DECAD. VI. Without the wals ofyourrellraint, wher<eanyou looke befide encouragements A offoffering; Beholdin this,how.much yo~ are happier than your many predcceffol'!. Thofe have found friends, or wtves, or children, rhe moll d3ng<rous of all tempcers. Suggellionsofweakneffe,when they ccme masked with love, are more powerfcll to hurt. But you, all yourmany fr}ends, in the valourofthe'r ChriOian love, wilb~ath erabldfedMartyr, than a livmg and profperous revolter : yea, your de3re wtfe (worthy ofthishonour, to be thewife ofaMartyr) prefenyour faith, to her at!taion. 3nd in acourage beyondher fex,conttmns theworllmtfery ofyour lo!fe; pro fcffinglbe would redeemyour life with hers, but that !bewould not rede<mit with yooryeeldonce : andwhile!be !cokesupon thofemany pawns ofycur challe love, yollr bopefullchildren,wilbes rother to fee thtmfatherle!fe,than their father unfaithfull: Thegrearell panofyour fufferings archers, She beares them with a cheerfull refolurion : She divideswith you in your farrows, in your patience; !be lhall not be 8 divided in your glory: For us,we !ball accompany youwith our ptaym,and follow youwith our thankfull commemorations_; (vo~!ng to writeyour mme in red letters in theKalenders ofour hearts ; and to regtfrertt m themonumentsofperpetual! R.ecords,as an example re all poQerity, Themett1Dr1411of I he i•P foaU h hlrj[ed, rn~~~mm~m~~mm~m~~ To all Readers. E p 15T, X. CM141ning Rslet•fgooil•dvkt{oYIIItehrijllananrJ cifJiU <41i4t,t• I Granr,brevity where it isneither obfcure, nor defeftive 1 is verypleafing, even to C the daintiell judgements. Nomarvell therefore·, ifmollmen deliremuch good counfell in anarrow roome; as fome af"eft to have grear perfonages dra'fVtle in little tablers; or, aswe feeworlds ofCountries defcribed in thecompa!fe offmall maps: Neither doe I unwillingly yeeld to follow them; for both the powers ofgood advice are thefironger when they are thusunited; andbrevitymakescounfell more portable formemory, andreadier for ufe.Take thefe therefore for more; which as I would faine praltice, foam I willing ro commend. Letos begin with himIVho is the lirll and !all: Infonnyour (elfaright concerningGod; without whom,in vaindoe we knowall things:Be acquaintedwith that Saviourofyours,which paid fo much for you oneatth,and nowfues for you in heaven; withoutwhom wehave nothing to doewith6od,norbe with us. Adorehiminyour thoughrs,rrufi himwith your felf: R.enew your fighrofhim everyday, and his ofyou. Over-look thefe earthly things; 0 andwhen you doe atany timecall your eyes upon heaven,think,theredwcls my Saviour, there llballbe, Call your felfe rooften recknings; call up your debts,paymenrs,graces,wanrs,expenc:es,ernploymenrs; yee!d not to think yourfet devotions rroublefome: Take not eafie denials from your felfe: yea, give peremptory denials to your felfe: He can neverbegood that flatters himfelf: hold nature roher allowance;and let your will llandat conrref~e:happy is that manwhich bathobtaineD tobe themaller ofhiso'wnhearr.ThinkallGodsoutward favours and provifions the b~fi for you: your ownability,and aaions themeanefi. Suffernot yourmind to be either aDrudge,or aWaoron;exercife it ever,bur over-Jay itnor: in all yourbufine!fes,Jook through theworld,atGod,whatfoever isyoar levell,let himbeyour fcope: Everyday rake a viewo£your lafi;andthink either it is this,ormaybe:Otfer not your felfeither to honour,or labour; let themboth feek you : Care youonly to be worthy, and you cannor bide you from God. Soframe your felfe to tpe time and company,that you E may neither ferve ir,nor fullenly neglelt it;&yeeld fofar,as you may neitherberray goodne!fe,norcountenanceevil!. Let your words be few,and digelled:It isalhame for the tongue to cry the heartmercy, mnch more ro call it felfe upon the uncertain pardonofothersears.Therearebut two thingswhichaChriftian is charged ro buy,& not to fell,'fhJt&Tnlb;hoth fo precious, that wemull purcbafe them at "ny race.So ufe your friends,as thofewhich lbould be perpetual,may be chageable.Whileyou a1< within your felf, there is nodanger: bot thoughts once urrered mull lland eohazard. Do
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