Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

3. The third way, wherein private Christians (who live far from ⟨image 130⟩those places, where the Gospel is not entertained) may be helpful, to promote the admission of it, among them, is to use their interest in those, who on several occasions, may go to such places, by importunate persuasions, and pertinent directions, to excite them, to carry a Love, and Zeal for Christ, in their own hearts, and from that principle, to act to the uttermost of their capacity, for the spreading of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his Kingdom. It was (I think) a good design of Hugo Grotius, who (as he tells us) wrote his Book, Of the verity of the Christian Religion, for the use of his Country-men, who Sail to the uttermost ends of the Earth, to furnish them with proper Arguments, which might leave a due impression thereof, upon the hearts of the poor Heathen. Private Christians may also write to their friends, who live abroad, to endeavour to convince the miserable Captives of Satan, that their Idols are vanities. This course did the Prophet Jeremiah take, to excite, and direct the Jews, who were in Babylon, how they should deal with those among whom the providence of God had cast them, Jer. x. 11. Thus shall ye say to them; The Gods who have not made the Heaven, and the Earth, even they shall perish from the Earth, and from under the Heavens. It is observed by learned men, that this verse is written in the Chaldee tongue, tho the rest of the book be written in Hebrew, whereby, he doth, as it were, put the words into their mouths, that they might speak to them, in their own language, so as to be understood by them, and by this, he doth instruct us, That it is not sufficient for the worshippers of the true God, to keep themselves from the pollutions of Idols: but they must do more, for they must make Profession of the true God, and his worship. The like course may private Christians take, to promote the conversion of the Ignorant, Earthly, and Profane, at home, with whom they have no personal converse, and that is, To stir up others, who have that advantage, to deal with them, about the everlasting concernments of their Souls. Thus I have spoken something touching the case of such private Christians, as come within the first Circumstance, viz.

3. The third way, wherein private Christians (who live far from ⟨image 130⟩