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…

Another was the gladsome reflection upon your great and godly care of your poor, which I look upon (even as it is meet for me so to do) as the fruit of the Gospel preached among you, and an argument of your profiting therein. And indeed it is such, as I willingly take occasion to make public mention of it for an example to others. For though your poor be many hundreds, yet, I ⟨image 3⟩think, I may say truly, without offence to other Parishes, they are in some respect better provided for than any poor in the City; For by the voluntary contribution of divers of you, with the assistance of some other charitable persons,

Another was the gladsome reflexion upon your great and godly care of your poor, which I look upon (even as it is meet for mee so to do) as the fruit of the Gospel preached among you, and an argument of your profiting therein. And indeed it is such, as I willingly take occasion to make publick mention of it for an example to others. For though your poor bee many hundreds, yet, I ⟨image 3⟩think, I may say truly, without offence to other Parishes, they are in some respect better provided for than any poor in the City; For by the voluntary contribution of divers of you, with the assistance of some other charitable persons,

1 All the poor children in your Parish are taught to read and write gratis, by such School-Masters and School-Mistresses, who teach them their Catechize, whereof my self sometimes take an account.

2 All the Ancient poor who can either spin or knit, may have Flax and Yarn for fetching, to set themselves on work, an are well paid for the same, immediately upon the return thereof. This consideration, as it hath very much affected me, so have I always accounted my self your debtor upon this score. And surely if our Lord and Master doth take what is done unto the poor for their relief, as done unto himself, then should we also, especially his Ministers, in some sort, be like-minded. Your debtor therefore I have taken my self to be, nor could I bethink my self how to discharge this debt in a way more suitable to the nature of it, and my relation to you, than by endeavouring something extraordinary for your good hereafter, as you have done extraordinarily for the present good of our poor; and as you have put your selves to special pains and charge for the succour of their bodies, so to put my self upon some special labour, and willingly be at some cost for the advantage of your souls.