Fleshly Wisdom of this World is Ambitious does what it does to be seen of Men will Fawn and Flatter to gain the Applause of of others but will Slight Contemn Undervalue and Trample upon those that are Sincere and it seeks its own but not the things of Christ Jesus nor the good of his Flock is not tender but is unnatural and cruel will Sacrifice the good of Souls and the peace of the Church to gain its own ends this is that Spirit which the Apostle Warned against (a) 1 Cor. 13. and is not to be suffered in God's Camp and therefore Watch against it and its Abettors where-ever it appears and look upon it as a deadly Enemy to God and True Religion and dangerous to the Peace of the Church which ought to be prefer'd above and beyond any private Interest whatsoever So that it is not Specious Pretences Fair Speeches Old Experiences nor Knowledge where that is lost that gave the Experience and did make known the Mysteries of God and did make tender whil'st in Subjection to it that will or can truly Promote the Glory of God or the Peace of his Church For the Holy Apostle was truly Sensible of this when he said Though I speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels and have not Charity I am become as Sounding Brass or a Tinkling Cymbal and though I have the Gift of Prophecy (b) 1 Cor. 13. and understand all Mysteries and all Knowledge and though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have not Charity I am nothing And though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor and though I give my Body to be Burned and have not Charity it profiteth me nothing for Charity suffereth long and is kind Charity envieth not vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easiy provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in Iniquity but rejoyceth in the Truth beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Charity never faileth Now that these Blessed Fruits and Effects of the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts we may be found in that they may be as Ornaments upon us and we may Shine forth in them as Lights upon an Hill and as Candles in Candlesticks that others may see our good Works and may Glorifie our Father which is in Heaven And Zion may become the Glory of many Nations and Jerusalem the Praise of the whole Earth and the Borders of God's Sanctuary enlarged and the Truth Prosper and many gathered to it And as we keep in the Wisdom and Counsel of God Peace and Unity will be Promoted Fervent Charity Brotherly Kindness and Bearing one with another in a Spirit of Love will increase and thereby the Sincere Incouraged the Feeble Strengthened the Heady and High-minded Rebuked the Backslider brought back the Careless and Negligent awakened and stirred up to Faithfulness and Diligence that nothing but Love and Truth may have any place amongst us then shall God have his Honour and we the Comfort of the Power and Presence of the Living God amongst us And Friends you hnow the Lord hath raised us up by his Mighty Power and Quickened us who were dead in Trespasses and Sins to be a People to him to answer the End for which we were Created and also the End for which he hath Redeemed us from that Bondage in which we were held by the Power of Darkness and that is to Serve and Worship him Now you know God is a Spirit and our Lord saith to the Woman of Samaria (c) John 4. 23. The hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth for the Father seeketh such to Worship him Now as the true Worship stands in Spirit they that are performers of it must be in the Spirit that is they must be Spiritually-minded their Hearts and Souls must be turned to this Spirit waiting to feel the Work of it both to fit them by taking away and Purging them from every thing that makes them unfit for so great an Exercise as that is to wash from all Corruptions and to draw the Mind out of that which would defile it for whil'st the Heart is defiled it is not fit for this Worship As God is Holy so is his Worship and it must be peform'd by a Heart and Mind that is made so or else we shall have such a return as Israel had of Old by the Prophet (d) Isa 1. 12 13 15. When ye come to appear before me who hath required this at your Hands to tread my Courts Bring no more vain Oblations c. And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine Eyes from you yea when you make many Prayers I will not hear your hands are full of Blood So that it is in vain for People to approach before the Lord with an Earthly Corrupt Heart and Mind Man has nothing to do to tread his Courts till a Reformation in some measure be wrought and that they know Repentance and an earnest Willingness and Desire to have their Hearts Washed in the (e) Zach. 13. 1. Fountain which God hath opened which is the Life and Virtue of his Beloved Son For when the Prophet had in the Chapter before advised Verse 16 17 18. Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do evil and learn to do well c. then he saith Come now and let us reason together c. So that it is evident People must come rightly prepared or else they have no right to tread his Courts nor to offer any thing as a Sacrifice to him And therefore let every Mind especially when met together in our Solemn Meetings for it is not barely coming there and hearing what may be spoken there but every one must be turned in to the Gift of God's Spirit in your own Hearts and feel your Minds exercised in it and you truly subject to the Leadings and Dictates of it that you may be a Spiritual-minded People and it is in this Frame God is Worshipped for when the Mind is truly subject to the Spirit of Life it quickens and raises such a Soul into a deep Sense of the Dealings of the Lord and his Goodness and Mercies which have been very many and the many Deliverances and Preservations God hath wrought for us and in this sense the Soul truly Bows before him and Admires his Goodness and Adores him for it and here the Worship of God is perform'd acceptably and such feel returns of Peace into their Souls and thereby are opened and enlarged to Praise the Lord and Speak well of his Name and these grow as (f) Mal. 4. 2. Calves in the Stall and as (g) Isa 44. 2. Willows by the Water-Courses these are like a Tree (h) Psal 1. 3. Planted by the Rivers of Water they bring forth their
TENDER Counsel and Advice TO THE Flock of God Every where By a Lover of Truth and Righteousness William Bingley Psalms 107. 43. Whoso is Wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the Loving Kindness of the Lord. Psal 112. 1 2 3. Blessed is the Man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments his Seed shall be mighty upon Earth the Generation of the Righteous shall be Blessed Wealth and Riches shall be in his House and his Righteousness endureth for ever Gal. 5. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the Yoke of Bondage London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle next Door to the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street and at the Bible in Leaden-hall-street near the Market 1697. TENDER Counsel and Advice TO THE Flock of God c. GOD who is Rich in Mercy to all that calls upon him in Sincerity and with a True and Humble Heart seeks him hath in his Unspeakable Love been Pleased to (a) Luke 1. 78 79. Visit us who once were under the Regions of the Shadow of Death with the Light of that Blessed Day which sprung from on High which is no other but the Light of his Beloved Son whom he Promised of Old to give For a (b) Isa 42. 6. 49. 6. Acts 13. 47. Covenant of the People for a Light of the Gentiles This is that Light with which he hath reached to us and caused to Shine in our (c) 2 Cor. 4. 6. Hearts to give us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ whereby we who were in the times past scattered in the Darkness and Ignorance of our Minds upon the Desolate and Barren Mountains of empty Profession where we might have remained to this Day yea and all our Days in a Poor Miserable and Wretched State Desolate of the Knowledge of those things which makes truly Happy both in this World and that which is to come had not Almighty God in this the Day of his great Love Stretched out the Arm of his Power to gather us that we might no longer remain in Sin and Coruption which (d) Dan. 9. 24. Christ our Lord came to put an End to and by his Precious (e) Eph. 1. 7. Blood to Redeem us from And that we who were Aliens and Foreigners in our Minds from the Common Wealth of Israel might by the Work of his Eternal Power and Spirit in our Hearts be made nigh to him who gave his Life a Ransom for us whereby we might come to be Heirs of Peace through the true Knowledge of the Work of Sanctification wrought in our Hearts by his Spirit and then Inhabitants of that City which the Lord God and the Lamb is the (f) Rev. 21. 23. Light and Glory of Now Friends seeing the Lord hath done thus for us and not for us only but to all Mankind in general hath given a Visitation of Love and brought us to the Knowledge of Christ who is the (g) John 14. 6. Truth the Way and the Life and has opened (h) Heb. 10. 20. a Door for us to return to God again what remains but that we in a Holy Bowedness Reverence and Fear towards Almighty God and Love to Christ that first Loved us and laid down his Life Make a right Improvement of all the tender Mercies and Dealings of the Lord and truly answer the End of the Divine Discoveries and Visitations of the Great Everlasting God to us by receiving the Blessed Truth and the Heavenly Discovery thereof in the Love of it and joyning to the Appearance of it in our Souls and so loving the Rebukes and Convictions of it as to forsake every thing it Reproves for and Discovers to be Evil and wait to feel the (i) Joh. 16. 13. Guidance of it out of all Untruth into all Truth And as it is given to us to change and renew us in the Spirit (k) Eph. 4. 23. of our Minds So we may truly give up to it that it may work a thorough and effectual Change in us Translating us out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of the Dear Son of God and to possess that Treasure of Eternal Life that neither Moth can Eat (l) Mat. 6. 19. Rust Corrupt nor Thieves break through and Steal Now as that is the good End for which the Great God has bestowed so Great and Glorious a Principle upon Man if we be not thus Changed and made Heirs of Life the fault is our own for there is neither want of Good Will in God towards Man nor want of Power in that Divine Principle God has been Pleased to bestow upon Man but it is Mans loving the World and the Delights of it and Samson-like (m) Judg. 16. 4. harbouring a Dalilah in the Bosom for although a Profession of the Truth it self may be made from the Convictions and Discoveries it makes yet not being Changed and Renewed in the Spirit of our Minds but the Old Nature and Birth remaining Alive in them not given up to the Judgment and Stroak of Truth in themselves these are they that though a Day of Visitation hath reached them and the Blessed Truth is made known to them and the reproofs thereof have followed them yet they have not truly turned at the Reproofs thereof and so not received the Truth in the Love of it but are such as the Holy Apostle Rom. 1. 18. Describes Who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness and the Wrath of God is Revealed from Heaven against such and he gives the Reason for it in the next Verse Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them So that it is not holding barely a Profession of the Truth that will do us any good but it is a being Renewed in our Minds or else whatever we may Profess the Wrath of God abides upon us So that we are not only to Profess the Truth but to Love it above all things and to yield Obedience to it for our Love to Christ Jesus the Truth is manifested by our Obedience and Subjection to him it being in vain to pretend we Love him whil'st we are not willing to Bow to him and to let him have the Government of our Minds If you Love me saith our Lord keep my Commandments John 14. 15. And again He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that Loveth me and he that Loveth me shall be Loved of my Father and I will Love him and Manifest my self to him Verse 21. Again Jesus said If a Man Love me he will keep my Words and he adds a Blessed and Comfortable Promise to such that thus Love him and my Father will Love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Verse 23. And seeing none are Lovers of him but these who
keep his Commandments and keep his Words and Sayings how do's it behove us to come to a strict and thorough search Are we keeping his Commandments his Words and Sayings You know the tendency of all the Words Sayings and Commandments of our Lord was to bring Man to the Knowledge of his Power and the Work of it in them that they might come to be Sanctified by his Word (n) Joh. 17. 17. which is Truth and Born again (o) John 3. 3 8. of the Spirit for without it no Man can enter the Kingdom of God and also to rectifie Man both in Life and Manners that as Man was gone away from his Primitive State of Holiness into the Dark World he by observing his Word of Life and keeping of his Commandments might come up again in that Brightness and Glory from which he was fallen to Love and Fear God who hath given him Life and Being And where this Love is thus seated in the Heart and lived in it will naturally lead to forsake all things that offends him and hurts and hinders the spreading of the Truth and the Glory of his Name For it is not a shew or bare pretence of Loving him that will Intitle us to the Blessed Promise of He and his Fathers Loving them and coming to make their Abode with them For as it is said by the Apostle John If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2. 15. And it is said by our Lord He that Loveth (p) Mat. 10. 37. Father Mother Wife or Children c. better than me is not worthy of me Now if we must not Love things that are both good and lawful in themselves and justifiable for us to have enjoy and love in their places better than the Lord but he must have the Mind and Affections above and beyond the Love of them then our Love to these things must be subordinate to the Love we must have to him nor must we let our Minds Love or Affections be at all after unlawful things as the (q) James 4. 4. Friendship and Favour of this World for that is at Enmity with God nor after Covetousness and Pride the Lust Pleasure and Wantonness of this World for they are Evil and expresly forbidden and therefore as the Apostle said (r) Col. 2. 21. Touch not tast not handle not for they Defile and make unfit to draw nigh to God or to have fellowship with him and his Beloved Son who came to Redeem us from such things Now they that know the Truth well know that the Truth calls out of such things to abandon forsake and withstand them in every of their Appearances and to War against every hurtful Lust that Wars against the Soul and does not only call for this Resisting of them but will enable every one that submits to it in themselves to overcome these Snares and Temptations and so not to be Slaves and brought into Bondage by Evil but to be Victors over it And yet notwithstanding God has given this knowledge and invested man with a Divine Power if he will yet give way to these things and gratifie his vain and unbridled Mind and will harbour them in his Heart and live in them though he offends by so doing and becomes an ill Example to others such will unavoidably bring themselves under the Character the Apostle gives of some (s) 2 Tim. 3. 4. Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God and must Reap the Reward of their so doing and therefore will not be found worthy of him who is come out of the Bosom of the Father to Restore poor lost Man to God again nor of that Eternal Life and Peace which he brings all those who receive him in that Love in which the Father sent him And therefore my Dear Friends as we Profess the Blessed Truth let us Love and Live in it and give up in Obedience to it that it may Purge (t) 1 Cor. 5. 7. out that old Leaven of Sin and Corruption and may slay and bring under that Evil Nature and Birth which loves and is ready to lay hold of Temptation when presented in our view by the Adversary of our Souls and so to Purifie and Mould us a new that we may be a new Lump Leavened into the Heavenly Divine Nature and become New Creatures Grafted into Christ Jesus the True and Heavenly Vine and become (v) Rom. 11. 17. Branches in him and receive Divine and Heavenly Sap and Virtue from him who is the Holy and Heavenly Root from whom all True Nourishment comes and being thus Grafted into Christ and Abiding in him we shall grow in him and bring forth Fruits of Righteousness through him to God's Glory and our Everlasting Joy and Peace which that all may do who have been Reached to by the Blessed Truth are the Hearty Prayers and Supplications of my Soul to the Lord. Therefore let all be Careful that none who have in any measure partook of the Life and Virtue which is in him who is the Living Vine lose the Sweetness thereof and consequently its Nature and so suck Nourishment from another Root though the Name and Profession may be retain'd and whil'st Professing to be Branches in Christ the True Vine are found to be in the old Root of Bitterness bringing forth the Fruits of it which are those of the Flesh as the Apostle doth fully and plainly describe them which are Strife Emulation (w) Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Wrath Contention Envying Drunkenness Whoredom c. and they that commit such things cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God but the Fruits of the Spirit which are brought forth by all that abide in Christ the True Vine are Love Joy x Peace Long-Suffering Gentleness Verses 22 23 24. Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is is no Law for they that are Christ's have Crucified the Flesh with the Affections and the Lusts So there is no room or indulgence to be given to the Fruits of the Flesh but we are to shew forth in all things that we are his Children and are Crucified (y) Gal. 6. 14. to the World and the World to us that as the Apostle saith If we Live in the Spirit it is not our saying We Live in the Spirit if we do not manifest he Fruits thereof let us also (z) Gal. 5. 25 26. walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain Glory Provoking one another Envying one another for these are not the Fruits of a Branch in Christ nor of one that has Crnuified the Flesh but the contrary and is the Product of a Corrupt and Darkened Heart that notwithstanding may Profess the Truth and Talk of great things for a Name and Applause among Men yet is not subject to the Spirit of Truth which would Leaven into the Fruits of its own Nature but this Fleshly Exalted Vain Glorious Mind and Spirit that is Puff'd up in the
Plain-dealing this is not the way to answer the Witness of God in them nor to spread the Honour and Reputation of Truth And every one keep your VVords and perform your (q) Psal 15. 4. Contracts to the utmost of your Power that none may be injured or wronged but that Truth may be seen to have the Government of your Minds in all things for what will our Professing this Blessed and Just Principle and our Reasoning and Disputing for it and telling the VVorld what a Heavenly Divine Just Principle it is and what great things it will work in them that obey it how it will make them Just and Righteous and will make People careful what they do and savory in all their words I say what will all this do and abundance more and not shew forth these Blessed Virtues and Effects of it in our Lives VVhat will all our Professing and Disputing for it do VVill this be a means to Promote the Name of the Lord and Justice and Equity in the Earth Surely no It will rather lay stumbling Blocks in the way of the Enquirer and therefore let all Self-endedness and desire after Dishonest Gain be denied and laid aside and those Discountenanced and Rebuked who have given way to any thing of that Nature that those things that becomes our Holy Profession may be found amongst us yea every particular of us who Professeth this Holy Principle may shew forth the Virtue of it to all with whom we have to do by doing Justly and Equitably in the whole Course of our Lives And dear Friends we ought also to be careful that as the Truth is a Plain thing and calls to Plainness so we keep in the Plainness of it both in our VVords Deportments and every thing else and particularly that of the Plain Language seeing God has (r) Zeph. 3. 9. called us to bear a Testimony therein have a care that none let it fall for that is the way to go back and not forward I know there are some and I believe all whoever came rightly to the Truth came through Hardship and Suffering into this Testimony and could we have Peace or Ease in our Spirits whil'st we were endeavouring to find out ways to shun the Cross in this particular Surely no And God is the same he changeth not there is no alteration in him though Men may change and therefore he calls for the same Testimony still though it is unacceptable to the World for that Nature and Spirit loves Honour and Respect and it is a Cross to it when it is not given it and is ready to be disgusted with the Simplicity and Plainness that Truth leads into and I have seen a Snare hath attended some that when they have had to do with the World yea some I doubt not that have known better and have in times past stood in a Testimony in this matter have shun'd the Cross and caused the Offence thereof to cease by letting the Language of Truth fall that they might thereby render themselves the more acceptable to the World some for the sake of Gain and to Please those they expected Profit and Advantage by and others through a Fearful and Cowardly Spirit have fallen into this Snare and thereby have lost their Dominion in the Truth and have let in the Worlds Spirit over them and instead of Leavening them with whom they have been concerned into the Leaven and Savour of Truth the Leaven and Spirit of the World hath entered them and thereby Darkness and Insensibility hath gained upon them And this is a way that old Adversary and Enemy of Man's Peace takes who works by degrees to Darken and make Insensible those that God had once made Savory and at last brings to that Miserable State our Lord speaks of by way of Caution to his Disciples Ye are the (s) Mat. 5. 13. Luke 14. 34 35. Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost its Savour wherewith shall it be Salted it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of Men For Men as Men trample upon such notwithstanding they may seem to like and encourage a Backslider in the Baulking and Flagging in his Testimony and there is great reason that such should be slighted and dis-esteemed for whoever will be False to God and Treacherous in the Testimony he has given them to bear for his Name and Truth upon the Earth there is no good ground for any to think that such will be true to Men But it is Faithfulness and Steadiness in the Truth and the Testimony of it that gives Favour with God and many times in the end Reputation among Men and therefore let none fell the Truth or the Testimony of it in this or any other case to Purchase the World and the Favour thereof for it will prove a Miserable Purchase at the last to sell Heaven for this World and not gain that neither Oh my Friends Stand Faithful and Valiant for God and keep up his Testimony though it be through Hardships and Sufferings and the Frowns of the World and your Reward will be Peace and Joy that is full of Glory and you shall have a Dwelling with the Lamb on Mount ZION that cannot be shaken And Friends beware of a Liberty which Truth allows not of I know if there be not a diligent Watch kept it will be apt to creep in by degrees and that which could not have been complied with as knowing it to be Hurtful will get hold upon us and the more it is given way to the more easie and familiar it will be till that Holy Awe which ought to be upon our Minds towards God and watch over our Words that they may be few and savory is lost and then a Fleshly Liberty will come in like a Flood and the Enemy will take advantages to Darken the Mind and Cloud the Judgment that things which heretofore were done contrary to our Judgments and for which we had some Trouble and Reproof will become easie and by indulging the committing of them and pleading for them many have run out to the saying Religion stands not in such things and at length from the very Appearance of Truth both in Word and Deportment and so have been lost and gone again into the World its Ways and Fashions and Customs to Swim in that Old Currant of Liberty and Lust they once were in some measure Redeemed from of whom it may be said as the holy Apostle Peter said (t) 2 Pet. 2 22. Pov. 26. 11. It is happend unto them according to the true Proverb the Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire again This is a growing Evil and I Pray God a diligent care may be taken by all to prevent it both in the particular and in the general I mean by particular Every one to watch against it in themselves and keep in the fear of
the Lord which is a (v) Prov. 14. 27. Fountain of Life to depart from these and all the Snares of Death and to take heed to the divine Instruction of the Grace of God in their own Hearts which teacheth to deny all these things and not only to deny Evil but to (w) Tit. 2. 12. live a Holy Sober and Godly Life in this present evil World and consider in seriousness when a temptation presents to the jollity and liberty of this World either from an Inclination in our selves or by others to draw us into it will this be pleasiing to God ought I to take this liberty will it not gender to bondage or shall I hereby answer the great love of God towards me shall I be an Instrument to civilize those among whom I am or shall I not rather be an evil Instrument to strengthen them in that liberty which will keep them in bondage to Sin and Satan I entreat in the Love of God every one consider these things and also that we are not our own we are bought (x) 1 Cor. 6. 20. and 7. 23. 1 Pet 1. 19. with a Price and this Price with which we are bought is no less than the Precious Blood of the Son of God and being thus bought we ought not to live to our selves or gratify our own Hearts lusts and minds but to live to him that hath bought us And as the Apostle saith to Glorify God in our Bodies and Spirits which are the Lord 's And as to the general we are a Body and Society whom God in some measure has brought into a good and wholsom discipline that we watch over one another in Love not with an evil Eye nor in Sowerness and Prejudice and in that go about to reprove for that will never do good but in a Holy concern for God and the good of Souls first knowing our own consciences clear in God's sight to Counsel Admonish Reprove and Rebuke not sparing any things that are reproveable in any nor overlooking through Favour or Afection for that weakens our discipline gives advantage to the Enemy of the Blessed Truth and is hurtful to those to whom Reproof and Rebuke is due therefore that that which is wrong may be kept down by the authority of the Truth and we kept in Wisdom and Councel of the Lord and Holy Zeal for his Name and Truth whereby Truth will grow our adversary the Devil who lies in wait to beguile and defile those whom God has Visited and begun his work in will be disappointed and with those that are ensnared we shall labour in a Spirit of (y) Gal. 6. 1. Meekness and in Bowels of Compassion to bring them to a sence of their out-goings and to recover them to the Fold from whence they have strayed so will Truth prosper and spread and its Reputation increase and many gathered to the Name of the Lord whereby the borders of Gods Sanctuary being enlarged Righteousness will Flourish in the Earth And Friends as by the Arm and Power of the Almighty we were gathered to be a People and by Vertue of the Life of Jesus Christ our Lord are united and knit together to be a Society and Body of which the Lord Jesus is the Head as such a Body we have affairs to manage and to look after for the Glory of the Name of the Lord and for the preservation of our Peace this I entreat of all that all things may be managed in Love and Brotherly kindness in a Meek and Quiet Spirit none striving for Mastery for there is to be no (z) 1 Pet. 5. 3. Lording over one another amongst us for we are Brethren having one Lord and Master Christ Jesus And as there is an abiding here one Brother or Member cannot say to another I have no need of thee if they are really Members but it is to be observed that none can be Members of this Body nor have any Service there acceptable to God but as they are in that life which makes them so and that Life is Meek Gentle not Stuborn Wilful Heady and High-minded for that where-ever it appears has another Head than Christ Jesus viz. He that would lay waste our Society is their Head and as it is unnatural for the Members of our outward Bodies to tear hurt and abuse one another so much more for the Members in this Spiritual Fellowship and Body whereof Christ is Head But on the contrary Oh the Care Tenderness and Sympathy that is there one with and towards another whether in Suffering or in Joy and here all being kept in our proper Places and Stations we shall all be Subject to our Head and the Life of our Head Christ Jesus will flow through all its Members and preserve a due Subjection And Dear Friends in all matters that we are Concerned in to Manage for the good of this Body let Strife and Contention be avoided the way to prevent the occasion whereof is by every ones keeping close to the Truth and to seek to promote that only for where Truth only is Promoted there is no occasion of Strife but when Men through Favour or Affection will Espouse that which is wrong and by Craft and Parts not Subject to the Truth will Uphold and Vindicate it and force things upon others which they ought not this lays a Foundation for Strife and Contention and this may be opposed in a wrong Mind and Spirit for where the Mans Part gets up to Contend though against a wrong thing this never does good for the more it is given way to the higher the Flame of Contention will rise and though this may and does too often happen yet they that in a Cool and Meek Spirit and in a Concern for God without any particular End to themselves or others do oppose what is wrong are not the Cause of Contention for there is a Distinction to be made between them that in Meekness Contend against what is wrong and those that would bring in that which should not be brought in and thereby cause Contention For I observe the Apostle adviseth to Mark them that Cause Division so that the Cause is to be watched against and that being removed the Effects will cease My Earnest Desire is therefore in the Love of God That nothing be Encouraged or taken hold of that would Cause Strife and Contention but that we may be all of one (a) Rom. 12. 16. 15. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 10. Mind and may speak the same thing by keeping to the Truth and shutting out all that is contrary to it so shall we be more and more United in One and kept in the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of our Peace and hereby Satan's designs and the designs of his Agents will be Disappointed and the Peace of the Church kept Inviolable and we shall Shine forth in that Comliness which God ever did and will put upon his Chosen Ones this is the Beautiful Garment that
Zion is Cloathed with and Shines forth in through all Generations The Psalmist was Affected with it when he breaks out on this wise Behold How Good and how Pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in (b) Psal 133. 1 2 3. Vnity it is like the Precious Oyntment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aaron 's Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garments as the Dew of Hermon and as the Dew that descended upon the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the Blessing even Life for Evermore And Dear Friends who are Parents of Children and Masters and Mistresses of Families a great Care ought to be upon you to answer the Truth in all things and to dwell under the Government of it that it may Season and make Savory both your Words and Actions that you may be good Patterns and Examples in Virtue and Holiness in all things And take Care to Educate your Children in the Fear of the Lord and to Imprint a Remembrance of the Lord in their Minds in the days of their Youth and to keep them out of the Evil Ways and Bad Words that are in the World that they may not Learn the Evil Communication that is in the World which doth Corrupt Good Manners but bring them up in that Plainness and Moderation which the Truth leads into and as much as in you lies in the Plain Language having a Care you do not Indulge them in any thing which you know the Lord in Mercy hath gathered you from For if through Affection not Bounded by Truth you Indulge your Children in any thing that is wrong you will neither be just to your Children nor clear in the sight of God and from such Unwarrantable Indulgence we have seen the too often sad Effects which have followed by the degrees of Liberty which such Children have taken to please themselves and to gratifie their Loose Vain Minds which Youth is too much Inclin'd to both in the Fashions Customs and Language of the World and many from a nearness and affinity with the World have run from the very Form and Appearance of Truth which when too late their Indulgent Parents have began to see their endeavours to stop them have proved Ineffectual whereas had they like Boughs of a Tree been taken whilest Young and Tender they might have been bended and made pliable but having had so long a growth in the World's Nature their Stiffness hath been such that they would sooner Break than Bend. Oh Friends Be Careful and Check every Appearance of the Worlds Nature and Spirit betimes and endeavour to keep your Children in that Awe and Subjection as is due to you and becomes them not in a haâ—â— rugged fierce Spirit for that rather hardens but in Meekness keep your Dominion over them in the Truth that so that Yoke they ought to be under in their Youth (c) Prov. 22. 6. may be easie to them when they are Old and you may have the Comfort and Sweetness of it Now where Parents do their Duty by Good Example and also does Advise Admonish Reprove Correct and Restrain for in many cases there is a Restraining Power as appears in the Case of Old Ely (d) 1 Sam. 2. who although he gave his Children Gentle Reproof saying Why do ye such things Yet he did not Restrain them nor Exercise that Power and Authority that was put in his Hand and it was an Offence to God and their Wickedness and his Indulgence brought God's Judgments not only upon himself but his Posterity also I say where Parents do Discharge themselves and are Clear in the sight of God then if their Children will not be Restrain'd nor Prevail'd with but will take their Course in those By-paths that lead down to the Chambers of Death although it is Sorrowful for Parents to see their Children do so yet they have this Comfort in their Sorrow We are Clear of their Blood and their Destruction lyes at their own Door But on the other Hand when Parents behold their Children Steering their Course to Destruction and upon a search find they have not done their Duty but have been Remiss either in not being good Examples as they ought to have been or have not Exercised that Power which God put into their Hands but have let their Children have their own Ways and Wills till it was too late to break them thereof Oh! This brings a twofold Sorrow our Children are like to be ruined and we are not Clear of their Blood What Misery have Parents brought upon themselves nay have not whole Families been Ruined hereby and the Mouths of our Adversaries opened to speak Evil of the Blessed Truth and stumbling Blocks laid in the way of such as have been Enquiring after the Way of Peace and Salvation Therefore Friends I beseech you in the Love of my Heavenly Father be Careful and Watch the Enemy's Wiles in these and all other things and wait upon God for Wisdom and Counsel that therein you may be Acted to the Glory of his Name that God Almighty may fulfil his Promise to you which he made of Old when he said I will give them one (e) Jer. 32. 39. Heart and one Way that they may Fear me for ever for the good of them and their Children And how Sweet and Comfortable is it to see our Children Walk in the (f) 2 John 1. 4. Truth and to Fear the Lord and Serve him in their Day and then the Blessings of God will attend such For his (g) Prov. 10. 6. 28. 2. Blessings are with them that Fear him and will be their Portion and their Lot he will be their Sun and their Shield and this will be more than all the Treasures Riches and Pleasures of this World And Friends let us rather Labour to have our Children Intituled to Treasure in Heaven than to the Injoyments of this World and when our Children are grown up and fit to be Disposed of in Marriage let not the World and the things of it be the Chief Object of our Minds and to make them great therein but let us rather Eye and Aim at Truth for it is not outward (h) Luke 12. 15. Riches and Injoyments that make People Happy in this World but it is when Peoples Minds are subject to the Truth and are Sanctified by it and their Minds and Affections United in it that brings Felicity and Happiness in a Married State for it is by the Truth that outward Injoyments are Blest and Sanctified and truly made Comfortable to us what better Portion can any have than to have the Lord for their (i) Psal 16. 9. 6. Portion and to be the Lot of their Inheritance They may then in Truth say My Lot is fallen in a Good Ground I have a Pleasant Heritage and that this may be the chief Aim and Drift of our Minds both for our selves and our Children are the Hearty Prayers of my Soul to
the Lord. And as there is a Care and Duty that ought to be upon Parents to Educate their Children in the Fear of the Lord so there is a Duty upon Children to Parents to have an Aweful Regard to them and to Love them and be subject to them not to be Stubborn Self-will'd Heady High-minded or Perverse but to be Meek and Gentle willing to be Advised Tender Condescending and Affectionate Considering the great Care and Pains Parents have taken for them many ways and therefore ought not to be Rewarded with Unnaturalness Disobedience and Contempt but with a Meek Condescending Compliance in all Honest and Lawful things and this brings Parents and Children to have Comfort one in another and a Blessing from God upon both And also as touching Servants there ought to be a Care upon Masters and Mistresses so to walk towards their Servants as that they may answer the Witness of God in them and yet keep that Authority as in their Places in the Truth not in a Lordly Spirit nor a High Severe Cruel Mind but in the Savouryness of the Truth not giving way upon Provocations that may be given tho' it may be a Fault in them that gives them to fly out into Rage and Passion and consequently into Rash and Unsavoury Words as calling Uncomly and Unproper Names and Threatning Expressions for when Passion exceeds the Bounds of Reason then the Tongue is at Liberty to express that which is Unsavoury and afterwards has cause many times to Repent but where Fults are Committed let such Reproof be given in a good Temper of Mind as carries a Convinceing Authority along with it this is the way to answer the good in them and keep down that which is contrary in our selves and as it is just and equal for Masters to expect and require of Servants a diligent Performance of their Service and Work for which they take Wages so on the other hand Servants ought not to be Cruelly Used nor Oppressed in their Service but that Moderation which Truth leads into used and lived in on both hands and then they that are served will have quiet and content in them that Serve and Servants will have Comfort in their Services and thereby the Truth and Reputation of it will be Promoted and Love and Concord Increase And Servants ought also to behave themselves in their places Justly and Faithfully in a considering Mind with due Respect to those they serve in all Quietness and Diligence not as (k) Eph. 6. 6. Col. 3. 22 23. Eye-Servants but Conscienciously Performing their Service as in the sight of God and where any are Servants to those that know not the Blessed Truth you may by your Savoury Lives and Honest Endeavours and Conversations in your places be Instruments in the Hand of the Lord to reach to the Good in them and they thereby brought to Love and Embrace the Truth that so you in your places may Shine as Lights upon an Hill that they seeing your Conscientiousness and Justice in what you are Intrusted in may have cause to Glorifie God on your behalfs and be Careful not to give way to a Froward and Perverse Mind nor to give any Just Cause of Provocation nor to let in a Spirit of Scorn and Contempt towards those you serve nor to give way to Whispering nor Tale-bearing for that many times breeds Disturbances in Families and many times occasions Differences between Friends it is of a very ill Tendency and ought be watch'd against and condemned that so the Blessed Truth may Flourish and both Servants and Masters in their places may be Instruments in the Hand of the Lord by their Just and Good Conversation for the Inlarging the borders of Truth and Righteousness in the Earth to God's Glory and the Mutual Comfort one of another And Friends be Careful in all things to preserve Love and Peace and Concord amongst the Flock and Heritage of God and to shun every thing that would lessen it or any ways undermine the Foundation of True Society one with another which is Love and Fervent Charity Therefore beware of Evil-Speakings and Surmisings one against another and also of Whisperings Backbitings and (l) Prov. 18. 8. and 11. 13. and 19. 20. and 16. 28. Tale-bearing and do not encourage give ear to or receive any such things from others but rather reprove and discourage it where-ever it appears nor none Act as busie Bodies in other Peoples Matters where we are not for Truth and its sake Concerned for where these things are given way to they beget Grudgings Heart-burnings and Jealousies against one another and this is the way to break Uuity lay waste Society and put all things into Confusion and therefore let us watch against all such things and Live in Peace and Charity one with another bearing one with anothr and so fulfil (m) Gal. 6. 2. the Law of Christ that the World may see we are the Disciples of our Lord whom we Profess and that we are Lovers of Him and his Word who gave himself a Ransom for us and that the Promotion of his Name and Truth is more to us than any Worldly End or Interest whatsoever that his Glory may be Exalted over all by us and through us in all things and the Glory of his Name may Shine upon us and we Beautified therewith For he will Beautifie the (n) Psal 149. 4. Meek with Salvation and he makes them to Inherit the Earth for he teacheth the Humble of his Ways and the Meek (o) Psal 25. 9. he guides in Judgment He is not wanting to them that Fear him nor his Hand shut up to them that depend upon him but he is an open Fountain and as a place of (p) Isa 33. 21. Broad Rivers and Streams of Refreshment to those whose Souls thirst after him and he will fill them with his Goodness and they shall be Satisfied he will break (q) Psal 22. 26. Bread to the hungring Soul and will give Water of Life to the thirsty his Name will be a strong (r) Prov. 18. 10. Tower for them where they shall find Safety in the time of Storms Oh Friends Feel your Minds thus gathered to the Lord and to his Power and Goodness that his Arm may be our Strength and Support whatever may be met with in this World and that in that Strength we receive by a diligent waiting upon him we may Serve and Glorifie our God in our Day and Serve one another in Brothely Love and may be one anothers Joy and Comfort in the Lord that he who is the Fountain and Well-spring of all our Living Mercies and Comforts and hath made us what we are in his Beloved Son may have the Honour and Glory of all over all who alone is worthy for evermore saith my Soul Who am a Lover of all Mankind but more especially of those who Love the Lord Jesus Christ W. B. THE END