"general difguft of fo fweet an entertainment. O "thou that canft mend this matter among us, fend "fuch grace into our hearts, that we may not be "able to contain, from pouring out of it in our gracious fpeech: that, (as thy fervants) we may "confult together, the intereft of our Lord; and (as thy children) we may strive to exceed one "another, in honouring our Father. O let thy "faints fpeak of the glory of thy kingdom, and "talk of thy power; to make known to the fons "of men thy mighty acts, and the glorious Ma"jefty of thy kingdom. And let me produce out "of my little ftock, wifely and affectionately, as "thou fhalt give me ability. And I beseech thee, "O Lord, to open my lips, that my mouth may "fhew forth thy praise. Amen." owing from each Chriftian, reciprocally to his neighbour: to "exhort one another daily," Heb. iii. 13. "And fo much the more, as we fee the day ap proaching," chap. x. 25. To be in care for each o thers fouls, and to whet on and put them forward, in heaven's way. We are to "confider one a"nother, to provoke unto love, and to good works," ver. 24. And to obferve and mind the cafe and con. cerns of our partner; not, only for meddling fake, to crap and cenfure, to find matter against them, and make a quarrel with them; but kindly to offer and and apply, what we think fit for them to hear, and for us to fpeak to them: to stimulate and excite them, to a holy emulation, and ingenuous contention, who fhould out-do the other, in all amiable properties, and praife-worthy actions. That the companions of our pilgrimage may fare the better for our neighbourhood, and converfation with them, and their fouls may find cause to blefs us, for what they have received from us. O my foul! I cannot think of going folitary to heaven, but must have my neighbours in my care, to get them along with me; and be their monitor, to call upon them, to quicken and encourage them, to help them unto Chrift, and to fet them forward in heaven's way. Yea, as a private Christian, I may have the advantage of a public preacher; better to come at them, by the intereft that I have in them, and by my familiarity with them; to bring things that are suitable to their case, nearer home to their fouls. Therefore will I be in care, to leave fome remembrances of this love and zeal, every where behind me, among them. Though fome are impatient, to have this beft of charity practifed upon them; and would rather be let alone, to shift as well as they can for themselves, yet the neceflity of their fouls is my call, to negotiate thus with them; and even to obtrude fuch friendship upon them. And here to hold back my exhortation, is like the with-holding of corn in the time of famine. Here to fhut my mouth, is to fhut up my bowels of compaffion, when I fee my brother's need. Nay, it looks more cruel, even than Dives in hell, that would fain have procured a meffenger, to warn his brethren, and fave them from the doom. Shall I be fo parfimonious of my labour, when I might, peradventure, talk a man out of his fin and danger; and open heaven to him, but with the opening of my lips? and if I cannot win fouls; yet thus fhall I please pleafe God, and oblige his minifter, by labouring with him in the gofpel, and difcourfing over what he has preached, and contributing my help, to make the pleasure of the Lord profper in his hands. And thus fhall I, not only approve myfelf a friend indeed to the partners of my converfation, but be kind to my own foul, and add to my spiritual ftock, even in laying it out: for by fuch exercife, grace increafes: by blowing up the fire for others, 1 fhall warm myfelf; and it will do me good, to do good to them; yea, it may fecure my fupreme eternal good; and bring me to "fhine as the stars for ever and ever," Dan. xii. 3. But that I may be capable of this fervice, and ftand likely for this glory; I must have, not only a well-furnished mind, and good acquaintance with the things of religion, pertaining to falvation: that I may be as the fcribe inftructed to the kingdom of God, who brings forth out of his treafure, things new and old? fomewhat ftill pertinent to the purpose, Mat. xiii. 52. But I muft have my heart also ftocked with grace: as well as my head with knowledge. For as (in nature) fire begets fire; and things have an aptitude, to produce their like: fo holinefs in myfelf, is likelieft to produce the fame in others. And how can I be hearty, in commending to them thofe ways of God, which I am not confcientious, to make my own walk? even the best words are but loft, in the mouths of bad men: and when I fpeak not from the heart, how can I speak to the heart? but though my natural abilities be fmaller, yet being full of grace, and zeal, and love to God, and to his kingdom, and to the fouls of men, I may reach further, and prevail better, than he that has the tongue of the learned, but no appetite to favour fpiritual things, no feet to walk in holy ways. 1 I must then have the fpirit of holiness, and to that And that muft I alfo join the spirit of meeknefs, to instruct fuch as oppofe themselves, and fo to foften the application, that what is well faid, may be allo well taken: when I am not for upbraiding, and bitterly inveighing; to put the guilty in a posture of felf-defence, ftruggling for victory; but let him perceive, that he is in the hands of a friend, who has no defign but to do him good. For though I out reafon him, yet fhall I not gain him; as long as I fpeak only to provoke him. I will endeavour therefore to convince him, that I love him, though I may thwart him; yea, that nothing of fpight, but my love it is, which makes me fo bold with him. bearing with his filly and crofs replications, as the phyfician difregards the raving talk of his hot-headed patients, and goes on with his intended remedies; fo will I proceed in my endeavours to help and heal his foul, though I have but coarse returns for my pains. I will try to conquer his foolish averfions, and peevish contradictions, by drawing him with the cords of a man, the bands of love: and not only to affright, but to allure him into the way of falvation; by opening the riches of gofpel-grace, the love of God in Chrift, and all the joys of heaven, unspeakable and everlasting: that he may fee, I have no defign upon him, but for his own highest advantage, and indeed his greatest pleasure. I will not fpeak, in proud oftentation of my parts, nor infift upon niceties and quirks; nor efpoufe parties and opinions, to turn all into vanity and fquabble, which were to leave the main game, the grand concern, to go and hunt after flies: but I will be all upon that which is down-right neceffary, and foul-faving; and will urge it close and home, as oft as I can find any fit opportunity for it; and may have but a fair hearing, and do not fee danger of fpoiling the defign, which I am for promoting. But if there be only fome probability; I must not let it flip, in pre- VOL. I. fumption 3 I fumption of a fitter seafon : becaufe the charge is, to exhort one another, while it is called to-day. And our day is wafting, and the great day of the Lord approaching. So that I know not how foon, the fouls to which I would do good, may be fnatched away, quite out of my reach. O how fhort is the time, that I have to fpeak? and how long then must I be filent in the grave? my neighbours are dying; and then must hear no more, till they hear the laft trump, and their laft doom. And I am alfo dying, and then, must speak no more; till the dead fhall be raised again to life. And what I have to fay, if it be not quickly, I fhall be paft doing the duty, and find no more place for that charity. I muft then take the time, while it ferves, to plead the cause of my Mafter; and to make my attempts, for the faving of fouls, before it be too late: and not let it alone, till fome may count it due feason, to hear the things of their peace; but be importunate with them, and rather feem troublesome to them, than fail to discharge my confcience, or to contribute any thing that in me lies, to prevent their ruin, and to promote their blifs eternal. Thus will I do, as I would be glad to receive; and my neighbours, (if I can,) occafion for ever to blefs me: as I would blefs the kind hand that fhall lend any good help, for ever to fave me. THO THE PRAYER. HOUGH I know my duty, yet, O Lord, how prone am I to forget it? and when I "understand what I should do, yet to leave it un"done! fo that I need not only to be taught, but "to be told of it again and again; and to be fpur"red on to the good, which I am fo flack to per"form. And the whetting and quickening, which "I find fo needful for myfelf, may in like manner be |