Chap. 9.] THE SAINTS' REST. 145 answer to the excellency of the matter. Every reasonable soul hath both judgment andaffection ; 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 word of truth ;" that your people may not be ashamed, nor weary in hearing you. Let your conversation be teaching, as well as your doc- trine. 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 andpeace. If ever you would promote the kingdom of Christ and your peo- ple's salvation, do it in a way of peace and love. It is as hard a thing to maintain in your people a sound under- standing, 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." 6. All you whom God bath intrusted with the care of children and servants, I would also persuade to this great work ofhelping others to the heavenlyrest. Consider what plain and pressing commands of God require this at your hands. " These words thou shalt teach diligentlyunto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thouwalkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not de- part from it. Bringup your'children in the nurture and ad- monition of the Lord." Joshua resolved, that " he and his house would serve the Lord." And God himself says of Abraham, " I know him, that he will command his chil- dren, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord." Consider, it is a duty you owe your children in point of justice. From you they received the defilement and misery of their natures; and therefore you owe them all possible help for their recovery. Consider 7
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