How shall heaven and earth smile upon us, and we on them; commanding the one, aspiring to the other! How pleasant shall our life be, while neither joys nor sorrows can distemper it with excess! yea, while the matter of joy that is within us turns all the most sad occurrences into pleasure, how dear and welcome shall our death be, that shall but lead us from one heaven to another, from peace to glory! Go, now, ye vain and idle worldlings, and please yourselves in the large extent of your rich manors, or in the homage of those whom baseness of mind hath made slaves to your greatness, or in the price and fashions of your full wardrobe, or in the wanton varieties of your delicate gardens, or in your coffers full of red and white earth; or, if there be any other earthly thing more alluring, more precious, enjoy it, possess it, and let it possess you: let me have only my peace; and let me never want it till I envy you. 75 AN EXHORTATORY PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. OUT of infallible rules and long experience, have I gathered up this true character of a Christian: a labour, some will think, which might have been well spared. Every man professes both to know and act this part. Who is there that would not be angry, if but a question should be made either of his skill or interest? Surely, since the first name given at Antioch, all the believing world hath been ambitious of the honour of it: how happy were it, if all that are willing to wear the livery were as ready to do the service! But it falls out here, as in the case of all things that are at once honourable and difficult, every one affects the title, few labour for the truth of the achievement. Having, therefore, leisure enough to look about me, and finding the world too prone to this worst kind of hypocrisy, I have made this true draught; not more for direction than for trial. Let no man view these lines as a stranger, but when he looks in this glass, let him ask his heart whether this be his own face; yea, rather, when he sees this face, let him examine his heart, whether both of them agree with their pattern; and where he finds his failings, (as who shall not?) let him strive to amend them, and never give over while he is any way less fair than his copy. In the mean time, I would it were less easy by these rules, to judge even of others, besides ourselves; or that it were un charitable to say, there are many professors, few Christians. If words and forms might carry it, Christ would have clients enough; but if holiness of disposition, and uprightness of carriage must be the proof, woe is me! In the midst of the land, among the people, there is as the shaking of an olivetree, and as the gleaning grapes, where the vintage is done.' Isaiah xxiv. 13. For where is the man that hath obtained the mastery of his corrupt affections, and to be the lord of his unruly appetite; that hath his heart in heaven, while his living carcass is stirring here upon earth; that can see the invisible, and secretly enjoy that Saviour to whom he is spiritually united; that hath subdued his will and reason to his belief; that fears nothing but God, loves nothing but goodness, hates nothing but sin, rejoiceth in none but true blessings; whose faith triumphs over the world, whose hope is anchored in heaven, whose charity knows no less bounds than God and men; whose humility represents him as vile to himself as he is honourable in the reputation of God; who is wise heavenward, however he passes with the world; who dares be no other than just, whether he win or lose; who is frugally liberal, discreetly courageous, holily temperate; who is ever a thrifty manager of his hours, so dividing the day betwixt his God and his vocation, that neither shall find fault with a just neglect, or an unjust partiality; whose recreations are harmless, honest, warrantable, such as may refresh nature, not debauch it; whose diet is regulated by health, not by pleasure, as one whose table shall be no altar to his belly, nor snare to his soul; who, in his seasonable repose, lies down, and awakes with God, caring only to relieve his spirits, not to cherish sloth ;—whose carriage is meek, gentle, compliant, beneficial in whatsoever station; in magistracy impartially just, in the ministry conscionably faithful, in the rule of his family wisely provident and religiously exemplary; shortly, who is a discreet and loving yoke-fellow, a tender and pious parent, a duteous and awful son, a humble and obsequious servant, an obedient and loyal subject ;—whose heart is * *A son full of reverence for his parents.-ED. |