(1.) Of ministers, to cast off all by -respects, and to flee to those places where, in all probability, the hai-vest would be great, and the labourers are few or none at all I I have read of a heretic that SAvam over a great river in a frost to scatter his errors; the old Jewish, and now popish Pharisees, compass sea and land to make proselytes; the merchants trade not into more countries than the factors of Rome do to gain souls to his holiness. East and west, far and wide, do these locusts spread themselves, not withotit hazard of their lives as well as the loss of their souls, to scatter their superstitions; — only the
UNCHANGEABLE, FREE MERCY. 41
preachers of the everlasting gospel seem to have lost their zeal. O that there were the same mind in us that was in Jesus Christ, — who counted it his meat and drink to do his Father's will, in gaining souls !
(2.) Of the magistrates, — I mean, of this honourable assembly, — to turn themselves every lawful way for the help of poor Macedonians. The truth is, in this I could speak more than I intend ; for perhaps my zeal and some men's judgments would scarce make good harmony This only I shall say, that if Jesus Christ might be preached, though with some defects in some circumstances, I should rejoice therein. 0 that you would labour to let all the parts of the kingdom taste of the sweetness of your successes, in carrying to them the gospel of the Lord Jesus ; that the doctrine of the gospel might make way for the discipline of the gospel, without which it will be a very skeleton ! When manna fell in the wilderness from the hand of the Lord, every one had an equal share. I would there were not now too great an inequality in the scattering of manna, when secondarily in the hand of men ; whereby some have all, and others none ; — some sheep daily picking the choice flowers of every pasture, others wandering upon the barren mountains, without guide or food. I make no doubt but the best ways for the furtherance of this are known full well unto you ; and you therefore have as little need to be petitioned in this as other things. What, then, remains, but that for this, and all other necessary blessings, we all set our hearts and hands to petition the throne of grace?
A SHORT DEFENSATIVE
AEODT CHURCH GOVEENMENT, TOLERATION, AND PETITIOiNS ABOUT THESE THINGS.
Reader, This, be it what it will, thou hast no cause to thank or blame ' me for. Had I been mine own, it had not been thine ; my submission imto others' judgments being the only cause of submitting this unto thy censure. The substance of it is con- cerning tilings now doing, in some whereof I heretofore thought it my wisdom modestly hcesitare (or at least not with the most, peremptorily to dictate to others my apprehensions), as wiser ^ men have done in weightier things ; and yet this not so much for want of persuasion in my own mind, as out of opinion that we have already had too many needless and fruitless discourses about these matters. Would we could agree to spare perishing paper ! ^ and for my own part, had not the opportunity of a few lines in the close of this sermon, and the importunity of not a few friends, urged, I could have slighted all occasions and accusations pro- voking to publish those thoughts which I shall now impart. The truth is, in things concerning the church (1 mean things purely external, of form, order, and the like), so many ways have I been spoken, that I often resolved to speak myself, desiring rather to appear (though conscious to myself of innumerable failings) what indeed I am, than what others incuriously suppose. But yet the many I ever thought unworthy of an apology, and some of satisfaction, — especially those who would make their own judgments a rule for themselves and others, impatient that any should know what they do not, or conceive otherwise than they of what they do, in the meantime, placing almost all religion in that which may be perhaps a hinder- ance of it, — and l^eing so valued, or rather overvalued, — is certainly the greatest. Nay, would they would make their judgments only so far as they are convinced, and are able to make out their conceptions to others, and not also their impotent desires, to be the rule ; that so they might condemn only that, which complies not with their minds, and not all that also which they find to thwart their aims and de- signs ! But so it must be. Once more conformity is grown the touchstone (and that not in practice, but opinion) amongst the greatest part of men, however other- wise of different persuasions. Dissent is the only crime ;* and where that is all that is culpable, it shall be made all that is so. From such as these, who almost hath not suffered ? but towards such the best defence is silence. Besides, my judgment commands me to make no known quarrel my own ; but rather if it be possible, and as nmch as in me heth, live peaceably with all men. 'Upov ■>riXe/^ov, I proclaim to none