Life eternalLife eternall

For it is an error among men to think that in election of Burgesses or any others, they may pleasure their friends, or themselves, by having this or that eye to their own advantage or disadvantage that may arise from it: whereas they ought to keep their minds single and free from all respects; so that when they come, they may choose him, whom in their own consciences, and in the sight of God, they think fittest for the place, and that you may do so, you are to get a single and a simple heart to do it.

For it is an errour among men to thinke that in election of Burgesses or any others, they may pleasure their friends, or themselves, by having this or that eye to their owne advantage or disadvantage that may arise from it: whereas they ought to keep their mindes single and free from all respects; so that when they come, they may choose him, whom in their owne consciences, and in the sight of God, they thinke fittest for the place, and that you may doe so, you are to get a single and a simple heart to doe it.

Use 3 3 If there be in GOD this simplicity that we have declared to you, ¹then go to him upon all occasions; go not to the stream, go not to the creatures, which have what they have, but by derivation and participation: but go to him, that hath all that he hath naturally, and abundantly, not sparingly, as they have, that have it by participation. As when a man is in any miserable condition, wherein he desires pity, and would be respected and relieved, what wilt thou do in this case? Wilt thou ⟨p. 68⟩go to weak man, and have him to pity thee? No, go to the great GOD, in whom there is mercy it self. Amongst men, he that is the fullest of pity, he hath but a stream of it, a drop of it, therefore seek not so much to him; no not to parents, their pity falls infinitely short of what is in GOD; remember that he is mercy it self, that is, thou shalt find infinitely more mercy in him, then can be said to be in man; the most that can be said of man, is, that he is merciful, but that which can be said of GOD is, that the very thing it self is there. If you have a firebrand, and light it by the fire, it is something, but fire it self is another thing: man he hath a little mercy, but if you go to GOD, he hath a sea of mercy, and he is never dry; Therefore whatsoever thy misery or distress be, whether of conscience or estate, be sure, that thou go to God and say to him, If evil parents can be so merciful to their children when they ask it of them, what then shall I have of him that is mercy it self?