several Companies yet the Corporation is but one or as it is with the body which consists of many parts and members yet t is but one body Thus it is in the Church it consists of many Christians is made up of various Professors but still the Church is but one and all the people of God where ever they live they are all united in this own body for there are many members 1 Cor. 12.20 Eph. 4.4 Eph. 3.6 but one body There is one body and one spirit c. Jew and Gentile all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but one body Now upon this union it should be in the body Mysticall as it is in the body Naturall all the members in the body conspire for the good of the whole The Eye sees not for it self the hand takes not for it self the Stomach digests not for it selfe but all their Organical acts tend to the benefit of the whole body Thus I say it should be in the body Mystical or politique the members wherof must not keep their Graces their Comforts their Abilities singly and seperately to themselves No but all must be layd out in a blessed subserviency to the publick and common good Paul having made a large discourse in setting forth the Church by allusions to the naturall body shuts up all thus 1 Cor. 12.25 That there should be no schisme in the body but that the members should have the same care one for another Let me onely say this further under this head The self-seeker the Gallio that cares not what becomes of the body Acts 18.17 this man is but like a Glassie Eye or a wooden Leg he is no living member in this body he is a prodigious Monster rather then a genuine Member Nothing more unsuitable to our common union then a private spirit Fourthly This publick spirit discovers much of that excellent grace of love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Rhetor. l. 20. c. 40. Faith and Love are the two great graces of the Gospel Faith is a getting grace Love is a spending grace Faith layes up Love layes out Faith layes out from Christ Love layes out for Christ Faith receives all Love returns all Now I say this serviceable active spirit for generation good discovers much of love for love is a diffusive communicative grace t is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sociable and publick grace Love is noble and generous it keeps open house wil not eat its Morsels alone if it hath good if it can do good Job 31.17 others shal be the better for it 1 Cor. 13.5 Love seeketh not her own its designs are vaster then so Nâ—rrowness of heart argues much scantness of love I may set this reason higher A publick spirit discovers the truth of grace t is an inseperable adjunct from saving grace David was a man after Gods own heart and he serves his Generation The true Israelite cannot but pro modulo lay out himself for the good of others if any be weak he must strengthen him if any be sad Luke 22.32 he must comfort him if any walk disorderly he must reprove him T is the voice of a Caine to say Am I my brothers keeper What have I to do with my brother Gen. 4.9 I 'le mind my self The Children of God say with the Lepers We do not wel this day is a day of good tydings 2 Kings 7.9 and we hold our peace We have received many mercies shal we bury them We have many opportunities shal we not improve them This is the language of grace Do not mistake me here I do not say that every publick spirit is a gracious spirit but this I say every gracious spirit is a publick spirit Fifthly This publick spirit is our due conformity to God to Jesus Christ to the choicest and most excellent Saints First This is our due conformity to God He is Summum bonum summe bonus the cheifest good and cheifly good infinitely good and therefore infinitely communicative He is a Fountaine full and overflowing and all the creatures in Heaven and in earth do all participate of his goodnesse so far is he from ingrossing all to himselfe The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his workes Psal 145.9 Psal 33.5 The earth is full of the goâ—dnesse of the Lord. There is not the meanest creature but it receives something from this inexhaustible treasury nay there is not the vilest man the most wicked man but God doth good to him Hee causes his sun to arise upon the bad as well as the good Matth. 5.45 Nieremberg Vt nemo sine illius gustu vixerit And as for his owne people his goodnesse there is written in the beames of the Sun there we must say Truly God is good to Israel even to them that are of a cleane heart Psal 73.1 And why doth God thus open his hand and his heart unto us why such bounty why such bowels the reason is cleare He is good and therefore he doth good He might injoy himselfe in his owne fulnesse Matth. 5. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Anton and keep to himself the sea of his owne blessednesse but he will not no his poor empty creatures also shall receive from him for he looks upon his goodnesse as his glory What then makes a man more like to God then a publick Spirit To be good to do good this is to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Do you see a man that aimes at nothing but himselfe that never lets the Cock run but when it is for his own advantage that envys every drop that is not for his owne use that limits and confines all to himselfe and none shall be the better for him how contrary is this man to God and how little of God appears in him Here 's Walking indeed as man but here is no walking as God 1 Cor 3.3 But on the other hand do you see a man that makes it his businesse and designe to do good to communicate to others t is not well with him if others be not the better for him this man is a lively image and representation of God himself Secondly This is our conformity unto Jesus Christ who as he is a publick Head so he is of a publick spirit Acts 10.38 He went about doing good Why did he come downe from Heaven into the World To save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Why did he set himself apart to the work of his Mediatorship For the good of others John 17.19 For their sake also sanctifie I my self that they may be sanctified by the truth Why did he lay downe his life Not to merit any thing for himself but for his sheep I lay downe my life for the sheep Why did Christ arise againe John 10.15 Rom. 4. ult For our justification For whom doth he intercede at the right hand of his Father
THE ACTIVE and PUBLICK SPIRIT HANDLED In a SERMON Preached at Pauls October 26 th 1656. By Thomas Jacomb Minister at Martins-Ludgate LONDON When Sanballat the Horonite c. it grieved them exceedingly that there was a man come to seek the welfare of the Children of Israel Nehem. 2.10 And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all men especially to them who are of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.9 10. Nihil habet fortuna magna majus quam ut possit nec natura bona melius quam ut velit bene-facere quam plurimis Cicer. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc Antonin LONDON Printed by T. R. for Philemon Stephens at the gilded Lyon in S. Pauls Church-yard and Abel Roper at the Sun neer S. Dunstons-Church in Fleestret 1657. Titchborne Major Tuesday 4. of Novem. 1656. It is ordered that Mr Jacomb of Martins-Ludgate be desired from this Court to Print his late Sermon at Pauls TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR JOHN DETHICK lately LORD MAJOR AND To the Right Worshipfull the Aldermen of the famous City of LONDON Right Worshipfull YOUR Order brought this Sermon some few moneths since into the PULPIT and now into the PRESS Might I have been mine owne Chooser I should have wished that this slender Discourse like David in the Text after it had done some small service to its Generation might have fallen asleep and seen the light no more But obedience to your Commands must make me to break through all my owne private desires I hope the Matter here handled did not nor will not give you or any other person any occasion of offence I know Truth is biting where there 's guilt Veritas loquendi grande praesagit malum Lactant and therefore to some it is very dangerous to preach it but yet the sound back will endure to be touch'd Amara est veritas quisquis eum praedicat amaritudine satiabitus Hieron and there 's no kicking at it I humbly beg your candid acceptation of this poor Mite such as it is and your pardon for two things First That so much time is runn'd out since your Order before it was obeyed which hath not been occasioned from an elaborateness in the Work as every Reader will easily perceive such Mushroomes as this may grow in a very little time and a few daies are enough for so mean a Birth But partly by many occasions interveniug partly by some threatning tryals in my Relations which have much distracted me in my Studies and partly by my very great backwardness to appeare thus in Print unto which during my present yeares and abilities nothing should drive me but meer necessity I further beg your favour in excusing some variations that possibly you may take notice of in the Printing and in the preaching the substance and matter is the same here and there some expressions and enlargements are altered which I have done because I judge that which is presented to the Eare may with greater advantage be presented to the Eye when it is a little put into another dress The drift and designe of my Sermon was to quicken you up to an active and publick Spirit And I pitcht upon this Subject not in the least to reflect upon you as being slothfull and selfish in your places but that I might stir you up yet to abound more and more in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 35. â—â—â— and in your activenesse for the good of your Generation Should I say the former I should very much wrong you and should I say there was no need of the latter I should very much wrong my self It is observed of the Planets the higher they are in their scituation the quicker they are in their motion God hath set you in very high places a low Monstrosa res est gradus summus animus infimus sedes prima vita ima Bern. de consid l. 2. and lazie and un-active Spirit is very unbecomming to your places I beseech you therefore with indefatigable diligence lay out your selves for God and the publick trade your Talent of power to the utmost advantage Let your Spirits be as publick as your Places are Hath God set the Sun in a publick Orbe to give light to its self Self-seeing was alwaies naught but in such times as these it is naught with a witnesse Seekest thon now great things for thy self Jer. 45.5 seek them not Let the blessing of many come upon you for your zeale and sincerity in serving your Generation It is better to have the Prayers of the publick then the Profits of the publick Do you work for the people of God in the Court they will work for you in the Closet let them have your Power you shall have their Prayer do you rule for them they will pray for you To you Right Worshipfull in whose hands the Sword of Authoritie hath been latelie held at the laying down of which this Sermon was preached I hope you find the comfort of what Service you have done Generation-work is like the gathering of Roses which in the gathering may be they prick the fingers but when they are gathered they are very sweet I think he went too far that writing the life of Anastatius said thus Stella de vit Pontif. Aquo haud quicquam habetur quod merito reprehendi queat I am sure I should not go far enough as to your Government if I should not say much was done by you which deserves justlie to be commended you are not yet fallen asleep though as to that Office you are The Lord heighten your zeale and make you yet more instrumentall for good that your Life may be comfortable to others and your Death comfortable to your own self Which is the heartie prayer of Febr. 26. 1656. Your worthlesse Servant in the Work of Christ Tho. Jacomb Errata Epist p. 2. l. 16. r. any in the Margent r. eam satiabitur Sermon p. 13. l. 7. r. up p. 18. l. 17. r. disserve in the Margent r. temporum p. 22. l. 13. add did AN ACTIVE PVBLICK SPIRIT HANDLED In a SERMON preached at Pauls October 26. 1656. Act. 13 36. the former part For David after he had served his own Generation by the will of God fell on sleep THIS Text is part of a Sermon preached by Paul at Antioch v. 14. the drift and argument whereof is to prove this fundamental truth that Jesus Christ is the onely and the true Messias And this the Apostle makes good v. 25. partly by the testimony of John partly by the prophesies or promises which were made to the Fathers but fulfilled in Christ v. 32.33 And these prophesies do principally relate to Christs resurrection for that being proved the truth of his Messiah-ship would evidently appeare And therefore I find the Apostles in the proving this main Doctrine of
they have not been idle nor unprofitable nor self-seekers but in some measure active for God and publick good These men when they come to dye shall have in their consciences un-speakable joy and satisfaction and after death they shall enter upon an everlasting Sabbath of rest the truth is a lazy sluggish man upon the approaches of death though others have but little greife yet he himselfe is filled with abundancâ— of horror others doe not much lament him say they who was the better for his life who will be the worse for his death let him dye and let his name perish but he doth very much lament himselfe conscience gripes him and flashes in his face O how little have I done for God how unprofitable have I been in my place c. I say these reflections make death to be very terrible to such a drone but to a David that serves his generation death is welcome and full of comfort He fell asleep But I come to the fourth and maine Proposition where I intend to dwell a little upon this occasion and that is this T is the glory and the duty of a man to serve his generation to have a publick Spirit not serving himselfe but his generation I say this is the glory and the duty of a man David served his generation and this is recorded here by the Spirit of God for his honour and for our imitation He did not make himselfe the Center of his designes and actions he was not a man of a private selfish Spirit no he minded the good of others and laid out himselfe for the good of others he was active and active for the publick he served his generation Now as for particulars wherein he did thus I must leave the finding out of them to your selves in the reading of the Historicall part of the Bible To the point in hand Narrownesse and selfishnesse of Spirit t is a mans shame and sin but largenesse and publicknesse of Spirit 1 Kings 4.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sâ—pâ—uag Lati. tudinem cordis h.e. mentem multarum rerum capacem quemadmodum arena longe lateque occupat circalittus Maris Vatabl. t is his glory and duty T is said of Solomon God gave him largenesse of heart I doe but allude to it oh this largenesse of heart is an excellent thing when a person lookes beyond his own private ends and interest lays out himselfe for the good of the community trades every Talent power preferment gifts wealth grace with respect to the publick good here 's a man of worth and one who is faithfull to his duty I le prove the truth in some few particulars and so come to the application which I mainly intend First serving our generation is a frame of Spirit not onely highly commended but strictly commanded the word is full of this Gal 6.10 1 Cor. 10.24 Phil. 2.4 As we have opportunity let us doe good to all men Let no man seek his own things but every man anothers wealth Look not every man upon his own things but every man also on the things of others Let me tell you he that lives to himselfe and doth not lay out himselfe for his generation this man mark him lives in an open and flat contradiction to the word of God let such professe what they will they are very Antipodes to the rule of the word Secondly This is one great end of our Creation Why doth God send us into the world â—inc monemur quorsum homines vivant in mundo ut scilicet alii alios mutua communicatione juvent Neque enin sibi quisque natus est sed inter se quasi sacro nexu colligatum est humanum genus Ergn nisi leges Natuta evertere libeat meminerimus non privatim nobis vivenduÌ„ esse sed proximis nostris Calvin in loc To be idle and selfish to gratify our selves in the present delights to be immersed and swallowed up in our own private interests No this is not the end of God in our being we are made for higher things then these namely the publick good and the service of our generation If the Scripture was silent the Schoole of nature would learne us this lesson we are not borne for our selves or made for our selves a Heathen can tell us that the Law of our very being calls upon us to eye and serve the Community A private spirited man is a shame to his Creation because he walks so contrary to the great intendment of God in it for as Fulvius said to his Son Ego te non Catilinae genui sed patriae so here God did not make us for selfe but for the Community And further this is the designe of God in all our gifts parts indowments injoyments all are as so many Talents concredited with us and put into our hands not that we should wrap them up in Napkins but that we should trade them for the glory of God and the good of others Some have wisedome knowledge understanding why that their generation may be the better for them some have wealth God blesses them with great estates why Not that they should have their Gold and Silver lye moulding in their coffers but that they may releive the poore and be charitable to them that are in wants Look upon all that you have received the end of God in all is this he gives in to you that you may give out to others you are not as Vessells where the mercy is to be lodged but as Pipes to convey it to others He hath filled the Sun with light the Sea with water that they may communicate of their fulnesse to the benefit of the world and so t is here as the Apostle speaks concerning gifts The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 How shal many answer for their gifts at the great day who have onely studyed how to advance themselves and not to profit others Peters advice here is very seasonable 1 Pet. 4.10 As every man hath received the gift be it what it will even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God The Steward doth not receive money from his Lord for his own use but he is to lay it out for the good of the Family so saith the Apostle Be yee Stewards of the grace of God what ever you are what ever you have all is Grace improve and lay out all in service for the benefit of others this is to be good Stewards of the grace of God Manna stank if it was not eaten and so parts and gifts are offensive if they be layd up and not layd out for God Thirdly Our common union in the Mystical body cals for this that we should serve our Generation T is with the Church as t is with an Army which is divided into several Regiments yet t is but one Army Or as t is with a civil Corporation there are in it
shall see further A publick-spirited man is more sensible of the publick miseries then he is of his own private mercies There is not so much in the latter to comfort him as there is in the former to grieve him Though all be well with him wealth enough health enough comfortable relations all sweet yet if the Church or state be like a ship not only toss'd upon troublesome waters but even ready to sink this imbitters all his comforts and puts a check upon all his joy Neh 2 2.3 See this in good Nehemiah sayes the King to him why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick what hast thou to trouble thee art not thou in my favour my cup-bearer is not thy condition very good True but yet hee 's sad why Why should not my countenance be sad when the City the place of my Fathers Sepulchers lieâ—h wast and the gates thereof are consumed by fire The publick suffered therefore Nehemiah mourned So Vriah who denied himselfe in his private comforts upon this account The Arke and Israel and Judah abide in tents 2 Sam. 11.11 shall I then goe into my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife as thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not doe this thing David when he had rest from all his enemies and was in a very prosperous condition in which he might have solac'd himself to the utmost you shall finde this put a damp upon all his enjoyments 2 Sam. 7.2 I dwell in an house of Cedar but the Arke of God dwelleth in ourtains Fourthly 4. Car. A publick-spirited man rejoyces in publick good and more in the publick then in his own private good How farre are they from this excellent Spirit who fret and envie at the good of others The Angels I sinde thrice rejoycing in the Scriptures and 't is alwayes for the good of others oh ther 's the publick Spirit At the Creation of the world Job 38.7 when the morning starrs sang together and all the sons of God shouted together for joy At the Incarnation of Christ And suddenly there was with the Angel Luk. 2.13.14 a multitude of the heavenly Host praysing God and saying Glory to God in the highest c. At the conversion of a sinner There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God Luk. 15.10 Scias illum plurimis abundare virtutibus qui alienas sie amat Plin. Ep. 17. over one sinner that repenteth The blessed Angels are not so much concerned in this good as we and yet they rejoyce at it But this is not all A publick-spirit doth more rejoyce in the publick good then in his own private good This you see in David Let my hand forget her cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth Psal 137.6 if I doe not preferr Jerusalem before my chief joy The Churches wellfare was the object of Davids highest joy 't was not his crown his victories his treasures the weal of Jerusalem which was a publick good was his chief joy Fifthly 5. Car. A right publick-spirited man will not stick at danger if he may bring about publick good What though I lose my name my estate my liberty my life if I may but serve my God and my generation 't is no matter Esth 4.16 I will goe in to the King and if I perish I perish O brave Spirit Esther knew her danger was great for this was not according to the Law she knew how Vashti had been dealt withall before her she knew that she had many enemies that would aggravate this boldness but all this is nothing to her to save the lives of the Jews she will hazzard her own What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart saith S. Paul For I am ready not to be bound only Acts 21.13 but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Come what will come a publick spirited man will serve his generation though he suffer for it Sixthly 6. Car. A publick-spirited man desires of God rather that which may make him useful then that which may make him great You may know what Spirit you are of by what your hearts doe most run out after in prayer Sayes the selfish man Lord give me ease and safety and wealth sayes the publick spirited man Lord give me a heart to serve thee abilities to serve thee opportunities to serve thee Take the instance of Solomon for this 1 King 3.9.10 Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad for who is able to judge this thy so great a people And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing Solomon doth not aske long life nor riches nor any thing for himselfe but parts that he might be useful to his generation here was a publick-spirit and a spirit very pleasing to God I say look to the matter of your prayers and the end of your prayers you ask of God such and such gifts and therefore you ask them not that you may be proud of them or applauded for them but that you may be serviceable with them her 's a choice Spirit Seventhly A publick-spirited man will rejoyce in publick good done 7. Car. though he himselfe have not the glory of it Some men are like the Senate of Rome that would not let Christ have a place amongst their gods because another would have the honour of it they do what they can to retard and stop any motion for publick good if they themselves shall not have the credit of it Nothing makes their mill to goe but the wind of popular applause T is otherwise with the man I am characterizing if good may be done though he be not advanced by it he rejoyces and blesses God for it The carriage of Paul was excellent in this Some preach Christ even of envie and strife and some also of good will What then Phil. 1.15.16 17. Notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce and will rejoyce Let the world say they preach better then I and so Eclipse my reputation that 's nothing to me so long as Christ is preached for the salvation of souls I doe rejoyce and will rejoyce Gen. 13.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Agath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 8. Eighthly publick-spirited men will pass by private differences and wrongs rather then indanger the publick Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee for we be brethren saith Abrham to Lot Oh that this spirit did but more prevail in our times But what rancor and bitterness and rage is there even amongst Brethren upon private differences though hereby the common safety be so much indangered This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation Can the marriners fall out amongst themselves and the ship not be in danger Should
spirits be wasted health prejudiced strength weakened we are not propter vitam vivendi perdere finem as that great Scholar answered his Physicians D. Reynolds when they desired him to spare himself We live to serve and if we may by all our pains but turn one soul to God that is worth all our pains Are there divisions in the Church we are to labour to heal them and lament them Vid. Calv. in Ep. ad Arch. Cranmerum Tragoediae LutheÌ„ranae mihi ipsi calculo molestiores Erasm Are the Truths of God opposed we are to stand up in their defence with all our might to put a stop to the inundation of errours Do National sins spread and prevail we are to reprove them not sparing the greatest of men I will not enlarge because this is not so proper in this Assembly We are non nobis sed multorum utilitati nati as Bucer speaks Mal. 5.14 God hath set us as Lights in a publike place and we are to communicate to others we must tread in the steppes of our Master who went about doing good Act. 10.38 Our generation will not be able to answer well for their contempt of us but we shall worse be able to answer for our neglect of them Thirdly I come to you the Right Honourable Magistrate and Magistrates of this great and famous City Do you especially serve your generation God hath set you in a publick Orb You are worth ten thousand such shrubs as we are You have many Talents in that one of power and authority Oh improve it to the utmost for generation-good I do not speak to you under this or that quatenus as rich men No but only quatenus Magistrates We bless God and are thankfull to you for your great care diligence and faithfulnesse in promoting our good We reap the fruit of your labours sit under the shade of your Government with much peace and quietnesse you have been drawn out in zeal for the strict observation of the Lords Day Great encouragement you have given to the Ministers of the Gospel which in these times is no small mercy to us you do appear to punish sin to execute justice and I hope the poor Orphans will have cause to blesse you for your securing and improving that livelihood which is left to them Many Fathers adopt their Children these Children have adopted you to be their Fathers Shall I go on in your praise No I forbear rather I beseech you go on in service and yet do more worthily for God and for your generation Let me with all humility quicken you to this active and publick spirit by these few short considerations First Secure the publick and the publick will secure you Is not your private safety wrapt up in the publick What becomes of the Cabbin if the Ship be lost The best way to secure the Cabbin is to secure the Ship So the best way to secure your private comforts is to secure the publick good Secondly You shall not lose by serving your Generation Act for God and your community God will blesse you and reward you for it Quod grave perpendit ex opere leve existimat ex remuneratione Greg. Moral l. 8. c. 7. Hag. 2.19 2 Sam. 7.13 Ezek. 29.20 1 Cor. 15. ult As no man seeks him in vain so no man shall serve him in vain From this day will I blesse you He shall build an house for my Name there is his service I will establish his Kingdom for ever there is his reward A Nebuchadnezzar shall do nothing for God but he will requite him for it Abound in the work of the Lord your labour in him shall not be in vain Thirdly The remembrance of this will be matter of comfort to you when you come to die Nehemiah had been active for the good of the people See how he spreads this before God Think upon me my God for good Neh. 5. ult according to all that I have done for this people Lay out your selves Right Honourable in the wayes of service Service and sincerity in service will unsting death Fourthly God hath done great things for you will you do nothing for him What you do for the generation you do for God Hath not God blessed you exceedingly in the things of the world Are not Estates encreased Are not comforts providentially heaped upon you Job 29.3 6. Doth not the Candle of the Lord shine upon you You wash your steps in butter and the rock pours you out rivers of oyle as Job speaks What hath been done to Mordecai for all this Esth 6.3 Now you have such opportunities make some requitall This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 W. But lastly This will interest you in the hearts of Gods people and 't is no small thing to have an interest in the hearts of such Serve your generation they will desire your life they will lament your death You shall nor die as Jâ—horam did 2 Chro. 21.20 undesired and unlamented Serve your generation they will prize and honour you Your Name shall be as precious ointment to them It is said of Mordecai He was accepted of the multitude of his Brethren Esth 10.3 Why so Seeking the wealth of his people Serve your generation you shall have their prayers Let them have your labours and you shall have their prayers Lord blesse such a man and spare his life to us for he doth much good in his place I say you shall have the hearts of the people of God Jud. 5.9 My heart is toward the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly amongst the people They are weary of men that seek themselves and fain would be rid of them but a usefull man hath their very heart such a one they love contend for could even lay down their lives for him And therefore upon all these motives I humbly beseech you let head and heart and hand and power and estate and interest and all be acted and laid out sincerely and faithfully for the good of your generation Titus the Romane Emperour Amice diom perdidi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if a day passed him wherein he had not done some good was wont to say Friends I have lost a day and this day I have not reigned The Lord give you this active spirit which will be so much for his glory our benefit and your own comfort both in Life and Death Vse 4 That I may not be over-tedious one Use more shall shut up all and that is of Direction In a few words I will give you some advice in the discharge of this great duty Direct 1 The first is this In the serving your generation mainly and chiefly lay out your selves for the Gospel for the things of Christ for Religion For this is the best service you can do to your generation 1 Chro. 29.2 Davids service was Temple-service Laws are good for they are the bulwarks of property and the boundaries of the lusts