vour to undermine the power of godliness ; and some there are that nourish the root, and tend to clear and confiriTi, to prepare and ap- ply the great truths of the gospel, that th.ey may be bread for souls to live and feed on : Now, though I could wish that those who had handled the pen of the scribe, had better employed their time and pains, than to obtrude such useless discourses upon the world ; yet for books of the latter rank, I say, that when husbawidmen complain of too much corn, let Christians complain of too many such books.
2. And if you be so highly conceited of your own furniture and ability, that such books are needless to you ; if you let them alone, they will do you no hurt, and other poor hungry souls will be glad of them, and bless God for what you despise and leave.
Ohjection, If it be said that several of the cases here handled touch not your condition, I answer.
Solution 1. That which is not your condition may be another's condition. If you be placed in an easy, full and prosperous state, and so have no need of the helps here offered to support your hearts under pinching wants, others are forced to live by faith for every day's provision : If you be dandled upon the knee of providence, some of your brethren are under its feet : If you have inward peace and tranquillity of spirit, and so need not the counsels here given, to ward off those desperate conclusions that poor afflicted souls are ready to draw upon themselves at such a time ; yet it may be a word in season to them, and they may say as David to Abigail, "Blessed be " thou of the Lord, and blessed be thy advice."
9,. That may be your condition shortly, which is not your con- dition at present : say not thy mountain stands strong, thou shalt never be moved : there are changes in the right-hand of the Most High ; and then those truths which are little more esteemed than hedge-fruits, will be as apples of gold in pictures of silver. In Jer. xxxiii. 10, 11. the prophet there teaches the Jews (who then dwelt in their own houses) how to defend their religion in Babylon, and what they should say to the Chaldeans there, and therefore that verse is written in Chaldee. So much for the reasons of its publi- cation. Next, for the dedication of it to you, I was induced thereto by the consideration,
1. Of the relation I have to you above all the people in the world : I look upon my gifts as yours, my time as yours, and all the talents I am entrusted with, as yours : it is not with you as with a woman whose husband is dead, and so is freed from the law of her husband, the relation still continues, and so do all the mutual duties of it.
2. By the consideration of my necessitated absence from you, I would not that personal absence should by insensible degrees untwist (as it usually doth) the cord of friendship ; and therefore I have en- deavoured (as absent friends use to do) to preserve and strengthen it by this small remembrance. It was Vespasian's answer to Apollonius, when he desired access for two philosophers, ' My doors (said Vespa-
THE ETISTLE DEDICATORY. 421
* sian, are always open to philosophers, but my very breast is open
* to thee.' 1 cannot say with him, my doors are open for the tree access of friends, being by a sad providence shut against myself; but this I can say, ray very breast is still open to you ; you are as dear to me as ever.
3. Another inducement (and indeed the main) was the perpetual usefulness and necessity of these truths for you, which you will have continual need of : And I know few of you have such happy memo- ries to retain, and I cannot be always with you to inculcate these things, but lUe?'a scripta manet. I was willing to leave this with you as a legacy, as a testimony of sincere love for, and care over vou : this may counsel and direct you when I cannot : 1 may be rendered useless to you by a civil or natural death ; but this will out-live me, and O that it may serve your souls when I am silent in the dust.
To hasten now to a conclusion, I have only these three requests to you, which I earnestly beseech you not to deny me ; yea, I charge you, as ever you hope to appear with comfort before the great Shepherd, do not dare to slight these requests.
1. Above all other studies in the world, study your own hearts : waste not a minute more of your precious time about frivolous and sap- less controversies. It is reported even of Bellarmine (how truly I ex- amine not)*Qwo J a studlis scholasticoe theologioc avertereUirfere nau- seabundus, quoniam succo carehant Uquidce pietatis^ i. e. he turned with loathing from the study of school-divinity, because it wanted the sweet juice of piety; I had rather it should be said of you, as one said of -|- Swinkfeldius, " He wanted a regular head, but not an honest heart,"" than that you should have regular heads, and irregular hearts. My dear flock, I have, according to the grace given me, laboured in the course of my ministry among you, to feed you with the heart-strength- ening bread of practical doctrine ; and I do assue you, it is far bet- ter you should have the sweet and saving impressions of gospel-truths feelingly and powerfully conveyed to your hearts, than only to un- derstand them by a bare ratiocination, or dry syllogistical inference. Leave trifling studies to such as have time lying on their hands, and know not how to employ it : remember you are at the door of eter- nity, and have other work to do ; those hours you spend upon heart- work in your closets, are the golden spots of all your time, and will have the sweetest influence upon your last hour. Never forget these sermons I preached to you upon that subject, from 9> Kings xx. 2, 3. Heart- work is weighty, and difficult work ; an error there mav cost you your souls : I may say of it as Augustine speaks of the doctrine of the Trinity, NlMlo facilius aut pei^iculosius erratur ; A man can err i« nothing more easily or more dangerously. O then study your hearts.
* Fuligattus in vita Bellarm.
f Caput rrgulatum illi d^J'uit^ cor bonuvi non dpfuxt,
422 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
2. My next request is, That you will carefully look to your con- versations, and be accurate in all your ways, hold forth the word of life : be sure by the strictness and holiness of your lives, to settle your- selves in the very consciences of your enemies. Remember that your lives must be produced in the great day to judge the world, 1 Cor. vi. 2. O then, what manner of persons ought you to be ! you have many eyes over you ; the omniscient eye of God that searches heart and reins, Rev. ii. 23. the vigilant eye of Satan, Job i. 7, 8. the envious eyes of enemies, that curiously observe you, Psal. v. 8. the quick and observant eye of conscience, which none of your actions escape, Rom., ix. 1.