If these things be so, is not that which was once a Noble Vine and wholly a Right Seed, degenerating apace? There are some Churches in the World, that never had that Purity of Discipline amongst them, which the Churches in New-England have been advantaged with, who notwithstanding, of late years, are blessed ⟨p. 6⟩with a Young Generation abounding in these Duties, of Faith and Obedience, in which Godliness in the Power of it, does very much consist. I remember, that ten years ago, that Excellent Person Dr. Walker, then Minister at Aldermanbury in London, assured me that in that Parish, there were a considerable Number of Young persons, who often met together to Pray and Confer about the things wherein their Souls were concerned, and that every month, in order to their more prepared Coming to the Lord's Supper, they spent a Day in Prayer together. When the Doctor told me this, I was surprised with astonishing joy, at the Hearing of it▪ But it is much more surprising, that there is Printed the last year at London, An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Religious Societies in that City, and of the Endeavours of the Reformation of Manners, Published by Mr. Josiah Woodward, a worthy Conformist Minister, who says, that it is the practice of those Societies to partake of the Holy Supper of the Lord frequently, thereby to devote themselves afresh to their Good Master, and as a means of receiving Spiritual ⟨p. 7⟩Strength from Him; and that many of them have, by the Grace of God, attained to that Excellent Primitive Temper of frequent Communicating without growing formal. Moreover, he has these words, which I could not but set a special Remark upon. It is (saith my Author in p 61.) required of such as join themselves to them, that they give the Society a solemn account of their sense of spiritual things with the real Motives, which lead them to this Undertaking, and what they seriously purpose as to their future Life. This is many times done in Writing; and I have perused some of their Papers, and have found them penned in such an honest affectionate and undisguised style, with such pious and sensible Expressions, and in •o modest and humble a manner, that they would mightily affect any pious person to read them, and move him to break forth into pathetic praises to God, who has given such Grace to young men in so Degenerate an Age. Thus Mr.
If these things be so, is not that which was once a Noble Vine and wholly a Right Seed, degenerating apace? There are some Churches in the World, that never had that Purity of Discipline amongst them, which the Churches in New-England have been advantaged with, who notwithstanding, of late years, are blessed ⟨p. 6⟩with a Young Generation abounding in these Duties, of Faith and Obedience, in which Godliness in the Power of it, does very much consist. I remember, that ten years ago, that Excellent Person Dr. Walker, then Minister at Aldermanbury in London, assured me that in that Parish, there were a considerable Number of Young persons, who often met together to Pray and Conferr about the things wherein their Souls were concerned, and that every month, in order to their more prepared Coming to the Lord's Supper, they spent a Day in Prayer together. When the Doctor told me this, I was surprised with astonishing joy, at the Hearing of it▪ But it is much more surprising, that there is Printed the last year at London, An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Religious Societies in that City, and of the Endeavours of the Reformation of Manners, Published by Mr. Josiah Woodward, a worthy Conformist Minister, who says, that it is the practice of those Societies to partake of the Holy Supper of the Lord frequently, thereby to devote themselves afresh to their Good Master, and as a means of receiving Spiritual ⟨p. 7⟩Strength from Him; and that many of them have, by the Grace of God, attained to that Excellent Primitive Temper of frequent Communicating without growing formal. Moreover, he has these words, which I could not but set a special Remark upon. It is (saith my Author in p 61.) required of such as joyn themselves to them, that they give the Society a solemn account of their sense of spiritual things with the real Motives, which lead them to this Undertaking, and what they seriously purpose as to their future Life. This is many times done in Writing; and I have perused some of their Papers, and have found them penned in such an honest affectionate and undisguised style, with such pious and sensible Expressions, and in •o modest and humble a manner, that they would mightily affect any pious person to read them, and move him to break forth into pathetick praises to God, who has given such Grace to young men in so Degenerate an Age. Thus Mr.
