exalted, the Spirit pleased, religion adorned, the mouths of sinners stopped, and the hearts of saints rejoiced. He that shooteth at the sun, though he shoot far short, yet will shoot higher than he that aimeth at a shrub. It is safest, it is best, to eye the highest and worthiest examples. Examples are, (1.) More awakening than pre- cepts; (2.) More convincing than precepts ; (3.) More encouraging than precepts, Heb. xi. 8 ; and that because in them we see that the exercise of godliness, though difficult, yet is possible ; when we see men subject to like passions \^th ourselves to be so and so mortified, self- denying, humble, holy, &c. ; what should hinder but that it may be so with us also ? Such as begin to work with the needle, look much on their sampler and pattern : it is so in learning to write, and indeed in learning to live also. Observe the gracious conversations and carriages of the choicest saints, keep a fixed eye upon the wise, prudent, humble, holy, and heavenly deportment ; write after the fairest copy you can find, labour to imitate those Christians that are most eminent in grace. I shall conclude this head with that of the heathen : Optimum est majorum sequi vestigia, si recte prcBcesserint, It is best to tread in the steps of those who are gone in a safe and good way before us, [Seneca.] But,
11. The eleventh word of advice and counsel is this, Be much in the most spiritual exercises of religion. There are external exercises, such as hearing, praying, singing, receiving, holy conference, &c., Isa. i. 11-14, and 1 Tim. iv. 8, and Mat. vi. Now custom, con- viction, education, and a hundred other external considerations, may lead persons to these external exercises : but then there are the more spiritual exercises of religion, such as loving of God, delighting in God, prizing of Christ, compliance with the motions, counsels, and dictates of the Spirit, living in an exercise of grace, triumphing in Christ Jesus, setting our affections upon things above, meditation, self-examination, self-judging, &c. Now the more you live in the exercise of these more spiritual duties of religion, the more you glorify God — the more you evidence the power of grace, and the in-dwelUngs of the Spirit — and the more you difference and distinguish yourselves from hypocrites and all unsound professors, and the better foundation you lay for a bright, strong, and growing assurance. But,
12. The twelfth and last word of advice and counsel I shall give you is, To make a ivise, a seasonable, a sincere, a daily, and a thorough improvement of all the talents that God has intrusted you loith. There is a talent of time, of power, of riches, of honour, of greatness, that some are more intrusted with than others are. The improvement of these is your great wisdom, and should be your daily works, 1 Cor iv. 1, 2. You know you are but stewards, and that you must shortly give an account of your stewardship, Luke xvi. 1-4. And oh that you may make such a faithful and full improvement of all the great talents that God has intrusted you with, that you may give up your account at last with joy, and not with grief ! Some princes have wished upon their beds that they had never reigned, because they have not improved their power for God and his people, but against God and his people ; and some rich men have wished that they had never been rich, because they have not improved their riches for the glory of God, nor for the
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succour and relief of his suffering saints. A beggar upon the way asked something of an honourable lady : she gave him sixpence, saying, This is more than ever God gave me. Oh ! says the beggar, Madam, you have abundance, and God hath given you all that you have ; say not so, good madam. Well, says she, I speak the truth, for God hath not given but lent unto me what I have, that I may bestow it upon such as thou art. And it is very true, indeed, that poor Christians are Christ's alms-men, and the rich are but his stewards, into whose hands God hath put his moneys, to distribute to them as their necessities require. It is credibly reported of Mr Thomas Sutton, the sole founder of that eminent hospital commonly known by his name, that he used often to repair into a private garden, where he poured forth his prayers unto God, and, amongst other passages, was frequently overheard to use this expression : Lord, thou hast given me a liberal and large estate, give me also a heart to make good use of it ; which was granted to him accordingly.! Kiches are a great blessing, but a heart to use them aright is a far greater blessing. Every rich man is not so much a treasurer as a steward, whose praise is more how to lay out well than to have received much. I know I have transgressed the bounds of an epistle, but love to your souls, and theirs into whose hands this treatise may fall, must be my apology.
Sir, if you and your lady were both my own children, and my only children, I could not give you better nor more faithful counsel than what I have given you in this epistle ; and all out of a sincere, serious, and cordial desire and design, that both of you may be happy here, and found at Christ's right hand in the great day of account, Mat. XXV. 33, 34.
Now the God of all grace fill both your hearts with all the fruits of righteousness and holiness, and greatly bless you both with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, and make you meet-helps to each other heaven- ward, and at last crown you both with ineffable glory in the life to come. 1 Pet. v. 1 ; Gal. v. 22, 23 ; Eph. i. 3.
So I take leave, and rest your assured friend, and soul's servant,
^ Fuller's Church History of Britain. [The founder of the Charter-house, London. — G.]
THE COVENANT OF GRACE PROVED AND OPENED.
Beloved in our Lord, — In the first part of my Golden Key, I have shewed you seven several pleas, that all sincere Christians may form up, as to those several scriptures in the Old and New Testament, that refer either to the great day of account, or to their particular days of accoujit. In this second part, I shall go on where I left, and shew you several other choice pleas, that all believers may make in the present case.
VIII. The eighth plea that a believer may form up as to the ten scriptures in the margin, i that refer to the great day of account, or to a man s particular account, may be drawn up from the consideration of the covenant of grace, or the new covenant that all believers are under. It is of high concernment to understand the tenure of the covenant of grace, or the new covenant, which is the law you must judge of your estates by, for if you mistake in that you will err in the conclusion. That person is very unfit to make a judge, who is ignorant of the law, by which himself and others must be tried. For the clear- ing of my way, let me premise these six things : —