rich men, to erect a college (at Salop, I think the only fit place, for many reasons) for the education of scholars for the use of Wales; a country, whose present misery, and ancient honour, and readiness to receive the Gospel, and zealous profession of what they know, should encourage all good men to help them. Too few will send their sons to our present Universities, and too few of those that come thither are willing to return. But if this may not be done, the next way will be to add some charitable help for them in Oxford, obliging them to return to the service of their country. 10. Were I to speak to princes, or men so rich and potent as to be able to do so good a work, I would provoke them to do as much as the Jesuits have done, in seeking the conversion of some of the vast nations of infidels, that are possessed of so great a part of the world; viz. To erect a college for those whom the Spirit of God shall animate for so great a work, and to procure one or two of the natives out of the countries whose conversion you design, to teach the students in this college their language (which it is like might be effected). And when they have learned the tongues, to devote themselves to the work; where by the countenance of ambassadors, merchants, plantations or any other means, they may procure access and liberty of speech. Doubtless God would stir up some among us, to venture on the labour and apparent danger, for so great a work. If we be not better principled, disposed and resolved to do or suffer in so good a cause, than the Jesuits are, we are much to blame. And where we can but have opportunity, we are like to do much more good than they. 1. Because they are so importunate everywhere for the interest of the pope, that the people presently smell it to be but a selfish secular design. 2. Because when they have taken them from their heathenish idolatry, and taken down their images, they set up the divine worship of the host, and the cross, and the religious worship of the Virgin Mary, and the saints, with prayers to them in the stead: with such abundance of ceremonious additions, that the people think it is as good to be where they are; as if it were but the taking down one Daimon or Divus, to set up another in a kind of emulation, and they think that every country should continue the worship of their ancient patrons or Daimons. Whereas, if we went among them with the plain and pure Gospel, not sophisticated by these superstitions, with a simple intention of their spiritual good, without any designs of advantage to ourselves, it is like we might do much more, and might expect a greater blessing from God; as Mr. Elliot, and his helpers find of their blessed labours in New England, where, if the languages, and remote habitations (or rather no habitations, but dispersions) of the inhabitants did not deny them opportunity of speech, much more might be effected. And though the Mahometans are more cruel than the heathens against any that openly speak against their superstition and deceit, yet God would persuade some, it is like, to think it worth the loss of their lives to make some prudent attempt in some of those vast Tartarian or Indian countries, where Christianity hath had least access and audience. As difficult works as these are, the Christian princes and people are exceedingly to blame, that they have done no more in attempting them, and have not turned their private quarrels, into a common agreement for the good of the poor uncalled world. I have told you of divers ways in which you may secure your wealth from loss, and make an everlasting advantage of it. Those that have power and not a will, shall lose the reward, and have the condemnation of unfaithful stewards. Those that have power and an envious, evil will, that desireth not the church's good, shall moreover have the punishment of malignant enemies. Those that have neither power nor will, or are both impotent and malignant, shall be judged according to what they would have done, if they had been able. Those that have an unfeigned will, but not power, shall be accounted as if they had done the works; for God accepteth the will for the deed. All these good works are yours, poor Christians, that never did them, if certainly you would have done them, notwithstanding the difficulty, cost and suffering, if you had been able. But it is the godly rich, that are both able and willing, and actually perform them, that will profit both themselves and others, that both their own and other's souls may have the comfort of it. I shall lay some of the words of God himself before your eyes, and heartily pray for the sake of your own souls, and the public good, that you may excel Papists as far in works of charity, as you do in the soundness of doctrine, discipline and worship. Gentlemen, excuse the necessary freedom of speech, and accept the seasonable, honourable, gainful motion, pro-pounded to you from the word of God, by Your faithful monitor, February 20, 1657. RICHARD BAXTER. Sophronius, Bishop of Jerusalem (Prat. spir. c. 195, referente Baronio ad an. 411.) delivereth this history following to posterity, as a most certain thing: That Leontius Apamiensis, a most faithful, religious man that had lived many years at Cyrene, assured them that Synesius (who of a philosopher became a bishop) found at Cyrene, one Evagrius a philosopher, who had been his old acquaintance, fellow-student and intimate friend, but an obstinate heathen: and Synesius was earnest with him to become a Christian, but all in vain ; yet did still follow him with those arguments that might satisfy him of the Christian verity; and at last the philosopher told him, that to him it seemed but a mere fable and deceit that the Christian religion teacheth men, that this world shall have an end, and that all men shall rise again in these bodies, and their flesh be made immortal and incorruptible, and that they shall so live for ever, and receive the reward of all that they have done in the body; and that he that hath pity on the poor, lendeth to the Lord, and he that gives to the poor and needy shall have treasure in heaven, and shall receive an hundredfold from Christ, together with eternal life: these things he derided. Synesius by many arguments assured him that all these things were certainly true: and at last the philosopher and his children were baptized. Awhile after, he comes to Synesius, and brings him three hundred pounds of gold for the poor, and bid him take it, and give him a bill under his hand that Christ should repay it him in another world. Synesius took the money for the poor, and gave him under his hand such a bill as he desired. Not long after, the philo sopher being near to death, commanded his sons that when they buried him, they should put Synesius's bill in his hand in the grave, which they did : and the third day after, the philosopher seemed to appear to Synesius in the night, and said to him, 'Come to my sepulchre, where I lie, and take thy bill, for I have received the debt and am satisfied; which for thy assurance I have subscribed with my own hand.' The bishop knew not that the bill was buried with him, but sent to his sons who told him all; and taking them and the chief men of the city, he went to the grave, and found the paper in the hands of the corpse, thus subscribed, 'Ego Evagrius philosophus, tibi Sanctissimo Domino Synesio episcopo salutem; accepi debitum in his literis manu tua conscriptum, satisfactumque mihi est; et nullum contra te habeo jus propter aurum quod dedi tibi, et per te Christo Deo et Salvatori nostro;' that is, I Evagrius the philosopher, to thee most holy sir, bishop Synesius, greeting: I have received the debt which in this paper is written with thy hands, and I am satisfied; and I have no law (or action) against thee for the gold which I gave to thee, and by thee to Christ our God and Saviour.' They that saw the thing, admired and glorified God that gave such wonderful evidence of his promises to his servants: and, saith Leontius, this bill subscribed thus by the philosopher, is kept at Cyrene most carefully in the church to this day, to be seen of such as do desire it." Though we have a sure word of promise, sufficient for us to build our hopes on, yet I thought it not wholly unprofitable, to cite this one history from so credible antiquity, that the works of God may be had in remembrance. Though if any be causelessly incredulous, there are surer arguments that we have ready at hand to convince him by. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy;" Matt. v 7. Read Matt. vi. 19. to the end of the chapter. "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven;" Matt. vii. 21. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man that built his house upon a rock," &c. Matt. vii. 24. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven;" Matt. v. 16. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive;" Acts xx. 35. "Give to him that asketh thee, and of him that would borrow of thee, turn thou not away; Matt. v. 42. "All these have I kept from my youth up-yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" Luke xviii. 21-24. Read and consider Luke xii. 15-49. And Luke xvi. 19, to the end. "So likewise whosoever he be of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple;" Luke xiv. 23. 26-28. "We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them ;” Eph. ii. 10.. "What profiteth it, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" James ii. 14. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works;" Tit. ii. 14. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life;" 1 Tim. vi. 17—19. "But to do good and to communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased;" Heb. xiii. 16. friends of the mammon of "I unto you, make you Ꮓ |