A Saint Indeed

Sol. 1. That which is not your condition may be another's condition. If you be placed in an easy, full, and prosperous state, and so have no need of the helps here offered to support your heart under pinching wants, others are forced to live by faith for every days provision: If you be dandled upon the knee of providence, some of your Brethren are under its feat. If you have inward peace, and tranquility of Spirit, and so need not the Counsels here given to ward off those desperate conclusions that poor afflicted souls are ready to draw upon themselves at such a time; yet it may be a word in season to them, and they may say as David to Abigail, blessed be thou of the Lord, and blessed be thy advice.

Sol. 1. That which is not your condition may be anothers condition. If you be placed in an easie, full, and prosperous state, and so have no need of the helps here offered to support your heart under pinching wants, others are forced to live by faith for every daies provision: If you be dandled upon the knee of providence, some of your Brethren are under its feat. If you have inward peace, and tranquility of Spirit, and so need not the Councels here given to ward off those desperate conclusions that poor afflicted souls are ready to draw upon themselves at such a time; yet it may be a word in season to them, and they may say as David to Abigail, blessed be thou of the Lord, and blessed be thy advice.

2. That may be your condition shortly, which is not your condition for present: say not thy Mountain stands strong, thou shalt never be moved: there are changes in the right hand of the most High, and then those truths which are little more esteemed than Hedge—fruits, will be as Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver: In Jer. 10. 11. The Prophet there teaches the Jews (who then dwelt in their own Houses) how to defend their Religion in Babylon, and what they should say to the Chaldeans there, and therefore that verse is written in Chaldee: So much for the reasons of its Publication: Next for ⟨image 6⟩the Dedication of it to you, I was induced thereto by the Consideration. (1.) Of the relation I have to you above all the people in the world: I look upon my gifts as yours; my time as yours, and all the Talents I am entrusted with as yours: It is not with you as with a woman whose Husband is dead, and so is freed from the Law of her Husband, the relation still continues, and so do all the mutual duties of it. (2.) By the consideration of my necessitated absence from you, I would not that personal absence should by insensible degrees, untwist (as usually it doth) the cord of friendship, and therefore have endeavoured (as absent friends use to do) to preserve and strengthen it by this small remembrance. It was Vespasian's answer to Apollonius when be desired access for two Philosophers: My Doors (said Vespasian) are always open to Philosophers, but my very Breast is open to thee. I cannot say with him, my Doors are open for the free access of friends, being by a sad Providence shut against my self; But this I can say, my very breast is still open to you; you are as dear to me as ever. (3.) Another inducement (and indeed the main) was the perpetual usefulness and necessity of these truths for you, which you will have continual need of: and I know few of you have such happy memories to retain, and I cannot be always