satisfie the vast and boundless desires of the Soul which cause is God for the Soul could not make it self and its admirable faculties 5. The practices of Satan prove as much for the devil labours by all means to move men to deny God to draw them to sin and all ungodliness to extinguish the light of the word and to keep men in ignorance bring them into errours prophaness and all wickedness as our present times and all Ages prove by woful experience and so to bring men to eternal destruction which plainly shews that there is a God who is most holy just good and that gives eternal life to his children servants that desire faithfully to serve him keep his law and obey his commandments John 10.27 28. Heb. 5.9 6. The consent of all Nations in the world prove clearly that there is a God no Nation was ever so barbarous as not to acknowledge and worship a God as the Heathen Orator Cicero observed although they could not by the light of nature know the true God yet they had and worshipped many Gods or Idols rather yea some unknown as Acts 17.23 To the unknown God that they might be sure amongst them all to worship the true God a plain sure argument that they knew there is a God to whom divine worship is due 7. The defence protection and increase of the Church and people of God who were very few at the first notwithstanding all the malice fury power and policy of the Devil and all worldly men his instruments who were very many to one Christian and those many of them of great Authority malice power and policy and laboured with all their might by all means possible that the Devil and worldly men could invent utterly to root out all that did own and profess Jesus Christ and the Christian Religion as Psal 83.2 3 4 5 6. Notwithstanding the Christians have been wonderfully preserved defended supported and strengthned to indure contempt disgrace poverty imprisonment and the most exquisite torments that could be invented even to the death with invincible courage and admirable patience comfort and cheerfulness also many of them were much increased by the very same means the Enemies used to root them out and the Enemies were plagued with dreadful judgements and horrors of conscience so that many of them out of anguish and despair of attaining their ends the destruction of the Church made away themselves others did leave their places of great Authority power wealth and honour which is an evident demonstration that there is a God of infinite power wisdom goodness and justice that did so defend protect support comfort and multiply his suffering people and disappoint plague and severely punish their Enemies that they might easily see their sin in their punishment 8. Lastly to name no more it is an evident and undeniable argument that there is a God that such as have studied to become Atheists could never blot this truth out of their consciences but at some times were forced to confess that there is a God at least to fear and tremble at the thoughts of his Majesty and wonderful workes as thunder and such like 2. That there is but one God is evident to common reason because there can be but one infinite omnipotent eternal and most perfect being but one first cause of all things for all things are referred to one first cause Dan. 4.35 Rom. 11.36 Revel 1.8 and 4.11 3. That there are three distinct persons or manners of subsisting in that one God-head That there is a plurality of divine persons more then one is evident from the Hebrew forms of speaking of God Gen. 1.1 In the original word for word Gods he created a Noun plural to a Verb singular Isai 54.5 Thy makers is thy husbands Eccles. 12.1 Remember thy Creators So Psalm 149.2 Also Genes 19.24 Jehovah rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven likewise Gen. 1.26 Let us make man Job 35.10 These and divers other Hebrew forms and expressions prove that there is a plurality of persons of divine persons in the God-head That there is a Trinity three distinct divine persons in the God-head is clearly evidenced and so as cannot with any colour of reason be denyed from those words of our Saviour Matth. 28.19 Go and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost Also from 1 John 5.7 There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one namely one God See likewise Mat. 3.16 17. Which three divine persons in that one undivided essence nature or God-head are these the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost or Spirit and are all co-equal co-essential and co-eternal of a most pure and spiritual nature infinite in understanding wisdom power goodness mercy most holy and most righteous That God is the creator maker preserver and governour of the whole world and of all persons and things in it with all their actions and events that he made man after his own Image in knowledge righteousness and true holiness who by eating of the forbidden fruit lost the Image of God in which he was created and all his peace and happiness and all mankind in him and became very sinful and miserable of himself and by nature altogether unable to do any thing that is truly and spiritually good and pleasing unto God or not to do evil which brings guilt and condemnation That Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God the second Person in the blessed Trinity took on him the nature of man and was made in all things like unto us sin only excepted was born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate and so on as it is in the Creed and this that in our nature name and stead he might fulfil the law satisfie Gods justice and purchase for all his righteousness and life eternal Also that Jesus Christ is the Prophet Priest and King of his Church 1. A Prophet to reveal unto us the way to everlasting life what we are to know believe and do that we might be eternally saved Deut. 18.18 19. John 6.14 Luke 4.18 19. 2. That he is a Priest and our great high Priest to offer up himself a sacrifice once for all Heb. 5.1 and 9.26 Which he did by his suffering death and rising again to satisfie the justice and law of God for mans sins in transgressing his law and thereby purchasing for all his eternal redemption reconciliation forgiveness of sins justification acceptation of our persons and services and eternal life Rom. 4.25 and all good things needful for this life and that to come and also to make intercession to the Father for us Heb. 7.25 3. That Christ is also a King to bridle and subdue all his Enemies Col. 2.15 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 110.1 2. and so gather govern his Elect and chosen powerfully to save them out of
and condition to be always good and useful as David who served his generation Act. 13 36. and so fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the wills of God ver 22. 20. Vse Recreations when nature requires in conventent places fit company and at convenient times and seasons not in times of mourning fasting or publike calamity never on the Lords day which is to be imployed in holy exercises Read and consider Isa 22.12 13. Exod. 20.8 and use them lawfully as recreations not as a trade or calling to refresh and make you more fit for the duties of your calling civil and religious not like him that is all day or a great part of it whetting his sythe but cuts down nothing or little But always let your recreations be only such as are lawful honest harmless of good report and sutable to the end you use them gravely and soberly as Christians Dicing carding mixt-dancing scurrilous sports and stage-plays are unbecoming the piety and gravity Christians should exercise in all their act on s if not simply unlawful for Christ ans 21. Think often of and prepare daily for suffering and death For our Saviour commands all that will be his Disciples to deny themselves and take up his cross and so follow him Luke 9.23 in respect of preparation and expectation for as Solomon tells us We know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 And the Apostle James also Chap. 4. ver 14. Therefore labour to get and clear up to your selves that you have true saving faith truly repented of your sins and have all other renewing and sanctifying Graces that you have an interest in Jesus Christ that your sins are pardoned the sting of death pulled out and all sufferings shall work together for your spiritual and eternal good See before in Adversity And then for death Know and consider that when where or howsoever it cometh it is to a true believer to a godly man only a means to put off the body of sin and to free the Soul from all sin both actual and original from Satans temptations from all worldly cares sufferings and sorrows from all toil and labour from all diseases distempers weaknesses and imperfections both of body and Soul a passage from natural life to eternal life from earth to Heaven from the company of evil and ungodly men and enemies for so many are in this world to have immediate and full communion with God the Father Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit and all the holy Angels Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all other Saints departed in the faith And though you must part with many things desirable in this world and lovely as friends relations and some with riches honour and greatness in the world yet remember it is but for a time and to enjoy a far better estate incomparably better far better friends the most blessed and glorious Lord God the Heavenly Father Jesus Christ your husband Head Redeemer Justifier elder Brother the blessed Spirit your sanctifier and comforter godly relations and all the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven and free from all the infirmities and corruptions they had while on earth which sometimes made the meetings of beloved and desired friends uncomfortable yea bitter as that of Paul and Barnabas two most godly persons and dear friends and companions Act. 15 37 38 39. And though the body shall go to the grave and see corruption yet it is but for a time God will destroy death it self and the grave raise up the body and glorifie it with the Soul to live for ever in Heaven in glory and happiness Hos 13.14 Phil. 3.21 1 Thes 4 15 16 17. Who after wearisome labour all day is unwilling to go to bed and rest Isa 57.1 2. why should any be unwilling to part with the worse for a state and condition that is every way incomparably better and everlasting wherefore comfort your selves and one another with these things and in an holy humble manner triumph over death and all worldly evils as the Apostle did 1 Corinth 15.54 c. 22. Married persons husbands and wives you know you are one flesh Gen. 2.24 And therefore your duty in common is 1. To dwell together that you may be mutual helpers one to another and to live chastly keeping each to other only keeping your bodies undefiled Adultery is a great sin to be punished with death Levit. 20.10 16. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Consider Prov. 5.15 16 17 18 20 21. Drink waters out of thine own cistern c. 2. In a special manner to love one another above all other persons in the world and delight one in another above all others in respect of Gods command and because of their near union In this respect Solomon and God by him counselleth Prov. 5.18 Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth let her be as the loving Hand and pleasant Roe let her brest satisfie thee at all times This is the wives duty as well as the Husbands Love is the ground of all other duties and good carriages the bond of perfection it bindeth together all those duties that do or ought to pass between man and wife neighbour and neighbour Love provoketh constraineth to all duties where this is wanting all other duties will be wanting and often altogether neglected or slightly performed and where true love is there all other duties will be readily performed 3. To bear one with another and bear one anothers infirmities Gal. 6.2 Bear ye one anothers burden and so fulfil the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 4. To defend protect and preserve one anothers person good name credit and chastity 5. To nourish and cherish one another Eph. 5.29 No man hateth his own flesh but nourisheth cherisheth it Now husband and wife are one flesh and thus doing they do in effect preserve their own persons lives chastity credit comfort and nourish their own bodies This duty lieth on them at all times and in all estates and conditions in sickness and weakness in health in poverty lameness c. as well as in time of health strength beauty prosperity yea though the other party be not able or wilfully wanting to do his or her duty because of Gods command their near conjunction and solemn Matrimonial covenant to take one another for better for worse for richer for poorer c. 6. To be diligent provident careful to increase preserve that estate which God hath or shall give you the command of God reason and your own common interest mutually bind both to be as careful of the goods of the family as if they were their particular own goods and therein also to be helpful one to another 7. To govern the children servants and whole family wisely and discreetly for the good of the whole family and therein also to be helpful one to another 8. Especially to be the helpers one to another for the good of your Souls using all loving means to win and draw
thanks-worthy if a man for conscience towards God indure grief suffering wrongfully for what glory is it if when ye are buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God for even hereunto are ye called because also Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow him who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth See here is Gods command Christs example their own duty comfort and benefit to themselves do all bind servants to a meek and patient bearing of reproof and correction blows also 5. Bear with your Masters infirmities for the best of men have their infirmities are subject to like passions as other men as 't is said of Elias Jam. 5.17 as you your selves also have yours and therefore make conscience of bearing with them in others especially in your Governors concealing and covering them in love as much as may be It is a sinful thing to publish or blaze them abroad to the dis-credit of their Master is indeed to their own discredit shame in the end yet it is too common for servants when they meet together to talk of and blaze their Masters and Governors infirmities and secrets also that others abroad know what is said and done secretly in the house Such the Holy Ghost condemneth as tale-bearers Prov. 11.13 and 20.19 and the Apostle as tatlers and busie-bodies wandring from house to house and speaking things they ought not 1 Tim. 5.13 I say also it redounds to their own discredit and shame for who will credit or like such as tattle abroad what they see or hear at home or knowingly receive or willingly retain such in their houses All sober persons will utterly dislike and condemn such persons for so doing To back all these duties and put all servants on to make conscience of performing these duties consider these weighty Reasons 1. The will and express command of God as you have heard so that in a willing neglecting any of these you sin against God and provoke God against your own souls 2. You wrong your Masters whose good you ought to endeavour heartily and honour their persons and authority 3. The great reward you shall receive if not of men yet to be sure of God who has undertaken to be your pay-master Eph. 6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free 4. The place Masters are in namely over you in the Lord as your Head and Governour and you in the place of subjection to them so that whatsoever the birth parentage estate parts or former conditions of any of you were yet now being servants by your own voluntary choice or Divine Providence you must be subject and do the duty of servants and it is much better to do that cheerfully and faithfully which must be done and will be much for your comfort and benefit 5. The faithful discharge of these duties is a good way to adorn the Gospel credit Religion and Godliness honour the Name of God the contrary will be an occasion of blaspheming the Name of God and of the Gospel and the ways of Godliness 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2.10 and hindring the good of Souls 6. This is one end of your calling to Grace to serve others faithfully 1 Pet. 2.21 22. whereunto also you are called though the place speaks especially and particularly of suffering patiently for well-doing yet excludes not the other but includes it 7. Fellow-servants must be loving one to another and be a help and comfort one unto another in all well-doing and by all lawful means as much as may be that their lives may be more sweet and comfortable to themselves more pleasing to God and their service more acceptable unto their Master and give one another and others a good example of faithfulness diligence chastity sobriety godliness and all Christian vertues and well-doing 8. I might add there will be a day of Death and Judgment in which both Masters and servants must give an account unto God the Judge of all the world how they have carried themselves in their relations one towards another 2 Cor. 5.10 Eccles 12.14 27. Lastly To those that are poor in the world I must add a few words particularly for their comfort and direction and I pray observe them well 1. If now for your comfort you be truly Godly that is know God and Jesus Christ savingly and if you do truly desire to believe and endeavour to serve God daily and faithfully though but weakly as your education 't is probable hath been but mean then you are rich and great in the sight of God God is your Father and Jesus Christ your Redeemer Justifier and Saviour the Holy Spirit is your Sanctifier and Comforter and Heaven your in heritance all is yours if you be Christs 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Bless God with all your Souls serve him with all your heart you are happy in a far better condition than many thousands though you have little or nothing in the world and they have hundreds or thousands by the year if they be Christless ungodly and graceless and such I am confident some of those to whom I intend this are Fear not you shall never want things necessary any thing that God your Heavenly Father knows to be good and necessary for you Consider Psal 34.9 10. 84.11 Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Consider well Mat. 6.25 to the end where you shall read how Christ argues for your comfort and ours also Where God gives life which is the greater better gift says Christ he will give meat and drink which is the lesser and he that gives a body will give raiment which is the lesser good He that will give a hundred or thousand pound to his childe will not be wanting to give him a little meat drink and clothes a few shillings for his present necessaries He that cloth s the field with grass and corn and the Lillies that neither toil nor spin Yea He that feeds the ravens kites and other Birds and Beasts that live on prey God provides for them when they awake in the morning they sing and are merry and yet they do not know where they shall have one small bit and they praise their Maker in their kind depend on him without distracting or carking distrustful cares and he provides for them every one food convenient in the due season Read Psal 104.27.28 and 147.15 16. How much more will he provide for you who truly desire and endeavor to serve and fear him Be not faithless but beleeve But 2. If you have not true saving knowledge and sanctified Grace an interest in Jesus Christ if ignorant or unholy and unrighteous then I beseech you whatsoever you do neglect yet neglect not any longer to give diligent endeavour
of which for the most part being the fruit of some hours thoughts in my bed and in a very plain phrase and method being intended for the meanest and weakest capacities as well as others And though it be but as Goats-hair towards the building of the Tabernacle yet notwithstanding may and I hope in the Lord will through his blessing help also others memories stir up their affections and hearts to a more serious walking in the good way of holiness and righteousness which will bring to heaven and eternal happiness Into which way I am fully persuaded many of you are already entred and walking but I cannot say so of all to whom this is intended and offer'd and therefore hope you will not be offended though I do adde divers directions for the better information instruction and direction of others towards the more easie getting preserving and increasing sound knowledge true and living grace to enable for the right use of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper too much neglected by many and all other Ordinances of Christ and especially to be prepared to live and dye holily comfortably and happily which next to the glorifying of God is the great business which we have all to do while we are here in this world and for which end we came into the world and God hath given us life the use of reason and understanding and the Word and Sacraments the means of grace and salvation which if any do neglect they are utterly and everlastingly undone and must perish eternally But rather I judge it will be a rejoycing of hearts to you who are already made wise unto salvation to see or hear that others also that are made wise or any ways helped in the way to get true wisdom I intended this only as an Epistle to another Treatise on a necessary subject but seeing it swell in the penning very much beyond my expectation I publish it by it self and it may be the other hereafter if life health liberty and the croud of other mens workes that press to be abroad do not hinder There are divers qualifications and things required as absolutely necessary to them of years of discretion to be had and exercised as to be enabled rightly to partake of the Sacrament of the Lords supper as a priviledge and benefit so to live and dye comfortably and happily which is the earnest desire of my soul and daily prayer unto God for you all namely sound knowledge of the things of God saving faith true repentance sincere love and charity and new obedience or holiness of heart and life and therefore I intend to speak something of each of them severally by the assistance of God 1. Knowledge a particular distinct grounded knowledge is necessary to salvation in all that are of years of discretion Let me mind some of you of some of the most necessary points of the Christian Religion the doctrine which is according to godliness Namely that there is only one true and living God and three distinct persons or manner of subsisting in that one undivided divine nature and Godhead the Father Son and Holy-Ghost or Spirit 1. That there is a God Because we live in an Age in which that damning sin of unbelief and Atheism is much more frequent then I think in any Age heretofore amongst Christians a sad sign that some grievous judgment from God if not destruction is drawing near I shall here set down a few Arguments to prove That there is a God which a man would think most clear and needs no proving which I hope may be of some use to confirm many though not to convince professed Atheists or wilful Cavillers Besides the Testimony of the holy Scriptures which have many demonstrative arguments in them to prove cleerly the divinity and infallible verity and certainty of the holy Scripture and so most fully and plainly that there is a God consider seriously these few of many that might be produced 1. The Heavens and Earth and all the Creatures in them as the Sun Moon Starrs c. do clearly prove it to all that are not wilfully blind and judicially given up to blindness to their eternal destruction for nothing can be the cause of it self the world could not make it self for then it should be both the cause and the effect both before and after it self Therefore the world and all things in it must have their being and beginning from some one first and supream cause which is of infinite wisdom power and goodness and of it self which gives being and continuance to all other things and this is God Also the first creature was made of nothing of no foregoing existant matter otherwise if not made it could not be subject to change and alteration And all Creatures are finite compounded and imperfect unable to make themselves or the least fly or worm or to sustain themselves and therefore of necessity there must be a first supream cause which is of it self of infinite power wisdome and goodness and most perfect which gives a being and continuance to that first Creature and to all things which are very good in their kind Gen. 1.31 2. The great wonders and miracles that have been done as the dividing the red Sea and Jordan causing the Sun and Moon to stand still and at another time to go back ten degrees and the Miracles wrought by the Prophets by Christ himself and the Apostles as raising the dead making them that were born blind to see the lame to go the dumb to speak the dead to live again and very many more which many thousands of eye and ear-witnesses saw heard all which were not only above the ordinary course of nature but simply above the power of nature do plainly and evidently prove that there is one supream absolute cause of infinite knowledge power and goodness which is God 3. The acts of conscience do prove that there is a God which are to excuse and comfort in well doing against disgraces slanders and sufferings and to accuse condemne and terrify for evil doing though committed never so secret and so that somtimes the sinners to free themselves of the terrous troubles of conscience make away themselves thousands have done so in all Ages which proves that there is a supream Judge that sees all though never so secret will call the sinners to account and condemne for their evil deeds and punish the evil doers 4. The powers of the Soul prove that there is a God The Soul is a substance spiritual invisible immortal ever-living exceeding active that can move its thoughts and eyes from one place to another from one kingdome and part of the world to another from earth to heaven in a moment is indued with understanding will reason and affection and is capable of eternal happiness and of eternal misery and therefore must of necessity be from a cause that is spiritual invisible immortal infinite in understanding wisdom power and goodness which only can
oftentimes fall into the sins also which he should not and 't is like would not to his shame and sorrow when too late to repent them therefore 1 Thes 5.22 says the Apostle Abstain from all appearances of evil 4. And where occasions cannot be avoided there especially arm your selves by prayer meditation on the word power justice and goodness of God and by holy resolution constantly and resolutely to oppose the evil the motions of sin temptations of Satan and the allurements of the world looking unto God and relying on him for assistance strength and wisdom to withstand and overcome them Jam. 4 7. 1 Pet. 5.9 Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray always that ye enter not into temptation And we have great reason so to do to be watchful if we consider what enemies we have viz. the Devil the world and the flesh 1. The Devil a most cunning malicious subtil vigilant and diligent and deceitful adversary to tempt and draw us to sin and destruction See 1 Pet. 5.8 one that is invisible a spirit and so can be present and see us outwardly inwardly that knows our nature temper and disposition by his great knowledge and thousands of years diligent observation and can and doth sute his temptations accordingly and press them home again and often and not be seen nor discerned of us because a spirit and invisible 2. The World another great enemy both the men of the world and worldly things The men of the world earthly carnal sensual men and men of corrupt judgments and evil conversations that will be tempting and drawing to sin by their counsel promises threatnings fair and foul usage hard dealings by their examples habits carriage and the like Therefore there are so many warnings given us by the Lord in his word as Pro. 1.10 My son if sinners intice thee consent thou not Prov. 4.14 Enter not into the path of the wicked c. Mat. 10.16 17 18. Beware of men Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets that come unto you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves i. e. with fair pretences but with foul malicious devouring hearts Phil. 3 2. 1 Cor. 15.32 Evil words corrupt good manners 2 Tim. 2.17 Their words do eat as doth a canker One man is oftentimes a wolf a devil to another and yet many discern it not Also the things of the world as profit pleasure preferment ease liberty credit and the like are great snares many times to draw into sin Who is not many times ensnared by them or too much taken up with them therefore great cause we have to be watchful 3. The flesh within us is as bad an enemy or worse than either of the other because within us natural to us born and bred up alwayes up with us as near to us as a right hand or a right eye that is always present with us and ready to open to Satan who is not always present therefore be watchful And thus labour to walk circumspectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exactly precisely for so the word most properly signifies not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil Ephes 5.15 16. from pleasures recreations idle words and frivolous discourses which are apt to steal away and swallow up much time though not evil in themselves also from vain thoughts and unprofitable musings which are very apt to steal in upon us in the bed at night in the morning and at other times at home and abroad walking and journeying also from sight frothy and amorous Books Romances and the like very unfit for Christians professing Godliness to read or hear for they steal much precious time move the affections in vain corrupt youth and take their affections off from and disrelish the spiritual appetite to the Holy Scriptures and other divine Treatises very necessary to be read frequently and seriously thought of Also redeem the time from unnecessary journeys visits yea even from sleep and worldly businesses for spiritual exercises to get and grow in knowledge grace and holiness to make sure of Gods favour pardon of sin interest in Christ and eternal life and to be useful in your generation that you may be able to to say with the Apostle Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies c. 11. As God gives and according to your abilities be ready to be good to and relieve them that are sick weak in want or other affliction Gal. 6.10 As we have opportunity let us do good to all men especially unto them that are of the houshold of faith i. e. that are of the same Religion with us especially such as are Godly Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifice God is well pleased It is an odour of a sweet savour a sacrifice acceptable well-pleasing to God Phil. 4.18 And do it chearfully and liberally not grudgingly and sparingly for God loveth a cheerful giver and will plentifully require them in full measure pressed down and running over Luk. 6.38 It is compared to a sowing-seed 2 Cor. 9.6 He that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully Liberality supplieth the want of the necessitous giving occasion of much thanksgiving and of glory to God doth adorn the Christian Religion honor the Gospel of Christ stop the mouths of worldly men but opens the mouths and hearts of them that are relieved refreshed and comforted to praise God for you speak wel of you pray to God for you and doth as I may in some sense say engage God to deal liberally with you for your liberal distribution to others though our good works do not merit in the least degree and to inrich you with every good thing to all bountifulness 2 Cor. 6.7 8. and 9.8 to the end The Holy Ghost often presseth this duty Read Eccles 11.1 2. Cast thy bread upon the waters though it seem in the eye of natural reason as bread cast into the River quite lost yet saith he after many days thou shalt find it again yea with much advantage as the husband-man doth his corn cast into the earth and long buried yet after many moneths he receives it again many for one many times ten twelve yea more for one bushel Ver. 2. Give a portion to seven and also to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be on the earth that is what plundering times or casualties may come when all may be taken away or consumed and then it will not repent you that you were liberal and charitable whilst you had it to poor Christians and other prous uses that is so given is sure and safe but that which is not given but taken away or consumed is quite gone lost unless lost for Christs sake But remember as to give cheerfully and liberally to also for Christs sake love to God and obedience to his command