What further advice can be given to persons in such a situation? I cannot but advise you, _thirdly, consider deeply with yourself, is the God whom I serve able to deliver me_? I am not able to deliver myself out of these difficulties; much less am I able to bear them. I know not how to give up my reputation, my friends, my substance, my liberty, my life. _Can_ God give me to rejoice in doing this? And may I depend upon him, that he _will_? Are the hairs of my head all numbered? And does he never fail them that trust in him? Weigh this throughly; and if you can trust God with your all, then go on, in the power of his might.
Go on, I would earnestly advise you, _fourthly_, keep in the very path wherein you now tread. _Be true to your principles._ Never rest again in the dead _formality_ of religion. Pursue with your might inward and outward holiness; a steady imitation of him you worship; a still increasing resemblance of his imitable perfections, his justice, mercy, and truth.
Let this be your manly, noble, generous religion, equally remote from the meanness of _superstition_, (which places religion in doing what God hath not enjoined, or abstaining from what he hath not forbidden) and from the unkindness of _bigotry_, (which confines our affection to our own party, sect, or opinion.) Above all, stand fast in obedient faith, faith in the God of pardoning mercy, in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath loved _you_, and given himself for you. Ascribe to him all the good you find in yourself; all your peace, and joy, and love; all your power to do and suffer his will, through the Spirit of the living God. Yet in the mean time, carefully avoid _enthusiasm_: impute not the dreams of men to the all-wise God; and expect neither light nor power from him, but in the serious use of all the means he hath ordained.
Be true also to your principles, touching opinions, and the externals of religion. Use every _ordinance_ which you believe is of God: but beware of narrowness of spirit towards those who use them not. Conform yourself to those _modes of worship_ which you approve; yet love, as brethren, those who cannot conform. Lay so much stress on _opinions_, that all your own (if it be possible) may agree with truth and reason; but have a care of anger, dislike, or contempt towards those whose opinions differ from yours. You are daily accused of this: (And indeed, what is it, whereof you are not accused?) But beware of giving any ground for such an accusation. Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment; since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of _persecution_. If you cannot _reason_ or _persuade_ a man into the truth, never attempt to _force_ him into it. If love will not compel him to come in, leave him to God, the Judge of all.
Yet expect not, that others will deal thus with you. No: some will endeavour to _fright_ you out of your principles; some to _shame_ you into a more popular religion, to laugh and rally you out of your singularity: but from none of these will you be in so great danger, as from those who assault you with quite different weapons, with softness, good nature, and earnest professions of (perhaps real) good-will. Here you are equally concerned, to avoid the very appearance of anger, contempt, or unkindness, and to hold fast the whole truth of God, both in principle and in practice.
This indeed will be interpreted as unkindness. Your former acquaintance will look upon this, that you will not _sin_ or _trifle_ with them, as a plain proof of your coldness towards them; and this burthen you must be content to bear: but labour to avoid all real unkindness, all disobliging words, or harshness of speech, all shyness or strangeness of behaviour. Speak to them with all the tenderness and love, and behave with all the sweetness and courtesy you can; taking care not to give any needless offence, to neighbour or stranger, friend or enemy.