A sermon preached at the second general meeting of the gentlemen and others in and near London who were born within the County of York in the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, February 17, 1679/80 / by John Sharpe ...
         Sharp, John, 1645-1714.
      
       
         
           1680
        
      
       Approx. 52 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 20 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A59557
         Wing S2985
         ESTC R18978
         12560992
         ocm 12560992
         63169
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A59557)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63169)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 703:4)
      
       
         
           
             A sermon preached at the second general meeting of the gentlemen and others in and near London who were born within the County of York in the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, February 17, 1679/80 / by John Sharpe ...
             Sharp, John, 1645-1714.
          
           [4], 34 p.
           
             Printed for Walter Kettilby ...,
             London :
             1680.
          
           
             Errata: p. 34.
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Bible. -- O.T. -- Ecclesiastes III, 10 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English.
        
      
    
     
        2003-06 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2003-06 Apex CoVantage
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2005-02 Andrew Kuster
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2005-02 Andrew Kuster
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2005-04 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           the
           Second
           
             GENERAL
             MEETING
          
           OF
           THE
           GENTLEMEN
           ,
           and
           others
           in
           and
           near
           LONDON
           ,
        
         
           Who
           were
           Born
           within
           the
           COUNTY
           of
           YORK
           ,
           In
           the
           Church
           of
           St.
           
             Mary-le-Bow
             ,
             February
          
           17.
           1679
           
           /
           80.
           
        
         
           By
           
             JOHN
             SHARPE
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Rector
           of
           St.
           Giles
           in
           the
           Fields
           ,
           and
           Chaplain
           to
           the
           Right
           Honourable
           the
           Lord
           High
           Chancellour
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Walter
             Kettilby
          
           at
           the
           
           Bishop's
           -
           Head
           ,
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           .
           1680.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           my
           Honoured
           FRIENDS
           and
           COUNTRY-MEN
           ,
           
             
               Mr.
               
                 William
                 Petyt
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Richard
                 Graham
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Cooke
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Mich.
                 Wrightson
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Tob.
                 Humphrys
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Anth.
                 Lawson
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 John
                 Short
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Francis
                 Boynton
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Peter
                 Short
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Gab.
                 Wettenhall
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Arthur
                 Sedgwick
              
            
             
               Mr.
               
                 Thomas
                 Watson
              
            
          
           Stewards
           of
           the
           last
           York-shire
           Feast
           .
        
         
           
             GENTLEMEN
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Now
           at
           length
           Present
           you
           with
           that
           Sermon
           which
           at
           your
           desire
           I
           Preached
           at
           the
           Second
           Anniversary
           Meeting
           of
           our
           Countrey-men
           ,
           and
           which
           you
           were
           pleased
           so
           far
           to
           Approve
           as
           to
           Request
           the
           Publication
           of
           it
           .
           That
           I
           have
           not
           performed
           your
           Request
           so
           soon
           as
           might
           be
           expected
           ,
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           pardon
           me
           ,
           since
           I
           had
           not
           till
           this
           time
           a
           convenient
           leisure
           to
           Transcribe
           
           my
           Papers
           for
           the
           Press
           .
           If
           this
           plain
           Discourse
           ,
           now
           that
           it
           is
           publick
           ,
           do
           any
           way
           conduce
           to
           promote
           
             Doing
             Good
          
           which
           is
           the
           Argument
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           thank
           God
           for
           the
           Success
           ,
           and
           You
           for
           putting
           me
           upon
           the
           Attempt
           .
        
         
           
             Gentlemen
             ,
          
           
             I
             am
          
           
             Your
             Affectionate
             Countrey-man
             ,
             Friend
             and
             Servant
             ,
             JOHN
             SHARPE
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           PREACHED
           At
           the
           Second
           general
           Meeting
           of
           the
           Gentlemen
           and
           others
           in
           and
           near
           London
           ,
           who
           were
           Born
           within
           the
           County
           of
           York
           .
        
         
           
             ECCLES
             .
             iii.
             10.
             
          
           
             I
             know
             that
             there
             is
             no
             good
             in
             them
             ,
             but
             for
             a
             man
             to
             rejoyce
             and
             to
             do
             good
             in
             his
             life
             .
          
        
         
           THis
           Book
           of
           Ecclesiastes
           gives
           us
           an
           account
           of
           the
           several
           Experiments
           that
           Solomon
           had
           made
           in
           order
           to
           the
           finding
           out
           wherein
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Man
           in
           this
           World
           doth
           consist
           ;
           and
           these
           Words
           are
           one
           of
           the
           conclusions
           he
           drew
           from
           those
           Experiments
           .
        
         
           No
           man
           had
           ever
           greater
           Opportunities
           of
           Trying
           all
           the
           ways
           wherein
           men
           generally
           seek
           for
           
           Contentment
           than
           he
           had
           ;
           and
           no
           man
           did
           ever
           more
           industriously
           apply
           himself
           to
           ,
           or
           took
           a
           greater
           liberty
           in
           enjoying
           those
           good
           things
           that
           are
           commonly
           most
           admired
           than
           he
           did
           :
           And
           yet
           after
           all
           his
           Labor
           and
           all
           his
           Enjoyments
           he
           found
           nothing
           but
           Emptiness
           and
           Dissatisfaction
           .
        
         
           He
           thought
           to
           become
           Happy
           by
           Philosophy
           ,
           
             giving
             his
             heart
          
           ,
           as
           he
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             to
             seek
             and
             search
             out
          
           
           
             all
             the
             things
             that
             come
             to
             pass
             under
             the
             Sun
             :
          
           Yet
           upon
           Tryal
           ,
           he
           found
           all
           this
           to
           be
           
             Vanity
             and
             vexation
             of
             Spirit
          
           .
        
         
           He
           applyed
           his
           mind
           to
           Political
           Wisdom
           and
           other
           sorts
           of
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           his
           Attainments
           in
           that
           kind
           were
           greater
           than
           of
           any
           that
           were
           before
           him
           ;
           yet
           he
           experienced
           at
           last
           that
           
             in
             Wisdom
          
           
           
             was
             much
             grief
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             increaseth
             Knowledge
             increaseth
             Sorrow
             .
          
        
         
           He
           
             proved
             his
             heart
          
           (
           as
           he
           tells
           us
           )
           
             with
             Mirth
             and
          
           
           Wine
           and
           all
           sorts
           of
           Sensual
           Pleasures
           to
           find
           if
           these
           were
           good
           for
           the
           Sons
           of
           men
           :
           and
           yet
           so
           far
           was
           he
           from
           his
           desired
           satisfaction
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           forced
           to
           
             say
             of
             Laughter
             that
             it
             was
             mad
             ,
             and
             of
             Mirth
             what
             good
             doth
             it
             .
          
           
        
         
           He
           turned
           himself
           to
           works
           of
           Pomp
           and
           Magnificence
           ,
           he
           built
           him
           stately
           Houses
           ,
           and
           made
           him
           Gardens
           ,
           and
           Vineyards
           ,
           and
           Orchards
           ,
           and
           
           Fountains
           .
           He
           increased
           his
           Possessions
           ,
           and
           gathered
           
           
             Silver
             and
             Gold
             and
             the
             precious
             Treasures
             of
             Kings
             and
          
           
           
             of
             the
             Provinces
          
           .
           He
           got
           him
           a
           vast
           Retinue
           ,
           and
           kept
           the
           most
           splendid
           Court
           that
           ever
           any
           Prince
           of
           that
           Countrey
           did
           :
           yet
           (
           as
           he
           tells
           us
           )
           when
           he
           came
           to
           
             look
             upon
             all
             the
             works
             that
             his
             hands
             had
          
           
           
             wrought
             ,
             and
             on
             the
             labour
             that
             he
             had
             laboured
             to
             do
             ,
             behold
             all
             was
             vanity
             and
             vexation
             of
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             there
             was
             no
             profit
             under
             the
             Sun.
             
          
        
         
           But
           wherein
           then
           is
           there
           any
           Profit
           if
           not
           in
           these
           things
           ?
           What
           is
           that
           good
           that
           the
           sons
           of
           men
           are
           to
           apply
           themselves
           to
           in
           order
           to
           their
           living
           as
           comfortably
           as
           the
           state
           of
           things
           here
           will
           allow
           ?
           This
           question
           (
           after
           an
           intimation
           of
           the
           uncertainty
           and
           perplexedness
           of
           all
           humane
           events
           ,
           but
           withal
           of
           the
           exactness
           of
           the
           Providence
           of
           God
           
             who
             hath
             made
             every
             thing
             beautiful
             in
             its
             season
             ,
          
           He
           thus
           resolves
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Text
           ,
           
             I
             know
          
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             that
             there
             is
             no
             good
             in
             them
             but
             for
             a
             man
             to
             rejoyce
             and
             do
             good
             in
             his
             life
             ,
          
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
        
         
           I
           have
           found
           by
           long
           experience
           that
           all
           the
           Happiness
           that
           is
           to
           be
           had
           in
           the
           good
           things
           of
           this
           life
           doth
           arise
           from
           these
           two
           things
           ,
           Rejoycing
           in
           the
           enjoyment
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           
             doing
             Good
          
           to
           others
           with
           them
           while
           we
           live
           .
           Take
           away
           these
           two
           Uses
           and
           there
           is
           no
           good
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           Or
           if
           you
           please
           we
           may
           Interpret
           the
           first
           part
           of
           his
           Proposition
           not
           of
           things
           but
           of
           men
           thus
           :
           I
           
             I
             know
             there
             is
             no
             good
             in
             them
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           I
           am
           convinced
           that
           
           there
           is
           nothing
           so
           good
           for
           the
           sons
           of
           men
           ;
           or
           ,
           nothing
           that
           more
           contributes
           to
           their
           happiness
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           than
           that
           every
           
             man
             should
             rejoyce
             and
             do
             good
             in
             his
             life
             .
          
           And
           to
           this
           purpose
           the
           words
           are
           rendred
           by
           several
           Interpreters
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           no
           matter
           which
           of
           the
           sences
           we
           pitch
           upon
           ,
           since
           in
           effect
           they
           come
           both
           to
           one
           thing
           .
        
         
           Two
           things
           then
           ,
           Solomon
           here
           recommends
           to
           every
           one
           that
           would
           live
           comfortably
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           Rejoycing
           and
           
             doing
             Good
          
           :
           and
           I
           do
           not
           know
           what
           can
           be
           more
           proper
           and
           seasonable
           to
           be
           recommended
           and
           insisted
           on
           to
           you
           at
           this
           time
           and
           on
           this
           occasion
           ,
           than
           these
           two
           things
           ;
           for
           the
           putting
           them
           in
           practice
           makes
           up
           the
           whole
           design
           of
           this
           Meeting
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           here
           so
           many
           Brethren
           met
           together
           to
           Rejoyce
           and
           to
           
             do
             Good.
          
           To
           Rejoyce
           together
           in
           the
           sense
           and
           acknowledgment
           of
           Gods
           mercies
           and
           Blessings
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           enjoyment
           of
           Society
           one
           with
           another
           :
           And
           to
           
             do
             Good
          
           not
           only
           by
           encreasing
           our
           Friendship
           and
           Mutual
           Correspondence
           ,
           but
           by
           joyning
           together
           in
           a
           chearful
           Contribution
           to
           those
           our
           Country-men
           that
           need
           our
           Charity
           .
           To
           entertain
           you
           therefore
           upon
           these
           Two
           Points
           seems
           to
           be
           my
           Proper
           Business
           .
        
         
           But
           in
           treating
           of
           them
           I
           shall
           make
           bold
           to
           invert
           the
           order
           in
           which
           they
           are
           put
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           and
           shall
           first
           speak
           of
           
             doing
             Good
          
           though
           it
           be
           last
           
           named
           ,
           and
           shall
           afterwards
           treat
           of
           Rejoycing
           .
           The
           truth
           is
           ▪
           
             doing
             good
          
           in
           the
           order
           of
           nature
           goes
           before
           Rejoycing
           ,
           for
           it
           is
           the
           Foundation
           of
           it
           .
           There
           can
           be
           no
           true
           joy
           in
           the
           Possession
           or
           use
           of
           any
           worldly
           blessings
           ,
           unless
           we
           can
           satisfie
           our selves
           we
           have
           done
           some
           good
           with
           them
           .
           It
           is
           the
           
             doing
             good
          
           that
           sanctifies
           our
           other
           enjoyments
           and
           makes
           them
           matter
           of
           Rejoycing
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           treating
           of
           this
           Argument
           I
           shall
           briefly
           endeavour
           these
           Three
           things
           .
        
         
           
             First
             ,
             I
             shall
             earnestly
             recommend
             to
             you
             the
             Practice
             of
             
               doing
               good
            
             upon
             several
             Considerations
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             I
             shall
             represent
             the
             Practicableness
             of
             it
             ,
             by
             shewing
             the
             several
             ways
             which
             every
             person
             (
             though
             in
             the
             meanest
             Circumstances
             )
             is
             capable
             of
             doing
             good
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             I
             shall
             make
             two
             or
             three
             Inferences
             by
             way
             of
             Application
             .
          
        
         
           I
           begin
           with
           the
           First
           thing
           ,
           seriously
           to
           recommend
           the
           practice
           of
           
             doing
             good
          
           .
        
         
           But
           where
           shall
           I
           begin
           to
           speak
           ,
           either
           of
           the
           Obligations
           that
           lye
           upon
           us
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           Benefits
           and
           Advantages
           that
           do
           accrue
           to
           us
           by
           
             doing
             good
             in
             our
             lives
          
           ?
           or
           having
           begun
           ,
           where
           shall
           I
           make
           an
           end
           ?
           the
           subject
           is
           so
           copious
           that
           the
           study
           of
           a
           whole
           life
           cannot
           exhaust
           it
           .
           The
           more
           we
           consider
           it
           ,
           still
           the
           more
           and
           the
           weightier
           Arguments
           will
           
           present
           themselves
           to
           us
           to
           ingage
           us
           in
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           :
           and
           the
           more
           we
           practise
           it
           ,
           still
           the
           more
           shall
           we
           desire
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           happy
           and
           Blessed
           shall
           we
           find
           our selves
           to
           be
           .
        
         
           For
           ,
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           to
           act
           according
           to
           the
           frame
           and
           make
           of
           our
           Beings
           .
           It
           is
           to
           gratifie
           those
           Inclinations
           and
           Appetites
           that
           are
           most
           strongly
           rooted
           in
           our
           Natures
           ;
           such
           as
           Love
           and
           Natural
           Affection
           ,
           Pity
           and
           Compassion
           ,
           a
           Desire
           of
           Friends
           and
           a
           Propensity
           to
           knot
           our selves
           into
           Companies
           and
           Societies
           :
           what
           are
           all
           these
           but
           so
           many
           stimuli
           ,
           so
           many
           powerful
           incitements
           of
           nature
           to
           put
           us
           upon
           doing
           good
           offices
           one
           to
           another
           ?
        
         
           To
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           the
           end
           of
           all
           those
           Acquisitions
           ,
           of
           all
           those
           Talents
           ,
           of
           all
           those
           Favours
           and
           Advantages
           that
           God
           has
           blest
           us
           with
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           proper
           use
           we
           are
           to
           put
           them
           to
           .
           If
           we
           do
           not
           employ
           them
           this
           way
           ,
           we
           are
           so
           far
           from
           being
           better
           for
           them
           that
           we
           are
           much
           worse
           .
           What
           will
           signifie
           our
           Wit
           and
           good
           Humour
           ,
           our
           Strength
           of
           Reason
           and
           Memory
           ,
           our
           Wisdom
           and
           Knowledge
           ,
           our
           Skill
           in
           Arts
           ,
           and
           Dexterity
           in
           managing
           Business
           ,
           our
           Wealth
           and
           Greatness
           ,
           our
           Reputation
           and
           Interest
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           I
           say
           what
           will
           all
           these
           signifie
           if
           they
           do
           not
           render
           us
           more
           Useful
           and
           Beneficial
           to
           others
           ?
           That
           which
           sets
           the
           price
           and
           value
           upon
           every
           worldly
           blessing
           ,
           is
           the
           Opportunity
           it
           affords
           us
           of
           
             doing
             good
          
           .
        
         
         
           To
           
             do
             good
          
           seems
           to
           be
           the
           foundation
           of
           all
           the
           Laws
           of
           Nature
           ,
           the
           supreme
           Universal
           Law
           ;
           it
           is
           that
           by
           which
           the
           World
           is
           supported
           ,
           and
           take
           that
           away
           ,
           all
           ▪
           would
           presently
           fall
           into
           confusion
           ,
           And
           perhaps
           if
           it
           were
           particularly
           examin'd
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           found
           that
           all
           the
           other
           Natural
           Laws
           may
           be
           reduced
           to
           this
           and
           are
           ultimately
           to
           be
           resolv'd
           into
           it
           .
           It
           is
           a
           question
           whether
           there
           be
           any
           natural
           Standard
           whereby
           we
           can
           measure
           the
           Virtue
           or
           the
           Viciousness
           of
           any
           Action
           ,
           but
           the
           Influence
           that
           it
           hath
           to
           promote
           or
           hinder
           the
           
             doing
             of
             good
          
           .
           This
           is
           that
           that
           seems
           to
           stamp
           Virtue
           and
           Vice.
           
        
         
           To
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           the
           great
           Work
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           which
           we
           were
           sent
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           no
           man
           lives
           farther
           to
           any
           purpose
           than
           as
           he
           is
           an
           Instrument
           of
           doing
           good
           .
           Be
           our
           lives
           otherwise
           never
           so
           busie
           and
           full
           of
           action
           ,
           yet
           if
           others
           receive
           no
           benefit
           by
           them
           ,
           we
           cannot
           give
           our selves
           any
           tolerable
           account
           of
           our
           time
           ,
           we
           have
           in
           effect
           liv'd
           idly
           and
           done
           nothing
           .
        
         
           To
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           that
           which
           of
           all
           other
           services
           is
           most
           acceptable
           to
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           that
           which
           he
           hath
           laid
           the
           greatest
           stress
           upon
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           it
           is
           that
           which
           he
           hath
           with
           the
           most
           earnest
           and
           affectionate
           perswasives
           ,
           with
           the
           strongest
           Arguments
           ,
           with
           the
           greatest
           promises
           and
           with
           the
           most
           dreadful
           threatnings
           enforc'd
           upon
           us
           .
           It
           is
           
           that
           which
           he
           hath
           chosen
           before
           all
           Sacrifices
           and
           all
           Religious
           worship
           strictly
           so
           called
           to
           be
           serv'd
           with
           .
           It
           is
           that
           which
           he
           hath
           appointed
           for
           the
           great
           Expression
           both
           of
           our
           Thankfulness
           for
           his
           Benefits
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           Love
           and
           Devotion
           to
           him
           .
           Lastly
           it
           that
           which
           Moses
           and
           the
           Prophets
           make
           the
           Sum
           of
           the
           Old
           Law
           ,
           and
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           the
           Sum
           of
           the
           New.
           
        
         
           And
           very
           great
           Reason
           there
           is
           for
           it
           ;
           for
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           to
           become
           most
           like
           to
           God.
           It
           is
           that
           which
           of
           all
           other
           Qualities
           gives
           us
           the
           greatest
           resemblance
           of
           his
           Nature
           and
           Perfections
           ,
           for
           perfect
           
           Love
           and
           Goodness
           is
           the
           very
           Nature
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Root
           of
           all
           his
           other
           Attributes
           ;
           and
           there
           was
           never
           any
           Action
           done
           ,
           any
           work
           wrought
           by
           him
           throughout
           the
           vast
           Tracts
           of
           infinite
           space
           ,
           from
           the
           Beginning
           of
           time
           to
           this
           Moment
           ,
           but
           was
           an
           Expression
           of
           his
           Love
           ,
           and
           an
           instance
           of
           
             doing
             good
          
           ,
           (
           nay
           I
           doubt
           not
           to
           say
           ,
           the
           most
           severe
           acts
           of
           his
           Justice
           and
           Vengeance
           have
           all
           been
           such
           )
           And
           therefore
           with
           great
           reason
           hath
           our
           blessed
           Lord
           
           told
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           way
           to
           become
           the
           Children
           of
           our
           Heavenly
           Father
           is
           to
           do
           good
           to
           all
           ,
           with
           the
           same
           Freedom
           and
           Unreservedness
           that
           God
           makes
           his
           Sun
           to
           shine
           upon
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           And
           of
           this
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           himself
           was
           the
           most
           illustrious
           Example
           that
           ever
           appeared
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           so
           that
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           that
           which
           doth
           
           most
           truly
           and
           perfectly
           render
           us
           the
           Disciples
           and
           Followers
           of
           Jesus
           ,
           makes
           us
           really
           be
           what
           we
           pretend
           we
           are
           .
           His
           whole
           life
           (
           as
           the
           Gospel
           tells
           us
           )
           was
           but
           a
           continual
           going
           about
           doing
           good
           .
           The
           great
           Design
           of
           his
           Coming
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           that
           he
           spoke
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           that
           he
           did
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           that
           he
           suffer'd
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           was
           the
           benefiting
           of
           others
           .
           And
           he
           hath
           left
           it
           as
           the
           great
           distinguishing
           Badge
           and
           Character
           ,
           whereby
           his
           Disciples
           should
           be
           known
           from
           other
           men
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           
             love
             one
             another
             even
             as
             he
             had
             lov'd
             them
             ,
          
           
           that
           is
           (
           as
           his
           Apostle
           expounds
           him
           )
           they
           should
           love
           and
           do
           good
           to
           that
           degree
           as
           
             to
             lay
             down
          
           
           
             their
             lives
             for
             the
             brethren
          
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           not
           only
           our
           greatest
           Duty
           but
           our
           greatest
           Interest
           and
           Advantage
           ,
           which
           is
           that
           that
           Solomon
           chiefly
           refers
           to
           in
           the
           Text.
           It
           is
           certain
           that
           no
           man
           can
           take
           a
           more
           Effectual
           way
           to
           render
           his
           Being
           in
           the
           world
           Happy
           and
           Comfortable
           to
           him
           (
           according
           to
           the
           ordinary
           course
           and
           event
           of
           things
           )
           in
           what
           Condition
           or
           Circumstances
           soever
           he
           is
           placed
           ,
           than
           to
           do
           all
           the
           good
           he
           can
           in
           his
           life
           ;
           so
           that
           though
           a
           man
           that
           lays
           out
           himself
           in
           this
           way
           ,
           seems
           only
           to
           respect
           the
           good
           of
           other
           people
           ,
           yet
           in
           true
           reckoning
           he
           most
           consults
           his
           own
           profit
           .
        
         
           For
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           in
           the
           natural
           way
           to
           raise
           us
           friends
           ,
           who
           shall
           be
           oblig'd
           to
           contribute
           their
           
           Endeavours
           to
           the
           furthering
           our
           honest
           designs
           ;
           to
           the
           upholding
           and
           securing
           us
           in
           our
           Prosperity
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           succouring
           and
           relieving
           us
           when
           we
           are
           in
           any
           evil
           Circumstances
           ,
           such
           is
           the
           Contrivance
           and
           the
           Constitution
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           that
           no
           man
           can
           subsist
           of
           himself
           ,
           but
           stands
           in
           continual
           need
           of
           others
           both
           for
           their
           comfortable
           Society
           and
           their
           necessary
           Assistance
           in
           his
           Affairs
           .
           Now
           of
           all
           men
           living
           the
           Good
           man
           who
           maketh
           it
           his
           Business
           to
           oblige
           all
           about
           him
           ,
           is
           most
           likely
           to
           be
           the
           best
           befriended
           .
        
         
           To
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           the
           truest
           way
           to
           procure
           to
           a
           mans
           self
           a
           Good
           name
           and
           Reputation
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           which
           as
           it
           is
           a
           thing
           desirable
           upon
           many
           accounts
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           a
           singular
           Advantage
           to
           a
           man
           for
           the
           carrying
           on
           his
           secular
           designs
           .
           Nay
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           to
           Embalm
           a
           mans
           name
           and
           to
           transmit
           it
           with
           a
           grateful
           Odour
           to
           posterity
           .
           
             The
             memory
             of
             a
             good
          
           
           
             man
             shall
             be
             blessed
          
           .
           And
           the
           sence
           of
           mankind
           has
           always
           been
           ,
           that
           too
           much
           honour
           could
           not
           be
           given
           to
           the
           name
           of
           those
           that
           have
           done
           good
           in
           their
           generation
           .
        
         
           But
           which
           is
           a
           great
           deal
           more
           than
           all
           this
           ,
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           the
           most
           certain
           effectual
           means
           to
           procure
           the
           blessing
           of
           God
           upon
           our
           endeavours
           ,
           and
           to
           entitle
           our selves
           to
           his
           more
           especial
           care
           and
           providence
           and
           Protection
           :
           So
           that
           let
           what
           will
           come
           ;
           in
           all
           circumstances
           and
           conditions
           
           the
           good
           man
           has
           the
           greatest
           assurance
           that
           all
           things
           shall
           at
           least
           be
           tolerably
           well
           with
           him
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           shall
           never
           be
           miserable
           .
           
             Trust
             in
             the
          
           
           Lord
           (
           saith
           
             David
             )
             and
             be
             doing
             good
             ,
          
           so
           
             shalt
             thou
             dwell
             in
             the
             Land
             ,
             and
             verily
             thou
             shalt
             be
             fed
             .
          
        
         
           Nay
           further
           ,
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           to
           entail
           a
           blessing
           upon
           our
           Children
           after
           us
           .
           
             I
             have
             been
             young
             and
          
           
           
             now
             am
             old
          
           (
           saith
           the
           same
           Psalmist
           )
           
             yet
             saw
             I
             never
             the
             Righteous
          
           (
           that
           is
           the
           merciful
           and
           good
           man
           ,
           for
           that
           is
           the
           Notion
           of
           the
           word
           in
           that
           place
           and
           in
           most
           others
           )
           such
           an
           one
           saw
           I
           never
           
             forsaken
             nor
             his
             seed
             begging
             their
             bread
             .
          
        
         
           Lastly
           to
           conclude
           this
           point
           ,
           To
           
             do
             good
          
           (
           besides
           all
           these
           advantages
           that
           attend
           it
           )
           is
           most
           to
           consult
           our
           own
           peace
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           the
           best
           provision
           possible
           for
           our
           pleasure
           and
           delight
           .
           Charity
           (
           as
           Dr.
           Hammond
           used
           to
           say
           )
           is
           really
           a
           piece
           of
           Sensuality
           .
           And
           Epicurus
           himself
           the
           great
           Master
           of
           Voluptuousness
           would
           confess
           that
           it
           was
           not
           only
           more
           Brave
           but
           more
           Pleasant
           to
           do
           kindnesses
           than
           to
           receive
           them
           .
           And
           certainly
           every
           good
           man
           will
           find
           it
           so
           ,
           for
           as
           the
           exercise
           of
           Charity
           and
           Beneficence
           is
           as
           truly
           a
           gratification
           of
           our
           Natural
           Inclinations
           and
           Appetites
           as
           any
           other
           action
           or
           thing
           that
           causeth
           pleasure
           to
           us
           :
           So
           is
           it
           also
           a
           gratification
           of
           those
           Appetites
           which
           are
           the
           highest
           and
           the
           noblest
           
           we
           have
           .
           Now
           by
           how
           much
           the
           appetite
           that
           is
           gratifi'd
           is
           more
           noble
           and
           divine
           ;
           by
           so
           much
           must
           the
           delight
           that
           ariseth
           from
           that
           gratification
           be
           more
           exquisite
           .
           So
           that
           it
           was
           no
           very
           great
           Hyperbole
           of
           our
           Divine
           Poet
           when
           he
           said
           that
        
         
           
             —
             —
             —
             —
             —
             All
             joys
             go
             less
          
           
             Than
             that
             one
             joy
             of
             doing
             kindnesses
             .
          
        
         
           And
           which
           is
           further
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           with
           this
           pleasure
           as
           it
           is
           with
           most
           others
           that
           vanish
           with
           the
           enjoyment
           ,
           nay
           often
           leave
           bitterness
           and
           melancholy
           upon
           the
           mind
           after
           they
           are
           gone
           off
           .
           For
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           is
           a
           permanent
           pleasure
           ,
           a
           pleasure
           that
           will
           last
           as
           long
           as
           our
           lives
           .
           The
           memory
           of
           our
           good
           actions
           will
           always
           be
           accompanied
           with
           Delight
           and
           Satisfaction
           ;
           when
           all
           our
           other
           pass'd
           Enjoyments
           prove
           matters
           of
           anguish
           and
           torment
           to
           us
           upon
           our
           reflections
           on
           them
           ,
           these
           will
           be
           a
           refreshment
           ;
           and
           the
           nearer
           we
           approach
           to
           death
           ▪
           still
           the
           more
           comfort
           we
           shall
           find
           in
           them
           .
           Would
           we
           therefore
           treasure
           up
           to
           our selves
           a
           stock
           of
           lasting
           peace
           and
           joy
           to
           support
           us
           in
           all
           conditions
           of
           our
           life
           and
           so
           make
           our
           passage
           easie
           at
           our
           death
           ,
           let
           us
           do
           all
           the
           good
           we
           can
           .
        
         
         
           I
           think
           I
           have
           said
           enough
           to
           convince
           any
           one
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           Solomons
           Proposition
           that
           
             there
             is
             nothing
             better
             for
             a
             man
             ,
          
           nothing
           that
           more
           concerns
           him
           either
           in
           point
           of
           duty
           or
           happiness
           
             than
             to
             do
             good
             in
             his
             life
             .
          
           Much
           more
           might
           be
           said
           ,
           and
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           might
           have
           been
           said
           with
           more
           advantage
           ,
           and
           greater
           evidence
           if
           it
           had
           been
           fit
           to
           insist
           upon
           every
           particular
           :
           but
           I
           will
           pursue
           this
           argument
           no
           further
           ,
           but
           proceed
           to
           the
           second
           general
           point
           I
           propos'd
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           set
           before
           you
           the
           practicableness
           of
           this
           great
           duty
           ,
           by
           shewing
           the
           several
           wayes
           which
           every
           person
           though
           in
           the
           meanest
           Circumstances
           is
           capable
           of
           doing
           good
           .
        
         
           A
           great
           many
           there
           are
           that
           are
           as
           strongly
           convinced
           as
           may
           be
           that
           't
           is
           both
           their
           Interest
           and
           duty
           to
           be
           doing
           good
           in
           their
           lives
           ,
           but
           they
           complain
           that
           it
           is
           not
           in
           their
           power
           ,
           they
           have
           not
           any
           Means
           or
           Opportunities
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           they
           bemoan
           themselves
           sadly
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           as
           thinking
           their
           lives
           useless
           because
           they
           have
           not
           those
           visible
           Capacities
           of
           being
           serviceable
           to
           the
           world
           that
           others
           have
           .
        
         
           To
           such
           as
           these
           let
           me
           say
           this
           in
           the
           general
           :
           There
           is
           no
           condition
           in
           the
           world
           so
           mean
           and
           despicable
           ,
           but
           yields
           us
           Opportunities
           of
           doing
           good
           .
           There
           is
           neither
           Old
           nor
           Young
           ,
           Man
           nor
           
           Woman
           ,
           Rich
           nor
           Poor
           ,
           High
           nor
           Low
           ,
           Learned
           nor
           Unlearned
           ,
           but
           in
           their
           Sphere
           ,
           by
           a
           good
           husbandry
           of
           those
           Talents
           that
           God
           has
           intrusted
           to
           their
           care
           and
           management
           they
           may
           be
           very
           useful
           to
           others
           ,
           and
           prove
           instruments
           of
           much
           good
           to
           their
           generations
           .
        
         
           This
           truth
           St.
           Paul
           most
           elegantly
           sets
           forth
           in
           1
           Cor.
           12.
           where
           he
           compares
           the
           Society
           of
           Christians
           to
           a
           Natural
           body
           .
           There
           he
           shews
           that
           as
           in
           the
           Natural
           body
           there
           are
           many
           members
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           members
           have
           not
           the
           same
           dignity
           and
           honour
           ,
           nor
           the
           same
           use
           or
           office
           :
           and
           yet
           every
           member
           (
           even
           the
           meanest
           )
           hath
           its
           particular
           use
           by
           which
           it
           doth
           real
           service
           to
           the
           body
           ;
           nay
           so
           useful
           it
           is
           that
           the
           body
           cannot
           be
           without
           it
           :
           so
           it
           is
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           and
           with
           every
           body
           politick
           .
           There
           is
           a
           necessity
           both
           in
           the
           Church
           and
           in
           the
           State
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           be
           variety
           of
           functions
           and
           callings
           ,
           and
           degrees
           ,
           and
           conditions
           .
           There
           must
           be
           some
           to
           govern
           and
           some
           to
           be
           governed
           ;
           there
           must
           be
           some
           more
           conspicuous
           ,
           some
           more
           obscure
           ;
           some
           whose
           gifts
           and
           endowments
           lay
           this
           way
           ,
           and
           some
           whose
           Talents
           lay
           in
           another
           way
           ;
           and
           yet
           there
           is
           not
           one
           of
           these
           but
           in
           his
           degree
           and
           station
           ,
           either
           is
           or
           may
           be
           as
           useful
           as
           any
           that
           belong
           to
           the
           Society
           .
           
             So
             that
             the
             eye
             cannot
             say
             to
             the
             hand
          
           (
           as
           our
           Apostle
           there
           expresseth
           it
           )
           
             I
             have
             no
          
           
           
             need
             of
             thee
          
           .
           Nor
           again
           the
           head
           to
           the
           feet
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           need
           of
           you
           ,
           nay
           more
           ,
           
             those
             members
             of
             the
             body
          
           (
           as
           he
           continues
           )
           
             that
             seem
             to
             be
             most
             feeble
             are
             yet
             very
             necessary
             .
          
        
         
           To
           reduce
           the
           Apostles
           notion
           to
           its
           particulars
           ,
           or
           to
           shew
           in
           how
           many
           respects
           every
           individual
           person
           that
           is
           a
           Member
           of
           a
           Society
           is
           necessary
           to
           the
           publick
           ,
           and
           either
           doth
           or
           may
           serve
           the
           Weal
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           so
           do
           good
           in
           his
           life
           ,
           is
           a
           task
           too
           great
           for
           me
           to
           undertake
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           let
           it
           suffice
           at
           the
           present
           to
           propose
           to
           you
           these
           general
           heads
           .
        
         
           First
           of
           all
           none
           can
           want
           opportunities
           of
           doing
           good
           that
           is
           in
           a
           capacity
           of
           performing
           any
           acts
           of
           mercy
           or
           charity
           strictly
           so
           called
           whether
           that
           charity
           be
           shew'd
           to
           the
           bodies
           or
           souls
           of
           men
           .
           Now
           the
           instances
           and
           expressions
           of
           this
           way
           of
           doing
           good
           are
           infinite
           ,
           as
           infinite
           as
           are
           the
           wants
           and
           necessities
           of
           mankind
           .
        
         
           To
           the
           bodies
           of
           men
           we
           do
           good
           when
           ever
           we
           contribute
           to
           the
           relieving
           and
           easing
           them
           of
           the
           outward
           pressures
           and
           wants
           ,
           and
           necessities
           they
           lie
           under
           :
           Such
           as
           Sickness
           ,
           Pain
           ,
           Poverty
           ,
           Hunger
           ,
           Nakedness
           ,
           Debts
           ,
           Imprisonment
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           outward
           affliction
           that
           falls
           upon
           them
           ;
           whether
           that
           ease
           and
           relief
           be
           effected
           by
           our
           purse
           ,
           or
           by
           our
           counsel
           and
           advice
           ,
           or
           by
           our
           labour
           and
           pains
           .
        
         
         
           And
           sure
           some
           one
           of
           these
           three
           things
           there
           is
           none
           so
           mean
           or
           inconsiderable
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           in
           his
           power
           to
           benefit
           his
           poor
           Neighbour
           with
           .
        
         
           To
           the
           Souls
           of
           men
           we
           do
           good
           ,
           whenever
           by
           our
           discourses
           or
           other
           endeavours
           we
           make
           men
           better
           or
           wiser
           ;
           when
           we
           instruct
           the
           ignorant
           ,
           when
           we
           satisfie
           the
           doubtful
           ,
           when
           we
           reduce
           those
           that
           are
           misled
           by
           error
           ,
           when
           we
           establish
           the
           weak
           ,
           when
           we
           reprove
           those
           that
           do
           amiss
           ,
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           all
           our
           attempts
           and
           endeavours
           in
           what
           way
           soever
           to
           reclaim
           men
           from
           vice
           ,
           and
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           wisdom
           and
           sobriety
           is
           a
           Charity
           to
           their
           Souls
           ;
           and
           whether
           our
           designs
           succeed
           or
           not
           we
           shall
           be
           rewarded
           as
           those
           that
           have
           done
           good
           in
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           All
           the
           acts
           of
           Beneficence
           and
           kindness
           ,
           nay
           even
           of
           Civility
           and
           good
           Nature
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           accounted
           among
           the
           instances
           of
           doing
           good
           .
           A
           man
           doth
           good
           not
           only
           by
           acts
           of
           Charity
           properly
           so
           called
           ,
           but
           by
           every
           courtesie
           that
           he
           doth
           to
           another
           ;
           He
           doth
           good
           by
           shewing
           his
           respect
           and
           good
           will
           to
           all
           about
           him
           ,
           by
           reconciling
           differences
           among
           neighbours
           ,
           and
           promoting
           peace
           ,
           friendship
           and
           society
           as
           much
           as
           he
           can
           ;
           by
           being
           Generous
           and
           Liberal
           and
           Hospitable
           according
           to
           his
           ability
           ;
           by
           forgiving
           injuries
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           making
           friends
           of
           those
           that
           did
           them
           ;
           by
           
           being
           easie
           of
           access
           ,
           and
           sweet
           and
           obliging
           in
           his
           carriage
           ;
           by
           complying
           with
           the
           infirmities
           of
           those
           he
           converseth
           with
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           by
           contributing
           any
           way
           to
           make
           the
           lives
           of
           others
           more
           easie
           and
           comfortable
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           A
           man
           also
           doth
           good
           when
           he
           makes
           use
           of
           that
           acquaintance
           or
           friendship
           or
           interest
           ,
           that
           he
           hath
           with
           others
           to
           stir
           them
           up
           to
           the
           doing
           of
           that
           good
           which
           he
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           narrowness
           of
           his
           condition
           ,
           or
           for
           want
           of
           Opportunity
           cannot
           do
           himself
           .
           This
           is
           a
           very
           considerable
           instance
           of
           doing
           good
           how
           slight
           soever
           it
           may
           seem
           ;
           the
           man
           that
           exercises
           himself
           this
           way
           is
           doubly
           a
           benefactor
           ;
           for
           he
           is
           not
           only
           an
           instrument
           of
           good
           to
           the
           person
           or
           persons
           for
           whom
           he
           beg'd
           the
           kindness
           or
           the
           charity
           ;
           but
           he
           does
           also
           a
           real
           kindness
           to
           the
           man
           himself
           whom
           he
           puts
           upon
           the
           benefaction
           ,
           for
           God
           will
           not
           less
           reward
           his
           good
           will
           for
           being
           excited
           by
           another
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           Another
           way
           to
           do
           good
           is
           to
           be
           careful
           and
           diligent
           ,
           and
           conscientious
           in
           the
           discharge
           of
           all
           those
           Publick
           Offices
           which
           we
           are
           call'd
           upon
           to
           execute
           in
           the
           place
           where
           we
           live
           .
           How
           burthensome
           soever
           these
           be
           ,
           and
           how
           much
           soever
           of
           our
           time
           they
           rob
           us
           of
           ,
           yet
           God
           by
           calling
           us
           to
           them
           ,
           hath
           put
           a
           
             prize
             into
             our
             hands
          
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           Wise
           man
           speaks
           )
           to
           do
           much
           good
           
             if
             we
             have
             hearts
             to
             make
             use
             thereof
             .
          
        
         
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           We
           do
           good
           when
           being
           in
           a
           private
           Capacity
           we
           so
           carry
           our selves
           in
           all
           the
           Relations
           in
           which
           we
           stand
           as
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           Relation
           requireth
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
           when
           being
           Subjects
           we
           conscientiously
           obey
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           and
           submit
           to
           our
           Governours
           ,
           and
           promote
           what
           we
           can
           the
           publick
           Peace
           both
           of
           Church
           and
           State.
           When
           being
           Masters
           of
           Families
           we
           take
           care
           of
           those
           under
           our
           Charge
           ,
           making
           sufficient
           provision
           both
           for
           their
           Souls
           and
           bodies
           :
           When
           being
           Husbands
           or
           Wives
           we
           discharge
           faithfully
           all
           the
           Conjugal
           duties
           :
           When
           being
           Parents
           we
           love
           our
           children
           ,
           and
           
             bring
             them
             up
             in
             the
             fear
             and
             nurture
             of
             the
             Lord.
          
           When
           being
           children
           
             we
             obey
             our
             Parents
             in
             all
             things
             .
          
           When
           being
           servants
           
             we
             do
             our
             work
             in
             singleness
             of
             heart
             ,
             not
             as
             men-pleasers
             but
             as
             those
             that
             account
             they
             have
             a
             Master
             in
             Heaven
             .
          
           When
           having
           contracted
           friendships
           we
           are
           secret
           and
           faithful
           ,
           and
           prudent
           in
           the
           maintaining
           and
           preserving
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           so
           proportionably
           in
           all
           the
           other
           relations
           that
           we
           stand
           in
           .
           All
           these
           things
           though
           they
           appear
           little
           ,
           yet
           are
           they
           in
           their
           degree
           a
           real
           good
           and
           benefit
           to
           mankind
           ,
           and
           so
           necessary
           that
           there
           is
           no
           living
           tolerably
           without
           them
           .
        
         
           Sixthly
           ,
           We
           also
           do
           good
           by
           an
           honest
           and
           a
           diligent
           pursuit
           of
           our
           calling
           and
           employment
           .
           There
           is
           no
           Art
           or
           Trade
           that
           we
           are
           bred
           to
           ,
           but
           if
           it
           be
           a
           lawful
           one
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           of
           great
           use
           to
           the
           
           publick
           ,
           and
           by
           well
           minding
           it
           ,
           and
           fairly
           manageing
           it
           we
           may
           render
           our selves
           very
           profitable
           members
           of
           the
           Common-wealth
           .
        
         
           Seventhly
           and
           Lastly
           ,
           We
           may
           do
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           good
           by
           our
           good
           Examples
           ,
           by
           being
           to
           others
           Patterns
           of
           Piety
           and
           Prudence
           ,
           of
           Diligence
           and
           Industry
           ,
           of
           Peaceableness
           and
           Loyalty
           ,
           of
           Humility
           and
           Meekness
           and
           Temperance
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           every
           man
           that
           will
           make
           himself
           Eminent
           in
           any
           Virtue
           will
           be
           a
           Light
           to
           the
           world
           ,
           his
           life
           will
           be
           a
           constant
           Sermon
           ,
           and
           he
           will
           often
           prove
           as
           effectual
           a
           Benefactor
           to
           those
           about
           him
           by
           his
           example
           as
           others
           are
           by
           their
           Counsels
           and
           Exhortations
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           all
           these
           things
           considered
           ,
           who
           is
           there
           among
           us
           in
           such
           deplorable
           Circumstances
           that
           he
           can
           reasonably
           pretend
           to
           want
           ability
           or
           opportunity
           to
           
             do
             good
             in
             his
             life
          
           ?
           Sure
           I
           am
           he
           must
           live
           in
           a
           desart
           ,
           and
           have
           no
           Communication
           with
           mankind
           that
           cannot
           some
           or
           other
           of
           these
           ways
           be
           useful
           and
           beneficial
           to
           them
           .
           And
           thus
           much
           of
           our
           Second
           Head
           of
           Discourse
           .
        
         
           I
           now
           come
           in
           the
           Third
           and
           last
           place
           to
           make
           some
           Application
           of
           what
           hath
           been
           spoken
           .
        
         
           And
           First
           ,
           Since
           every
           man
           is
           so
           highly
           concern'd
           as
           we
           have
           seen
           ,
           to
           do
           good
           in
           his
           life
           ,
           let
           us
           all
           be
           perswaded
           seriously
           and
           heartily
           to
           apply
           our
           minds
           hereunto
           .
           Let
           us
           look
           upon
           it
           ,
           not
           as
           a
           by-work
           ,
           
           a
           thing
           to
           be
           done
           now
           and
           then
           as
           there
           is
           occasion
           after
           our
           own
           turns
           are
           served
           :
           But
           let
           us
           lay
           out
           our selves
           upon
           it
           ,
           let
           us
           propose
           it
           to
           our selves
           as
           the
           great
           Business
           of
           our
           lives
           .
           Let
           us
           take
           all
           opportunities
           for
           it
           ,
           let
           us
           contrive
           and
           manage
           all
           our
           affairs
           so
           that
           they
           may
           some
           way
           or
           other
           be
           subservient
           to
           the
           carrying
           on
           this
           great
           work
           .
        
         
           Let
           this
           be
           the
           end
           of
           our
           gathering
           riches
           ,
           and
           the
           measure
           of
           our
           expending
           them
           .
           To
           heap
           up
           riches
           that
           we
           may
           be
           rich
           ,
           or
           to
           throw
           them
           away
           upon
           our
           lusts
           are
           both
           equally
           intolerable
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           doing
           good
           with
           them
           that
           sanctifies
           both
           the
           getting
           and
           the
           spending
           them
           .
        
         
           Let
           this
           be
           the
           compass
           to
           steer
           and
           direct
           us
           in
           our
           pursuit
           after
           knowledge
           ▪
           in
           our
           learning
           Arts
           and
           Sciences
           ,
           in
           the
           managery
           of
           our
           Trades
           and
           employments
           ;
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           in
           the
           choice
           and
           in
           the
           prosecution
           of
           every
           design
           that
           is
           proposed
           to
           us
           .
           In
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           the
           great
           enquiry
           is
           to
           be
           ,
           what
           good
           will
           they
           tend
           to
           ?
           How
           shall
           we
           be
           rendred
           more
           useful
           to
           the
           world
           ,
           if
           our
           designs
           and
           endeavours
           as
           to
           these
           matters
           do
           take
           effect
           ?
        
         
           Let
           this
           be
           the
           great
           rule
           by
           which
           we
           proceed
           in
           the
           Education
           of
           our
           Children
           and
           Relations
           ,
           and
           the
           provisions
           we
           make
           for
           them
           in
           the
           world
           .
           Let
           it
           be
           our
           first
           care
           to
           possess
           them
           with
           a
           deep
           sense
           of
           the
           duty
           they
           owe
           to
           the
           Publick
           ,
           and
           to
           furnish
           them
           with
           such
           qualities
           as
           will
           render
           them
           profitable
           members
           of
           it
           ▪
           and
           to
           put
           them
           into
           such
           professions
           
           and
           employments
           as
           may
           afford
           them
           fair
           scope
           for
           the
           exercise
           of
           those
           qualities
           .
           If
           we
           thus
           provide
           for
           them
           ,
           though
           we
           otherwise
           leave
           them
           never
           so
           small
           an
           Estate
           ,
           yet
           with
           the
           Blessing
           of
           God
           they
           have
           a
           good
           Portion
           .
        
         
           Lastly
           ,
           let
           this
           design
           of
           doing
           good
           influence
           our
           very
           Offices
           of
           Religion
           .
           When
           we
           make
           our
           applications
           to
           the
           Throne
           of
           Grace
           ,
           let
           us
           be
           sure
           to
           have
           the
           Publick
           always
           in
           mind
           ;
           and
           even
           when
           we
           pray
           for
           our selves
           let
           it
           be
           with
           this
           design
           and
           resolution
           ,
           that
           as
           God
           in
           mercy
           bestows
           upon
           us
           the
           Blessings
           and
           the
           Grace
           we
           pray
           for
           ,
           we
           will
           employ
           them
           for
           the
           good
           of
           others
           .
        
         
           O
           that
           we
           would
           thus
           seriously
           concern
           our selves
           in
           doing
           good
           !
           O
           that
           we
           would
           once
           lay
           a
           side
           all
           our
           little
           selfish
           designs
           ,
           and
           that
           narrowness
           and
           penuriousness
           of
           Spirit
           with
           which
           most
           of
           us
           are
           bound
           up
           ;
           and
           with
           ardent
           Love
           and
           Charity
           set
           our selves
           
             not
             to
             seek
             his
             own
             but
             every
             man
             anothers
          
           
           good
           ,
           as
           the
           Apostle
           exhorteth
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ▪
           if
           the
           doing
           good
           be
           so
           necessary
           a
           duty
           as
           hath
           been
           represented
           ,
           what
           must
           we
           say
           of
           those
           men
           that
           frame
           to
           themselves
           Models
           of
           Christianity
           without
           putting
           this
           duty
           into
           its
           notion
           ?
           There
           is
           a
           sort
           of
           Christianity
           which
           hath
           obtained
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           that
           is
           made
           up
           of
           Faith
           and
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Gospel
           Mysteries
           ▪
           without
           any
           respect
           to
           Charity
           and
           good
           works
           .
           Nay
           have
           we
           not
           heard
           of
           a
           sort
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           the
           very
           perfection
           of
           which
           
           seems
           to
           consist
           in
           the
           disparaging
           this
           duty
           of
           doing
           good
           as
           much
           as
           is
           possible
           ;
           crying
           it
           down
           as
           a
           heathen
           virtue
           ,
           a
           poor
           blind
           piece
           of
           Morality
           ,
           a
           thing
           that
           will
           no
           way
           further
           our
           salvation
           ;
           nay
           ,
           so
           far
           from
           that
           ,
           that
           it
           often
           proves
           a
           hindrance
           to
           it
           ,
           by
           taking
           us
           off
           from
           that
           full
           relyance
           and
           recumbency
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           have
           on
           the
           Righteousness
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           only
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           our
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           But
           O
           how
           contrary
           are
           these
           Doctrines
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           !
           How
           widely
           different
           a
           thing
           do
           they
           make
           Christianity
           to
           be
           from
           what
           it
           will
           appear
           if
           we
           take
           our
           notions
           of
           it
           from
           their
           Sermons
           and
           Practices
           !
           Is
           it
           possible
           that
           he
           that
           went
           about
           doing
           good
           himself
           ;
           made
           it
           his
           meat
           and
           drink
           ,
           the
           business
           and
           employment
           of
           his
           life
           ,
           should
           set
           so
           light
           by
           it
           in
           us
           that
           are
           his
           followers
           ?
        
         
           Is
           it
           possible
           that
           they
           that
           so
           often
           call
           upon
           us
           
             to
             do
             good
             ,
             to
             be
             rich
             in
             good
             works
             ,
             above
             all
             things
             to
             have
          
           
           
             servant
             charity
             among
             our selves
          
           ,
           telling
           us
           that
           all
           
             faith
             is
             nothing
             ,
             all
             knowledge
             of
             Mysteries
          
           is
           nothing
           ,
           all
           gifts
           of
           Prophecy
           and
           Miracles
           are
           nothing
           ,
           but
           that
           Charity
           is
           all
           in
           all
           ,
           I
           say
           is
           it
           possible
           that
           they
           should
           think
           doing
           good
           so
           insignificant
           ,
           so
           unprofitable
           ,
           nay
           so
           dangerous
           a
           thing
           as
           these
           I
           spoke
           of
           do
           represent
           it
           ?
        
         
           But
           I
           need
           not
           further
           reprove
           these
           Opinions
           because
           I
           hope
           they
           find
           but
           few
           Patrons
           ;
           but
           this
           seriously
           ought
           to
           be
           reproved
           among
           us
           ,
           viz.
           that
           we
           do
           not
           generally
           lay
           that
           stress
           upon
           this
           duty
           we
           are
           speaking
           of
           that
           we
           ought
           to
           do
           .
        
         
         
           Many
           are
           ready
           enough
           to
           acknowledge
           their
           Obligations
           to
           do
           good
           ,
           and
           count
           it
           a
           very
           commendable
           thing
           ,
           and
           a
           work
           that
           God
           will
           bless
           them
           the
           better
           for
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           loth
           to
           make
           it
           an
           essential
           ingredient
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           they
           think
           they
           may
           be
           Religious
           and
           serve
           God
           without
           it
           .
           If
           they
           be
           but
           sober
           in
           their
           lives
           ,
           and
           just
           in
           their
           dealings
           and
           come
           to
           Church
           at
           the
           usual
           times
           ,
           they
           have
           Religion
           enough
           to
           carry
           them
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           though
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           they
           continue
           covetous
           and
           hard
           and
           uncharitable
           ,
           without
           bowels
           of
           pity
           and
           compassion
           ▪
           and
           make
           no
           use
           of
           their
           wealth
           ▪
           or
           their
           power
           and
           interest
           ,
           or
           their
           Parts
           and
           industry
           ,
           or
           their
           other
           Talents
           committed
           to
           them
           ,
           for
           the
           doing
           good
           in
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           Far
           be
           it
           from
           any
           man
           to
           pretend
           to
           determine
           what
           vertues
           or
           degrees
           of
           them
           are
           precisely
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           and
           what
           Vertues
           or
           degrees
           of
           them
           a
           man
           may
           safely
           be
           without
           :
           But
           this
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           charity
           and
           doing
           good
           are
           none
           of
           those
           that
           can
           be
           spared
           .
           The
           Scripture
           hath
           every
           where
           declared
           these
           qualities
           to
           be
           as
           necessary
           in
           order
           to
           our
           Salvation
           as
           any
           condition
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
           Nay
           if
           we
           will
           consult
           St.
           Matth.
           25.
           where
           the
           Process
           of
           the
           General
           Judgment
           is
           described
           ,
           we
           shall
           find
           these
           to
           be
           the
           great
           points
           that
           at
           the
           last
           day
           men
           shall
           be
           examined
           upon
           ,
           and
           upon
           which
           the
           whole
           case
           of
           their
           eternal
           state
           will
           turn
           .
           So
           that
           if
           we
           take
           the
           Scripture
           for
           our
           Guide
           ,
           these
           men
           at
           last
           
           will
           be
           found
           to
           be
           much
           mistaken
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           made
           a
           very
           false
           judgment
           both
           of
           Religion
           and
           of
           their
           own
           condition
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           From
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           about
           doing
           good
           ,
           we
           may
           gather
           wherein
           that
           Perfection
           of
           Christianity
           which
           we
           are
           to
           aspire
           after
           ,
           doth
           consist
           .
           It
           has
           been
           much
           disputed
           which
           is
           the
           most
           Perfect
           life
           ▪
           to
           live
           in
           the
           world
           as
           other
           men
           do
           ,
           and
           to
           serve
           God
           in
           following
           our
           employments
           ,
           and
           taking
           care
           of
           our
           families
           and
           doing
           good
           offices
           to
           our
           neighbors
           ,
           and
           discharging
           all
           other
           duties
           that
           our
           relation
           to
           the
           publick
           requires
           of
           us
           ;
           or
           to
           retire
           from
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           to
           quit
           all
           our
           secular
           concernments
           ▪
           and
           wholly
           to
           give
           up
           our selves
           to
           Prayer
           and
           Meditation
           ,
           and
           those
           other
           exercises
           of
           Religion
           properly
           so
           called
           ▪
        
         
           This
           latter
           kind
           of
           life
           is
           so
           magnified
           by
           the
           Romanists
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           that
           it
           hath
           engrossed
           to
           it self
           the
           name
           of
           Religious
           .
           None
           among
           them
           are
           thought
           worthy
           to
           be
           styled
           Religious
           persons
           but
           those
           that
           Cloyster
           up
           themselves
           in
           a
           Monastery
           .
           But
           whatever
           excellence
           may
           be
           pretended
           in
           this
           course
           of
           life
           ▪
           it
           certainly
           falls
           much
           short
           of
           that
           which
           is
           led
           in
           a
           publick
           way
           .
           He
           serves
           God
           best
           that
           is
           most
           serviceable
           to
           his
           Generation
           .
           And
           no
           Prayers
           or
           Fasts
           or
           Mortifications
           are
           near
           so
           acceptable
           a
           Sacrifice
           to
           our
           Heavenly
           Father
           as
           to
           
             do
             good
             in
             our
             lives
          
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           to
           keep
           within
           doors
           and
           to
           attend
           our
           
           devotions
           (
           though
           those
           that
           are
           in
           appearance
           most
           abstracted
           from
           the
           world
           ,
           are
           not
           always
           the
           most
           devout
           persons
           )
           I
           say
           this
           kind
           of
           life
           is
           the
           most
           easie
           and
           the
           safer
           .
           A
           man
           is
           not
           then
           exposed
           so
           much
           to
           temptations
           ;
           he
           may
           with
           less
           difficulty
           preserve
           his
           innocence
           ;
           but
           where
           is
           the
           praise
           of
           such
           a
           vertue
           ▪
           Vertue
           is
           then
           most
           glorious
           and
           shall
           be
           most
           rewarded
           ,
           when
           it
           meets
           with
           most
           tryals
           and
           oppositions
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           for
           the
           bravery
           of
           contemning
           the
           world
           and
           all
           the
           Pomps
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           they
           so
           magnifie
           in
           this
           kind
           of
           life
           ,
           alas
           it
           is
           rather
           an
           effect
           of
           pusillanimity
           and
           love
           of
           our
           ease
           ,
           and
           a
           desire
           to
           be
           free
           from
           cares
           and
           burdens
           ,
           than
           of
           any
           true
           nobleness
           of
           mind
           .
           If
           we
           would
           live
           to
           excellent
           purpose
           indeed
           ;
           if
           we
           would
           shew
           true
           bravery
           of
           spirit
           and
           true
           piety
           towards
           God
           ,
           let
           us
           live
           as
           our
           blessed
           Lord
           and
           his
           Apostles
           did
           .
           Let
           us
           not
           fly
           Temptations
           but
           overcome
           them
           ;
           let
           us
           not
           sit
           at
           home
           amusing
           our selves
           with
           our
           pleasing
           contemplations
           ,
           when
           we
           may
           be
           useful
           and
           beneficial
           abroad
           .
           Let
           us
           so
           order
           our
           devotions
           towards
           God
           ▪
           that
           they
           may
           be
           a
           means
           of
           promoting
           our
           worldly
           business
           and
           affairs
           ,
           and
           doing
           good
           among
           men
           ▪
           Let
           us
           take
           our
           fit
           times
           of
           retirement
           and
           abstraction
           ▪
           that
           we
           may
           the
           more
           freely
           converse
           with
           God
           and
           pour
           out
           our
           souls
           before
           him
           ;
           but
           let
           this
           be
           only
           to
           the
           end
           that
           we
           may
           appear
           abroad
           again
           more
           brisk
           and
           lively
           in
           vanquishing
           the
           Temptations
           that
           come
           in
           our
           
           way
           ,
           and
           more
           prompt
           and
           readily
           disposed
           to
           every
           good
           work
           :
           This
           is
           to
           imitate
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           ,
           to
           walk
           as
           we
           have
           him
           for
           an
           example
           .
           This
           is
           a
           life
           most
           sutable
           to
           the
           contrivance
           and
           the
           genius
           of
           his
           Religion
           ,
           which
           is
           more
           accommodated
           to
           Cities
           and
           publick
           Societies
           ,
           than
           to
           Cloysters
           and
           Deserts
           .
           And
           lastly
           this
           is
           to
           walk
           in
           a
           conformity
           to
           his
           command
           who
           hath
           bid
           us
           
             make
             our
             light
             so
             to
             shine
             before
          
           
           
             men
             that
             they
             may
             see
             our
             good
             works
             and
             glorifie
             our
             Father
             which
             is
             in
             Heaven
             .
          
        
         
           But
           Fourthly
           and
           lastly
           ,
           If
           it
           be
           a
           thing
           so
           necessary
           that
           every
           man
           should
           do
           good
           in
           his
           life
           as
           hath
           been
           represented
           ,
           then
           how
           much
           to
           be
           Reproved
           are
           they
           that
           do
           no
           good
           till
           their
           death
           !
           That
           live
           scrapingly
           and
           uncharitably
           and
           uselesly
           to
           the
           world
           all
           their
           lives
           long
           ▪
           and
           then
           when
           they
           come
           to
           dye
           ,
           think
           to
           Atone
           for
           their
           sins
           and
           neglects
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           by
           shewing
           some
           extraordinary
           Bounty
           to
           the
           poor
           ,
           or
           devoting
           some
           part
           of
           their
           estates
           to
           publick
           or
           pious
           uses
           .
        
         
           I
           must
           confess
           this
           kind
           of
           proceeding
           doth
           to
           me
           seem
           just
           like
           the
           business
           of
           putting
           off
           a
           mans
           repentance
           to
           ▪
           his
           death-bed
           .
           It
           is
           absolutely
           necessary
           that
           a
           man
           should
           repent
           though
           it
           be
           never
           so
           late
           ;
           and
           so
           it
           is
           that
           he
           should
           do
           good
           :
           if
           he
           have
           done
           little
           good
           in
           his
           life
           ,
           he
           is
           bound
           as
           he
           loves
           his
           soul
           to
           shew
           some
           extraordinary
           uncommon
           instances
           of
           Charity
           and
           a
           Publick
           spirit
           ,
           when
           he
           comes
           to
           die
           .
           But
           then
           it
           is
           here
           as
           it
           is
           with
           the
           long
           
           delaying
           of
           Repentance
           ,
           the
           deferring
           it
           so
           long
           has
           robbed
           the
           man
           of
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           praise
           and
           the
           comfort
           he
           might
           have
           expected
           from
           it
           .
           His
           Rewards
           in
           heaven
           will
           be
           much
           less
           though
           his
           good
           deeds
           should
           be
           accepted
           ,
           but
           he
           is
           infinitely
           uncertain
           whether
           they
           will
           or
           no.
           It
           must
           be
           a
           very
           great
           act
           of
           Generosity
           and
           Charity
           that
           can
           obtain
           a
           pardon
           for
           a
           whole
           life
           of
           uncharitableness
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           all
           therefore
           labour
           and
           study
           
             to
             do
             good
             in
             our
             lives
             ,
          
           let
           us
           be
           daily
           giving
           evidences
           to
           the
           world
           of
           our
           kind
           and
           charitable
           disposition
           ,
           and
           let
           not
           that
           be
           the
           first
           which
           is
           discovered
           in
           our
           last
           Will
           and
           testament
           .
           If
           God
           hath
           blessed
           us
           with
           worldly
           goods
           ▪
           let
           us
           distribute
           them
           as
           we
           see
           occasion
           in
           our
           life
           time
           ,
           when
           every
           one
           may
           see
           we
           do
           it
           voluntarily
           ;
           and
           not
           stay
           till
           we
           must
           be
           forced
           to
           part
           with
           them
           whether
           we
           will
           or
           no
           ,
           for
           that
           will
           blast
           the
           credit
           of
           our
           good
           deeds
           both
           with
           God
           and
           man.
           
        
         
           I
           have
           said
           enough
           concerning
           the
           first
           point
           recommended
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           
             viz.
             doing
             Good.
          
           I
           now
           come
           briefly
           to
           Treat
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           Rejoycing
           ,
           which
           is
           equally
           a
           part
           of
           the
           business
           of
           this
           day
           .
        
         
           
             There
             is
             no
             good
          
           (
           saith
           Solomon
           )
           
             in
             any
             earthly
             thing
          
           ;
           or
           
             there
             is
             nothing
             better
             for
             any
             man
             than
             to
             rejoyce
             and
             to
             do
             good
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Rejoycing
           here
           recommended
           ,
           is
           capable
           of
           two
           sences
           ,
           the
           first
           more
           general
           and
           more
           concerning
           us
           as
           Christians
           ,
           the
           other
           more
           particular
           and
           which
           more
           immediately
           concerns
           us
           as
           we
           are
           here
           met
           upon
           this
           occasion
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           first
           place
           by
           Rejoycing
           we
           may
           take
           to
           be
           meant
           ,
           a
           constant
           habit
           of
           joy
           and
           chearfulness
           ,
           so
           that
           we
           are
           always
           contented
           and
           well
           pleased
           ,
           always
           free
           from
           those
           anxieties
           and
           disquiets
           and
           uncomfortable
           reflections
           that
           make
           the
           lives
           of
           mankind
           miserable
           .
           This
           now
           is
           the
           Perfection
           of
           Rejoycing
           and
           it
           is
           the
           utmost
           degree
           of
           Happiness
           that
           we
           are
           here
           capable
           of
           .
           It
           must
           be
           granted
           indeed
           that
           not
           many
           do
           arrive
           to
           this
           state
           ,
           but
           yet
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           that
           it
           is
           a
           state
           that
           may
           be
           attained
           at
           least
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           in
           this
           world
           .
           Otherwise
           the
           Holy
           men
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           particularly
           the
           Apostles
           of
           our
           Lord
           would
           never
           have
           recommended
           it
           to
           us
           so
           often
           as
           they
           have
           done
           .
           
             Rejoyce
             ever
             more
          
           ,
           saith
           S.
           Paul
           to
           the
           Thessalonians
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           
           
             Philippians
             ,
             Rejoyce
             in
             the
             Lord
             always
             ,
             and
             again
             I
             say
             rejoyce
             .
          
        
         
           The
           way
           to
           attain
           to
           this
           happy
           condition
           doth
           consist
           chiefly
           in
           these
           three
           things
           :
           First
           a
           great
           innocence
           and
           virtue
           ,
           a
           behaving
           our selves
           so
           in
           the
           world
           that
           our
           Consciences
           shall
           not
           reproach
           us
           .
           This
           St.
           Paul
           lays
           as
           the
           Foundation
           of
           
             Rejoycing
             ,
             This
          
           
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             is
             our
             rejoycing
             ▪
             the
             Testimony
             of
             our
             Conscience
             that
             in
             simplicity
             and
             godly
             sincerity
             I
             have
             had
             my
             conversation
             in
             this
             world
             .
          
           It
           is
           in
           vain
           to
           think
           of
           any
           true
           solid
           Joy
           or
           Peace
           or
           Contentment
           without
           a
           hearty
           practice
           of
           all
           the
           duties
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           so
           that
           we
           can
           satisfie
           our selves
           of
           our
           own
           sincerity
           before
           God.
           
        
         
           And
           then
           secondly
           to
           make
           us
           capable
           of
           this
           constant
           Rejoycing
           besides
           the
           innocence
           of
           our
           lives
           there
           must
           go
           a
           firm
           and
           hearty
           perswasion
           of
           Gods
           
           particular
           Providence
           ;
           a
           belief
           that
           he
           not
           only
           dispenseth
           all
           events
           that
           come
           to
           pass
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           even
           the
           most
           inconsiderable
           ;
           but
           that
           the
           measure
           of
           the
           Dispensations
           of
           his
           Providence
           is
           infinite
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           and
           nothing
           else
           :
           so
           that
           nothing
           doth
           or
           ever
           can
           happen
           to
           us
           in
           particular
           ,
           or
           to
           the
           world
           in
           general
           but
           what
           is
           for
           the
           best
           .
           Now
           when
           we
           firmly
           believe
           this
           and
           frequently
           attend
           to
           it
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           be
           either
           solicitous
           for
           the
           future
           or
           discontented
           at
           the
           present
           events
           of
           things
           ,
           let
           them
           fall
           out
           never
           so
           cross
           to
           our
           desires
           and
           expectations
           ?
           This
           is
           the
           best
           Antidote
           in
           the
           world
           (
           and
           an
           effectual
           one
           it
           is
           )
           against
           all
           trouble
           and
           vexation
           and
           uneasiness
           that
           can
           happen
           to
           us
           upon
           any
           occasion
           whatsoever
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           the
           consideration
           that
           all
           things
           are
           managed
           by
           an
           infinitely
           Wise
           and
           good
           God
           ,
           and
           will
           at
           last
           prove
           for
           the
           best
           ,
           how
           unaccountable
           soever
           they
           appear
           to
           us
           at
           present
           .
           And
           this
           is
           that
           which
           the
           wise
           man
           insinuates
           in
           the
           verse
           before
           the
           Text
           when
           he
           saith
           that
           
             God
             hath
             made
             every
             thing
             beautiful
             in
             his
             season
             .
          
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           Another
           requisite
           both
           for
           the
           procuring
           and
           preserving
           this
           continual
           chearfulness
           and
           rejoycing
           ,
           is
           a
           frequent
           and
           fixed
           attention
           to
           the
           great
           rewards
           of
           the
           other
           world
           ,
           which
           God
           hath
           promised
           to
           all
           that
           truly
           love
           him
           and
           endeavour
           to
           please
           him
           .
           This
           consideration
           will
           extreamly
           add
           to
           our
           comfort
           and
           contribute
           to
           our
           Rejoycing
           under
           all
           the
           miseries
           and
           afflictions
           that
           we
           can
           possibly
           fall
           into
           ,
           namely
           ,
           that
           whatsoever
           condition
           we
           are
           in
           here
           
           we
           shall
           certainly
           in
           a
           little
           time
           be
           in
           a
           most
           happy
           and
           glorious
           one
           ,
           and
           the
           worse
           our
           circumstances
           are
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           the
           greater
           (
           if
           we
           be
           good
           )
           shall
           be
           our
           happiness
           in
           the
           next
           ,
           for
           
             these
             light
             afflictions
          
           (
           as
           S.
           Paul
           tells
           
           us
           )
           
             which
             indure
             but
             for
             a
             moment
             ,
             do
             work
             for
             us
             a
             far
             more
             exceeding
             weight
             of
             glory
             .
          
        
         
           This
           then
           is
           the
           joy
           that
           we
           are
           to
           endeavour
           after
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           to
           be
           constantly
           well
           pleas'd
           and
           contented
           with
           our
           present
           condition
           ,
           whatever
           it
           be
           ,
           and
           these
           are
           the
           ways
           to
           attain
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           secondly
           ,
           there
           is
           another
           more
           particular
           Notion
           of
           Rejoycing
           ,
           and
           which
           I
           conceive
           Solomon
           doth
           chiefly
           intend
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Text
           ▪
           and
           that
           is
           the
           free
           and
           comfortable
           enjoyment
           of
           the
           good
           things
           of
           this
           life
           that
           God
           hath
           blessed
           us
           with
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           a
           pinching
           and
           penurious
           way
           of
           living
           .
           This
           I
           say
           seems
           to
           be
           the
           notion
           of
           Rejoycing
           that
           the
           Text
           speaks
           of
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           the
           following
           verse
           .
           Solomon
           having
           told
           us
           in
           the
           text
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           better
           for
           a
           man
           than
           to
           rejoyce
           and
           
             do
             good
          
           ,
           he
           adds
           by
           way
           of
           explication
           of
           what
           he
           meant
           by
           rejoycing
           ,
           these
           words
           ,
           
             that
             every
             man
             should
             eat
             and
             drink
             and
             enjoy
             the
             good
             of
             all
             his
             labours
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             the
             gift
             of
             God.
          
           And
           frequently
           in
           this
           Book
           of
           Ecclesiastes
           doth
           he
           perswade
           to
           this
           kind
           of
           rejoycing
           .
           Thus
           in
           Chap.
           2.
           ver
           .
           24.
           
             there
             is
             nothing
             better
             for
             a
             man
             ,
             than
             that
             he
             should
             eat
             and
             drink
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             should
             make
             his
             soul
             enjoy
             good
             in
             his
             labour
             ,
             this
             also
             I
             saw
             it
             was
             from
             the
             hand
             of
             God.
          
           And
           in
           Chap.
           5.
           v.
           18.
           
           
             Behold
             that
             which
             I
             have
             seen
             ,
             it
             is
             good
             and
             comely
             for
             one
             to
             eat
             and
          
           
           
             drink
             ,
             and
             to
             enjoy
             the
             good
             of
             all
             his
             labours
             that
             he
             taketh
             under
             the
             sun
             all
             the
             days
             of
             his
             life
             which
             God
             giveth
             him
             ,
             for
             it
             is
             his
             portion
             .
          
           And
           in
           Chap.
           6.
           v.
           1
           ,
           2.
           he
           represents
           it
           as
           a
           
             great
             evil
             that
             he
             hath
             seen
             under
             the
             sun
             ,
             and
             yet
             such
             an
             evil
             as
             is
             common
             among
             men
             ,
             that
             a
             man
             to
             whom
             God
             hath
             given
             riches
             ,
             and
             wealth
             ,
             and
             honour
             ,
             so
             that
             he
             wanteth
             nothing
             for
             his
             soul
             of
             all
             that
             he
             desireth
             ,
             yet
             God
             giveth
             him
             not
             power
             to
             eat
             thereof
             ,
             but
             a
             stranger
             eateth
             it
             ,
             this
          
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             is
             vanity
             and
             an
             evil
             disease
             .
          
        
         
           And
           there
           is
           certainly
           great
           reason
           in
           what
           he
           saith
           .
           For
           to
           have
           a
           plentiful
           portion
           of
           the
           good
           things
           of
           this
           life
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           have
           the
           heart
           to
           make
           use
           of
           them
           for
           the
           enjoyment
           of
           our selves
           and
           friends
           ;
           for
           the
           refreshing
           us
           under
           the
           toyl
           that
           this
           life
           doth
           expose
           us
           to
           ;
           for
           the
           promoting
           Acquaintance
           and
           Society
           ▪
           and
           the
           rendering
           our
           condition
           as
           easie
           as
           may
           be
           ,
           is
           as
           unaccountable
           a
           folly
           as
           we
           can
           be
           guilty
           of
           ,
           and
           makes
           us
           really
           as
           poor
           and
           necessitous
           as
           those
           that
           want
           bread
           ,
           but
           only
           not
           so
           pitiable
           .
        
         
           Taking
           now
           this
           to
           be
           the
           sence
           of
           rejoycing
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           believe
           it
           is
           )
           we
           have
           from
           hence
           a
           good
           warrant
           for
           this
           days
           Meeting
           ,
           for
           we
           come
           together
           to
           rejoyce
           in
           Solomons
           sence
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           
             to
             eat
             and
             drink
             and
             to
             enjoy
             the
             good
             of
             our
             labours
             ,
          
           it
           being
           
             the
             gift
             of
             God
          
           so
           to
           do
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           practice
           of
           ours
           is
           not
           only
           reasonable
           in
           it self
           ,
           but
           is
           commended
           to
           us
           by
           the
           example
           of
           Gods
           people
           both
           under
           the
           Law
           and
           the
           Gospel
           .
           The
           Jews
           by
           the
           appointment
           of
           God
           himself
           were
           to
           meet
           every
           year
           three
           times
           at
           
             Jerusalem
             ▪
          
           the
           Capital
           
           City
           of
           the
           Nation
           
             to
             feast
             and
             to
             rejoyce
             before
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           as
           
           we
           have
           it
           in
           the
           express
           words
           of
           Moses
           .
           And
           the
           Christians
           for
           near
           two
           hundred
           years
           after
           our
           Saviour
           had
           their
           Agapae
           ,
           their
           Feasts
           of
           charity
           wherein
           they
           met
           together
           both
           poor
           and
           rich
           to
           enjoy
           and
           make
           merry
           one
           with
           another
           .
           It
           is
           true
           these
           Feasts
           were
           at
           length
           left
           off
           by
           common
           consent
           ,
           because
           there
           grew
           abuses
           in
           them
           ;
           they
           became
           occasions
           of
           Luxury
           and
           excess
           ,
           and
           so
           matters
           of
           scandal
           to
           our
           Religion
           .
           But
           this
           was
           not
           an
           ill
           reflection
           upon
           the
           thing
           itself
           ,
           which
           was
           innocent
           and
           commendable
           ,
           but
           upon
           the
           abuse
           of
           the
           thing
           .
           A
           good
           and
           laudable
           institution
           was
           perverted
           to
           evil
           purposes
           .
           However
           this
           very
           consideration
           ought
           to
           make
           us
           very
           careful
           of
           our
           carriage
           and
           behaviour
           in
           these
           our
           Meetings
           ,
           lest
           we
           fall
           under
           the
           same
           inconveniencies
           ,
           which
           that
           we
           may
           prevent
           ,
           Two
           things
           are
           especially
           needful
           to
           be
           taken
           care
           of
           by
           us
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           That
           we
           do
           not
           exceed
           the
           bounds
           of
           rejoycing
           prescribed
           to
           Christians
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           avoid
           all
           excess
           ,
           and
           use
           the
           Creatures
           of
           God
           ,
           soberly
           and
           temperately
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           give
           offence
           to
           none
           ,
           nor
           to
           
             make
             provision
             for
             the
             flesh
             to
             fulfil
             the
             lusts
             thereof
             .
          
        
         
           And
           secondly
           ,
           That
           we
           take
           care
           to
           perform
           and
           make
           good
           the
           ends
           and
           designs
           of
           these
           Feasts
           of
           rejoycing
           ;
           which
           ends
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           take
           our
           measures
           from
           those
           Laws
           that
           God
           gave
           to
           his
           own
           People
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           and
           which
           the
           modern
           Jews
           themselves
           in
           their
           Commentaries
           take
           notice
           of
           ;
           and
           which
           are
           
           so
           reasonable
           in
           themselves
           that
           without
           any
           Authority
           they
           do
           recommend
           themselves
           to
           us
           ,
           are
           these
           four
           following
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           That
           we
           Rejoyce
           before
           the
           Lord
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           we
           make
           our
           humble
           acknowledgments
           and
           return
           our
           due
           praises
           and
           thanks
           to
           him
           for
           all
           the
           good
           things
           he
           hath
           blessed
           us
           with
           in
           our
           lives
           ,
           confessing
           that
           all
           we
           have
           is
           from
           his
           free
           bounty
           and
           goodness
           ,
           and
           that
           our
           Meeting
           together
           is
           to
           praise
           his
           name
           upon
           that
           account
           .
           And
           this
           was
           the
           thing
           that
           was
           meant
           by
           those
           solemn
           Sacrifices
           that
           the
           Jews
           were
           bound
           to
           offer
           at
           Jerusalem
           at
           their
           Annual
           Feasts
           .
        
         
           The
           second
           end
           of
           these
           Feasts
           is
           to
           take
           occasion
           from
           hence
           to
           learn
           our
           duty
           ,
           to
           be
           instructed
           in
           all
           the
           branches
           of
           that
           obedience
           we
           owe
           unto
           God.
           For
           as
           Maimonides
           observes
           ,
           that
           was
           one
           of
           the
           principal
           reasons
           of
           Gods
           calling
           together
           all
           the
           people
           of
           the
           Jews
           to
           appear
           at
           the
           Feast
           of
           Tabernacles
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           hear
           the
           Law
           read
           unto
           them
           ;
           and
           this
           design
           is
           I
           suppose
           pursued
           by
           us
           in
           our
           chusing
           this
           Place
           to
           Assemble
           in
           .
        
         
           A
           third
           end
           of
           these
           Feasts
           (
           as
           the
           same
           Maimonides
           tells
           us
           )
           &
           is
           manifest
           from
           Scripture
           is
           to
           promote
           acquaintance
           &
           Friendship
           ,
           and
           brotherly
           love
           one
           with
           another
           .
           And
           this
           is
           a
           very
           noble
           end
           ,
           and
           serves
           many
           excellent
           purposes
           ,
           and
           nothing
           can
           be
           beyond
           it
           except
        
         
           The
           fourth
           and
           last
           end
           of
           these
           Meetings
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           
             do
             good
          
           ;
           to
           exercise
           our
           Charity
           towards
           our
           poor
           indigent
           Brethren
           .
           No
           man
           at
           the
           Solemn
           Feasts
           of
           the
           
           
             Jews
             ,
             was
             to
             appear
             before
             the
             Lord
             empty
             .
          
           He
           was
           to
           bring
           
           his
           offering
           not
           only
           to
           God
           by
           way
           of
           recognition
           and
           acknowledgment
           to
           him
           :
           but
           for
           the
           poor
           also
           that
           they
           might
           rejoyce
           as
           well
           as
           he
           .
           This
           is
           well
           observed
           by
           Maimonides
           from
           Deut.
           16.
           14.
           where
           it
           is
           thus
           said
           ,
           
             Thou
             shalt
             rejoyce
             in
             thy
             feast
             ,
             thou
             and
             thy
             son
             ,
             and
             thy
             daughter
             ,
             thy
             man-servant
             and
             thy
             maid-servant
             ,
             the
             Levite
             and
             the
             stranger
             ,
             the
             fatherless
             and
             the
             widow
             that
             are
             within
             thy
             gates
             .
          
        
         
           This
           then
           is
           the
           great
           end
           of
           our
           Assembly
           ,
           that
           not
           only
           we
           ,
           but
           the
           Fatherless
           and
           the
           widow
           ;
           all
           of
           our
           Countrey
           ,
           that
           need
           our
           Charity
           ,
           may
           rejoyce
           with
           us
           and
           for
           us
           .
           And
           this
           is
           that
           which
           Solomon
           joyns
           with
           rejoycing
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           
             There
             is
             no
             good
             in
             them
             but
             for
             a
             man
             to
             rejoyce
             and
             do
             good
             :
          
           and
           what
           that
           man
           who
           by
           the
           sentence
           of
           God
           was
           declared
           the
           wisest
           of
           all
           men
           hath
           thus
           joyned
           together
           ,
           let
           none
           of
           us
           presume
           to
           put
           asunder
           .
           These
           are
           the
           Rules
           ,
           and
           these
           are
           the
           ends
           that
           we
           are
           to
           observe
           in
           this
           our
           Feast
           ;
           and
           let
           us
           all
           for
           the
           Honour
           of
           Christs
           Religion
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           credit
           of
           our
           particular
           Countrey
           ,
           charge
           the
           observation
           of
           them
           upon
           our selves
           :
           which
           if
           we
           can
           all
           resolve
           to
           do
           ,
           I
           can
           safely
           apply
           to
           every
           one
           of
           you
           ,
           that
           saying
           of
           Solomon
           in
           the
           9th
           Chapter
           of
           this
           book
           of
           Ecclesiastes
           ,
           and
           the
           7th
           verse
           ,
           with
           which
           I
           shall
           conclude
           :
           
             Go
             thy
             way
             ,
             eat
             thy
             bread
             with
             joy
             ,
             and
             drink
             thy
             wine
             with
             a
             merry
             heart
             ,
             for
             God
             now
             accepteth
             thy
             work
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           PAge
           8.
           l.
           6.
           
             it
             that
          
           ,
           r.
           
             it
             is
             that
          
           .
           p.
           9
           I
           penult
           .
           for
           in
           r.
           is
           .
           p.
           13.
           l.
           10.
           r.
           proposcd
           .
           p.
           14.
           l.
           23
           ,
           24.
           for
           lay
           ,
           r.
           ly
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A59557-e550
           
             Eccles.
             1.
             13.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             18.
             
          
           
             Cap.
             2.
             ver
             .
             1
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             2.
             
          
           
             ver
             4.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             8.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             11.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             4.
             8.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             44
             ,
             45.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             13.
             34
             ,
             35.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             3.
             16.
             
          
           
             Prov.
             10.
             7
             
          
           
             Psal.
             37.
             ver
             .
             3.
             
          
           
             Ibid.
             v.
             25.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             10.
             24.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             6.
             18.
             
             ●
             Pet
             ▪
             4.
             8.
             
             ●
             Cor.
             13.
             2.
             13.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             16.
             
          
           
             1
             Thess.
             5.
             16.
             
             Phil.
             4.
             4.
             
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             1.
             12.
             
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             4.
             17.
             
          
           
             See
             Deut.
             16.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             23.
             15.