—To make a wise, a seasonable, a sincere, a daily, and a thorough
conversations and carriages of the choicest saints; keep a fixed eye upon the wise, prudent, humble, holy, and heavenly deportment; write after the fairest copy you can find; labor to imitate those
Christians who are most eminent in grace. But,
11. The eleventh word of advice and counsel is this—Be much in the most spiritual exercises of religion. There are external exercises of religion—such as hearing, praying, singing, receiving, holy conference, etc., Isaiah 1:11-14, and 1 Tim. 4:8, and Mat. 6. Now custom, conviction, education, and a hundred other external considerations, may lead people to these external exercises. But there are the more spiritual exercises of religion—such as loving of God, delighting in God, prizing of Christ, compliance with the motions, counsels, and dictates of the Spirit, living in an exercise of grace, triumphing in Christ Jesus, setting our affections upon things above, meditation, self-examination, self-judging, etc. Now the more you live in the exercise of these, more spiritual duties of religion—the more you glorify God, the more you evidence the power of grace, and the in-dwellings of the Spirit—and the more you difference and distinguish yourselves from hypocrites and all unsound professors, and the better foundation you lay for a bright, strong, and growing assurance. But,
12. The twelfth and last word of advice and counsel I shall give you is
—To make a wise, a seasonable, a sincere, a daily, and a thorough improvement of all the talents that God has entrusted you with.
There is a talent of time, of power, of riches, of honor, of greatness— which some are more entrusted with than others are. The improvement of these is your great wisdom, and should be your daily works, 1 Cor 4:1-2. You know you are but stewards, and that you must shortly give an account of your stewardship, Luke 16:1-4. And oh that you may make such a faithful and full improvement of all the great talents which God has entrusted you with—that you may give up your account at last with joy, and not with grief!
Some princes have wished upon their beds, that they had never reigned, because they have not improved their power for God and his people, but against God and his people. And some rich men have wished that they had never been rich, because they have not improved their riches for the glory of God, nor for the support and relief of his suffering saints. A beggar upon the way asked something of an honorable lady: she gave him sixpence, saying, "This is more than ever God gave me." "Oh!" says the beggar, "Madam, you have abundance, and God has given you all that you have; say not so, good madam." "Well," says she, "I speak the truth, for God has not given but lent unto me what I have, that I may bestow it upon such as you are." And it is very true, indeed, that poor Christians are Christ's alms-men, and the rich are but his stewards, into whose hands God has put his moneys—to distribute to them as their necessities require.
It is credibly reported of Mr. Thomas Sutton, the sole founder of that eminent hospital commonly known by his name, that he used often to go into a private garden, where he poured forth his prayers unto
God, and, among other passages, was frequently overheard to use this expression: "Lord, you have given me a liberal and large estate, give me also a heart to make good use of it;" which was granted to him accordingly. Riches are a great blessing, but wisdom, and a heart to use them aright, is a far greater blessing. Every rich man is not so much a treasurer as a steward, whose praise is more how to give well, than to have received much. I know I have transgressed the bounds of an epistle, but love to your souls, and theirs into whose hands this treatise may fall, must be my apology.
Sir, if you and your lady were both my own children, and my only children, I could not give you better nor more faithful counsel than what I have given you in this epistle. I have given all out of a sincere, serious, and cordial desire and design, that both of you may be happy here, and found at Christ's right hand in the great day of account,
Mat. 25:33-34.
Now the God of all grace fill both your hearts with all the fruits of righteousness and holiness, and greatly bless you both with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, and make you meet-helps to each other heaven-ward, and at last crown you both with ineffable glory in the life to come! 1 Pet. 5:1; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 1:3.
Your assured friend, and soul's servant,
Thomas Brooks, 1675.