England'S Duty,
[ 395 ]
ENGLAND'S DUTY,
UNDER THE PRESENT
GOSPEL - LIBERTY.
From Revelation iii. 20.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
MOUNT PISGAH :
; OR, A Thankſgiving SERMON for ENGLAND's Delivery from POPERY, Feb. 1688-9.
95995555555
An EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Candid Reader, THE following discourse HE following diſcourſe comestothyhandin that native preached.
I was confcientiouflyunwilling to alter it, becauſe I foundby experience,the Lordhadbleffed and profpered it in thatdreſs, far beyond any other compoſures on which Ihad beſtowed more pains.
Let it not be cenfuredas vanityor oftentation,that I here acknowledge thegoodness of God, in leading me to, and bleſſing my poor labours upon this fubject.
Who, and what am I that I ſhouldbe continued, andagain employed in the Lord's harveſt, and that with fucceſs and encouragement, when ſo many ofmy brethren, with their much richer furnitures ofgifts and graces, have in my timebeen called out ofthe vineyard, and arenow filent in the grave! It is true, they enjoywhat I do not; and it is as true, I am capable ofdoing ſome ſervice for God,which they are not. Inpreaching theſe ſermons, I had many occafions to reflect upon the mystical ſenſe of that fcripDdd2
An Epistle to the Reader. ture, Amos ix. 13. " The plowman ſhall overtake the reaper,
" andthe treader of grapes him that foweth feed."
Sowing and reaping times trode ſo cloſe upon one another, that (inall humility I ſpeak it to the praiſe ofGod) itwasthebufieſt and bleſſedeſt time I ever ſaw, fince I firſt preachedthe gofpel.
England hath now a day ofſpecial mercy: there is awide doorofopportunity opened to it; O that it might provean effectual door ! It is tranſporting and astonishing, that after all the high and horrid provocations, the atheism, prophaneneſs and bitter enmity against light and reformation : this ſweet voice is ſtill heard in England, Behold, 1stand at the door and knock.
The mercies and liberties of this day are a new trial obtained for us byour potentAdvocate in the heavens : if we bring forth fruit, well; if not, the ax lieth at the root of the tree.
Let us not be ſecure. Jerufalem was the city of the greatKing; the feat ofhis worship, and ſymbols of his preTence were fixed there; it was thejoy ofthe whole earth, the
houſe of prayer for all nations ; thither the tribes went up to worſhip, the tribes of the Lord unto the teſtimony of Ifrael.
For there were ſet thrones ofjudgment, the thrones of the houſe of David, Pfal. cxxii. 4, 5.
Theſe privileges ſhe enjoyed through the ſucceſſion of many ages,and hadremained the glory of all nations to this day, had the known and improved, in that day, the things that belonged to herpeace ; but they neglected their ſeaſon, rejected their mercies, and miferably periſhed in their fins : for there ever was, and will be found an infeparable connexion betwixt the final rejection of Chriſt, and the destruction ofthe rejecters, Matth. xxii . 5, 6,
The contemplationwhereofdrew thoſe compaffionate tears, from the Redeemer's eyes, whenhe beheld it in his deſcent from the mount ofOlives, Luke xix. 41, 420
Let all that are wife in heart henceforth depoſe theiranimo, fities, fadly reflect on their follies, encourage and affift the labours of theirbrethren in the Lord's harvest; and rejoice that Godhath ſet them at liberty by law, whoſe aſſiſtance in ſogreat an opportunity is neceſſary and defirable.
It is against the laws ofwisdom and charity,toenvythe liberty, andmuchmore the fucceſs of our brethren, 1 Cor. xiii. 4.
If the workmen contendand ſcuffle ina catching harvest, who but the owner fuffers damage by it ? If, after ſo miraculous, recent, and commona falvation as this, we ſtill retain our old prejudices and bitter envyings ; if we ſmitewith the tongue and pen, whenwecannot with the hand ; and ſtudy toblaſtthe reputationand labours of our brethren ; and ſtill hate thoſewe can
An Epiftle to the Reader.
nothurt : In aword, if we still bite and devour, one another, we shall be devoured one of another.
Let us notlay the fault upon others, we ourſelves have beenthe authors and inftruments ofourown ruin; and this must be the inſcription upon our tombstone, Q England, thou hast destroyed thyself.
I am more afraidofthe rooted enmity and fixed prejudices, that are tobe found in many against holiness andthe ſerious profeffors ofit, and inflexible obſtinacy and dead formality in manyothers, (the tokens of atremendous infatuation) than I am of all the whispered fears from other hands, or common enemies uponour borders.
To preventtheſe miſchiefs, andpromote zealand unaminity among the minifters ofthe goſpel, Ihave preſumed to addreſs them inthe following epiſtles.
I am conscious ofmy own unworthineſs to be their monitor, and of the defects theirjudicious eyes will easily difcern inthe ſtilewherein it is written ; and yet can promiſe myſelf a becoming receptionof what is ſo faithfully, ſeaſonably, and honestlydeſigned for their good.
I am fatisfiedthat no candidandingenuous perſon will putwords upon the rack, quarrel at a fimilitude, or expoſe a trifle, when he finds thedeſignhoneſt, andthe matter good andneceſſary.
As to the treatife itſelf, thou wilt find it a perfuafive toopen thy heart toChrift.
Thy foul, reader, is amagnificent ſtructurebuiltby Chriſt; ſuch ſtately rooms as thy understanding, will, confcience and affections, are too good for any otherto inhabit.
Ifthoube inthy unregenerate ſtate,thenhefolemnly demands, in this text, admiffion into the foul he made, by the conſent of the will : which, if thou refuſe to give him, then witneſs is taken, that Chriſt once more demanded entrance into thy foul which he made, and was denied it.
Ifthou haft opened thy heart to him, thou wilt, I hope, meet ſomewhat in this treatiſe that will clear thy evidences, and cheer thy heart: Pray read, ponder and apply.
I am Thine and the Church's fervant,
JOHN FLAVEL.
398 1 A LETTER To the dearly belovedMinisters of theGospel, (much to be reverenced in Chrift) now at length, by the wonderful Providence of God, reſtored to Liberty:
Addreſſed as ahumble Supplication tothe moreaged, and as anExhortation toyounger Miniſters and Candidates.
Reverend Fathers, andBrethren in Chrift, THOUGH it is not fitfor us tocoinmetaphors, according toourfancy, yet we ought tohave a great liking to thoſe, which the Spirit himself hath authoriſed in ſcripture.
There hehath reprefented, and painted to the life, the deliverance of his fuffering church, by the ſweet delights of the advancing
Spring, Cant. ii. 12.
Inthe Spring, theEarth, like a moſt bountifulparent, opens herboſom,produces varietyofherbs, adorns the meadows with abundance of flowers ; the trees,which hadbeen ſtript oftheir formergreenleaves,areclothedwithnewones ; the coldbeing now driven away, the airbecomes warm, and thecattlebring homeudders fullofmilk ; Then joyous birds frequent the lonely groves.
DRYDEN'S Virgil.
Allnature is renewed and fmiles ; the ſeaſon is kindly, favourable, and admirably well adapted to the benefit of all things, chiefly of thoſe endued with life. All which things have been, in a very elaborate and ingenious manner, applied by our learnedcountrymanBrightman, to that remarkable period, when Cyrus publiſhedthat edict of his, (which cannever
* This letter was originally wrote in Latin, the authorjudging it neceffary to be ſo, as what allowed him a greater freedom of expreffion, than might seem convenient at that time in the common language; yet, that every reader might be profited by it, the publiſher of this edition hath thought fit to tranſlate itinto Engliſh.
It has a reference to the troubles before, and the bleſſings after the Revolution.
ALETTER.
be fufficiently commended) for fettingGod's people at liberty.
The enliveningbeams of a like providential interpofition, like the fun entering the fign ofAries, have made us, who were half-dead, to revive.
We are not inſenſible, as ourwounds are yetgreen, what great and fharp afflictions we have fufferedformany years. bypaft, for confcience fake. Alas,what fadthings havewe not feen ! what oppreſſions have we not unjustly endured, during this rough, diſmal,andevery-way deftructive winter ? Wehave ſeen the ſea ſwelling withdreadful ſtorms,byreaſon of which, ſome being amazed and confounded, theyhoiſed fail to any windwhatsoever: we have ſeentrees that excelled others, both infruitfulneſs andcomeliness, beat down and laid low by the ſtormy winds ; others, which bare neither fruit nor leaves, havebeen, as itwere,blaſted.
Mountains have we ſeen become whitewith hoar-froft, rivers locked up in ice, lands covered, nay, buried in ſnow ; flocks of fowls, and herds ofcattle ſtarvedwith hunger,wandering up anddown ingreatwant; cunningfowlers ſpreading their nets, and inſnaring many : In a word, we have feen Chrift's church (alas !) pierced with arrows wingedwithherown feathers ; the civil ſtate founded on laws, almoſt ſubvertedbylaws ; everythinghaving abadaſpect, and growing dailyworſeandworſe.
Long and fore have we been toſſedin the fea oftrouble ; in ouryouth we were plunged into it, we are come out of it in oldage : our cafe hasbeenthe fame withwhathappened atthe fiege of Tyre, Ezek. xxix. 18. Every head is made bald, and every shoulder is peeled; but yet all theſe things feem troublefſome ratherthan wonderful, to any one who ſerioufly confiders the things prophefied by the great apoſtle, 2 Tim. üi. 1. In the last days, perilous times shall come. Of which perilous times, * Lactantius writes thus :
When the end ofthisworld ' is approaching, the state ofhuman affairs must needs be greatly changed, andgrow worſe,throughthe prevalency of 'wickedness ; in ſo much thatthis preſent age,wherein fin and 'wickedneſs have been arrived to the greatest pitch, may, when compared with that abandoned and incorrigible age,
'be juſtly deemed the happy and golden one. Forthenrigh- ' teouſneſs ſhall decreaſe, and ungodlineſs, avarice, ambition, and luft increaſe : fo that whofoever ſhall happen then tobe
' fober and religious, ſhall become a prey to the wicked, and * be greatly harraffed by the unrighteous ; the vicious alone
* Lactan. tih, 70. de divino pramio, p. 578, 579.
ALETTER ſhallbe profperous and happy,whilethepeopleofGod fhall • meet with every kind of bad treatment, andbe reducedto extreme poverty. All right ſhallbe confounded, laws ſhall
* perish; thennobody ſhall poſſeſs anythingbutwhat is ill got, orwhathe isobligedtodefendby force; rapine andvi- • olence ſhall carryeverything beforethem: there ſhall be no < fidelity among men, no peace, no humanity, noſhame, no truth,and neither fafetynor order,noranyreft fromtrouble;
' for the whole earth ſhall bein confufion,andthe noise and • dinof war heard everywhere; all nations ſhall be up in arms, and attack one another; neighbouring ſtates ſhallwar among themselves ; deſtruction ſhallrun overthe face ofthe
' earth, cuttingdown everything,andlaying italong,as corn- • fields are in harvest.
The reason ofwhich dreadful calamity and strange confufion,willbe this, That the Roman name,
•which has fubdued the whole world, ſhall then(Itremble to • utter it, but, ſince it is certain, utter it I muſt) be quite ex- ' tinct.'
What think you, reader, is not this a deſcription of our owntimes, or muſt wewaitlonger, till that pernicious and wicked race of men ſhall appearupon the ſtage ? That this hathbeen fulfilled inour late troubles, none fure can hefitate thathath any difcernment.
ButGod at length, pitying our diſtreſſes, hath raiſed up a man *, both zealous for the truth, and a lover of godliness, boldly to affert his cauſe inthe face ofdanger andtoil, and to put a new face on things.
Concerning this time it ſhall be faid, What wonderful things hathGod done ? Now every impediment being removed, and the dreadful ſtorm calmed,
(which ſcatters up and down like ſtubble) our gracious God doth in this manner beſpeak us, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away ; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over andgone, theflowers appear on the earth, the time of thefing ing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
As ifhe hadfaid, You havebeenlong enough confined at home ; come now (for youmay fafelycome) abroad. There is the greatest appearance of ſafety and incitementto labour everywhere. Thus the ſeverity of the Winter recommends to us the pleaſures of the Spring.
For my part, I had no fooner heardthe joyful news of Liberty, than preſently I began toprepare myſelf for my proper andmuch longed for work; for iffo much pleaſure is found
* WILLIAM
III .
Prince of ORANGE.
ALETTER.
inthe ſtudy of the mathematics, thatwhen one has talted of it, he is ſo raviſhed and bewitched with it, that he cannot be taken off from the ſtudy of them ; it will certainly be the fweetest pleaſure of all, to employ our labours, however much weare exhausted, for the glory of Chriſt, and good of fouls : itgives me therefore no ſmallpleaſure, that at length I may putinmyfickle,whichhathbeenlong indiſuſe, intothe Lord's harvest, together withthe restofmyfellow-labourers.
Thanks tomy God, who hath not only ſeaſonably opened a door of opportunity, but hath alſo (which I earnestly ſupplicated for) givenme to ſee the happy effects offound doctrine, and hath long ago bleſſed itunto many.
Theſe firſt-fruits ofReftored Liberty, and which manyhave importuned me to publiſh, I now moſt humbly offer untoyou.
Indulgeabrother,the weakest of all, and one who reckons himſelfjuſtly inferior to all the fervants ofChriſt ; if, on this fignal and moſt extraordinary occafion, Chriſtian zeal ſhould break forth a little more freelythan maybe ſuitable either to myſmallſhareoflearning or experience.
Here your preacher hath not fought after the pomp ofeloquence. Throughthe whole Ihave uſed apopular, notpolite, ſtile; pithy, not ſhowy: for Ithought itmight be juſtly faid concerning Theology, what Cicero ſays of Philosophy, That to talk upon fubjects ofthat nature in an elaborate ſtile, is childiſh; but to be capable ofdelivering with plainneſs and perſpicuity, is thepart of a learned and knowing man.
I shouldbe juſtly diſpleaſed with myſelf, if I preached the doctrine of a crucified Chriſt, ina ſtile unbecoming his crofs ; which ſurely is the character of a ſtile pompous and ſwelling.
Theſe things being premifed, I. Let us rejoice in our liberty, with ajoyduely moderated;
Imean, with ajoy equallybalanced, andguarded onallhands bygrief for paſt ſins, anddread of future ones. We read in Jeremiah, ofthe voice offighing andweeping, with which the faithful would, about the time of their deliverance, confeſs their fins, by which theyhad provokedGod, and would fincerely bewail them with contrite hearts. And how fuitable was that fong of the church, even atthe laying the foundation ofthe ſecondtemple ; a ſong equally compoſed ofjoyful ſhouting, andabundantweeping,Ezra iii. 10. "Manyweepedwith
" a loud voice, many ſhouted aloud forjoy ; ſothatthe people "couldnotdifcern the noiſe ofthe ſhoutofjoy,fromthenoiſe
" oftheweepingofthe people." Nor are the faints ashamed VOL. IV.
Eee
ALETTER. toconfess their falls and ſhameful deeds tothe gloryofGod, for nothing is a loſs to us, which redounds to his glory.
Our countenance muftin his fightbe comely andamiable, whenhe fees penitential tears mixedwith thoſe ofjoy and thanksgiving.
It is the character ofa true penitent to lament his faults,thathe maynot again commit things tobe lamented. wich tant a
Afaph has fetbefore us an illustrious example of penitence, Pfal. lxxiv. 8. Remember not (fays he) against us ourformer iniquities. God is faid to remember iniquities, when calling fins to an account, andjudging oftheir greatneſs and number, he reſolves topuniſh. Afaph ſpeaks ofGod after the manner ofmen , for they,when greatly offended, and about to puniſh. their children,do thencallto mindalltheir former faults : let us, in like manner, reflect on ours, and ſincerely bewail our paſt ſlothful conduct,anunhappyconcomitantofliberty : Thus wehave neither flamed with ardent love on the one hand, nor grieved with that degree of forrow which was requifite on the other : we have oftentimes ſpoken more from the headthan from the heart. Wehave both prayed and preached too too coldlyabout matters the most awfuland important.
We have not followed the footsteps ofthoſeworthies that went before us in the laft age, ſo as to come up with them. We have been at ſmall pains to ſupport the majesty of religion, by the gravity of our converſation, andthe usefulness of our difcourſes.
For which cauſe ourGod has conceived juſt anger againſt us, andhas manifeſted thatby the paſt calamities ; and by fo manifeſting it hath plainly admoniſhed us to be on our guardfor the time to come.
II. Therefore brethren, Iearnestlybeg ofyou, in thebowels. ofChriſt, that you will not forget theſe words of the apostle,
If it be poffible, as much as lieth in you, livepeaceably with all men, Rom. xii. 18.
There is added a twofold limitation, first, If itbe poſſible, that is, conſiſtently with justice, piety, and truth: Such a regard is not to behad to truth, as that the ſtudy ofpeacebe entirely neglected; nor is ſuch unity to be fought after, as deſtroys truth ; butspeak the truthin love, as the fame apoſtle exhorts, Eph. iv. 15.
For, as our countryman Mr.
Davenant juſtly obſerves, they love neither from the heart, who love notboth.
Chriſtians therefore, when they both live peaceably in owning the truth, and ſpeak the truth in love, are agreat ornament to their profeffion.
The other limitation is, Asmuch as lieth in you, that is, live in friendſhip with all, ifit be poſſible ; and ifthey will notbe friendly on their part, be fure you be ſo on yours.
Truth begets hatred among the
ALETTER.
wicked, and godliness is everdeſpiſedby them; ofwhichLac- -tantius † affigns this reason, That he who fins, wants tohave ⚫⚫a free opportunityoffinning, and thinks he can no otherwiſe
•enjoy ſecurely the pleaſure of his illdeeds, than when there aremany who delight in the fame faults. Hence they ſtudy to destroy and cut off rootandbranch, thoſe who are witneffes of their wickedness, and they cannot endure that good
• mens lives fhould be a reproof, as it were, oftheirs.
Therefore by the friendship ofthe wicked, piety is endangered.'
We have fome amongst us, that put on a form ofgodliness, :buthave denied the power thereof: of fuch † Bernard in his
timethus complained : Woe to this generation, which hath the leaven ofthe Phariſees, which is hypocrify : If indeed
** that ſhould be called hypocrify, which now through its pre- - valencycannot be hid, and through its impudency ſeeks not tobe hid. At preſent rottenneſs and corruption affects the whole body ofthe church, and the wider it ſpreads, the more
• defperate; and the more inwardly it ſpreads, the more dangerous: for if an heretic, an open enemy, fhould riſe up, he
⚫wouldbe caſt out ; ifaviolentenemy, the(i. e.)thechurch)
would perhaps conceal herselffrom him.
But now, whom ſhall the church cast out ? or whom ſhall ſhe hide herself • from ? All are friends, andall areenemies : allare inmutual connexions, as relations, yet inmutual conteſts, as adverſa- ' ries : all are fellow-members of one family, yet none are
' promoters ofpeace : all are neighbours, yet all are feekers of ' their own things : by profeſſion ſervants of Chrift, in reality
• they ſerve Antichrift: they make an honourable figure ty the good things theyhave received from the Lord, while, at • thefame time, theygive no honour to the Lord.
I willfay oftheſemen,My foul, comenot into their council ; myglory, benotin their aſſembly.
Buttherearemanyothers,zealousofpeace andtruth,agreeinginfundamentals, and ſtanding equally against thecommon enemies ofthe reformed religion,who, notwithstanding, differ
(alas!) about matters not neceffary to falvation, and iplit into oppoſite parties, and cauſe ſtrife : while this fierce contention ſpreads itſelfamong the brethren, it affords a continual occafion to their enemies to inſult and moleft them.
Could any one find out a remedy for this epidemicaldiſtemper, he would deEee2 † Lactantius on Juſtice, b. 5. p. 382, 383.
‡ Bernard, Sermon xxxiii , on Cant,
A LETTER. ſervewellofthe church ; but since the experienceoffomany years has put it beyond doubt thatitis difficult, or indeedim practicable to accomplish thisby ſcholafticdiſputes, orby oppreffingthe confciencewithpenalties ; itwere more adviſeable to fopite all theirdebates,than,byfruitleſs ſtrife, to tear afunder the church ; and in fine, to have recourſetothatwhich is the moſt uſeful, ifnotthe only rule for promoting peace, Phil. iii. 16. Wherein we have already attained, let uswalk by the fame rule : withwhich agrees well that mostwholeſome advice given by Toflanus to the college of Tubing, inthe following words:
All bitter railings and accufations ought juſtly tobe • laid aſide, andthejudgment oftheſe matters indebate left
•wholly to the Son ofGod, our Lord Jesus Chriſt, and to our own pofterity, who, not being authors but ſpectators ofthe
• debate, will judge more impartially about it.
Our adverfaries ſtill live and becomeboldereveryday; theymake ittheir buſineſs, night andday, toplot andcontrive how they may
• extinguiſh the light ofthe gospel that has ariſen, and bring ⚫ancient darkness; inthe meantime,wewho,at first,with one
⚫accord, by God's grace, preachedthe goſpel,do now, with < weapons ofdeath turned against one another, ruſh mutually
• on deſtruction; thereby exhibiting a delightful ſpectacle to • our enemies, who place more of their ſafety and confidence
• in our contentions,than the weak foundation of their own • caufe.'
Let us therefore frequently conſider that ofthe apostle, Gal.
V. 15. But ifye bite anddevourone another, takeheedthatyebe not confumed one ofanother.
What Cicero ſaid ofthe diſcords ofgreatmen, our countryman Davenant ſcruples not to affirm concerningthoſe ofthe churches, That theycommonly end, either in the ruin ofboth parties,or in the unjust tyranny of that fide which overcomes. It isgreatly tobe feared, that every one,by theſe continual andfierce debates, is haſtening (may
Godprevent it) his own ruin : yetI doubt notbut thatalldif cords amongstthe godly might be extinguiſhed, whatever fome mayalledge to the contrary, ifthe minds of fome were freed from the violent emotions offufpicion, anger, and envy.
Behold, brethren, what a ſeaſonable and proper ſoftening plaiſter our ſkilful Phyſician hath applied to us allat this time. God grant it the defired effect; left theſcarnot being right cloſed up, thewound ſhouldbreakout again.
The godly in every place lament the preſentdeplorable ſtate ofthe church ; and, fromthe deſtruction offome,do, conjec turewhatdangerhangs over all,
ALETTER.
+Hence let contending nations know, What direful mischief'sfrom their difcordsflow.
Certain it is, that all wife and good men on both ſides, (however they differ among themſelves) are unanimous in this at least, That theſe are not times for strife, but times that call for prayer and reformation ; for, ſuch are the prayers they everywhere offerup : MayGod turn the heart ofthefathers to 'the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers, left he come andſmite the earth with a curse.
Theſe do not well 'conſult theirown intereſt,who,becauſe ofdiſputes amongthe ' learned, perhaps never to be ended, will needs be tearing the ' church by perpetual diviſions. Our brethren, that ſeriouſly
' profeſs they differ from us in ſmaller matters of religion, for ' noother reaſon, thana fear of offending, theſe ought tobe
' embracedwith the greatest affection.
Let all cauſes of of- ' fence be preſently removed, that we may not stumble twice
'on the fame stone.
Ifwe fall upon it again, we are broken in pieces. Wewill notgrant them this praiſe, that they are
'more ſtudiousofpeaceandconcord than ourſelves. Youmay ' re-exact a conformityinfundamentals and things neceſſaryin
' religion; but in matters ofindifference, and not abſolutely ' neceffary, you may give a larger liberty. No body ſhould
'aſſumeto himſelfa liberty ofdividingthe church, and diſſol- ' ving brotherly unity on ſuch aground as neither Chrift, nor ' theapostles, northeprimitive church inits pureſt ſtatewould
'ever have approved."
Itmustbeconfeſſed,that allkinds of controversy will never beat anend ; nevertheless we canbid farewel to alldiſcord ; forvariety of opinions,andunity among thoſe that holdthem, arenotthings inconſiſtent. Why ſhould there dwell in the breast of a Chriſtian, the fierceneſs of wolves, the madness of dogs, the deadly poiſon of ferpents, the cruel ſavageneſs of beasts ? as Cyprianlong ſincecomplained. Thatis(faithGregory) anew and unheard ofmanner ofpreaching, that forces abeliefwith ſtripes: therefore let all bitter railing and accufationbe gone ; MaytheGod ofpeacebring all into order and peace.
III. Eſpecially and above all,I humbly beſeechyou, that, having laid afide all deſigns of ſmaller importance, you would mind this onething,howyoumaygain toChriſt the fouls com- + En quo difcordia gentes Perduxit miferas.
ALETTER. mitted to you, to which all earthlythings are tobepostponed.
This is the labour,this the work incumbent onus.
Put far from youa vile, niggardly ſparing ofyour gifts, an immoderate carefor worldly things, anexceſſive indulgence of thevile body.
Let it not ſeem much tous to ſpend a little fweat for the fakeof thoſe ſouls forwhich Chriſt ſowillingly andplentifullypoured outhis own moſt precious blood.
If we hide the Lord's talent in a napkin,where ſhallwe finda napkin todry up ourtears ofbloodfor fobafe a crime?
Remember, brethren,that itwillbe required at our hands, howwe have fpent everyportion ofthattimewhich is given us; howmuch of it havewe already loft in unprofitable filence! But among all the oppreffions,under which you have longgroaned, I perfuade myſelf, there isnoneyou havemore forrowed for than that of beingsolongwithholdenfrom feedingpoor hungry fouls. The preſent opportunity is flippery, and may be loft, as towhat concerns futurity, theclouds return after therain. Up then ye ſervants ofGod, mind this your buſineſs, and the Lord ſhall bewithyou : don't regard theufual murmurings ofthe flesh. Look forward to thatheavenlycrown: " Theythat be wiſe ſhall ſhine as thebrightneſs of the firnament; andtheythat turn many to righteouſneſs
" as the ſtars for ever and ever."
With the hopes of this, let us rouze up and fortify our droopinghearts, against the mockings andtroubles we mayexpect for the fake ofthe goſpel; What bowels ofcompaflion ought we toput on, when we ſpeak tofuch menoffaving their fouls, and ſhunning perdition, intowhich they may quickly fall, butwho, inthe meantime, have notthe least thought about theſethings themselves ? A famous author in Ameſius * complains, That the words of life in ſome preachers and • teachers lips die away, as to any power or efficacy : Forfo
⚫coldlyand unconcernedly dothey deliver the wordofGod, that it feems todie intheir lips.
Hence, as theythemſelves are cold anddead preachers, ſo they leave their hearers in a ◄coldanddead frame.
Iknew one who left Paris for this rea- *fon, becauſehe ſaid,he was moreand more benumbed with the lectures and fermons heheard fromdaytodayin that city; andwasafraid,that ifhe ſtaidmuch longerthere, his foul
⚫wouldhave periſhedwith ſpiritual cold: wherefore hejoin.
⚫ed himſelf to lively minifters,as unto live-coals; thatfoby * Cafes of Conſcience, book 3. р. гб.
ALETTER..
•converfing withthem,he mightnourishandencreaſe an ho • ly flame inhis heart.'
Liftup your eyes and behold the fields white, and ready to harvest; fee how you are on every fide furroundedwith crouds. ofpoor hungry fouls,with open mouth and earnest looks beg-
ging ſpiritual bread fromyou.
If we have the bowels of the chief Shepherd inus, let us feedhis sheep.
Some are almoſt wornoutwithold age and various troubles : others leffen the majeſtyof ſcripture by inſiſting much on things of little moment, and fill the ears of the multitude with avain noiſe of words, or tickle themwith ſmooth ſpeeches.
In ſuch a fituation, ifyou,who are furnished with allkind ofgifts,andhave fo fulland fair opportunity, do not burn with zeal to God, and love to fouls; I tremble to look forward to the dreadful and wretchedend ofyou all.
IV. Lastly, Iwill conclude with afew things which Ithought neceſſary for ſtudents ofTheology, and candidates for the mi-> niſtry, who have at this needful time willinglydevoted them-> ſelves tothis ſervice, or are about todo it : We have longborne theburdenandheatofthe day; we are veteran ſoldiers almoſt wornout.
The next age will poſſibly producemore tractable minds, andmenof gentler difpofitions thanourtimes afford.
I congratulate you on account of your birth eſpecially, if your natural birth be, or ſhall beennobled and fanctifiedby regeneration : andthis is the more reaſonable, becauſe all our famous chronologers andfearchers intotimes,whohavebestowedmuch time and pains in that ſtudy, arebig with expectation, likeawomanbig with child, past the time ofher reckoning, who therefore expects her pains tocome upon her every hour.
Itis very probable, thattheday which allthe prophets: foretold, and allgood menhave, asit were with outſtretched neck, been eagerly looking for, is now athand.
Doyou, therefore, ye brave youths, the hope anddefire of the reviving church, with eagerneſs layhold on this favourable opportunity ofenriching your minds with all neceffary gifts and endowments.
Keepyourſelves cloſe night anddayatyour ſtudies and moſt ferventprayers : He willmake the beſtdivine, that ſtudies onhis knees. And how shall wecontend for the truth, or defend it against the adverſaries, if we are deftitute of gifts ? Neither a good diſpoſition, northe charms ofelo quence, nor agraceful geſture, nor good manners, cancompenſatefor thewant ofgifts .
Buton the other hand, beware, brethren, leſt while the tree of knowledge every day thrives and profpers, the tree oflife
ALETTER. alone ſhould languiſh and become barren, as anexcellent di vine † ſpeaks verypertinently.
Take careyou putnotthatlaft, which ſhouldbe first ; andthat, again, firſt, which ſhould be laſt.
Meaſures ſoperniciouſly prepoſterous willbe fatalto the wholeworkofconverſion. A head well inſtructed, ismuchto be defired; but a ſanctified heart is abſolutely neceffary.
" Covet earnestlythe beſt gifts, andyetſhewI untoyou amore " excellent way," 1 Cor. xii. 31.
Forgifts,letthem increaſe; butgrace, let it outſhine them all.
Let theſe words of the great apoſtle takedeep root inyourhearts, 1 Cor. ix. 27. "But " I keep under my body, andbring it into ſubjection, leftthat
" by anymeans, when I have preached unto others, Imyſelf " ſhouldbe a caſt-away."
Forwhat willitprofit,tobelearned and damned ?
It is one thing to be learnedin the truthsof Chriſt, another to be taught by him, as the truth is in Jeſus.
Continuallybearinmind this ſerious warning ofour learned countrymanReynolds , Let us not think much ofourselves, thoughGod ſhould have adorned us with the finestgifts ofna ture,with alively genius, with anelegant diction, muchreading, long experience ofthings, ſkill in the arts, languages and ſciences, folidityofjudgment, quickneſs ofunderſtanding, almost like that ofangels,unless at the fame time he add toall, thegift of his Spirit to help us to know and delight in the heavenly mystery.
For thoughby the exercise ofthoſe ſhiningaccomplishments, wemayprocure to ourſelves the favour and eſteem ofmen, though from thence great advantagemay redound to the learned world, andto the church of Chrift, yet dothey not at all tend toobtain forus either the favour ofGod, orthe reward ofheavenlyhappineſs.
MayGodgive you miniſterial and ſanctifying gifts,that you may approve yourselves to be defenders of Chriftandhis religion, and firm oppofers of his enemies .
But it is timeto cloſe this unpoliſhed and homelyletter, which, however, Ihopeyou willfavourably accept as a teftimonyofthat reſpectdue toyou from Yourfellow-fervant in thegospel ofChrist,
JOHN FLAVEL
↑S. Ford. Ambitiofac.
‡ Animalis homo.