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are exhorting to a duty, urge for a promise to set upon it presently. If you would draw men to Christ, leave not till you have made them confess the misery of their present unregenerated state, and the necessity of Christ, and of a change, and have promised you to fall close to the use of means. O that all Christians would take this course with all their neighbours that are enslaved to sin, and strangers to Christ!-Once more, be sure your example exhort as well as your words. Let them see you constant in all the duties you persuade them to. Let them see in your lives that superiority to the world which your lips recommend. Let them see, by your constant labours for heaven, that you indeed believe what you would have them believe. A holy and heavenly life is a continual pain to the consciences of sinners around you, and continually solicits them to change their course.

7. (3.) Besides the duty of private admonition, you must endeavour to help men to profit by the public ordinances. In order to that endeavour to procure for them faithful ministers, where they are wanting. How shall they hear without a preacher ? Improve your interest and diligence to this end, till you prevail. Extend your purses to the utmost. How many souls may be saved by the ministry you have procured! It is a higher and nobler charity than relieving their bodies. What abundance of good might great men do, if they would support, in academical education, such youth as they have first carefully chosen for their integrity and piety, till they should be fit for the ministry! And when a faithful ministry is obtained, help poor souls to receive the fruit of it. Draw them constantly to attend it. Remind them often what they have heard; and, if it be possible, let them hear it repeated in their families, or elsewhere. Promote their frequent meeting together, besides publicly in the congregation; not as a separate church, but as a part of the church, more diligent than the rest in redeeming time, and helping the souls of each other heaven-ward. Labour also to keep the ordinances and ministry in esteem. No man will be much wrought on by that which he despiseth. An apostle says, 'We beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.'

8. (II.) Let us now a little inquire, what may be the causes of the gross neglect of this duty; that the binderances being discovered, may the more easily be overcome.-One hinderance is, men's own sin and guilt. They have not them

selves been ravished with heavenly delights; how then should they draw others so earnestly to seek them? They have not felt their own lost condition, nor their need of Christ, nor the renewing work of the Spirit; how then can they discover these to others? They are guilty of the sins they should reprove, and this makes them ashamed to reprove.—Another is, a secret infidelity prevailing in men's hearts. Did we verily believe, that all the unregenerated and unholy should be eternally tormented, how could we hold our tongues, or avoid bursting into tears, when we look them in the face, especially when they are our near and dear friends? Thus doth secret unbelief consume the vigour of each grace and duty. O Christians, if you did verily believe that your ungodly neighbours, wife, husband, or child, should certainly lie for ever in hell, except they be thoroughly changed before death shall snatch them away, would not this make you address them day and night till they were persuaded? Were it not for this cursed unbelief, our own and our neighbours' souls would gain more by us than they do.-These attempts are also much hindered by our want of charity and compassion for men's souls. We look on miserable souls, and pass by, as the priest and levite by the wounded man. What though the sinner, wounded by sin, and captivated by Satan, do not desire thy help himself; yet his misery cries aloud. If God had not heard the cry of our miseries, before he heard the cry of our prayers, and be moved by his own pity before he was moved by our importunity, we might long have continued the slaves of satan. You will pray to God for them to open their eyes, and turn their hearts; and why not endeavour their conversion, if you desire it? And if you do not desire it, why do you ask it? Why do you not pray them to consider and return, as well as pray to God to convert and turn them? If you should see your neighbour fallen into a pit, and should pray to God to help him out, but neither put forth your hand to help him, nor once direct him to help himself, would not any man censure you for your cruelty and hypocrisy? It is as true of the soul as of the body. If any man 'seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Or what love hath he to his brother's soul?-We are also hindered by a base, man-pleasing disposition. We are so desirous to keep in credit and favour with men, that it makes us most unconscionably neglect our own duty. He is a foolish and unfaithful physician that will let a sick man die for

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fear of troubling him. If our friends are dis-
tracted, we please them in nothing that tends to
their hurt. And yet, when they are beside
themselves in point of salvation, and. in their
madness, posting on to damnation, we will not
stop them, for fear of displeasing them. How
can we be Christians, that love the praise of
men more than the praise of God? For, if we
⚫ seek to please men, we shall not be the servants
of Christ.' It is common to be hindered by sin-
ful bashfulness. When we should shame men
out of their sins, we are ourselves ashamed of
our duties. May not these sinners condemn us,
when they blush not to swear, be drunk, or neg-
lect the worship of God; and we blush to tell
them of it, and persuade them from it? Bash-
fulness is unseemly, in cases of necessity. It is
not a work to be ashamed of, to obey God in
persuading men from their sins to Christ. Reader,
hath not thy conscience told thee of thy duty
many a time, and put thee on to speak to poor
sinners; and yet thou hast been ashamed to open
thy mouth, and so let them alone to sink or
swim? O read and tremble, Whosoever shall
be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him also
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes
in the glory of his Father, with his holy angels.'
An idle and impatient spirit hinders us. It is
an ungrateful work, and sometimes makes men
our enemies. Besides, it seldom succeeds at the
first, except it be followed on. You must be long
teaching the ignorant, and persuading the obsti-
nate. We consider not what patience God used
towards us when we were in our sins. Woe to
us if God had been as impatient with us as we
are with others!—Another hinderance is, self-
seeking. 'All seek their own, not the things
which are Jesus Christ's' and their brethren's
With many, pride is a great impediment. If it
were to speak to a great man, and it would not
displease him, they would do it; but to go among
the poor, and take pains with them in their cot-
tages, where is the person that will do it? Many
will rejoice in being instrumental to convert a
gentleman, and they have good reason; but over-
look the multitude, as if the souls of all were not
alike to God. Alas, these men little consider
how low Christ stooped to us! Few rich, and
noble, and wise, are called. It is the poor that
receive the glad tidings of the gospel-And
with some, their ignorance of the duty hindereth
them from performing it. Either they know it not
to be a duty, or, at least, not to be their duty. If
this be thy case, Reader, I am in hope thou art now
acquainted with thy duty, and will set upon it.

9. Do not object to this duty, that you are unable to manage an exhortation: but either set those on the work who are more able, or faithfully and humbly use the small ability you have, and tell them, as a weak man may do, what God says in his word. Decline not the duty, because it is your superior who needs advice and exhortation. Order must be dispensed with, in cases of necessity. Though it be a husband, a parent, a minister, you must teach him in such a case. If parents are in want, children must relieve them. If a husband be sick, the wife must fill up his place in family affairs. If the rich are reduced to beggary, they must receive charity. If the physician be sick, somebody must look to him. So the meanest servant must admonish his master, and the child his parent, and the wife her husband, and the people their minister; so that it be done when there is real need, and with all possible humility, modesty, and meekness.— Do not say, 'This will make us all preachers;' for every good Christian is a teacher, and has a charge of his neighbour's soul. Every man is a physician, when a regular physician cannot be had, and when the hurt is so small that any man may relieve it; and in the same cases every man must be a teacher!-Do not despair of success. Cannot God give it? And must it not be by means? Do not plead, it will only be casting pearls before swine. When you are in danger to be torn in pieces, Christ would have you for bear; but what is that to you that are in no such danger? As long as they will hear, you have encouragement to speak, and may not cast them off as contemptible swine.-Say not it is a friend on whom I much depend, and by telling him his sin and misery, I may lose his love, and be undone.' Is his love more to be valued than his safety? or thy own benefit by him, than the salvation of his soul? or wilt thou connive at his damnation, because he is thy friend? Is that thy best requital of his friendship? Hadst thou rather he should burn in hell for ever, than thou shouldst lose his favour, or the maintenance thou hast from him.

10. (III.) But that all who fear God may be excited to do their utmost to help others to this blessed rest, let me entreat you to consider the following motives. As, for instance, not only nature, but especially grace, disposes the soul to be communicative of good. Therefore, to neglect this work is a sin both against nature and grace. Would you not think him unnatural that would suffer his children or neighbours to starve in the streets, while he has provision at hand? And is not he more unnatural, that will let them

eternally perish, and not open his mouth to save them? An unmerciful, cruel man, is a monster to be abhorred of all. If God had bid you give them all your estates, or lay down your lives to save them, you would surely have refused, when you will not bestow a little breath to save them. Is not the soul of a husband, or wife, or child, or neighbour, worth a few words? Cruelty to men's bodies is a most damnable sin; but to their souls much more, as the soul is of greater worth than the body, and eternity than time. Little know you what many a soul may now be feeling in hell, who died in their sins, for want of your faithful admonition.-Consider what Christ did towards the saving of souls. He thought them worth his blood; and shall we not think them worth our breath? Will you not do a little where Christ hath done so much? Consider what fit objects of pity ungodly people are. They are dead in trespasses and sins, have not hearts to feel their miseries, nor to pity themselves. If others do not pity them, they will have no pity; for it is the nature of their disease to make them pitiless to themselves, yea, their own most cruel destroyers. Consider it was once thy own case. It was God's argument to the Israelites, to be kind to strangers, because themselves had been 'strangers in the land of Egypt.' So should you pity them that are strangers to Christ, and to the hopes and comforts of the saints, because you were once strangers to them yourselves. Consider your relation to them. It is thy neighbour, thy brother, whom thou art bound to love as thyself: He that loveth not his brother whom he seeth daily, doth not love God whom he never saw. And doth he love his brother that will see him go to hell, and never hinder him?

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Consider what a joy it will be in heaven, to meet those there whom you have been the means to bring thither. To see their faces, and join with them for ever in the praises of God, whom you were the happy instruments of bringing to the knowledge and obedience of Jesus Christ?Consider how many souls you may have drawn into the way of damnation, or hardened in it. We have had, in the days of our ignorance, our companions in sin, whom we incited, or encouraged. And doth it not become us to do as much to save men, as we have done to destroy them?

Consider how diligent are all the enemies of these poor souls to draw them to hell. The devil is tempting them day and night: their inward lusts are still working for their ruin the flesh is still pleading for its delights: their old companions are increasing their dislike of holiness. And if nobody be diligent in helping them to heaven, what is like to become of them?

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12. Consider how deep the neglect of this duty will wound, when conscience is awakened. When a man comes to die, conscience will ask him, What good hast thou done in thy lifetime? The saving of souls is the greatest good work; what hast thou done towards it? How many hast thou dealt faithfully with? I have often observed that the consciences of dying men very much wounded them for this omission. For my own part, when I have been near death, my conscience hath accused me more for this than for any sin. It would bring every ignorant profane neighbour to my remembrance, to whom I never made known their danger. It would tell me, Thou shouldst have gone to them in private, and told them plainly of their desperate danger, though it had been when thou shouldst have eaten 11. Consider what a load of guilt this neglect or slept, if thou hadst no other time.' Conscience lays upon thy own soul. Thou art guilty of the would remind me how, at such or such a time, I murder and damnation of all those souls whom was in company with the ignorant, or was riding thou dost thus neglect; and of every sin they by the way with a wilful sinner, and had a fit now commit, and of all the dishonour done to opportunity to have dealt with him, but did not; God thereby; and of all those judgments which or at least did it to little purpose. The Lord their sins bring upon the town or country where grant I may better obey conscience while I have they live. Consider what it will be to look upon time, that it may have less to accuse me of at your poor friends in eternal flames, and to think death!-Consider what a seasonable time you that your neglect was a great cause of it. If now have for this work. There are times in which you should there perish with them, it would be it is not safe to speak; it may cost you your no small aggravation of your torment. If you liberties, or your lives. Besides, your neighbours be in heaven, it would surely be a sad thought, will shortly die, and so will you. Speak to them, were it possible that any sorrow could dwell therefore, while you may.-Consider, though this there, to hear a multitude of poor souls cry out is a work of the greatest charity, yet every one of for ever, O, if you would but have told me you may perform it; the poorest as well as the plainly of my sin and danger, and set it home, rich. Every one hath a tongue to speak to a I might have escaped all this torment, and been sinner.-Once more, consider the happy conseHow in rest! What a sad voice will this be!--quences of this work, where it is faithfully done.

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You may be instrumental in saving souls, for which Christ came down and died, and in which the angels of God rejoice. Such souls will bless you here and hereafter. God will have much glory by it. The church will be multiplied and edified by it. Your own souls will enjoy more improvement and vigour in a divine life, more peace of conscience, more rejoicing in spirit. Of all the personal mercies that I ever received, next to the love of God in Christ to my own soul, I must most joyfully bless him for the plentiful success of my endeavours upon others. O what fruits then might I have seen if I had been more faithful! I know we need be very jealous of our deceitful hearts in this point, lest our rejoicing should come from our pride. Naturally we would have the praise of every good work ascribed to ourselves: yet to imitate our Father in goodness and mercy, and to rejoice in the degree of them we attain to, is the duty of every child of God. I therefore tell you my own experience, to persuade you, that if you did but know what a joyful thing it is, you would follow it night and day through the greatest discouragements.

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the blind. God looketh for this faithful improvement of your parts and gifts, which, if you neglect, it were better you had never received them; for they will but aggravate your condemnation, and be as useless to your own salvation as they were to others.

15. All those that are particularly acquainted with some ungodly men, and that have particular interest in them, God looks for this duty at your hands. Christ himself did eat and drink with publicans and sinners; but it was only to be their physician, and not their companion. Who knows but God gave you interest in them to this end, that you might be the means of their recovery? They that will not regard the words of a stranger, may regard a brother, or sister, or husband, or wife, or near friend; besides that, the bond of friendship engages you to more kindness and compassion than ordinary.

16. Physicians that are much about dying men should, in a special manner, make conscience of this duty. It is their peculiar advantage, that they are at hand; that they are with men in sickness and dangers, when the ear is more open, and the heart less stubborn than in time of health: and that men look upon their physician as a person in whose hands is their life; or, at least, who may do much to save them; and, therefore, they will the more regard his advice. You that are of this honourable profession, do not think this a work beside your calling, as if it belonged to none but ministers; except you think it beside your calling to be compassionate, or to be Christians. O help, therefore, to fit your patients for heaven? whether you see they are for life or death, teach them both how to live and die, and give them some physic for their souls, as you do for their bodies. Blessed be God, that very many of the chief physicians of this age have, by their emi

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13. Up, then, every man that hath a tongue, and is a servant of Christ, and do something of your Master's work. Why hath he given you a tongue, but to speak in his service? And how can you serve him more eminently, than in saving souls? He that will pronounce you blessed at the last day, and invite you to 'the kingdom prepared for you,' because you fed him, and clothed him, and visited him,' in his poor members, will surely pronounce you blessed for so great a work as bringing souls to his kingdom. He that saith, the poor you have always with you,' hath left the ungodly always with you, that you might still have matter to exercise your charity upon. If you have the hearts of Christians or of men, let them yearn towards your ignent piety, vindicated their profession from the norant, ungodly neighbour. Say as the lepers of Samaria, We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace.' Hath God had so much mercy on you, and will you have no mercy on your poor neighbours? But as this duty belongs to all Christians, so especially to some, according as God hath called them to it, or qualified them for it. To them, therefore, I will more particularly address the exhortation.

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14. God especially expects this duty at your hands to whom he hath given more learning and knowledge, and endued with better utterance, than your neighbours. The strong are made to help the weak; and those that see must direct

common imputation of atheism and profaneness.

17. Men of wealth and authority, and that have many dependants, have excellent advantages for this duty. O what a world of good might lords and gentlemen do, if they had but hearts to improve their influence over others? Have you not all your honour and riches from God? Doth not Christ say, 'Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required ?' If you speak to your dependants for God and their souls, you may be regarded, when even a minister shall be despised. As you value the honour of God, your own comfort, and the salvation of souls, improve your influence over your tenants and neighbours; visit their houses; see

whether they worship God in their families; and take all opportunities to press them to their duty. Despise them not. Remember God is no respecter of persons. Let men see that you excel others in piety, compassion, and diligence in God's work, as you do in the riches and honours of the world. I confess you will by this means be singular, but then you will be singular in glory; for few of the mighty and noble are called.'

both. Study and pray, and pray and study, till you are become 'workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth;' that your people may not be ashamed, nor weary in hearing you.-Let your conversation be teaching, as well as your doctrine. Be as forward in a holy and heavenly life, as you are in pressing others to it. Let your discourse be edifying and spiritual. Suffer any thing, rather than that the gospel and men's souls should suffer. Let men see that you use not the ministry only for a trade to live by; but that your hearts are set upon the welfare of souls. Whatsoever meekness, humility, condescension, or self-denial you teach them from the gospel, teach it them also by your undissembled example. Study and strive after unity and peace. If ever you would promote the kingdom of Christ, and your people's salvation, do it in a way of peace and love. It is as hard a thing to maintain in your people a sound understanding, a tender conscience, a lively, gracious, heavenly frame of spirit, and an upright life, amidst contention, as to keep your candle lighted in the greatest storms. 'Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing?'

18. As for the ministers of the gospel, it is the very work of their calling, to help others to heaven. Be sure to make it the main end of your studies and preaching. He is the able, skilful minister, that is best skilled in the art of instructing, convincing, persuading, and consequently of winning souls: and that is the best sermon that is best in these. When you seek not God, but yourselves, God will make you the most contemptible of men. It is true of your reputation, what Christ says of your life, He that loveth it shall lose it.' Let the vigour of your persuasions show, that you are sensible on how weighty a business you are sent. Preach with that seriousness and fervour, as men that believe their own doctrine, and that know their hearers must be prevailed with, or be damned. 19. All you whom God hath intrusted with -Think not that all your work is in your studies the care of children and servants, I would also and pulpit. You are shepherds, and must know persuade to this great work of helping others to every sheep, and what is their disease, and mark the heavenly rest.-Consider what plain and their strayings, and help to cure them, and fetch pressing commands of God require this at your them home. Learn of Paul, not only to teach hands: These words thou shalt teach diligently your people publicly, but from house to house.' unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when Inquire how they grow in knowledge and holi- thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest ness, and on what grounds they build their hopes by the way, and when thou liest down, and when of salvation, and whether they walk uprightly, thou risest up.'-' Train up a child in the way he and perform the duties of their several relations. should go ; and when he is old he will not depart See whether they worship God in their families, from it.'-' Bring up your children in the nurture and teach them how to do it. Be familiar with and admonition of the Lord.' Joshua resolved, them, that you may maintain your interest in that he and his house would serve the Lord.' them, and improve it all for God. Know of And God himself says of Abraham, ‘I know them how they profit by public teaching. If any him, that he will command his children, and his too little savour the things of the Spirit,' let household after him, and they shall keep the way them be pitied, but not neglected. If any walk of the Lord.'-Consider it is a duty you owe disorderly, recover them with diligence and pa- your children in point of justice. From you tience. If they be ignorant, it may be your fault they received the defilement and misery of their as much as theirs. Be not asleep while the wolf natures; and, therefore, you owe them all posis waking.-Deal not slightly with any. Some sible help for their recovery.-Consider, how will not tell their people plainly of their sins, near your children are to you. They are parts because they are great men ; and some, because of yourselves. If they prosper when you are they are godly; as if none but the poor and the dead, you take it as if you lived and prospered wicked should be dealt plainly with. Yet labour in them; and should you not be of the same to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may mind for their everlasting rest? Otherwise answer to the excellency of the matter. Every you will be witnesses against your own souls. reasonable soul hath both judgment and affection; Your care, and pains, and cost for their bodies, and every rational, spiritual sermon, must have will condemn you for your neglect of their

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