulged in resisting incroaching Errors and Disorders abetted by a considerable Number of great Zealots especially if they have some plausible Pretensions suited to the disposition of sober ignorant People and that some more than common Spirit and Fervour do attend the Seducers which is very usual But this is less needful having cautioned you as to the Snares and fore-warned you of the Danger 6. Therefore may not I with reason ask you Can a feble Mind or unfortified Heart persist in great Endeavours and in the face of such Dufficulties steadily pursue his glorious End No he must succumb and will quit the plainest and most important Truth or Duty The Interest of Christ will say of these as in Paul's case No Man stood with me all these Men forsook me 2 Tim. 4.16 Therefore watch against all declinings in holy Christian Courage meerly natural will not serve tho' it 's a good preparative pray with hope for renewed Vigour that you may find as Psalm 69.32 your Heart shall live that seek God and that he is the strength of your Heart when
or ascribed the honour of past successes or performances to your selves Pour out your complaints and your apprehensions of your own weakness before the Lord who is full of pity and faithful and whose strength is manifest in our weakness 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. Be much in the contemplations of Heaven review your own experiences of seasonable sufficient supports when your fears were as great as at present and attentively think it 's but a little while and my work is over He that shall come will come and will not tarry and all the promises of perseverance were made to Souls in Eminent Service by doing and suffering which you may safely apply to your selves expecting those greater Consolations and Supplies which God will not disappoint you in 4. To useful Persons inclining to Remisness in the Service of their Generation The greatest part of this Discourse being so much directed to your Case I shall only advise you to renew your Covenant with God in Christ. Reflect on your selves what you found when vigorously useful and what you feel now in this declining Frame Enquire what forfeitures you have made of the Spirits quickening influences or what lust begins to invade your Souls or what Carnal thing is setting up for an Idol Pray earnestly for exciting Grace and be much in such Soliloquies as these Am not I a Redeemed Sinner and shall I neglect the interests of my Redeemer Shall I disregard the end of my Being break my Vows be false to my trust Is it not in well-doing that I grow weary Are my Talents less accountable for than they were or have I now more reason to think that my Abilities were not given for Publick use Where shall I stop if I recover not What shall I be doing the residue of my time if I cease to be useful What may I meet with to awaken me out of this slothful Sleep Do others less need my help or have I the leave of God to be remisser Can I think Christ a worse Master than before or Heaven less worthy of my pains Dare I commend the unprofitable part of Mankind that I am thus about to justify or condemn the eminently useful whom now I seem resolved to censure Must not I shortly on a Death-bed reflect on what a barren life I am going to live and the blessed Courses I put a stop too Have I done more already than Christ deserves at my hands who died for me or would I be content he should now more remissly intercede in my behalf Plead such things closely and frequently with your Hearts and force a deliberate answer that all may issue in fresh resolves to be more vigorous than ever and in shame and grief that you could be inclinable to remisness in Publick Service I shall conclude the whole with three cautions to all who are willing to serve their Generation 1. Equal nothing with the Publick which is short thereof especially your selves Let every thing have its due regard and no more Our esteem of things should be according to their value and our concern is irregular if dissonant from our just Esteem Moses words Exod. 32.32 If not blot me out of thy Book and St. Paul Rom 9.3 For I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren were not Absolute Desires but the regular indications of a Publick Spirit adjusting things as compared together A Common good is above a Particular and the more common still the more Estimable The very Reason why Divine Worship is proper to God is because he is Author of all above all and infinitely more than the whole Creation yea and we cannot but most intend his Glory in our undertakings as our regards are most extensive and make every thing a selfish Idol as we Postpone what 's more Publick to it Nevertheless the true Order is generally inverted Most Men do not account a Mischief or Benefit to be greater or less as they affect the Publick but as they affect themselves we begin and end at the wrong Point and Erect a false Standard when our main concern is how will such Publick Affairs Profit or Damage First My own Person then my own Family then my own Party then my own Nation if at all it will reach so far be warned against this preposterous course look at your selves but as small parts of the whole and to signifie no more than as the Publick is advantaged by you Acknowledge the interest all have in you according to their True Order and your Capacity and obligation to be serviceable to each Be uniform in your Course and let God in a Common good as such be your Governing end Fill up each Place and relation you stand in let each have a due regard and no more Your own Families the particular Church you belong to and the Catholick Church above that also your own City and Nation and the World let all these have their due and this in just order and proportion not exclusively of each other Your Prayers must reach the World your Mental Communion the Catholick Church Occasional Communion to others then that wherein you are stated Members tho' in many things they differ from you In short confine not your Care Estate or Advice below or otherwise than that Mind will dictate which accounts the Body more valuable than a Member and a common Good than a particular If you are Ministers abhor a thought that your Office obligeth you to mind no more Souls than your own Flocks 2. Neglect not your selves whiles you mind the Publick Do not disregard your own Soul no nor Body neither keep the last in a fitness for Service and be ever watchful that the first be in a meetness for Glory and improving for it Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.13 Receive your selves the Christ and Mercy you offer to others look not so Abroad as to forget you have a Home yea labour to affect and profit your own Souls by all your endeavours to profit others to walk in the light you give and to grow in Grace by doing all the good you can If you are Ministers oft think of 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my Body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast away 3. Disregard not the first or least declinings in those Graces that are the springs of publick Service but be intent to get their vigorous Exercise restored as soon as you perceive abatement Very imperfect Actings will follow decaying Graces and strengthening the last is the way to perfect the first Rev. 3.2 As Ephesus decayed in her first love she abated her first works Rev. 2.4 5. which were Labours and Sufferings for publick use v. 3. Unbelief enmity to God and Man and a narrow Spirit grow as Faith Love and a publick Spirit weaken and those will as much obstruct your Usefulness as these contribute to it they will pervert your
THE EXCELLENCY OF A Publick Spirit Set forth in a SERMON Preach'd since much enlarged at the FUNERAL Of that late Reverend Divine Dr. SAMVEL ANNESLEY Who departed this Life Dec 31. 1696. In the 77th Year of his Age. With a Brief Account of His LIFE and DEATH By Daniel Williams Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for Iohn Dunton at the Raven in Iewen street 1697. To that Flock of Christ over which the Reverend Dr. Annesley was lately Pastor Much honoured and esteemed THis presents you with a Discourse for substance preached and printed at your desire I faintly hope its acceptance with many when Iustice is become a stranger and a meer honest Man a glorius Title Publick Usefulness must scarce escape with the Brand of Folly with those whole Trade is turned into tricking or account publick Employs no more than a decent opportunity to cheat the People But Truth may profit them unless a Zeal for their Disease will not allow their reading what is directed for their recovery To you and some others this Subject must appear too plainly instamp'd with God's Image and Authority and a tendency to Common Weal to admit the Censure of a Narrow Spirit however disguised to be it's Standard Especially when this is what commended your late Pastor to such unusual Affection as you expressed to him living dying yea when dead Yet this might be expected seeing his very Spirit is transfused into his People by whose Bounty in good part he performed such great Things for a common Good Few Ministers had such cause of glorying in so many Publick Spirited Hearers as yours Mr. Denham Mr. Hartley Mr. Cockerill with many now at rest might be named the living I scarce forbear The Sermon is much enlarged and the Method somewhat changed that it may more contribute to common Serviceableness What 's more desirable than to Vseful in making others so Hence the eminent Services of Mr. Brand so revived the Dr. And hereby we most extend and pertuate publick Benefits yea oft above our own Ability and beyond our Life Promote you that Design in this barren Age by putting this Tract into Hands who need it and by your own vigorous Example and Prayer's that it may be seen the Spring of your Charity and Christian Activeness is more lasting than the Exemplary Life or Labours of your deceased Guide May you find in Spirituals and Externals there is that scattereth and yet increaseth The liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself And all of us be excited to more holy Fervour by the Death of two such as Dr. Annesley and fervent Mr. Oldfield in one Day and worthy Mr. James soon after I am Your Servant in the Gospel Daniel Williams THE EXCELLENCY OF A Publick Spirit ACTS XIII Ver. 36. For David after he had served his own Generation by the Will of God fell on sleep YOUR Request bringing me hither upon this sad Occasion your Venerable Pastor's Death I have made choice of this Text as proper to inforce an Important Duty which tho' so little regarded by most in our Age yet the deceased was faithful in the practice of yea so Eminent that I hope he will be a moving Example to others in this wherein the signal Excellency of his own Life consisted The words read are part of St. Paul's Sermon to the Iews at Antioch in which after a fit Introduction 1. He proves Jesus to be the Christ from ver 23. to 38. an Article which supposing the knowledge of God hath the greatest influence into all our Religious Hopes and Duties and therefore a firm assent thereto ought to be more endeavoured than I fear is usual with many who boast of a Christian Name This point he argues from these Topicks Jesus was of David's Seed which the Christ was to be 23 24. Jesus was he whom Iohn in such esteem with them did bear Testimony to that he was the Christ 24 25. In the unjust condemnation and barbarous killing of this Jesus the Iews had unwittingly fulfilled in every circumstance all the Prophecies which foretold the unjust and cruel usuages the Christ should meet with 27 28 29. This Jesus God had certainly raised from the Dead according as it was in several places Prophesied of the Christ and promised to him which Resurrection was God's Testimony concerning him that he was his Eternal Son Incarnate But lest any might object that that Text Ps. 16. 10. was fulfilled in David the Apostle obviates this by shewing that David lay in his Grave so long as to putrifie which the Christ was not to do neither did our Jesus and by this occasion the words of my Text are introduced as David's Praise which the Apostle would not omit tho' his Argument lies in that part of the Verse which I have not read viz. He saw Corruption And the following v. 38 39. are both Arguments for Jesus being the Christ in that forgiveness of sin to which the Mosaick Ceremonies and Sacrifices were altogether unavailable but as Types and Shadows respecting what Jesus did and suffered was preached through this Iesus 2. And also a serious offer of forgiveness to all of them made in the Name and Authority of our Saviour Christ. 3. He inforceth this with an awakening caution viz. That they prevent not their own Salvation yea aggravate not their Misery by rejecting this Jesus the Christ the Lord q. d. the Lord Jesus fulfilling all that 's foretold of his Death and Resurrection his being the Crucified and Risen Saviour yea the offer of that blessed forgiveness he purchased will not suffice to your Salvation unless you also trust and receive him Nay if you receive him not and accept not Salvation in the way he proposeth your punishment will be sorer than if forgiveness had been never offered yea than if there were no Saviour v. 40 41. for the profitable matter not the meer connexion having thus far diverted I assume the Text which gives us account 1. Of David's Publick Usefulness while living he served his own Generation by the Will of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being alike governed by the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 causeth another reading to be as Grammatical viz. After he had served the Will of God in his own Generation that of Erasmus being too remote to deserve much regard viz. That he fell asleep by the Will of God yet the sence of both readings alike secures the great Duty of Publick Usefulness to be David's Praise for if you prefer the latter his Service is determined to the Publick Weal in his own Generation tho' it may more expresly include also his care for his own Soul by his obedience to God's Will as prescribing the Rule by which we must be saved which was the Gospel Law then as truly as it 's now of which a faithful improvement of our Talents is no small part But the order of the words most favours
only them I shall distribute them under three Heads 1. Such things as are needful to incline them to become intently willing to employ themselves in serving a Common Good Ability without a readiness of mind to and solicitousness for the Honour of God and good of Men will never make us serviceable To ingage your Hearts herein it 's necessary 1. That you have a believing view of invisible things Of God as he who hath a full Authority over you to command you to this Work as he who hath an absolute Propriety in you and yours and therefore may dispose of you and all you have to what Service he pleases to refuse which is Sacriledge in you who have dedicated your selves to him Believe a Judgment-Day when you must Account for all keep sight of Christ who bought Souls with his Blood and whom it cost so much to Redeem you for his Service be at a certainty about the worth of Souls your own and others And of the dreadful Misery of such who die unconverted or unfruitful realize sinners woful state when they cry Come and help us Acts 16.9 and thy own if thou refusest Beg Faith of Christ who is the Author and the Finisher of it This is that by which unseen things are evident Heb. 11.1 without which Evidence we lose what must affect and move us in our service to Souls Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade Men 2 Cor. 5.11 Every Man's unbelief is equal to his unserviceableness and as our Faith is will our usefulness be 2. Love to God and Man is needful to excite us to Usefulness This constrains us to express our gratitude to God who hath done so much for us when miserable and to be beneficial to Men whose Misery we believe and pity Strong Love will answer all those Excuses which have their rise in Enmity to God and Men the remains whereof govern the best Man as far as he is unprofitable By this Divine Passion poor Endeavours will be disdained and the most expensive be no cause of regret yea a pleasure riseth with the height of the performance and God's inclining us to do so much becomes the very Matter of our Praises to him as 1 Chron. 29.14 15. Keep then this holy Fire blazing it will always point you work and find you strength to do it Nay it will put you to pain whiles unemployed and make you solicitous that it be to purpose This this was it put Paul in travel till Christ was formed in those Gal. 4.19 3. A Publick Spirit is also needful to the same End This is the immediate effect of Love it 's the Heart dilated by it This is the next Spring that sets all the Wheels in motion which otherwise stand still within the Precincts of narrow self How became David such a publick Blessing he tells you Psalm 137.6 If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief Ioy let my right-hand forget her cunning The vastest Stock is productive of little in that Man's Hand who is all for himself whether self in his own Person or self in his Family yea or self in his own Party and Faction But a Publick Spirit will be contriving and aiming at a common Benefit above his own in this will such a one delight and this he must pursue because it moves as a common Soul related to and concerned in all Men well knowing God hath an interest in each and ones self to be but a small part of the whole and therefore to be less regarded than that wherein God's glory is infinitely more displayed and from which a so far greater Tribute of Honour and Service will redound Therefore be earnest with God to enlarge thy Heart and bring it more under the power of that Relation wherein thou standest to the Catholick Church yea to all Men otherwise thou wilt be apt with Cain to say of thy very Brother Am I his Keeper Gen. 4.9 Own thy self with St. Paul a Debtor both to the Greeks and to the Jews to the Wise and to the Unwise Rom. 1.14 A narrow Spirit is a common Plague abhor and deprecate it as Unchristian and Inhumane while it prevails I can hardly hope thou canst get to Heaven but all may freely say it 's no matter how soon it be that thou wert there Look at Christ who made himself Poor that he might make many Rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. and blush that thou wearest his Name whiles thy Money Rusts and so many Poor do starve But happy is that Publick Spirit that can scarce relish his own Felicity when he sees so many Miserable but is bound with them that are in bonds Heb. 13.3 by this Spirit a Man is bent for God and a Publick Good and without it all beyond self in that cursed self is as nothing to him a meer Galio caring for neither God nor Souls Church nor State You see that to encline you to Eminent Usefulness you must get improve and exercise Faith and Love with a Publick Spirit these will employ your Abilities for service 2. If you would be eminently Useful you must get such things as will fix and relieve you against those Difficulties which attend eminent Usefulness Good Inclinations and Resolves will be tried in a course of publick Service and as the Trials will be different our Preservatives and Supports should be as various Indeed Faith Love and a publick Spirit which excite a Man to great Attempts for a publick Good do also yield Relief against discouragement in the prosecution of them Yea Faith derives supporting Strength from Christ as he is our Head of Influence as well as Conduct But besides these 1. Be truly humble The proud Heart will scorn to stoop to many things which Publick Service requires nor endure the Debasements which it will expose to and so the Work will be half done at first and forsaken at last as too grating on a proud Spirit which formeth Projects more agreeable to an aspiring Mind But if you are cloathed with Humility you 'll be fitted to stoop cheerfully to what ever your Work calls you to condescend and with easiness of Mind to endure the Contempt which you 'll meet with from such you design to be useful to Can you without great Humility use such plain Words as the Ignorant understand inculcate the same thing often admit a familiar Freedom to the Poor and Mean go into nasty Cottages hear much Weakness and Nonsence without discouraging the Silly from saying any more Can you and not be humble become all things to all Men that you may win some and be a Servant to all that you may gain the more 1 Cor. 9.19 21. Yea you may meet with Affronts and Scorns with Slanders and Reproach from the very poor whom you endeavour to benefit in Soul and Body too Pride will soon disdain all such Work but so must not you unless you cease to be a Publick Blessing Be humble i. e. look at your selves vile Dust and Ashes as bad
utmost Wisdom God vouchsafes you a neglect whereof will aggravate your disappointment as well as conduce thereto But my chief design under this Head is to convince you of the necessity of Wisdom in the whole course of Publick Usefulness that so you may become more earnest with God for this careful to excie your Souls to the constant exercise of it Without Wisdom you cannot rightly judge of the work of your Generation a mistake wherein is dangerous to your great End it 's so tho' it should be no other mistake than to overlook one of the more principal parts of it and take up with what is next to it as plainer easier or safer yea if it lies in several things and you neglect but the least How needful is Wisdom to discern which is our present Duty and what the greatest Good when several appear in competition yea often there 's need of exquisite Skill in an Affair of Publick consequence to determine but what will do more good than hurt He hath not well observed that thinks it always easie to judge what 's the most proper Duty in each Company and wherein they need most to be benefited especially the fittest Seasons Opportunities and Methods to apply suitable Means to effect that Good which they severally stand in greatest need of and are most capable of receiving It 's hard to accommodate your selves to the various tempers and circumstances of your very Acquaintance and know whom when and how to Reprove Encourage Examine Exhort or Relieve so as to be most beneficial to each within the limits of your power and according to your different obligations tho' to the extent of it Great discretion is necessary to judge of Obstacles and to demean your selves under them as may most conduce to your Publick Usefulness to know when and how to strive to remove or oppose them when it 's best to connive and be silent How to avoid the Imputation of Rashness and foolish Zeal in the former and of Lukewarmness and Cowardize in the latter for Publick Usefulness will be affected by both In like manner there is use of Wisdom towards such as drive on the same good design with you as well as towards them who oppose if you are younger that the elder may not by Envy or Suspicion be tempted to divert you from your work or give you disquiet in it To avoid which serve with them in humility as Sons with a Father Phil. 2. 22. If you be elder that the younger's rashness unfixedness and less experience give not Satan an advantage to prevent which do not discourage or despise but assist and countenance them But be they inferiors equals or superiors who do contribute to a common good He that will be eminently useful and give up himself to it had need of greatest Wisdom to govern himself towards each for a little acquaintance with the World will discover in most men so much of either humour pride envy selfishness covetousness suspition cowardliness unconcernedness for the Publick unfixedness sloth ignorance credulousness or aptness to be imposed on by designing men as will force the observing to fix this Conclusion and govern themselves by it They that will be most useful in their Generation must spend do adventure and suffer most and yet must resolve to allow intreat connive yield thank forbear forgive deny themselves and endure most whatever persons they have to deal with and thus make the best use of all for a common good Who is sufficient for these things but with thee O Lord who employest whom thou wilt nothing is impossible A stammering Moses a suspitious Gideon a childish Ieremiah did succeed in that whereto thou didst appoint them Surely by all this you are induced to seek earnestly for Wisdom Ask it daily of God through Christ who giveth liberally for direction to do as well as suffer and upbraideth not Iames 1. 5. dependingly hope He will guide me by his Counsel and afterwards bring me to Glory Psal. 73. 24. I have finished the second general Head viz. an account of what 's needful to bring a man to eminent Usefulness who is capable of it under which you have heard that his Soul must be excited to undertake it by Faith Love and a Publick Spirit 2. Be relieved against the Difficulties attending it which is by Humility Mortifiedness to the World and Christian Fortitude 3. He must facilitate his Success by Prayer to God a due behaviour before Men and true Wisdom in the management of all his Endeavours 3. I shall evidence the Excellency of this Character To be an eminently Useful Man is no empty Title without real worth God approves of it Angels and good Men highly esteem it yea there 's that in every man which now secretly and in time will publickly allow this man to be the best the wisest and the greatest Eminent Usefulness greatly differeth from its Counterfeits This is no pragmatical business in other men's matters but a faithful discharge of our Obligations to God and our fellow Creatures Neither is it a Pharisaical Proseliting to a Sect which doth narrow and weaken Christ's Interest proving oft as fatal to the Church yea to Men's selves as their walking at large in the World would be no it 's an intentness to promote mere Christianity and unaffected Godliness which reforms the World edifies the Church and saves the Souls of Sinners in proportion to its success It 's what advanceth Men above the Rank of ordinary Christians who are Babes to these grown Men Shrubs to these Cedars very cyphers if not blemishes and burthens compared with these Men of Name these common Blessings these Witnesses to a Divine Life and Ornaments of Religion who bear up the Pillars of the Church yea of the Earth to each of whom we Weaklings may say as they to David Thou art worth 10000 of us This will appear if you consider 1. It 's an extraordinary honour to be singled out by God eminently to serve our Generation What can be more glorious than to be singled out as David from among his Brethren to effect God's benign purposes to multitudes when most Men are useless yea hurtful their Names are registred among the Worthies of Israel and famous in Bethlehem Ruth 4. 11. This is that Moses Acts 7. 37. Being publick Blessings they with Iabez are more honourable than their Brethren I Chron. 4. 9. No Office reflects honour but with respect to that usefulness to which it obligeth and or which it capacitates 2. It argues a most God-like and Excellent Spirit He is good and doth good Psal. 119 68. He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was visibly instanced in our Lord Jesus He went about doing good Acts 10. 38. to Souls and Bodies in whom is this so exemplified as in the signally useful whose activity fixedness labours designs and beneficence correspond to Christ's allowing for our contracted Capacities In such a Man many Graces and Virtues are associated nay which
revealed and encouraged by trusting in his Saviours Merits Strength Testament and governed by the commands of Christ his received Lord and that in so faithful an Execution of his own Covenant Consent and Vows yea his Union to Christ is attested as well as his Faith by which he is united for his truly devoted fruitful life could proceed from and subsist by nothing lower than those Vital influences and supplies which came from Christ his Head and Root Gal. 2. 20. Phil. 1. 19 20 21. His Repentance also is unsuspected when he beholds his Lusts so subdued as not to hinder his living to God entirely as his end his Heart so altered in its purposes resolves and relishes that he could not live to carnal self but a common good wherein he delighted and spent himself He knows his former evil course is duly bewailed when so directly changed and that sin was truly hateful being he hath not only endeavoured the utter Mortification of it in himself but greatly laboured to rescue all others from the dominion and effects thereof He is sure of his new Birth when he reflects that nothing less could make my aims my temper and course to be so far conformed to Christ's as my devotedness to God's glory and to the benefit of Saints and Sinners doth attest 1 Ioh. 4. 17. Yea more a lower Principle than what was formed in Regeneration would never have lasted thus long and carried me thus far Ioh. 4. 14. 2. This eminently useful Man's stated course and contrivances repel a Jealousie that his love to God or Man or appearing Zeal was a painted Fire his Faith Hope or other Graces a dead Image because all these have vitally concurred to direct fix and strengthen his Labours to lay out his Talents drive a constant Trade and spend his life for Christ Ioh. 14. 21. 1 Ioh. 3. v. 16 17. Rom. 12. 11 12 13. And there is as little ground to question his Perseverance when he knows he was not taken off from publick serviceableness by his sloth fear weariness selfishness or change of purpose or designs yea that now he feels his Soul solicitous for and prepared unto a publick good were he but capable to contribute to it 3. Besides this Testimony from the evidence of such Graces as Life is promised to the useful Man is in a way likelier for comfort than others because the spirit of God doth not usually forbear to cast a light upon the Graces of such when they come to die but and that not rarely he makes them to behold his face and experience some foretasts of the approaching Glory so that with Moses they die at the Mouth of God with Stephen Act. 7. 57. as David 2 Sam. 23. 5. Yea besides this the useful Man is encouraged by the great things that passed between God and his Soul in bending him for and carrying him through those Attempts and Employments wherein he hath served the Will of God in his Generation many Answers of Prayer eminent Deliverances from Evil Supports when Fainting Revivings and Enlargements when tempted to Remissness frequent views of Christ and Heaven for renewal of Strength and the like which he hath oft experienced have so familiarized God and Christ to him and so fixed his Trust in his Goodness Truth and Word that he can quietly commit his Spirit to him And so from all put together having now fought a good fight finished his course and kept the faith he beholds that Crown of Righteousness hanging over his head which he knows his God will give him 2 Tim. 4. 8. and he hath an abundant entrance into God's Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 11. 2. This eminent Usefulness argues a meetness for Heaven He can easily quit all worldly Enjoyments who valued Life it self but as a means for service and consecrated all he had as subservient to it This Man is not called off before his Work be done for his course is finished and the end of his being on Earth so fully answered Acts 13. 25. Heaven must be a real Rest to him after so much Labour and very suitable in the nature of it to one of so agreeable a disposition What welcome Company are perfected happy Souls when the contrary made the saving and healing of miserable Sinners to engage his Thoughts and command his Strength whiles he lived on Earth His Soul that was so enlarged by Grace for publick Use will be very receptive of those fuller Streams of heavenly Joys How will he be satisfied with more of God's likeness there when it will be but the perfection of what he judged so lovely as to strive so much to propagate it here Psalm 17. 14 15. This Publick Spirit will be ravished in contemplating and adoring a blessed God when he beholds how universal a Good he is yea and ever hath been by the Records of his Beneficence there published and explained whatever Employment Heaven allots for it 's no place of idleness he is greatly prepared for it who did heartily perform so much under the great disadvantages of this present state which did arise both from his Works and himself yea and such as he had to deal with So that this man is gathered when ripe he his even here a Vessel of Glory being so meet for his Masters use 2 Tim. 2. 21. Now how comfortable will Death be to a Man thus well assured of eternal Happiness and prepared for that wherein it will consist It cannot endanger nor hurt him he must rather desire than abhor or fear it when only a sense of present serviceableness where it is more needful hath reconciled useful Saints to a longer Life Phil. 1. 23 24. To such useful ones as Paul it belonged to triumph over Death rather than be afraid and welcome its approaches to enjoy that a regard whereto had made him so laborious 1 Cor. 15. 57 58. Thus I have represented the Grounds on which a very useful Man may die comfomfortably But can there be the like for an unuseful Person I am sure where a Life unprofitably spent through sloth negligence self-seeking and unfaithfulness to God doth stare a Man in the Face it 's a just challenge to his Hopes it justifies his Fears and he vainly expects Advantage by Death or Safety in dying Yea a Man who hath been Useful in lesser degrees through remissness and narrowness of Heart cannot but feel greater jealousie of his Condition than the eminently Useful yea he must make bitter reflections upon his past Life wherein he finds so many neglects and baulks So little Work done in so long a time and with so great a Stock and being self-conscious of the much greater Things he might have performed for a common Good sure he cannot without grief behold his season over whiles the Blood of Souls the Groans of a dying Church or a sinking Nation testifie against his departing Soul that omitted relieving them to his Power What work for Shame and Sorrow ay and Fears too will this
make compared with a vigorously useful Life 4. The future Rewards of an eminently useful Man will be greater than others His Crown will weigh in proportion to his service They that turn many shall shine as the Stars in the Firmament for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 He that gained the ten Talents was made a Ruler over ten Cities he that gained two was made Ruler but over five Luke 19.17 These wider Vessels shall be filled as well as the lesser but being larger they contain the more O then happy he who was most abundant in Labours no degree whereof shall be in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Gal. 6.9 10. Their Works shall follow them as a Retinue adding to their Grandeur and Rivers shall be more acknowledged by our blessed God when he will come to reward the very Drops These Mens Place in the Body will be more Noble their Thrones higher perhaps their Services more Eminent in a heavenly Estate as much in proportion as they had been on Earth And tho' all faithful Ones shall be as Angels Luke 20. v. 3. Yet among these there are Degrees wherein there will be a correspondence as to those Every generous Design Tear Labour Hardship Expence Loss and Hazard will be found in a proportioned Glory He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9.6 Whence it 's easily inferred how excellent a Character of a Believer it is that he was an eminently useful Person in his Age it 's a Title will found in the very Heavens and be honourably acknowledged by Christ upon his Throne he will say Well done thou good and faithful Servant enter thou into the Ioy of thy Lord Mat. 25.21 Which yet is no reflection on his own Merits for in the Vertue thereof the most useful Saints inherit those further additions according to his Promise as well as the less Useful possess the lesser degrees True it 's all his own and he may do what he will with his own but if he is pleased to foretell us how he 'll dispence this his own to Men thereupon his Veracity commands our assured expectations and if he also use those higher Measures of Glory as Motives to greater Labours we in being very Laborious cannot be disappointed of those higher Measures any more than of the least yea we frustrate his End in publishing such Promises if we are not excited to more abundant Labours by the Benefits promised and upon such Labours expect those Benefits I have offered what I hope will convince you of the Truth of the Third general Head viz. That to be eminently Useful in ones Generation is an excellent Character for to be so employed is an Honour put upon that Man by the infinite God The Spirit of such a Man is Excel-cellent and God-like he hath the greatest Grounds for a comfortable Death both from the evidence of his Title to eternal Life and his meetness for it And last his future Glory will be greater than that of others I shall proceed to the Application of this Doctrine by some Inferences 1. Inference To be a publick Plague is a great reproach what can be said worse of a Man when dead That one did no Good in an eminent Station that he hid his Talent which should have been employed in view are infamous Scars but that any Man should influence to publick Mischief this leaves his Memorial accursed better never have been born his Gifts his Estate Powers and Offices are become a Snare to himself and a Mischief to the Publick The more active the greater detriment the longer he lived the more lasting Curse hath this Man been and the further hath he contributed to the Woe of others as well as to his own Damnation He will be signally marked in another World for the harm he did in this receiving his Torments with remarkable notice when they do groan to themselves who sinned only against themselves Will the Powers or Riches he had on Earth guard him against the sorest Vengeance for the hurt he did No no Of this abhorred sort are the Wasters of Countries Tirannical Princes Propagaters of Heresies Perverters of Justice great Oppressors of the Poor Wasters of God's Vineyards Betrayers of their Countries Silencers of useful Preachers Enemies to the Ministry and Calumniators of Ministers and the like Happy Multitudes if such had never been and next happy that they soon are taken away see Ier. 22.17 18. Such will wish they had been Idiots and Beggars of any thing else which could have more incapacitated them from doing Mischief 2 Inf. This may convince us of the mischief of a narrow Sectarian Spirit and consonant Principles wherever they prevail By such a narrow Spirit I mean a Spirit that confineth Charity to a Sect distinguished from other Christians by Customs or Opinions that are not Essential to true Godliness and is embittered and enraged against all who differ from such Usages and Opinions This is the Spirit of Popery which is a Sect tho' a great one yea it is the worst of Popery and where-ever it Rules the most Diabolical part of Anti christianism is undestroy'd All the Persecutions and Impositions of that Beast proceed from this very Spirit and from Principles both Ministring to it and formed by it for their influence is mutual There 's scarce any thing more opposite to Publick Usefulness or less consistent with the Precepts Design and true Spirit of Christianity the former is that which my Subject so calls me to demonstrate and testifie against that without doing so I cannot faithfully handle this Doctrine But who can doubt the Destructiveness of this Spirit to Publick Benefit and Service if you observe the way and behaviour of all sorts of Persons who are acted by it For under its impulse it is that 1. Men confine their Usefulness to their own Faction as if they were indebted to seek the good of none beyond it nay as if Conscience obliged them against all Attempts for Benefits more common and extensive They judge all Men out of their Herd unworthy of their love concern or labour what 's the Publick to them further than as things affect their own Let the Ship sink so their Cabbin can be saved they 'll obstruct all Settlement in Church or State if it be any other than a Provision for their Sect or managed by any besides themselves yea scruple not to advance their Party upon the Ruins of the Publick as Men see from Age to Age. 2. What is it to such Bigots if true Christianity prevail with Men or Converts be multiplied unless they become their Proselites Alas they judge no Man Religious or Good out of their own Garb they surmize him Carnal who cannot pronounce their Shibboleth and do as good as say they are all in a Damnable State who at all oppose them Hence such people are far more industrious to bring Men to a compliance with their fond Peculiarities than to a subjection to the great and most undoubted Precepts of the
Gospel Mat. 23.15 which is a publick Mischief as in other respects so also in this Men hereby waste that Time Strength and Labour upon an unprofitable if not hurtful Trifle which by a publick Spirit would be employed in Subserviency to what is really advantagious viz. To make Men Holier and Safer for Eternity Yet 3. As if this Effect of such a Spirit were not harmful enough to the Publick it further prompts Men to malign the most Useful to obstruct the most prosperous Successes of the Gospel to blast the most profitable Ministers and overturn flourishing Churches by dividing and defaming Methods with Lies Violence and basest Artifice as if they thought Justice Kindness and Truth were due only to Men of their own Opinion and Cruelty Tricking and Falshood were warranted if not required towards all who differ Gal. 5.10 6.10 12 15 16. Yea it stops not here what Poverty Silencings Imprisonments Tortures and Bloodshed both by Persecution and Wars do Men so spirited greedily inflict and bring upon Mankind Neighbour Nations yea our own proclaim Such Actings indicate this narrow spirit to prevail such a spirit prevailing will produce all those Fruits if there be but power It may obtain under very different forms but is not the more innocent for any of them tho' it reigns in some of most The best Cause will not hallow such a frame the worst Cause generally hath most of it and very oft it is a sign thereof But where-ever it is Christ will not own it his Interest in a common Good is sure to lose by it it springs from carnal selfishness it 's acted and excited by the Devil whatever is pretended for its Justification and it tends to publick hurt of the highest kind Surely it 's no part of nor joined with that Wisdom which is from above which is first pure then peaceable gentle easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without injuring and without hypocrisie Jam. 3. 15 17. no it 's from what is Earthy Sensual and Devilish Let us all watch then against the Infection of such a temper for it 's too natural to our unrenewed part to allow Security yea tho' our Opinions be most Orthodox Satan will delude you to it under the Name of Zeal for he knows that Zeal must degenerate into Hellish Fire when it blazeth in the former instances yea when it moves thereto The quenching of such a Spirit in others is our Duty or at least resisting it that it prevail not to a publick Mischief nor is he worthy of the Name of a Man publickly Useful that dare not venture all to oppose it and the rather because it 's as much worse than Brutish as the Devil is worse than a Brute and in many respects gives that wound to Religion and a publick Good which open Prophaness is not capable of giving Nothing but a true publick Christian Spirit can expel it and without that there will be no aptness to contribute to that progress of the Gospel in the World which we daily pray for nor a possibility to maintain or improve such a Mercy by walking in Unity Love and Peace to common Edification To all which this narrow Spirit of a Party is so irreconcileable and destructive that giving way thereto will no more allay it than pouring Oil into a Fire Happy Times when Divine Light and Love will so abound that Self-seekers can serve no turn by such a spirit and the Honest-minded shall neither be endangered nor infected by it then and not till then will a Publick Good be generally pursued 3 Inf. We see one great reason why Self-denial is so proposed by Christ to all his Disciples This is the first Article to which all his Followers are to submit Mat. 16. 24. If any Man will be my Disciple let him deny himself take up his Cross and follow me The two last are impossible to such as agree not to the first But besides the necessity thereof to these Self denial is absolutely requisite to those Services which Christ designeth by his Disciples to each other and to the World as Salt they are to season a corrupt World as Lights to enlighten a blind World Mat. 5. 13 14. Wisdom is to be justified by them Luk. 7. v. 35. The vertues of God to be published 1 Pet. 2. 9. They are to propagate the Interests of our blessed Redeemer c. But which of these can we subserve if Self be not denied All impediments to attempt such a Work and most of our unfitness to accomplish it do arise from carnal Selfishness where this is subdued Men are ready and prepared to be common Blessings as opportunity is afforded Then Sloth will not delay Fear shall not discourage Ambitious or Covetous aims must not divert from any Labours that others may be benefited by whereas carnal Self must have our Ease indulged our Humour gratified and Safety Credit and Worldly Advantages provided for whatever becomes of Christ's Interests or a Publick Weal He that denieth himself most will be most beneficial he that cannot do this at all will rarely attempt infallibly spoil and easily quit any publick Service A Self-seeking Man will not propose or prosecute a common Good farther than his own present Interests do invite A Self-indulging Man will manage his Endeavours so as that the Obstacles to his success by his own Behaviour will exceed the utmost he contributes to it A Self-confident Man will over-look the good he might do attempt what he is unfit for and as a just rebuke from God discover his own weakness instead of being prospered in what he doth foolishly Enterprize in his own Strength Did you strictly examine your Hearts and Ways it would appear most Men's unusefulness proceeds from their selfishness this locks your Coffers that you cannot give this benums your Powers that you will not act this spieth the Lion in the way that you dare not go this feels the Burden counts the Charge and resents the Inconveniencies of Service as too great to be endured for it whereas in all eminent Usefulness we do neglect the Counsel Counter-act the Projects and offer violence to the Inclinations of Self Gal. 1. 16. and therein we must act not only as such who are not their own but as them who have no Will of their own to Obey no selfish turn to Serve nor humour to Gratifie When therefore selfishness is so certain an obstructer of the Uses Christ designed his Members to how fit was it to make our denial of it a prime part of true Christianity and try his genuine Followers by their consent thereto especially when all publick Mischiefs do as truly spring from Self indulg'd as publick Benefits do from this denied Miserable Man since his Lusts are become himself and rational Self-love become a stranger Happy Christian who best consults his own true Interests by trampling on his Lusts restraining his irregular Desires and rejecting an undue concern for Body and Earthly Affairs
what was safest to himself and most pleasing to others he accommodated not his labours to the real benefit of all but to the humours of some disdaining plain Speech affecting levity frothy or amusing discourses He was more solicitous to know how he was praised than how others did profit He let Truth sink and Errours gain ground when he found his Name or Incomes should suffer by opposing the last or abetting the first such a time he dealt treacherously with such such Souls he obstructed a publick good for his private advantage he excused himself from preaching pleading or speaking tho' he saw my Insterest and the real benefit of others required it How formal and cold in his performances prayerless and slothful in his preparations Partial and careless in Discipline and unexemplary in walking Notions he took up for Truths without search or other enquiry then is this the Opinion of a Man eminent with the Party I hope to live by and will it suit with the Fancies of these Men I might proceed herein and annex the particular Cases of others But this may suffice to mind you what a blush should it raise what an anguish should it cause to see your Names thus underwritten in the Records of Heaven and know the Devil keeps also an account as full as he can that he may become your Accuser 2. You can make no Apology for your unusefulness but what 's fit to aggravate your shame and sorrow A vain Mind and a feared Conscience will suggest Excuses and take up with them however false and frivolous they be But Enquiries there will be which will pierce into the Nature and Truth of things and minister such an awakening Light as shall render the most careless and confident person speechless Matth. 22.12 It were our mercy that we allowed nothing as a sufficient Plea now but what will be approved of at the Judgment Bar. Examine therefore the true Reasons why you have not served your Generation as well as others Obj. You 'll pretend your utter incapacity for service Ans. 1. That is a good Apology if true for God expects not to reap where he hath not sown he is no such hard Master Matth. 25.26 None shall have ground to affix that Character to him But is this Excuse true can your Consciences as drowsie as they are offer this Plea and abide by it viz. The only Reason why we were not Publick Blessings was because we had no gift no opportunity estate or power to be so If Conscience upon a serious pause dare not stick to this Excuse but condemns thee how much more will God condemn thee who is greater and knoweth all things 2 Iohn 3.30 But if still you verily believe that the Objection states your Case Ans. 2. Let me ask you Have you really pitied the Distressed whom you could not relieve Have you avoided being hurtful to others tho' you could not profit them Have you earnestly prayed for the Church of God and the good of the Miserable World bewailing the sorrows of the first and the misery of the last Do you rejoyce in and bless God for those who are useful without envying the most eminent When you desire an Estate or Gift and bewail the want of them is the later mostly because you cannot be useful and the former that you may be so Do you take all due pains and use all good thrift that you may have somewhat to enable you to be profitable And if you are poor and have the help of others do you make conscience not to ask it till you need nor ask or take more than you need that the Relief of the more necessitous may not be hindred If your hearts cannot honestly say these things answer my case it 's thus with me then you have not a temper of mind to be useful if you had Abilities and it 's most probable you are more able to do good than you have been faithful to do it But if indeed your Consciences do justly witness that you can so answer to the above Questions as that incapacity is the very Reason your Generation is not more served by you than by your prayers and good example then you are not the persons to whom my Reproof is directed so that you do that little you can Ans. 3. But such of you as are able to serve their Generation and neglect it should be more ashamed and grieved when you consider the true Causes of your unprofitableness Your Hinderances to service are from your selves your Lusts have the great hand in assigning the governing Reason Look at the baulks you have made and the opportunities you have past unusefully over and ask thy Conscience whence was it that I neglected this can you be unaffected when you receive this Answer my Covetousness my Pride my Sloth my Fear my Unbelief or my Unconcernedness for God's Honour and the Publick Good did hinder me these made me unwilling and averse these diverted my Abilities to another Chanel and would not suffer me to be useful and faithful in my Trust were not you governed by one or other of these whenever you shut you Ears to the Cry of an afflicted Church of starved Ministers of a sinking Nation of diseased Souls and the distressed Poor If it be so as indeed it will be found you have cause to be ashamed and mourn Doth it become Men to be under the Conduct of such base Guides In this respect God hath called you to shew your selves Men Isa. 46.8 But much more unbecoming is this to you that wear the Name of Christians you are called and Redeemed to be zealous of good works Titus 2.14 Is this to be so Is this to imitate or obey Christ whom you own for your Lord and whose Livery you have put on Follow the Chanel to the Fountain head be led by your actings to the posture and frame of your hearts and judge what vile spirits act you what a dominion have these Lusts in your Soul that thus command your Talents and determine the scope of your Lives in opposition to the loudest Calls Oh blush and weep that with all thy Light and Helps under all thy Christian Profession and Hopes thy heart is so earthly and carnal so sensual and devilish so full of hatred to God and Man as the Authority of these Lusts import and thy unusefulness doth testifie in the clearest Light the Holy Spirit hath made no saving change if you are altogether useless the change at most is very imperfect whiles your usefulness is so much hindred by these unsubdued Lusts The very unprofitable must be made other Men Matt. 12.33 and the less profitable are not very good Men. You have those dry leaves and those dead branches which may well put you to the blush and fill you with fear Iohn 15.2 the unfruitful branch will be cast out 3. Your unusefulness expresseth that treachery ingratitude and injustice towards God which must cause shame and sorrow in every thinking
unprofitableness herein you are cruel to your selves when you fondly think it's self-indulgence you destroy your selves and yet weakly pretend to self-advantage Reflections upon your madness herein will be a great part of your torment Perhaps you have not thought what you expect from others tho' they must be unobliged to you upon the same Reasons as you can give for your being free from the Duty of Usefulness to them to say nothing of what you expect from the blessed God and what every Moment you receive tho' you so ill requite him Did not you expect your Parents Care the Magistrates Defence your Ministers Labours your Neighbours Favour and Help How would you be dealt by if you were in the case of the Poor or Distressed and they in yours Would you think it well done in all or any of these to be as unconcerned selfish oppressive cruel or useless as you resolve to be to them in what-ever Capacity or Relation you stand Our Lord's Rule was approved by Pagans tho' condemned by you Matth. 7.12 What would become of the Interest of Christ the Welfare of the Nation the Good of Societies Religious or Civil if every Man were as selfish and unconcerned for a common Good as you resolve to be All Safety Harmony Liberties Order and Comfort would be expelled and their contraries alone take place But if this state of Things be thy abhorrence ask thy self Why should not all others be as selfish as I am if it be justifiable in me Or why should not I be as publick Spirited as they if it be praise-worthy and useful in them Are you an ill Magistrate why should any others be better Are you an unfaithful Minister why should any others be more faithful Are you careless of the common Liberties of your Country or City why should any other in your station be more concerned Are you strait-handed to the Poor wherefore should others of your Estate be more liberal Are you indifferent about the Truth Interest and Gospel of Christ why should any other in your circumstances more expose themselves You must consent that all these may as justly excuse themselves from benefiting others as you can or else you are most basely spirited to think others should serve a Common Good that you may share therein but that you must be excepted from contributing to that Service that so you may pursue your own private Interest the more Directions Weigh these things often and deliberately judge of thy Resolves not to serve thy Generation Go and humble thy self before God and earnestly pray to him in Christ's Name to change thy Heart subdue thy Lusts and give thee another Spirit Enter into Covenant with Christ to deny thy self to take up thy Cross and follow him From this time firmly engage in Christ's strength that thou wilt not consult thy flesh in thy undertakings but keep thy self from under the influence of a narrow Spirit and base Lusts as being very ill Advisers in thy course of Life and as unfit Disposers of thy Estate Gifts or Power Set upon doing publick Good presently tho' it be with great reluctancy at first the less good thou hast hitherto done now attempt to do the more And the later you begin redeem the remainder of your days by the greater Projects and more vigorous Endeavours Pray earnestly and attend Gospel Means for sincere love to God and Man and for a believing sight of invisible Things and keep your Consciences under a tender lively sence of God's Authority and the Day of Judgment 2. To such as are unfeignedly willing to serve their Generation account it a greater Mercy than the greatest Estates or Abilities with a narrow Soul which thereby would be a Snare Abhor a suggestion as if God dealt hardly by you in making service your Duty or inclining you to it for in the first God's Wisdom and Goodness in the Government of this World appears In the last he hath honoured and benefited you in anointing you his Instruments Our Lord Jesus was wont to say It is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20.35 Which the Apostle useth as a Motive to Mens labouring that they might support the weak relieve the needy c. We imitate God as far as we are beneficent for he is the Fountain whence all Wants are supplied tho' he is benefited by none and yet for our Encouragement in doing Good he is pleased to account himself a Borrower Prov. 19. v. 17. He that hath pity on the Poor lendeth to the Lord. Not that you can give what is not his already but that he is as sure to re-pay as if you lent it to him But this Head being too general to admit so distinct an Application as the several Sorts and Conditions of such be who are truly willing to serve their Generation requires I shall address my self to them in these several Instances which distinguish their Cases and give suitable Directions 1. To such as are capable of no very great service to their Generation as being of small Estates low Parts and the like Serve you your Generation as you can in your lower Place To which end beg God's Direction that you may not mistake your Place or Work nor be left to your self in the meanest Service Go not out of your own Calling for God will neither accept nor bless Encroachments on other Mens Work nor your usurpation of Power of your own Heads no nor at their pleasure who are not authorized to give it 1 Cor. 7.20 Levit. 10. 1. Do not presumptuously attempt what is above your ability for that 's not your Duty and it may turn to publick detriment Take care that you pretend not publick Usefulness as a Cover to an idle neglect of your Callings or pragmatical Business in what belongs not to you For this discovers your corruption and will end in hurt and scandal Be sure that what you give to Good Uses be your own and not what is another Man's For this is Fraud and not Charity and instead of being liberal you will be unjust And yet be conscientiously ready and vigorous to do all the good you can your lesser Ability must be as faithfully used as if it were greater nor will your having no more excuse your unprofitableness with what you have Instruct your Family tho' you are not Preachers pray for and be affected with the state of the Church of God and the Nation if you can do no more Vote for good Men into Office encourage faithful Ministers as you are able give to what Poor you can and acquaint others with the case of such you cannot relieve your selves What little Good you can do let it be done chearfully and from love See that you use Diligence and avoid all Waste in your Persons and Families that you may be capable of doing the greater good Be favoury in Discourse exemplary in Life and ready to help those who know less than your selves And lastly Do not envy others