The Sure Way to Wealth Infallible, Tract

The Sure Way to Wealth Infallible · Tract

p. 1The ſure Way to Wealth. Infallible DIRECTIONS to get Riches enough, while Trades ſink, and Taxes riſe.

OUtcries of Poverty do fill the City and Country; If not in Truth, yet in common Fame, it comes on us like an armed Man, irreſiſtably. Mens Hearts fail them for Fear; it is every where ſaid, We ſhall all be Ʋndone. From the Court to the Mill, this is the Complaint; nor ever from my Childhood, have I heard it ſo vexatiouſly uttered as at this Day, or ſo univerſally.

p. 2For even they that fear God, ſeem but little more than others to truſt him. Believers on his Son for the Salvation of their Souls, do tormentingly fear what will become of their Bodies. Men that have his Spirit, are ſaying as the old Iſraelites did, Who ſhall give us Fleſh to eat? They that are ſatisfied with his Word for the Life to come, ſhow plainly that they cannot reſt thereon for the Life that now is.

So much Abſurdity cleaveth to our Wiſdom. We truſt for a Crown of Glory, and diſtruſt for a Crumb of Bread. As though holy Faith were the ſubſtance of Things hoped for in Heaven only, and not in the Way to it: The Evidence of Things therein not yet ſeen, and not of Things on our way thither. As though Godlineſs had not Promiſes of this Life; which is untrue. As though we duly truſted in the living God, while we diſtruſted him for our leaſt and loweſt Life; which is impoſſible.

p. 3In ſhort; good Clothes and good Eſtates, be ſuch as are neither ſo narrow as to pinch and ſtraiten us, nor ſo wide as to cumber us. Agur very well underſtood good Living. Defects and Exceſſes break its Rules with us. The word Riches ſignifieth two things: A ſufficiency for ones real Occaſions, and juſt Contentment therewith. Without theſe, Kings and Queens are very poor People; but with them we are as rich as they; We have as much Wealth, though leſs Gold. We have Enough; that is (at leaſt) as good as their Feaſt. And as many as walk by theſe Rules, ſhall not fail of this enough: Shall be rich, above the controul of Stars, Wars and Taxes.

Direction I. Truſt your Guardians. I ſuppoſe you to be true Chriſtians; and if ſo, the Father, Son and Spirit are your Guardians. They have promiſed to care for you, in Temporals as in Spirituals; have they not? 1 Pet. 5.7. The Lord who careth for you. And you have choſe God for your p. 4Guardian, have you not? 2 Cor. 8.5. They first gave their own ſelves to the Lord; themſelves, and all they had. God hath promiſed, He will never leave nor forſake you, Heb. 13.5. unleſs you forſake him. 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you while you are with him; if you ſeek him, he will be found of you; but if you forſake him, he will forſake you. He hath not promiſed to take care of your Souls, and left you to ſhift for your ſelves in things that concern your Bodies. It is Chriſt's word, Take you no thought for your Life. Say not you, What ſhall we eat, or what ſhall we drink, or wherewithal ſhall we be clothed? Matth. 5.25, 31. And it is Chriſt's Command, that you caſt all your Care upon him who cares for you: All your Care for your bodily Concernments. Wherefore depend upon his Care, and you ſhall have Succeſs, Support, and Maintenance. Your Cottage ſhall be a Court. But if you relie not on him, marvel not if your Court ſink to a Cottage; If your Abundance be brought to Nothing: For nothing p. 5is ſafe but what he keeps; there is no Enſuring-Office below Heaven. There indeed is one that deſerveth well the Name. By your own and your Friends careful thought, you cannot to your Stature add a Cubit; nor to your Subſtance a Groat. It is God that maketh Rich and Poor: As little as you think of it, you dare not deny it. The Income of Chriſtians, is according to their Behaviour towards their Guardians. Thou ſhalt never have an undoing Loſs, if thou doſt commit thy Way unto the Lord, Pſal. 37.5.

Direct. II. Go to School to the Ants. Learn Diligence with your Truſt. God doth not ſell his Bread to us for our Pains; nor doth he promiſe it to us in our Sloth. He gives Food, but requires Sweat; true Labour in our Calling.

It's by the diligent Hand that he makes poor Men rich, Prov. 10.4. to ſtand before Princes, Prov. 22.29. and to bear Rule, Prov. 12.24. And it is for Sloth, and by it, that the Rich are p. 6made Poor. Prov. 23.21. Drowzineſs ſhall clothe a Man with Rags. Prov. 20.4. The Sluggard ſhall beg in Harveſt, and have nothing. Prov. 12.24. The ſlothful ſhall be under Tribute, in a baſe underling Condition. 2 Theſſ. 3.10. This we commanded, (from the Lord) if any Man would not work, neither ſhould he eat. It ſeemeth God's Will, that we be laborious as Ants, or poor as Snakes. And it's certain, that Fire and Sword make not ſo many Beggars, as Sloth. Plant and water, God will give Increaſe. You ſhall be little troubled with Poverty, if you but keep from the little Sleep, the little Slumber, the little folding of the Hands to ſleep, Prov. 24.33.

Why ſhould Drones eat the Hony of Bees? or the Earth feed its unprofitable Burdens? It may not be expected; and where it's permitted, 'tis always accurſed.

Truly happy Kings be Day-labourers; and bleſſed Courts be very VVorkhouſes. Could Idleneſs invade Heaven, it would make a Famine there. Cherubims p. 7and Seraphims have Wings and Feet, and do uſe them. Angels Food is not the Bread of Idleneſs; they eat no ſuch Poyſon.

Direct. III. Lean upon no Reeds. Earthly Gods be but mortal Men; it's a wonder they ſhould be truſted in by any rational Ones. But generally they are ſo; nor doth any thing more hinder uſe of our Diligence, and truſt to Divine Providence, than truſt in Man. Great Expectations from Parents, and rich Friends, are ſuch a Snare; and thereby the Means of infamous Poverty unto many. Few think ſo; but unerring Wiſdom tells us, Men of high Degree are a Lie, Pſal. 62.9. And unſpotted Juſtice paſſeth this Sentence, Curſed be the Man that truſteth in Man, and maketh Fleſh his Arm, and whoſe Heart departeth from the Lord, Jer. 17.5. Papiſts rely on Angels and Saints above; but they, and Proteſtants alſo, lean too hard on Men below. Beware hereof, and know this; Truſt in the Rich makes many Poor; p. 8but he ſhall be well provided for, who hearkneth to the Prophet, Iſa. 2.22. Ceaſe ye from Man whoſe Breath is in his Noſtrils; For wherein is he to be accounted of? If Creatures muſt be Acceſſories, I pray let God ſtill be Principal.

A great Man uſed to ſay, That his Memory never deceived him; for this very good Reaſon, becauſe he never truſted it. Do by all Creatures, as he did by his Memory; uſe them, but not truſt them, and they ſhall ſerve you and not deceive you. This is the Way, walk in it.

Direct. IV. Serve but one Maſter. You have but one Soul, and that cannot ſerve God and Mammon. It may be a Slave to the Devil's Luſts, and a Subject of God's VVrath; but it cannot be a Servant to ſo contrary Maſters, Mat. 2.24. Of God it is written, Him only ſhalt thou ſerve, Matth. 4.10. And that he, and none beſide him, is God, and the Rewarder of them that ſeek him, Heb. 11.6.

p. 9But the very firſt Commandment, is of all the moſt broken one; who can ſay, I have no other God beſide him? My Eſtate, my Name, my Child, my Pleaſure, is no God of mine. Moſt of thoſe that have the true God in their Mouths, have theſe ſtrange Gods in their Hearts: And therefore are their Sorrows multiplied, becauſe they haſten after other Gods, Pſalm 16.4. Therefore it is, that they want any good thing, becauſe they have more Gods than one, Pſal. 34.9. And what wonder if they be abaſed by the true God, that ſet up falſe Ones? Let the true God have all your Hearts; and let the Shame be mine if he doth not ſupply all your Wants. Phil. 4.19. My God ſhall ſupply all your Need, according to his Riches in Glory by Chriſt Jeſus.

He is a true Maſter; and he has promiſed, that if we ſeek firſt his Kingdom and its Righteouſneſs, we ſhall not have that only, but a good Subſtance with it, Mat. 6.33. All theſe things ſhall be added.

p. 10He is a wiſe Maſter alſo; too wiſe to ſend Servants in his Meſſage, and cut off their Feet: I ſay their Feet, for this World's Bleſſings be as requiſite to his Worſhip, as our Feet be to our Walk. And he knows it well enough, Mat. 6.32. Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of theſe things. He knows that if he will employ us, he muſt maintain us on this Earth; we cannot live by the Air.

He is a good Maſter too; He delighteth in Mercy. But there were ſmall ſign of it, if he fed Ravens and Lions, and ſtarved thoſe that loved him above their Lives; eſpecially, being that he hath in his Houſe Bread enough and to ſpare, Luke 15.17. Known and wilful Sins, (that is, Averſions from God, and Converſions unto Creatures) will bring the Moth and the Lion. Sometimes a Moth that eats out an Eſtate ſlowly, and ſilently, no body knows how. Sometimes a Lion, that makes open and quick work with it, Hoſea 5.12, 14. Hear O ye Rich, hear it O ye Poor; partial Religion p. 11brings this ſad Moth and Lion. Moſt Men have ſome Religion, but few have All.

Naaman was a Captain, and was a Favourite, and was much more; but he was a Leper. One and another of you is a juſt Man, a charitable, a Sermon-hearer, and a great deal more; but he is a neglecter of the Lord's Supper: Never renewed his holy baptiſmal Covenant at God's Table. It may be he underſtands it not; at leaſt he has his But, and his Leproſy; he acts not ſome Grace, he indulges ſome Luſt. Some Duty he doth not perform, ſome Ordinance he doth not attend. Hence, hence comes the Wrath of God, who hates to be ſerv'd by halves. Follow the Lord fully, and verily thou ſhalt be fed, Pſal. 37.3.

Direct. V. Wear your Maſter's Livery. Humility is the ſupream King's Livery. And his Servants are ſhamefully naked, when they are any otherwiſe clothed. St. Peter's words which we read, Be ye clothed with Humility, p. 12are thought fit to be thus read; Be ye clothed with Humility, as your Badg and Livery. [Humilitatem induite ut foreign, quale viles ſervi geſtarent, Heinſius in 1 Pet. 5.5.] You may not therefore look to be fed with God's Bread, if you caſt off his Badg. Alas, that it ſhould be ſo grown out of faſhion in our Days. But wot ye, there is no Garment of richer Praiſe. Our Bleſſed Saviour never put it off; and he commanded us to learn from him the perpetual Uſe of it, Matth. 11.28. He knew and taught the gratefulneſs of it unto God. Its being, as is ſaid of the Violet, of ſweeteſt Scent, though of loweſt Place. For your Lives then, keep on this Livery; and, hold this Violet in your Boſoms. A Flower, without which the higheſt Angels would ſtink in God's Noſtrils. And, with it, the worſt Sinner hath a way into his Favour.

In God is no Pride at all; He doth not think himſelf, nor deſires he to be thought better than he is. Unto his Soul, Pride is the moſt abominable Sin p. 13of all; He reſiſts, ſtands in Battel-array againſt it, James 4.6. It's an Abomination to him, Prov. 16.5. What brings Men low? It's Pride, Prov. 29.23. What brings Shame? It's Pride, Prov. 11.2. What deſtroyeth Families? It's Pride, Prov. 15.25. The Houſe of the Proud ſhall be deſtroyed. It brought Ʋzzias the Leproſy, 2 Chron. 26.27. It coſt David the Lives of ſeventy thouſand Men, 1 Chron. 21.14. It brought Wrath upon Hezekiah, and all Judah and Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 32.25. [Tremble old England, whoſe Pride taketh Bleſſings with Diſdain and Scorn, and Croſſes with Wrath and Rage. Thy Pride looks like the Harbinger of thy Death!] Pride gave the Apoſtle Paul, a Meſſenger of Satan, 2 Cor. 12.7. Wonder not that any break and burſt, when they ſwell of Pride's Tinpany. Marvel not that high Hills be barren, and high-minded Men be begging. Think not ſtrange to ſee Lice eat up Herods; and Gnats and Flies plague Pharaohs. But know this; the Meek ſhall inherit p. 14Earth, and Heaven too, Matth. 5.5. Valleys ſhall laugh with richeſt Fatneſs, and honourable Eſtate ſhall be to the Humble, Prov. 15.33.

If Humility put your Mouth in the Duſt, neither God's Wrath or Man's ſhall put your Honour in the Duſt. Humble your Minds to God's Soveraignty, and your Wills to his Precepts and Providences; and then aſſure you of his rich Promiſes. He will exalt you, 1 Pet. 1.6. He will beautify you, Pſal. 149.4. He will make your Soul dwell at eaſe, and your Seed inherit the Earth, Pſal. 25.

Of Humility I will ſay, As poor as it looks, it makes many Rich. Though it ſeems to have Nothing, yet it poſſeſſeth all Things. And he was not beſides himſelf, who ſaid, That he would rather be an humble Devil, than a proud Angel. The Depth of Humility, is better than the Height of Pride. Say then to Pride, as Naboth to Ahab; God forbid it, that I ſhould give away the Inheritance of my Fathers unto thee.

p. 15Direct. VI. Hold your Heart at your right Hand. Your Heart's Buſineſs is to Contrive and Conſult; your Hands is to Work and Execute; your Intereſt requires, that theſe two be never aſunder. They are Fools, and it's odds but they are Beggars too, that contrive without executing, or raſhly act, without firſt deliberating, Eccleſ. 10.2. God's Bleſſing you may not expect upon your Affairs, if you follow not his Counſel in ordering of them. His Counſel is, that you order them with this Diſcretion; Pſal. 112.5. A good Man will guide his Affairs with Diſcretion. Clothe his Family, Furniſh his Houſe, Buy, Sell, Give, Refuſe to give with Diſcretion. With all his own, and oft-times borrowed Diſcretion; taken from the Counſel and Example of Men more Diſcreet. He that hearkneth to Counſel, is wiſe, Prov. 12.15.

It is oft ſaid by decayed Men, This and that unadviſed Act undid me; had p. 16I taken my Friends Advice, I had not become a Charge to my Friends. He is ſurely no wiſe or good Man, that asks not Counſel from God in his ſecular Buſineſs; and having ask'd it, doth not look after it: Expecting to have it given him in the ordinary Ways of his wiſe Providence. Theſe are Meditation and Conſultation with ſuch as are Godly Wiſe. The neglect whereof is therefore ſtark Profaneneſs; and, as a direct working Cauſe, a highly deſerving Cauſe, of deep Poverty. Nor need they to wonder at their ignominiouſly low Condition, who hereby ſin themſelves into it: Foraſmuch as they do (among other Evils) bring the Religion they profeſs into greateſt Diſgrace. Cauſing more than a few to conceit and exclaim, that Religion maketh Men ſimple and ſelf-undoing Idiots in this World.

Walk wiſely then, and you are ſafe; you have Royal Security; Prov. 24.3, 4. Through Wiſdom is an Houſe built, by Ʋnderſtanding it is eſtabliſhed. By p. 17Knowledg ſhall the Chambers be filled with all precious and pleaſant Riches. The Riches, which are not always to Men of Underſtanding, are ſuch as can be very well ſpared by Men of Underſtanding; that is, for the time that they are without them, and upon the occaſions.

Even David was once fain to ask Supplies from Nabal; and our bleſſed Saviour had not where to lay his Head. But ordinarily Wiſdom enricheth; and when for a ſhort ſeaſon it receiveth, it rejoiceth in Tribulations. As well it may; for, its Poverty is glorious. No Martyr is a Beggar. There is a very reigning with Chriſt, in ſuffering for him.

Direct. VII. Watch againſt your five Enemies: Such are your five Senſes. See to it, and keep thoſe Bears in Chains. They are as wild Creatures; and if not warily and ſtrongly kept in ſubjection, will tear and deſtroy your Temporal, with your Spiritual Intereſts.

He was a Monſter, that in this London ſpent his whole Patrimony (of many p. 18thouſands of Pounds, as I hear) in one Treat of his five Senſes: But he was a Brother of yours, by Father and Mother's Side. And your Blood hath the like Brimſtone in it; beware that it take not fire. If your Luſts kindle, your Subſtance is quickly in Aſhes: For Wool will not be ſoft enough then for your Backs; nor any but the moſt ſumptuous Silks. No Diſhes will reliſh, except Dainties; no Table pleaſe, unleſs it be ſpread with Snares; nothing but what's above your Eſtate, will pleaſe your Palat. Neceſſaries will be loath'd without Superfluities. One Luſt ſhall ſtand you in more by the Year, than all Nature. More will be ſpent extravagantly in a Day, than neceſſarily in a Week. So chargeable things are ſenſual Delights: Its bewitching Epilepſies require ſo much to maintain them.

Alas, our Bodies are ſinful, as truly as our Souls, and need Sanctification, 1 Theſſ. 5.23. They are rebellious againſt God and our Souls; their Senſes ſway more powerfully, than the unrenewed Soul's Reaſon doth. p. 19And regenerated Men have enough to do to controul and keep them down, 1 Cor. 9.27. If they prevail and act us, we ceaſe to be Chriſtians, yea Men; we are as Beaſts that periſh, Pſal. 50. ult. They ceaſe not to war in us for that prevalency; they are reſtleſs Tempters and Seducers within us, as Devils are without us. The Eye, the Ear, and the reſt of them crave for what Grace and Reaſon forbid. And, O how commonly are immortal Souls damned to gratify thoſe periſhing Brutes? How alſo are Names and Eſtates devoured, that theſe Senſes may be humoured? Damned Angels are leſs Deſtroyers? and without theſe, could not be ſo eaſily deſtroyers of us. Prov. 21.17. He that loveth Pleaſure, ſhall be a poor Man; he that loveth Wine and Oil, ſhall not be rich. That is, he that loveth them for more than their proper Uſe; for Luſt, as moſt do. Adam and Noah (our two great Parents) fell by Eating and Drinking; millions of their Children are undone thereby.

The Senſes were given to maintain natural Life; but Sin makes them deſtroy p. 20rational Life, and Natural too, full often.

Would you ſee good Days, and many? This you muſt do, Day by Day: Let religious Reaſon rule you; and ſo, that your Eye ſhall not ſee, nor your Ear hear, nor your Mouth taſte, nor your Finger touch, what Conſcience doth not warrant. No, though, as oft-times they will be, they be very troubleſome, and importunate for their unwarrantable Objects. Though you be put to vex and crucify your Fleſh in this Combate, as you muſt do, Gal. 5.24. This is what the Apoſtle ſpeaks in thoſe emphatical Phraſes, 1 Cor. 9.27. I keep under my Body, and bring it into ſubjection. Such a mortified Body will not be forſaken, nor its Seed beg Bread. But of thoſe that are pampered, multitudes come to be famiſhed; Epicures do ſo eat up themſelves, as well as their Friends. As commonly do we ſee thoſe unclean Fowls go barefoot, as other Geeſe; and almoſt as unpitiedly. Yet, miſtake me not; all ſenſual Pleaſure is not ſinful. Some doth whet, and not let, Body and Mind p. 21for their Services. And ſo much is lawful, needful, and laudable.

It is Sin and Folly to prefer Money above the Body, as to prefer the Body above the Soul; and very oft this Folly is conjunct. It's ſeldom any value their Fleſh more than their Spirit, but they take far greater care to preſerve their Eſtates than their Lives. Many are the Miſers, that die to ſave Charges.

Solomon, when he was returned to God, commanded eating with joy, and drinking with mirth, Eccleſ. 9.7. Enoch, while he walked with God, begat Sons and Daughters, Gen. 5.22. Sordid withholding and ſtingy, tends unto Poverty, Prov. 11.24. They that pinch their Families Bellies, to cram and ſwell their Bags, do not ſo certainly die rich, as they live poor; but do together ſin againſt Body and Eſtate. It is not the Holy Spirit that leads any Man to hate his own Fleſh; though it is moſt certain, Whoſoever indulgeth the Luxury and Lechery of the Fleſh, he is a Stranger and an Enemy unto that Heavenly Spirit. Temperance ſtands between Scylla and Charybdis; it's equally p. 22diſtant from Luxury and Penury. Hold that golden Mean, and ſhun both of theſe Rocks, you need not fear Shipwrack. Never waſte a Penny, you ſhall never want a Shilling; ſaid Dr. Harris to his Children. It is becauſe Epicures and Miſers do ſwarm among us, that the Poor we have always with us; otherwiſe Beggars would be as rare in England, as Frogs and Spiders in Ireland.

Direct. VIII. Lay not violent Hands on your ſelves. The Murder of many Mens Eſtates, is by their own wicked Hands and Seals. They do run into Danger, in hopes of coming out with Safety. Without juſt forelooking, they leap into perilous Projects and mortal Suretiſhips. But take you this Divine Counſel; Do not ever hang your ſelves, in hope the Cord will break. Do not forget, or ſlight God's Word ſo much; his Word put into the Bible, to give Wiſdom to the Simple. Prov. 6.1. If thou be Surety for thy Friend, thou art ſnared, thou art taken with the Words of thy Mouth. Prov. 11.15. He that hateth Suretiſhip, is ſure. Prov. 20.16. p. 23Take his Garment that is Surety for a Stranger: that is, Truſt not ſuch a Fool without a Pawn; no, take the Coat from his Back. It is true, Suretiſhip is in ſome Caſes lawful and neceſſary; Gen. 42.37. Gen. 43.9. Philem. v. 18, 19. But always unlawful it is, to oblige you to pay for another more than you have right to diſpoſe of, and a ſincere Will and Purpoſe to pay for him, if need require.

It is, I ſuppoſe, wiſdom alway to give unto needy Men as much as we can ſpare; and not bind us at any time to pay for them any more. The Divine Wiſdom brandeth ordinary Sureties for Fools; Prov. 17.18. A Man void of Ʋnderſtanding, ſtriketh Hands, and becometh Surety in the preſence of his Friend. Wiſe Men may fall into Evils of Affliction ſeven times, and riſe up again.

The Royal Preacher (in that much miſtaken Text) ſaith that they do ſo, Prov. 24.16. But Nabal is his Name, and Folly is with him, that leaps into ruinous Troubles. Notorious is the Reaſon of our common Saying, That p. 24the greateſt Leapers break moſt Bones: And the moſt exquiſite Dancers on the Rope, die by the Rope. Providence is no ſafeguard to Deſperateneſs: The Ruines of many Rich Families be ſad Witneſſes.

I do compaſſionately warn you and yours; adding but this memorable word, Moſt commonly they be Judaſſes that do hang themſelves; I mean, covetous as that Son of Perdition, and treacherous as he was. Where Kindneſs makes one Surety, Avarice and greedy expectation of Gain makes twenty. And we ſee that it's ſcarce one of twenty, who betrays not the Creditor, the Debtor, or himſelf. Wherefore if you will be Sureties, take good Advice firſt; remembring, that Judas who was his own Judg, was his own Executioner alſo.

Direct. IX. Load your Parents ſoundly. So is the Hebrew Text in the fifth Commandment; load them with Honour: Give them Meaſures of Reverence, Love, Gratitude and Obedience, preſſed down and running over. It is p. 25a Commandment of expreſs Promiſe; and that Promiſe of greateſt temporal Good. It is the firſt Commandment of the ſecond Table; next and immediately to his own Honour, God ſtands for the Honour of Parents. His Zeal for it, appears in Threats for Sin againſt it. Prov. 20.20. Whoſo curſeth his Father or Mother, his Lamp ſhall be put out in obſcure Darkneſs; that is, he ſhall live in Miſery, and die with Diſgrace. The Eye that mocketh at his Father, and deſpiſeth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the Valley ſhall pick it out, and the young Eagles ſhall eat it, Prov. 30.17. that is, he that ſcorns and derides Parents, tho it be but with a Look and Geſture, and without one Word uttered, he ſhall die untimely and ignominiouſly; and after Death be denied a Burial, lying expoſed to Birds of Prey.

Have you been guilty of Diſobedience? Be as eminent for your Repentance. Have you been Dutiful to your Parents? continue to be ſo to your laſt Breath. Fathers be Kings, and Mothers p. 26be Queens unto you their Children. Next and immediately under God, Chriſt and Conſcience, they be your ſupream Moderators and Governours. Sweeten you their Lives, and God will ſweeten yours. Honour you them, God will honour you. Scripture and Providence ſay of this Duty, Length of Days is in its right Hand, and in its left Hand are Riches and Honour, Prov. 3.16.

Direct. X. Marry to none but Heirs of the Crown; Heirs of the Crown incorruptible. Poor Matches be the notorious Seminary of Beggars. The King of Heaven is not Childleſs in England; and he provides, as becometh a King, for his Children. All be Heirs of God, Rom. 8.17. and Heirs of the Kingdom, James 2.5. All of them he bleſſeth; and his Bleſſing maketh rich, and addeth no Sorrow with it, Prov. 10.22. A rare Portion, is it not? A godly Man is the Son of the King of Kings; a godly Woman is his Daughter. The ungodly of both Sexes p. 27be the Devil's Children, and outlawed Rebels. The Wrath of God abideth on them, John 3.36. God's Curſe is on their very Bleſſings, Malach. 2.2. Will ye marry Rebels? then bear you Hunger, and wear Rags. They deſerve to be ſtung, that chuſe a Serpent for their Boſom. And they cannot look for God's Bleſſing, who prefer ſuch Vermine before his Children: liking better to have Satan, than to have his divine Majeſty for their Father-in-Law. Would you ſecure an Eſtate? do not burn, nor marry a Child of his who hath no Eſtate, but the Lake of Fire. Luſt conſumeth many ſingle Perſons; and ill Yoke-fellows ſtarve many married Ones. But while the Earth is the Lord's, and the Fulneſs of it, you need not to fear Famine, if you marry into his Royal Family: If you take a Child of his; and that for his Glory, 1 Cor. 10.31. and by his Will, expreſſed in the Rule of his Word, Gal. 6.16. which is that which the Apoſtle nameth marrying in the Lord, 1 Cor. 7.39.

p. 28This I judg they do not, who take ſuch a Husband or Wife, as a good Miniſter ſhould not dare to take unto the Lord's Supper. And my Advice is, that you hold this Rule; refuſing Marriage-Covenant with thoſe that renew not their Baptiſmal-Covenant.

Direct. XI. Make Battlements for the Roof of your Houſe. That is, make ſuch Proviſions againſt Sin in your Families, as ſhall make it hard for any to be wicked therein. Make, and keep good Rules of Government. So that none ſhall fall headlong into deſtructive Courſes, for want of the Fence thereof. Nor periſh, unleſs they will wilfully leap into Perdition, notwithſtanding all your Means of their Salvation. See the Law, Deut. 22.8. When thou buildeſt a new Houſe, then thou ſhalt make a Battlement for thy Roof, that thou bring not Blood upon thine Houſe, if any Man fall from thence.

Bleſſed are the Houſe-keepers, that do their beſt to make all their Houſe p. 29bleſſed. But how few of theſe are to be found? Hence, more than from our War with France, cometh Poverty. Prov. 3.33. The Curſe of the Lord is in the Houſe of the Wicked; but he bleſſeth the Habitation of the Juſt. Wicked you are, and not Juſt, if God gives you a Houſe, and you rule not for God therein, but againſt God. Not to rule for him, is to rebel againſt him; and then, what wonder if he eject you? But do you Rule for God, that make not all your Family hear his Word, as daily as eat his Bread? as daily pray together, as work or eat together? And to diſcern by your Words and Behaviour, that they cannot offend God, without offending you; or any way ſo much pleaſe you, as by care to pleaſe God. Yea, to find that there is no abiding in any known Sin in your Families, without Reproof to them, and Reformation by them. Pſal. 101.7. He that worketh Deceit, ſhall not dwell in my Houſe. O that theſe words were written on Houſe-keepers Hearts; Abraham's Family-government p. 30will bring all Family-bleſſings, Gen. 18.19. The Houſe of the Righteous ſhall ſtand, Prov. 12.7. The Tabernacle of the Ʋpright ſhall flouriſh. When Family-Piety revives, the Evil ſhall bow before the Good, and the Wicked at the Gates of the Righteous, Prov. 14.11, 19.

Direct. XII. Take ſpecial care of the King's Children. The King of Heaven calleth yours, his own. God hath given me a Child, ſaith every Parent. But God ſo giveth them to every Parent, as that he himſelf remaineth ſtill the Proprietor. He gives them unto you, but only to educate for him. Your Children are ſtill his Children; and ſo he expreſly calls them, My Children, Ezek. 16.21. whom thou haſt born unto me, verſ. 20. You are but Nurſes choſen by the grand Parent; the Father of Spirits, Heb. 12.9. and the Faſhioner of Bodies, Pſal. 139.16. His they are, and he it is that ſaith of every Babe unto you, as Pharaoh's Daughter ſaid of Infant-Moſes unto the Hebrew p. 31Woman, Take thou this Child and nurſe it for me, and I will pay thee thy Wages.

This Father of the Children you call yours, is a great King, and as kind a Father. God is a mighty lover of Children. You may compare Snow and Fire, as well as your Love and his, unto Children. Expect no other, his Wrath, the fierceneſs of his Wrath, cometh on ſuch as neglect theſe Objects of his Love. A Neglect, that is, of Sins ſinfulleſt; the Sin, that next to Original Sin, doth moſt to the corrupting of the World, and the filling of Hell. And a Sin, whereto Poverty and all Judgments are extreamly owing.

Children be choice Gifts of God, rich Rewards of his Grace, Pſal. 127.3, 5. Write this Man Childleſs, is in effect, write him Comfortleſs. Indeed, Africa is not the only Country of Monſters; ours beareth many, that wiſh to be Childleſs to ſave Charges. Egregious Wiſdom, to wiſh one may have no Lands, for fear of the Coſt of p. 32Tillage. Well-cultivated Children enrich their Fathers, as well-tilled Lands enrich their Owners. Truly good Breeding is the Parent's Bleſſing as well as the Child's. From Children, as from Land, we do ordinarily, and we may expect alway, to Reap as we Sow. A rich People we ſhould ſoon be, if generally the Culture of our Minds, were as well followed as that of our Grounds. Were they as painfully Plowed, Sown, Fenced, Watered, Weeded; the ill-natured Phraſe of a Charge of Children, would be diſmiſſed; we ſhould take to ſay, a Stock of Children, and count it a moſt valuable One. Wherefore let paſt Neglects be throughly repented, and utmoſt Diligence be henceforth uſed. Let not vain Mens Hawks, Race-Horſes, and Setting-Dogs, have more Care and Coſt beſtow'd on them, than their Childrens Souls. Let not any lay out more Time and Pains to teach their Children a Game of Folly, or a Trade for a Penny, than you lay out on yours to teach them their Baptiſmal Covenant, p. 33and the glorious Art of living unto God.

Train the King's Children in the King's Way, Prov. 22.6. Bring them up therein, Epheſ. 6.4. Let Heaven ring of your Prayers for them; (O that Iſhmael might live!) Provoke not, chide not the King's Children without Cauſe, or above it, Epheſ. 6. Provide for them, and give them all that you are able, without countenancing them in Evil, or making them a Way to it, 1 Tim. 5.8. Lay up for them, as well as lay out upon them, though you be put to deny your ſelves uſeleſs Ornaments and unneceſſary Pleaſures to compaſs it, 2 Cor. 12.14. Diſpoſe of them in Marriage wiſely, and tempt them not to Folly, 1 Cor. 7.38. Let it be ſeen, you are as much afraid of their Poverty, as of your own; and more afraid of their want of Grace, than of their want of Money. This do, and ſee if the great lover of Children do ever ſtarve their Nurſes. No, he will not; but, He will feed them with the fineſt of the Wheat; with Honey out p. 34of the Rock will he ſatisfy them, Pſal. 81.16.

Direct. XIII. Let not Arſenick be your Salt. So it is when an ill Man is choſen for your Companion. You are ſociable Creatures; Company you muſt and will have. Unto the Company of your Love and Choice, you are very Bondmen. Inviſible Chains of theirs, hold you even unawares. It's your Life to have them good; you are dead Men, if they be evil Ones. Good ones our Saviour nameth Salt, that ſeaſons you, Matth. 5.13. Ill ones are as very Arſenick to poiſon you. Of your Company, much is at your Choice; and there are but theſe two ſorts for you to chuſe.

That the latter doth poiſon and undo you, is ſure; A Companion of Fools ſhall be deſtroy'd. That the former doth ſeaſon and better you, is as plain; He that walks with wiſe Men, ſhall be wiſe, Prov. 13.20. Yet how few are ſo nice of their Company, as they be of their Food or Sauce? Unadviſed, how p. 35much depends on it, for temporal Good and Spiritual? Though it be rare for any at the Gallows, and on the Dunghil, not to exclaim againſt ill Company for bringing them thither; robbing them of their Time, their Ʋnderſtandings, their Hearts, their Names, and their Money, altogether.

There is no fear of Want, where theſe Texts are obſerved; Prov. 14.7. Go from the preſence of a fooliſh Man, when thou perceiveſt not in him the Lips of Ʋnderſtanding; q. d. endure not his poiſonous Breath. Pſal. 119.63. I am a Companion of all them that fear God, and keep his Precepts; q. d. others be my Eye-ſores, theſe be the delight of my Eyes.

Religious Friends ſtick as cloſe as Brothers, and are as full of good Offices to us. Their Prayers will be of unknown Worth, ſo will be their Counſels; and if we ſhall deſerve them, their Commendations of us, to Perſons that will be moſt helpful to us. What we are moſt likely to deſerve and to need, their Reproofs will be of p. 36excellent uſe, to bring us to Repentance, and from thence to Innocence, and beyond it too. Whereunto their holy Example conduceth more than a little. For this Cauſe, ſaid David, They that fear thee, will be glad when they ſee me, Pſal. 119.74.

In a word, a Man is always burnt with the Fire, or blacked with the Smoak of bad Company: And always he is refined, or at leaſt refreſhed with Company that is good. Reputation and Safety, Comfort and Profit, are got in good Company, and loſt in Evil.

Direct. XIV. Kindle huge Fires on your Enemies Heads. Be they hardned in their Enmity, made hard as Iron? Fear them not. Coals of Fire heaped on it, melts down Iron: And true Kindneſs, giving and forgiving from the Heart, will work as much on cruel Hearts. There is a Charity, as well as a Faith, of Miracles: It is your Fault if its Miracles ceaſe. Feed your Hungry, give Drink to your thirſty Enemy, p. 37my, clothe your naked One; you ſhall ſee ſtrange Effects, Rom. 12.20. We have known many undone by exaſperating their Enemies, and by being overcome of their Evil; by flaſhing Wild-fire in their Faces. But never heard we of a Man that proved not his own Friend, by kindneſs to his Foe. Sacred Fire, as Love's is, is always profitable.

Monſters there be, whoſe Evil cannot be overcome of its Good; but then doth the overflowing Grace of God otherwiſe reward it. He ſhall never be a miſerable poor Man, who giveth no place to Wrath, and leaveth all Vengeance unto God, Rom. 12.19.

Direct. XV. Truſt not your Door without a Watch. There is a Door of yours, out of which come Legions of Evils to you. A Door that needs Watch and Ward, as much as the Gate of any beſieged City. A Door to which David ſought to Heaven for a Watch; Pſal. 141.3. Set a Watch before my Mouth, O Lord; keep the Door of my p. 38Lips. And well he might, for we are told, Prov. 13.3. He that openeth wide his Lips, ſhall have Deſtruction. The Tongue is a Fire, a World of Iniquity; it defiles the whole Body, ſets on fire the Courſe of Nature, is ſet on fire of Hell, Jam. 3.6.

St. Paul is large in the Account of the Sins of Speech, Rom. 3. But who can name all? or count the Evils done by unwary Words? All Places are full of Inſtances of their impoveriſhing Efficacy. Who knows not ſuch as had not wanted Bread for their Mouths, had they not wanted a Bridle to their Tongues? Or, would they have timely believed, what they after felt; Better a Head without a Tongue, than a Tongue without Government. An Eſtate is a ſmall thing; a whole Kingdom hath been loſt by a raſh Word.

Attend me, O you that are Poor; Immortal John Fox profeſſed, he did forget Lords and Ladies to remember ſuch as you. This Diſcourſe ſpeaks my Care of you; and this that follows flows from my Kindneſs unto you. It's your great Miſtake, that you have p. 39nothing but your Fingers ends to live by: Nothing therefore to be careful of but them. Alas, your Welfare, and the contrary, cometh as much from your Tongues Ends. And the Divine Wiſdom counſelleth you to take as much care of them. Subject then your Lips to God's Laws. Take heed to your Words as well as your Works. See that your Tongues drop nothing but Honey; ſuch is all that is of Honour to God, of Uſe to Men, of Benefit to your ſelf. All that truly edifies, or innocently recreates. The Pſalmiſt's Rule is as good as Free Land; What Man is he that deſireth Life, and loveth many Days that he may ſee Good? Keep thy Tongue from Evil, and thy Lips from ſpeaking Guile, Pſal. 34.13. Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue; our Safety depends on the uſe of it, Prov. 18.21.

If any Rich and Noble beſtow their Eye on theſe Pages, I advance this Doctrine to their conſideration; God preſcribes one and the ſame way for all Men to Proſperity. Dukes and very Kings, p. 40as well as Stockarders and Plowmen, muſt keep their Tongues from Evil, if they expect to have their Eſtates good. Crowned Heads have not the Promiſe of good Days, without good Tongues in them. Palaces are no ſuch privileged Places, that Men may ſpeak what they pleaſe in them. By their Words God judgeth, and bleſſeth or curſeth Princes and Peaſants.

Direct. XVI. Ʋnite Courteſy and Truth. Godlineſs is not clowniſh; Divine Graces are no Enemies to good Manners. It is an Apoſtolical and Divine Precept, Be ye courteous, 1 Pet. 3.8. Be of a pleaſant, winning Converſation, [foreign, i. e. foreign] loving and affecting to pleaſe as far as innocently we may, in Words, Looks, Geſtures, Habits. Inconformity to ſinleſs Cuſtoms herein, cometh of Evil, and worketh Evil. It's an unreaſonable ruggedneſs of Behaviour, and contracts miſchievous Cenſure, Diſaffection, and Blame. Few eſteem a moroſe Man as other than a Hedghog; p. 41and his needleſs ungrateful Singularities, as other than Briſtles turned to his Neighbours. It is very oft that a gracious Man faulty herein, is ſecluded, and one of no ſerious Religion is taken into a gainful Employment. None wondring, that the beſt of an ill Man, ſhould be preferred before the worſt of a good One: Though lamenting that a good Man ſhould be the Martyr of his adhering Diſtemper.

But how dear is Truth to God and Men? What is Fallacious, is odiouſly Courteous. Religious Courtſhip is without Diſſimulation; it is a Complaiſance with Love, and with the Love of Love. The Truth of both in the inward Parts; Simplicity and Sincerity. 1 John 3.18. Let us not love in Word, neither in Tongue, but in Deed and in Truth: q. d. Let not our Love have only Lips, and no Hands. Words without Works are heartleſs. Let us abhor real Unkindneſs as much as Verbal; and of the two, let us more fear to do an ill thing, than to p. 42ſpeak an unkind Word. Let our Veracity and Integrity be as conſpicuous, as the World's Falſity is notorious. It is ſure that Love univerſally exerciſed, and apparently unfeigned, highly pleaſeth God, and mightily takes with Man. Nor will you in haſte be forſaken of either, if you provoke them neither by Churliſhneſs nor Falſeneſs. You can come into no Want, till you are forſaken: And how ſhould you be forſaken by any other Means? Wherefore expreſs all the Love ye ought, and bear in Heart all the Love you expreſs; then ſhall you not be aſhamed in the evil Day; and in Days of Famine you ſhall be ſatisfied, Pſal. 37.19.

Direct. XVII. Be at Court one whole Day in a Week: At the King Eternal's Court, I mean. Six Days of the Week we have ſomewhat to do beſide: But one Day, the firſt, we have nothing to do beſide; we are called to the Court of the Great King; therein to reſt and feaſt our Souls all the Day long: Seeing the King of Glory's Face; p. 43hearing his Voice; eating of his holy Bread, and drinking of his holy VVine: Remembring his redeeming Love more than VVine; making a joyful Noiſe to him with Pſalms, and Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs; taking the Day in his Courts, for better than a thouſand in Shops: calling it our Delight. But let it not be asked, VVill a Man rob God? Where is the Man that robbeth him not of his Day? The Day, which is the Lord's, electively, as his choſen Lot; and his, ſubjectively, as that whereon his Affairs are to be tranſacted.

Who makes Conſcience of Sacrilege? of taking God's Time, and giving it to the Fleſh, to Sleep, to their own Ways, to their own Words, to their own Pleaſures? Whoſe Heart ſmites him for cutting off a Moment, half Hour, or whole Hour of the King's Day? Who haſtens early to his Court, beginning the Sabbath in the Mount? Who is not weary of his Court, but ends the Sabbath late in the Valley? Where is any great Zeal for his Court, p. 44commanding of Children and Servants into it? And is not the Divine Majeſty provoked hereby, think we? Yea, and becauſe of theſe things cometh his Wrath all the Week after on the Children of Diſobedience. They ſlight his Court, and he overthrows their Houſe; they neglect or profane his Table, and he will not ſpread theirs; their Families are Dens of Thieves, and his revenging Juſtice makes them Habitations of multiplied Sorrows. Therefore is it that we ſee not better Days, becauſe we no better hallow the Lord's Day. Therefore decayeth ſecular Trade and its Markets, becauſe Trade for Heaven is let down, and the Market for that is ſo ill kept. If ye hallow the Sabbath Day, there ſhall enter into this City Kings and Princes ſitting upon the Throne of David, and the City ſhall remain for ever. But if ye will not hallow the Sabbath Day, then will I kindle a Fire in the Gates thereof, and it ſhall devour the Palaces (as well as Shops) of Jeruſalem, and it ſhall not be quenched, Jer. 17.

p. 45Your Bleſſings depend on your keeping the Day that God hath bleſſed. You cannot profane it, and be ſure of Bread; nor ſanctify it, and be without good Security of it. Iſa. 58.13, 14. If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath, &c. then ſhalt thou delight thy ſelf in the Lord, [have pleaſure and comfort in all Kindneſs of his to thee.] I will cauſe thee to ride in the high Places of the Earth, [I will put thee above the reach of Danger.] I will feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob, [Thou ſhalt have from me Milk and Honey.] The Mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it.

Direct. XVIII. Laſtly; Wreſtle all the Week. The higheſt Maſter of Language, calleth Praying a Wreſtling. Happy they that are not only Jacobs, but Iſraels; not only VVreſtlers with God, but Prevailers. They that have, and do well uſe, the Skill given by God's Spirit, which never fails, never lets God go, without giving the Bleſſing for which we come. Is the Holy Ghoſt p. 46your Advocate? then he gives you this rare Art: An Art the World knows nothing of; having ſcarce heard whether there be any ſuch or no; therefore ſeek they not after it.

But I am ſpeaking to Chriſtians; profeſſed Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, the Spirit of Supplication: Conſequently, a People that have this Art and Skill. VVreſtlers, that if they uſe their Art, and (as becomes them) ſtrain hard every Vein therein, may gain all they want from him with whom they have to do. Ask, and ye ſhall receive; Every one that asketh, receiveth, Mat. 7.7, 8. Receiveth, yea, commonly receiveth more than he has the Faith and Face to ask. Let an Abraham ask a Son; he has one, and the Promiſe of an Offſpring as numerous as the Stars. Let a Jacob ask but Food and Raiment, he has it, and two Bands alſo. Let a Solomon ask VViſdom; he has it, and hath VVealth and Honour thrown in with it. Let a Canaanite ask but a few of the Dog's Crumbs; ſhe hath given her the Childrens beſt Bread. There is no end p. 47of Examples. Whence is it then that you want any promiſed Good of the Covenant? the Covenant is your Charter for Temporals as well as Spirituals, remember.

Sirs, Either you wreſtle not, or not ſo well as you are able. You receive not, becauſe you ask amiſs, James 4.3. Deny it not, doubt it not; for, VVhatſoever you (the weakeſt Chriſtians) ask the Father in Chriſt's Name (with all the little Skill you have) he will give it you, John 16.23.

And here ſhut you my Book; ſit down a little and think; ſtand up then, and ſay if you can really imagine, that theſe Texts do ſignify nothing? Or do leſs than aſſure us of this, that, The pooreſt Chriſtian alive may have a Supply of his VVants, if he will but fetch it upon his Knees. Holy Mr. Carter told his Neighbour, who complain'd that he did not Thrive, though he worked hard, and fared hard; he would ſurely Thrive if he alſo prayed hard.

Hear this, O you that ſcarce have from Hand to Mouth, as you ſpeak; p. 48and are at your Wits end to think how you ſhall get through the next Winter's Cold! Tho God may not keep you from the Croſs, he has bound himſelf to maintain you under the Croſs; to give you Bread, if he deny you Trade; to ſweeten Water, if he bring you to drink it; in ſhort, to give you your Heart's-deſire, or to bring your Heart's-deſire to what he gives you. If you wreſtle not amiſs, to this he hath bound himſelf. You are your own Thieves, if you go without Maintenance, for you may ſurely have it for asking. And of the two, rather would I ask and not receive, than receive and not ask. There is ſuch a Bread and VVine in Prayer it ſelf; Spiritual VVreſtling doth get one ſuch a comfortable Heat. But fear you not, where no Fear is; theſe Promiſes be God's bleſſed Bonds given you. Pſal. 50.15. Call upon me in the Day of Trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorify me. Pſal. 34.10. The young Lions do lack and ſuffer Hunger; but they that ſeek the Lord, ſhall not want any good p. 49thing. Jer. 29.12. Ye ſhall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Direct. XIX. Get well acquainted with your Father's Will and Teſtament. The Holy Bible is no other, if Jeſus Chriſt be your Father. Vaſt and immenſe are his Riches; and in and by this ſaid Will, he hath bequeathed all unto you. For which Cauſe he is named a Teſtator, and his Word a Teſtament, Heb. 9.15, 16, 17. The Teſtament, wherein you are to read the Inventory of the Goods you are to receive, and the Sum of the Debts you are to pay to your Supream King, and to your Fellow-Subjects.

Let your Hearts be like the Ark, Repoſitories of the Divine Word, and ſee if you ever want Bread. This take alſo for your Encouragement; It was a leſs Honour to the Virgin Mary to bear Chriſt in her Womb, than it ſhall be unto you to carry his Teſtament in your Hearts. Luke 11.27, 28. Bleſſed is the Womb that bare thee! But p. 50he ſaid, Yea, rather bleſſed are they that hear the Word, and keep it.

Indeed, Wills and Teſtaments are not eaſily underſtood by raw Babes; nor do their Memories ſoon retain great and numerous Legacies. But your tender Father hath provided good Help for your Infirmities. He hath choſen for you ſuch an Executor of his Will, as is able to teach you all things: And, that being done, to bring all things to your remembrance. Nor is he more able, than willing, to receive of Chriſt's, and ſhow it unto you; provided that he be duly ſought unto. Sought unto in Prayer, and in all other his inſtituted Means. This bleſſed Executor, you know, is the Holy Ghoſt; God, by Eternal Eſſence, and Sanctifier and Comforter by Office.

Need I ſay, what a frequent loſs to Children the Ignorance of their Father's Will is? the World well knoweth. But your unacquaintedneſs with Chriſt's Teſtament, is a Sin more hainous, and a Loſs more horrible than I am able to ſay. Such an Affront is it page missing p. 53diſpleaſure, condemn thee to thouſands by the Year. In Judgment he may give thee all Comforts, beſides the Comfort of the Scriptures. And remember it, that the World throughout, where Chriſt's Word is not to be had, there be few good Meals made. People have bare Feet, or but wooden Shoes, and bitting Salt. Where it may be had, and it is not uſed; even as the Day-light, for conſtant Walk and Work; Chaſtiſements or Curſes are at the Door. And flatter we not our ſelves, France conquered, and Turkie and India-Trade exalted, be nothing to enrich us, if our Saviour's Will and Teſtament lay neglected. But if young Men and Maidens, old Men and Children, duly ply that, there ſhall be no complaining in our Streets: But, Corn ſhall make the young Men chearful, and Wine the Maids, Zech. 9.17.

Direct. XX. See that your Meat be not your Poiſon. Good Works be the Meat of good Chriſtians. Their Lord ſaid of himſelf, and in their Meaſure p. 54they ſay after him; My Meat is to do the Will of him that ſent me, and to finiſh his Work, John 4.34. But Conceit of Merits, is the Poiſon of Aſps: If this Poiſon get into your Head, you loſe your Life. For Chriſt ſhall profit you nothing, if you place Merit in any thing. In any thing wrought in you, in any thing wrought by you, Gal. 5.2. As many as are of the Works of the Law, are under the Curſe of the Law, Gal. 3.10. To truſt to your good Works to pacify God's Wrath, and to merit his Love, and to buy ſo much as a morſel of Bread, is to be of the Works of the Law. To be of the Party that is ſo bitterly guilty and condemned. And, to be under the Wrath which the Law threatens to Soul and Body, to Name and Eſtate, is to be under the Curſe, and poiſonous Sting of it: A Condition you can't look to thrive in.

God be merciful to us Sinners of this Day: Whoſe evil Works are unparallellable; and our good Ones, for the moſt part, are Evil. Little Bread; p. 55and that which is, poiſoned. Papiſts have the Plague, but Proteſtants have the Fever. Merit is their open Faith, but it is alſo our inward lurking Folly.

Even Luther, its victorious Enemy, would complain of a Pope in his Belly. And our Engliſh Luther ſaid conſonantly, I may lift up Chriſt in my Pulpit, and pull him down in my Heart. Sad are the Indications, that Roman Frogs have place in very Puritans Bed-chambers. So that ſlender Alms are given, with ſwelling Opinions of them; and God hath little Service from us, without conceit of his contracting a great Debt to us. We declaim againſt adding the Virgin Mary's Milk unto Jeſus Chriſt's Blood; but can imagine that our own Prayers, and Sweat and Tears, will make a good Mixture. Now this know; Whoredom and Witchcraft are not more odious in God's Sight. He will not bear ſuch Indignities done unto his own Munificence, and to his Son's Righteouſneſs. If you will not ſerve him as the perfect Giver, and his Son p. 56as the ſole Purchaſer of all Good, the Devil muſt have your Works and Service, for God will not accept of them. They are Carrion and not Sacrifice for him. His Wrath is revealed from Heaven againſt your dead Lions and your living Dogs; Againſt the Carcaſs of your Vertues, as well as the Soul and Body of your Vices; againſt your phariſaical Hearing and Praying, as well as againſt your Tipling and Blaſpheming.

Nor is it to be doubted, but for the one as well as the other, God is this Day contending with us. And we may thank our Practical Popery, for our Epidemical Poverty. To this will it be juſtly aſcribed, if, as on the Jews, Wrath come upon the Britains to the uttermoſt.

What but Wo can betide us, when our very Religion is Irreligious? Help, Lord, or we are twice dead, and ſhall be plucked up by the Roots. I am teaching People this Truth, but find few that haſtily learn it: The Devil is every Man's King, who makes himſelf his own Prieſt. Who mixes the Covenants p. 57of Works and Grace; and ſcrapes for the Honour of a joint Purchaſer with Jeſus Chriſt: Expecting good things, partly for Chriſt's Oblation and Interceſſion, and partly for his own.

Will any Man now ſay; To what purpoſe then is it that we ſhould ſerve God? or be zealous of good Works? I think you have been told good Reaſon in every Direction. But you ſhall have a Candle lighted for you in the Sun. We Miniſters are Debtors to the moſt Ʋnwiſe. There is abundance of Reaſon to eat Bread that is wholſome; as mad work as it is to ſwallow Poiſon. In Nature, you muſt eat or die; and in Religion, you muſt be doing, or be undone: For God elected, redeemed, and new created you for good Works, Epheſ. 1.4. Tit. 2.14. Epheſ. 2.10. And dare you to croſs God's Ends? He commands and requires you to abound in good Works, Tit. 3.8. Phil. 1.11. 1 Pet. 2.15. And dare you to diſobey the Lord whom you dare not deny? He delights in your good Works, Prov. 12.22. Prov. 15.8. Heb. 13.16. And dare p. 58you, that are out Hell by his Favour, to deny him his Pleaſure? He is honoured before Men by your good Works, and by nothing elſe, Matth. 5.6. And dare you, feloniouſly, to take from him his Ʋniverſal Glory in this World? He judgeth Men by their Works, here, in our preſent State, and hereafter at the final general Judgment; He renders to every Man according to his Works, Pſalm 19.11. Rom. 2.6. Rev. 20.12, 13. And dare you to make trial, whether he be not a God changeable? whether he will not tolerate your Sloth, and give you a right to the Tree of Life, without keeping his Commandments? Rev. 22.14. In ſhort;

God's Mercy makes not needleſs Chriſt's Merits; that Fountain ſends no Drop of Goodneſs to us, but through this Conduit. And Chriſt's Merits do not make our Faith needleſs; unapplied Balſam can heal no Wound. And holy Faith cannot excuſe good Works; as good never a whit, as never the better. As good no Roots as p. 59no Fruits. Without Communion, vain is all Union. If I bear not Fruit, as good never have been ingrafted into Chriſt's Stock. If I abide an uſeleſs Member, as good never have had Chriſt my Head. If I continue Straw and Chaff, as good never have been built on Chriſt's Royal Foundation. If I bring not Iſſue unto God, as good never have been married to Chriſt. So that, good Works are as neceſſary and far from uſeleſs, as if they were really meritorious. And he that obeys not Chriſt as King and Law-giver, he takes Satan for his Prophet and Commander. As ever you expect this World's Comforts, or next World's Glories, Do all good Works, though you reſt in none.

Antichriſtian Faith laid in Ruins the renowned Jeruſalem. And Antinomian Life brought Hell from Heaven upon Sodom. The Lord add more Faith to London's Vertue, and more Vertue to our Faith! The Lord ſend us more Faith for our Works, and more Works from our Faith. Works of p. 60Worſhip towards God; Works of Sobriety, Watchfulneſs, and Self-denial. Works of Juſtice and Charity towards Men. Works of the Callings wherein we are placed; (for from Angels to Worms, God giveth an Employment to all his Creatures.)

The Complaint Abroad is, that Money is ſcarce, and Trade dead: But no Money ſeems ſo ſcarce as this Faith that is of the true Royal Stamp; no Trade ſo dead, as this of good Works undefiled. If theſe be had and held by you, you ſhall find and feel true the Apoſtle's words, 1 Tim. 4.8. They have the Promiſe of the Life that now is. If not, you may e're long be made to exclaim, in Moſes's words, Lord, we are conſumed by thine Anger, and by thy Wrath are we troubled, Pſ. 90.7.

Theſe twenty Directions thus do, and ſee what God will do. Remembring ſtill theſe my concluding Words, to prevent your Miſtake of God's Word: What is truly BEST for you, God will give to you. Rom. 8.28. All ſhall p. 61work for Good. Temporal Bleſſings, if God deny in one way, he will make Compenſation in another. Chriſt was denied the Deliverance that he asked; but had it made up in the Support that his Father granted, Matth. 26.39. Luke 22.43.

The Covenant of Grace exempts you not from the Rod, if you break theſe Rules. Pſal. 89.30, 31, 32. If his Children forſake my Law, and walk not in my Judgments; If they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments: Then will I viſit their Tranſgreſſion with the Rod, and their Iniquity with Stripes. In executing of his Threats, God doth not break his Promiſes.

My Directions are ended. By ſome, it's like, they will be quarrelled: But I think them of Qualifications to anſwer for themſelves. The Language is unuſual; yes, but 'tis not found unprofitable. The Matter will offend; for many good Souls do all that's here adviſed, and yet be not rich enough. No? let that be proved. What godly Soul will tell me of any bitter Wants, and p. 62diſclaim all Guilts? I meet with no ſuch.

But what is the Deſign of theſe Directions? They are very blind that will not ſee. It is to fetch Martha to the place of Mary, at her Saviour's Feet: To empty Hearts of earthly Cares, that room may be made for Heavenly: To kill the Thorns that choak the Seed of the Word; Yea, the Canker that preys upon, and eats up the Souls of many. To perſwade Men to mind and do all that they have to do, and not take God's Work out of his Hands; but leave him to provide for their Subſiſtence; and practically regard our Redeemer's Command, five or ſix times repeated, Matth. 6. Take no thought (no diſquieting diſtracting One) for your Life, or Livelyhood.

Briefly; to convince of this Truth, that God is a kind and no hard Maſter: And that his good and faithful Servants, are not themſelves when they diſtruſt him. And when they ceaſe to tell him to this effect; Lord, I refer all to thee: I would have nothing but what thou thinkeſt good. The Condition that is good in thy Eyes, ſhall p. 63ſeem beſt in mine. Infinite Wiſdom cannot chuſe amiſs for me. And the Goodneſs and Power which are no leſs, will not fail to beſtow that on me. Wherefore henceforth I will no more trouble my Heart with Thoughts, who ſhall give me Bread to eat; than with Thoughts who ſhall give me Daylight to ſee by, or Air to breath in. I will take it for very certain, that the Covenant of Grace is the beſt Freehold in the Creation, for this World and for the next. And therefore, although the Figtree ſhall not bloſſom, neither ſhall Fruit be in the Vines; the labour of the Olive ſhall fail, and the Fields ſhall yield no Meat; the Flock ſhall be cut off from the Fold, and there ſhall be no Herd in the Stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation, Hab. 3.17, 18.

Policy fails, and Strength fails, I know. Serpents I have ſeen naked, and Foxes thin Clothed and Bald; I have ſeen Lion's very meagre, and Bears but lean. The profoundeſt Sophy of our p. 64Nation died poor. And ſtrange Exemplars of Diligence have lived in wretched Want. But my Saviour's Rule I am ſure is infallible; Seeking firſt, and moſt, and all God's Kingdom and Righteouſneſs; All, and every needful thing muſt be added to me. I muſt have all I want. In Heaven they have not as yet all they have a Will unto. The Saints there are without their Bodies, and much of their Company. I may not expect more on Earth, than they have in Heaven. But there have they as much as they yet want, and here will I expect ſo much alſo.

And now, Farewel worldly Sorrow. Farewel all Sorrow in the World, ſave only for the world of Sin in me and it. Lord Jeſus, thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I love thee! And (to my Comfort) I know ſo much, Thou cauſeſt them that love thee to inherit Subſtance, Thou filleſt their Treaſures; With Good perfect, without Defect; and Perpetual without Decay; the Good of the upper Springs and the Nether. All Things are mine, p. 65for I am thine. In proper Speech the Devil hath no Child Rich, and my Lord and my God hath not one Poor. Let them be Poor therefore that can be ſo. I cannot want, I am moſt certain; the King's Tax ſhall be well paid, and my Houſe well kept, as long as I do,

1. Truſt my Guardians.

2. Go to School to the Ants.

3. Lean on no Reeds.

4. Serve but one Maſter.

5. Wear my Maſter's Livery.

6. Hold my Heart at my right Hand.

7. Beware of my five Enemies.

8. Lay not violent Hands on my ſelf.

9. Load my Parents ſoundly.

10. Marry none but an Heir to the Crown.

11. Make Battlements to my Houſe.

12. Take Care of the King's Children.

13. Ʋſe good Salt.

14. Kindle huge Fires on my Enemies Heads.

15. Keep my Watch at my Door.

16. Ʋnite Courteſy and Truth.

p. 6617. Be at Court one whole Day in a Week; And,

18. Wreſtle hard all the Week.

19. Get well acquainted with my Father's Will and Teſtament.

20. See that my Meat be not my Poiſon.

And this will I do, if God ſhall give me to will and to do it!

Jabez called on the God of Iſrael, ſaying, O that thou wouldeſt bleſs me indeed, and enlarge my Coaſt; and that thy Hand might be with me, and that thou wouldeſt keep me from Evil, that it may not grieve me. And God granted him that which he requeſted, 1 Chron. 4.20.—Becauſe thou haſt asked VViſdom and Knowledg for thy ſelf;—VViſdom and Knowledg is given to thee, and I will give thee Riches, and VVealth, and Honour, 2 Chron. 1.11, 12.