mote the joyes of true believers, and to diffwade them from fuch caufelefs defpondencies and troubles as would rob them of their comforts, and God of their love, and thanks and praife. Had you but tafted once the difference between this is ward feast, and yours, I should need no more words with you, to perfwade you that godliefs is a life of joy. Dare any of you fay and stand to it, that there is not greater matter for joy in the love of Chrift, then in the love of a harlot ? in the affurance of falvation, then in lands and Lordfhips in the forefight of heaven, then in the company of lightheaded voluptuous people, that have not wit enough to be ferious, nor faith enough to foresee that which will fo fadly and speedily fpoil the fport? To be foolishly merry in the midft of mifery, doth but make you the objects of greater greater compaffion. Be as merry as you can, fo it be grounded, and durable, and caused by that which God, and faith, and folid reafon will approve; and doth not tend to greater forrows. Bethink you well whether Chrift and his Apoftles lived not a more comfortable life then you? And imitate them in their way of mirth and spare not. But if you are unfanctified fenfual worldly men, lay by your mirth till you are fitter for it; and take your portion from the Apostle James 5. 1, 2, 3,5. [Go to now ye rich men; weep and howl for your miferies that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments moth-eaten: your gold and filver is cankered, and the ruft of them shall be a witnefs against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire: ye have heaped treasure together for the last dayes. dayes. Te have lived in pleaJure on earth, and been wanton : Je have nourished your hearts as in a day of laughter.] What pitty is it to see men deftroy themselves with the mercies of the Lord! what pitty is it to fee them fo eager for profperity, and fo regardless of the proper ufe and benefit of it? O be not like the Bee that is drowned in her own honey. And do not fo greedily defire a greater burden then you can bear; and to have more to answer for, when you have been fo unfaithful in a little! And if you believe Chrift that tells you how hardly rich men come to heaven, and how few of them are faved, long not for your danger, and grudge not if you have not thefe exceeding difficulties to overcome. You would be afraid to dwell in that air where few men fcape infection or to feed on You on that dyet that most are killed by. Its evident by the effects that profperity befooleth and undoeth the moft, we find you on your fick beds in a more tractable frame. 1. Then a man may speak to you about the cafe of your immortal fouls, with lefs contempt then now we meet with. look not then for laced fpeeches, but will more patiently hear our plain difcourfes of eternal life. 2. Then you will feem ferious your felves, and fpeak almoft like those that you called Precifians and Puritans, for remembring you of thefe things in your profperity. 3. Then you have fome better relish of truth and duty, and judge better of the matter and manner of exhortation and prayer then you do now. 4. Then you have more charity and moderation to others; and are not enraged to the deftroying of thofe that are not of your your opinions in all your formalities. 5. You would then shake the head at him that should offer you cards, or dice, or fleshly vaniEies and you would tell others that its wifer to be delighted in the Law of God, and meditate in it day and night. 6. Then you will speak as contemptuously of the honour, and pleasures, and profits of the world, and of pleafing men before the Lord, as we do now. 7. And then you will confefs the preciousnefs of time: the folly of mispending it, and that one thing is neceflary, for which we can never (regularly) do too much. And why are you not now of the mind that you will be at death or judgement, but that your folly doth turn your profperity to your bane? Once more I beseech you for the Lords fake, retire from the deceiving world to God: And if you care where you live to all eternity, |