To you, my companions and familiar friends, who came over with me to sojourn in a strange land, do I in the next place address myself. For you I especially fear, as well as for myself; because as we take sweet counsel together oftner than others, and as you are let into a more intimate friendship with me in private life, the eyes of all men will be upon you to note even the minutest miscarriage; and, therefore, it highly concerns you to “walk circumspectly towards those that are without,” I hope, that nothing but a single eye to GOD’s glory and the salvation of your own souls, brought you from your native country. Remember then the end of your coming hither, and you can never do amiss. Be patterns of industry, as well as of piety, to those who shall be around you; and above all things let us have such fervent charity amongst ourselves, that it may be said of us, as of the primitive christians, “See how the christians love one another.”
And now I have been speaking to others particularly, I have one general request to make to all, and that with reference to myself.
You have heard, my dear friends, how I have been exhorting every one of you to shew forth your thankfulness for the divine goodness, not only with your lips, but in your lives: But “physician heal thyself,” may justly be retorted on me. For (without any false pretences to humility) I find my own heart so little inclined to this duty of thanksgiving for the benefits I have received, that I had need fear sharing _Hezekiah_’s fate, who because he was lifted up by, and not thankful enough for, the great things GOD had done for him, was given up a prey to the pride of his own heart.
I need, therefore, and beg your most importunate petitions at the throne of grace, that no such evil may befal me; that the more GOD exalts me, the more I may debase myself; and that after I have preached to others, I myself may not be cast away.
And now, brethren, into GOD’s hands I commend your spirits, who, I trust, through his infinite mercies in CHRIST JESUS, will preserve you blameless, till his second coming to judge the world.
Excuse my detaining you so long; perhaps it is the last time I shall speak to you: my heart is full, and out of the abundance of it, I could continue my discourse until midnight. But I must away to your new world; may GOD give you new hearts, and enable you to put in practice what you have heard from time to time, to be your duty, and I need not wish you any thing better. For then GOD will so bless you, that “you will build you cities to dwell in; then will you sow your lands and plant vineyards, which will yield you fruits of increase,” _Psalm_ cvii. 36, 37. “Then your oxen shall be strong to labour, there shall be no leading into captivity, and no complaining in your streets; then shall your sons grow up as the young plants, and your daughters be as the polished corners of the temple: then shall your garners be full and plenteous with all manner of store, and your sheep bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in your streets,” _Psalm_ cxliv. In short, then shall the LORD be your GOD; and as surely as he has now brought us to this haven, where we would be, so surely, after we have past through the storms and tempests of this troublesome world, will he bring us to the haven of eternal rest, where we shall have nothing to do, but to praise him for ever for his goodness, and declare, in never-ceasing songs of praise, the wonders he has done for us, and all the other sons of men.
“To which blessed rest, GOD of his infinite mercy bring us all, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD! to whom with the Father and Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, might, majesty, and dominion, now, henceforth, and for evermore. _Amen, Amen._”