SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 457 the several congregations will not obey him. But be will' make them know, before many years are past, that they refused their own mercy, and knew not the things that belonged to their peace, and that he will he 'Master at last, in spite of malice and the proud- est of his foes. If they get by this bargain of refusing Christ's government, . and despising his ministers, and making the peace, unity, and prosperity of his church, and the souls of men, a prey to their proud misguided fancies and passions, then let them boast of the bargain when they have tried it. Only I would entreat one thing of them, not to judge too confidently till they have seen the end. And for all you tender- conscienced Christians, whom by the ministry the Lord bath begottenor confirmed to himself, as ever you will show yourselves thankful for so great a mercy,as everyou will hold that you l'ave got, or grow to more perfection, and attain that blessed life to which Christ bath given you his ministers to conduct you ; see that you stick close to a judicious, godly, faith- ful ministry, and makeuse off themwhile you have them. Have you strong lusts, or deep wounds in conscience, or a heavy burden of doubtings or distress? Seek their advice. God will have his own ordinance and officers have the chief instrumental hand in your cure. The same means ofttimes in another hand shall not do it. Yet I would 'have you make use of all able private Chris- tians' help also. , I will tell you the tessonwhy our ministers have not urged this so much upon you, nor so plainly acquainted their congregations with the necessity&opening your case toyodr minister, and seek- ing his advice. 1. Some, in oppositionto Popery, have gone too far on the other extreme ; perhaps sinning as deeply.in neglect as the Papists do in formal excess. It is a good sign that an opinion is true, when it is near to error. For truth is the verynext step to error. The small thread of truth runs between the close adjoining extremes of error. 2. Some ministers, knowing the exceeding greatness of the bur- den, are loath to put themselves upon it.' This one work, of giv- ing advice to all that ought to come and open their case to us, if our people did but what they ought to do for their own safety, would itself, in great congregations, be more than preaching every day in the week. What, then, is all the rest of the work? And how can one man, yea, or five, do this to five thousand souls ? And, then, when it Beth undone, the malicious reproachers rail at the ministers,, and accuse the people of unfitness to be church mem- bers which, howsoever, there may be some cause of, yet notso much as 'they suggest ; and that unfitness would best be cured by the dill- VOL. I. 58
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