Page images
PDF
EPUB

riously and abundantly. A Man muft not weigh grains in the accounts of his Repentance; but for a great fin have a great forrow, and a great feverity, and in this take the ordinary advices; though it may be a lefs rigour might not be infufficient: nepodinov, or Arithmetical measures, especially of our own proportioning, are but arguments of want of Love and of forwardnefs in Religion or else are inftruments of fcruple, and then become dangerous. Ufe the Rule heartily and enough, and there will be no harm in thy errour, if any fhould happen.

4. If thou intendeft heartily to ferve God, and avoid fin in any one inftance, refufe not the hardeft and moft fevere advice that is prefcribed in order to it, though poffibly it be a ftranger to thee; for whatsoever it be, cuftom will make it eafie.

5. When any inftruments for the obtaining any vertue or reftraining any vice are propounded, obferve which of them fits thy perfon, or the circumftances of thy need, and ufe it rather than the other; that by this means thou maift be engaged to watch and ufe fpiritual arts and obfervation about thy Soul. Concerning the managing of which, as the intereft is greater fo the neceffities are more, and the cafes more intricate, and the accidents and dangers greater and more importunate; and there is greater skill required than in the fecuring an eftate, or reftoring health to an infirm body. I with all Men in the World did heartily believe fo much of this as is true; it would very much help to do the Work of God.

Thus (my Lord) I have made bold by your hand to reach out this little fcroll of cautions to all thofe, who by feeing your Honour'd Name fet before my Book, fhall by the fairness of fuch a Frontispiece be invited to look into it. I muft confefs it cannot but look like a Defign in me, to borrow your Name and beg your Patronage to

my

[ocr errors]

my Book, that if there be no other worth in it, yet at leaft it may have the splendour and warmth of a burning-glafs, which borrowing a flame from the Eye of Heaven, fhines and burns by the rays of the Sun its Patron. I will not quit my felf from the fufpicion; for I cannot pretend it to be a Prefent either of it felf fit to be offer'd to fuch a Perfonage, or any part of a juft return (but I humbly defire you would own it for an acknowledgment) of those great endearments and nobleft ufages you have paft upon me. But fo, Men in their Religion give a piece of Gum, or the fat of a cheap Lamb, in Sacrifice to him that gives them all that they have or need: and unless he who was pleafed to employ your Lordship as a great Minifter of his Providence in making a Promife of his good to me, the meaneft of his fervants, [That he would never leave me, nor forfake me fhall enable me by greater fervices of Religion to pay my great debt to your Honour, I muft ftill increase my fcore, fince I fhall now fpend as much in my needs of pardon for this boldnefs, as in the Reception of those Favours by which I ftand accountable to your Lordship in all the bands of fervice and gratitude; though I am in the deepest fenfe of duty and affection,

My moft Honoured Lord,

Your Honour's most Obliged and

moft Humble Servant,

JER. TAYLOR.

« PreviousContinue »