A farewel exhortation to the church and people of Dorchester in New-England ... by Richard Mather ...

TO THE CHURCH AND INHABITANTS of DORCHESTER in New-England , Mercy and Peace in CHRIST JESUS .

MY dearly Beloved in Christ , It was the desire and purpose of th● Blessed Apostle 2 Pet : 1. 12 , 13. an● he engaged himself by pr 〈…〉 that it should be his endeavour 〈…〉 as h● should live in the body , to be alwayes putting the people in ●●●●●brance of such things as did concern the Everlasting good of th 〈…〉 , and 〈…〉 ld also endeavour that they might have the same in rom 〈…〉 example is my warrant , and should be my Incentive ▪ 〈…〉 okation to end●avour the like , ( as farr as my Tenuity & slender abilities c●n 〈◇〉 ) concerning your selves . For which cause as now by the space of two & tw●nty yeares and upwards , I have been putting you in remembrance of sundry Truths & dutyes of the Gospel , by word of mouth , so no small part of my intent in this present undertaking is , that you might remember the Lord and your own duty , not only whilest I shall live , but also after my decease . And as it was some motive to the blessed Apostle , to be the more diligent during life , as knowing that h● must shortly dy , and lay down this Tabernacle , 2 Pet : 1. 14. And an other Apostle is the more diligent & earnest , because the time of his departure was at hand 2 Tim : 4. 5 , 6. and our blessed Saviour afore them , would not f●yle to work the works of him that sent him , whilest it was day , because a night was comming when no man could work . John 9. 4. In like sort I was the more desirous to perform this service ( such as it is ) for the good of your soules , as knowing that it will not be long ( consi●ering my yeares ) afore the time come when I can be serviceable here no more . But th●ugh you can not alwayes have my endeavours by word of mouth , yet what is here presented to your vi●w , may be alwayes with you whensoever you shall t●●se to call for it : And as it is said of Abel , that being dead , he yet speaketh , Heb : 11. 4. So why may not I be speaking to you in these poor papers for the good of your soules , whe● in person I shall be removed fr●m you by bodily deat● ▪ So you have my Apologie for my present undertaking , and a manifestation of my Scope and aime th●rin .

Be pleased therefore I beseech you , to give me leave to commend to your consideration & acceptance in the Lord , a few ! nes of Christian counsell & advise , for the good of your precious and immortall sou●●s ; which I desire to leave with you as the best Legacy I can beque●●h to you , 〈◇〉 you may read and practise the same when I am taken from you : And I beseech you receive it as from one that doth unfainedly love you , or at the least doth wish he had a heart that could do it , and thinks he could be right heartily glad of the welfare & salvation of all your soules ; and that when you ●nd I must all appear before the Lords Tribunal , we might then rejoyce and have comfort together in Christ Jesus for evermore , as finding that our ●●bour , whether mine in preaching , or yours in hearing , whether mine in writing , or ●●●rs in reading , hath not been in vain . With such an heart I desire to tender to 〈…〉 and directions ensuing , and I desire that so and no otherwise y 〈…〉 and recei●● the s 〈…〉 e , which Exhortation & directions are expessed in these Seaven particulars that 〈◇〉 .

FIRST of all , I beseech yo● , Be not ●leighty , but Serious in the great work of Sorrow for your Sins , of Contrition and Humiliation of Soul in sight and sence thereof , For you must needs confess there is not any amongst you but hath cause enough to be sencible of sin , and deeply affected therewith . For the Scripture is most true that tells you that all have sinned , Rom. 3. 23. and 5. 12. and that there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good & sinneth not , Ecc● . 7. 20. and that if you say you have no sin , you deceive your selves , & the truth is not in you , 1 John 1. 8. Now if there be sin in you , shall there not be grief & sorrow because of the same ? Is not sin the most proper cause of sorrow ? when you can truely say you have no sin , then you will have no cause of sorrow ; but this you can never say , whilest you are here upon earth . And sure it is , sin is a dishonour & grief unto God himself , and to his holy Spirit , Gen : 6. 5 , 6. Psal . 95. 10. Eph● . 4. 30. and if it be so to him , shall it be no grief to you ? shall your sinns be a burthen to the Lord , Isay 1. 13 , 14 , 24 and he be pressed under them , as a cart is pressed that is full , of sheaves , Amos 2. 13. and shall you be unsensible of any burden therin , and securely go on , as if there were no cause of grief or mourning for this thing ? Never say you love the blessed God , if it be so with you ; If your sin which is such a dishonour and injury and grief to him , be not a grief to you also . If you be of those that must be saved by Christ , then it was for your sins , as well as for the sins of others that Christ was Crucified , and put to endure all those dolefull & bitter sufferings in the garden , and upon the C●oss , M●● 26 , & 27. For all his s●fferings were for the sinns of those that must be saved , ●sa . 53. 5 , 6 , 8. And can you believe & remember & consider these his sufferings , and look upon him as one whom you have pierced , & ●et for all this remayn without true Contrition & grief of heart ? believe it t●en your hearts are very hard indeed . What ? kill Christ , and not be grieved ? and look on him whom you have pierced , and yet not mourn , no● be in bitterness for all this ? Is this possible ? or may it not rather be concluded from Zech . 12. 10. that those that do not bitterly mourn for their sins , as the cause of Christs sufferings , that such hard hearted creatures are none of those that must be saved by Christ , nor have part and portion in the saving benefits of his passion ? He that was a man after Gods own heart , you may find him complaining that his iniquities were gone over his head , and were as an heavy burden , too heavy for him , Psal . 38. 4. and that therefo●● he would declare his iniquity & be sorry for his sin , verse 18 ▪ And ●ess●d Paul though a man of much grace & holines , yet because of sin , that was still dwelling in him . cryes out , oh wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? Rom: 7. 14 , 17 , 20 , 23 24. Yea & both he & Davi● , & other Saints have lamented with much sorrow & teares , the sinns & iniquities of other men , Psal 119. 136 , 158. Ph●● . 3. 18 , 19. 2 C●r : 2. 4. & 12. 21. Ezek 9. 4. 2 Pet . 2. 7 , 8. And if so , then judg in your selves , what hearts those men have , who are so unlike these men of God , that they have no heart to grieve & mourn for their own sinns , and much less for the iniquities of others . And if Heaven be a place of wiping away mens teares from their eyes , Rev : 7. 17. & 21. 4. are they ever like to come there who have teares innow for other causes , but none for their sins ? But what should I speak of comming to heaven ? the truth is , without Compunction of heart & sorrow of soul for a mans sinns , he is never like to attain to any truth of la●ing grace upon earth . For can a child be born , where there never was any travailing paines ? can there be a crop of corn at harvest , where the ground was never plowed , no● broken up ? Is not the way to Canaan through the w●ld●rn●ss ? doubtless through th● wilderness you must go , if ever you will come to Canaan And what was that wilderness ? a terrible place surely , yea a place wherin were fiery flying Serpents , and Scorpions , and drought , Z 〈…〉 . 8. 15. a land of de●arts , and of p●ts , and of the shaddow of death , Jer : 2. 6. and yet through this wilderness must Israel go , before they c●uld enter into the good land . In like sort , a soul must go t●rough a wilderness-like conditi●n , that is , ●e ●ust be afflicted w●t●●ight and sense of spiritual misery & sin , b●f●re ●e c●n attai● to any state o● saving ●est & grace in Christ Jesus For the Scripture tell us that they to whom Christ Jesus is sent , are poor , broken-h●●rted , capt●ves , p 〈…〉 , blind , and bruised creatu●e● , ●●k 4. 18. I●● 61. 1. yea that they mourn in Sion , do sit in ashes , in mourning and ●● a spirit of ●eavi●es● , 〈◇〉 and in a lost estate , and to those is the Lord ●esus sent to seek & save them , and to preach the Gospel to them , Luke 19 10. Isai . 61. 1. Luke 4. 18. But for others , that do not feel themselves sick of sin , but are secure & hard hearted , as if they were righteous and whole & well , to those the Lord Jesus himself tells us that he is no physitian for the healing of them , Mat . 9. 12 , 13. and if Christ who is the only physitian to cure soules , be not sent unto 〈…〉 n , do not heal them nor call them , how is it possible that they should ever 〈◇〉 healed ? how is it possible that they should be converted & called ? The 〈…〉 h is , the ruine of many professours ariseth hence , that they are too slight 〈…〉 at their first comming on to profession ; as the stony ground d 〈…〉 word with joy , but wanting depth of earth , and the stony heart not being ●hroughly broken & mollified , therefore they continued not , but in time of try ●ll & temptation fell away , Mat : 13. 5 , 6 , 20 , 21. and so that proverb is fulfilled in them , soon ripe and soon rotten . The house will never stand , that is built upon the sand and loose earth , without digging deep that it may be founded on the Ro●k , Luk 6. 48 , 49. that is , that profession of Christianity , will not endure , that is not begun in serious an● deep humiliation . And though there be men that count all sorrow for sin to be Legall , and not sutable , to the spirit of grace in the Gospel , yet it is better for you to believe the word of God , which makes mourning for sin , yea bitter mourning , as for an only Son , or the loss of ones first born , to be the effect & work of the spirit of grace poured forth upon Gods people , Zech : 12. 10. & therefore not a meer legall business , as some would make it . They may repent that ever they did so much repent , & look upon their sorrow for sin , as Christ upon his enemies , Lord forgive me for I knew not what I did . But when Christ shall appear to comfort mo●rners , and to inflict that which long since he deno●nced , even wo to the 〈◇〉 laugh , for they shall wa●l & weep , Luke 6. 25. then these men will be of another mind , and wish they had had experience of more true mourning and sorrow for si●● . And therefore my Bel●ved , if you mean to reap in joy , see that you sow in teares , Psal . 126. 5 , 6. I mean , if ever you expect to have grace or glory , the salvation of God in this or in another world , see to it that the fallow ground of your hearts be throughly plowed up , that you may not sow among thorns , ●er , 4. 3 , 4. See to it that you be truely sensible of sin , and broken hearted , and as it were sick with sorrow for it , that so Christ & his Righteousness , may be highly esteemed by you , that you may believe in him , and in due time be comforted by him : In a word see to it , that you be not destitute of that godly sorrow that worketh Repentance to salvation , not to be repented of , 2 Cor : 7. 10. If now you mourn in an holy and spiritual manner , the Lord Jesus hath pronounced that you are blessed , and shall be comforted , Mat : 5. 4. But otherwise , expect not but that sorrow & mourning will seize upon you , if not now , then at such a time when you shall not be able to put them off , no● find any comfort therin . And as we say of winter , that , winter is seldom or never lost , so may we say of sorrow for sin it will not be alwayes lest , but will certainly come , either at one time or another either now in this life ; or herafter when it will be worse to be born . As Moses said to those Tribes , Numb : 32. 23. even so may I say to you , you have si●ned , and be sure your sin will find you out . It may be sweet & 〈…〉 present , but assure your selves it will be bitterness in the latter end , 〈◇〉 : 2. 26. and at the last will bite like a Serpent , and sting ike ●● Adder , Pro : 23. 32 yea be bitter as wormwood , and sharp as a two edged word , Pro : 5. 3 , 4. But oh how much better is it , to feel the bitterness of the sorrow here , where mercy and forgiveness ●ay ●e had , then here to ●e hard-hearted & secure , and then to feel sorrow remediless in Hell !

2. Labour to be men of Sound Judgment and Understanding in the things of Religion , and make account that all Errour is sin , as being frequently forbidden by the Lord , Jam . 1. 16. Mat . 16. 6 , 11 , 12. & 24. 4. 1 John 4. 1. In so much as as that s●me errours do no less then subvert the soul , Acts 15. 24. excluding out of Heaven , as other horrid workes of the flesh , Gal. 5. 19 , 20 , 21. a 〈…〉 de●●●c●ion to them that hold thm , 2 Pet : 2. 1. & 3. 16. and others which are not so fundamental , but are as hay & stubble upon the foundation , yet even these do so hazard a mans salvation , that though ●e may be saved holding the foundation , yet his work shall be burnt , and he shall suffer loss a 〈…〉 saved , ●●t so as by ●●re , 1 C●r : 3. 15. Wherefore as you love your own soules , take heed of erronious doctrines & opinions ; but contena carnest●y for the Faith , that was once ●●live●●d to the Saints , Jude 3. Believe not every Spirit , but try the spirits w●ether they be of God , for many ●alse prophets are g●ne out into the wor●● 1 J 〈…〉 4. 1. Yea your zeal for the Truth , and against the contrary should be such , that if any come to you and bring not the doctrine of truth , you should not receive him into your house , nor bid him Go● 〈…〉ed 2 John 10. But if he were an Angel from heaven , ●old ●im ●ccursed . Gal. 8 , 9. Therefore believe not them that think a man may be saved in any Religion , & that it were good to h 〈…〉 all Religions free , and that opinions haue no great danger in them . These are but the devises of Satan , that so pe●nicious errours might more easily be entertained , as not being greatly suspected : but believe the world of God which tells you otherwise , in the places cited , and in Mai 〈…〉 15. Acts 20. 29. where false Teachers are compared to gr●●vous and rave 〈…〉 g wolves , And if you can believe that sheep may do well enough though ravening wolves be let in amongst them , then you may believe that false doctrine and they that teach it are no wayes dangerous to the soules of men ; But if the one be contrary to experience & common sense , and therefore may not be beleived , then neither may the other . Wherefore my beloved , take heed you be not pluckt away with any errour of the wicked , and fall from your own stedfast●ess , 2 Pet : 3. 17. But be diligent in the search & study of the holy Scriptures , the want wherof , is the cause of errour , Mat : 22. 29. Acquaint your selves with principl●● of Catechism , and be well grounded therin ; for commonly they that ●all to erro●r , are defective in the knowledg of Catechistical points . Make conscience to obey the Truth which you do already know ; for such have a promise to know the truth , John 7. 17. And live not in , nor foster any sinfull lust in your hearts or lives , for this makes captives to false doctrine , and them that teach it , 2 Tim : 3. 6. And be sure you get down the pride of your hearts , & be low & little in your own eyes ; for babes shall have the truths of Christ revealed to them , wheras with proud & self-conceited ones it shall be otherwise , Mat : 11. 25. 1 Cor : 3. 18. If you shall be wise in your own conceit , which God forbid , never think your selues Christians indeed in such a case , for there is more hope of a fool then of such , Pro : 26. 12. I think he said well and wisely , who said that to be a true christian without humility , was as hard as to be a man without a soul : and sure I am , ●e said very well , and very wisely , who tells us that God resisteth the proud , but giveth grace to the h●m●le 1 Pet 5. 6. James 4. 6.

3. C●ntent not your selves to live without the faithfull Ministry , and other holy appointments & Ordinances of Jesus Christ . But make account there is somewhat in it , and much too , when Pastours & Teachers according to Gods heart shall f●ed h●● p●o●le with knowledg & understanding are promised as special blessing● to the people of God , Jer : 3. 15. Isai . 30. 20. and are gifts reckoned amongst the principal fruits & benefits of the Ascension of Jesus Christ , Eph. 4. 8 11 , 12. On the other side , our Saviour tells us that when the blind lead the blind , both shall fall into the ditch , Mat : 15. 14. & therefore he bewailes & pitties the condi●ion of such people who were as sheep that had no shepheard , and bids us make it one of our prayers , that the L●●● of the harvest , would ●hrust forth labourers into his Harvest , Mat : 9. 36 , 38. Some may think , ( and so much I graunt is publ●shed ●● pr●nt ) that when our Saviour speakes of a ministry , and of baptism to contin●e , and to have his presence therewith , till the e●d of the world , M●● : 28. 19 , 20. that by the word englished , The end of the world , He m 〈…〉 s no more but the end of that age that th●n was , whe● the Apostles were upon the earth , But by the like reason they may cal● the harvest when the Elect shall be gathered by the Angells into the glory of Heaven , and when the wicked shall be cast as tares into Hell fire , they may with as good reason call this Harvest the end of that age when the Apostles lived , for th●s also is called the end of the world● , Mat : 13. 30 , 39 , 40. and if it were absurd to call this Ha●vest the end of that age , it is no better to translate & expound the word so in the 28 of Matthew for the phrase is the same in both places ; to omit the mention of other places also , where the phrase is used , as it is rightly englished for the end of this world , and not for the end of the Apostles age . The Apostle tells us , that the Lords Supper must be observed till the Lord come , 1 Cor : 11. 26. and that the delivering up of the Kingdom as administred by external Ordinances shall not be till the end , 1 Cor : 15. 24. but till that time , this way of administring Christs Kingdom shall continue . God forbid that you should be of their mind who think the use of Ordinances to be too low a dispensation for them that have attained those excellent & high attainments of grace , and of Christ in the Spirit which they speak of , For was there ever time , or will there ever be a time of more excellent spiritual attainments then in the primitive Church at Jerusalem when it is expresly said , that great grace w●●s upon them all , Acts 4. 32 , 33. and yet at this time of so great grace , they did not live without ordinances or above them , as having attained too high attainments to attend upon God in the use of such low dispensations ; no b●t they continued in the Apostles Doctrine , and fellowship , and breaking of bread , & prayers , Acts 2. 42. If through profaneness , or worldliness , or high flown imaginations of excellent attainments , you shall once think an able ministry , & Christs Ordinances to be of no great necessity , believe not that your hearts are in a right frame in such a case ; for how should they , when they are so contrary to the heart of him who was a man after Gods own heart , I mean David , who often bewailes it & laments it as a great misery , when he was deprived of Sanctuary-enjoyments , as you may see in Ps● . 42. & 43. & 63. & 84. so that he was so farr from counting it an excellency to live without these things , or to please himself in such a condition that he bewailes such a thing as one of the greatest miseryes . It is not like but er● long I shall betaken from you : and then ( if not sooner ) see that you do your utmost endeavour to obtain a faithfull and an able Minister , to be set over you in the Lord : and acknowledg him & your ot●er Elders your Overseers & Rulers as the Scripture calls them , A●t● 20. 28. 1 Tim . 5. 17. And therefore be content to Obey them , and S●●mit you● selves to them in the L●rd . 1 Th●s 5. 12 , 13. Heb : 13. 7 , 17. And though it be now a time when ma●y think , that no great abilityes are requisite in a minister , or preacher of the word but that ordinary brethren may suffice for such imployment , yet you shall do better to be of his mind , who counts a man fit for such work , to be one of a thousand , J●b 33. 23. which imports ●l at such men are not very common , but ●are men . And otherwise what need was there for Paul to cry out oh who is sufficient for such things : 2 Cor : 2. 16. Sure there was little reason for such an exclamation , if ability to read English be sufficient , but one would think that speech implyes , that such abilityes and sufficiencies are requisite for this work , as are not very easy to be ●ound . Sure it is , the Rule requires that such men should be able to deliver , the whole Counsel of God , Acts 20. 27. and to be able not only to deliver some truths , and by So●●d doctrine to Exhort , but also to Convince gainsayers , 1 Tit . 1. 9. and if the ordinary sort of people can do this , I am much mistaken . They that would not much care if learning and Schools of Learning amongst Christians were suppressed , are but too like that wretched Julian the Apostate , who forbad all the children of {αβγδ} Christians to be trained up in such Schooles ; and his reason was quia proprijs pennis ferimur , we are beaten o● stricken saith he as it were with our own weapons . For he was vexed to see the learning and eloquence of some Christians , as Basil , Gregorie & others ; and how they by learning were able to withstand the Argutia , or cunning subtilties of the Gen●iles ; and therefor to hinder christian Religion , and in savour to Gentilism , ●e devised this devise , Theodor , l 3. C 8. Sozom . l 5. C 17. Socrat . l 3. C 10 , & C 14. Carion , Chron . p. 278. Symson Historie , bock 1. Cent. 4. p. 60. And therefore judg in your selves whether it be not sad and lamentable that professed Christians should be so like to this wretched Apostate and enemy of Christ . Amongst the sins of the house of Jerobo●m , which were causes to ●●t it off , and to destroy it from off the face of the earth , this is reckoned for one , that he made of the lowest of the people Priests , so that whosoever would might b● consecrated to such imployment , 1 King . 13. 33 , 34. And therefore I exhort you , pr●ze the Ministry , & an able ministry as an Ordinance of Jesus Christ ; and do not think it can be well with you if either you have none or none of any competent abilityes ; but remember what the Apostle tells you R●m : 10. 13 , 14 , 15. that as calling upon God is the way & meanes of salvation and without faith there can be no calling upon God , so not any faith without hear●●●g , nor bearing without a Prea●her , not any preach except they be sent , If there●●re you desire salvation , you must see that you call upon the name of God that y●● may be saved ; and if you desire to call upon G●d , you must see that you be believers ; and if you would be believers , you 〈◇〉 see the necessity of hearing sent preachers , as the way & meanes to believing , even as believing & calling upon God is the way & meanes to Saluation . And when God shall be so gracious unto you as to bestow such a man upon you , see that you dearly love him & reverence him in the Lord , holding such in reputation , Phil . 2. 29. and counting their very feet to be beautifull , Rom: 10. 15. or otherwise the Lord will require it of you as a disrespect offered & done to him , who hath said , He that heareth & receeiveth you , heareth & receiveth me , and he that despiseth you , despiseth me , Luke 10. 16. John 13. 20.

4. Think it not enough to serve the Lord your selves alone in your own persons , but be sure to have special care that your Children & families may serve him also , and therefore remember to Instruct them and teach them the word and will of God , and to pray for them and with them , for Gods blessing to be upon their soules . For the former of these , there is express Commandement & charge , Eph. 6. 4. Psal . 78. 5 , 6. Pro . 22. 6. Deut : 6. 6 , 7. In which last Scripture , every housholder is Commanded of God to have the words of God in his heart , and that he teach them diligently to his children , talking of them when he sitteth in his house , and when he walketh by the way , when he lyeth down & when he riseth up .

And therefore , if your children & servants be not instructed & taught in the word of God , you will not be able to give any good answer for it before the Lord , having lived in the neglect of so express & plain , so serious and solemn a Commandement . The truth is you have but little love either to God , or to your children , or to your selves , if you make not conscience of this duty . For love to God would both provoke to keep his Commandements , of which the teaching of your children is one , and would stirr up the soul that hath it to desire & endeavour that God might be honoured & served as much & by as many persons & people as possibly it could attain unto . And therefore how can you say that you love God , when you do not your best endeavour that others , at least your own children & housholds may do ▪ him service ? Would you have God to have no service but by your selves , o● whilest your selves are alive ? You know your selves must not live alwayes ; therefore it would be some Testimony of your love to his Majesty , if you be carefull to train up a posterity for the Lord , and so to teach them in his wayes , that your seed may serve him when your selves shall be dead & gone . As for your ch●ldren , you know they are born i● sin , and so children of wrath by nature ▪ and without Regeneration & holiness must never see the Kingdom of God ; and can you love them , and not endeavour to help them out of this woefull & wretched condition ? I think he loves his child , or his freind but little , that seeth him ly fast asleep w●th●n the flood-markes & reach of the tide , and so every hour in danger to be swept away & drowned in the waters and waves of the Sea , and ▪ for all this can endure yet to let him alone and never endeavour to awake him and rouse him up , that he may escape that apparent & imminent danger . Judg then in your selves what love there can be in you to your poor children when you take no care , or make no conscience to save their soules from the deluge of destruction , and from their sins of heart & life , whereby they are in dayly danger to be swept away with that deluge , & to be overw●elmed with destruction . Please not your selves as if you loved them sufficiently in that you are carefull to provide them meat & cloaths , and other necessaryes for the body . For Turks & Indians can do so ; and should not you be better and do better th●n they ? Will you do no more for the soules of your children then Pagans & Infidels would do for the soules of theirs ? Very beares and other bruit beasts , yea and the Sea-monsters , are not so unnatural , but that they have some care of their young ones , Lam : 4. 3. Only this care of theirs reacheth no further but to the flesh or body , as indeed they have no immortal Scules to care or be cared for . But I beseech you , let your care & love to your children reach further , even to do your utmost endeavour to help forward the salvation of their precious and immortal soules ; else never say you do truely love them . Nay in such case you cannot say you do truely love your selves . For the neglect of this duty will be your own disadvantage , and will further your own discomfort , both in this & in another world . If children be duely instructed when they are young , there is hope they will walk according thereto when they shall be grown , Pro : 22. 6. and will not this be a comfort & joy of heart to any godly Parent ? the holy Ghost tells us that the wise Son maketh a glad Father , Pro . 10. 1. & 23. ver . 24 , 25. & ver . 15 , 16. But on the other side , who knoweth not , that the Father of a fool hath no joy , Pro : 17. 21 , 25. and that a child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame , Pro : 29. 15. Unless therefore you love your own sorrow & shame , you must not leave your children to themseves , neglecting to instrust them in the word & wayes of God , but as you love your selves & your own comfort , you must be carefull of this duty ; for this meanes is conducible to such an end , and the neglect hereof , doth tend to the contrary . Consider seriously of this one thing , viz when poor ch●ldren shall be plagued & damned in Hell for their sin , and the wa●t of grace , and when the Parents also s●all be in the same conditi●n a● for their other si●s , so for this amongst the rest , t●at they have neglected this duty to their children , and dyed without Repentance for it , what a miserable & weefull day will that be ? what a hearing will it be to poor tormented soules to hear their children cry out against them thus , or to the like purpose , viz All this that we here suffer is through you : You should have taught us the things of God , and did not , you should have restrained us from Sin and corrected us , and you did not : Y●● were the m●anes of our Originall Corruption and guiltiness , and yer you never shewed any competent care that we might be delivered from it , from you we did receive it , by your neglect we have continued in it , and now we are ●amned for it : Wee unto us that we had such Carnall and careless parents , and woe unto you that had no more Compassion and p●tty to prevent the eve●lasting misery of your own Children . All this is no more then may well be imagined & supposed to be the woefull condition of many poor children & their Parents , in another world . And if all this seem a light thing in the eyes of any Parent or housholder , I may say , the Lord be mercifull to such a man , for his heart is very hard . J●shua was otherwise minded , for he is resolute that he and his house will serve the Lord , J●sh . 24. 15. and David giveth grave and godly Instructions to his Son Solomon 1. Chron : 28. 9. that he should know & serve the Lord , and so Pro : 4. 3 , 4 , 5. And of Abraham , God himself gives T●stimony , that he knew that he would Command his children & his household , to keep the way of the Lord , and to do Judgment & Justice , Gen : 18. 19. and why are these examples recorded , but for imitation ? Yea our Saviour tells us , that those that are the children of Abraham , will do the works of Abraham , Jo●n 8. 39 Therefore as ever you desire to be known unto your selves or others to be the children of Abraham by a true & lively faith , so see that you be carefull to tread in his s●eps and to do his workes , as in other things wherin he is propounded as a pattern , so in this particular of instructing & well ordering of your children & families . But alas , all your instructing will avail nothing , unless God do give the blessing ; and therefore you must also be diligent and faithfull in the practise of prayer for & with your families . Husbands & Wives must live in peace , that their prayers be not hindered , 1 Pet : 3. 7. Cornelius pray●d in his house , Acts 10. 30. David by prayer is said to ●less h●s house , 1 Chron : 16. 43 Ab●●ham prayeth earn●stly for Ishmael , oh that Ishmael might live in thy sight , Gen : 17. 18. and who can think but ●e pr●yd for Is●ac also , and for t●e rest of his children ? There is a dreadfull Imprecation for the wrath of G●d to be p●ur●d out upon th● f 〈…〉 es that call not on G 〈…〉 Name , J●r 10. 25. oh see that you be not of that number , f●r the wrath of God is terrible and intollerable . Pray without ce 〈…〉 & re●ember that ●very creature is sanc●●fied by the w●●d ●● God & Prayer , 1 ●●m . 4. 4 , 5. S●●●at your ●eat & yo●● marriage , of whic● he there ●specially speaks , and by like reason , your buying & selling , y●ur plowing ●●d ●owing , your sowing & mowing and reap●ng , yo●● feedi●g cattle and keep●●● she●p ▪ your planting orchards & garders , your b●ki●g ●●d brewing , your b●ildi●g houses or outho●ses , you● fencing in grou●d or other business what ever , you can not have any holy o● sanctified use thereof , if the word of God in your families , and prayer there be neglected . Therefore teach your children the word of God , firstly the princ●ples of Catechism , and afterwards highe● points , and pray that they , and your endeavours with them & for them may be blessed . Tell them , so many of them as have been Baptized , and tell it them as soon as they shall be able to learn , what a solemn Covenant there is be●ween the God of heaven & them , whereby the Lord takes them to be his own , Ezek . 16. 8. yea to be his Children , Sons & daughters unto him , Ezek . 16. 20 , 21. sai 43. 8. and engageth himself to be a God to them , Gen : 17. 7. and this even from their Infancy , or mothers womb , Psal . 22. 10. Isai . 46. 3. Tell them also that in their Baptism , this Covenant between the Lord & them was solemnly confirmed & sealed ; for it was so with the Circumcised , Gen : 17. 11 Rom. 4. 11. and it is no less with the Baptised . Yea and tell them that they were Baptized into the name of the Father , Son and Holy Ghost , Mat : 28. 19. and therefore do now bear the name of God upon them , and so are not their own but his , as being ca●led by his name , Deut: 28. 9 , 10. Isai . 43. 7. & 63. last ; And if they be the Lords , and be called by his name , and have him to be their God by Covenant , they may be well assured that all the rich blessings of that Covenant shall be their Inheritance for ever , if it be not through their own default , because the Lord is the Faithfull God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him and keep his C●mmandements , even to a thousand geneeations , Deut: 7. 9. Psal . 105. 8. So that if they do not break Covenant wit● him , He will never break with them . But on the contrary , you must not fail to tell them that if they for their parts shall walk contrary to their Covenant , in the wayes of sin & unbelief , and shall continue impenitently therin , this will be a great aggravation of their sin in the sight of God , and will bring upon them the sorer and more dreadfull judgments , as breach of Covenant hath ever done , Deu● 29 25 , and 31. 16 , 17. Judges 2. 20. Jer : 11. 10 , 11. Ezek . 16. 8 , 32 , 38 , 59. and their Baptism , which if they kept their Covenant , might be unto them a pledg and seal of salvation , will now be altogether fruitless & unprofitable , as if it were no Baptism , Rom: 2. 25 , 28. and the condition of the children of Turks or Indians or other Pagans , which were never Baptized , but are strange●● from God and from his Covenant , will be no worse , nor more uncomfortable then theirs ; or rather theirs will be far● worse , their sins be●ng against more mercy and being violations of the Covenant , which was confirmed & seal●d in their Baptism . Tell them seriously of these things , and press upon them the remembrance , consideration , and conscience of their Baptism & Coven●nt , and the great engagement that lyeth upon them thereby . Take account of them ●ow th●y profit by hearing Sermon ▪ Suffer them not to profane the Sabbath or Lords day , by spending it in idleness , or mispending any part of that holy time in play , but remember that in the fourth Co●mandement , the householder is charged to keep that day holy , and to see that Son & daughter , man and maid may do the like . ●ea the Mother & mistress of the ●ouse is not exempted from this duty ; for Solomon was instructed by his Mother , Pro : 31. 1. &c : and Timothy by his Mother and Grandmother ; for he knew the holy Scriptures of a child , 2 Tim : 3. 15. and how should that be but by his Mother an● Grandmother being believers , 2 Tim : 1. 5. for his Father was a Greek , Acts 16. 1. And every Vertuous woman will open her mouth with Wisedom , ( viz in her house amongst her children and servants , for in the Church shee must be silent , 1 Cor : 14. 34 , 35. ) and the Law of Grace is in her tongue , Pro : 31. 26.

Mothers , you are more with your children whilest they are little ones , then their Fathers are , therefore be still teaching them as so on as ever they are capable of learning . You are at much paines with the bodyes of your children , and suffer not a little while you bear them in your wombs & when you bring them into the world , and will you not be at some paines for the saving of their soules ? You are naturally of tender and dear affection to your children , and God misl●kes it not that it be so ; but will you shew no affection to them in respect of their soules , which is the principal matter ? will it not move you to think that the children of your own bowells should everlastingly perish , and be in unconceivable misery world without end ? I beseech you have pitty upon the● ; and do your best to teach them , and pray for them , weep for them , and wrestle with God for them , who kn●wes but the prayers and teares of a faithfull Moth●r may be the salvation of the childs soule ?

5. Content not your selves with the name of Christians or of Church-members , nor with meer profession or an external form of Religion , but see that you be Religions ●●sincer●ty & ●ruth , ●ainly follow●●g ●fter and shewing forth the powe● of godlyness , and avoiding what●●ever is contra●y thereunto , or ●ay hinder t●erein . For God requir●th truth ●n the it war a p●rts , Psal 51 ▪ 6. and courts not●ing true religion or godliness which is but exte●nal or outward but that ●nly which is ●●ward in the heart & s●●rit , and inner man , R●m ● . two last . The Pharises were j●st & righteous before ●en , and ●ade 〈◇〉 shew outwardly , but their bearts w●●hin being full of Hypocrisy & iniquity , therefore t●e Lord ab●ord them , & all their ●eemingly-gl●rious performanc● ▪ L●ke 10. 15. Mat : 23. 27 , 28. Think with your selve ▪ that ▪ God kn●weth the heart , 〈◇〉 ●1 . 24. & 15. 8. Psa . 44. 21. Rev. 2. 23. So that though you ●ay d●ceive ●en and your own selves , yet him you can ●o● deceive Thi 〈…〉 your selves that though Hypocrisie may ly hid & unknown for a time , yet it shall not alwayes do so , but in time shall be revealed & brought to light , Luke 12. 1 , 2 ▪ 1 Cor : 4. 5. Think with your selves , that all professours are not sound but there are many yea very many that are otherwise ; fo● many are called , so as to be amongst the g●ests of God ●t the marriage feast , and yet of them that are thus called , there are few that are ●hosen , and that have indeed the wedding garment , Mat : 22 ▪ 10 , 11 , 12 , 14. And lastly think this with your selves that of all punishments , the punishment of hypocrites is amongst the greatest fo● when the dreadfull wrath of God is expressed against that man , Mat ▪ 24. it is said , be sh●ll have his portion with Hypocrites , verse 50. which intimates , that the portion of Hypocrites shall be most dreadfull & terrible . To be Baptized , to be a membet of the visible Church of Christ , to be admitted to the Lords Table & to all other priviledges of the Church , To be outwardly blameless & no wayes scandalously vicious for Adulery , Fornication , Lasciviousness , Drunkenness , Prophaneness , Swearing , Scoffing at godlyness , or such like , To be frequent in prayer , in reading the Scriptures & good books , in hearing Sermons , and repeating them afterward , in Sabbath-services & other dutyes of Gods worship , All this may be & the heart not right ●n the sight of God ; for all this is but the form of godlyness , which possibly may be , where the power of godlyness is wanting , 2 Tim : 3. 5. The pith & power of Religion & godlyness is another thing , and consisteth cheifly in that which is inward in the heart & soul ; as , In a true sight & sense of a mans own sin & vileness , even of that which is inward in the heart , 1 King . 8. 38. Rom: 7. 14 , 21 , 23 , 24. with an unfeined self-loathing , or abhorring of a mans self because of the same , and in all true humility ●nd low tho●ghtedness of a mans self : In true self-denyal , when the will of a man is so subdued to the will of God , as that he can be content that Gods will should take place afore his own , whether that will of God be manifested in the Scriptures or in Providences , and whether it should be submitted & yeilded unto by doing , or by suffering : In Faith unf●ined , and the life of faith , when a man adhereth and cleaveth to God in Christ , and to the precious promises of his grace , even then when sense & carnal reason do speak contrary , and when in the eye of flesh & blood there is ▪ little or no appearance of any such thing as the promise holdeth forth : In the practise of Mortification ▪ when a man is continually be●ting ●own his corruption , & striving in the strength of C●rist from day to day that his fl●sh with the affections & 〈◇〉 thereof may b● Crucified and killed , maintaining a combat and wa●● against sin , and unfeinedly de 〈…〉 g that no iniquity might have dominion ove● him , but that the old man and all the body of sin might be destroyed : In the spirituality of duty , when a man endeauoureth to do all that he doth , whether of the first or second Table , whether in his general or particular calling , 1. In obedience to God that hath so commanded , 2. With the heart & soul and not alone with the outward man , 3. In sense of a mans own infirmity and not in his own strength ▪ but ●n the strength of Christ , 4. With an heart desirous to please and glorifie God therein , 5. Never taking contentment in any thing he doth , further then the Spirit of Christ doth thus carry him forth in all ,

6. Feeling need of the pardoning grace of God in the blood and Intercession of Christ , for the best of his performances , 7. Looking up thereunto for the same and for all his acceptance : In heavenly mindedness , when a mans affections and conversation are so in Heaven ▪ that he takes no cont●●tment in the best of all the comforts that are under the Sun , but counts them all vanity & vexation of spirit , having many thoughts and holy actings of spirit towards God and Christ , longing for death , and loving the appearing of the Lord Jesus , and this not out of p●ngs of impatience as not willing to do or suffer the will of God , but from unfained hatred of his own sin & corruption , and from earnest desire to be freed from it , and to obtain the enjoyment of more full communion with God and Jesus Christ then in this life can be attained unto , These and such like are the things wherein true Religion and the power of godlines consists ▪ but in meer bodily exercise & external shewes and performances , in the● it consisteth not . Oh then strive earnestly after the one , and content not your selves with the other . In these dayes and in this country , profession is somewhat common , Authority through the goodnes of God countenancing Religion , and ministring Justice against all known ungodlines and unrighteousness of men . You have therefore so much more need to take heed and beware , least your Religion reach no further but to the profession & the external form thereof . this for the causes mentioned being so common , and the eye of man being able to reach no further . It is true the condition of many amongst you ( and so in other parts of this Country ) is such as necessarily puts you on to have much imployment about the things of this life , and to labou● with care & paines taking in the workes of husbandry , and other worldly business for the maintenance of your selves & your families , the Lord having laid this burden on man , that 〈…〉 swe●● of h● face he m●st eat his bread un●●ll he dy & experience shewes that it is an easy thing in the middest of worldly business to loose the life and power of Religion , that nothing thereof should be lef● but only the external ●orm , as it were the carcass or shell , worldliness having eaten ou● the ke●ell , and having consumed the very soul & life ▪ of godliness . While the man in 1 Kings 20. 40. was busie here and there , he whom he should have kept was missing and gone : So while many men are busie here & there about worldly imployments , the power and life of Religion , which they should have carefully kept , is utterly lost and quite gone . The deceitfulness of riches , and cares of this life , do as thornes choak the seed of the word in many professours , that they become unfruitfull , Mark 4. 19. As Demas forsook Paul through love of this present world , 2 Tim : 4. 10. and Ezekiels hearers could not hear the word with profit , because their heart went after their coveteousness , Ezek . 33. 31. Oh therefore take heed , I do beseech you , least it be so with any of you , least earthly cares and encumbrances should dull your spirits , and take off their edge in the things of greatest importance , and lest by these things all the vigour of Religion should be wasted and worne out , and nothing be left but a dry & sapless formallity , a spiritless & powerless profession . You would be more happy if you could make a vertue of necessity , I mean if you could turn all the acts of your particular callings , all the imployments that God hath laid upon you about these earthly things , if you could turn them all into so many acts of Religion and Obedience towards God . Which is not a thing impossible , for the Apostle expressly requires it of Servants , that what ever they did ( viz : in the labours of their callings ) they should do it as unto Christ , as to the Lord and not unto men , Eph. 6. 5 , 6 7. Col. 3. 22 , 23. And if servants may do their works and dutyes of their places with such a spirit , why may not masters do theirs with the like spirit , and Parents theirs , and children theirs , and husband & wives theirs , and every man & euery woman perform their earthly imployments in such fear of God , in such singleness of heart , in such respect to the Commandement , that all these may be so many several acts of Obedience towards God , so many parts & expressions of the power & practise of godliness ? If Adam had not sinned , his dressing & keeping the garden Gen : 2. 15. would have been so : and doubtless with our blessed Saviour it was so ; for he was subject to Joseph & Mary as a child to his parents , Luke 2. 51. and it is like he wrought with Joseph at the work of a Carpenter , and therfore he was not only called the Carpenters son , but the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. and his Religious & pious spirit would doubtless do all these external and earthly business with respect to God and in obedience to him . And the truth is , it is not only the object about which actions are conversant , but the heart wherewith they are done , and the grounds of doing them , with the ends that are aimed at therein , that makes them acts of Religion truly pleasing to God ; So that if these be not right and spiritual , then preaching & praying , ●earing & repeating Sermons , & such like will be no better then acts of profaneness & ungodlyness , and in the issue be charged upon the doers as so many But on the contrary , civill imployments if they be performed with spiritual minds , upon such spiritual grounds , and to such spiritual ends as they might and ought , then these imployments even these will be accounted & approved of , as acts of religion & godlyness , or obedience towards God , and as such will be pleasing in his sight . Wherefore , to make an end of this , let it be your care , and the Lord help you that you may do it effectually , that earthly or worldly imployments may not destroy nor diminish the life and power of godlyness & religion , but that the life & power of religion may breath and be put forth in all your earthly & civil imployments .

6 ▪ Above all other things be carefull in all your desires and endeavours to make out after the enjoyment ●● God himself , and of Communion with his blessed Majesty , as your summum bonum ▪ your chi●f good . For you are utterly undone if your hearts come not up to this , even to desire and choose the blessed God himself for your portion and for all your happiness , but shall sit down as contented or satisfied with any thing else that falls short of God . They that are farr from God shall perish , he destroyeth all them that go a whoring from him , Psal . 73. 27. And amongst all the miseries of an unregenerate state , this is reckoned as the sorest & worst , that such men are without God in the world , Ephe . 2. 12. Think with your selves how at the last day the dreadfull doom of the reprobate will chiefly be this , that they shall eternally be separated from the favourable presence of God , Ma● . 25. 41. 2 Thes . 1. 9. which doth evidently demonstrate that to enjoy communion with the blessed God , is of all things the most desirable for any of the sonns of men . Imagine all the good in the whole world to be gathered into one store-house , and there to be laid up in one heap , you know he that were farr from that store-house and had no part there must needs be miserable ; and even so is such a soul as is without the injoyment of God . If the Sun should depart out of the world there would be nothing left but dreadfull darkness upon all the Creation , all light being now placed in the Sun : and if the fountain be dryed up or stopped , all the streames must needs fail . In like sort take away the injoyment of God from any soul , and all that is left must needs be nothing worth , but even a lump of vanity & evill . For the best of creatures without God are but vanity , yea & vexation of spirit . You may believe him that by large experience had found it so , and gives us his report & testimony of what he had found , Eccles . 1. 2. and 12. 8. And the time will come when his words will be found of others to be a truth , if now it seem not so . When sickness comes when old age comes , when the temptations of the D●vel do assault you , when the pangs of death are upon you , oh then what will all these things availe you in that day ? they will surely be then as Jobs freinds , dry & empty pits , miserable comforters and physitians of no value Job 6. 15. &c : & 13. 4. & 16. 2. Yea then it will be found that all things else besides God are but vain things , that cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain , 1 Sam : 12. 21. The Prodigal when absent from his fathers face & family , may seek to fill his belly with the husks that the swine did eat , but he will find that it will not be , that those husks will not satisfie , but that for all them he will begin to be in want , and be ready to perish through hunger , and all because he is absent from his fathers house , where there is bread enough and to spare , Luke 15. I tell you true my beloved , if a man could enjoy the world at will , the greatest confluence of creature-comforts that ever man enjoyed , yet if he have not the fruition of the favour of God , all these things would stand him one day in little or no stead , but in the fulness of all his sufficiency , he shall be in streights , Job 20. 22. and the creatures will yeild him no more content & satisfaction then a bed which is shorier then that a man can stretch himself on it , and a covering which is narrower then that he can wrap himself in it , Isai . 28. 20. Oh then as you love your soules , take heed of resting in any creature , and of looking no further then to them . Do not spend your money for that which is not bread , and your labour for that which satisfieth not , Isai . 55. 2. do not hew out unto your selves the C●sternes , the broken C●sternes of one creature or another , that can hold no water , but make out in the desires and longings of your soules after God himself , who is the fountain of living waters , Je● 2. 13. Do not wander in the outgoings of your hearts after this or that inferiour good , and neglect th● Lord who is the principal , for that would be to be like them that wandr●d and wen● from mounta●n to h●ll f●rgetting their r●s●ng pl●ce , Jer : 50. 6. Re●e●ber David who at one time in his pr●sperity thoug●t he should never be mov●● , the Lord had made his mounta●n to st 〈…〉 g ▪ but when God did once hide his face he was troubled , Psal . 30. 6. 7. and t●● g●eat mountain of all his outward prosperity could not preven● th●t troubl● . You will do more w●s●ly if you follow him when ●● said , ●is sou● f●l 〈…〉 har● af●er God , ●s●l . 63. 8. or him that said . ●t is g 〈…〉 for me to draw ●igh to God , Lord whom have I ●● heaven but thee ? an● the●e is none upon ea●th that I ●esire bes●des thee , ●s●l 73. 25 , last or him that could say , the Lord is ●y portion saith my soul , therefore wil 〈…〉 ●ope in him , Lan . 3. 24. For if you do not go a who●ing in your aff●●nce or aff●ction after other things , but ●raw neer to G●● and cho●●e ●●m alone for your portion ▪ you will never repent of sucha choise , but will see cause to rejoyce in it , and with thankfulness to acknowledg , that your lines are fall●n to you in pleasant pla●es , & that in God you have a good●y herit●●● , Psal . 16. 5 , 6. This is the good part , the best part , that can be chosen , and they that have gr●c● to make their choise of it , it shall never be taken from th●m , Luke 10. 42. But in God as in the fountain of life , in whose light they shall see light , and who makes them drink of the River of his pleasures , in him , and in his favour they shall be abundantly satisfied , Psal . 36. 7 , 8. 9. & 17. 15. and their soules sh●ll one day be f●lled as with marrow and fatness , and their mouths shall prayse the Lord with joyfull lips , Psal . 63. 5. It is no great matter if the comfort of creature● shall fail them , if they shall be compassed about with miseries & distresses on every side , yea if they wa●k in the valley of the shaddow of death , yet having God with them and his favour towards them , they need not to fear for any of these things but may comfort themselves and rejoyce in God in the worst condition that can befall them , and at such times be even filled with joy and with the Holy-Gh●st , Hab : 3. 17 , 18. 1 Sam : 30. 6. Psal . 23. 4. Acts 13. 52. Loe freinds what it is to have the enjoyment of God . Wherefore if you be wise draw neer to G●● , and make hi● your portion . You see it will be good , yea best for you so to do ; and the Lord help you that you may do it unseinedly and effectually , without d●lay and without declining . Do you not consider what a great & heinous Idolatry it is , when men choose unto themselves other Go●s besides the Lord Je●ovah , the only true & living God ? It is you know the first Commandement of the ten , T●ou shalt have no other Gods ●ut Mee ? and to love the Lord above all , even with all the heart and with all the soul , & with all the mind & with all the s●rength , this is the first and great Commandement Mat : 22. 37. Beware therefore that no love of any creature what ever it be , ●uch less the love of any Sin , beware I say that no love to any of the●e be predominant in your soules above the love of God : you will be v●le Idolat●●s if it be so w●th you . Be●ar● that there be no Idolls in your hearts , for this may b● as bad Idolatry as that which is more apparent & open . See to it that in j●dgment and afl●ction you do truely acc●unt it your cheifest happines● to e●j●y the Lord , and that you make him your cheif●st good and your l●st end . If sin be ( as it is ) an aversion or turning away of the soul from God to something else besides him & above him , then in the work of g●ace there is a conversion and turning of the soul towards God again , as to the b●st and c●eif●st go●d of all . If it be not thus with you , you will not be ab●e to clear it up to your own consciences that any saving work of grace is wrought in your soules : for how should you , when yet there is something else , which your soules do prefer before God ? The very r●ason why you ●ear and pray , why you do any duty ●f one kind or another , yea why you do d●sire to live and breath on earth , the very r●as●n of all these things , i● your ●earts be right is cheifly this , that you may s●●k the Lor● hi●self , as t●e fi●st cau●e and last end , ●ha● yo● may honour h●m and do for him , and be happy in t●e inj●ym●nt of ●i● . They in ●e●o . 7. fasted and mourned many a time in this and in that month , even those seventy yeares ; and yet saith God , did ye at all fast unto me , even unto me , verse 5. It seemes their fasting was neither with h●arts that desired nor aimed to honour God , nor to enioy communion with God , and therefore all their fasting is rejected , because God was not sought therein . If you do not seek the Lord in your doings and performances , nor make him the end of your desires & endeavours , but that t●ere be something else that your hearts do more esteem then him , and can rest contented withall , though without him , then I must needs say your state in grace is very questionable , or rather unquestionably unsound . For if any man love the world , ( sure if he love the same better then God ) the love of the Father is not in him , 1 John 2. 15. It is ( and must needs be so accounted , even ) a vile dishonour & notorious contempt against the alsufficient and blessed God , when any creature whether a mans self , or ought else is more respected and esteemed then he . Therefore though many say , who will shew us any good , yet let your hearts say , Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us , and this shall be to us more gladnes of heart , then in the time when their corn and their wine increased , Psal . 4. 6 , 7. CHRISTIAN , thou that readest these lines , Lift up thy heatt unto God , and pray that he would give thee such an heart that thou mightest in sincerity say , Oh that above all things I might have the enjoyment of God! oh that above all things I migh be to the honour of God .

7. But how should men that are sinners have any access to God , or enjoy Communion with him . It is true , of themselves they can not , yet the●e is hope in Israel concerning this thing , because JESUS CHRIST the Eternal Son of God hath taken on him the nature of man , and in that nature hath fulfilled all Righteousness , and been Obedient to the death , even the death of the Cross : and so giving his life a ransome for many hath made Reconciliation for the sins of the people , that now by the merit of his death & Obedience , that d●stance that sin bad made between the soul & God , might be taken away , and sinners have access to Go● by him , who otherwise could have no Communion with him . You know what is written , that Christ hath suffered , the Just for the unjust , that he might bring us to God , 1 Pet : 3. 18. and so by him we have access unto the Father Eph●s 2. 18.

This therefore is the seventh and last though not the least part of my advice unto you in the Lord , That with all seriousness and up●igh●ness you choose this Lord Jesus , and him alone as the only and Alsufficient way & meanes for your enjoyment of God the cheif good . For this Lord Jesus is the only Advocate and Mediatour between God and the soules of men . And as there is but one God so there is but one Mediatour between God & men , the Man Christ J●sus , 1 Tim : 2. 5. He is the way , the truth and the life , there is no comming to the Father but by him , John 1● . 6. To enjoy God it is true is our life , for in his favour is life , yea his loving kindness is better then life it self , Psal . 30. 5. & 63. 3. But it is as true , that this life can not now be had but through Christ , so that he that hath the Son hath life , and he that hath not the Son hath not life , 1 John 5. 12 If you desire Communion with God and shall sue unto him that you may enjoy it , ( and you are most wretched & accursed if you do it not ) yet in such case the Lord will speak to you in language like to that of the Lord of Egypt unto Jacobs sonns , never see my face except your brother be with you , never look to see the face of God to your comfort in this or in another world , except Jesus Christ be with you , and that you present your selves before God in his Satisfaction & Mediation . You may not think , oh let such thoughts be far from you , that you can have access to God or be accepted of him , for any thing that you have wrought or can work . You know but little of your selves if you do not know , that the best of your performances have need of pardon through the blood of Christ , and therefore they are not able to purchase any pardon or favour for you in the sight of God ; no , no , it is Christ alone that must do this for you ▪ you and you● works must be washed in his precious blood , and so cleansed from the uncl●aness that is in you & them , or else both you & they will be rejected of God as most abominable in his sight . It is Christ alone that is the true High Pri●st t●at beares the iniquity of the holy things of Gods people , that through his Holiness they may be accepted before the Lord . Exod : 28. 38. which otherwise they could not be . It is he that is that true Golden Allar that Sanccist●● all gif●s , that are offered upon him . It is he that offers Incense wit● the pr●●ers of all Saints , and perfumes them with his Merits and Intercession , that so they may ascend with acceptance before God out of his hand , Rev : 8. 3 , 4. Wherefore of necessity you must disclaim all thought of any worth in your selves , or in the best of your doing● , and look for all acceptance of your persons & performances through Jesus Christ and through him alone , as that blessed Martyr John Lam●ert cryed out at his death , none but C●●ist , none but Christ . When Christ was in the world he was allwayes carefull to honour the Father , & now the Father would have all men to h●nour him , even as they honour the Father ; and we are plainly told , that he that h●n●u●eth not the Son , he honoureth not the Father which sent him , J●●● . 5. 23. And of the honour that we should do unto the Son , this is the Summ , t●at we acknowledg all our interest in God , and so in all good to be only through him and accordingly through him alone to look for it , and to behave our selves as those that so do . If you shall through grace do thus , this will be greatly for the honour of Jesus Christ , wherein you have a notable & pregnant ex●mple of blessed Paul , as having gone before you in this way of giving hono●r to the Lord Jesus . For sometimes you have him say that he esteemed not to know any thing save Jesus Christ and him Crucifyed , 1 Cor : 2. 2. Sometime you hear him say , God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of our Lo●d J●sus Christ , Ga● ▪ 6. 14. and sometime he tells you that the things that were gain unto him , those be accounted loss for Christ , ye● doub●less he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Chris● Jesus his Lord , for whom he suffered the loss of all things , and did count them but dung that he might winn Christ , & might be found in him , not having his own Righteousness which was of the Law , but that which is by the faith of Christ , even the Righteousness which is of God through fai●h , that he might know him , and so forth as is more largely expressed in that 3. of ●hil . verse 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. A worthy pattern , and worthy to be followed ; Yea & that which is followed by all them that are believers in truth , for unto all such this Lord Jesus is very precious , as 1 Pet : 2. 7. yea he is exalted and ex●olled , and is very high ; Isai . 52. 13. they count him white & ruddy , the cheifest amongst ten thousand , so that he is very excellent in their eyes from top to to● , his head , his eyes , his cheekes , his lips , his leggs & all have surpassi●g excellency in them in their esteem , and what ever he be to others , to them he is alltogether lovely ▪ C●nt : 5. 10 , 11. &c : Wherefore if you do not dearly love and highly prize the Lord Jesus Christ , never count your selves to be true believers or true Christians , for in truth you are then farr from it . Therefore be wise merchants , and fell all that you have to purchase this pe●rl : let the choisest of creature-comforts , the best of your own righteousness , and the sweetest of sinns , even the right eye and all , be low & little base & bitter , in your esteem , in comparison of Jesus Christ . Accept him gladly as your only Lord and Sav●ou● . Take his yoak● upon you , for it is easy and his burden light , and be not of them that say ( in heart at least ) we will not have this man to reigne over us , Luke 19. 14. but count it ( for so you well may ) not only your duty but your happiness to be under his blessed and gracious government ; you will find this to be a tho●sand times better , then to be left to your selves , to fulfill or follow your own wills . Consider how sweetly & lovingly he invites poor soules to come to him , professing that he will ●n no wise reject them that so do , but promising that he will entertain them & gave them rest , John 6. 37. Mat : 11. 28 29. Yea and how he layes the blame of me●s eternal death & pe●dition upon themselves , because they will not come unto him that they may have life , J●●n 5. 40. but he ●ould have gathered them , as an henn doth chickens under her wings , and they w●uld not Mat : 23. 37. Be afraid therefore least a promise of eternal life and rest being left you in Christ Jesus , any of you should seem to come short of it , H●● : 4. 1. That God should sea● his Christ into the world to save sinners , and sinners shoul● neglect to come to this Christ or to accept of him , as if they had no need of him , or could do well enough without him , this will doubtless be the damnation , the great & deep damnation of a world of men at the last day , J●hn 3. 19. Kindness and grace despised must needs prouoke & procure the heavier wrath . Men had better to have been Turks or other Infidels , and never have heard of the name of Jesus of Nazereth , the Son of God the Saviour of the world ; then living under the Gospel where they have heard of these things , yet to live and dy in their unbelief without union & communion with Christ , and in a continued neglect of him ; yea it had been good for such men if they had never been born Oh take heed and be afraid that it be not so with you or any of you ; and again I say take heed and be afraid of such a thing .

But when you are once come to Christ , as I hope many of you are , then let all your life be a life of faith , in the frequent actings and exercises thereof upon this Christ , that from him in whom all fulness dwells , you may receive continuall supplyes of grace , according to all your occasions & needs , while you are in the wilderness of this world , you can not do better then to be alwayes leaning upon your beloved . In your selves you are f●eble & weak ▪ yea you have need of much and continuall supplyes of grace , and Christ hath sufficient and abu●dant fulness for you . Make all your addresses unto God ( and you are not right if those addresses be not frequent & many , but let them all be made ) in this Christs Mediation and Name ; so you shall find acceptance with the Father , as this Christ hath promised J●hn 16. 23. but otherwise you may not look for any such matter .

And being redeemed to God by his blood , and reconciled by his death , you must now make account that you are not your own , but his ; and therefore you must no more live to your serves , but to him that dyed for you and rose ag●m , and heerunto the love of Christ should constra●n you , 1 Cor : 6. 20. 2 Cor : 5. 14 , 15. He hath deerly loved you , how can you be so unthankfull as not to love him again ? And if ●ou love hi● , you must ke●● his Commandements ▪ for himself gives this as a bad● and token of such as love him , J●hn 14. 21 , 23. Your love it s true is l●ttle worth , and can not be pr●fitable to him at all : But thi● must needs be ackowledged that he is well worthy of your love , were it never so good . And you shall be no loosers by loving him ; for he loves the● th●● love him , P●● 8. 17. and the Father loveth them also J●hn 14. 21. & 16 27. and both Father & Son will come to him that truely loveth Christ , and will man●fest them●elves to such a one , and make their abode with him , John 14. 21 , 23. Yea they that love him & keep his Commandements , shall continue in h●s love , even as he keepeth his Fathers Commandements and countinueth in his love . John 15. 10. His love moved him to lay down his l●fe , for you ▪ and your love to him should be such as to suffer any affiction , yea to lay down your lives for his sake , if he shall call you unto it . If you love any creature how dear or near so ever it may be , yea if you love your own lives better then him , he will never own you for his , nor account you his disci●le● ▪ Mat : 10. 37. Luke 14. 26. and how much less if you love any sin so dearly that you can not leave it for Christs sake , but still retain it and live in it ? Therefore see that you love him , and love him above all . Let your thoughts be much taken up in holy musings & meditations of him . Long for his presence in the commings in and gracious workings & fillings of his spirit . Let it be your greif , if at any time his face be hid from you . and count it a wearisome time till he shew himself again : with the loyal spouse of Christ it is so Cant : 3. & 5. and that heart is no better then the heart of an harlot , that hath not many thoughts of her husband when absent from her , but can bear his absence though it be never so long , without greif , with few and seldome thoughts of him , & small desires of his comming . He is now absent from you all in regard of his bodily presence ; but he hath promised his spiritual presence , which is as good if not much better , Mat 28. 20. John 16. 7. And besides his supporting , assisting , & sanctifying presence by that Spirit , there are ( especially to some soules and at some times ) such spirituall consolations afforded in sense of their injoyment of Christ , they are said to be filled with comfort , and to be exceeding joy full in all their tribulation , 2 Cor . 7. 4. to be filled with peace and joy in believing , Rom: 15. 13. to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg , & to be filled with all fulness of God , Ephe . 3. 19. Yea that Christ brings them into the banqueting house and his banner over them is love , that he stayes them as with flag●ns and comforts them with apples , they being sick of love , that his left hand is under their head , and his right hand doth embrace them , Cant : 2. 4 , 5 , 6. that in regard of the sweemes of his love he is unto them as a bundle of myrrh and doth ly all night between their breasts , Cant ▪ 1. 13. and many such things which that book of the SONG doth express . Therefore if you love him , these consolations of his Spirit must not be small with you , Job 15. 11. but you must highly prize them , earnestly desire them , and pray for them , and be diligent in the use of the word and Ordinances wherein they are wont to be dispensed and count it as the Apostle counts it , Rom 14. 17. a great part of the Kingdome of God to enioy these joyes of the Holy G●ost .

But I most tell you the truth , it is but a small pittance of the comforts of Christ in comparison , that in this world you can enjoy . No , no , Jesus Christ is not here , he hath left this world and is gone unto the Father , and here we can see him no more . His choisest saints can not see him in fullness , till the time come that they be removed hence , and then they shall see him , yea and ●e like unto him , for they shall set him as he is 1 Iohn 3. 2. and then shall all weakness and imperfection be done away , and perfection come in stead thereof , 1 Cor : 13. 10. Yea then shall be fulfilled the promise that he hath promised , that having prepared a place in heaven for his redeemed , he will come again & take them to himself , that where he is there they may be also John 14. 2 , 3. and then shall appear the full performance of tha● prayer of his , when he prayed unto the Father , that those whom he had given him ●ight be with him where he is to behold his glory which is given unto him by the Father John 17. 24 When this time shall come , then , my dearly beloved you may be happy in the full fruition of Christ ; but before that time it can not be . While you are at home in the body , you are absent from the Lord , 2 Cor . 5. 6. Therefore take not up your rest on this side Jordan : Count not your selves to have atta●ned what is to be attained , for you have yet no more but the first fruits , Rom 8. 23 the full harvest is yet to come . Oh long for the harvest , long for your departure , and for the appearing of Christ . You know who said , it was his d●sire to depart and to be with Christ , which was farr better , Phil . 1. 23. You know it is the description of all the godly , that they love the appearing of J●sus Christ , 2 Tim 4. 8. Yow know it is their prayer , when he said he would surely come quickly , Amen say the● , even so come Lord J●sus , R●● 22. 20. My hearts desire is , my dearly beloved , that you may be like minded that you may sincerely love the Lord Jesus , truely desiring the fullest enjoyment of him and of the Father through ●im , and heartily hating what ever is countrary thereto ; and that you may be prese●ved unto his ●●avenly Kingdom , having your hearts directed unto the love of God & to the patient wayting for Christ , and that you may be found of him in peace without s●ot and bla●e●ess , yea unblamable in holyness before God the Father at the com●●ng of our Lord J●sus Christ with all his saints .

For these ends I have writte● to you as here you see , and I think I have done it out of an unsei●ned desire of the good of your soule . Weaknesses I doubt not there are herein , as als● in every thing that comes from me . If what is here presented to you had been 〈…〉 ter I could well have be●eemed it you , yet such as it is I com●end it to your serious consideration and Gods blessing , and so leave it with you . Yet this I must desire that you would not give these things the reading only , and so dis●n●s● them w●th a bare approvall or disapprovall , but that what is according to God , you would seriously endeavour the practise thereof . As our Saviour said , if you know these things happy are you if you do the● J●● 13. 17. Even so say I to you . The directions are not many in number , but only seven , and so not hard to be remembred for the substance of them : and yet as I conceive , they are all of great importance , and not any of them that can be safely neglected . If you be destitute of godly sorrow & humiliation for sin , and true humility of mind , If you be not sound in the faith , but corrupt in your judgmen●s in the great things of Religion . If you lightly esteem the Ministry and Ordinances of Jesus Christ , If you neglect the religious ordering of your familyes and good of posterity , If you content your selves with the form of godliness without the power thereof , If you choose not God himself as your last end and cheif good , and Jesus Christ as the way & meanes for the enjoyment of God , If in all or any of these you shall be careless & culpable , and shall so cont●n●e without care or conscience of am●ndment , I tell you true it will be no less then the endangering of your precious soules to be utterly lost in everlasting woe ; and so m●ch the more because you have had this warning also , besides all that you have had formerly by one meane● or by another . But if the Lo●d shall help you to endeavour Obedience according to the will of God , as God in Christ shall be glorified thereby , So it will be greatly to your own comfort , and to mine also in the day of Jesus Christ ; In whom I rest ,

Your Loving ( though unworthy ) Teacher , whilest the chief Shepheard shall continue my Commission & work amongst you , RICHARD MATHER . ●●●chester this 10 of the second moneth 1658.