A Christian Directory

He hath not set thee out upon a Sea of cares and vexations, worldly businesses and encumbrances; but fed thee with food convenient for thee, and given thee leisure to walk with God: He hath not chained thee to an unprofitable profession, nor used thee as those that live like their beasts, to eat, and drink, and sleep, and play, or live to live: But he hath called thee to the noblest and sweetest work; when that hath been thy business, which others were glad to taste of as a recreation and repast. He hath allowed thee to converse with Books, and with the best and wisest men, and to spend thy days in sucking in delightful knowledge: And this not only for thy pleasure, but thy use; and not only for thy self, but many others? O how many sweet and precious truths, hath he allowed thee to feed on all the day, when others are diverted, and commonly look at them sometimes a far off? O how many precious hours hath he granted me, in his holy Assemblies, and in his honourable and most pleasant work? How oft hath his Day, and his holy uncorrupted Ordinances, and the communion of his Saints, and the mentioning of his Name and Kingdom, and the pleading of his cause with sinners, and the celebrating of his praise, been my delight. O how many hundreds that he hath sent, have wanted the abundant encouragement which I have had? When he hath seen the disease of my despondent mind, he hath not tried me by denying me success, nor suffered me with Jonah, according to my inclination to overrun his work; but hath ticed me on by continued encouragements, and strewed all the way with mercies: But his mercies to me in the souls of others, have been so great, that I shall secretly acknowledge them, rather than here record them, where I must have respect to those usual mercies of believers, which lye in the common road to Heaven. And how endless would it be to mention all? All the good that friends and enemies have done me? All the wise and gracious disposals of his providence? in every condition, and change of life, and change of times, and in every place wherever he brought me: His every days renewed mercies: His support under all my languishings and weakness; his plentiful supplies; his gracious helps; his daily pardons; and the Glorious Hopes of a blessed Immortality which his Son hath purchased, and his Covenant and Spirit sealed to me?

He hath not set thee out upon a Sea of cares and vexations, worldly businesses and encumberances; but fed thee with food convenient for thee, and given thee leisure to walk with God: He hath not chained thee to an unprofitable profession, nor used thee as those that live like their beasts, to eat, and drink, and sleep, and play, or live to live: But he hath called thee to the noblest and sweetest work; when that hath been thy business, which others were glad to taste of as a recreation and repast. He hath allowed thee to converse with Books, and with the best and wisest men, and to spend thy dayes in sucking in delightful knowledge: And this not only for thy pleasure, but thy use; and not only for thy self, but many others? O how many sweet and precious truths, hath he allowed thee to feed on all the day, when others are diverted, and commonly look at them sometimes a far off? O how many precious hours hath he granted me, in his holy Assemblies, and in his honourable and most pleasant work? How oft hath his Day, and his holy uncorrupted Ordinances, and the communion of his Saints, and the mentioning of his Name and Kingdom, and the pleading of his cause with sinners, and the celebrating of his praise, been my delight. O how many hundreds that he hath sent, have wanted the abundant encouragement which I have had? When he hath seen the disease of my despondent mind, he hath not tryed me by denying me success, nor suffered me with Ionas, according to my inclination to overrun his work; but hath ticed me on by continued encouragements, and strowed all the way with mercies: But his mercies to me in the souls of others, have been so great, that I shall secretly acknowledge them, rather than here record them, where I must have respect to those usual mercies of believers, which lye in the common road to Heaven. And how endless would it be to mention all? All the good that friends and enemies have done me? All the wise and gracious disposals of his providence? in every condition, and change of life, and change of times, and in every place whereever he brought me: His every dayes renewed mercis: His support under all my languishings and weakness; his plentiful supplies; his gracious helps; his daily pardons; and the Glorious Hopes of a blessed Immortality which his Son hath purchased, and his Covenant and Spirit sealed to me?