faithful and judicious Friends; good Laws in the place and country where you live; the written Word of God acquainting you with my will, and the way to eternal life; the Word preached by able and powerful Ministers thereof; the Sacraments, both for your imitation and confirmation; special and powerful motions and impulses of my Spirit upon your consciences, dissuading from sin, and encouraging in and to holiness; special Providences, abstracting and diverting you from the commission of things contrary to my will, dishonourable to my name, and hurtful to yourselves; Chastisement and Corrections, eminently and plainly inflicted for sin committed by yourselves and others, so that the guilt was legible in the punishment; eminent Blessings upon the ways of holiness and virtue, even to the view of the world; eminent Restitution and Deliverances, upon repentance and amendment of life; most clear and sensible Experiences of my love, favour, and listening to your prayers, to encourage you to a dependence upon me; singular Opportunities put into your hands, of instructing the ignorant, delivering the oppressed, promoting my honour.

"These are some of the many talents which I have committed to you, though in differing degrees: Give up your accounts, you children of men, how you have emyloyed them."

THE ACCOUNT OF

THE GOOD STEWARD.

LORD, before I enter into account with thy Majesty, I must confess, that if thou shouldst enter into judgment with me, and demand that account which in justice thou mayest require of me, I should be found thy debtor. I confess I have not improved my talents according to that measure of ability that thou hast lent me. I therefore most humbly offer unto thee the redundant merit of thy own Son, to supply my defects, and to make good what is wanting in my account; yet according to thy command, I do humbly render my discharge of the trust thou hast committed to me, as followeth :

I.

IN GENERAL.

As to all the Blessings and Talents where

with thou hast intrusted me:

I have looked up to Thee with a thankful heart, as the only author and giver of them. I have looked upon myself as unworthy of them.

I have looked upon them as committed to my trust and stewardship, to manage them for the ends that they were given, the honour of my Lord and Master.

I have therefore been watchful and sober in the use and exercise of them, lest I should be unfaithful in them.

If I have at any time, through weakness or inadvertence, or temptation, mis-employed any of them, I have been restless, till I have in some measure rectified my miscarriage by repentance and amendment.

II.

IN PARTICULAR.

Concerning my Senses, and the use of

them:

I have made a covenant with mine Eyes, that they should not rove after vanity, or forbidden objects: I have employed them in beholding thy works of wonder and wisdom.

I have busied them in reading those books

and writings, that may instruct me in the great concernments of eternal life.

I have stopt my Ears against sinful and unprofitable discourse, and against slandering, and lying, and flattering tongues.

I have exercised them in listening to those things that might increase my faith, knowledge and piety.

I have kept them open to the cry of the poor and oppressed, to relieve them. The rest of the employments of these and my other Senses, have been for my necessary preservation, and the honest exercise of an honest calling and conversation.

III.

AS TO THE REASON AND UNDERSTANDING THOU

HAST GIVEN ME.

I have been careful to govern my senses and sensual appetite by my reason, and to govern my reason by thy word.

I have endeavoured to use and employ it, but not lean or depend upon it: I make it my assistant, but not my idol.

I have been careful to wind up my reason

and understanding to the highest key in the

searching out of truths, but especially those that are of the greatest concernment in matters of faith. I have made my understanding to be laborious and industrious, but still kept under yoke and rule of thy word, lest it should grow extravagant and petulant.

I have looked upon my understanding and reason, as a ray of thy Divine light; and therefore I have used it for Thee; and have counted it a most high sacrilege, ingratitude, and rebellion, to employ it against thee, thy honour, or service.

I have endeavoured principally to furnish it with that knowledge, which will be of use in the other world. This hath been my business; other studies, or acquests of other knowledge, have been either for the necessary use of this life, or harmless divertisements or recreations. In the exercise of my reason, as on the one side I have avoided idleness, supineness, or neglect, so on the other side I have not employed it in vain, curious, unprofitable, forbidden, inquiries. I have studied to use it with sobriety, moderation, humility, and thankfulness. And as I have been careful to employ it, so I have been as careful not to mis-employ it: I looked