is good ye know well the Apostles Precept 1 Thes 5. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good we have found the things in kind that single Christians and conjoyn'd Christians in Church-fellowship are to hold fast respectively viz. matter of Doctrine and of Religious and Moral practice and of Church-administration Now all these are to be proved and then so farre as found good stedfastly retained Here divers things might be spoken touching the businesse of proving and trying Touching the course taken for proving what would the Apostle have Christians wander up and down into every Conventicle or every corner to hear the broachers of all sorts of Opinions or would he have Christians adventure to travell into all Countries and to intermingle in all sorts of companies to get information what all men hold and all men practice O no Beloved wofull experience in our times shews that a number of light-headed curious gadders and travellers having no ballast of weighty judgement in them are so tossed up and down with the various kindes of Opinions and waves of mens practices clashing and breaking one upon another that they scarce ever come to side at Anchor at Sea much lesse put in at any safe Harbor but still fluctuate as Scepticks in Opion and Antinomists in practice and half Atheists at least in both We need not wander up and down for variety to bring under trial for we may finde too much brought home to us to our own places to exercise our judgements if we have any and if not to distract and disquiet us A great part of Solomons curious scarch experimentally was so unnecessary and unseemly as we may suppose it cost him a great deale of repentance afterward I say no more of this But then again for what is necessarily brought under our eye for proving remember that our onely true test or touchstone or rule for proving is the written Word of God And yet here we need begg of God sound wisdom how to make a right use of this proving touchstone for surely it is most grosly abused and wrested and perverted among our people at this day what through want of Learning what through want of humility because they would be dogmatizing And I fear there be crept in among them a number of Popish and profane witts who though secret scoffers at the Scriptures are leaders into manifold Errors by counterfeiting very greatly a reverence to Scripture Authority and urging the letter of it and express commands and examples from it while in the mean time they aime at both the disparagement of Scriptures and the confusion of their silly self-conceited followers The Lord direct us all to a right esteem and use of holy Writ for 't is possible there may be such found like those of old who melted and moulded their golden earings of precious Doctrines if right used into Idolatrous Images And such as can turn a brasen Serpent from a divine institution to become a superstitious Idol Thus having considered well what course we take in the way of Trial let us as was said hold fast only that which is good Onely pure and holy Doctrine onely approvable gracious practice suitable to such Doctrine and in Church-respects whether as Pastors and Teachers or other Ecclesiastick Officers onely such administrations and wayes of Government as may be found agreeable to the minde and word of our Lord Jesus It is observable that duty of this nature in our Text viz. to hold what was had already is either expresly or implicitely charged upon every one of those Asian Churches written to by Christ except that of Laodicea for all the rest had somewhat commended in them but she nothing as if she had nothing worthy to hold fast But why this Had she not much precious Doctrine retained by her Grant it yet it seems while she held her luke-warm temper in point of Government and Discipline all her Doctrine was as if it were not O Beloved that we had not yet amongst us a number of old Laodiceans obstructing what they can all proceeding in way of a right wise and sober Reformation and zealous onely to damp the zeale of people that way and stifly to hold fast humane superstitious inventions and their proud vain-glorious conceits of them The Lord soften and bend their spirits Use 2 Use 2. A second Use of this Point let be by way of Exhortation or Incitation to the act O that we would all stirre up our selves to all care and diligence to hold fast what good we have and let us all be stirred up thereunto at present Surely there are very strong Motives hereunto which may easily be perceived if we look about us I shall only press a little those two which lie on either hand the duty in our Text or what is equivalent thereunto The first is in the beginning of the verse Behold I come quickly saith the Lord Jesus A Motive taken from his quick apprehension unto them Now that speedy coming of his needs not to be understood meerly of a personal visible coming but of his coming in such ways of providence as wherein he was to be understood as vertually and effectually present for the mannaging of them and so we must needs understand the phrase Chap. 2. 5 16. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth Where his quick coming was doubtlesse in a way of punishment or chastisement c. But how are we here to understand Christ his quick coming First In a way of Trial. He had intimated immediately before that there was an hour of tentation coming upon all the world to try them that dwelt upon the earth and he is to be thought to be in that trial professing himself to be the searcher of the reins and heart Chap. 2. 23. and here as referring unto it he saith Behold take notice I come quickly viz. to try you among other in that hour of temptation what hour was that Immediately it signified as some Expositors think with good consent that persecution which soon after followed upon the Churches under the reign of Trajanus the Emperour and in which persecution Philadelphia was tried as well as other Strabo the Geographer writes that Philadelphia was terrae motibus crebrò concussa often shaken with Earthquakes Well whatever natural or proper Earthquakes she as a City with the region thereabout was subject unto certainly as she was a Church both she and others in those Primitive times were often shaken with Political Earthquakes shaking violences and assaults by Adversaries threatning their ruine and destruction And lest this consideration should not seem to reach us at this day take notice that in the judgement of many godly learned there is now an hour
HABAKKVKS PRAYER Applyed to the Churches present occasions on Hab. 3. 2. AND CHRISTS COUNSEL To the Church of Philadelphia on Rev. 3. 11. Preached before the Provincial Assembly of London By that late Reverend and faithful Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. SAMUEL BALMFORD Pastor of Albons Woodstreet Jer. 30. 7. Alas for that day is great so that none is like it It is even the time of Jacobs trouble But he shall be saved out of it London Printed by E. M. for Adoniram Byfield at the three Bibles in Corn-hil neer Popeshead-Alley 1659. Judicious READER FOr such the works of this holy man of God Mr. Samuel Balmford now with the Lord require and deserve Here is represented to thee a Forlorn-hope or two Scouts being a small parcel of those many excellent pieces intended for the presse sent before ad vada tentanda not as if these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were of higher stature in worth then others their fellows and therefore fitter for it Among all Superlatives Comparisons are excluded Pharez and Zara strove with equal strength for precedency of birth but this piece to satisfie the importunity of friends hath broken forth first The Author was a person of eminent Orthodoxy of Word and Life by both which as a burning and shining light he was an exact and powerful Teacher the observant eye of impartial conversers with him finding the Transcript of his Sermons in his life his actions being living walking Sermons He was a man of a meek and modest spirit cloathed with humility lowly in heart but high and eminent for gifts and graces in the esteem when living and honoring remembrance now dead of those that are best able to judge of real worth An excellent husbander of time a painfull Student of great diligence and faithfulnesse in all Trusts and Relations of much Candor affability communicativeness and condescention in matters capable of it but immoveable where sence of duty obliged him Not forward to speak and therefore his words were more savoury by lying long in the falt of a deliberate minde and administring more grace to the hearers A man of a publick spirit pitying souls mourning for the sins of others and deeply laying to heart the afflictions of the people of God abroad and their dissentions at home as these ensuing Sermons do abundantly testifie For his labours in the Ministry he was one would not do the work of the Lord negligently nor offer unto God what cost him nothing or a corrupt thing when as indeed he if any had a male in the flock and was a workman that needed not be ashamed He thought the delivery of Embassies from God to man most needed and best deserved careful preparation and therefore chose rather to approve himself to his Master and the alwayes smaller number of judicious hearers by an industrious searching the Scriptures and digging to the bottome of that excellent Mine than to spare himself and please the most by taking up with the nearest uppermost and lesse precious parcels of Ore he hung not forth Alchimy lace that a little wearing by judicious meditation would have changed the colour of but of such true and pure metal as would wear brighter and brighter When some thorow injudiciousnesse and possibly prejudice the Lord give such repentance to life accounted his bodily presence as they Pauls weak and contemptible and felt not the evidence and demonstration of the spirit in his words others more judicious and candid hearers Christians and Ministers have had their souls hanging on his lips and heard him with joy and delight to their great profiting Though he well knew the distempered palate of these diseased times yet would not this fisher of men bait the ground to draw multitudes about him with curious enquiries and speculations unprofitable though pleasing notions quarum inventarum solus fructus est invenisse nor talking impertinencies without book or filling up vacuities by most insipid and nauseous tautologies He did not by strength and strain of lungs comick actions peculiar modes of carriage having more of affectation than affection in them make up defect of matter nor cloud wisdom with words without knowledge wrapping up mysterious non-sense in silken phrases nor dresse up sober truths in the meretricious garb of enticing words of mans wisdom nor yet did he prostitute the Word to the contempt of the worldly-wise or disadvantage it to better-minded more judicious hearers by flatnesse or rudenesse of stile but sought out acceptable words those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making words still servants to matter neither going before vainly nor yet following at too great a distance negligently He did not leap into his matter without trying and showing the ground he went upon but accurately weighed the Original carefully consulted with expositors solidly stated the subject of his discourse and then excellently divided the Word of Truth by exact natural Method and faithful application to the different conditions of soules therein not venting his passions nor concealing Gods truth He was every way such as not to have known him was an unhappinesse to have indeed known him and not honoured him an impossibility Of him the world was not worthy he therefore is taken away from the evil to come These things I freely testify from the full knowledge I had of him having by him been allowed the happinesse of a free converse and intimate acquaintance with him by which I must acknowledge my selfe to have been much and often profited Thomas Parson THe Reverend and Learned Author of these ensuing Sermons very seasonable and useful for these times was a Minister of Christ endued with very good abilities a workman that needed not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth full of piety modesty humility and integrity Sound in the Faith immovable in the Truth painful in his Ministerial imployment and one who hath left a precious name behind him among stall those who throughly knew him And therefore unto the testimony given of him by my Reverend Brother I do freely chearfully and most heartily subscribe Edm. Calamy Errata Page 1. in the Text for receive r. revive for people r. years p. 2. l. 21. for open r. opine p. 5. l. 15. dele and mercy page 6. line 9. for use r. verse page 13. line 10. for Psal r. Isai p. 15. l. 4. for favor r. wrath p. 34. l. 21. for know r. known p. 41. l. 2. dele experienced and appeared p. 53. l. 4. for of r. by p. 66. l. 26. for keep r. kept p. 72. l. 11. for Christ r. Christians p. 78. l. 8. for usual r. useful p. 84. l. 9. for apprehension r. approach Habakkuks Prayer applyed to the Churches present occasions Habakkuk 3. 2. O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid O Lord receive thy work in the midst of thy people in the midst of the year make known in wrath remember mercy THe Prophesie of this holy Prophet is termed a Burden especially in regard of the sad and
8. used or was used for them in respect of their Land Isa 63. 17 18. The people of thy holinesse have enjoyed it but a while and in a small scantling c. But to draw to a conclusion 3. Would we have God revive this work for his people Then we must pray also that God would revive his work in his people and with it his people themselves and each of us is to look that it be revived in himself What work is this First The life of Faith in the main Remember The just shall live by Faith Chap. 2. 4. that is Faith shall be a principle of life exercising many lively acts in them and they shall attain to the life of Restauration and Comfort by believing Gods promises And therefore we are not to lie down in any dejections or despondences of mind through distrust of Gods power or promises in any case that may conduce most to his glory in his peoples good Secondly The Spirit of prayer for the reparation of Zion the spiritual restorement of the Church for when the Lord shall stir up his servants more generally and heartily to pray with melting compassionate affections toward the spiritual dilapidations deformities of his Churches it will be a good sign that the set time to favor his Zion is come See Psal 102 13 14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come For thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof 3ly Resolutions for best endeavours in behalf of the work of Reformation This concerns you all beloved in your several places and therefore to be far from being obstructors of it through worldly and carnal ends instead of being its promoters and advancers and they that have pretended to build with Gods people when they have intended to hinder as they in Ezra 4. 2 3. God will discover them But more especially this concerns you my reverend and much respected Brethren of the Provincial Assembly to look that you put forth revived spirits toward this work If that were true sano sensu Jupiter quos servare vult suscitat then 't is as true eos per quos servare vult c. If God quicken up those whom he will save then those by whom he will save others instrumentally O let us therefore through grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stir up the gifts and graces of God in us let us quicken up our selves to use all counsels and endeavours for the furtherance of Gods Church-work and joyntly attend upon and prosecute all those good means according to our trust undertaken whereby it may be carried on forward waiting on God for the issues of all our prayers and all our endeavours which shall seem best to his heavenly wisdom However events shall fall out to us in our time resolve as our Prophet doth infer ver 17 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the Olive shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation FINIS Christs counsel to the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3. 11. Hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown THese are a parcel of the words of Christ immediately directed unto the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia but mediately to that whole Church and every Member of it yea intended for the good of other Churches also and therefore of ours For he that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches It is the common Epiphonema which our Lord subjoyns to all his Epistles unto those Asian Churches written according to the dictate of his spirit by the pen of his Apostle John in the second and third Chapters of this Book He would have every one that hath an hearing ear to lend his attention to that which is spoken by his spirit to what Church soever in that such is the general nature of all Churches and Church-Members as either they do or may stand in need of all such divine admonitions as are addressed occasionally to any of them Now whether those seven particular Churches written unto by our Lord in this Context were Types of several Churches of several constitutions and temperaments and conditions to follow in after-times by divine providence I will forbear to assert positively though I cannot but say what I think that the invention of one of our own Worthies was very bright and clear in finding out those suitable correspondencies between these seven and others succeeding down to this present age respectively Now for that Church in Philadelphia to which my Text is part of that which was written this is remarkable concerning it that it that of Smyrna were the only Churches of all the seven which our Lord Christ openly reproved not at all wheras he found something reproveable in all the rest as on the other side it is remarkable concerning that of the Laodiceans that it was the only Church of the seven which Christ commended not at all whereas he took notice of something commendable in all the rest and why this not because there was nothing faulty or imperfect in those of Smyrna and Philadelphia but to shew how much the Lord favoureth humble modesty nor because there was nothing good in that of Leodicea but to shew how much the Lord disliketh proud vain-glory But I wave such general Observations I draw nigh to the words read unto Sect. you And not to take up any of our time with an exact Analysis of Christ his Epistle to Philadelphia because I shall go near to draw all the lines from the utmost circūstance of it into the center of my Text know only that after he had given testimony to the present good that was in her ver 8. and assurance of after goodness he would shew to her ver 9 10. both in subduing disguised Adversaries and in preserving her under temptations he comes in the words I have hinted upon to exhort her unto duty upon a double motive The duty is To to hold fast that which she had Brevis est hortatio sed Emphatica valde Pareus The first motive which is placed in the front is taken from the speedinesse of Christ his coming behold I come quickly The second which follows in the rear is from the possibility of danger upon neglect of that duty that no man take thy Crown First of the duty Touching which take up this Observation that It concerns the best of Gods Obser Churches and people to hold fast that which they have I purpose to handle this Point which is the principal in the Use so as ye shall perceive it reacheth not only Church-Officers but also Church-members and those of what condition soever this duty being of universal concernment to
it in this sense infringe the certainty of the perseverance and salvation of the Saints Answ No it doth not For in the community of a visible Church there is a mixture of Hypocrites with sincere Professors Now Hypocrites may lose the Crown of glory because they never had really either true Faith or holinesse but onely seemed to have them and therefore though they lose that Crown which was proposed to them to runne and strive and labour for yet is not the tenure of divine Election in the least weakened by their failing because though they were called externally yet not elected and never had the faith or grace of the Elect. And for sincere Christians who onely are elected though they shall not lose the Crown prepared and reserved for them yet they have need of such caveats as this Partly to minde them though they be kept by the power of God to salvation yet in themselves there is a Principle of defection and Apostacy and were they left unto themselves they should let go all grace and lose all glory and therefore need be the more wary Partly to keep them from loosenesse and defection for Exhortations and Admonitions from the mouth of God and set on by the Spirit of God are instrumental in Gods hand to stirre them up to duty and hold them in â—erseverance The premisses considered O Beloved how should we be strengthened in our resolutions and actuated in our strongest endeavours to stand fast and hold fast that truth that grace and all those spiritual liberties and priviledges bestowed upon us Use 3 Use 3. A third Use of this point may be to give and take some Directions for the more effectual practice of this Rule since it is a thing both of so much difficulty and of so great consequence to observe it In the way of hopefull means therefore be pleased to take notice of these few particulars 1. Would we hold fast what good we have personally and Ecclesiastically Then take an humble recognition of our own weaknesse respectively It is said of this Church of Philadelphia a little before at ver 8. that she had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little strength and indeed this duty of holdfast is directed neither to livelesse persons nor meer impotent persons in spiritual respects but it was but a little strength So it was with her that was one of the best of the sisters we are then to be humbly apprehensive of the smalnesse of our own strength even when we are at the best And then besides we may reflect back and consider whether in some particulars we have not slipped back with Ephesus and fallen from our first love and whether we are not in some particulars in a languishing condition as Sardis and so need to strengthen the things which remain that are ready to dye But I say we are to be humbly sensible of our little strength at the best and that will dispose us to more care to hold fast what we have c. 2. Take we and keep we fast hold on God by Faith and in the frequent exercise of Prayer imitating Jacob in not letting of him go He looks that his people should do so even to take hold of him and his strength in a good sense Isa 27. 5. not in a way of presumptuous contest with him but for our own support by him Stirre up our selves to lay hold on him Isa 64 7. For why Qui habet habentem omnia habet omnia so Qui retinet c. In his own might shall no man no Church be strong but we may be able to do all things through Christ strengthening us and therefore we are alwaies to walk and act in the strength of the Lord Psal 71. 16. Maintain sound Doctrine in the strength of the Lord keep the way of holinesse in the strength of the Lord perform all Church-duties in the strength of the Lord c. 3. Let it be our holy covetous aime to be getting more of that good which we are to hold fast Men of the world are ready to think that in externall things if they be not on the increasing hand they are on the diminishing And what shall we think of our condition in Spirituals If we look into the Evangelical Parable of the servants that had Talents or Pounds committed to their usance we may finde the evill servant there keeping his Talent and wrapping it up in a napkin and did he not then hold it fast but that proved neither pleasing to his Master nor comfortable to himself because he should have been imploying and improving it which because he was not therefore he was said not to have and sentenced to have that taken from him which he onely seemed to have For without some improvement a stock cannot long be kept entire together Wherefore in spiritual things beloved if we would with Philadelphia hold fast what we have we must affect the commendation of Thyatira Chap. 2. 19 to have our last works more than our first to advance in solid knowledge in true and sincere holinesse and if it be possible to have our after Church-Ministery Church-Assemblies Church-Administrations better than our former This I say must still be our aime or otherwise we shall be soon cast backward when men are in a broad wheele either to crane up things from the earth or to draw up baskets out of the water they are still steping forward or else they could not stay in the same place and circumstances of posture where they are as it is also with Birds in a turning bellcage And so when Christians or Church-Members are set into such a frame as the wheele of occurrents is still turning upon them either they must be still stepping forward or else they cannot keep the same sight of their station but be driven backward and overturned 4. We must be industrious and zealous in all the affairs which make for the preservation and improvement of what we have I commend that cluster of Apostolical precepts unto you in Rom. 12. 11. Be not sloathfull in businesse but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. And these are connexed and subordinate one to the other First Not sloathfull i. e. neither altogether idle nor remisse or carelesse how we do what we pretend to be doing how slowly how seldom how slightly For he that is sloathfull in his work is brother to him that is a great waster Prov. 18. 9. so farre will he prove from a holder fast of what he hath For the sloathful gets nothing as the waster spends all and so in their emptiness and needinesse they come to shake hands together Again If we would not be sloathfull we must be fervent in Spirit for sloathfulnesse is from coldnesse of temper corporally or spiritually and activity is from heat and fervency so that unless one be somewhat zealous he cannot be constantly laborious As the light is gone in a manner when the flame of a candle is extinguished and the fire will quickly
die out of the snuffe so is it in Spiritual cases unlesse we be somewhat fervent for truth and holinesse for Church-Ordinances and Discipline we shall quickly leave acting for them and be at a losse of them Therefore be fervent in Spirit And to direct our aimes and intentions in it know lastly according to that Scripture that we must look at the Lords service as serving the Lord we must be fervent in Spirit and not sloathful in businesse The Apostle bids ordinary servants do their Masters service not as looking to them onely but to the Lord Ephes 6. 7. Col. 3. 23. How much more then should they approve themselves to the Lord with all fervency of Spirit whose service and businesse is about the matters of God and his house These considerations surely may be helpful to Church-Officers and Members to hold fast what they have 5. If we be resolved for constancy in holding fast what good we have then let us shew our selves lovers and observers of all good Orders Enemies to Order are Enemies to Constancy Both together availe much for great issues and atchievements But pervert or disturb the former and you subvert or breake the latter cryers down of all Forms are monstra informia unshapen Monsters as opposite to God in their endeavours as may be for whereas God brought a bountiful Creation out of a Chao's They would reduce all into a Chao's again might they have their will or wishes for ought appears by their words Plainly therefore would we retaine either soundnesse of Doctrine or holinesse of life we must pray and endeavour to keep good order in all Church-Administrations Marke that of the Apostle in Colos 2. 5. Rejoycing saith he and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ He joynes Order with stedfastnesse and puts Order though the less before stedfastnesse of faith though the greater because Order conduceth much unto stedfastness And wherefore is there so much unstedfastnesse this day among our people even about the most important points of Faith but because they are all out of Order No Rule held over them their Traces cut the Reins cast upon their necks and the communalty of them unskilful to rule themselves I speak in reference to Spirituals They wander from one Church unto another now they are in one Conventicle or Assembly and then in another In one place they meet with some good Principles it may be but in another with bad and gather matter of corruption of minde and practice one piece after another and how then should they hold fast what good they had How much then doth it concern us all in our several places to keep Order and Rules of Government And would to God our Rulers at length would powerfully help us all to keep such as may be sound undoubtedly approveable 6 Exercise patience as this Church did ver 10. keeping the word of Christs patience not only the rule prescribing patience but patience it self prescribed by that rule For patience is necessary unto perseverance in a good profession in a good practice whether publickly or privately The impatient person doth not possess his own soul see Luk. 21. 19. he hath not an hold fast of him self and therefore what else can he hold fast If we would like good plants retain our moisture our sustenance and bring forth fruit to perfection it must be with patience Luke 8. 15. If we would do the will of God according to our places throughly and constantly so as to receive the promises we have need of patience Hebr. 10. 36. Wherefore do so many depart from God and turn from his truth and will and way but because they are impatient and will not wait Gods leisure till he vindicate his own cause or means effectually for the clearing up of Controversies and reforming of things amiss and so falling a mourning that things are carried crosse unto their former Principles and perswasions they fling out and are carried headily any way that may give them most present contentment whatever it may do afterward But not to tire your patience too long 7. Approve we our selves right Philadelphians that is according to the Etymon of the word Brotherly lovers and lovers of the Brethren See 1 Thes 4. 9. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another Heb. 13. 1. Let brotherly love continue Without this we cannot keep long in any good order nor keep in patience long c. Nor which is the main keep long in the possession and practice of truth and holiness Mark that Context Ephes 12 3. Forbearing one another in love Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace If we break in point of love we quickly break the bond of peace and love being broken we cannot long keep the unity of the Spirit what is that Unity in the disposition of our spirits in judgements and affections But there must be more then that viz. 2. Unity of our spirits in assent and adherence to Gods Spirit his Doctrines his Principles his Ordinances that so our unity may be evidenced to be 3. Unitiy wrought by the Holy Spirit of God knitting us together as Members of one Mystical body after a Spiritual and Mystical manner To the keeping of this I say brotherly love is requisite No marvel therefore if we hold not fast what we had I speak of the common hold fast since there is such want of brotherly love among us since our people are fallen into so many Divisions and breaches A condition with tears of blood to be lamented And O that all Sardenses and Laodiceans about us would transire in castra or rather in tentoria Philadelphensium Then might we see happy times and God can bring them on when he pleaseth Mean while let us Beloved shew our selves right Philadelphians of an humble meek loving gentle yet a couragious and tenacious spirit to hold fast true Doctrine and Discipline holinesse of life and conversation Our love one toward another will strengthen the hearts and hands one of another and the failing of it as much weaken us c. Let Angels and Officers of Churches think of this in the first place who are to be Lights and Guides to others in the wayes of Love and Peace But then all the Members of our Churches in their several places And to close all Let us shew our selves Philadelphians in our sympathetical affections in love towards our Brethren of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas and of neighbouring Nations because we all profess to hold the same good things of God both for Doctrine and Discipline for the main substance of it More specially sympathize with them who are now in an hour of temptation to try them Pray that though they could not hold fast what they had in Houses Lands and other outward possessions nor Ministers nor Churches nor their nearest relations many of them yet they may hold fast true faith and good consciences to the end as many of those that have been massacred already did to the end as divers of their Ancestors also did see many foregoing Generations And contribute also toward them in love for the relief of their necessities as we shall be shortly called upon to do in our respective places Now who so in the use of such meanes shall hold fast that which he hath of Truth and Grace and persevering overcome Christ promiseth him in the verse following that he will make him pillar in the Temple of his God and he shall goe no more out A verse very well worthy our attendance unto a further explanation of it but the time now cuts me off c. FINIS