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

13. And I beseech you consider that your excellency, and the glory and lustre of your Graces, is one of Gods appointed means for the honour of his Son and Gospel, and Church, and for the Conviction and Conversion of the unbelieving Word: And therefore if you use not this means, you rob God and the Church of that which is their due, and deprive sinners of one of the means of their Salvation. You are commanded to let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven, Matth. 5.16. Christians be awakened in the name of God to consider what you have to do with your Graces! you have the living God to please and honour by them! As the excellency of the work doth honour the Workman, so must your Graces and ⟨p. 35⟩lives honour God. You have the Souls of the weak to confirm by your lives, and the Souls of the ungodly to win by your lives. You should all be Preachers, and even Preach as you go up and down in the World, as a Candle lighteth which way ever it goeth. As we are sent to save sinners as Ambassadors of Christ, by public Proclamation of his Will; so are you sent to save them as his Servants and our helpers, and must Preach by your lives and familiar exhortations, as we must do by authoritative instruction. A good life is a good Sermon; yea those may be won by your Sermons, that will not come to ours; or will not obey the Doctrine which they hear. Even to women that must keep silence in the Church, doth Peter command this way of Preaching, I Pet. 3.1, 2. That if any of them have Husbands that obey not the Word, they may without the Word be won by the conversation of the Wives.] Thousands can understand the meaning of a good life, that cannot understand the meaning of a good Sermon! By this way you may Preach to men of all Languages, though your tongues had never learnt but one: For a holy, harmless, humble life, doth speak in all the Languages of the World to men that have eyes to read it: This is the Universal Character and Language, in which all sorts may perceive you speak the wondrous works of the Holy Ghost: I charge you therefore Christians, deprive not God of the honour you owe him, nor the Church, or Souls of wicked men of this excellent powerful help which you owe them, by continuing in your weakness and unsettled minds, and spotted lives;