Time vvell spent in sacred meditations. Divine observations. Heavenly exhortations Serving to confirme the penitent. Informe the ignorant. ... And, cherish the true-hearted Christian. By that late able, painfull, and worthy man of God, Mr. Ezechiel Culvervvel minister of the Word.

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL and truly religious M^rs. MORE.

Right Worshipfull and worthy Mi∣stresse More:

THe Church of God hath not only be∣nefit by ex∣act and just treatises knit together in a Me∣thodicall dependancy of one part from ano∣ther,

but likewise of sententious indepen∣dent speeches, that have a generall lustre of themselves as so many flowers in a garden, or Jewels in a casket, wherof every one hath a distinct worth of themselves; and this maketh them the more acceptable, that being short they are fitter for the heart to carie, as ha∣ving much in a little.

This moved this re∣verend man of God, to spend what spare houres his sicknesse

would afford him a∣bout thoughts in this kinde. He was many yeares Gods prisoner under the gout and stone, such diseases, as will allow but little liberty to those that are arrested and tortured by them. So fruitfull an expence of time, in so weak and worne a body is seldome seene, scarce any came to him but went away better than they came; God gave much strength of spirit to uphold his spi∣rit from sinking under

the strength of such diseases. It were a hap∣py thing if we that are Ministers of Christ, would in all conditi∣ons and times thinke of our calling, that our office is not tyed to one day in a week, and one houre or two in that day, but that upon all fit occasions we are to quicken our selves and others in the way homeward, as guides to heaven. We read not of the opening of hea∣ven but to some great purpose. So it should

bee with the man of God, he should not o∣pen his mouth and let any thing fall (so far as frailty and the necessa∣ry occurrences of hu∣mane life will permit) but what might mini∣ster some grace to the hearers.

The reason why I made choise of you to dedicate them unto, is not that I might dis∣charge mine own debt unto you with another mans coine, but that I could not thinke of a∣ny fitter than your self,

whom this ancient minister of Christ e∣steemed alwayes very much for eminency of parts and grace, and you him as a man faith∣full and one that main∣tained his ministeriall authority with good successe in his place; God allotting your ha∣bitation in your youn∣ger yeares in that part of the countrey where he lived, and where you first learned to know God and your selse. In those times though those parts

were in regard of the aire unhealthfull, yet * 1.1 that aire was so sweet∣ned with the savory breath of the Gospell, that they were termed the holy land. Here∣upon I thought meet to commend these sen∣tentious speeches by your name, to others. Which though (divers of them) may seeme plaine, yet what they want in shew they have in weight, as comming from a man very well experienced in all the wayes of

God. The Lord fol∣low you with his best blessings, that you may continue still to adorne the Gospell of Christ in your place.

Yours in all Christian service. R. SIBBS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The hun∣dreds in Essex.