No way to advance the Kingdom of Christ in the world, like this, of improving your gifts and graces to the advantage and profit of others. No love nor pity to the precious souls 1of men, like this. No way to abound in grace, to be rich in grace, like this: Nor no way to be high in heaven, like this. Art thou, O Christian, bound to do good to others, by communicating earthly things? And art thou not much more bound to do them good by communicating of spiritual things? Surely thou art. Why are Christians so often in Scripture compared to Trees, but because of their fruitfulness and usefulness to others? And why are they called Stewards of the manifold gifts of God, but to note to us, that their gifts are not to be enclosed, but employed for the good of others? And why ha's Christ put a box of precious Ointment into every Christians hand, but that it should be opened for the benefit of others? Certainly he that is good, is bound to do good, for gifts and graces are given, not only to make us good, and keep us good, but also to make us, yea, to provoke ⟨p. 191⟩us to do good. Lilmod lelammed, We therefore learn, that we may teach, is a Proverb among the Rabbins. And I do therefore lay in, and lay up (saith the Heathen) that I may draw forth again, and lay out for the good of many. I think they are no good Christians that shall scorn to learn this good lesson, though of a Heathen. And O that all that write themselves Christians, were so good as to imitate the good that shined in many Heathens! To me 'tis sad, that Christians that live and act below the very Heathens, should be offended to hear now and then of those excellencies that sparkled in the very Heathens. I think that is a very evil spirit, that can't endure to hear of those excellencies in others, that he wants in himself. Certainly he is a brave Christian, and ha's much of Christ within, that accounts nothing his own, that he does not communicate to others. The Bee doth store her Hive out of all sorts of flowers, for the common benefit, and why then in this should not every Christian be like a Bee?
No way to advance the Kingdome of Christ in the world, like this, of improving your gifts and graces to the advantage and profit of others. No love nor pity to the precious soules 1of men, like this. No way to abound in grace, to be rich in grace, like this: Nor no way to be high in heaven, like this. Art thou, O Christian, bound to doe good to others, by communicating earthly things? And art thou not much more bound to doe them good by communicating of spirituall things? Surely thou art. Why are Christians so often in Scripture compar'd to Trees, but because of their fruitfullnesse and usefullnesse to others? And why are they called Stewards of the manifold gifts of God, but to note to us, that their gifts are not to be inclosed, but imployed for the good of others? And why ha's Christ put a box of precious Ointment into every Christians hand, but that it should be opened for the benefit of others? Certainly he that is good, is bound to doe good, for gifts and graces are given, not onely to make us good, and keep us good, but also to make us, yea, to prevoke ⟨p. 191⟩us to doe good. Lilmod lelammed, We therefore learn, that we may teach, is a Proverb among the Rabbins. And I doe therefore lay in, and lay up (saith the Heathen) that I may draw forth againe, and lay out for the good of many. I think they are no good Christians that shall scorne to learne this good lesson, though of a Heathen. And O that all that write themselves Christians, were so good as to imitate the good that shin'd in many Heathens! To me 'tis sad, that Christians that live and act below the very Heathens, should be offended to hear now and then of those excellencies that sparkled in the very Heathens. I think that is a very evill spirit, that can't indure to heare of those excellencies in others, that he wants in himselfe. Certainly he is a brave Christian, and ha's much of Christ within, that accounts nothing his own, that he does not communicate to others. The Bee doth store her Hive out of all sorts of flowers, for the common benefit, and why then in this should not every Christian be like a Bee?
- 1Rom. 1. 11, 12. 2 Cor. 9. 6. Suetonius tells of Augustus, That in reading all sorts of good Authors he skilfully p•ckt out the prime precepts and patterns of valour •nd virtue, & sent the s•me to such of his servants and unde-officers for tokens, as he thought they might do m•st good unto.Rom. 1. 11, 12. 2 Cor. 9. 6. Suetonius tells of Augustus, That in reading all sorts of good Authors he skillfully p•ckt out the prime precepts and patterns of valour •nd virtue, & sent the s•me to such of his servan•s and unde-•fficers for tokens, as he thought they might doe m•st good unto.
