A Christians walk and work on earth, until he attain to heaven which may serve as a practical guide, and a plain direction in his pilgrimage thither, through his personal and relative duties : marvelously useful to all persons, and families of all ranks and qualities, both in city and country / by Christopher Nesse ...

But to bring those two streams into one Channel, as God hath [by his Co∣venant of Marriage] made your two persons to be one Flesh: Though I might say much more in a just commendation of you both, yet I forbear: not only lest I should so much as seem to give Flatter∣ing

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Titles, which indeed I know not to do. I have as little Art in it, as heart to it, in so doing, my maker might snatch me away in that dangerous Sin of Flat∣tery. Job 32. 21, 22. But chiefly because your modest Ears, and humble Hearts do not love Salutations in the Markets, Math. 23. 7. Ye would not have it publish∣ed upon the House-tops, either what God hath done for you, or what ye have done for God. Therefore I shall only crave your pardon for affixing your Honourable Names to this little Book, which is not done, either altogether to seek your Pa∣tronage [as the manner is] for it hath License to go abroad into the World, or to beg your hand to help me higher in the World, for I am less then the least of those mercies of my God, that I do already enjoy, and I would lay at Gods foct [as the righteous Man did. Isa. 41. 2.] in these things: but 'tis to express my gra∣titude to you who have both watered this work and furthered it with your sweet Influences.

I do here present you with the Walk and Work of a Christian upon earth until he come [at the end] to Heaven, both these are weighty and worthy of all Acceptation. First, The Walk here doth infinitely transeend the best walk in your garden, or in the best spring-garden in the whole World. 'Tis a walk, wherein you may not only walk hand in hand with the Angels of God, [both those that are Ter∣restrial, to wit, Christians, and those that are Coelestial, to wit, Cherubims] but also with the God of Angels [himself] even as a Man walks hand in hand with his friend, thus Enoch walked with his God, Gen. 5. 24. Secondly, The work here is (verily) Angelical as well as Evangelical work, a work that is Honourable to the most Honourable upon Earth, giving more of Honour to them then it can receive of Honour from them. Deo servire est regnare, saith Augustin. And David accounted it a greater honour to be Gods Servant, then to be Israels King. Psal. 18. Title. The great God is the most honour∣able Master, who Employs his Servants

in this most honourable work, and will undoubtedly pay them with the most ho∣nourable wages, even with an hundred fould in this life, and in the World to come with life everlasting. Mark. 10. 30. I have no cause to doubt but that you are [both of you] already true Spiritual Pil∣grims in this Divine walk and work. And I cannot but be confident that you [both] do Ardently affect what soever may promote your Progress herein. O that my poor Labours might contribute any thing to further your passage, If but some few steps; I could [then] wish every word were Ten, every line a Leaf, and every Leaf a Volum, and that both my Tongue and my Pen might have ten-fold more of the Divine tincture upon them, to be ser∣viceable to you thereunto: Your God and the God of your Fathers, hath already done singular things for you, and there∣fore he doth expect singular things from you, Math. 5. 47. Where the Husband∣man bestows his greatest cost, there he ex∣pects his largest crop. Your Trading and your Talents should be proportionable;

to whom much is given, of them much is Required, Luke 12. 48. I beseech you therefore, as ye have received how ye ought to walk and to work in this para∣dise of christianity (into which the second Adam hath graciously restored you, as the first Adam cast you out [in himself] from thence) so ye would abound more and more. 1 Thes. 4. 1. According to the Divine di∣rections herein presented you: That ye may follow the foot steps of your Father Abraham who followed God blind-fold, when called [as you have been] out of one Land into another. Heb. 11. 8. That ye may be called at last from Earth to Hea∣ven, in Soul and Body [as ye are already in Spirit] after ye have walked out your generation-work in Abrahams steps, to be safely lodged in Abrahams bosom; that the blessing of Abraham may come upon the hearts of your Son, and Daughter, and of their seed for ever; and that your Walls and theirs may be continually before the Lord of the whole Earth. Isa. 49. 16. All this, is the unfeigned

desire and hearty Prayer (which shall never be wanting) of