The child's portion

USE. That I may render these truths practicable, and accommodate them to the use and benefit of this People, give me leave to deal in all plainness and integrity. As I would not give flattering words, lest God should destroy me, so neither would I designedly provoke or move any to anger, except it be at his sins. I shall therefore endeavour to speak words of truth and soberness; and yet choose rather to offend man than provoke the most high.

USE. That I may render these truths practicable, and accommodate them to the use and benefit of this People, give me leave to deal in all plainness and integrity. As I would not give flattering words, lest God should destroy me, so neither would I designedly provoke or move any to anger, except it be at his sins. I shall therefore endeavour to speak words of truth and soberness; and yet chuse rather to offend man than provoke the most high.

There are two Uses I have to suggest, unto which I shall reduce those few words which I have to speak; the one by way of Conviction, the other of Exhortation.

There are two Uses I have to suggest, unto which I shal reduce those few words which I have to speak; the one by way of Conviction, the other of Exhortation.

1. For Conviction: Let us solemnly consider, and rightly weigh whether or no those words which have been spoken against this Place ⟨p. 179⟩and People on such occasions as this, were not such words as God commanded those that delivered them to come and speak. I must confess, when I seriously look upon this People in their constitution Civil and Ecclesiastical, moulded in the one under wholesome Laws, in the other under strict and sacred Covenants: When I consider that the management of these is under the hands of a Pious and Prudent Magistracy, a godly and learned Ministry: When I think how many there are whose hearts are upright with God, and do not wickedly depart from his Covenant: When I mind that by the very confession of unprejudiced strangers, here is more of sobriety and honest conversation, then almost in any place they have occasion to be conversant in: It seems hard to believe that God who is full of Mercy and Pity, who knows this frame of ours, and minds that we are but dust, should declare against us, though many infirmities should appear in the midst of us: And could be willing to think that all the warnings & menaces which have been uttered by these or those, were nothing else but the mistakes of an irregular) though well minded) zeal, or the dumps and night visions of some melancholic spirits, and thus indeed were the Prophets of old censured. But when I throughly weigh all circumstances in an equal balance, I dare not but conclude that the Lord hath sent them to speak all these words. What