To the C;hriflian Reader,. to Jerufalem) it bathbeen built inTroublous Times. Except the Lord buildboth houfe and wall, they labour in vaine that build incalmeft times ; and where the Lordbuildeth ( thouryhby weake andunskilfull hands ) labour /hall not bevaine infiormy times ; it (hall neither be la- bour in vaine, becaufe unfinifbt for of ; nor fhall it be labour in vaine, becaufe unuferull when 'tis finifht. The blefng of God ( and without that nothing can ) delivererh all our honeft labours from thefe two vanities, andhis bounty delivereth themfroma Third. For while wearefiedfaft and unmoveable, alwayes aboun- ding in the worke ofthe Lord, as we may have aftrongconfidence that our labour (hall not be ira vaine to others, fo afull affurance that itfhall not be invaineto ourfelves. Plaine-hearted _Ja- cob labouring in the integrity of his foule for Laban, onely inkeepingfheepe, though his wa- ges (as envying that he thrivedfofait) was changed ten times, yet he thrived thefatter, and he who came over Jordan with his ftaEf'e, be- came two bands. To be fure we can never want either pay or reward for that work which is a reward and can pay it (elfe. And though, Iknow ( and cannot but thanefully acknowledge HonouredSirs) that this long con- tinued
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