faithful! I know we need to be very jealous of our deceitful hearts in this point, lest our rejoicing should come from our pride. Naturally we would have the praise of every good work ascribed to ourselves: Yet to imitate our Father in goodness and mercy, and to rejoice in the degree of them we attain to, is the duty of every child of God. I therefore tell you my own experience, to persuade you, that if you did but know what a joyful thing it is, you would follow it night and day through the greatest discouragements.

13. Up then, every man that hath a tongue, and is a servant of Christ, and do something of . your Master's work. Why hath he given you a tongue, but to speak in his service? And how can you serve him more eminently, than in saving souls? He that will pronounce you blessed at the last day, and invite you to the kingdom prepared for you, because you fed him, and clothed him, and visited him, in his poor members, will surely pronounce you blessed for so great a work as bringing souls to his kingdom. He that saith the poor you have always with you, hath left the ungodly always with you, that you might still have matter to exercise your charity upon. If you have the hearts of Christians or of men, let them yearn towards your ignorant ungodly neighbours. Say as the lepers of Samaria, We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace. Hath God had so much mercy on you, and will you have no mercy on your poor neighbours? But as this duty belongs to all Christians, so especially to some, according as God hath called them to it, or qualified them for it. To them therefore, will more particularly address the exhortation.

14. God especially expects this duty at your hands to whom he hath given more learning and knowledge, and endued with better utterance, than your neighbours. The strong are made to help the weak; and those that see must direct the blind.. God looketh for this faithful improvement of your parts and gifts, which, if you neglect, it were better you had never received them; for they will but aggravate your condemnation, and be as useless to your own salvation, as they were to others.

§ 15. All those that are particularly acquainted with some ungodly men, and that have peculiar interest in them, God looks for this duty at your hands. Christ himself did eat and drink with publicans and sinners; but it was only to be their phy. sician, and not their companion. Who knows but God gave you interest in them to this end, that you. might be the means of their recovery? They that: will not regard the words of a stranger, may regard a brother, or sister, or husband, or wife, or near friend: Besides that the bond of friendship engageth you to more kindness and compassion than ordinary.

16. Physicians that are much about dying. men, should in a special manner make conscience of this duty. It is their peculiar advantage, that they are at hand; that they are with men in sickness and dangers, when the ear is more open, and the heart less stubborn than in time of health; and that men look upon their physician as a person in whose hand is their life; or at least, who may do much to save them; and therefore they will the more regard his advice. You that are of this honourable profession, do not think this a work beside your calling, as if it belonged to none but

ministers; except you think it beside your calling to be compassionate, or to be Christians. O help therefore to fit your patients for heaven! And whether you see they are for life or death, teach them both how to live and die, and give them some physic for their souls, as you do for their bodies. Blessed be God, that very many of the chief physicians of this age have, by their eminent piety vindicated their profession from the common imputation of atheism and profaneness.

§ 17. Men of wealth and authority, and that have many dependants, have excellent advantages for this duty. O what a world of good migh: lords and gentlemen do, if they had but hearts to improve their influence over others! Have you not all your honour and riches from God? Doth not Christ say, unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required? If you speak to your dependants for God and their souls, you may be regarded, when even a minister shall be despised. As you value the honour of God, your own comfort, and the salvation of souls, improve your influence over tenants and neighbours; visit their houses; see whether they worship God in their families; and take all opportunities to press them to their duty. Despise them not. Remember God is no respector of persons. Let men see that you excel others in piety, compassion, and diligence in God's work, as you do in the riches and honour of the world. I confess you will by this means be singular, but then you will be singular in glory; for few of the mighty and noble are called.

18. As for the ministers of the gospel, it is the very work of their calling, to help others to heaven. Be sure to make it the main end of your

studies and preaching. He is the able, skilful minister, that is best skilled in the art of instructing, convincing, persuading, and consequently of winning souls; and that is the best sermon that is best in these. When you seek not God, but yourselves, God will make you the most contemptible of men. It is true of your reputation, what Christ says of your life, He that loveth it, shall lose it. Let the vigour of your persuasions shew, that you are sensible on how weighty a business you are sent. Preach with that seriousness and fervour, as men that believe their own doctrine, and that know their hearers must be prevailed with, or be damned.— Think not that all your work is in your studies and pulpit. You are shepherds, and must know every sheep, and what is their disease, and mark their strayings, and help to cure them and fetch them home. Learn of Paul, not only to teach your people publicly, but from house to house. Inquire how they grow in knowledge and holiness, and on what grounds they build their hopes of salvation, and whether they walk uprightly, and perform the duties of their several relations. See whether they worship God in their families, and teach them how to do it. Be familiar with them, that you may maintain your interest in them, and improve it all for God. Know of them how they profit by public teaching. If any too little favour the things of the Spirit, let them be pitied, but not neglected. If any walk disorderly, recover them with diligence and patience. If they be ignorant, it may be your fault as much as theirs. Be not asleep while the wolf is waking.-Deal not slightly with any. Some will not tell their people plainly of their sins, because they are great men; and some because they

are godly; as if none but the poor and the wicked should be dealt plainly with.-Yet labour to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may answer to the excellency of the matter. Every reasonable soul hath both judgment and affection; and every rational, spiritual sermon, must have both. Study and pray, and pray and study, till you are become workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the truth; that your people may not be ashamed, nor weary in hearing you. Let your conversation be teaching, as well as your doctrine. Be as forward in a holy and heavenly life, as you are in pressing others to it. Let your discourse be edifying and spiritual. Suffer any thing, rather than the gospel and men's souls should suffer. Let men see that you use not the ministry only for a trade to live by; but that your hearts are set upon the welfare of souls. Whatsoever meekness, humility, condescension, or self-denial you teach them from the gospel, teach it them also by your undissembled example.-Study and strive after unity and peace. If ever you would promote the kingdom of Christ, and your people's salvation, do it in a way of peace and love. It is as hard a thing to maintain in your people a sound understanding, a tender conscience, a lively, gracious, heavenly frame of spirit, and an upright life, amidst contention, as to keep your candle lighted in the greatest storms. Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.

19. All you whom God hath entrusted with the care of children or servants, I would also persuade to this great work of helping others to the heavenly rest. Consider what plain and pressing commands of God require this at your hands.