EPISFJ:YIL A quicken us,or m~y deceiyc us.Howmanr h_avc meantwcll,and do~c nothiog,and loft their crownc wuh lingnng! whofc dclhru~s have prevented t~ctr dcfir~s, and have mode theirgood motions the \'!,ards of thctr executors, not Without mtfcrablc fuc. cdlc : townom, thaphcy wou,Iil have done good,is notlfogrcat-apraifc, as it is difhonourtbatthcy mig)lt have done it: their wrackcs arc out 1varnings,wcarc equally ,mortall,equally fickle.Why have yoa this refpiteofliving,but tQprevent theimperi- .ous ncccffityofdeath ~ it is a wofoll and rcmedilcffc complaint thae the end ofqur daics hath over-run the beginningofourgoqq '1\'0rks.Early bcocficcnce hach nodanger many joycs: forthe coofcicnceofgood done, theprayers and blcffingsofthe telce~ed, the gratulation ofthe Saints, are as fo manr perJ?Ctuall comforters,which cap make our life pleafant,and our death bappy,our cvtll dates good,andourgood better. n All thefc arc loft withdelay:fewand cold ~re the praiers for IJjm that maygivc:aod in lieu our r:ood purpofcs fore-flowed arc beco111e our tormentors upon our death.bed. Littledifference is betwixt good deferred,and evill done;Good was meant1who hindred it,will our confcicncc fay~there was time enough,meanes cnough,necdenough, what hindred~Did fcarc of envy, diftruft of want~ Alas, what bogs arc thcfe to fright meo from heaven~ As ifthe covy ofkccping,wcrc lcffc then ofbcftowing: As ifGod were not as good a debtoras agiver: he thatgives to the poorc, lends to God, faith ·wi[eS•I•mon. Ifhe frc:lygivc us what we may lend, and grace togive; will he not ·much more pay uswhat wehave lent; and give us bccaufc we have given~ That is his bounty,this his jullice.O happy is that man thatmay be a creditor to his maker!H.a• ven aod earth thalbe empty before hdhall want a roya.U paimeot,Ifwc dare nottrull c God whiles we live, howdarcwctruft meo whcnwcar~dcad ~ 111en thatarcftill dcceirfull,and lightupon the babncc, light oftruth,hcavyoffdf-love.Howmany Executors have proved the executioners ofboncft Wiu~ howmany have our des fccnc, chat aft<r moft carefull choice oftrullyguardians,havc had their childrenand goods fo difpofed, as if the Parent5foulc could returnto fecit, I doubt whetbrritcould be happy. How rare is that man that prefers not i)imfdfto his dead friend! profit to truth~ that will take no vantage ofthe impoffibility ofaccountfWhar-ever therefore men either !hew or promife, happy is that man that may be his own auditor,fupcrvivifor, executor.As you love God & your !elf, be not afraid ofbeing happy too foone, I am not worthy to give fo bold advice;lct thewife man ofSyr•th fpcak for me: Doe good before thou die,and according f<>tbinc ability llretch outthinc hands,and give: D Defraud not thy felfoftbygood day; & let not the portion ofthygood defircs overpaffc thce:lhalt thou notleave thy travds to another, and thy labours to them that will divide thine heritage~ Or !etawifetthen hc,SAi•m•n: Say not tomorrow, I will give,ifnow thou have ir:for thou knoweft nor what aday will bring forrb.It bath bin an old rule ofliberality, He gives twice that gives quickly; whereas flow benefits argue uncbeerfulnes,and lofe their worth.Who lingers his reccits, is condemned as onthrifty: he that knowetb both,fairh,It is betterto eivc then to rcccivc.Ifwe be of the f•me fpirit,why arc we hafiy in the \Yorfe, and flack in th.e better~ Suffer youyour fclf th<rforc.goodSir,for Gods fakc,fortbe gofpels fake, forthe Churches fake, for your foules fakc,to be llirrad up by tbcfcpoorc lines, to a refolutc& fpccdyperforming of your worthy inreocions:& take this os a loving invitation feat from hcavcn,by an unE wort~y melfcoger. You ~annot deliberate long of 6t objells for your beaeficcncc,except rt be more for multJtude, then want: the ftrcets,y.ca the world .is full;How doth LA:t.4rll4 lieat cvety door~ ! how many fons of tbc ProphetS in their meanly-provided Colleges !Day f.1y, not, Mm in •D•, butfomtt ~ bow many Churches may jnllly plead chat whtch our Saviour bad his Difciples, The Lord bath need! And if thisinfimte ~ore hath made your choice douWull, how .afie wcrcit to !hewyou, wherein you mtght obhge the whole Church ofGod to you, and make your memoriall both etemall and bldfed;or,ifyou had ratheJ, the whole Common-wealth ~But nowI 1 ~~d my felfe too bold and too bulie, in thus lookicg to particularities : God !hall 1-"'r<lt you; and ifyou follow him,lhall crownc you :bowfoevcr, ifgoodbcdonc,and that betimes1 he bathwhat bedefired, and your foule lhall have more then you can de fire. The fuccclfe ofmy weakc, yet hearty counfell, lhall makeme as rich, as God I Gg2 . ~ 339
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