Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

AS Ministers are called in Gods Word the Fathers of those that are converted by their Ministry, 1 Cor. 4.14 15. so are they likened thus far to the Mothers, that they travail as in birth of their peoples Souls till Christ be formed in them: Gal. 4.19. And as Christ saith, John 16.21. [A Woman when she is in travail, hath sorrow because her hour is come; but as soon as she is delivered of the Child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy ⟨p. 2⟩that a man is born into the World.] So while we are seeking and hoping for your Conversion, and are as in travail of you till you are born again; not only our labour, but much more our fears of you, and cares for you, and compassion of you in your danger and misery, doth make the time seem very long to us; and O what happy men should we think our selves, if all or the most of our people were converted! And when we see but now and then one come home, we remember no more the anguish of our fears and sorrows, nor think all our labour ill bestowed, for joy that a Christian is new-born unto Christ. But yet for all the Mothers joy, her work, and care, and sorrow is not at an end as soon as she is delivered: Many a foul hand, and many a troublesome hour, and many a waking night, she must have with the child whose bath she so rejoiced in; and after that, many a year of care and labour to bring it up, and provide for it in the World; and in her old age when she expecteth from her children the love, and honour, and thanks, and comfort that was due to her as a Mother, and for all her labour and care and pains, perhaps one child will prove kind, and of another she must take it well that he is not very unkind, and a third perhaps may break her heart: And yet she must still be a Mother to them all. And so it befalls us; when we have greatly rejoiced at the real or seeming Conversion of now and then one of our hearers, our work with them is not at an end, nor may we lay aside our care and labour for them. We have for some years (usually) the Nurses work to do; and many a troublesome day and night, the weakness, the uncleanness, ⟨p. 3⟩the peevish childish exceptions, the querulous and quarrelsome disposition of our beloved Converts, will put us to: