What you are, godly or wicked is not for me (that am a stranger to most of you) to determine; but if you are not godly, its my desire & design to make you so; and I could not think on a more probable means to accomplish this honest design, than what I have here used. Methinks it should be a pleasure to you, when you come weary out of the fields from plough, or any other labour, to sit down in the evening, and read that chapter which concerns that particulars business, & refresh your Souls even from that which hath wearied your bodies. Were your hearts but heavenly, & more time allowed for spiritual husbandry your inward comforts, would be much more, & your out ward gains not a jot less; for it the success of all your civil labours and employments depend upon the pleasure & will of God; (as all that are not Atheists do acknowledge) then certainly, your business can succeed never the worse, for your endeavours to please him, upon whose pleasure it so entirely depends. I have many times li•ted up my heart to heaven, whilst these papers were under my ⟨image 19⟩hand, for a special blessing to accompany them, when they should be in yours. If the Lord accomplish my desires by them upon your souls, you shall enjoy two heavens, one here, and another hereafter. Would not that be sweet? The Historian tells us, that Altitius Serarius was sowing corn in the field, when Q. Cincinnatus came to him bare headed, with letters from the Senate, signifying that he was chosen to the Dictatorship. I hope the Lord will so bless and succeed these labours, that many of you will be called from holding the Plough on earth, to wear the Crown of glory in heaven; which is the sincere desire
What you are, godly or wicked is not for me (that am a stranger to most of you) to determine; but if you are not godly, its my desire & design to make you so; and I could not think on a more probable means to accomplish this honest design, than what I have here used. Methinks it should be a pleasure to you, when you come weary out of the fields from plow, or any other labour, to sit down in the evening, and read that chapter which concerns that particulars business, & refresh your Souls even from that which hath wearied your bodies. Were your hearts but heavenly, & more time allowed for spiritual husbandry your inward comforts, would be much more, & your out ward gains not a jot less; for it the success of all your civil labours and imployments depend upon the pleasure & will of God; (as all that are not Atheists do acknowledge) then certainly, your business can succeed never the worse, for your endeavours to please him, upon whose pleasure it so intirely depends. I have many times li•ted up my heart to heaven, whilst these papers were under my ⟨image 19⟩hand, for a special blessing to accompany them, when they should be in yours. If the Lord accomplish my desires by them upon your souls, you shall enjoy two heavens, one here, and another hereafter. Would not that be sweet? The Historian tells us, that Altitius Serarius was sowing corn in the field, when Q. Cincinnatus came to him bare headed, with letters from the Senate, signifying that he was chosen to the Dictatorship. I hope the Lord will so bless and succeed these labours, that many of you will be called from holding the Plow on earth, to wear the Crown of glory in heaven; which is the sincere desire
