To my loving and dearly beloved Christian friends, in and about Lymerick.

To my Loving and Dearly Beloved Christian Friends , in and about Lymerick . Most Dearly Beloved ,

FOR so I can in much Truth call you , notwithstanding my going away from you ; it having been my serious Resolution this great while to lay , and leave my weary Bones amongst you , and so I may still for ought I know , either through a common Calamity suddenly happening , or by a wonderful hand of Providence afterwards restoring . There were many strange Providences at work , to bring me at first to you from afar , which are tedious to relate ( I being at present in no good writing case , besides that writing Letters has been burthensome to me from a child ) & I have ( all things considered ) been as marvelously preserved amongst you , especially considering how long we have kept together .

For you ( thô it was a great act of self-denial ) was I ordained , you have I most dearly ( above all People ) loved you have I with some care , & much hard study ( notwithstanding bodily weakness ) Taught , and with you have I comfortably and contentedly lived , and with you could I have died ; nothing but want of work amongst you , ( not Wages ) unless it had come to starving , and the probable likelihood of its continuance should have parted us ; but it hath been my resolution of old , rather to wear out than rust out , and it would quickly kill me , to go on in spending Sabbaths as of late I have done ; and I suppose the offer of a thousand pound Per Annum , to lead such an idle life , would signifie little to me ; many offers and invitations have I had elsewhere ; yea , to places that might seem at the first blush to please me , but for your sakes they were in vain , and took me up few thoughts . The Would ( through mercy ) hath not hitherto been a prevailing temptation to me , but I dare not engage that it never shall . The World neither brought me hither , nor kept me here , nor the want of it sends me away ; for . I am taking the most likely way ( according to outward appearance ) to go from the comforts of it , being besides every way unfit for so great an undertaking : but Oh the sweetness of Christian Gospel Liberties , though in a Wilderness ! is not Communion with God , and his People , in Gospel Ordinances worth venturing by Land or Sea ? Yes verily .

Though the Providence of God hath singled me out of the whole Kingdom , and thrust me from poor Lymerick , ( which I most dearly love , and shall I fear sinfully hanker after ) yet I have already made many liars , both of seeming friends and open foes , who often both to my face and behind my back , said , I would make but a short stay in Lymerick ; yet you see though other worthy men , even in times of peace , left you , yet notwithstanding troubles at my first coming , and all along , it hath been my desire , and full design , to stay as long as you have any thing for me to do .

Indeed I know in many cases , it is a Ministers duty to stay with a people , ( as many in these Nations will , I blame them not for it ) though there may be no present work for him , when there is some comfortable probabilities , that the Clouds will flie away after a while ; but when I see ( in an ordinary way ) a Deluge unavoidably coming , and God upon his way , who hath already done Terrible Things in Righteousness ; and is going on throughly to purge his Floor : I say , whilst I see and believe this , how far it is my duty ( especially considering those circumstances I lye under , which in divers particulars , none other in the Kingdom doth , which I now name not ) only to stay , to do nothing for you more or less , except to be a witness of your Trouble as well as my own , whilst I might ( at least for a while ) be of use elsewhere : I 'l leave to serious and impartial minds to consider .

There ever hath been , and I suppose will be different apprehensions amongst all men , about Removes . It being indeed in it self , one of the hardest things in the world , for a man to know where God would have him be ; however , there is comfort in this , that if any man , Minister or People , do in any dark and difficult case or undertaking ; use all Gods appointed means seriously and sincerely , in order to the knowing of his mind , and the duly approving their hearts to him all along in what they do , they may confidently on good grounds expect one of these two things , viz.

1. Either that God will most graciously and sensibly lead him into the way of truth . Or else ,

2. If through blindness or weakness they should miss it , God will certainly forgive them . I am singled out by Providence , and once more in my sickly age turned into the wide world , I hope not to shift for my self , for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof . I was cast upon him when a Child , and hope all things shall work [ together ] for good .

I have peace in what I have done , whatever constructions at home or abroad may be put upon it by godly and learned men , whose judgment ! much reverence , and whose Books I am not worthy to carry after them ; for I am at present wholly laid by the walls as useless , and likely so to be : besides , I know God hath many Servants , and variety of work for them ; some are resolved to stand , yea to ly by it . ( I blame them not , but suppose it is their duty ) God very likely intending himself glory by their sufferings , others are inclined to remove ( all doors of usefulness , not only being shut but bolted ) God having work for them elsewhere : an instance of which you have in these two Disciples , Peter and John , Joh . 21.18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , verses , Peter was told by Christ he must suffer , which was the work he was to mind : but he asking Christ what should become of John , met with a sharp reproof from Christ , telling him , what was that to him ? Christ is both infinitely wise , good and soveraign .

Let all of us , both you and us , see well to our end , either in staying by the stuff ( worldliness and presumption being sometimes at the bottom ) or in plucking up the stakes in order to a remove : for I would not willingly remove either ,

1. From novelty , for I am not naturally disposed that way ; or ,

2. From the bare example of others , for they are but few to encourage me : nor ,

3. From discontent with my place , work , or want of wages : nor ,

4. From Cowardize and carnal Fears of trouble , for I expect them wherever I go : Nor ,

5. Lastly ( Though many more might be named ) For vain hopes of profits and preferments : I steer not a course that promiseth that : but in a word ( next to the glory of God ) I would remove .

1 That I might be a little useful the latter part of my days for the good of Souls .

And 2. That I might enjoy God in his pure Ordinances , though but for a while .

3. and Lastly , That I might be kept from soul-pollution : all which things are not so weighed by the Professors of this age as I think they ought : for some ( nay very many ) can be contented to live without the Gospel , and the pure Ordinances of it , having lived so many years before without it ; and not only so , but they can fall into a compliance with their Neighbours in point of Worship ; which some I know of cannot do . I do my ( dear souls ) beseech you in the Lord , to look well to your Worship , and to your walking ; be nothing like this Generation in either of them .

Now at parting ( my dear hearts ) in reflecting and looking back : I have some comfort as to three things , though as they lye strictly betwixt God and my own soul , I have cause enough of shame and confusion of face . And the first is ,

1. As to twelve years liberty past , that in some measure I have in season , and out of season , revealed unto you the whole counsel of God , to the outmost of my poor ability , the salvation of all your souls . I have earnestly prayed , longed , and laboured for , and am sorry I am forced to leave so many souls in a natural estate , as I found them , and so many half beginnings , that I fear will come to nothing . O Lord , undertake for them , and send whom thou wilt send , for the perfecting of them : I could say much more , but I forbear , yet hope in God I am free from the blood of Souls . And ,

2. I have comfort in the latter end of my time , when my liberty was daily threatned , in that I used all the means I well could with a good conscience for the prolonging of it ; yea , though I was reproached for it , as if it was done out of cowardize and fear of a Prison , when alass , it was only out of true love to you my dearest Friend having a mind to be of use to you any way , thô never so obscurely in private , rather than be laid aside as an useless vessel ; which made me sometimes charge some of you , wisely to husband your Liberties ; for if nothing were to be done , neither in publick nor private , in Prison nor out , I would be gone ; Then ,

3. When I was in Prison , and my publick liberty quite gone , I have comfort in two things .

1. In the forwardness of my very soul , and well-pleasedness in seeing you , and Preaching to you once every day ( though at Deaths Door , being sick most of the time ) much rather than in being at my own comfortable home , where that Liberty would not be granted me .

2. In that I used all means possible for the recovering of my liberty again , which in former times succeeded , but now came all to nothing : what shall I say ? it was the Lord : those I too much leaned to brake under me , and wholly disappointed me , so that at last I was forced to this unhappy choice , either to remain a sickly , useless Prisoner , or to withdraw from them that I most dearly love . But though it be one of the saddest Providences that ever I met with , and hath almost cost me my life ; yet I would say , the will of the Lord be done . Give me leave now in a word ( for I am quite tired already ) to do these five things , viz. to beg of you , to advise you , to thank you , to pray for you , and to bless you in the Name of the Lord .

1. In the first place , let me beg of you , and that for my self , often have I begged of you for your selves , that you would be reconciled to God in Christ , using all Arguments for that purpose ; but that day is over , and the night is come upon poor Lymerick : but now at last I beg for my self no outward thing , but these two things , viz. your pardon and your prayers .

1. Your pardon , i . e . of whatever you have seen amiss in me at any time , in any place , or upon any occasion whatsoever ; poor Ministers are subject to like passions as others are : I have not been so exemplary as I ought to be , though I bless God it hath been my daily Prayer , and care , in some measure to adorn the Doctrine of Jesus Christ my Saviour in all things : but alas , we infinitely fall short of our glorious pattern . Oh my dear Souls , set the Lord Jesus Christ before you alwayes , and walk as he walked ; whatever good things you have learned , received , heard or seen , in me , do , and then the God of peace shall be with you : whatever good word have been dropt to you in publick or private , whatever Rules , Motives , Comforts ; whatever Sabbath-discourses , Funeral-Sermons , or Sacramental Speeches you have heard , I beg you treasure them up and suffer them to dwell richly in you : but whatever evil or weakness you have seen in me , let it be buried from your practice for ever ; only so far follow me , as I have followed Christ . I do desire to humble my self before God and you his People , and do heartily beg the mercy of God in Jesus Christ for all my miscarriages . My poor sickly body hath sometimes stood in the way of some duties towards you , which yet otherwise I should have delighted in it . Pardon and excuse my sudden anger sometimes , it was rather seeming than real ; and when real , it was nothing but a concernedness for you & your liberties , which I saw were forfeited and a going , by our secure and negligent and unworthy attending and walking .

2. I beg your Prayers ; let not that Plough stand still , in Closet , Family , Night nor Day , whatever doth besides . Brethren pray for us , the ablest Minister may be , and daily is beholden to the poor breathings of the meanest Believer . I know my dear Brethren , I know that you can pray , blessed be God for it ; Oh , fail me not : pray I may be sensibly and throughly sanctified in soul , body and spirit ; pray I may be throughly emptied out of my self ( for I find it very hard ) pray that God would in a special manner be with me both by Land , and Sea , and make me a rich mercy where-ever the soles of my feet may tread ; pray that God would direct me , incline me to , enable me , and own me in whatever may be his blessed will and pleasure ; pray I may be fitted for dong and suffering , and be made and kept faithful to death ; Oh! strive together with me in your Prayers ; pray I may be delivered from them that may not believe in America ; that I may find an open , and effectual door there , yet before I dye : That I may be accepted of God , and the Saints ; Oh! what a mercy is Prayer ; the thickest walls , the broadest Seas cannot hinder the mutual visits of our Prayers : though we may never meet more betwixt these old pleasant walls of the Abby ( which grieves my very soul , to turn my back on ) yet let us often meet at the Throne of Grace , and you may be sure of , and reckon on my poor Prayers : I doubt not , but where I ride , where I lie , when I stand to preach or kneel to pray , will testifie how much my Soul loved Lymerick .

2. Let me now Advise you , and though in a few Particulars , yet especially in the first place :

1. Make your Calling and Election sure : Oh , my dearly Beloved , see to a saving work of Grace upon your own heart , make sure work for Heaven . If there be a flaw in your chusing of God , and closing with Christ , you are lost for ever . You may be assured of this , from the experience of your poor Minister , who hath often waited on you with the glad tidings of the Son of God ; that is no easie matter to be a Christian : True Religion lies in nothing short of Christ living , breathing , fighting , conquering and reigning in the Soul . I must not enlarge here , I refer you to the many thousand serious , sweet and searching Truths you have heard : Oh , read , remember and practice them , and read them one to another . That which is the ruin of thousands ( as one well saith ) of Professors , is first an imperfect work of the Law , producing only some fears and Affections ; then afterwards an imperfect work of the Gospel , producing some imperfect hopes and joyes ; but all this while they are not humbled at their very heart , nor emptied out of themselves : they do not see Sin , nor believe in Christ after a saving manner ; Oh my Dear People ! give the infinite God no rest night nor day , till you find sin an intolerable burthen , and be brought to a full rest , & satisfaction in Christ , living upon Christ only , wholly and alwayes . Most under the Gospel are convinced , but not humbled , they know every thing , & can talk of any thing , but feel little or nothing with life and power upon their Souls , many seem to be burthened with the sence of their sin and misery ; but yet can bear it , and are contented to live without deliverance from it ; Oh , get from under the old Covenant , come from under Adams Covenant ; take heed of fetching life and comfort to your Spirit at any time , by any thing besides Faith in the blood and promise of Christ ; let Faith , Love , and a spirit of Gospel Obedience do all you have to perform : I beg that you in whose hands these Lines may come , would be at the pains to tell the men and women , that formerly attended on my Ministry , and their Families one by one , that I do most earnestly beg ; nay , most seriously Charge you and them , that not one of you venture to meet me at the last day in a state of Nature : Oh let me see you smiling in that day ; Oh , let me find you my Joy and Crown then , very likely when I now part with you , I shall never meet you more in this World ; Oh fare ye well my dearest hearts , till the morning of the Resurrection . The good Lord grant us a merry meeting beyond the Grave . I then advise , charge , and take my leave , my last leave of those eight sorts of Persons .

1. You Rich and Worldly Persons , in and about Lymerick ; I take my leave of you , begging you would yet lay up your Treasure above , cease from things below , do every thing with an eye to Eternity ; look on all things as you would when dying : beware of the unlawful use of lawful things , what you love most , fear it most ; if any man love the World , &c. Do Gods Promises , or Mens Bargains savour most with you ? come let me meet you wealthy at the last Day : many have wealth without weal ; write small gains on all your Prosperity , where there is much Labour , with checks of Conscience , Gods curse is all the portion you can look for ; Oh turn your faces upward , heaven-ward , drive a Trade for another World , and if thou do it in good earnest , and do not find it a better Trade than toyling in the World , then send thy curse after me .

2. You that are poor and low in the World , in and about Lymerick ; I take my leave of you : do not you meet me out of Christ at the Resurrection of the Dead . I am sorry I cannot come at you to speak , but I have often done it already : Grow rich towards God , rich in Faith ; let not cares for your Body sink your Soul , Oh , the worth of your poor Soul ! though you are not worth the ground you go on : the Poor receive the Gospel ; how is it , that you have slighted and lost it ? Christ in the Parable compels the poor to come in , why have you stood out all 〈◇〉 twelve years ? you have time for every thing , though poor , and yet can find no time to make your peace with God in , and to live in Divine communion . Know God is no respecter of persons . Beware of two Hells , one here , and another hereafter : it is not lack of money , time , or trade , or any such thing that damns men , but lack of saving-Grace . I would not have thee damned poor man . Oh lift up thy eyes and enquire after Christ , and eternal things : once more I take my leave of thee ; the Lord grant I may bless thy happy Lot at last .

3. You Old Men and Women of the Congregation , I take my leave of you , tho' sore against my heart ; do not venture ( I charge you ) to appear at last without a saving work of Grace : you I have spoken to , but alas ! how much labouring in vain is amongst Ministers ? you are dropping into your Graves ; you must quickly know ( and that fully ) what you have often heard in that old Abby ; Oh , come in at last , better late than never ; become Old Disciples : take heed of Youthful Sins in Old Age ; watch against the evils of Old Age , which are many : but now I have not time to name them ; you have had time to prepare experiences , are they ready ? can you hope ( on good grounds ) to look God in the face , when the breath is gone out of your body . Oh , throw not away Old Age after Youth ; lay hold on Christ : you know there came in one at the eleventh hour , and one saved on the Cross , who knows what free Grace may yet do for you : Farewel Old Man , let me see thee well at last . If I were to stay here yet our being together would be short , for you are Old and I am sickly .

4. You Young Men and Women , I now take leave of you , at your peril ; let me not see one of you out of Christ at last ; if you do , know , your blood is upon your own soul ; for unto you frequently and solemnly have I spoken : you have I Catechised , and Expounded it too , and prayed for . I now say nothing , but refer you to the many Sermons on Eccles . 12.1 . I have ( through mercy ) prevailed with many such to turn to God , and they never repented it : but I am sorry I must leave so many unconverted young Folks behind me , in such a day of vile Examples as this is , but I can't help it ; the Lord pity you : thou hast had a day on which depended eternal life , what hast thou done with it ? as sure as God liveth thy Dalilah will be thy death and devil . That which thou now takes in with joy shall be cast out again with groans , and breakings of heart : Oh what might thou now have been possessor of , if thou hadst well husbanded thy youthful day : the Lord bring to remembrance by his Holy Spirit , Old Sermons for thy Conversion and Humiliation ; for now I must say no more , I leave thee to thy Judge

5. You Convinced Unconverted Ones about Limbrick : you that are almost perswaded to be Christians ; that are Cakes not turned ; I do ( with an aking heart ) take my leave of you : Oh what will become of you through all eternity ! can you ? will you ? dare you meet me at Gods Tribunal in that old , carnal , cursed Estate , that I now leave you in , notwithstanding many hopeful convictions ? I do in the Name of the great God , as a Minister of the Gospel , charge you not to do it : how have these abounded in Lymbrick which hath argued Gods presence in his Ordinances ? how many have gone out of their own doors fully convinced & resolved for a godly life , but yet taken off afterward ? Oh this cursed diversion is the damnation of thousands : there were many of my knowledg , that durst not attend in that place , being afraid of their own trouble ; but alas , they are never like to be disturbed in their carnal security any more by me . Oh , what a Preacher will they meet with at Death and Judgment ! how many of my Congregation had lusts too strong for their light , and corruptions for their convictions : what shall I say or do for them that have light but no life ; that goes to Hell just by Heaven : that have been near to the Kingdom of Heaven , yet fall far short of it : Know , that God by his Spirit hath waited on you , and wooed you , both in the heat of the day , and the wet of the night ; how wilt thou ever bear the remembrance of those thousands of sweet and serious Truths that thou hast sat long under , and been often affected and well pleased with , though still to no purpose to this day ; after a while it will be in vain to cry , call time again , or my poor sickly Minister again , who hath often intreated me with all manner of words to be saved : know there hath been a Prophet amongst you ; Oh bring it to some issue , yet it is not too late ; your conversion will yet prevent your condemnation : come seriously to it , either to receive or reject Christ : it grieves me to think how many hopeful beginnings will ( by this angry Providence ) come to nothing , that might ( in time ) be something . I fear you will grow asleep under the present Preaching , and if Satan should have a Commission from God to rock you , then you are lost for ever . I forget my self , I must say no more to you , if thou miscarriest , know , I gave thee warning : Oh that I could breath life into you ; the Lord God do it for these miserable Souls .

6. You the poor doubting and disponding Souls of my flock , I must take leave of you , and that goes most near unto me . Its true , mostly I had to do with others in my publick Ministry , conversion rather than consolation being the work I levelled at : but yet , you have frequently met with words of comfort , and sweet baits in your way home . I beg you would get these Sermons read to you , that became food to your Faith and Comfort . You know I Preached an hundred and ten Sermons on the Covenant of Grace , for your Information and Consolation ; get them read : there can be no comfort got or kept with a good understanding of , and settled meditation upon the rich , free and well ordered Covenant : Oh call to mind those many Sermons at dayes of Prayer , and Speeches at the Lords Table . When I set my self to incourage you in the wayes of God , and to answer your Cases of Conscience . You must now take a little pains to rub up your memories , for I cannot repeat old Truths , nor press new ones ; I have run out beyond bounds already : alas , what will you do my poor afflicted Souls ? you ly near my heart ; who shall now comfort you , when he that first wounded you is so far from you ? The Lord Jesus Christ himself send the great Comforter , and that to abide with you for ever : I hope he will now do it himself , and none can comfort like him , indeed none but him : but I hope Jesus Christ will not leave you comfortless , but come to you , though you now cry out , the Comforter that should relieve your soul is far from you : The good Lord raise up some Barnabas , some Son of Consolation for you : Though my door hath been ever open , night and day , to receive your Soul-complaints ; yet know , Gods will not be shut . Ah my poor hearts ! look off from poor man , whose breath is in his nostrils , and look up to and pour out your complaints before your heavenly Father , sitting on the Throne of Grace more freely and frequently than ever . Be of good chear I hope we shall have a good meeting another day , where all tears shall be wiped away . the lesser comfort you have now , I hope the more lies in Bank for you at death : Look continually to Jesus , the Author and finisher of your Faith : live and dye waiting : be not cast down ; if you have dealt faithfully with me in opening of your case ( as I have good reason to think you have ) I am fully perswaded you shall do well , and dye in peace . Take heed of Unbelief , and give God the glory of what he hath done for you . I must stop my pen : Farewel , my poor afflicted People , I leave you with that Shepherd in Isai . 40.11 .

7. As for you Careless and Prophane Lymbricians , I have nothing more to say to you , than bid you Farewel ; for I suppose this Letter may not fall into your hands : I am now incapacitated of treating with you about eternal things . Once I had an opportunity publickly to do it ; and you know I did it in season , and out ; making it my dayly business to deal with poor , careless sinners , chusing rather to convert one sinner , than comfort ten Saints . Conversion hath been the business of my life these twenty years : by Conversion I do not mean turning men to an Opinion , but from darkness to light , and from the power of Satan to God . You have often heard me say , That I had rather turn one to Jesus Christ than ten to my Opinion : but I have done with intreating , beseeching , pressing and compelling of you ; I leave you to him that made you , who is wise in heart , and mighty in strength . If I should charge you not to meet me out of Christ , it may be you would laugh at me : but I do solemnly charge you not to do it , and let them laugh that wins . You must in good earnest betake your self to the love , and practice of a godly life , in order to eternal life , or be damned for ever ; and remember I told you so . If God should ( after my departure ) open any of your eyes , you may come to long for those helps that now you have loathed : I do beseech you by the excellency of God , the preciousness of Christ , the Glories of Heaven , the beauties of Holiness , the unspeakable worth of a Soul , and the confounding amazements of the damned ; that you open your eyes , bethink your selves , and cry to God for mercy whilest it may be had : If you will not , this Paper , and the Writer shall rise up in judgment against you . Farewel Careless Sinners , Farewel unkind and persecuting Neighbours : who have forbidden me to speak to the Gentiles whereby they might be saved , that have been very unneighbourly to him that never meant nor did you hurt , but have studied alwayes of doing you good . I forgive you , the Lord first give you Repentance , and then forgiveness .

8. And lastly , You Upright and Soundhearted Souls , I take my leave of you : you will persevere through Grace to the end : you are my joy now , and will be my crown hereafter ; be not discouraged at this evil day , you shall do well in spight of all opposition . Oh make it your great business , to please God , and honour him in that place and station he hath set you ; whether old or young , rich or poor , Husband or Wife , Parent or Child , Master or Servant : be good in your Relation ; for he that is not good in his place , is good for nothing ; though you are upright and past the worst , yet walk with a holy jealousie over your selves : be not contented with a little Grace , but let it be your daily ambition to grow in Grace : let not the Name of God suffer at any time through you : Remember what was said on 2 Tim . 2.19 . are you indeed upright , you have cause to be thankful ; for God hath done more for you than thousands : it grieves me to see how many amongst us carries the plain marks of unsoundness , even under a talking Profession : some giving way to the love and immoderate pursuit of worldly things , and others taking to themselves a godless liberty , as to strong Drink spending much precious time amongst vile , vain men , to the dishonour of God , and their own certain and eternal undoing . O Lord , gather not my soul with Sinners : hold up your heads you upright-hearted men , your Redemption is nigh : Oh , it 's not to tell what is laid up for us against the time we meet next ; eye hath not seen , &c. though we part now , we shall meet-again , and never part , but be for ever with the Lord : nay we shall know each other in Heaven , and be filled with all the fulness of God : let all the Clouds that now hang over your head make you only mind your home , and mend your pace : know there is good and comfort to be got out of the worst of conditions ; you may be assured ( you upright hearts ) affliction or suffering shall either miss you or mend you : but I forget my self , I must take leave , The Lord guid you by his counsel till he bring you to glory .

I have done with the first Advice ; the rest I will but name : I only say this before I come to them , that if I had opportunity and liberty to have preached my Farewel Sermon , it would have been from those words , in 2 Cor . 13.11 . I would have spoken especially to that four-fold Exhortation that is in them , passing by other things in it as a constraining compellation , viz. [ Brethren ] and a brief Conclusion , [ Finally ] and a heart-breaking valediction [ Farewel ] and a hearty benediction [ That the God of Love and peace might be with them ] nay a rich Promise [ he shall be with you . ] The first Exhortation is to be perfect , and that you ought to press after perfection all you can , if a little of any thing will serve turn , it is a sign you are not right ; to be perfect signifies to peice again ; and so do you when ever you fall out with God , Conscience , or the people of God . Oh peice again ; The next Exhortation in that Text is , to be of good comfort ; the third is to be of one mind , but it must be a good mind : and the last Exhortation is , to live in peace . But I have no time to hint further at that Text ; Oh read it often over for my sake . So much for the first Advice ,

2. I advise you to be deeply humbled under , and affected with this dark and dismal dispensation under which you lie at present ; for you are the first in the Kingdom ( or at least the part of it ) that are gone into captivity , which is an aggravation of your trouble ; though every persecution must begin somewhere , I could wish we might be the last , as we are the first : but it 's to be feared it will not be , but rather the beginning of sorrows . This is a very angry Dispensation , let men make as light of it as they will . Oh that Jesus Christ ( who alone can ) would take up this quarrel . Deep Humiliation , Self and Soul-abasement is your present and most proper work ; Oh buckle close to that work , God calls you too : your Sun is gone down at noon ( i . e . when you least looked for it ) God hath turned all your Songs into Lamentations , and your Feasts into Mourning , and yet there is worse news in the verses after , as you may see in Amos 8.9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Certainly God sees something , nay many things eminently amiss amongst us , that makes him proceed thus against us : Oh what hath sin brought us to ? let us search our selves , one by one , and see wherefore it is that God contendeth with us : let us every one put away his own sin . I say to you as once God said , Put off your Ornaments that I may know what to do unto you . I am afraid it is almost forgotten already , and no small mischief will happen upon that forgetfulness . Oh Lord , pour out a spirit of deep humiliation and mourning upon poor Limbrick , for it hath most heavily sinned against thee : you are as sure to have your opportunities mentioned to you in Eternity , with Joy or Sorrow , as ever you saw the Sun shine .

3. I seriously advise you , to prepare , and lay in for sore , and sinking Sufferings : I expect them wherever I go , and I think you have reason also . I desire not to go from trouble : for whither shall I fly from Gods Presence ? but I desire to go for work , having none here ; and to be better fitted for trouble when it comes : I say little to this , I refer you to the many Sermons of late : I have hitherto proved a true Prophet ; but should be glad for your sakes , if free-grace would make me a lyar as to that heavy Cloud , which is hanging over these Nations , as once he made Jonah as to Nineveh .

I say once more lay in , and that in good earnest , for Suffering Times , for they will , if not most certainly , yet most probably come : put not away the Evil Day : Security hath almost undone us already : Sore Exercises are at the Door : Oh! keep your souls in an undisturbed expectation of Suffering : it is an easie thing for men to speak light of suffering ; but when they indeed come , if God give not Suffering Grace , on suffering ground : there will be nothing but Denying , and Betraying the Lord Jesus Christ : Oh! be fast and faithful to God this evil day : my soul Trembles at what I see this sad hour of Temptation will produce on thousands of Professors : how will they fall like Leaves in Autumn ? for though men live by a form of Godliness , they cannot suffer , nor dye by it , I see the beginnings of a fear and alteration in this place already : not only as to mens Worship , but their walking : some are growing loose already : Oh that I had the wings of a Dove , that I might quickly be at rest , from seeing that Security , careless walking , forgetfulness of God , neglect of Duty , immoderate minding the world , frequent vain Company , Tipling , prating , unprofitable talking ; with many more evils , that might be named ; which are here covering the face of Limbrick . I only say , That if your Foundation be not well laid on Christ , only in deep humiliation , you will never stand : I refer you to those few Directions I gave you , how to dye safely , though suddenly ; I confess your troubles , i . e . the thoughts of them , have much more affected me , than my own ; but upon better consideration I am quieted , because I think but few will hazard any thing for Christ , his Gospel , and a good Conscience , but do what men desires them ; we are reaping the fruit of our vain attendances : now wrath hath it 's day , and your mirth it 's night .

4. I advise you to a serious , constant , and punctual observation of the Lords Day , the Christian Sabbath : be found in the duties of it : watch your thoughts , words , and ways that Day . I fear the want of this , hath had an hand in our Sufferings : Professors do not rule their tongues on the Sabbath as the Puritans of old did : you might do well to repeat old Sermons , and call in others for their edification , especially the weaker sort ; for some cannot read , Oh invite them , and help them all you can : many of you took Notes , let them not lye by you rusting : but some in one place , and some in another ; be doing all the good you can : Oh , abound in Closet and Family Duties , give God his twenty four hours ; know it is Sacriledg to meddle with any part of it : make bold with your own things , and not of Gods : keep repeating and praying one with another on the Lords day , lest the Sabbath be forgot in Zion . I might say many things as this : but for some reasons forbear it . I refer you to what was said lately to it , from John 20.19 . The Lord God of Sabbaths so sanctifie every one of you , that you may sanctifie his day , and his Name every day ; so as God may have glory , and you the comfort at last , and every body edified about you ; let God say Amen .

5. I advise you in case peace and liberty in other places be continued , that you do not content your selves without the Gospel . Oh , the worth of the Gospel ! if there be any thing under Heaven to be valued , it s the dearly purchased Gospel of Jesus Christ . I can never tell you ( though I should set my self to it ) what the worth of a learned , godly , plain , powerful and exemplary Ministry is : Oh , what a sweet thing is communion with God , and with his People in pure Ordinances ! Oh , how vile must Sin needs be , that hath a main hand in sending away the Gospel ! Men are naked without the Gospel , it is the glory of any place : Oh the Curses that follow its removal ! I beg you would be concerned in this particular ; you were too much formerly contented without it , let it be so no more . I was brought hither after a wonderful sort ( all things considered ) and my removal is not without a wonder . Some godly young man might be had , whose charge is small , and might be less taken notice of than I was . O Lord , take not away thy Spirit from Limerick , but restore thy precious Gospel to it , lest it sleep the sleep of death : Oh the temporal , spiritual and eternal plagues that fill up the room of a removed Gospel !

6. I advise you not to be strangers one to another : this hath been an old fault all along notwithstanding my many publick ( especially private ) Admonitions to the contrary See one another Pray one with and for another : you may without hazard ( I hope ) keep dayes of Prayer together . Shall these fail and come to nothing ? God forbid . Be stirring up one another , be glad to see each other , and be useful one to another , both to Soul and Body as there is occasion . Away with this strangeness and selfishness ; let your communion be profitable . It grieves me to think that you here , that have heard together , nay prayed and sat down at the Lords Table together , should grow meer strangers one to another , as I greatly fear you will . I can do no more than wish you to your duty : the Lord unite your hearts to himself , and one to another , causing you to live in peace and Oneness of mind , that the God of love and peace may dwell amongst you .

7. And lastly , I advise you to beware of Seducers and Errors : Remember Acts 20.29 . Keep close to your Bibles ; to the Law and to the Testimony when any thing is started : Beware of such as cry up the Light within , shun their Books , and all unnecessary communion with them , pittying their being out of the way . I might say more here , but a word is enough to the wise . I might without blushing say , as Gal . 1.9 . Be ware of any Doctrine that makes Christ the favourer of sin , or man the Saviour of himself .

But I have done with Advising you and goe on to the next :

3. Give me leave to thank you : I thank you for all your care and love from first to last . I thank you for your great importunity for my settling amongst you , when you were acquainted with me by my providential passing through the Town . I thank you for your kind receiving me at first , notwithstanding my great bodily weakness , and soul unworthiness . I may in some measure say ; as Gal . 4.14 . that my temptation that was in my flesh you rejected not , but received me as an Angel of God . I thank you for your serious , cheerful and constant attending upon my Ministry : and for your care , kindness and tenderness in my sicknesses . I thank you for your ready compliance with me in any lawful thing that at any time I desired of you ; and for your standing by me to the outmost of your power in those many troubles and trials that I have met with from first to last . I thank you for your kind Tokens in secret , for your pleading my cause in publick , and excusing my weakness as you had occasion . I do most heartily thank every one , any one in City or Country that ever did me any kindness less or more , by word or deed . I thank any that would hear me , and I more thank them that did heed me , and I thank to them yet more that I did any saving good as a Nurse , but most of all them that got their first saving good from me . I hope whether I be your Nurse or your Father , you will not forget to love and pray for me , though at a great distance . Lastly I thank you for your desire of my longer continuance with you : the Lord supply you better ; I have already acquainted you with the grounds of my removing . In one word , I thank God for your love , and heartily pray it may be returned manifold into the bosome of you and yours .

4. Give me leave to pray for you ; As for this I shall say little ; I hope that Study of mine may bear witness for my concernedness for you . You may guess at my Prayers in secret ( i . e . as to what I praied for ) by what you have known in publick and private . I pray you may be filled with all the fulness of God : that you may know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg . Oh that you may be filled with the knowledg of his will , and may walk worthy of the Lord to all well-pleasing , being fruitful in every good work , strengthened with all might , according to his glorious power , unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness . Oh that you may be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light , and may at last have an abundant enterance into the everlasting Kingdome of God . The good Lord make all Grace abound toward you , that you alwayes having alsufficiency in all things , may abound to every good work . The Lord sanctifie you wholly , in Soul , Body and Spirit , and grant I may at last see you every one presented without spot , or blemish , or any such thing before the Father , with exceeding joy .

Now when I am taking leave of all , bidding Farewel to Sabbaths , Sacraments Lectures , dayes of Prayer , and Expoundings , and Catechisings ; saying Farewel to my Relations and Friends in England , Dublin and Limerick : Farewel to my Study , and that old Abby , &c.

I do most cordially pray that you all may Farewel in your Bodies , but especially in your Souls . Oh , that you may Farewel in your Basket and Store , in your Children , Servants and Neighbours : the Lord grant you may Farewel in your Trade and Traffick , especially Heaven-ward . Oh that you may Farewel in Prosperity and Adversity , in all your desertions and afflictions . I wish your welfare at home and abroad , by night or day , in a single or married condition , by Land or Sea , at Bed or Board . Oh that you may Farewel in the troubles of life and pangs of death ; and at your solemn appearing at Judgment . Oh that you may Farewel both in time , and through all Eternity . Yea , let mine Enemies Farewel for ever , thorough true Repentance and saving Grace , givento them now ; So be it , my heart saith Amen .

5. And lastly , Let me bless you , and that in the Name of the Lord : seeing Jesus Christ ( the great Head of His Church ) hath impowred Ministers so to do . Now the Lord bless you , and keep you ; and the Lord make His face shine on you , and be gracious to you : the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you , and give you peace . Our Lord Jesus Christ himself , and God even our Father , which hath loved us , and given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace , comfort your heart , and stablish you in every good word and work . The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ , the great Shepherd of the Sheep , through the blood of the everlasting Covenant , make you perfect in every good work , to do his Will ; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight , through Jesus Christ , to whom be glory for ever . Now the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , the love of God the Father , the sweet and comfortable Fellowship of the Holy Ghost , be with you all now , and evermore , Amen and Amen .

Thus Prayes your very Affectionate and greatly Afflicted Minister for you All , and will ( through Grace ) hold on so to do , whilest Iohn Baily . May . 8. 1684.