The Epifile Dedicatory. t;s better then fecret love ; and that faithful are the woundds of a friend but the kiffes of an enemy are deceitful] Prov. 27. 5, 6. And therefore I Ell do as I would be done by. Faithfulnefs and Vfefalnefs than he the mea- lure of my meffage to you. And theyhave command- ed me to fet before you this leffon of selldenyal and earneftly to intreate you, and again itnreate you , that you will faithfully Read , and Learn, and Practice it. Though I judged you to have learnt it long ago, I think it not needlefs to mind you of it again 5 my foul being aftoniihed to fee the power of Selfithisefs in the world, even in'thofe that by Confeffions and Pray- ers,and high Profeffions, have frequently condemned it. Yet this is the Radical-mortal fin. Where this lives, all fin virtually lives. Say that a man is Sedfi/h,and ( in that mea(ure ) you fay all that is naught of him , as to his inclination. That Selfithnefs is the fumme of Vice, and theCapital enemy of God , of Common- wealths, of Order and Government, of all Grace and Vertue, of every holy Ordinanceand Duty, eipecially of Unity and Brotherly Love , and of the welfare of our neighbours, and of our own falvation, I have ma- nifefted to you in the following Diicourfe. But alas , what need we words to manifeft it, when the flamesof difcord and long-continued divifions among Brethren domanifeft it I When hatred, ftrife, variance, emula- tion, backbiting, violence, rebellions , bloodfbed, re- fitting and pulling down of Governments, have fo la- mentably declared it ! When fuchhavock is made by it before our eyes, and the evil fpirit goes on and pro- fpereth, and defolation iszealoufly and ftudiou fly car- ried on, and the voice of Peace- makers is defpifed or drowned in the confided noife I [Prefimptuous are they,
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