The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration, Treatise · Exhortation
An Exhortation to the Regenerate.
Firſt, to give God the glory of that good work, which is wrought in them.
Secondly, to do what good they can to the ſouls of others, eſpecially of their relations.
I Come in the laſt place to a word of exhortation to the regenerate. If without Regeneration, none can attain ſalvation, then O new born creature, it highly concerneth thee, to be thankeful to God, and to be faithful to men.
Firſt be thou thankful to God; What wilt thou render to the Lord for this great ineſtimable benefit? Is not thine heart raviſhed in the conſideration of that good wil, which took ſuch notice of thee a poor worm! Praiſe (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) waiteth for thee in Sion, Pſal. 65.1. and well it may; for of Sion it may be ſaid, This and that man was born in her. Pſa. 87.5, 6. An heathen had three reaſons for which he bleſſed God. One of them was, that he had made him a man, a rationall creature; I am ſure thou haſt more cauſe to bleſſe God, that he hath made thee not onelyonly a man, but a Chriſtian, not onelyonly a rational, but a new creature. They that are new born in Sion, have infinite reaſon to honour God with the ſongs of Sion. If David praiſed God, Pſa. 139.14, 15.becauſe he was wonderfully made, in regard of the frame of his body; what cauſe haſt thou to praiſe him for the curious workmanſhip of grace in thy ſoul. Thou canſt never give too great thanks for whom God hath wrought ſuch great things. Do thou ſay, The Lord hath done great things for me whereof I am glad, Pſ. 125.3. What joy is there at the birth of a great heir, or a prince! What ringing of bels, and diſcharging of guns, and making of bon-fires, when thoſe infants are born to many croſſes, as well as to crowns; nay and their Scepters, wither, and crowns moulder away! O the joy which thou mayſt have in God, who art born a child of God, an heir of heaven, of a kingdom which can never be ſhaken! Do wicked men keep the day of their natural births, with ſo much pleaſure and delight, when they were therein born in ſin, and brought forth in iniquity; when by reaſon of thoſe births, they are obnoxious to eternal death? and wilt thou not keep the day of thy ſpiritual birth with joy, whereby thou art purified from thy natural pollution, and aſſured of entrance, into the purchaſed poſſeſſion where thou ſhalt be perfectly purified?
It was the ſpeech of Jonadab to Ammon, Why art thou lean from day to day, being the Kings ſon? ſo ſay I to thee, Why art thou ſad who art Gods ſon? Rejoyce O Chriſtian, thy name is written in the book of life, thy ſoul hath the infalliable token of ſpecial and eternal love. It was matter of great joy, that Chriſt was born at Bethlehem, Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy; For to you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour which is Chriſt the Lord, Luk. 2.10, 11. but I tell thee it may be matter of greater joy to thee, that Chriſt is born in thine heart. For notwithſtanding the birth of Chriſt in Bethlehem, thouſands and millions go to hell; but Chriſt was never formed in any ones heart, but that man went to heaven.
It is reported of Annello (who lately made an inſurrection at Naples) that conſidering how mean he was before, and to what greatneſs he was raiſed, he was ſo tranſported that he could not ſleep. O how ſhouldſt thou be tranſported with the thoughts of that infinite happineſs, of which thou art an heir! Serve the Lord with gladneſs, come before his preſence with ſinging, for it is he that hath (new) made us, and not we our ſelves; enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praiſe, be thankeful unto him, and bleſs his name, Pſalm 100. per tot.
Give thanks to God in thine heart by an humble admiration, and in thy life by an holy converſation.
Firſt, Give thanks to God in thine heart, by an humble admiration of his bottomleſs mercy.
If David when he conſidered the glorious heavens, which God had made for man, cryeth out ſo affectionately, What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of man that thou doſt thus viſit him? Pſa. 8. Surely thou, when thou conſidereſt the work of grace and holineſs, which God hath wrought within thee, and the place of glory and happineſs, which he hath prepared for thee, mayſt wel fal down on thy knees, and looking up to heaven, ſay, What is man that thou art ſo mindful of him! and what am I a poor ſon of man, that thou doſt thus viſit me! thou haſt made me but a little lower then the angels, and haſt crowned me with glory, and honour; with grace and holineſs. Who am I O Lord, and what is my houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto! And this was yet a ſmal thing in thy ſight O Lord God, but thou haſt ſpoken of thy ſervants houſe for a great while to come. And is this the manner of men O Lord God? 2 Sam. 7.18, 19.
Friend, let free grace have the honour and glory of all the good beſtowed on thee, or expected by thee. Alas who made thee to differ from others? waſt not thou in the ſame lump of clay with them that periſh? now that the potter ſhould make thee a veſſel of honour, to be ſet upon the high ſhelf of heaven (as the martyrs phraſe is) when others are veſſels of diſhonour, and firebrands of hell, haſt not thou unſpeakable cauſe to wonder at his mercy, and good-will towards thee? That thy perſon ſhould be juſtified, when others are under the guilt of all their tranſgreſſions, is meerly from mercy, Rom. 3.24. Rom. 5.18, 19. The free gift came upon all to juſtification of life. That thy nature ſhould be ſanctified, when others are left in their filth and pollution, is altogether from his grace and favour. Among whom we all had our converſation in time paſt, in the luſts of our fleſh, fullfilling the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God who is RICH IN MERCY, for his GREAT LOVE, wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in ſins, hath quickened us together with Chriſt: That in the ages to come, he might ſhew the EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE, in his kindneſs towards us, in Chriſt Jeſus, Eph 2.1, to 10. That thou ſhalt be ſaved with a great and glorious ſalvation, when others ſhall be damned with a greivous and endleſs deſtruction; that thou ſhall enjoy Rivers of pleaſures, when others muſt be tormented day and night, with intolerable pain, is onelyonly from Gods good pleaſure, Titus 3.3, 4. The jewel which inricheth thee is a guift, Joh. 4.10. *Faith juſtifieth not as manus laborantis which earns a peony, but as manus mendicantis that receiveth an alms or je…el by which the ſoul is juſtified and enriched.The hand which receiveth it is a guift, Phil. 1.29. It is worthy thy obſervation, how full the Spirit of God is in excluding thee and every thing in thee from having any hand in meriting thine acceptance here, or inheritance hereafter; Not by works, Rom 9.11. Not of works, Rom. 11.6. Not according to works, 2 Tim. 1.9. without works, Rom. 4.6. Now if mercy doth all for thee, ſhould not mercy have the honour of all from thee? What did God ſee in thee more then in others, that he choſe thee to glory? What did he foreſee in thee more then in others, that he called thee by his grace? thou waſt not onelyonly empty of, but contrary to all ſaving good; many a motion of the Spirit didſt thou neglect, many an invitation from Chriſt didſt thou reject; how long did he ſtrive with thine untoward heart, before he conquered it? how many a time did he call, when thou wouldſt not hear? and knock when thou waſt ſo far from opening, that thou didſt bolt, and bar the door againſt him? How juſtly might he have ſent thee, as well as thouſands of others to hell! what mercies didſt thou abuſe, what means of grace didſt thou miſimprove! Yet who did he wait upon thee by his unwearyed patience, woo thee by many a good providence, and at laſt win thee to himſelf, notwithſtanding all thy reſiſtance! I tell thee, It is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that ſheweth mercy. Rom. 9.16. O therefore admire mercy; ſay in thine heart, I was a blaſphemer, I was a perſecuter, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt my Lord. 1 Tim. 1.12, 13.17.Now to the King immortal, inviſible, eternal, be honour and glory; bleſſed be God, who hath begotten me again, to a lively hope of an inheritance that fades not away. 1 Pet. 1.3. Wonder at Gods diſtinguiſhing mercy, Lord, how is it, that thou revealeſt thy ſelf to us, and not to the world! ſaid the diſciple, John 14.22. Shouldſt not thou think, Lord, how is it that I, unworthy I, ſhould be choſen when others are rejected! that I ſhould be called when others are neglected! that I who came into the world! with the ſame rage againſt God and godlineſs, and did many a day run with others to the ſame exceſs of riot, ſhould turn about, be in love with holineſs, and run the wayes of thy commandments: when many many others ſtill wallow in their wickedneſs, and are every hour haſtning unto hell, Lord! how is it that thou haſt revealed thy ſelf to me and not to the world!
Plutarch wonders how the fig-tree, having that extream bitterneſs in its leaves, branches, and ſtock, ſhould yet bring forth ſweet fruit. Haſt thou not more cauſe to wonder, how thou ſo extreamly polluted, being in the very gall of bitterneſs by nature, and having a fountain of poyſon in thee, ſhouldſt ever come to bear good fruit, and ſend forth pleaſant ſtreams! truly, thou mayſt have the ſame Motto with the Olive, which groweth in the craggy clifts without moiſture or rooting, A Coelo, From Heaven; Thou couldſt never do it unleſs it were given thee from above; therefore, as thy piety came down from Heaven, ſo let thy praiſe go up to Heaven. Elizabeth wondred that the mother of the Lord ſhould come unto her houſe: O do thou ſtand amazed that the Lord of that mother ſhould come into thine heart! Give thanks night and day to the Father who hath made thee meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light, 1 Col. 12.13.
Secondly, Give thanks to God in thy life by an holy converſation. As thou ſhouldſt ſee thy dignity and take comfort in it; ſo alſo, conſider thy duty, and take care about it; God hath done ſingular things for thee, what ſingular thing wilt thou do for him? The life of thankfulneſs conſiſteth in the thankfulneſs of thy life. O the bonds, the infinite obligations by which thou art tied to thy Saviour! great things are beſtowed on thee, and great things are expected from thee; thy life ſhould be anſwerable to thy birth and breeding. Thou art born of God, haſt blood-royal running in thy veins, art brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; do not therefore ſtain the Houſe of which thou deſcendeſt, nor diſgrace the Family of Faith to which thou belongeſt. Should ſuch a man as I flie! ſaid Nehemiah: Think with thy ſelf, Should ſuch a man as I, that am inroll…d in the Book of life, regenerated by the Spirit of God, redeemed from my vain converſation with the precious blood of Chriſt; ſhould ſuch a man as I diſhonor my Father, grieve my Comforter by frothy language, unſeemly carriage, or being guilty of any thing in my practices that is unſutable to my great and honorable priviledge: The Father hath choſen me to be a veſſel of honor, ſhall I defile my ſelf with the filth of ſin? The Son hath bought me with a vaſt ſum, ſhall not I yield my ſelf up wholy to his ſervice? The Spirit hath made my heart its habitation, and ſhall I ſuffer in it the leaſt unholineſs? I can never pay God for his boundleſs love; but I will endeavor to praiſe him by a ſpotleſs life.
O Friend, walk worthy of the calling wherewith thou art called, Epheſ. 4.1. There is a comlineſs peculiar to thine effectual calling: If a Scholler hath another manner of carriage then a Scullion, and a Courtier then a Carter; ſurely a Chriſtian muſt lead a different life from them that are dead in ſins and treſpaſſes.
Thy calling is high, Phil. 3.14. and therefore thou ſhouldſt walk above the men of the world: Men that are called to high Offices will carry themſelves anſwerable to their places; Princes do not live like Peaſants. Thou art called to be a Son of God, a coheir with Chriſt, a Citizen of Sion: The Son of a King muſt, like Abſolom, be without blemiſh from top to toe; That ye may be blameleſs and harmleſs, the ſons of God without rebuke, Phil. 2.15. Adoption is a tranſlation out of one Family into another, and doth diſoblige thee from the Laws of Satan and his Family, and oblige thee to the rules and orders of Chriſt and his Houſe, into which thou art taken. Thou art called to be a King, Rev. 1.5. It is not for Kings to drink wine, nor Princes ſtrong drink, Pro. 31. that is, immoderately; ſuch a ſin is very bad in a Subject, but much worſe in a Soveraign; as a ſpot in ſcarlet is worſe then in ſackcloth. The tranſgreſſions of others have much rebellion and obſtinacy in them; but thy ſins have more of unkindneſs and treachery, as being againſt the Covenant: Thou art called to reign with Chriſt in Heaven, O walk worthy of him that hath called thee unto his Kingdom and glory, 1 Theſ. 2.12. Thou that haſt hopes to be like Chriſt in glory, ſhouldſt labour, as for life, to be like him in grace, 1 John 3.3. Plutarch in vit. Iul. Caeſ.Caeſar when he heard that Brutus conſpired againſt him, would not believe it, but ſaid, He looks for this skin, meaning, he expecteth to be my heir, to ſucceed me in the Empire, and therefore he will not be ſo unworthy as to plot againſt me. Reader, hath not Chriſt more cauſe to expect that thy preſent deportment ſhould be anſwerable to thy future preferment!
Thy calling is holy, 2 Tim. 1.9. and therefore thy carriage ſhould be holy; other callings may put glory upon a man, but cannot infuſe grace into a man; other callings may change thy condition, but this hath changed thy diſpoſition: Thou art called to be a Saint, ſhouldſt thou not then live as a Saint? 1 Cor. 1.2. Alexander would often bid a Captain of his name, Recordare nominis Alexander.Remember that thou art called Alexander; that the Captain remembring his name might do nothing unworthy of it: Truly, ſo ſay I to thee, Remember that thou art called to be a Saint, to be a Chriſtian, and do not by the unexemplarineſs of thy life cauſe that worthy name by which thou art called to be blaſphemed.
Thy calling is heavenly, Hebr. 3.1. and therefore thy converſation ſhould be in Heaven; it is from God, and therefore muſt lead thee to God. O how ſtately is the deportment of wordlings, when they are called to high employments! how little ſhould all the things on earth be in thine eyes who art fixed in heaven! Themiſtocles walking with one by the Sea-ſide, and ſeeing a precious treaſure on the earth, ſaid to his fellow-traveller, Do thou take it up, fer thou art not Themiſtocles. If the men of the world, whoſe portions are in this life, have their affections ſet on things below, and their converſations on earth, remember that thy treaſure is in heaven, and thine heart muſt be there alſo; live as one that belongs to another Country. In a word, ſtudy, ſtrive, labour, endeavour, watch, pray, hear, read, meditate, that thou mayſt in private, in publick, upon all occaſions, in all companies, in all manner of converſation ſhew forth the praiſes of him who hath called thee out of darkneſs into his marvellous light, 1 Pet. 2.9, 10.
Secondly, As thou ſhouldſt be thankful to God, ſo alſo faithful to men; Thou art converted thy ſelf, do thine utmoſt to convert others. The Lepers coming into the Syrian Camp, and finding food enough to relieve themſelves and many others ready to periſh with hunger, they firſt feaſted themſelves, and afterwards ſay one to another, We do not well; this day is a day of good tydings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, ſome miſchief will befall us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the Kings houſhold, 2. Kings 7.9. The time was when thou like the Lepers, waſt famiſhing thy ſoul with the huskes of the world; now God hath fed thee with the fat things of his houſe; doſt thou well to hold thy peace? Conſider them that are pinched with hunger, and call them to Gods Courts; tell them what large proviſion he maketh, how the table is ſpread, his oxen, his fatlings are killed, all things ready; he wanteth onelyonly comers and company; thou doſt well to take hold for thy ſelf, but thou doſt ill if thou with-holdſt from others.
Iſrael was commanded to pity ſtrangers, becauſe they were once ſtrangers in the Land of Egypt: Shouldſt not thou compaſſionate them that are ſtrangers from the Covenant of Promiſe, aliens from the Commonwealth of Iſrael, carried captive by the Devil at his will, conſidering that thou waſt in that houſe of bondage, in as great ſlavery to Satan, and ſubjection to ſin as others, and it was nothing but Grace and Mercy that redeemed thee? Put them in minde (ſaith the Apoſtle) to be gentle, ſhewing all meekneſs unto all men: Why, upon what conſideration? For we ourſelves alſo were ſometimes foolliſh, diſobedient, deceived, ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures — but after that the kindneſs and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteouſneſs which we have done, but according to his mercy he ſaved us by the waſhing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, 3 Tit. 1. to 8.
Wicked men are like thoſe that are drowning, they catch hold on others, and if it be poſſible, make them ſink with themſelves; godly men muſt be like candles, which being lighted kindle others.
Grace is compared to oil, which is of a diffuſive ſpreading nature; Matth. 25.4.and it doth like the oil in the widows barrel increaſe by pouring out; the oil never ceaſed running, till ſhe ceaſed pouring: The more thou improveſt thy little ſtock of Grace, the more thy maſter will truſt thee with. Peter Martyr ſpeaketh of ſome mountains of ſalt in Cumana, which whilſt they lay common for the good of many never waſted, though Merchants carried away in abundance; but when they were once ingroſſed to one mans uſe, they conſumed away. He that hath greateſt layings out for God, ſhall have greateſt comings in from God. The loaves increaſed not whilſt they were whole in the basket, but whilſt they were breaking and diſtributing to others. Womens milk increaſeth by drawing; if the breſt be not drawn, it will dry up. Prov. 11.14, 15.He that ſoweth liberally, ſhall reap liberally. Believe it, Friend, the onelyonly way to make thy one pound, ten pounds, is by trading with it. I ſpeak not of thy intruding into the Miniſters calling, but of dealing faithfully with the ſouls of thy friends and relations in thy place and ſtation.
Truly, one would think that every time thou conſidereſt the dreadful danger of poor ſinners, thine heart ſhould almoſt bleed within thee! Jeſus Chriſt groaned and wept for dead Lazarus. How did David mourn for dead Abſolom! At a funeral, though there be much coſt, yet there is no chear, becauſe one is dead. What bowels of pity ſhouldſt thou have towards them that are dead ſpiritually, nay dying eternally! Doſt thou not remember, there was a time when no eye pitied thee, when God paſſed by thee, and ſaw thee polluted in thine own blood! yea when thou waſt in thy blood, he ſaid unto thee Live; behold that time was the time of love to thy ſoul; canſt thou now behold others wallowing in their pollutions, weltring in their ſoul blood, and thine eyes not affect thine heart with pity to them! Eſpecially we that are parents, ſhould uſe all means for the Regeneration of our children and relations. We have a little ſiſter that hath no breaſts, what ſhall we do for her? ſaid the Jews, Cant. 8.8. Have not we little Children that have no Chriſt, no hope, no grace! O what ſhall we do for them in the day that they ſhall be ſpoken for! When Samſon had found honey in the carcaſs of the lyon, he did not onelyonly eat himſelf, but carryed ſome to his father and mother; thou haſt found hony and ſweetneſs in the carcaſs of the Lyon, of the tribe of Judah, in a crucified Chriſt; wilt thou not endeavour that thy relations and friends may ſhare with thee?
Friend, canſt thou think without trembling on the unnaturalneſs of moſt fathers and mothers, towards their children! All their care is to get earth enough for them, but never mind the inſtating them in heaven; the Oſtrich leaves her eggs in the earth, Iob 39.14, 15and warmeth them in the duſt, where the foot cruſheth them, and the wild beaſt breaks them; thus worldly men warm the fruit of their bodies in the earth, are diligent to leave them duſt enough, but conſider not that the foot of Gods fury will cruſh them, and the roaring Lion devoure them, if they be not Regenerated. O the many ſoul murders which worldly parents commit…! but if thou art born again, I am perſwaded, nay I am confident of better things of thee, thou dareſt not but teach thy ſons Gods ways, and labour that thy ſervants may be converted to him. Chriſtianity doth not diminiſh, but rectify thy natural affection; it cauſeth thee to love thy relations, not leſs but better then thou didſt before; grace makes thy love to run out towards their ſouls, and their ſpiritual and eternal good. O what an honour and priviledge is it, that thou mayſt be inſtrumental for the ſaving of ſouls! Jam. 5.2, ult. which that thou mayſt be, take theſe three words for thine help.
Firſt, Be ſure that thou ſet them a good pattern; let thy life be ſo exact, that others may write after thy copy with credit. Look on thy ſelf as new born for this end, that thou mighteſt adorn the Doctrine of God thy Saviour. Parents and Maſters are often authentick patterns, to all their inferiours; their zeal will provoke many; and if they fall, as tall cedars, they beat down many ſhrubs. O therefore do nothing of which thou mayſt not ſay to thy family, and neighbours, as Gideon to his ſouldiers. Iudg 7.17.Look on me and do likewiſe. It is reported of the Hares of Scythia, that they teach their young ones to leap from bank to bank, from rock to rock, by leaping before them, which otherwiſe they would never learn; and by this means, when they are hunted, no beaſts can overtake them. Do thou ſet others a pattern, in the performance of duties, and in the exerciſe of graces, that others learning by thine example, may thereby be ſecured from Satan the great deſtroyer.
The morall is good of the fable; The old crab bid the young one got forward; Shew me the way, ſaith the young crab; the mother goeth backward and ſideling; the daughter followeth her ſaying, Lo, I go juſt as you do. Truly, thus thy little ones will quickly imitate thy doings. Be careful therefore how thou liveſt, walk circumſpectly, conſider of every expreſſion and action, not onelyonly whether it be lawful, but alſo whether it be expedient and exemplary.
Thy religious pattern may do more good then the Miniſters preaching; they preach with their lips one day in a weak; but thou by thy life preacheſt all the week long, 1 Pet. 2.12. Have thy conſervation honeſt among others, that they may glorifie God in the day of their viſitation, 1 Pet. 2.12.
Secondly, Let thy prayers be conſtant and inſtant for their Regeneration; How can I ſee the death of my childe? ſaid, Hagar. Alas, how canſt thou ſee the eternal death of thy dear children! When thou kneeleſt to prayer with thy wife, children, and ſervants, and conſidereſt that death will ſhortly break up thy houſe, and then heaven and hell will claim their due; The Regenerate ſhall go to heaven, the unregenerate to hell. Thou and they who live together, are likely to be parted aſunder for ever. Good Lord, How ſhouldſt thou pray for them? with what fervency? with what importunity? Thou art new born, and knoweſt that hell and heaven, are no jeſting matters; Iohn 4.23.doth not thine heart ake to think that any of thine ſhould dwell in everlaſting burnings; O go to Chriſt as the Centurion for his ſick child, Sir come down ere my child die. Lord come down ere my poor children die for ever. And as the woman of Canaan, Have mercy on me O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a devil; Lord help me. If thou canſt do any thing, help them. Lord pitie poor children, and form thy dear Son in them; thus carry thy little children to Jeſus Chriſt, and intreat him to put his hands on them, and bleſs them. Hannah by prayer obtaind a Samuel; O let us pray hard, that all our ſons may be as gracious as Samuel, and all our daughters as full of good works as Dorcas. Zenophon ſaid, he never prayd that his ſon might live long, but that he might live well. Auſtin was a child of many prayers, and did not periſh.
Thirdly, Do thine endeavor to regenerate them by inſtructing them in the precepts of God. David and Bathſheba were often droping inſtruction into their ſon Solomon, 1 Kings 28.9. Prov. 4.3. to 10. Pious education hath made an happy renovation in ſeveral ſouls. Teach a childe the trade in his youth, and he ſhall not depart from it when he is old, Prov. 22.6. Others teach their children to lie and ſteal, and to curſe and ſweare. I have read a ſtory of a wicked mother that perſwaded her daughter to yield to the luſt of a rich man, in hope that he would marry her; the daughter did yield, but quickly after fell ſick and died; the mother hereupon fell diſtracted, and cried out often, O my daughters ſoul, O my daughters ſoul! I have murthered my daughters ſoul. If others intice their relations to uncleanneſs, ſhall not we encourage ours to holineſs! Whilſt this world laſteth, the Devil will have ſervants; many many fathers bring up their children to his hand. O wilt not thou endeavour that when thou art dead, thy little ones may be a generation ariſing to praiſe God! Truly, thy love to God muſt needs oblige thee to do thine utmoſt, that his vaſt perfections, and infinite excellencies may be declared and admired throughout all generations.
Melanthon on a day of prayer went out a little from his company very ſorrowful, and returned in a ſhort time to them very joyful; of which Luther asking him the reaſon, he gave this account, That there were yong Captains training up (for he had heard many children learning and repeating their ſound Catechiſm) which would defend the cauſe of Chriſt: The good man was exteamly cheared, that though the Pope and Emperor ſought to undermine the true Religion, yet young children were learning to defend it. Sure I am, thou wilt die with the more comfort, if thou canſt have hopes, that after thy deceaſe the bleſſed God ſhall be exalted, and his Goſpel propagated in the place where thou doſt dwell. And O what a glorious heaven upon earth will thy houſe be, if the gracious God ſhall ſo proſper thy pattern, prayers and preceps, that (as thou like the Sun, ſo) thy wife like the Moon, and thy children and ſervants like the Stars, may all ſhine and ſparkle with the light and heat of real holineſs.
To end all, Look on thy children, ſervants, and neighbours, as paſſengers in a boat, and do thou with thy fellow-converts row hard, make uſe of all windes, improve every opportunity to land them all ſafely at the Haven of Heaven.
Soli Deo Gloria.
FINIS.