The new birthThe nevv birth

Persuade with the kindest and affablest words thou canst invent: persuade (I say) those, whom thou mayest hope will be persuaded by thee, to read the Scriptures, to read other good books of good men; and if thou thinkest there be any hope that they will read the same, give them withal some brief and good writing, that thou hast found to thy self most beneficial; especially persuade them to go and hear the word of God: say, Come let us go up to the house of the Lord. Strive to bring them to a good estimation of Gods ordinance of preaching, and to frequent it constantly, and take advantage, of what thou knowest they have heard, to stir them up to godly sorrow, and to mourning for sin, and to amendment of life. Do thy best to draw them unto those duties, that have drawn thy self, and may draw them to God. Great is the force of loving persuasion; it stealeth into the soul afore a man is aware, and taketh footing before he can observe it. It leads and guides men with a kind of gentle violence, to the things that they never intended; and often times it alters even peremptory and stomachful resolutions. Forget not therefore by these goads, to prick men forward unto all the good duties of piety, which thou hast found effectual to thine own new birth. And thirdly, let wholesome reproofs or admonitions be intermingled. How truly said he, that called these, Precious balms? only let them be delivered lovingly, and seasonably, in as much privateness as may be, and with as much gentleness. It is Saint Pauls precept, Admonish the unruly. Indeed we must limit it with Solomons limitation, unless he have showed himself a scorner: but otherwise he is, and must be ⟨p. 150⟩more then ordinarily unruly, that if he be gently taken aside and told of a fault, with kind words, shall not be somewhat affected for the present, and more when he comes alone and thinks of it. But chiefly, if a man do purposely betake himself to one with whom he hath some acquaintance, and some interest in him, having formerly prayed to God for assistance and success; and there in mild and sorrowful manner, lay open unto him the greatness of that evil course he can prove him to live in; the danger of it, the dishonesty, the discreditfulnesse, the vengeance of God against it, and such like;

Perswade with the kindest and affablest words thou canst inuent: perswade (I say) those, whom thou maiest hope will bee perswaded by thee, to reade the Scriptures, to reade other good bookes of good men; and if thou thinkest there be any hope that they will reade the same, giue them withall some briefe and good writing, that thou hast found to thy selfe most beneficiall; especially perswade them to goe and heare the word of God: say, Come let vs go vp to the house of the Lord. Striue to bring them to a good estimation of Gods ordinance of preaching, and to frequent it constantly, and take aduantage, of what thou knowest they haue heard, to stirre them vp to godly sorrow, and to mourning for sinne, and to amendment of life. Doe thy best to draw them vnto those duties, that haue drawne thy selfe, and may draw them to God. Great is the force of louing perswasion; it stealeth into the soule afore a man is aware, and taketh footing before he can obserue it. It leades and guides men with a kinde of gentle violence, to the things that they neuer intended; and often times it alters euen peremptory and stomackfull resolutions. Forget not therefore by these goads, to pricke men forward vnto all the good duties of piety, which thou hast found effectuall to thine owne new birth. And thirdly, let wholesome reproofes or admonitions be intermingled. How truly said he, that called these, Pretious balmes? onely let them bee deliuered louingly, and seasonably, in as much priuatenesse as may be, and with as much gentlenesse. It is Saint Pauls precept, Admonish the vnruly. Indeed we must limit it with Salomons limitation, vnlesse hee haue shewed himselfe a scorner: but otherwise hee is, and must bee