My Lord, God hath set your lordship in a very high and honourable station, in which you have shined as a light upon a hill. And as he hath given you great opportunities, so he hath also given you a large heart to serve him ; and this hath given you a large room in the hearts of those that fear God, and hath made your name to be truly great and honour- able. How amiable a thin^; is it to see fjreatness and soodness in con-
4 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
junction ! But alas ! how rare are the instances of it in this degenerate age ! How few great ones are there that countenance despised religion ! But still, when it hath been under the greatest discouragements, your lordship hath publicly owned the ways of God, your house hath been always open to his faithful ministers, and your interest hath always been improved for promoting the interest of the gospel.
(Jod hath lengthened out your life to a good old age ; and that he may yet prolong your life for further service to his name and interest, is the prayer of all those who know your steady and unshaken adherence to the princi|)les you have owned. It hath pleased the wise God to exercise you with various troubles in your declining years, in the death of many of your nearest relations, especially in the late wide breach he hath made in your family by taking away your religious lady, whose extraordinary endowments of mind, exemplary piety, and singular use- fulness, made her justly dear toj^ou, and admired by all that knew her. Such a trial as this would shock an ordinary and common patience and constancy of mind ; yet God, by the supports of his grace, hath enabled you to bear it. This amazing stroke is a loud call from God to a recess from this world, now the less desirable, because so dear a part of your- self is removed out of it ; and to a preparation for a better state, to which she is gone, and your lordship is hastening. How pleasant will the meeting be, when you shall again see each other, and know and love one another in a better manner than in this world you could ! when all those frailties and infirmities, which give sometimes a little inter- ruption to the com fort of the nearest relations, in this state of weakness and mortality, shall be fully done away !
In the meantime, that God would strengthen your lordship's faith and patience, that he would increase and multiply his blessings, tem- poral and spiritual, on your lordship, and all the branches of your noble family, and that he would reward all that labour of love that you have shown to his servant's name and interest, with an eternal weight of glory, IS the daily prayer of, right honourable, your lordship's most obedient and faithful servant and chaplain,
William Taylor.
February 6, 169|.
THE PREFACE.
Christian Eeadek, — It is a singular instance of the divine providence that he should call home the labourers to rest and reward, while yet their labours are em])loyed in the vineyard. The Keverend Dr Manton now rests from his labours ; the comfort and conscience of his works follow him, but the usefulness of them yet abides witli us. This mantle dropped from our prophet when he was taken up, and we hope the good Spirit will convey by it a double portion of grace to us who are left behind.
Let it not affright thee, reader, to hear a dead saint speak, a dead minister preach ; for it is the same spirit of life and power which once breathed from the pulpit that now breathes from the press : the same gospel which once dropped from his gracious lips flows now from his sanctified pen.
Although the serious perusal of these spiritual discourses will more effectually commend them to thy acceptance than the most elaborate recommendation of the prefacer, yet I must not betray the truth in concealing what the observing reader will soon discern ; acquired learning humbly waiting upon divine revelation ; great ministerial gifts managed by greater grace ; warm affections guided by a solid judgment ; fervent love to saints and sinners, kindled by a burning zeal for the interest of a Saviour ; and a plain elegancy of style adapted to the meanest capacity, yet far above the contempt of the highest pre- tender.
I can sincerely aver that it is no part of the design of this epistle to conciliate a reputation to these writings from the acknowledged repute of their reverend author : divine truths need not those vulgar artifices ; they carry their own credentials themselves : nor yet to greaten the author by magnifying his works. Grace kept him above those temp- tations when labouring at the footstool, and glory has advanced him beyond their reach, now triumphing at the throne. It was then his sufficient honour to be an earthen vessel filled with heavenly treasure, that he might fill and enrich others ; and he is now engaged, to his greater satisfaction, in blessing that ever-blessed God who served his gracious counsels of him in the honourable though despised work of the ministry.
That which I have in my eye is to lead thee into the admiration of our Lord Jesus Christ, ' who, when he ascended up on high, gave gifts unto men. for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry.' To all he has given some, to none has he given all, but wisely divided