Gods Call from Heaven Echoed, Dedication 3
To his dear Conſort, and welbeloved Children.
Whoſe ſpititual welfare ſhould I tender if not yours? I cannot but intereſt you in this my publike as well as private ſervices.
FOr thee, Dear heart, as my love here greeteth thee, ſo thine to me, to thy ſelf, (I queſtion not) will put thee on ſeriouſly to view and hearken to this diſcourſe, as well as my other and former advices. Here thou mayſt try that grace which the Lord hath given thee to his glory, and thine and my comfort, and mayſt be helped to make ſure thy calling and election. It is true, I am as yet preſent with thee, through mercy, and thou with me, (but it is unknown (unleſs in heaven) how ſoon we may be ſnatched each out of others boſome, for the cloud of death many times overcaſts a fair morning) and ſo have opportunity for information, direction and counſel, according to my talent. But this may live when I am dead, and by this means thou mayſt have an admoniſhing husband preſent even when abſent. However, it may prove ſubſervient to thy ſouls advantage, whether our time be leſs or more in this world.
As for you, my dear Children, I judge it not unmeet to commend theſe collections to you, and as a father to command you to ſtudy them, and to ſearch your ſelves by them.
I have formerly had in my thoughts to draw up ſome admonitions and cautions for the good of your ſouls, which as a father careful of your eternal weal, I might leave with you as a fathers bleſſing, as the beſt legacy I can bequeath to you; but thoſe being not hatched and theſe fledged and compleated, I could not but put them into your hands, not knowing (though my ſelf wtth your loving mother be in the prime of our years, having but newly paſt the noon of Moſes Pſal. 90.his youngeſt old man) how ſhort my time may be with you; as alſo becauſe the ſubject is of ſpecial concernment for you, being born and brought forth in ſin. For what doctrine could I better lay before you, than that of effectual calling? ſhewing you what is grace, and what not; and what duty could I better lay upon you, than that of converſion and repentance. Young children, like young plants, had need be ſhored and underpropped with good admonitions, I endeavour it in this Treatiſe, as well as in my private teachings.
I have ſix of you in the land of the living, Oh that the Lord would make you his! So far as I know mine own heart, (though the heart of man, and ſo mine is very deceitful) I profeſs ſeriouſly, that how low ſoever your condition ſhould be for temporals, yet if the Lord would be pleaſed to beſtow a new heart upon you, I ſhould abundantly rejoyce, yea, more than to ſee you ſit upon the higheſt pinacle of worldly advancement. I am full of fears and deſires in reference to your ſouls good; and though now you be tender and young, and ſo little ſenſible, and not ſo fit for this or other books, yet if it pleaſe God to lengthen out the thread of your lives, which I pray for, then take a word of advice from your father: oh that God would bleſs it to you!
Study throughly the nature of original ſin, and that pravity that is diffuſed throughout your natures. Remember that you are born in ſin, and ſo will live and die if not changed by grace. The Lord change you for his Chriſt's ſake. Let the Scriptures be precious in your eyes; they are the book of books; read them often, and heedfully. Make great conſcience of obedience to your parents and ſuperiors. Remember your creator in the days of your youth; make good uſe of your young time; flee youthful luſts; take heed of the beginnings of ſin; beware of pride, lying, vain company, &c. Be willing to learn and be taught the things of God, and your ſouls good. I muſt contract, or mine Epiſtles will ſwell too much. Jeſus Chriſt waſh you with his blood, cleanſe you from the filth and guilt of ſin, make you the ſons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. The Lord make thee, my dear yoke-fellow, a Mother of Saints, and more and more an Eunice to the fruit of thy womb. So prays
An affectionate huſband, and father, tender of your ſouls good, J. V. Heveningham, Feb. 4. 1657/8.