ADMONITORY EPISTLE.

To my dearly beloved Friends, the Inhabitants of Kidderminster in Worcestershire; and my late Auditors in the City of London. Confirming grace, with patience, love, and peace, be multiplied.

DEAR FRIENDS,

ONCE more, through the great mercy of God, I have liberty to send you a preacher for your private families, which may speak to you (truly and plainly, though not elegantly) when I cannot, and when I lie silent in the dust. I take it for no small mercy, that I have been so much employed about the great and necessary things, in despite of all the malice of satan, who would have entangled me, and taken up my time, in personal vindications and barren controversies. As I never knew that I had one enemy in the world that ever was acquainted with me; so those that know me, dissuading me from apologies against the accusations of those that know menot, have spared my time for better work. Though there are about fifty writings (in whole or part) against me published (by Infidels, Seekers, Familists, Enthusiasts, Quakers, Papists, Antinomians, Levellers, Covenant-breakers, State-subverters, Church-dividers, besides impatient dissenting brethren, and dependents that took it for the rising way), I yet find no cause (as to the present age, and those that know me) to be at any great care or pains for a defence; while malicious lies do make men wonder, that wrinkled envy should be so mad as to come so naked on the stage, and shew her ugly deformities to the world, and could not stay at least till wit had helped her to a cloak.

I was also, when I first intended writing, under another temptation; being of their mind that thought that nothing

should be made public, but what a man had first laid out his most choice art upon; I thought to have acquainted the world with nothing but what was the work of time and diligence. But my conscience soon told me, that there was too much of pride and selfishness in this; and that humility and self-denial required me to lay by the affectation of that style, and spare that industry, which tended but to advance my name with men, when it hindered the main work, and crossed my end. And providence drawing forth some popular, unpolished discourses, and giving them success beyond my expectation, did thereby rebuke my selfish thoughts, and satisfy me that the truths of God do perform their work more by their divine authority, and proper evidence, and material excellency, than by any ornaments of fleshly wisdom. And (as Seneca saith) though I will not despise an elegant physician, yet will I not think myself much the happier, for his adding eloquence to his healing art. Being encouraged then, by reason and experience, I venture these popular sermons into the world; and especially for the use of you, my late auditors, that heard them. I bless God that, when more worthy labourers are fain to weep over their obstinate, unprofitable, unthankful people, and some are driven away by their injuries, and put to shake off the dust of their feet against them; I am rather forced to weep over my own unthankful heart, that did not sufficiently value the mercy of a faithful flock, who parted with me rather as the Ephesians with Paul (Actsxx.37.), and who have lived according to this plain and necessary doctrine which they had received. Among whom, Papists, that persuade men that our doctrine tendeth to divisions, can find no divisions or sects, who have constantly disowned both the ambitious usurpations which have shaken the kingdom; and the factions, censoriousness, and cruel violence in the church, which pride hath generated and nourished in this trying age. Among whom I have enjoyed so very large a proportion of mercy, in the liberty of so long an exercise of my ministry, with so unusual advantage and success, that I must be disingenuously unthankful if I should murmur and repine at the present restraining hand of God. But I must say with David, (2 Sam. xv. 25.) "If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me the ark and habitation (there or elsewhere use me in his service).

But if he say, I have no delight in thee, behold here I am, let him do to me as it seemeth good unto him."

And now with this treatise, let me leave you these few seasonable requests.

1. Be faithful to your faithful pastors. Think not that you can live in order and safety without their ministry. When you can, attend their public ministry; refuse not their more private help. Read well my two sheets for the Ministry. Where the lawful pastor is, there the church is. Be not either impiously indifferent in your worshipping of God, or peevishly quarrelsome with what is commanded or practised by others, nor disobedient to authority in lawful things.

2. Maintain still your ancient love, and unity, and peace among yourselves, and improve your company and converse to the advantage of your souls. Be daily interlocutory preachers to one another. Speak as the oracles of God; and preach by a holy, patient, harmless, charitable and heavenly life. This kind of preaching none can silence but your own corruptions.

3. Improve the profitable books which are among you. 1. Read them frequently, and reverently, and seriously to your families, when you have called them together, and prayed for God's blessing. 2. Carry them abroad with you, and when you fall into company where you cannot better spend your time, read to them some seasonable passage of such writings. 3. Give or lend them to those that need, and want either purses or hearts to provide them; and get them to promise you to read them, and inquire after the success. By such improvement, books may become such seconds or substitutes for public preaching, as that they may not be the least support of religion, and means to men's edification and salvation.

4. Make special and diligent provision to satisfy yourselves and others against popery, which is like to be none of the least of your temptations. To this end I pray you read well the single sheet against Popery which I published, and give of them abroad to others where there is need. Read also my other books against it: my "Safe Religion," and Key for Catholics," and "Dispute with Mr. Johnson," and Dr. Challoner's "Credo Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam," and when their sophistry puzzleth you, 1. Call your able pastors to debate it. 2. And remember that they have the

Scripture and the far greater part of the universal church, and the senses of all the world to confute, before they can make good the cause of their ambitious clergy. If you are but sure you know bread and wine when you see, and feel, and smell, and taste them, then you are at the end of controversy with the Papists. Above all, see that you maintain the love of God, and a heavenly mind, and mortified affections, and grow not opinionative, superficial, or loose in your religion. For he that is heartily of no religion, is prepared to be of any religion. And it is because men are false to the acknowledged truth, that they are given up to make a religion of deceit and falsehood. Your fidelity to your king and country, obligeth you to do your part to preserve the subjects from a disease so injurious to them. Saith Dr. Sherman, in his late" Account of Faith" against the Papists, Pref. p. 4, 5. If kings would think upon it, there might be no popes; since if popes could well help it, there should be no kings.'

5. Take heed of all temptations to turbulent resisting of authority, or other unlawful means in the obeying of your passions or discontents. As God chose most eminently to glorify his power under the law of works, and the spirit of bondage to fear did much prevail; but under the Gospel he hath chosen most eminently to magnify his goodness, love, and mercy; so accordingly is the impress made upon his servants' hearts. They are animated by love, for the propagating of love, and therefore must work with instruments of love. And if we had well learned the doctrine and example of our Lord, and made it our work to love all, and to do good to all, and hurt to none, and with meekness and patience to let any hurt us, rather than do any thing for our own defence, which is against the law of love, we should see that Christianity would better thrive, when it would be better understood by the practice of the professors. Often have I noted that a whole flock of sheep will run away from the smallest dog, and yet there are few of them killed by dogs, because they are under their master's care; whereas, a wolf or fox is pursued by all, and few of them suffered to live. And oft have I observed, that when men that shift for themselves can scarce pass the streets, yet children play in the way of carts and coaches without hurt, while every one takes it for his care to preserve them, that cannot take care of, and

preserve themselves. And though the deer that is within the park is killed when the owner please, yet he is preserved there from others, when the wild and straggling deer that are abroad, are a prey to any man that can catch or kill them. He that saveth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth it for Christ shall save it.

The Lord establish, strengthen, direct, and preserve you to his kingdom, and keep you from the passions of corrupted nature, and from the snares and rage of a deceitful, malicious world. I beseech you continue yet your prayers for him that desireth no greater advancement in the world, than to be

The servant of Christ, and

Helper of your joy,

RICH. BAXTER.

June 7, 1662.