Lastly, for a word of exhortation;1 Is the Commandment of God his Covenant; and is the keeping of that, the way to obtain mercy and happiness here, and for ever? then go away if you will, and be dishonest still, and break Covenant with the Lord. The very name of dishonesty, me thinks, should move you, brethren, to be faithful in your Covenant, and to set on speedily, and to be exceeding watchful, and careful; and to perform what you have promised to the Lord. Reason should move ⟨p. 42⟩you; What, not keep Covenant, especially with the Lord? What, shall we make promises to the Lord, and enter into Covenant with him, and not keep it? Let it for shame never be said of us, brethren. Mark what David saith,2 I have hid thy Commandments in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. His mind ran of them, and his tongue talked of them continually. Amongst men, brethren, you would not have your credit cracked for any thing; and you do honestly. A good name is a Jewell. But do thus with the Lord, brethren; Hath not the Lord kept touch with you, in all his promises? Did you ever beg any thing of him, and he not hear you? Why do you not keep touch with the Lord? Shame your selves for this, I beseech you. Men in the world, if they break in their estates, they have this love and humanity in them, that if any lose, then it shall be they that did deal most hardly with them; and that got most by them when they were in trading; but this kind friend, that was kind to him, and lent him money sometime in his need, he shall not lose a penny by him: O, saith he, I had a friend of him, I could never come to him, but he would receive me. This is honesty, and fair, and equal: O consider of this, brethren; we have hard bargains at the hands of the world, and of the devil, and sin; many knocks of soul, and girds of conscience with them: But the Lord hath been ever gracious, merciful, loving, and kind to us: resolve therefore that the Lord shall never lose by you; let the world lose if it will; and let carnal friends, and sin, and Satan lose if they ⟨p. 43⟩will: Let not the Lord lose; but resolve, what ever becomes of it; I will pray constantly, and read in my family morning and evening; and upon every occasion, and reform my ways. It is not needful that I should be rich; it is that I be sincere, and faithful to the Lord:
Lastly, for a word of exhortation;1 Is the Commandement of God his Covenant; and is the keeping of that, the way to obtaine mercy and happinesse here, and for ever? then goe away if you will, and be dishonest still, and breake Covenant with the Lord. The very name of dishonestie, me thinks, should move you, brethren, to be faithfull in your Covenant, and to set on speedily, and to be exceeding watchfull, and carefull; and to performe what you have promised to the Lord. Reason should move ⟨p. 42⟩you; What, not keepe Covenant, especially with the Lord? What, shall we make promises to the Lord, and enter into Covenant with him, and not keep it? Let it for shame never be said of us, brethren. Marke what David saith,2 I have hid thy Commandements in my heart, that I might not sinne against thee. His minde ran of them, and his tongue talked of them continually. Amongst men, brethren, you would not have your credit cracked for any thing; and you doe honestly. A good name is a Jewell. But doe thus with the Lord, brethren; Hath not the Lord kept touch with you, in all his promises? Did you ever beg any thing of him, and he not heare you? Why doe you not keepe touch with the Lord? Shame your selves for this, I beseech you. Men in the world, if they breake in their estates, they have this love and humanitie in them, that if any lose, then it shall be they that did deale most hardly with them; and that got most by them when they were in trading; but this kinde friend, that was kinde to him, and lent him monie sometime in his need, he shall not lose a penny by him: O, saith he, I had a friend of him, I could never come to him, but he would receive me. This is honestie, and faire, and equall: O consider of this, brethren; we have hard bargains at the hands of the world, and of the devill, and sinne; many knocks of soule, and girds of conscience with them: But the Lord hath beene ever gracious, mercifull, loving, and kinde to us: resolve therefore that the Lord shall never lose by you; let the world lose if it will; and let carnall friends, and sinne, and Satan lose if they ⟨p. 43⟩will: Let not the Lord lose; but resolve, what ever becomes of it; I will pray constantly, and reade in my family morning and evening; and upon every occasion, and reforme my waies. It is not needfull that I should be rich; it is that I be sincere, and faithfull to the Lord:
