The Life of Mr John Hieron, Chapter 11

The Life of Mr John Hieron · Chapter 11

p. 58CHAP. XI. His Letters.

OF his Letters I promiſed to give ſome taſte, and make them the Coronis of this Work: In publiſhing of which I conceal Names, that I may not reflect upon the dead, nor juſtly offend the living.

Again, Let not the living be diſturbed; for though the Letters be publiſhed, their Names are not expoſed: It will do them no hurt to read thoſe Letters in Print which they have in Writing. It may do others good to read Letters that were written to others, poſſibly they may reach, teach, meet with others, Hearts being much alike, and the ſame Corruptions, Temptations in one and another.

Firſt Letter.

Chriſtian Friend,

YOU deſire that I would write to you about your Spiritual Eſtate, which I take to be ſafe and comfortable, ſo far as one is able to paſs Judgment of another; But no man knoweth certainly the things of another, ſave the ſpirit of a man, which is in him. 1 Cor. 2. 11. You are then to commune with your own heart, to ſearch and try your wayes, whether you walk after the Spirit, be led by the Spirit Rom▪ 8. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. If you ask, How ſhall I know whether I am led by the Spirit? I Anſwer, If you bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, if you follow after Holineſs, ſincere Obedience to all Gods Commandments, patience in Affliction, love to God, Chriſt, all Saints, love to the Word, fear to offend God, a care to pleaſe God, and keep Conſcience pure and void of offence toward God and Man, Godly ſorrow for ſin, forſaking every evil way; and above all, believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, reſt upon him, truſt in his all-ſufficient ſatisfaction for pardon of Sin and Eternal Life. And all p. 59this I doubt not but you do in ſome meaſure, ſo that you may conclude, as the Apoſtle doth, Rom▪ 8. 1. There is therefore no condemuation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walk not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit. May you not comfort your ſelf with theſe words? Do not hearken to Satans ſuggeſtions to the contrary, he is an Adverſary. If he cannot hinder your Salvation, he will do what he can to damp your joy and peace in believing. You ought not to give heed to him; but to repel him as our Saviour did, Get thee behind me, Satan. Your own unbelieving Heart (for Faith is mixed with unbelief even in Gods Children) alſo will raiſe Objections againſt you thus: I have many Corruptions in me, unruly Paſſions, I am haſty to Anger, Ignorant, have little Knowledge, conſidering the time and means I have enjoyed; I am dull in Duty, I Pray without any life or heat, I am cold in love to God and Jeſus Chriſt, I grow not in Grace, I am blockiſh, and remember nothing I hear: And many ſuch things you have to ſay againſt your ſelf. To which I Anſwer, Grant all this to be true; Theſe are Sins of Infirmity, which may conſiſt with true Grace: Pſal. 40 12. David ſaith, My ſins are more then the hairs upon my head. Pſal. 73. 22. So fooliſh was I, and ignorant, even as a beaſt before thee. Read Heb. 5. 11, 12. Ye are dull of hearing, &c. whom yet he highly commends; Heb. 3. 1. and 6. 10. So long as ſin reigneth not, hath no dominion over you, you need not queſtion your intereſt in Chriſt; and you may know, that ſin reigneth not when you are grieved for it, confeſs and bewa…l it, and pray for grace and help againſt it; ſtrive and watch againſt it, and do what you can to keep your ſelf from your iniquity. Pſal. 18. 23. Conſider that none are juſtified or ſaved, becauſe they are ſinleſs, pure and perfect; but bleſſed are they whoſe ſins are forgiven. Pſal. 32. 1, 2. And to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that juſtifieth the ungodly, his Faith is counted for Righteouſneſs. Rom. 4. 5. What was the end of Chriſts coming but to take away ſin? Mat. 1. 21. Joh. 1. 29. Alſo a chief branch of the Covenant of Grace in Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteouſneſs. And therefore be not faithleſs but believing, as Chriſt ſaid to Thomas, John 20. 27, 28▪ And let your heart make the ſame Anſwer, that he did, My Lord and my God. It may be, that your preſent condition is a grief to you, that you cannot worſhip God as you deſire, or as in your Health; you can do God no ſervice. Let not your heart be troubled at this; for God requires no more than he gives. And it may be no ſmall comfort to you, that you were diligent to attend upon God in your Health, and when you had Legs, you uſed them to Gods glory. And now you are ſerving God in another way, in the way of Paſſive Obedience, in which if you ſubmit to Gods will with Meekneſs and Patience, you may do God as good ſervice, as they that preach▪ or hear▪ or travel far to the Word … p. 60will conclude with thoſe ſweet words of Chriſt: John 14. 1. Let not your heart be troubled: Believe that God is yours, Chriſt is yours, the Covenant of Grace is yours, your Sins are forgiven, the Promiſes are yours, even the great Promiſe: 2 Cor. 6. 18. I will be a Father to you. And that alſo, Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things ſhall work together for good to them that love God; Even all the exceeding great and precious promiſes in Chriſt; 2 Pet. 1. 4. which are yea and Amen, true and faithful. O bleſs God that ever you were born Spiritually, that you were born again. Say and ſing with David, Pſal. 103. 1. 2, 3. Bleſs the Lord, O my Soul! And Pſal. 32. at the latter end, Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous, and ſhout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. Pſal. 48. 14. This God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide unto death. And with the Church: Iſa. 25. 9. Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us: This is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad, and rejoyce in his Salvation. But I may ſave further labour, and indeed might have ſpared this pains; for you have a Book by you, which contains all that I now write, and much more to the ſame purpoſe. The ſcope and ſubſtance of it is to chear up and comfort poor Souls, that walk ſad and ſorrowful; when they have no other cauſe but to rejoyce and ſerve the Lord with gladneſs; in which kind of ſervice the Lord is well pleaſed. I pray you peruſe it, and read it through, till you have got your Heart into a joyful frame. Now I pray, (and let it be your Dayly Prayer) That the God of Love fill you with Joy and Peace in believing, to whoſe Grace I commend you.

Yours Ʋnfeignedly.

IT grieves me much for your ſake, that the hand of the Lord is gone out againſt you in ſo dreadful a …rovidence; that it puts me hard to it, how to miniſter a word of Conſolation to you in this your ſad condition. A wiſe Son maketh a glad Father, but a fooliſh Son is the heavy…eſs of his Mother. I have no greater joy, than to hear that my Children walk in the Truth: So I know no greater affliction that can befall Parents, then to have Children walking contrary to the Truth, and dying in their Sins. Yet is not your Caſe in this reſpect ſingular. No Temptation hath befallen you, but what is common to men, to good men; witneſs Aaron, Ely, David, with many others, whom I could name, known both to you and me. You are to acquieſs in Gods Providential Adminiſtrations, and not to diſquiet your Soul with the doubtfulneſs of his Eternal Eſtate. But to aſcribe Righteouſneſs to your Maker; and ſay with the Pſalmiſt, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. How unſearchable are his judgments, and his …a…es paſt finding out? Take the Example of the Prophets, and other p. 61Holy Men in Scripture, for an example of ſuffering Affliction, and of Patience. Set before you the Patience of Job, who beſides the loſs of ſo great an Eſtate, loſt all his Children, ſeven in number, cut off by untimely death; yet how Religiouſly doth he demean himſelf, how Patiently to admiration? Two of Aarons Sons in the flower of their Age, and in the beginning and very firſt entrance upon that Sacred Function, periſh by fire from Heaven; a heavy ſtroke, arguing great indignation; yet mark the Fathers pious behaviour under ſuch a mark of Gods diſpleaſure, [Aaron held his Pea…e.] As for Davids lamentation over Abſalom, it is not to be drawn into imitation: For the bottom of his grief was not purely, nor chiefly (as far as appears) ſorrow for his ſin, and the eternal condition of his Soul; but rather proceeded from Natural Affection, and over much fondneſs and indulgence, becauſe of his exquiſite Beauty, which the Scripture doth highly extol: For he takes not one ſigh at the death of Ammon, who alſo dyed in his ſin, and alſo by a violent death by the hand of his Brother. At other times, and in other caſes his Carriage was commendable. Pſal. 39. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; becauſe thou didſt it. If you ſay, this is not to the purpoſe, this cometh not home to the point, what comfort can you afford me touching my Sons Salvation, or what ground of hope? Here I confeſs I am at a loſs, and muſt ſay, as the King of Iſrael to the poor Woman, crying, Help, O King. If the Lord do not help thee, whence ſhall I help thee? If the Word yield thee no hope, or ſolid ground of Comfort, I ſhould but proffer flattery, and viſions of my own heart; if I ſhould offer to give Topicks of Comfort out of my own Invention. You are not without hope, that God might give him Repentance, to recover himſelf out of the ſnare of the Devil, if your intelligence be not to the contrary. There is place left for hope. Adverſity often opens the eye that ſin had ſhut; as we ſee in Joſephs Brethren, who had lain in their ſin above twenty years, without remorſe, till Affliction awakened them: The like we ſee in Manaſſes; when he was in affliction, he humbled himſelf, and beſought God, who was intreated of him, though he had been a prodigious ſinner. So the prodigal Son by ſtraits, and other awakening afflictions, came to himſelf, and returned to his Fathers houſe. And the example of Rocheſters Repentance is remarkable. You cannot ſay you were ſure his Repentance was true; neither are you ſure of the contrary. So you are between hope and fear; let that keep you from deſpair. But ſuppoſe the worſt▪ to uſe the words of Bildad to Job, If thy Children have ſinned againſt him, and he have caſt them away for their tranſgreſſions; (by the way this was a harſh cenſure) if it ſhould be thus, yet here is this Comfort▪ that he dyed in his Youth, not a ſinner of an hundred years old, but … young, vain, ignorant, ſeduced perſon, to uſe your own words: An… p. 62ſo his puniſhment will be leſs, than if he had lived to gray hairs, and a…l his life had walked in the way of his own heart, and ſo had ſerved divers luſts and pleaſures. You have parted with ſome Children before now; theſe you make no queſtion, but are▪ in Heaven; you have others living, (I know not how many) they will ſtrive to be a Comfort to you, (I hope) by walking in the fear of God. And it is a rare th…ng, and not often ſeen, that a…l a Mans Children, where th…y be numerous, do make good proof; but one, or more of them go aſtray: I mean, where Parents are Godly and careful. Corruptions too often prevails above Education. Imitate David, not in his immoderate mourning for Abſalom; but in his moderation touching Ammon, he was comforted concerning Ammon, ſeeing he was dead. And at the death of the Infant, Now he is dead (ſaith he) wherefore ſhould I fast? Can I bring him back again? I ſhall go to him, but he ſhall not return to me. Which of you by taking thought can add to his ſtature on cubit? Put away exceſſive grief from your heart, and rejoyce in hope of Glory to come. Be thankful for the work of Grace in your own heart, that God is yours, Chriſt is yours, all things are yours, Life and Death, things preſent, and things to come. Now the God of Peace fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing; to whoſe Grace I commend you, and reſt

Your unfeigned Lover.

SIR,

OUT of a deep ſenſe of your Affliction, and tender commiſeration of your great loſs, in parting with your deareſt Daughter, I write theſe Lines, to teſtifie our compaſſion and fellow▪ feeling of your ſorrow; which to do is every Chriſtians Duty; much more the Duty of near Relations: The ſame which Job calls for from his Friends: Job 19. 21. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my Friends; …or the hand of God hath touched me. That you are full of heavineſs, …nd have great ſorrow of heart for the loſs of ſo ſweet a Child, I make …o doubt, nor do I at all blame you for it; ſo that you mourn mode…ately, and after a right manner. 1 Cor. 7. 30. Let them that weep, be …s though they wept not; but I deſire you may ſorrow after a Godly ſort, …ith Godly ſorrow, which worketh Repentance to Salvation not to be re…ented off; but the ſorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Cor. 7. 10. That you may mourn aright, you are to look up to God, and ſee his and in this ſtroke. Ezek. 24. 16. Son of man, behold I take away …he deſire of thine eyes with a ſtroke. And remember God is wiſe, the …nly wiſe God. And wiſe Agents act for ſome end, ſome wiſe and …reat end. God doth nothing in vain; but the skill is to find out the …nd of Gods chaſtiſement. He is a wiſe man, that can do that, can p. 63know the meaning, and underſtand the Errand of Gods Rod, and ſee his Name written upon it▪ Mich. 6. 9. for this let us ſearch the Scriptures, which make known to us Gods mind, and our Duty in ſuch caſes. Let us conſult the Word, make it the men of our counſel, as David did, Pſal. 119. 24. and pray with Job, Job 10. 2. Shew me wherefore thou contendeſt with me. To underſtand Gods meaning in his correcting us, and the chief end he aims at, (though ſome other ends God may have, which for brevity ſake I omit) read Job 33. 17. where you may ſee Gods end is to open mens ears to inſtruction, to with hold man from his purpoſe; namely, of ſinning againſt God, to hide pride from man. Job 36. 8, 9, 10. If they be holden in cords of affliction, he ſheweth them their work, their evil works, their tranſgreſſions, that they have exceeded; (i. e.) gone beyond the bounds, which God ſetteth in his Word: He openeth their ear to diſcipline, and commandeth that they turn from iniquity. To the ſame purpoſe you find in Iſa. 27. 9. By this ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his ſin. Agreeable hereunto hath been the practice of Gods people, to humble themſelves under Gods afflicting hand. Lam. 3. 39, 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the puniſhment of his ſin? Let us ſearch, and try our wayes, and turn unto the Lord. Micah 7. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord becauſe I have ſinned against him. Pſal. 38. 18. I will declare mine iniquity, I will be ſorry for my ſin. Where this Duty is neglected God complaineth of them: Iſa. 9. 13. This people turneth not to him that ſmiteth them; neither do they ſeek the Lord of Hoſts. Jer. 5. 3. Thou haſt ſtricken them, but they have not grieved; (i. e. for their ſins) they have refuſed to return. Ch. 44. 10. They are not humbled to this day. To the right performance of this Duty gracious Promiſes are made: 2 Chron. 7. 14. If my people ſhall humble themſelves, (under Judgments) and pray, and ſeek my face, and turn from their evil wayes, I will hear from Heaven, I will forgive their ſin, I will heal▪ their Land. Job 33. 27. If any ſay I have ſinned, and perverted that which is right, and it profiteth me not, he will deliver his Soul from going into the pit. And this is the uſe you, and every one in your circumſtances, ſhould make of Gods Correction, to humble your ſelf under his mighty hand: To ſay as Job 34. 31. I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more: Ver. 32. That which I ſee not, teach me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Commune with your own heart. Pſal. 4. 4. Ask your Soul how it doth, Am I in Chriſt? Am I born again? Is there a work of Grace wrought upon my heart? That will appear by your walking: Do you walk as becometh the Goſpel? Phil. 1. 27. Do you live ſoberly, righteouſly, godly? Is this your conſtant walking? Do you pray continually in your Family? In your Cloſet? Do you ſanctifie the Lords day duely? Do you teach p. 64your Children the knowledge and fear of God? Do you Catechiſe them? Do you ſet them a good Example? Do you fill up every Relation with Duty? Have you not ſat with vain perſons? Pſal. 26. 4. Are you a companion to all that fear God? Pſal. 119. 63. Do you honour ſuch above others? Pſal. 15. 4. Do you delight in their company? Pſal. 16. 3. This is that we are commanded to do, to bethink our ſelves: 2 Chron. 6. 37. To conſider our wayes: Hag. 5. 7. To judge our ſelves: 1 Cor. 11. 31. To examine our ſelves whether we be in the Faith, or no. 2 Cor. 13 5. Now let Conſcience ſpeak, deal faithfully and truly with your ſelf; and where you find Duty neglected, Sin committed, confeſs your faults to God freely; bewail them with a broken and contrite heart; pray earneſtly for Grace, and a new heart; for power over your corruptions; reſolve on a new courſe of life, to become a new man by the aſſiſtance of Gods Grace. Abandon ill Company, and all occaſions of ſin for the time to come; run not into temptation, but watch and pray, and keep your ſelf from your own iniquity. Pſal. 18. 23. If I regard iniquity in my heart, (i. e. allow my ſelf in any one ſin) God will not hear my prayer. Pſal. 66. 18. Whoſoever ſhall keep the whole Law, and offend in one point, (i. e. wittingly, knowingly,) he is guilty of all; is obnoxious to condemnation, as if he had broken the whole Law. Jam. 2. 10. Let your future practice and reformation ſpeak the truth of your Repentance. And if you thus turn to God with your whole heart, make application to Chriſt by Faith, and his Bloud ſhall cleanſe you from all ſin: So God will receive you to Mercy, as the Father received the Prodigal Son with all expreſſion of Love. He that covereth his ſin ſhall not proſper; but he that confeſſeth and forſaketh them, ſhall find mercy. Prov. 22. 13. If you dare not ſet up a Judgment-ſeat in your own Heart, and keep a privy Seſſions in your own Conſcience, how will you appear before the Judgment-ſeat of Chriſt, and give an account of all your Thoughts, Words and Actions at the great day? For then muſt every one of us give account of himſelf to God. Then bleſſed are they whoſe ſins are forgiven: They may lift up their faces at that day with boldneſs, when impenitent ſinners ſhall be confounded, and call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them. They who live in ſin, are in danger to dye in ſin, and to be damned eternally for ſin. Sin will be ſure to find them out to puniſhment, who will not now ſearch and find, and caſt it out by Repentance and amendment of Life. Repent and turn your ſelves from all your tranſgreſſions; ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine. Ezek. 18. 31. Thus I have ſhewed you the good and right way to improve this preſent croſs, and to prevent worſe things. Joh. 5. 14. Sin no more, leſt a worſe thing come to you. If God give you an heart to imbrace and hearken to this advice, you will have cauſe to ſay with David, Pſal. 119. 67, 71. p. 65Before I was afflicted I went aſtray; but now I have kept thy word: And it is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy ſtatutes. And I beſeech you, do not reject the Counſel of God againſt your own Soul. Put it in practice without delay. Break off your ſins by Righteouſneſs, forthwith to day, while it is called to day; leſt your heart …e hardened by the deceitfulneſs of ſin. Heb. 3. 13. All fleſh is graſs: And no man knoweth the day of his death. But it may be ſaid to any of us; This night ſhall thy Soul be required of thee. You ſeem to have a crazy Body. You have had divers warnings of late to mind you of your frailty: And it is an high point of wiſdom to conſider of a Mans latter end▪ Deut. 32. 29. What if Death ſhould come like a Thief ſuddenly, and give no warning? Then happy are all they, who with the wiſe Virgins have got Oyl in their Lamps; ſaving Grace and Sincerity. If a Flood come, happy are they who (with Noah) have prepared an Ark for the ſaving of their Souls. Make ſure of Chriſt; keep Conſcience pure, ſo it will be peaceable; keep integrity and uprightneſs, ſo you may look Death in the face without fear. I will conclude with the words of Solomon; Prov. 19. 20. Hear counſel, receive inſtruction; that thou mayeſt be wiſe in thy latter end. Tender Love and Compaſſion to your Soul was the only motive, which ſet my Pen on writing theſe Lines. Take them in good part, and paſs a favourable conſtruction on them, peruſe them, ponder them; for they are of weight, of worth, the very Word of God, uſeful, and neceſſary to be followed; nearly conducing to the Salvation of your Immortal Soul. Conſider what I ſay, and the Lord give you underſtanding in all things. 2 Tim. 2. 7. To his Grace I commend you, being

Your Servant for the ſalvation of your Soul.

BEcauſe my former Letter found ſo good acceptance with you, I am incouraged once again to write to you; to let you know how welcome, and joyful a thing it is to your Friends, to underſtand, that you are become a new man; that you have put off your former Converſation, and abandoned all vain Company; that you keep much at home, and take delight in your Wife and Children, (as you have juſt cauſe, for they are ſweet Children, Dutiful and Obedient) alſo that you pray conſtantly with them, and frequent the moſt lively, and powerful, and Soul-ſaving Preaching of Gods Word on the Lords dayes. Oh, how good and how pleaſant a thing it is to all that love you, (that love your Soul) to hear theſe things of you! Now I pray you ſuffer a word of further Exhortation, and give me leave to beſeech you, as Barnabas did thoſe newly converted Chriſtians; Acts 11. 23. That with purpoſe of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Reſolve by the help p. 66of Grace, that you will never caſt off your hopeful beginnings, nor turn aſide to crooked wayes; but continue ſtedfaſt in the good way you have taken up unto the end. The end is that which crowneth all good actions; and to perſeverance in well-doing are all the promiſes made. Rom. 2. 7. Mat. 10. 22. Rev. 21. 7. And our Baptiſmal Vow bindeth us to keep Gods Holy Will and Commandments all the dayes of our lives. Now that you have begun to forſake the broad way, that leadeth to deſtruction, and to enter into the ſtrait way that leadeth unto life; (O think what a Mercy it is, that God hath awakened you (with Mary) to chuſe the good part, that ſhall not be taken from you) you ſee the thing is feizable, and Godlineſs is not a thing impoſſible, if there be but a willing mind. If you ſhould now, or at any time hereafter fall away, it would not be a ſin of infirmity, becauſe you cannot help it; but of perverſeneſs, becauſe you will not be at the pains which a Godly life requireth: For uſe and acquaintance with a Chriſtian life makes it much more eaſie to you afterwards, then at the beginning. For the greateſt difficulty that is in a Godly life, is from cuſtom to the contrary; ſo that if after ſome acquaintance with it, when you have overcome much of the hardneſs of it you ſhould give it over, that would be utterly deſtructive. But I hope better things of you, and things that accompany Salvation, though I thus ſpeak. By all means be careful to ſet ſuch a watch over your ſelf, and ſo to avoid all occaſions and temptations, as may preſerve you from all wilful breaches, and danger of Apoſtaſie. And becauſe by our own ſtrength we are not able to ſtand, ſee that you be much in ſecret Prayer. Mat. 6. 6. Beg of God a new heart, a clean heart, an upright heart. Pſal. 51. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 1. Grace is of abſolute neceſſity to Salvation, if we believe our Saviour. John 3. 3. 5. and 7. A work of Grace renewing the heart will make Chriſts yoke of Obedience eaſie, and his burden light, ſo his Commandments will not be grievous. 1 Joh. 5. 3. It is by the help of the Spirit changing and ſanctifying the heart, that we mortifie the deeds of the fleſh. Rom. 8. 13. There may be an outward Reformation, where there is no inward work of Regeneration. So a man may be in the condition of the Scribes, Mark 12. 34. not far from the Kingdom of Heaven; yet never enter into it O wreſtle with God in Prayer, as for Mercy to pardon ſin paſt; ſo for Grace, and the Spirit of Sanctification to renew your heart, and to reform your life; that ſo you may walk before God to all well-pleaſing. If you would do ſo, continue inſtant in Prayer: Col. 4. 2. God will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it. Luke 11. 13. Chriſt aſſures us, That whatſoever we ask in his name, the Father will grant. Thus you ſhall become a good Tree, bringing forth the good Fruits of Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, and Sobriety, to the Praiſe and Glory of God, the Credit of the Goſpel, good p. 67Example of others, to the rejoycing of all good Chriſtians, and the overlaſting Salvation of your own Soul. Yea, there will be joy in the preſence of the Angels of God over one ſinner that repenteth. Luk. 15. 10. So whether you live or dye, you ſhall be the Lords: And this is conſiderable at ſuch a time as this, when Sickneſs is ſo Epidemical, and many dye every where, and you your ſelf ſeem to be of no ſtrong Conſtitution, as it appears by your often Infirmities. I ſay it again, Regeneration is the one thing neceſſary, without which, outſide Reformation is but like painting a rotten Poſt, or making clean the outſide of the Cup and Platter, when the inſide is full of exceſs and extortion. Mat. 23. Though you know theſe things, yet I thought it not unuſeful to put you in remembrance of them; that you may be ſettled and eſtabliſhed in the preſent Truth, and ſo may continue to the end: Which is the earneſt deſire, and ſhall be the Prayer of

Your very Friend for the Salvation of your Soul.

SIR,

I Fully purpoſed to have given you a Viſit; but hearing your Wife was ſo near her Travail I forbore till a fitter opportunity. And ſince I underſtand to my grief, that ſhe is delivered of two Children, both dead; and for which I am informed, you are much troubled; for which I cannot blame you, for the Providence is ſad: And a Chriſtian ſhould be a Man of Wiſdom, to ſee Gods Name written upon the Rod. So was the Name of Aaron, for the Tribe of Levi, written upon his. Numb. 17. 3. And as his brought forth Buds and Bloſſoms, and ripe Fruits; ſo ſhould Gods Rod of Correction yield good Fruit, in them that are exerciſed therewith, even the peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs and Repentance. Hear the Rod and who hath appointed it. Micah 6. 9. The Rod hath a voice: It cometh upon ſome Errand, or other, if we were wiſe enough to underſtand its meaning. Which that we may do, the beſt way is to Commune with your own hearts: Pſal. 4. 4. To ſearch and try our wayes, and turn to the Lord. Lam. 3. 40. And be earneſt with God in Prayer, that he would open our ears to diſcipline. Job 10. 2. Shew me why thou contendeſt with me. Job 34. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be ſaid to God, I have born chaſtiſement. And I would not have you or your Wife give way to exceſſive ſorrow in this caſe; but follow the Counſel of the Word (which ought to be the Rule of our Paſſions, as well as our Actions); Let your moderation be known to all men. Phil. 4. 6. And they that weep (for outward Croſſes) be, as though they wept not. 1 Cor. 7. 30. Learn we muſt to exerciſe the grace of Self-denyal; which our Saviour hath taught us by his own p. 68Example: John 18. 11. The cup which my Heavenly Father hath given me, ſhall I not drink it? And it was a very bitter one. Again, Now what I will, but what thou wilt. God is wiſer than Man, he is God only wiſe. We ſee but a little way, Gods underſtanding is infinite. Times are ill at preſent, they may be worſe; yea, ſo bad, that people may have cauſe to ſay, Luke 23. 29. Bleſſed are the barren, and the Womb that never bear, and the Paps which never gave ſuck. Yet if Children be a Bleſſing, as I grant they be in themſelves, and deſirable, there is no time over-paſſed; but you may have your Quiver full of ſuch Arrows, if God ſee it good for you: And if not, I hope you are more a Chriſtian, than to deſire them. Beware I beſeech you both, of the leaſt impatience in this caſe; and if any ſuch bitter root ſhould ſpring up in your hearts, check it, and chide it away, as Job did his Wives perverſe motion; ſaying, Shall we receive good at the hands of the Lord, and ſhall we not receive evil; But this I adviſe you, aſſoon as your Wife is ſtrengthened, appoint a ſolemn day of Humiliation, to entreat the favour of God, that this affliction may be ſanctified, and the anger of God (if you conceive he be diſpleaſed) may be turned away from you, and from your Family: Which having done, acquieſs in the good pleaſure of God; Let him do to you as to him ſeemeth beſt: So ſaid David in the like caſe, 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26. If I ſhall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will, &c. If he thus ſay, I have no delight in thee: Behold, here I am, &c. This courſe a Kinſman of yours and ours, was adviſed to take after the death of all his firſt Children, and it pleaſed God to give iſſue, perfect Children; three at leaſt, that are all alive, Men and Women at this day. One may be too impetuous in his deſire of this, or the other Earthly Bleſſing, which deſire God may grant in Anger. So we ſee in Rachel, who was faulty in this kind, and had a Son whom ſhe named Bennoni, Son of my ſorrow, which coſt her her Life. Be you very thankful to God, that hath ſpared the Tree; though the Fruit periſh. Reſign your Wills intirely to the Will of God, which is a wiſe, juſt, rational, gracious Will, who doth all things for the beſt to them that love him: Whereas our Wills are crooked, unjuſt, fooliſh, and oft unreaſonable. Alſo God is our Soveraign Lord, to whom we muſt all ſubſcribe, as to his commanding, ſo to his diſpoſing Will. Theſe Lines I deſire you to impart to your ſecond ſelf alſo, who may be therein concern'd equally with your ſelf. Thus with my Prayers to God (who teacheth his People to profit, both by his Word, and Rod) that his hand may be ſanctified to you (and ſanctified Afflictions are better then unſanctified Proſperity, ſaith Mr. Dod) ſo as you may be able to ſay by good Experience, It is good for me that I have been afflicted. I commend you to the grace of God.

Yours, &c. J. H. Sept. 30. 1680.

p. 69I Beſeech you ſuffer a word of friendly plainneſs and freedom in a matter of deep concernment. I ſhall not play the Orator to make you a learned Speech, nor dreſs my words with Eloquence, wherewith to tickle and pleaſe you; but I ſhall write words of Truth and Soberneſs, and that upon a weighty errand, to which I requeſt your attention. How much better are the wounds of a friend, than the kiſſes of an enemy. The buſineſs of theſe lines is to deſire you to reflect with ſeriouſneſs upon your late piece of Juſtice in the conviction of thoſe good Chriſtians, who now by your means are ſentenced to ſuffer, as evil doers; when yet you can find no Occaſion againſt them, but what Daniel's Accuſers (who were Heathens) found againſt him, concerning the Law of his God. Dan. 6. 5. Pray weigh this your act in the ballance of the Sanctuary, and try if it will hold weight there. For we must all appear before the Judgment-ſeat of Chriſt. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Every one of us ſhall give an account of himſelf to God. Rom. 14. 12. So then, if in this action you have dealt truly and ſincerely with God and his Houſe, you may rejoyce and take comfort in it. If as a Magiſtrate you have ſpoken righteouſneſs, judged uprightly, as Pſal. 58. 1. If you have judged Gods People with righteouſneſs, if you have defended the poor and fatherleſs, if you have done juſtice to the afflicted and needy, if you have rid them out of the hand of the wicked, as Pſal. 82. 3, 4. then ſhall you have peace in your own conſcience, and a good reward at the reſurrection of the juſt, when God will reward every man according to his works. But if you have judged unjuſtly, and accepted the perſons of the wicked, if you have broken in pieces Gods people, and afflicted his heritage, if you have perſecuted Chriſt in his members, if you have hindered the progreſs of the Goſpel, and forbidden Miniſters to preach to people whereby they may be ſaved: then know that God ſtands in the Congregation of the mighty, he is Judge among the Gods, Pſal. 82. 1. He is among them to approve, protect, and reward them, if they judge righteous judgements; he is among them, as a curious obſerver of their judgments; if they corrupt juſtice and turn righteouſneſs into gall, he will bring every of their works into judgment, and acquit ſuch as they condemn, and paſs a righteous Sentence upon their crooked and unjuſt cenſures. Magiſtrates are ſtiled Gods, Pſal. 82. 6. becauſe inveſted with Gods image above others, receive authority from God, and ſhould act for God, judge as God himſelf would judge. But ſeriouſly Sir, do you think, that when God the Son, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come to judge the quick and dead, that he (I ſay) will approve thoſe Judges, or Juſtices that paſſe Sentences and give out warrants to ſpoil Miniſters, and Chriſtians of their goods for preaching, praying, or hearing Sermons? Is preaching and praying now become an iniquity to be puniſhed by the judge? By a Chriſtian Mgieſtrate? The Apoſtle ſaith, wo be to me if I preach not the Goſpel; p. 70but by ſuch manner of acting it ſhould ſeem to be quite contrary; wo to me if I do preach the goſpel. And as I have hitherto conſidered you as a Magiſtrate, ſo give me leave to look on you a little as a Chriſtian, and ſee how agreeable to the truth of Chriſtianity this act will appear, how well it becometh a Chriſtian Magiſtrate. Every Chriſtian ought to promote Chriſts Kingdom, according to the Lords prayer, Thy Kingdom come. But ſuppreſſing of preaching is the direct means to overthrow Chriſts Kingdom, and to build up Satans. By theſe late actings, in which you lead the way, how many preachers have been ſilenced, how many hundreds of Sermons ſuppreſſed? by which who knows how many loſt Sheep might have been found, how many ſinners converted, Saints edified, the eyes of many blind opened, dead Souls quickened and eternally ſayed? If it be ſo bleſſed a work to convert one ſinner, Jam. 5. 20. whoſe work is it to hinder ſinners converſion? What titles doth St. Paul give Elymas for an act of like nature, for endeavouring to hinder the preaching but of one Sermon, ſee Acts 13. 10. He that with-holdeth corn, people ſhall curſe him, Prov. 11. 26. much worſe do they who with-hold the bread of life from people. I was hungry and ye gave me no meat, Mat. 25. 42. Will Chriſt ſay to the wicked at the laſt day; but what will he ſay to oppreſsers, Spoilers, Sons of violence; may he not ſay to them, I had a little meat, clothes, money, and ye took them from me? ſure, that is worſe; and worſt of all is taking away ſpiritual food. As the Soul is more excellent than the Body ſo much worſe is it to take away the bread of life, far worſe, than to take away corporal food. Pray conſider how in conſiſtent this is with love to God and Chriſt, which all Chriſtians profeſs. Joh. 21. 15, 17. Peter, loveſt thou me? feed my lambs, feed my ſheep. A Miniſter can no way better teſtify his love to Chriſt, than by diligent and faithful feeding the flock with ſincere milk of the word, nor a Magiſtrate, than by incouraging the faithful diſpenſers of the word; whom to diſcourage and puniſh for doing their duty, how highly diſpleaſing and provoking to the Lord is ſuch an act? who rebuked even Kings for their ſakes, ſaying do my Prophets no harm, Pſal. 105 14▪ Nor can you alledge juſtly, that you puniſh them not for preaching and hearing, but for tranſgreſſing the law, when you know, they have authority both to preach and hear by his Majeſty's Declaration and Licenſe under his hand and Seal; yea and a Bill of eaſe is under conſideration of this preſent Parliment to juſtify their proceedings. And doth it become inferiour Magiſtrates to interpoſe, or rather to oppoſe that Indulgence; which both King and Parliament have thought meet to grant? Nor need you to fear the loſs of an hundred pounds, in caſe you had refuſed to act. For men of judgment are of Opinion, that the forfeiture is not at all reoverable in Law. And if it were, what Informer dare contend with you for it? But ſuppoſe the worſt, read 2 Chron. 25. 9. What ſhall we do for the hundred p. 71Talents? The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. Oh how vile a thing is the love of money, 1. Tim. 6. 9. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 1 Joh. 2. 15. I will not be ſo uncharitable towards you, as not to hope and believe, that you love Jeſus Chriſt really; yet if you love the world, i. e. money, eſteem credit or any thing in the world above Chriſt, you love him not ſincerely; Mat. 10. 37. He that loveth Father, or Mother &c. more than me, is not worthy of me, is no good Chriſtian. Give me leave to cite one paſſage out of Mr. Baxter—In Q. Mary's days, when Martyrs were condemned to the fire, there were many great men, who really loved them, and wiſhed them well, and their hearts grieved in pity for them, as knowing them to be in the right. But they loved their honour, wealth, and ſafety ſo much better, that they would ſit on the Bench, yea, and give Sentence for their burning, for fear of hazarding their worldly happineſs, was this ſincere love, &c. Mr. Baxter Saints reſt. p. 3. pag. 238.

Say not theſe men under conviction are Diſſenters, Phanaticks, &c. I will not hazard my reputation to be eſteemed a favourer of ſuch. You know Chriſtianity hath ever been reproached, and hath ſuffered under black names. Chriſt himſelf was blaſted with the odious name of Samaritane. His Apoſtles and the firſt Chriſtians were termed the ſect of the Nazarenes, of which Paul himſelf was counted the Ringleader, Acts. 24. 5. an Heretick, v. 14. The Chriſtians of former ages in England were called Lollards Hereticks &c. and in our age Puritans, Phanaticks. But what if Chriſt own them for his people and members, whom the world proſecutes with odious titles? What a caſe are they in then, that vex and ſpoil them of their goods? What if you had been ill thought of by ſome vile perſons (for wicked men are vile, Pſal. 15. 4. Dan. 11. 21.) you ſhould the more be had in reputation of wiſe and good men. To be diſpraiſed and diſparaged by lewd men, is no diſgrace, but a commendation; yea, God himſelf will honour them that honour him, 1 Sam. 2. 30. But Chriſt will be aſhamed of them that are aſhamed of him, Mark 8. 38. Oh! how fearful is their caſe, who fear men more then God, who will rather deny the truth, or act againſt a good cauſe, or a good conſcience, than they will diſpleaſe an Informer? Rev. 21. 8. The fearful are ſet in the forefront of the damned crew. Now, good Sir, conſider your ways, look them in the glaſs of the word, not in the glaſs of this world; ſay what have I done? It had been better wiſdom to have done ſo before the act, to have viewed the obliquity of it, the conſequences with all the circumſtances of it, and to have reſolved with Joſeph, how ſhall I do this? &c. Gen. 39. 9. to have ſaid with Nehemiah, ſhall ſuch a man as I do this? I whom God hath bleſſed with ſo great an Eſtate, inveſted with authority to ſit in the Seat of Juſtice, ſhould not I honour God with my ſubſtance, with my authority? Should I be inſtrumental in vexing good people for righteouſneſs ſake? Should I hinder the inlarging of Chriſts p. 72kingdom by ſurppreſſing the Goſpel? What evil hath the Goſpel of Chriſt done? That the preacher of it, the profeſſors of it ſhould be thus deſpightfully uſed by the world, by profeſſing Chriſtians; What account can I render to the Lord of this, when it ſhall be ſaid, give account of thy Stewardſhip, for thou maiſt be no longer Steward? Should I, that was looked upon with much reſpect by all ſober Chriſtians be the firſt of all thoſe of my rank, and the leading Man in that action, which tends directly to the pulling down the walls of Gods Jeruſalem, and make the builders thereof to ceaſe by force and power, which was the work of Heathens and enemies to Religion? Ezra 4. 23. 24. Then ceaſed the work of the houſe of God. Think how many ſighs and tears you wring from the mourners in Sion, how many prayers and cryes are ſent up to Heaven for the enlargment of the Goſpel and Goſpel Miniſters, by your means ſilenced, Acts 12. 5. And will not God avenge his own Elect, Luk. 18. 7. which cryed day and night, though he bear long? Is it good that you do, to incourage the Vipers and Caterpillars of the land, who thirſt after the ſpoil and prey, that they may inrich themſelves with the labours of innocent men? For which cauſe, even for filthy lucre, they act the Devils part, the grand enemy of mans ſalvation: They, as he, go about ſeeking to devour. To draw a concluſion, wherefore, O Sir, (to uſe Daniels words, Chap. 4. 27.) Let my counſel be acceptable, break off your ſin by righteouſneſs, and your iniquities by ſhewing mercy to the poor, if it may be a lengthening of your Tranquillity. Do what lyes in you to deliver the oppreſſed from violence and ſpoill; let the Informers be checked and diſcouraged, by Miſſing their expected pray. Let reparation be made to the Sufferers, by cauſing that every man have his goods taken from him, reſtored again In caſes of wrong and offences done to our Neigbours, repentance to God is not ſufficient, without ſatisfaction to man, if there be ability, as I am certain there is in this caſe. You know Auguſt. ſaying, which is good divinity, The ſin is not forgiven except reſtitution be made of that which is taken away. And now I have done, only let me give you an account, why I take on me this boldneſs to be thus plain with you. Surely it is becauſe I honour you, as not only a Gentleman but a Chriſtian; one who have good things in you, and a Conſcience bearing witneſs to the truth, and will not rebel againſt the light, when it ſhines out, but will yield an obedient ear, as David ſpeaks, Pſal. 141. 5. Let the righteous ſmite me, &c. Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh, &c. Levit. 19. 17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy Brother, &c. By warrant of theſe and other Scriptures, I have adventured to deal plainly with you in this matter, aſſuring you that my hearts deſire and Prayer to God for you is, that you may be ſaved. And if it pleaſe God to open your eyes, and touch your heart, then it will never repent you, that you hearkened to the counſel of a poor Miniſter, but you will bleſs God for it (as David did for Abigails advice, 1 Sam. 25. 32.) p. 73that you may make reparation for what is paſt, and be kept for the future from work of this ſort. Let the Devils Servants do their Maſters drudgery, (for ſuch it is, Rev. 2. 10.) but keep you your ſelf pure. To conclude in the words of a wiſe Man, but no Chriſtian; i. e. of Gamaliel, Acts 5. 38, 39. I ſay refrain from theſe men, and let them alone: for if this counſel, or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, leſt haply you be found even to fight againſt God. Now craving pardon for this tediouſneſs and prolixity, and your candid interpretation, I take leave, and commend you to God, reſting

Your Worſhips to be commanded John Hieron. Loſco.

Cozen,

IT is now a long time ſince I ſaw you: But to me no little grief; I hear an evil report of your lewd and ungodly courſe of life, that you lead, to the great diſhonour of God, the grief of your Friends, the danger of your Immortal Soul, and the ruine of your Family, whom by waſting, and your unthrifty courſes, you muſt needs bring to Poverty here, and hazard their Eternal Salvation hereafter, by your ill example, and neglect of honouring and worſhiping of God in your Family, as every Chriſtian is bound to do. Now I pray you conſider your wayes; whether is Alehouſe haunting, keeping company with Drunkards, caſting off Prayer and all Family Duties, the way to Heaven or Hell? Is this to walk as the Goſpel teacheth, Soberly, Righteouſly, Godly in this preſent evil World? Is this to follow the Example, and Godly Education of your pious Friends, who brought you up in the fear of God? Is this to walk according to the Vow of your Baptiſm, in which you were dedicated to the ſervice of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, and in which you promiſed to forſake the Devil and all his works, the vanities of the World, and the luſts of the Fleſh? Pray, think how great a ſin Perjury is, to be forſworn by breaking a ſolemn Vow made to God in the face of a Congregation, which God will require at your hands? And how fearful a ſin is Apoſtacy, to fall away from your holy profeſſion, which ſometime you made. Read, and tremble at thoſe Scriptures, Prov. 14. 14. 2 Pet. 2. 20. 21. Heb. 10. 29. Will the pleaſure of ſin for a ſeaſon make you amends for the loſs of Heaven and Eternal Happineſs? Can your good fellows and companions in wickedneſs ſave you from the wrath of God, and the vengeance of eternal fire? Will they, or can they comfort you in Sickneſs, at the hour of Death or day of Judgment? Did the rich man Luk. 16. 28. think that his Brethrens company would be any ſolace to p. 74him in Hell? Why then doth he requeſt ſo earneſtly, that a Preacher might be ſent to warn them, that they might turn and eſcape the place of torment? Lay theſe things to heart, and remember your ſelf in time, before it be too late. And as with the prodigal Son you have run away from your Fathers houſe, and from your Duty; ſo return with him to your Obedience. Confeſs and bewail your ſins to God, as he did, and forſake them and you ſhall find mercy, as he did. But do it betime without delay, defer it not; leſt your heart be hardened through the deceitfulneſs of ſin, or leaſt death come upon you unawares. And if you dye in your ſins, Hell follows after. Abandon the Alehouſe and all wicked company, ſet up Religion in your Family, pray not only once on a Sabbath day, (I marvel where you learnt that) but every day morning and night; and break off all your ſins by Repentance, and pray for a new heart; for why will ye dye? Ezek. 18. 31. Deſpiſe not this Counſel, but receive it as ſent from God, leaſt it witneſs againſt you in the great day, when every one muſt give an account of himſelf to God. And it may very well be the laſt, which you may ever receive from

Your Ʋncle, which pityeth your poor Soul, and all yours. Octob. 20. 1680.

BEcauſe I pity your Conditions, I thought good to give you ſome directions in Writing, which you may read, and conſider, and have them ready by you, and your Son may ponder them, as Mary kept the ſayings of Chriſt, and pondered them in her Heart; becauſe words of Advice, only ſpoken in the Ear, are ſoon forgotten, and become as water ſpilt on the ground. And what I write ſhall be words of Truth and Soberneſs, taken out of the Scripture of Truth, or agreeable thereunto. And therefore you ought to give the more diligent heed to them. In the firſt place, I ſhall direct my words to you and your Wife, and pray you to conſider your waves, and ſearch and try your Hearts, and ſee whether God hath not laid this affliction on your Child for the Parents ſin…; for though it become not others to judge uncharitably of them, who ſuffer ſuch things according to our Saviours caution, Suppoſe ye that thoſe Galileans were greater ſinners, than all the Galileans; I tell you, Nay: Luk. 13. 3, 5. Yet it is our Duty to humble our ſelvés under the mighty hand of God; to judge our ſelves; to commune with our own hearts; to ſee Gods name written upon his Rod: Micah 6. 9. To hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it. Gods Rod hath a voice; it calleth to us; if we were wiſe enough to know the meaning of it, to underſtand its errand. Job 3…. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more▪ That which I ſee not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I p. 75will do no more. Imitate Rebekah, Why am I thus? And ſhe went to enquire of the Lord. Gen. 25. 22. Shew me wherefore thou contendeſt with me. Job 10. 2. If your Heart do not condemn you for any particular ſin; yet renew your Repentance for all ſin; labour to excite and ſtir up the Grace of God within you. Be more fervent in Prayer, diligent in hearing, more watchful over your hearts, and all your wayes, mortifie corruptions, and walk more cloſely with God, and pray that this Affliction may be ſanctified to you, that you may come forth as gold, after God hath tryed you: Job 23. 10. That you may be able to ſay as David, Pſal. 119. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy ſtatutes. This is what I thought good to ſay to you Parents.

Now I ſpeak to your Son: Though God does ſometimes viſit the iniquity of Parents upon Children; yet there is none upon Earth ſo juſt, or innocent, as to be Naturally pure, and free from ſin. All are born in ſin. The imagination of the Heart of Man is evil from his youth. You are therefore to be humbled for Original Sin, the Corruption of your Nature, the Mother of all abominations. And pray, that you may be born again with a new birth from Heaven. David confeſſeth, Pſal. 51. 5. Behold, I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my Mother conceive me. Every one therefore muſt be renewed; taken off the ſtock of old Adam, and ingraſſed into Chriſt. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature. Make ſure of this, that you be in Chriſt. In him God is well pleaſed, and with all that are in Chriſt. If you may ſay with David, Pſal. 118. 6, 7. The Lord is on my ſide, I will not fear what men, or Devils, can do unto me: The Lord taketh my part with them that help me. Again, Pſal. 56. 11. In God I put my truſt, I will not fear what man can do unto me. Pſal. 27. 1. The Lord is my light, and my ſalvation, whom ſhall I fear? The Lord is my ſtrength, of whom ſhall I be afraid? Rom. 8. 31. If God be for us, who can be againſt us? He that ſpared not his own Son, &c. Make ſure of Gods love, and then you need not fear the Devils malice. For firſt, the Devil is a conquered Foe. He is a Dragon, or Lyon in chains. Rev. 20. 1. Chriſt that owns the Croſs hath overcome and ſubdued him. Heb. 2. 14. Through his death he hath deſtroyed him that had power of death, that is the Devil. He cannot go one link beyond his Chain. He could not touch one Lamb of all Jobs flock, till God gave him leave He could not enter into the Herd of Swine till Chriſt permitted him. He cannot appear to you, nor hurt you, except God ſuffer him. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matth. 10. 30. By fearing him, you do him too much pleaſure and honour: And will you pleaſure a cruel enemy? An enemy to God and your Soul By ſo doing you diſhonour God and Chriſt, who is your ſtrength and Redeemer. You do p. 76in effect ſay, I doubt the Devil is too hard for God. I fear God cannot deliver me out of his hands. Whereas it is promiſed, Rom. 16. 20. The God of peace ſhall tread Satan under your feet ſhortly. 1 Joh. 4. 4. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. How fooliſh a thing is it to fear that which never did befal you, nor any man, not one of ten thouſand? What, did you ſee the Devil, or have you known one man or woman, that ever did ſee him; except Witches who call him in to their aſſiſtance? His ſuggeſtions, or temptations cannot harm you; but moleſt and trouble you. They are not your ſins, you may ſtill keep your integrity for all them, as Job and Chriſt did. And if God ſhould ſuffer him to appear to you; yea, and carry your Body from place to place, as he did our Saviour; yet it is not in his power to hurt you. I have read of a Godly Miniſter, that for want of a better, was forced to dwell in a Houſe that was haunted, and one night when he was in Bed the Devil appear'd to him, ſtanding like a Man at his Beds feet: The Miniſter ſaw him, but was not affrighted; only ſaid to him, If thou have nought elſe to do, thou mayeſt ſtand there ſtill, I will betake my ſelf to my reſt; and ſo he did, and heard no more of his gueſt. The Devil is a proud Spirit, and loveth to domineer, and have men ſtand in awe of him, to fear him inſtead of God, and this he triumpheth in. But the beſt way is to ſlight and contemn him, as the Miniſter did; ſo ſhall you be ſooner rid of him.

Leave thinking of him, and have God more in your mind; his Mercy, Love, and Care to all that fear him; his Promiſes, Providence: Theſe call to mind Gods Attributes, his Allſufficiency, his Almighty Power. I am the almighty God; Gen. 17. 1. and Gen. 15. 1. F…ar not Abraham, I am thy ſhield, and thy exceeding great reward. Joſh. …. 5, 6. I will be with thee: I will never fail thee nor forſake thee. Be ſtrong and of a good courage. Theſe Promiſes, though made to Abraham, and to Joſhua, belong to every believer. Believers are Heirs of the Promiſes. Heb. 6. 17. And Paul applies them to all believers; Heb. 13. 5. And ſo doth Peter; 2 Pet. 1. 4. Do you act faith in the promiſes, and reaſon thus; Is God my God, my Heavenly Father in Jeſus Christ? Doth he love me? Pſal. 146. 8. Doth he care for me? 1 Pet. 5. 7. Watch over me, is he my ſhield and buckler? Pſal. 121. 3, 4, 5. Prov. 2. 7. My ſtrength, rock, fortreſs, high tower, my deliverer. Pſal. 18. 1, 2. Shall I then be ſo cowardly, as to fear a creature, the Devil, all the Devils in Hell, when God is for me? God keepeth, careth for me, watcheth over me night and day. Iſa. 27. 3. Where is my faith? Check your ſelf for unbelief, as Chriſt did Peter, Matth. 14. 31. O thou of little faith, wherefore didſt thou doubt? And as David did his own Soul: Pſal. 42 Why art thou cast down O my Soul, &c. Laſtly, If you are in Chriſt, then are you dear to God; though you be never p. 77ſo poor, you are a member of Chriſt, of the family of Heaven, of the Houſhold of Faith, a Lamb of Chriſts flock, a Child of God, an Heir of Heaven. Will God ſuffer the Devil to harm any, ſo dear to him. Joh. 10. 28. My ſheep ſhall never periſh, nor ſhall any man, or devils, be able to pluck them out of my fathers hand. Chriſt is a good Shepherd, Iſa. 40. 11. He will gather the lambs in his armes, and carry them in his boſom. He will not quench the ſmoaking flax, nor break the bruiſed reed. As a Father pityeth his Children, ſo the Lord pityeth them that fear him. He may ſuffer men to ride over their heads, Satan to buffit them, 2 Cor. 12. 7. but ſtill his eye of Fatherly care is on them; Pſal. 34. 15. and all things ſhall work together for their good. Now lay all theſe things together.

1. Satan is a Conquered, a Chained Enemy.

2. By ſlaviſh fear you do him too much honour.

3. You wrong God and Chriſt, as if they were not able to ſave you.

4. Call to mind Gods gracious Attributes, Providence, Promiſes.

5. Your relatian to God and Chriſt, to whom in Baptiſm you were devoted; and ſo are a Member of Chriſt, one of Gods Children, whom he loves, pityeth and careth for. Say now, as Nehemiah, Should ſuch a one as I flee, ſhould I fear the Devil? No, fear God, fear to diſpleaſe him by ſin, by this immoderate fear. Reſiſt the Devil by Faith and fervent Prayer Lay hold on Gods promiſes. Apply them to your ſelf by Faith, as if they had been made to you by Name. Hold no diſpute with Satan; he will be too hard for you. But take the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Anſwer his Cavils with that, as our Saviour did. Avoid ſolitarineſs, as much as you may. When you are alone, yet remember you are not alone. Believers have fellowſhip with the Father, and the Son, by the Holy Ghoſt. And alwayes remember, that the Holy Angels encamp round about them that fear God. Turn to thoſe Scriptures; Pſal. 34. 7. and 91. 11. Get acquainted with Gods people, hear their advice, and beg their Prayers: Wait on God, be ſure to keep in his way, and the iſſue will be good. Pſal. 40. 1. So the God of Peace grant you Peace by all means; and the Peace of God which paſſeth underſtanding keep your hearts through Jeſus Chriſt. To his Bleſſing and Grace I commend you.

Yours. Mar. 30. 1680.

I Muſt deſire to ſee you: but it is thought not adviſable for me to take ſuch a journey at firſt, not having been on horſe back ſince my late ſickneſs. I am ſorry to hear you are ill again, being but lately recovered from an ill fit. Man that is born of a woman, is of few days, and is full of trouble. And becauſe it is unknown to us, which ſickneſs is, or may p. 78prove our laſt, it is wiſdom to improve the preſent, as a warning to us, So to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts to wiſdom, to conſider our latter end, and Eternity that follows after. Set thy houſe in order: for thou ſhalt dye, and not live, ſaith the Prophet from God to Hezekiah, much more ſhould we ſet our Souls in order, and ſee that we be on good terms with God, ere we appear before his judgment-ſeat. Which we muſt do the firſt moment after the departing of the Soul out of the body. Heb. 9. 27. This is a work ſo neceſſary to be done in time, that it is not, ought not to be put off, till a ſick bed; yet it muſt then be revived, and renewed, and then done in the beſt manner, as being the laſt time of doing it, and what is then done is like to ſtand for ever. In order thereunto reflect, and look back into the former part of your life. Begin at your birth ſin, and corruption of nature. Bewail that, and lament over it, ſo go on to the ſins of youth▪ and be humbled for them, and ſo come a long to the ſins of age, and riper years, confeſs and bewail them with their agravating circumſtances, as being committed againſt light, knowledge, and checks of Conſcience, and done with deliberation. By this means you will find eaſe and reſt to your Soul, according to that promiſe, Mat. 11. 29. If you caſt your weary burden upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he will ſtand between you and his fathers wrath, he will take all your debts upon him, and ſay as Rebeckah to Jacob, upon me be thy curſe, my Son. Freſh ſorrow for old ſins, Repentance renewed will make Chriſt ſweet, and ſin bitter to you, and affect you more in his love in dying for you. This will be a good evidence to you, that your ſins are forgiven. Namely if you confeſs them with a broken and penitent heart, and forſake them with deteſtation. And now is a fit time for you to look up your evidences for Heaven, that ſo you may not be afraid to dye, but may look Death in the face with comfort. If you ſay how may I be aſſured, that my ſins are forgiven, and that Chriſt is mine. To the firſt, I have anſwered already; He that confeſſeth, and forſaketh his ſin, ſhall find mercy, Prov. 28. 13. If we confeſs our ſins, (by faith reſting on Chriſt for pardon) he is faithful, and juſt to forgive us. To the ſecond, How may I know that Chriſt is mine? Thus, Are you you his? Are you willing? Do you conſent to have him on his own terms, for your Lord? and do you obey him as your Lord? Do you take his yoak upon you? have you reſpect to all his commandments? Do you hate every evil way, John 15. 14. You are my friends, if you do whatſoever I command you. Do you chuſe the Lord for your portion, Chriſt for your bliſs and happineſs? Do you more highly prize him, and deſire to enjoy him more, than all riches? Do you account all things but loſs and dung in compariſon of him? Had you rather be the moſt holy perſon upon Earth, than the greateſt, or richeſt, that ever was? And do you uſe diligence in the means of grace, to attain to more holineſs? If ſo you p. 79may without doubt, be well aſſured, your Eſtate is good and ſafe. For you could not have choſen God, and loved Chriſt, unleſs he had choſen and loved you firſt. Dwell therefore in the thoughts, and taſtes of Gods love to you. Say, how wonderful is Gods love to a poor worm and ſilly duſt! That the contrivance of infinite wiſdom ſhould be taken up about me! That the eternall Deity ſhould conſult about my ſalvation, ere the world began! That God ſhould paſs by many wiſe men after the fleſh, many mighty, and noble, (who if they had been converted, might have done God better ſervice an hundred times then I) and make choiſe of me, a diſpicable ſinner, to be an Heir of ſalvation. Lord what is man &c. Thus raiſe up your heart in thankful admiration of Gods wonderful love to your Soul. And Thirdly the aſſurance of Gods love will incourage your heart againſt the fear of death, and give you confidence againſt the King of terrors. I ſhall be glad to hear of your recovery; though I thus write, I commend you to God, and if I never ſee you in this world, I hope to meet you with other dear friends, who are gone before, in thoſe manſions, which Chriſt hath purchaſed, and prepared for all thoſe that love him, to whoſe grace I refer you,

Yours J. H. May 31. 81.

They are bleſſed that do hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs, after Chriſt for juſtification, and ſanctification: Do not you ſo? Are not you empty, naked, barren of grace in your ſelf, a dry tree? Are not you ſenſible of your your wants, and of your beggarly condition? Do not you not ſay with David, I am poor and needy Pſal. 70 5. And with Paul, Rom. 7. 18. in me dwells no good thing? Is not your appetite and thirſt after grace, as ſtrong as Sampſons was for water, or Rachels for Children, give me Children or elſe I dye? Do you not thirſt after more grace, and covet earneſtly farther degrees of holineſs, and wiſh you were the holieſt, rather than the richeſt, or greateſt, Lady, or Princeſs in the world? If ſo, then I queſtion it not, but you are one of the bleſſed ones, in the judgment of Chriſt, who is infallible, and cannot miſtake. What have you to ſay againſt this? I hope you reſt ſatisfied about vile and vain thoughts, which do not lodge in you, but you repel them and reject them. Theſe may be your grief and affliction, but are not your ſin, cannot prejudice your good eſtate; nor ought your imperfections, paſſions, corruptions (from which the beſt on earth are not free) to cauſe you to queſtion your juſtification, or your being in Chriſt; So long as you bewail them, ſtrive againſt them, and are humbled for them: your deſire is to reach after perfection, and further Meaſures of holineſs. Theſe deſires are of and from the Spirit of God. And he accepts the will for the deed, as was ſhewed in divers inſtances. Nay this to me p. 80makes it clear, if God account impious deſires, vicious, ungodly, inordinate luſts for the ſin it ſelf, or deed done; as Hatred with him is imputed Murder: 1 Joh. 3. 15. Luſting after a woman, though ſhe remain chaſt, is Adultery (in Gods account) in the man. So much more longing and thirſting deſires after grace, are beginnings of grace; and ſuch deſires God accepts, and will fulfil them; Pſal. 145. 19. provided they be gracious and holy deſires, humble deſires ſpringing from a broken heart, from one that is poor in Spirit, if they be conſtant, unſatisfied, vehement in the uſe of means; and that a man ſo prize Chriſt and his grace, that he be ready to ſell all to buy the Pearl. Now this being your condition, what cauſe have you to leave your doubting, and ſpend your dayes in rejoycing, and praiſing God for his ſingular Mercy in conferring on you ſo excellent a gift, as is ſaving grace; which is ſo rare a gift, like gold to be found with few perſons; but more excellent than millions of gold and ſilver. Let your meditation of God be ſweet, and admire his wonderful love to you in Chriſt, and how great things he hath done for you.

Yours.

I Am ſorry that the Sun and Stars are darkened with you, and that the Clouds return after the Rain: But be not diſcouraged; this is a caſe common to many good Chriſtians, and no other than befalls the beſt of Gods people. Do not fear but the light will break forth again; though you be under a cloud at preſent. The Son of Righteouſneſs will ariſe upon you with healing in his wings. Be ſure you regard no iniquity in your heart. Keep you from every accurſed thing. Waſh you, make you clean, ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well; and mark what follows, If your ſins were as ſcarlet, they ſhall be as white as ſnow; if they be as crimſon, they ſhall be as wooll. If we confeſs our ſins he is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins, and the blood of Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin. Again, If any man ſin we have an advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous: He is the propitiation for our ſins; and not for ours only, but for the ſins of the whole World. Now reach out the hand of Faith, and lay hold on the promiſes, and apply them, for they are exceeding great and precious promiſes; and they are all in Chriſt, yea, and Amen, true and faithful: And they are your promiſes, yea, directed to you in particular, as if your name was put to them. O, be not faithleſs, but believing: And if you do believe with all your heart, then are your ſins forgiven, according to the tenour of theſe promiſes. Now are you juſtified and at peace with God through Jeſus Chriſt: O thou of little faith, wherefore didſt thou doubt? Doubts in Gods people may ariſe from one of theſe cauſes: The heinonſneſs of Sin, the imperfection of Duties, or the weakneſs of Faith. For the firſt of theſe p. 81know, that the Lord thinks never the worſe of any for what they have been, for any ſins they have lived in, when once they have truly repented of them Ezek. 18. 21, 22. You may obſerve in the Church, that Chriſt never ſhewed greater kindneſs to any, than to ſuch as had been moſt notorious: As the woman of Samaria, Zacheus the Publican, Mary Magdelen. And whereas there is but four women mentioned in the Genealogy of Chriſt, Mat. 1. not one of them but the Scripture ſets a mark of infamy upon them, for ſome notorious ſins. Ruth was a Heathen, an Idolater; Tamar, Rahab, Bathſheba, you know what they were; yet theſe only have the honour to be upon record, when Sarah, and women though more ſpotleſs, are paſſed by in ſilence. What may be the reaſon thereof. Take it from Mr. Hilderſam. To teach us that penitent ſinners ſhall have never the leſs honour with God, ſhall be never the leſs eſteemed for that they have done, after they have once truly repented, and turned to the Lord: So you ſee there is no cauſe, why you ſhould be diſmayed at the hainouſneſs of your ſins, having repented of them For the next: True it is, that after Converſion we are but in part regenerate; and ſo our beſt Duties are imperfect, and ſtained with many corruptions; Iſa. 64. 6. yet God doth not reject them nor us for theſe defects; but accepts them, 1 Pet. 2. 5. delighteth in them, Cant. 2. 14. will reward them; Col. 3. 24. Heb. 11. 5. and not ſo much as take notice of the blemiſhes, that are in our beſt ſervices, Mic. 7. 18. Cant. 4. 7. Thon art all fair, my love, there is no ſpot in thee. Let not the poorneſs of your Duties diſcourage you: but remember, Chriſt ſits at the right hand of God, to make interceſſion for you: By whoſe merits Saints Prayers are perfumed, as it were, with incenſe; and ſo are made a ſweet ſavour to God. Rev. 8. 3. And for the third, know, that it is not the ſtrength, but the truth of Faith, that giveth us acceptance with God, through Faiths acceptance of Chriſt▪ Joh. 1. 12. As many as received him, &c▪ Now a weak hand may receive a gift, as truly as a ſtrong. A ſingle penny may be as good and clear Silver, as a bigger piece. Among Believers, Heb. 11 ſome whoſe ſincerity we ſhould have doubted of, (ſo weak was their Faith) if the Holy Ghoſt had not put them in the Catalogue of the Faithful: As Gideon, Barak, Sampſon, Jeptha, Rahab. Him that is weak in Faith we are bidden to receive: Rom. 14. 1. Sure God will not reject ſuch. And now what place is there left for your doubting? If God do not ſhine upon you, by the light of his Countenance, yet is he your loving Father reconciled to you in his Son. A Father is a Father ſtill, though he do not alwayes ſmile on his Son. Go you on in your Chriſtian courſe of Godlineſs, ſerve the Lord with chearfulneſs, and believe that your poor ſervices ſhall, and do find acceptance with Chriſt. Obſerve that in Lev. 1. 7. So much as is ſaid of the offering of the poor Mans Sacrifice, which was but two young Pidgeons.

p. 82Another to the ſame Perſon.

IAm diſtreſſed for you. What ſhall I do for you? Oh thou afflicted, toſſed with tempeſt, and not comforted! How ſhall a man comfort a Soul, that refuſeth to be comforted? Your caſe is like Hagars, in the Wilderneſs, who was ready to periſh through drought, when there was a Well of Water by her; but ſhe ſaw it not, till God opened her eyes; Gen. 21. 9. like Mary, Joh. 20. 15. who ſtood weeping for Chriſt, who ſtood by her; but ſhe knew not that it was Jeſus. You have the Well of Water in you ſpringing up to Eternal Life; you have Chriſt in you, the hope of Glory; but your eyes are held, that you perceive him not. Like thoſe two Diſciples, that went to Emanus, Luk. 24. 16. You are in Chriſt, there is no curſe, condemnation, or wrath to come belonging to you, you are waſhed, you are ſanctified, you are juſtified in the name of our Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are yours, Chriſt with all his benefits, the Covenant of Grace with all its priviledges, all the great and precious promiſes of the Goſpel, which are yea, and Amen in Chriſt, ſealed in his Blood, confirmed to you in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. God is your God, your loving Father in Chriſt. Heaven and Eternal Life is yours. Fear not poor Soul; it is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. What ſhall I ſay more? What can you deſire more; except you would have your name put into the Scripture promiſes? You believe you ſhall dye, becauſe it is appointed for all men once to dye; your Name is not there. You believe the Reſurrection of the Body; becauſe it is written, There ſhall be a reſurrection of the juſt and unjuſt; yet your Name is not there. The Scripture ſaith, Whoſoever believeth in Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall be ſaved: i. e. Whoſoever being truly humbled for ſin, diſclaims all opinion of his own Righteouſneſs, and with Paul, deſireth to be found in his Righteouſneſs only, he truly believeth: And ſo do you; therefore you ſhall certainly be ſaved. The Scripture ſaith, Whoſoever confeſſeth and forſaketh his ſin ſhall find mercy. Whoſo loveth God, the ſame is beloved of God. Prov. 8. 17. He that loveth the Brethren is tranſlated from death to life. If you ſay theſe are general Promiſes; How ſhall I gather aſſurance from them concerning my perſonal eſtate? I Anſwer, By looking into your own heart, where if you find you are ſo qualified, and have theſe Graces of the Spirit wrought in you; viz. Faith, Repentance, Love to God, and all Saints, you may be aſſured of your Salvation, as certainly as if Chriſt had ſaid to you by name, as he did to the Man that had the Palſie; Matth. 9. 2. Son, be of good comfort, thy ſins are forgiven; or to Mary Magdalen, her ſins, which are many, are forgiven. Mar. 7. 47.

p. 83As to your vain Thoughts, I can ſay no more, but what I have ſaid; that neither they, nor any other ſin of infirmity, which is your burden and trouble, ſhall hurt or indanger your Salvation. It's the common lot of all Chriſtians to ſuffer Afflictions outward or inward, and ſometimes both: 2 Cor. 7. 5. We were troubled on every ſide, without were fightings, within were fears. God is only wiſe, knoweth how to order all for the good of his people. Wait on him with patience, until he ſhine on your Soul with the light of his Countenance, and fill you with Joy and Comfort, according to the promiſe; Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. Beware of unbelief, which maketh God a lyar. 1 Joh 5. 10. Believe his Promiſes, believe his Prophets; ſo ſhall ye be eſtabliſhed: 2 Chron. 20. 20. Beware of entertaining hard thoughts of God, dark miſgiving thoughts, as you ſeem to do, when you fear leſt God ſwear in his wrath againſt you; he did ſo againſt murmuring, rebellious Iſrael, who deſpiſed the pleaſant Land, and would appoint a Captain to lead them back into Egypt. What is this to your caſe? God is good and doth good, is Love, Light, Life, Grace to all that truſt in him. Read Dr. Mantons firſt Sermon on Pſal. 119. 68. where he gives a check to ſuch as yours: Page 473. You ſay true, I have not prayed for you of late more carneſtly, becauſe I hoped you had been more ſettled and at peace, hearing nothing from you to the contrary. Now I ſhall tender your condition. I cannot as yet promiſe you a ſolemn day. I have been very ill ſince I wrote to you, and am yet far from well. I pray you have patience; and when God makes me able, I hope to ſee you. I am haſting apace to the Grave; my Legs ſwell, which together with old Age, tell me the Grave is ready for me; God grant I may be ready for it. I pray read theſe Lines, peruſe them, and ponder them in your heart, and pray that the Holy Spirit may let you know the things that are freely given you of God.

Yours, J. H. Mar. 9. 81.

IAm not without hope to fall to work again ſhortly; I pray therefore in your next let me underſtand whether you continue in the ſame mind, to have a day kept on your account; or whether you have found him whom your Soul loveth; whether the Son of Righteouſneſs be riſen in your heart with healing in his wings; or the Day-Star from on high hath viſited your Soul. I pray you, let me ask you one Queſtion; Have you not received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and that worthily? (i. e.) In a due manner, becoming that Holy Ordinance with Goſpel preparation, and communing with your own heart in ſecret? I know you have many times. Now what is a Sacrament, a Seal of the Covenant of Grace is it not? Well, then there muſt be p. 84mutual Sealing on both parts. You put to your Seal, that you will receive Chriſt, with his yoke of Obedience, with his Croſs, Perſecution. Did you not mean thus ſincerely, with a good and honeſt heart? This is your Covenanting for your part, which you will indeavour to perform faithfully all the dayes of your life; though in many things you fail; as in vain thoughts and divers other things. And God Sealeth to you for his part, that he will be to you a God allſufficient; will give you his Son, with forgiveneſs of Sins, and all things pertaining to Life and Godlineſs. Now is not here ſtrong Conſolation for a Believer, an Heir of the Promiſes, one of Gods Covenant people? Away then with all doubtiug and unbelief. God is a faithful God; he keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him, and keep his Commandments. Can you deſire better aſſurance, that God is your God, Chriſt is your Saviour, that your Sins are forgiven. That is one branch of the Covenant. Heb. 8. 12. This Covenant is an everlaſting Covenant, ratified and confirmed by the Bloud of Chriſt; and the Seal of the Sacrament. Think you that vain thoughts, for which you are grieved, and count them your great burden, that they can diſannul, or make void the Covenant ſo eſtabliſhed? Come, Come, take hold of Gods Covenant, which God that cannot lye hath made with you in Chriſt; who though you be never ſo unworthy in your own apprehenſion; in all your ſlips and failings have recourſe to the Covenant; in all your wants and defects of Grace apply your ſelf to this Covenant, and it will afford you relief. Be not faithleſs, but believe, conſider and meditate well on this: I ſay, though you know it already, yea, ruminate on it again; it is of great concernment Now the God of Peace and Conſolation, grant you Peace and Joy in believing, to whoſe Grace I commend you.

J. H.

MY hearts deſire, and prayer to God for you is that you may be ſaved. And that is the very end of theſe lines to contribute my beſt endeavour to the ſalvation of your immortal Soul. And if you will but joyn with me to lend an e…r, and the Lord pleaſe to open your heart, as he did …ydia's, to attend to wholſome advice, I hope by Gods bleſſing the iſſue may be comfortable. So as I ſhall have no cauſe to repent of my labour in writing, nor you in reading according to words of truth and ſoberneſs—You have been known to me theſe many years, at leaſt thirty years laſt paſt. You have requeſted a ſhare in my Prayers, that was your own expreſſion in a letter from you above twenty years ago. You have been a great promoter of Religion by your pains, and purſe, and conſtant endeavour to get a good Miniſter ſetled at the place where you live. You have been reputed a ſober man, and p. 85a godly Chriſtian by all that knew you. Thus you did run well. You were in a right courſe, you were fair for the Kingdom of Heaven. But how is it with you now? It is no good report that I hear of you; you are I hear become an Ale houſe hanter a company keeper; Can ſit and tipple with drunkards; Seem to take delight in bad fellowſhip; Elſe you would not viſit the Ale-houſe ſeveral times in a day, and neglect your buſineſs at home; you decline in goodneſs, and decay in your outward eſtate. If this witneſs be true, as I am credibly informed, then are you to be ſharply rebuked, that you may be ſound in the faith. O fooliſh man, who hath bewitched you, that you ſhould not obey the truth; you did run well; who did hinder you; having begun in the ſpirit, are you now made perfect in the fleſh; Have you done and ſuffered ſo many things in vain; if it be yet in vain? Thus you loſe the things you have wrought, and fall ſhort of the reward of godlineſs for want of perſeverance, and holding out to the end. Remember, I pray you, whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the firſt works. You had better not to have known the way of righteouſs, then after you have known it, to turn aſide from the holy Commandment delivered to you; better not to have been waſhed, then return to the wallowing in the mire, and lick up your vomit again. Apoſtacy is ſo fearful a ſin, that I tremble to think of the heinouſneſs of it; how many woes and threatnings are upon record in ſcripture. Read and tremble: Prov 14. 14 Pſal. 101. 3. 125. 5. Ezek. 16. 24 33. 13. Heb. 6. 6. 10. 26. 39. 2 Pet. 2. 20 21. Mat. 2. 45. What iniquity have you found in the ways of God, that you have forſaken the good path, the holy Brethren for the pleaſures of ſin, which are but for a ſeaſon: for you cannot ſerve two Maſters. You cannot keep integrity, and take pleaſure in ſinful courſes, which are as contrary as light and darkneſs, fire and water. By your preſent practiſe, you proclame to world, that you upon long experience, and having made tryal of Religious courſes find no profit, no comfort in them. And ſo renounce your part in God and Chriſt, heaven and happineſs, and reſolve to take your lot and portion with drunkards, and ungodly ſiners, both in this world, and that which is to come. Do you tremble at ſuch a thought? This is the language of your Ale-houſe hanting. O what diſhonour is this to God, that one that hath been his Servant ſo many years, ſhould now at laſt revolt from him, and turn on the Devils ſide, and to profeſſe to like the Devil better then God; his work, better then Gods; his wages, better then God; hell, better then heaven; the company of Drunkards, better then the ſociety of Saints! For a Chriſtian to turn Drunkard is the worſt turn that can be. If you conceive this charge be to heavie, conſider, that God makes no difference between drunkards, and the companions of drunkards. Compare, Mat. 24. 44. and Luke 12. 41. To ſit, to p. 86eat and drink with the drunkard, is all one with to eat and drink and to be drunken; And the puniſhment of both is alike; The Lord of that Servant will come in an hour when he looketh not for him, and ſhall cut him aſunder and appoint him his portion with hypocrites: there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth: So in Prov. 23. 20. 21. Be not among wine bibbers, &c. for the drunkard ſhall come to poverty. By which it is plain that it is all one to be among wine bibbers, and to be a drunkard; keeping company with wicked men is forbiden as well as wickedneſs it ſelf. Pſal. 1. 1. A godly man, who is the only bleſſed man, is one that hath no fellowſhip with the ungodly, Pſal. 26. 4. 5. I have not ſat with vain perſons, neither will I go in with deſemblers, I have hated the Congregation of evil doers, and will not ſit with the wicked. Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with the wiſe, ſhall be wiſe: but a companion of fools ſhall be deſtroyed. Pſal. 119. 63. I am a compainon to them that fear thee. I need not multiply texts in ſo plain a caſe: And do I need to add, how offenſive Ale-houſe hanting is to others? It brings reproach upon profeſſion, it verifies the prophane proverb, a young Saint, an old devil; it gives occaſion to the adverſary to blaſpheme; it rejoyceth the ungodly and hardeneth their hearts, and ſtrengtheneth their hands, that they ſhould not return from their lewd ways. It grieveth the good ſpirit of God, it makes ſad the hearts of thoſe that fear God, it is a ſore affliction to your Wiſe, family, and relations, it impoveriſheth your Eſtate, cauſeth a neglect of your buſineſs and calling, it unfits you for holy duties, though you do not altogether lay them aſide. If you regard iniquity in your hearts? God will not hear your prayer, he heareth not ſinners, that is not ſuch as live in ſin; for in prayer we are commanded to lift up holy hands: 1 Tim 2. 8. Lay all theſe together in the ballance of the Sanctuary. Weigh your Actions. Do I well to turn from my Righteouſneſs, and commit Iniquity? Do I well to forſake God the fountain of living water, and to dig to my ſelf broken Ciſterns, that can hold no water? Do I well to grieve the holy ſpirit, to bring an evil report on the holy ways of God? Do I well to run the hazard of damning my Soul? To encourage ſinners in ſin, to harden the wicked and offend the godly, to undo Wife, and Children, and make ſad the hearts of my friends, will it not be bitterneſs in the end? I conceive you to be under a ſore temptation. The hand of Joa…, of Satan is in all this you are diſcontented and preſſed with heavie burdens of debt, and ſome outward concerments; and the Devil draws you to the Ale-houſe, as a diverſion; and to drive away ſorrow. But this a ſiniſter courſe, a remedy worſe then the diſeaſe; as to be ſure all remedies are of that enemyes preſcribing. Will any wiſe man hearken to the counſel of an enemy? conſult but your own reaſon. Is ſpending your money, and waſting your time laying aſide care of p. 87buſineſs, the way to leſſon or encreaſe your debts? If there were no ſin in it, it might divert your mind a little for the preſent. Juſt like impenitent ſinners who are convinc'd of the neceſſity of Repentance; but becauſe Repentance and Godly Sorrow is bitter to the Fleſh, they defer and delay from time to time, and ſinger as Lot did in Sodom, till a ſhower of Fire and Brimſtone overtook them, to their eternal undoing. Be not ſo unwiſe as to make light of Eternal Happineſs, by giving way to Alehouſe mirth and merryment; which is a poor remedy, and to be ſorrowed for with bitter tears: Prov. 14. 13. Even in laughter the heart is ſorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heavineſs. Now if you will hearken, I will give you advice, and the Lord ſhall be with you. Repent, and be converted, and return to God, from whom you are deeply revolted; bewail your backſliding, forſake your evil courſes; Enter not into the path of the wicked: Prov. 4. 14, 15. Pray, lie at the Throne of Grace, beſeech God with importunity, beg pardon for what is paſt, and Grace to keep you from the path of the deſtroyer for the time to come. Break off from all ill company. Say as Pſal. 119. 15. Depart from me, ye wicked: I will keep the Commandments of my God. It may be ſaid, he that hath drawn you into the ſnare, will diſcourage you from recovering your ſelf by Repentance, by telling you, it is too late, your ſins are too many and too heinous to be forgiven; but believe him not, he is a lyar, he is a murderer of Souls: Believe the Word of God, the God of Truth, which aſſures to repenting ſinners, that there is hope in Iſrael; If we confeſs and forſake our ſins we ſhall find mercy. Prov. 28. 13. Iſa. 1. 16, 18. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Pſal. 130. 4, 6. I will heal their backſliding. Hoſ. 14. 4. Jer. 12. This courſe if you will follow, to ſet about it without delay, then ſhall you obtain forgiveneſs, through the rich mercy of God in Chriſt. Read and conſider well the parable of the prodigal Son, Luke 15. and doubt not of Gods favour and reconciliation; and ſo the worſt and moſt dangerous of your debts are diſcharged: And for your Money-debts, you may find a better way of cure for them, than the company of good fellows in an Alehouſe. You have ſecret Prayer, a ſweet ſolace for a Soul in trouble, Pſal. 119. 4. you have good Books to read, you have Godly Miniſters of the Word; you have Chriſtian Neighbours, whoſe Society and Counſel you may make uſe of; you have Wife and Children, to delight and recreate your ſelf in their company; you have Friends and Relations not far diſtant, who are able to give you advice, if you will make known your caſe unto them, and not ſmother your grief by reſerving and locking it up in your own breaſt, which is not a good way. This is to keep the Devils Counſel, till you ſink under your burden with deſpair. Take need of it. I know your Brother loveth you dearly, and is not ſo far off, but you may have his help at hand, and aſſiſtance. p. 88to manage your Eſtate, ſo as to clear all your Debts in a … time; make him of your Counſel, and take his Advice, I am no Counſellor in Worldly affairs: I pray you regard what I ſay from God concerning your Soul; and let your Brother be of your Counſel, touching your outward Eſtate. And ſo I commend you to God, praying that you may duely weigh what I have ſaid, that my Counſels and Reproofs be not as Water ſpilt on the ground; but rather as good ſeed falling on good ground, that by Gods Bleſſing it may bring forth good fruit, even true Repentance in you, and amendment of Life, &c.

Your Loving Friend for the Salvation of your Soul; J. H.

BEcauſe I have no Worldly good thing to preſent you with, I now and then let a word of Spiritual Counſel drop from my Pen. I deſire to commend to you one Scripture, which I pray you to meditate on frequently: Deut. 4. 9. Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy Soul diligently. Is there any thing in this World of equal concernment? If the Soul be ſafe, all is ſafe. It ſhall go well with the Body, if the Soul be ſaved. If the …oul miſcarry, we are undone for ever. Shall we be careful of the Health of the Body, and careleſs of the Immortal Soul? Shall we keep our Money ſafe, our Lands and Evidences of Eſtates, and not keep our Hearts diligently? Prov. 4. 23. Let us preſerve our Money, our Eſtates as charily as we can, Death will ſtrip us of all; we muſt carry nothing away with us; no more than we brought with us into the World Naked we came, and naked we muſt return, as to the Body: But Spiritual treaſure, Soul riches will accompany us beyond the Grave to Eternity; Our works ſhall follow us: i. e. The reward of them. O let us labour to be found in Chriſt, to be made new▪ creatures, to be rich in good works; for as we ſow, ſo ſhall we reap. I was hungry, and ye fea me; or, I was hungry, and ye fed me not▪ &c. According to one of theſe will the doom paſs at the great day. Bleſſed is the ſervant, whom his Lord when he cometh ſhall find ſo doing. At that day an upright heart, a Conſcience ſprinkled with Chriſts Blood, a Life full of good Works and Almſdeeds will be more comfortable in the review, than Lands and Lordſhips, and bags full of Money. …et us be wiſe in time. Let us make to our ſelves friends of the unrighteous Mammon, that when theſe things fail, we may be received into everlaſting habitations

There be dead at London, within twelve Moneths, twelve worthy Miniſters of the Goſpel; and Judge Hales, that upright Judge, that p. 89ſcorned to take a bribe, the Honour and oracle of the law, is dead alſo pray that theſe deaths of righteous men …reſage not evil to come. Thus with due reſpects to you both▪ I commend you to God reſting

Yours J. H. Loſco February 15. 1676.

Becauſe I have nothing to write to you about worldly matters, I would give you a word of ſpiritual advice; which as it is not to me any trouble; ſo I would hope, it is neither unprofitable, nor unaceptable to you. That which I have thought fit at this time to impart to you is the ſinfulneſs of ſin, the danger, and damnation that accompanieth every ſin; every diſobedience; which without true and ſincere repentance, and amendment of life, will be the eternal ruin of the Soul. One actual ſin is enough to deſtroy a man as is apparent in Adam, Lots Wife, Ananias and Saphir a, And many others in ſcripture; and how much more then will a courſe of ſin, a way of wickedneſs, as the love of the world, a form of godlineſs, hypocriſie, an unregenerate eſtate, if continued in, undo a man everlaſtingly? Yet how little is this laid to heart? What favourable thoughts do moſt people entertain of ſin? As if it were at light matter, not to be ſo much dreaded; ſince Chriſt died for ſin, what need we ſo much fear to live in it? Seeing God is merciful, why may not we take liberty to live as we liſt? As if the Son of God came down from Heaven not deſtroy the works of the Devil; but to eſtabliſh the Empire of ſin, as if God were not as juſt, as merciful; whoſe moſt pure and holy nature can never be reconciled to ſin. Sin is the tranſgreſſion of law. And the great Lawgiver, who is able to ſave, or deſtroy, will never ſuffer ſinners to trample on his authority, and caſt his Commandments at their heels, and hold them guiltleſs. Sin provoketh God, the God of patience to anger. And the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſt ſin in all ages. What ſtrange confuſion, and horrid deſtruction hath ſin introduced into the world, it caſt thouſands of lapſed Angels out of Heaven into the dreadful Tophet, where they are reſerved in everlaſting chains under darkneſs to the judgment of the great day. This viper ſtung our ſirſt Parents, outed them of Paradiſe, brought in ſorrow, ſickneſs, a thouſand diſeaſes, and death into the world, drowned all the Earth with a flood, turned Sodom to aſhes, brought on Jeruſalem ſuch calamities, as were not inflicted on any Nation under heaven. And which is more, what is it but ſin, that kindles the flames of Hell fire and (which yet further declareth the hatefulneſs of ſin) it crucified the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; without ſhedding whoſe blood no remiſſion. How much then is every one concerned to get out of a ſtate of ſin▪ p. 90to commune with our hearts and trye, if we be converted? And to ſee, that no iniquity have Dominion over us? Let us Judge our ſelves, that we be not …udged. Make ſure our eternal eſtate, live we not in ſin, leſt we dye in ſin, and be damned for ſin; let's follow holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. We are all in good health, bleſſed be God, to whom I commit you, and with all due repeſcts to you both reſt

Yours &c. J. H. Loſco July 24. 1677.

WE are all well praiſed be God, I have nothing of outward matters to preſent you with, which makes me fill my paper with better things. The going out of the old year ſhould minde us of puting off the old man; and the coming in of the new year, that we put on the new man, that we purge out the old leaven of corruption, that we may be renewed in ſincerity and true holineſs. We are one year nearer to our grave, and eternity, then we are the faſt year at this time; have we got one years growth in grace? What progreſs have we made in ſanctification, in mortification this year? What corruptions have we ſubdued? Have we put off our worldly mindneſs, lukewarmneſs, formality in worſhip? Are we become more holy, humble, heavenly, have we added one Cubit to our ſpiritual ſtature? It is not unlikely, but we can tell whether we decline and go backward; or whether we go forward and increaſe in riches and our outward eſtate. And the Soul is more excellent, then the body, and grace then gold. Let us take a view of the ſtate of our Souls, and obſerve what mercies we have received this year; from how many evils and calamities we have been preſerved; and ſad breaches which have been made upon other families which we and ours have been freed from, that ſo we may be thankful, and give to God his praiſe. Let us review our ſins of the year paſt, how many ways we have miſcarried and offended God, that ſo we may be humbled and renew our repentance. How oft have we received the ſacrament of the Lords ſupper? So many obligations we lye under; the vowes of God are upon us, and tyes to better obedience. Thus oft reflecting on our ſelves is a good way to know our ſpiritual eſtates. A Chriſtian ſhould be no ſtranger to his own heart and ſtate in reference to eternity, ſelf-judging diſcovers our ſelves to our ſelves, encreaſeth grace, inlargeth comfort, weakeneth corruption, keepeth peace with God and our own conſciences, caſteth out ſin, prevents miſtakes which are dangerous in ſoul-affairs, prepareth to every good work. If we were, as the Apoſtle ſaith. Gal. 6. 14. Crucified … of the earth would affect and p. 91afflict us leſs, and our hearts would be more above, where our treaſure is, or ſhould be. So wiſhing you a good new year; eſpecially that your ſouls may proſper, I commit you to God, and with all due reſpects to you both remembered, I am

Yours Truely J. Hieron. Decem. 28. 1676.

My very good friend,

I Underſtand that you and your whole family are in great ſorrow and heavineſs through your Wiſes miſcarriage of a child, and truly I, and our family do grieve with you: for ſo we are commanded, to weep with them that weep, and be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. But I pray, be wiſe and take heed leſt you over-grieve, and ſo offend God by immoderate ſorrow, which you may eaſily do, and ſo provoke his wrath againſt you; and bring a heavier croſs upon you. Let them that weep be as if they wept not, 1 Cor. 7. 30. If it ſhould pleaſe God to make a greater breach among us by taking from any of us a dear friend, we ought to ſubmit to Gods will with patience and ſilence. As we ſee in Job, who beſide the loſs of all his cattle, had all his Children at mans eſtate taken from him by a violent ſtroak, yet how religiously he behaved himſelf, under the hand of God you may read in his ſtory. So let us humble our ſelves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time: 1 Pet. 5. 6. What ſaid the prophet to the King of Judah, asking how ſhall we do for the hundred Talents? The Lord is able to give the much more then this. 2 Chron. 2. 25. 9. Gods hand is not ſhortened. He can abundantly recompence a greater loſs, then this. But I would not have you too earneſtly ſet your hearts upon any outward bleſſing, nor too eagerly deſire iſſue; but with ſubmiſſion to Gods will, ſo far as may be for his glory, and your good and comfort. For though Children are an heritage from the Lord, as it is Pſal. 127. 3. that is, when God giveth them in love, and bleſſeth them; not when he giveth them in anger, as he gave Iſrael quails Pſal. 78. 30, 31▪ and gave to Ephraim Children Hoſ. 9 13. for the murtherer: Better it is to be barren, then fruitful in Children, that may be croſſes to fathers, and heart breakings to Mothers by their wickedneſs Prov. 17. 25. or by the evil of the times. If Popery ſhould come in, or the ſword of war ſhould rage in the land, we know not what evil may be in the earth. But ſuch times have been, and we know not what may be, when it ſhall be ſaid, Bleſſed are the barren, that never bare, and the paps which never gave ſuck, Luk. 23. 29. Let me give you wholſome counſel which if God give you hearts to embrace it, will be to your comfort. And it is that p. 92which you find, Lam 3. …9… 40. Wherefore doth a living man complaint, a man for the puniſhment of his ſins? Let us ſearch, and try our wayes▪ and turn again to the Lord. Leave off grieving for the affliction, and inquire into the cauſe of it; as Rebekah did being with child, ſhe inquired of the Lord why am I thus? Gen. 25. 22. Go you and do likewiſe, pray to God as Job. 10. 2. Shew me wherefore thou contendeſt with me. Search your hearts and ways. Have you wraſtled with God, in prayer for the fruit of the womb and for a bleſſing on it? Have you ſet up prayer in your family, or neglected it? If not; then have you robbed God of his due; and no marvel, if he deceive you of your expected comfort. You know, or may know, that family prayer is a duty commanded of God, and put in practiſe by all Gods people. And thoſe are no Chriſtian families, that do not call upon God; nay, the wrath of God hangs over them Jer. 10. 25. pray turn to all theſe ſcriptures, and weigh them well Eph. 6. 18. Luk. 18. 1. Jos. 24. 15. Job 1. 5. Act. 10. 2. Gen. 18. 19. And mark this one Inſtance, Jſaac had a promiſe, that his ſeed ſhould be as the Stars of Heaven for multitude: yet his wife was barren, and without iſſue Twenty years until he prayed more earneſtly, and then Rebekah conceived, and bare twins Gen. 25. 22▪ As bleſſings are obtained by prayer ſo are they ſanctified, to become bleſſings indeed by prayer, 1 Tim. 4. 5. It is ſanctified by the word and prayer. Every creature is ſo, our meat, our labours, our enjoyments, our relations, are ſanctified to us by prayer. Otherwiſe the curſe abides on them Prov. 3. 33. The curſe of the Lord is in the houſe of the wicked; Tit. 1. 15. To the pure all things are pure: but to them, that are defiled, and unbelieving is nothing pure. Theſe things I pray lay to heart, and reſolve to reform and amend whatſoever is amiſs; as you would have Gods bleſſing and favour both here and hereafter. And conſider whether this neglect of family-prayer he not the thing, which troubles M. and the grief of it be not the cauſe of her miſcarriage. For I really believe ſhe hath in all other things as much content as her heart can wiſh a loving Husband, a loving relation, and fulneſs of all things that the earth affords; but ſhe cannot be ſatisfied to live in a family, where God is not worſhiped, ſhe with Mary in the goſpel, having choſen the good part, which ſhall not be taken from her. Therefore I earneſtly deſire, ſhe may be gratified in this one requeſt; if you think I ſpeak reaſon, reſolve to put this adviſe in practiſe and begin preſently, and continue to the end. They that call on the name of the Lord, ſhall be ſaved. pray, let this Letter be read to, or by your whole family. So praying God to open▪ your ears, and hea…ts to hearken to the counſel of the word, I leave it and you all, to the bleſſing of God, and with my love to you all, I reſt

Your faithful friend I. Hieron. Loſco Feb. 21. 1679.

p. 93THis is to let you know that your Aunt W. dyed yeſterday, after about ten dayes lying ſick. Thus we part with our loving Neighbours and Friends, one after another; till Death at length knocketh at our door. And what better uſe can we make of every ſuch occaſion, than to conſider our ſelves, and ſeriouſly to mind our own latter end? Let us put this queſtion to our Souls: Soul, art thou ready to depart? Art thou in ſuch a poſture as thou wouldſt be, to appear befo…e the Tribunal of the great Judge? Haſt thou on the Wedding garment? Take heed thou be not found naked to thy ſhame. O, put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt▪ his Righteouſneſs by Faith to Juſtification, his Holineſs to Sanctification. Every one would have comfort and hope in Death; but then we muſt lay up a good foundation of it in Life. No man is like to find that treaſure at, or after Death, which he never laid up▪ in his Life time: For what a man ſoweth that ſhall he certainly reap. He that ſoweth to the fleſh, or to the world, ſhall reap corruption, damnation eternal. O that we were wiſe! O that we would conſider the end of our wayes! Whither are we going? Heaven or Hell is before us: To which of theſe doth my preſent way lead? Reſolve this Queſtion ere you ſleep; becauſe Time tarries for no Man, Life is uncertain, and upon this moment depends Eternity. Time is irrevocable: When once it is paſt, it cannot be recalled; not if you would give thouſands of Gold and Silver for one day or hour longer. Let every paſſing peal you hear ring, every▪ Grave you ſee opened, preach to you this Doctrine; Be ye alſo ready. Thoſe to whom thoſe Skulls and Bones you ſee turned up belong, were in their time, as good Men as you perhaps. What we ſee them to be now, others will ſee us to be ſhortly. The faſhion of this World paſſeth away; but Godlineſs, Grace, Holineſs, endureth for ever. Chooſe with Mary that good part which ſhall never be taken from you. I know no buſineſs of greater weight than this is, therefore I beſeech you do not ſlight it, but lay it to heart. Thus with due reſpects to you, I reſt▪

Yours truly John Hieron. Loſco. June 14. 77.

THE only intent of this Paper is to give you a word of Spiritual Advice and Direction to carry your ſelf ſo in this World, that you may be happy for ever in the World to come. You know every one hath a Soul, an Immortal Soul, which muſt live …ternally either in bliſs or miſery. And every one of us muſt be careful to ſave his own Soul. Deut. 4. 9. Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy Soul diligently. The more precious any thing is, the more careful we are to preſerve it, and more fearful to loſe it. In this reſpect the Soul deſerves more care, p. 94than all the things in the World beſides; for it is infinitely more worth. What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and looſe his own ſoul? Or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? Saith our bleſſed Saviour, Matth. 16. 26. Wherefore let my Counſel be acceptable to you, and I will ſhew you the right way, how you may ſave your Soul, and be for ever happy; which I ſhall do in two words. Firſt, Be careful to ſhun and avoid whatſoever is deſtructive, and dangerous to the Soul; and that is ſin, and ſinful luſts. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abſtain from fleſhly luſts which war againſt the ſoul. Dent. 23. 9. Keep thee from every wicked thing. Jer. 44. 4. Oh do not this a…ominab… thing that my ſoul hates▪ faith the Lord God: For the ſoul that ſinneth ſhall dye. Ezek. 18. 4 And as you muſt watch againſt all ſin, ſo muſt you flee all occaſions and temptations to ſin. Beware of ill example: Follow not a multitude to do evil; Exod. 23. 2. for the way to Hell is broad, the gate that leadeth to deſtruction is wide, and many there be that go in thereat. Take heed of bad company, which are infectio…s. Shun them as you would ſhun the Plague: For a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. He that walketh with the wife, (that is the Godly) ſhall be wiſe: But a companion of fools (that is, of wicked men) ſhall be deſtroyed. Prov. 13. 20. Be not among wine-bibbers. Prov. 23. 20. Come not near the door of an Harlot, or Harlots houſe. Prov. 5. 8. Bleſſed is the man, &c. Pſal. 1. 1. This is the firſt part of my Advice, which is the ſame you are engaged to by the Vow of your Baptiſm, wherein you renounced the World, the Fleſh and the Devil, and are under a ſolemn obligation to maintain a continual War againſt them, as being enemies to your Soul. And if you ſhall neglect to do it, you would be a forſworn creature. This is a conſideration well worthy your laying to heart. In the next place, you muſt carefully uſe thoſe means that God hath appointed to work grace and holineſs in your heart; for by this we are ſaved. And without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord▪ or be happy. Heb. 12. 14. Let ſin be the grief and burden of your heart; yea▪ ſin original chiefly, as well as actual ſins; for we are all born in ſin, and Children of wrath by Nature; and muſt be born again; that ſo Natural Corruption, the plague of our heart, may be healed in us by a new birth from Heaven. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature. For this you muſt pray to God earneſtly, and with importunity; that he will create in you a new heart; Pſal. 51. 10. and work in you a lively Faith, that you may kiſs the Son, believe in Jeſus. Chriſt for pardon of Sin and Salvation. For this end you muſt diligently and conſtantly attend on the Word, which is the ordinary means which God hath appointed to beget and increaſe Faith. Rom. 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing. Have a care to keep holy the Sabbath day conſtantly; and no day neglect reading the Scripture: And let fervent Prayer be your p. 95Morning and Evening Sacrifice continually; and pray God to put his fear in your heart, that you may never depart from him. Bleſſed is the man t…a… fe…reth alwaye…. Prov. 28. 14. Daily be faithful and diligent in your Calling; he courteous to all men; do evil to none; ſpeak evil of no man live ſoberly, be temperate in all things. Let the chief care of your heart, and endeavour of your life be to ſerve and pleaſe God; that he may bleſs you here, and ſave you hereafter. So God ſhall have Honour, your Friends Comfort in you, and your Soul be eternally … ved; which is the deſire of

Your true Friend and Lover, John Hieron. Loſco June 19. 1680.

Thus this Holy Man was taking and making opportunities of doing good to Souls. The converſion, quickning and ſaving of Souls, was the deſire of his Heart, what he earneſtly prayed for, and the deſign of his Sermons, and of his Letters, and of his private Diſcourſe too, and that to the laſt. As a Ki…ſwoman coming to viſit him, (not long before he dyed) and ſtaying all night; when ſhe came into his Chamber to take her leave, after much good Counſel given her, (ſayes he,) Are you going? But who came along with you? (She anſwered,) Her Man. And (Payes he) where is he? I have ſomething to ſay to him. Then he was told, that the Man was on Horſe-back, waiting for his Miſtreſs. He replyed, Call him up. Shall any one come, and lodge a might in my Houſe, and I ſay nothing to him concerning his Soul? Bid him alight and come to me; for I must ſpeak to him. Thus he ſhewed his Care for the Soul of a Servant, as well as of the Miſtreſs; his Love to the Soul of a Stranger, as well as to any of his own Kindred.

FINIS.