Words of advice to young men delivered in two sermons at two conventions of…

2. The History of the Word is most excellent: In the Word you have the History of the Creation; the history of the Old World; the history of the Flood; the history of the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah ⟨p. 55⟩with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, the history of Gods calling Abraham and the Patriarchs, the history of Gods bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt with many signs and wonders, through the Red Sea and Wilderness, into the Land of Promise; the history of the Jewish Pedagogy, and Gods various dealings with his Church before Christ came; but especially you have the history of Christ; his birth, his life, his works, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his session, and intercession at the right hand of God; the history of the first plantation of the Gentile Church by the Apostles, their preaching and success, and the like: Look into all the Historians which have written, and where shall you find such an history as is in the Scriptures? Surely there is no history like to the history of the Bible for antiquity, for certainty; no history in which you have such concernment as in this history; you may read of the memorable acts of some great Princes and famous Captains, which may yield some pleasure to your fancy, but you are never the better or the worse for what hath been done by these men so many years ago; but you are concerned in the history of the Church, in the history of Christ the Saviour of the World, your salvation and happiness doth depend upon his birth, and death, and resurrection, and appearance in Heaven to intercede for you.

2. The History of the Word is most excellent: In the Word you have the History of the Creation; the history of the Old World; the history of the Flood; the history of the burning of Sodom and Gomorrha ⟨p. 55⟩with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, the history of Gods calling Abraham and the Patriarchs, the history of Gods bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt with many signs and wonders, through the Red Sea and Wilderness, into the Land of Promise; the history of the Jewish Paedagogy, and Gods various dealings with his Church before Christ came; but especially you have the history of Christ; his birth, his life, his works, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his session, and intercession at the right hand of God; the history of the first plantation of the Gentile Church by the Apostles, their preaching and success, and the like: Look into all the Historians which have written, and where shall you finde such an history as is in the Scriptures? Surely there is no history like to the history of the Bible for antiquity, for certainty; no history in which you have such concernment as in this history; you may read of the memorable acts of some great Princes and famous Captains, which may yield some pleasure to your fancy, but you are never the better or the worse for what hath been done by these men so many years ago; but you are concerned in the history of the Church, in the history of Christ the Saviour of the World, your salvation and happiness doth depend upon his birth, and death, and resurrection, and appearance in Heaven to intercede for you.