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Ignorance, a shame for men or women of yeeres.
TO teach you now the Principles of true Religion, in this Exhorta∣tion, were to argue your ignorance; and your igno∣rance, your shame and mine: yee are not Infants, who are to bee otherwise taught, then I hope you haue need, yee haue Moses and the Prophets, ye haue Christ and his Gospell, yee haue the comfort of the Apostles, yee liue in a time wherein (God haue the prayse) yee may freely reade, ye may freely heare,
as freely practise what yee learne: they teach you spi∣rituall knowledge, and the way of saluation.
Endeuour to learne, * 1.1 pray for the Spirit, in the Spirit; without the Spirit yee cannot pray; and that Spirit is the gift of God, which prayeth in you; and hee that giues you the Spi∣rit to pray, will also giue you knowledge for what to pray, and how to liue; he will fill you with Diuine vnderstanding, and will make you wise in all hea∣uenly knowledge, and shew you the same through good workes, in a godly conuersation before men, in faith glorifying God. So in what manner soeuer
ye passe your dayes, whe∣ther in prosperitie or ad∣uersitie, ye shall be blessed, for it is not the outward appearance that approo∣ueth, or disprooueth man, as glorie or basenesse, but a holy or prophane life.
Christs owne Apostles suffered hunger, cold, na∣kednesse, * 1.2 wants, and per∣secutions; Lazarus, sores and extreme pouertie; Iob, deepest afflictions; Ioseph, slander and wrongfull im∣prisonmēt. Were they the worse? no, but so much the more approoued the children of the most highest, and farre the more noble. And these Examples doth the Spirit of Truth recom∣mend vnto you for your
imitation, that yee should follow them in their Ver∣tues, Faith, Patience, and Integritie.
If therefore it fall out, that yee lose that little yee haue, say with Iob, Naked * 1.3 I came into the World, and naked must I returne: blessed be the Name of the Lord. If yee bee slandered, remem∣ber the wordes of our Sa∣uiour: Cursed are they of whom all men speake well: therefore, Reioyce and bee glad, when men speake euill of you for wel-doing.
If it come to passe, that ye * 1.4 be banished frō your owne natiue countrie and friends for the Truths sake, and to trauaile from place to place for succour: remem∣ber
that yee haue heere no continuing Citie, but ye seeke one to come.
If ye haue neither house * 1.5 nor home, remember that Christ our Sauiour had no house to put his head in. If yee fall into sicknesse or any infirmitie of body, limbes or senses, remem∣ber that though your out∣ward man perish, your in∣ner man shall bee renewed daily: for God is your Fa∣ther, and the rocke of your saluation: he will increase his Graces towardes you, euen towardes you, and your children.
Prayer obtayneth know∣ledge, how to liue godly.
All Gods Children haue suf∣fered af∣flictions.
Iob. 1. 21.
Banish∣ment.
Comfort in whatso∣euer cala mitie.