The first dish at the Will-shire feast, Novemb. 9, 1654, or, A sermon preached…The first dish at the Wil-shire feast, Novemb. 9, 1654, or, A sermon preached…

Resp. 1. Men know the state of their own country better then strangers can, to speak directly ad rem: here you are met from all parts of your country. Do not you know the state of your country better then ten times your number of any other men in the world? One can say, I was born in such a place, where the Gospel was never powerfully preached in my time. Another can say, I live in a place, where profaneness doeth exceedingly abound. And a third can tell stories of the ranting, and licentiousness of apostate Christians. Again, you know the temper of your own neighbours and country men, better then others can: you know in what places people be incorrigible, and men must deal with them as with thorns, as David expressed it: you know where people are fickle and unsettled, that they must be stroked into a good liking of sound truth, or they will fly out, & be worse by means of bettering them. And

Resp. 1. Men know the state of their owne country better then strangers can, to speake directly ad rem: here you are met from all parts of your country. Doe not you know the state of your country better then ten times your number of any other men in the world? One can say, I was born in such a place, where the Gospel was never powerfully preacht in my time. Another can say, I live in a place, where profanenes doeth exceedingly abound. And a third can tell stories of the ranting, and licentiousnesse of apostate Christians. Againe, you know the temper of your owne neighbours and country men, better then others can: you know in what places people be incorrigible, and men must deale with them as with thornes, as David expressed it: you know where people are fickle and unsetled, that they must be stroakt into a good liking of sound truth, or they will fly out, & be worse by means of bettering them. And

Secondly, Men of the same country are interested in one another's affections, which doth exceedingly fit them for the doing & receiving of good: men will take that from a countryman, a neighbour, a friend, which they will not from another. Let me tell you plainly, you have carried your selves ill in the places of your abode, if you have not gotten some esteem and credit, more then in places where you are not known, that a reproof or an admonition will come with authority from you. Men commonly love the places of their birth, and their country-men among whom they were bred, being more willing to do for them then for others; and the places of our nativity and education do challenge, and look for something from us. This is deservedly put into Scions lamentation, that of all the sons she brought up, there was none to comfort her. Now if God give you opportunity, will you not answer it? you read of Mordecai