much appears, as well because they are opposed to the Kingdom of God and his Righteoufnefs, which are invifible and heavenly Things, as that those very Matters he enjoins them not to be careful about, are the moft neceffary, and the most innocent in themfelves. If then, in fuch Cafes the Minds of his Difciples were not to be folicitous, much lefs in foolish, fuperftitious, idle Inventions, to gratify the carnal Appetites and Minds of Men: So certain it is, that those who live therein, are none of his Followers, but the Gentiles; and, as he elfewhere fays, The Nations of the World who know Luke 12. not God. If now then the diftinguishing Mark 22, to 30. between the Difciples of Jefus and thofe of the World, is, that one minds the Things of Heaven, and God's Kingdom, that stands in Rom. 14Righteoufnefs, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, 17, being not careful of external Matters, even the most innocent and neceffary, and that the other minds Eating, Drinking, Apparel, and the Affairs of this World, with the Lufts, Pleafures, Profits, and Honours that belong to it; be you intreated for your Souls Sakes, O Inhabitants of England! to be ferious, to reflect awhile upon your felves what Care and Coft you are at, of Time and Money, about foolish, nay, vicious Things: So far are you degenerated from the primitive Chriflian Life. What buying and felling, what dealing and chaffering, what writing and pofting, what Toil and Labour, what Noife, Hurry, Buftle, and Confufion, what Study, what little Contrivances

and

and Over-reachings, what eating, drinking, Vanity of Apparel, moft ridiculous Recreations; in fhort, what rifing early, going to Bed late, Expence of precious Time, is there about Things that perish? View the Streets, Shops, Exchanges, Plays, Parks, Coffee-houses, &c. And is not the World, this fading World, writ upon every Face? Say not within yourfelves, How otherwife fhould Men live, and the World fubfift? The common, though frivolous Objection: There is enough for all; let fome content themselves with lefs; a few Things plain and decent, ferve a Chriftian Life. 'Tis Luft, Pride, Avarice, that thrufts Men upon fuch Folly Were God's Kingdom more the Exercife of their Minds, these perishing Entertainments would have but little of their Time or Thoughts.

§. III. This Self-denying Doctrine was confirmed and enforc'd by the Apostles in their Example, as we have already fhewn; and in their Precepts too, as we fhall yet evince in those two most remarkable Paffages of Paul and Peter; where they do not only tell us, what should be done, but also what should be 1 Tim. 2. denied and avoided: In like Manner I will, that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel: What's that? With Shamefacedness and Sobriety, not with broidered Hair, or Gold, or Pearls, or coftly Array, then it seems these are immodest, but which becometh Women profeffing Godliness, with good Works. Abfolutely implying, that those who attire themselves with Gold, Silver,

9, 10.

broidered

broidered Hair, Pearls, coftly Array, cannot in fo doing be Women profeffing Godliness; making those very Things to be contrary to Modeity and what is good; and confequently that they are evil, and unbecoming Women profeffing Godliness. To which the Apostle Peter joins another Precept after the like Sort, viz. Whofe Adorning, let it not be that outward 1Pet. 3. 3, Adorning, of plaiting the Hair, and of wear- 4,5• ing of Gold, or of putting on of Apparel: What then? But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which is in the Sight of God of great Price. And as an Inducement, he adds; For after this Manner in the old Time the holy * Women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves. Which doth not only intimate that both holy Women were fo adorned, and that it behoves fuch as would be holy and trust in the holy God, to be so adorned; but also, that they who ufed thofe forbidden Ornaments, were the Women and People in all Ages, that, for all their Talk, were not boly, nor did trust in God. Such are so far from trusting in God, that the Apostle Paul exprefly fays, That he that liath in Pleasure is dead, to God, whilst she liveth. And the fame Apostle further enjoine, That Chriftians should have 2, 3, 4. their Converfatic. in Heaven, and their Minds Rom. 13. fixed on Things above: Walk honeftly as in the

1Tim.5.6.

Phil. 3.20. Col. 3. I,

Day, 3

* Note, not a Word of Men, as if this Vanity be'onged not

to the Sex; let them obferve that.

13.

Eph. 5.2,

Rom. 13.

14.

Day, not in Rioting and Drunkenness, not in Chambering and Wantonness, not in Envy and Strife: Let not Fornication, Uncleanness, or Covetousness, be once named amongst you; neither Filthiness, nor foolish Talking or Jefting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of Thanks: Eph.4.29. And let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth, but that which is good, to the Ufe of Eph.4 30.Edifying, that it may minifter Grace unto the Ch. 5.1, Hearers. But put ye on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and make no Provifion for the Flesh, to fulfil the Defires thereof. And Grieve not the holy Spirit; intimating fuch Conversation doth, but be ye Followers of God, as dear Children: Walk circumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wife; redeeming the Time, because the Days are evil.

15, 16.

§. IV. By this meafure yourselves, O Inhabitants of this Land, who think yourselves wrong'd, if not accounted Chriftians: See what Proportion your Life and Spirit bears with thefe most holy and felf-denying Precepts and Examples. Well, my Friends, my Soul mourns for you: I have been with and among you: Your Life and Pastime are not Strangers to my Notice; and with Compaffion, yea, unexpreffible Pity, I bewail your Folly. O that you would be wife! O that the just Principle in yourselves were heard! O that Eternity had Time to plead a little with you! Why fhould your Beds, your Glaffes, your Clothes, your Tables, your Loves, your Plays, your Parks, your Treats, your Recreations, poor perishing Joys, have all your Souls, your Time,

your

your Care, your Purfe, and Confideration? Be ye admonished, I beseech you, in the Name of the living God, by one that fome of you know hath had his Share in thefe Things, and confequently Time to know how little the like Vanities conduce to true and folid Happiness. No, my Friends, God Almighty knows, and would God, you would believe and follow me, they end in Shame and Sorrow. Faithful is that most holy One, who hath determined, That every Man and Woman fhall reap what they fow: And will not Trouble, Auguish, and Disappointment, be a fad and dreadful Harveft for you to reap, for all your mispent Time and Subftance, about Superfluities and vain Recreations? Retire then; quench not the holy Spirit in yourselves; redeem your precious abufed Time; frequent fuch Converfation as may help you against your evil Inclinations; fo fhall you follow the Examples, and keep the Precepts of JESUS CHRIST, and all his Followers. For hitherto we have plainly demonftrated, that no fuch Way of living, as is in Request among you of the Land, ever was, or can be truly Chriftian.

For

15.

1Pet. 4.),

§. V. But the best Recreation is to do Good: Pet. 1, And all Chriftian Cuftoms tend to Temperance, Heb. 10. and fome good and beneficial End; which 25; more or less may be in every Action. Inftance: If Men and Women would be gent to follow their refpective Callings, quent the Affemblies of religious People,

R

10, 11.

dili- Mat. 25.

fre- 36, 37. vifit Ch. 4.8.

Phil. 2. 4,

fober