The saints everlasting rest

1. Besides the duty of private admonition, you must do your utmost endeavours to help men to profit by the public ordinances. And to that end, First, do your endeavours for the procuring of faithful ministers where they are wanting. This is GOD'S ordinary means of converting and saving. How shall they hear without a preacher? Not only for your own sakes herefore, but for the poor miserable ones about you, do all you can to bring this to pass. Improve all your interest and diligence to this end. Ride, and go, and seek, and make friends till you prevail. Who knoweth how many souls may bless you, who have been converted by the ministry which you have procured? It is an higher and nobler work of charity, than if you gave all that you have to relieve their bodies.

How small a matter were it (and yet how excellent a work) for every gentleman of means in England, to cull out some one or two, or more poor boys in the country schools, who are the choicest wits, and of the most pious dispositions, who are poor and unable to proceed in learning; and to maintain them till they are sit for the ministry? It were but keeping a few superfluous attendants the less, if they had hearts to it, it were easily spared out of their rich apparel, or superfluous diet, I dare say, they would not be sorry for it when they come to their reckoning: one sumptuous ⟨p. 213⟩feast, or one costly suit of apparel, would maintain a poor boy a year or two at the university, who perhaps might come to have more true worth in him, than many a glittering lord, and to do GOD more service in his church, than ever they did with all their estates and power.

2. And when you enjoy the blessing of the gospel, you must yet use your utmost diligence to help poor sold to receive the fruit of it. To which end you must draw them constantly to hear and attend it: mind them often of what they have heard: draw them if it be possible, to repeat it in their families; if that cannot be, then draw them to come to others that do repeat it; that so it may not die in the hearing. The very drawing of men into the company and acquainta of the good man, besides the benefit they have by their endeavours, is of singular use to the recovery of their souls. It is a means to take off prejudice, by confuting the world's slanders of the ways and people of GOD. Use therefore often to meet together, besides the […] public meeting in the congregation: not to vent any sound opinions, nor at the time of public worship; nor yet to separate from the church whereof you are members; but the work which I would have you meet about, is this, to repeat together the word which you have heard in public: to pour out your joint prayers for the church and yourselves: to join in cheerful singing the praises of GOD; to open your scruples and doubts, and fears, and get resolution; to quicken each other in love and heavenliness, or holy walking: and all this not as a separated church, but as a part of the church more diligent than the rest in redeeming time, and helping the souls of each other heaven-ward.