Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…

The one is of that mutual love which hath hitherto been between us. As I have you in my heart, so am I persuaded that you have me in yours. During the whole time of my abode with you (which is now above two and twenty years) I do not remember that we have had the least difference, no not about the point of Maintenance, the usual unhappy make-bate between Minister and People. For though the value of the Living be not so much by half as is generally reported abroad (being no Parsonage, but a Vicarage, endowed with a third part of that Tithe which the Parson doth collect) yet I cannot but with much thankfulness acknowledge, that what I have had, hath been with much love and friendliness. For when you have made any composition with me for my part of the Tithe, you have always given me more than I could demand or expect. If then the blessed Apostle Paul were willing, and that with gladness,¹ to spend and to be spent for his Corinthians, and that although the more abundantly he loved them, the less he was loved of them; Much more ought I to be like-minded towards you, who have not at any time so ill requited my love, but always been ready to answer it with reciprocal affections. That therefore I might leave to posterity some public acknowledgement, and perpetual memorial of your constant love and respect to me, together with my due resentment of it, was one consideration which put me upon this design.

The one is of that mutual love which hath hitherto been between us. As I have you in my heart, so am I perswaded that you have mee in yours. During the whole time of my abode with you (which is now above two and twenty years) I do not remember that we have had the least difference, no not about the point of Maintenance, the usual unhappy make-bate between Minister and People. For though the value of the Living be not so much by half as is generally reported abroad (being no Parsonage, but a Vicaridge, endowed with a third part of that Tithe which the Parson doth collect) yet I cannot but with much thankfulness acknowledge, that what I have had, hath been with much love and friendliness. For when you have made any composition with mee for my part of the Tithe, you have alwaies given mee more than I could demand or expect. If then the blessed Apostle Paul were willing, and that with gladness,¹ to spend and to bee spent for his Corinthians, and that although the more abundantly hee loved them, the less hee was loved of them; Much more ought I to be like-minded towards you, who have not at any time so ill requited my love, but alwaies been ready to answer it with reciprocal affections. That therefore I might leave to posterity some publick acknowledgement, and perpetual memoral of your constant love and respect to mee, together with my due resentment of it, was one consideration which put mee upon this design.