The virgins pattern, in the exemplary life and lamented death of Mrs. Susanna Perwich, daughter of Mr. Robert Perwich, who departed this life ... July 3, 1661 published at the earn[est] request of divers that knew her well, for the use and benefit of others / by John Batchiler, a neer relation ...

XXVI. DECAD.

251. Whether the People of God are not his Jewels? Mal. 3.17. yea, his Crown, his glorious Crown, and Roy∣al

Diadem? Esa. 62.3. yea, his Crown-Jewels? Zach. 9.16. and whether he will suffer these his Jewels to lye long in the dirt, or this his Crown to be alwayes trodden under the feet of his enemies?

252. Whether God having freely and most strongly tyed himself to his People, both by his Word, his Promise and his Oath (such a threefold knot, as there is none like to it) be not greatly injured by such as disbelieve, or make question in the least of his performan∣ces? Heb. 3.12. & 6.16, 17, 18, 19. Mat. 13.58.

253. Whether holy Meditations do not dwell on the very Hill of Frankincense, and on the Mount of Spices? & whether every busie thought, like the nimble honey-Bee, doth not pass from blossom to blossom, from flow∣er to flower, that is, from one Promise to another, from one Providence to another, and so through the variety of all sorts of pleasant subjects, and

gather sweetness, till it hath filled its whole Hive (the heart) with the purest honey? Psal. 104.34. & Psal. 94.19.

254. Whether frequent and faith∣ful examinations of ones inward state, and how things stand between God and the soul, be not a most necessary and important duty? and whether this, of all things else, ought not to be most diligently minded, whatever else be neglected? Psal. 4.4. 2 Cor. 13.5.

255. Whether Apostatizers, Time∣servers, and all such as shamefully de∣sert their formerly received sound Principles and holy Practices, do not consult destruction to themselves, and run the hazzard of those sore curses, mentioned in, Deut. 29.21?

256. Whether he that abounds al∣together in his own sense; accounts whatever himself affirms to be as au∣thentick as some divine Oracles is a••••ry with, and severely censorio•••• of, those that do not, or cannot forsake their own Principles as all false, and embrace

his as all Truth, be not guilty, at least, of the suspicion of Pride? or whether he be not a kind of little Pope, that pretends to infallibility, whilst per∣haps under strong delusion? and whe∣ther such an one be not rather to be neglected, than disputed with? Jam. 1.12. Prov. 21.24. 2 Thess. 2.10, 11.

257. Whether evil thoughts are not the spawns of sin, and evil words and actions the products of those spawns? and whether Cockatrices eggs, while hatched by Cockatrices, will not bring forth their own kind? Mat. 12.33, to 38. & 15.18, 19, 20. Esa. 59.4, 5.

258. Whether every man ought not to be very careful what objects he fixeth his eye and his heart upon? and whether God be not King of hearts, and deserves not that every man should give him (not a part only but) his whole heart? and whether he that doth this, doth not take the wis∣est course, to make the worst part

of himself to become the best? Iob 31.1. Psal. 62.10. Prov. 23.26. Ezek. 36.26.

259. Whether being imposed up∣on, in matters of Conscience, where Christ hath left it free, be not as grie∣vous and intollerable from one sort of men as from another? and whether, if there be any difference, it be not most intollerable from those that are, or have been, or at least pretend to be Brethren?

260. Whether the right stating and granting of true Christian liberty, so as to prevent licentious extravagances on the one hand, and unjust severity on the other hand, would not be most sa∣tisfactory to all peaceably-minded good men? and whether till this can be done, it be not best for every one to think it possible, that he may be under some mistakes as well as his dis∣senting Brethren, and so resolve to al∣low and receive a mutual freedom in following their respective light, and

exercising a friendly familiarity, and hearty love towards one another? Gal. 5.1. Eph. 4.2, 3. 1 Thess. 4.9. Heb. 13.1. 2 Pet. 1.7.