4-27-1932

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ESUS CHRIST, the eternal Son of GOD, the brightness of his Father's glory, the express image of his Father's perfon; the subftantial wisdom of God, and power of God, and word of God; the way, the truth, and the life; the golden hinge on which man's falvation turns; the food, the robe, the rock, the refuge, the strength, the deliverer of his people; the real protector, physician, shepherd, Saviour of all that trust in him; the true light, true vine, true rock, true fountain opened for fin and for uncleannefs; the water of life, the dew of heaven, the chief corner stone, the Son of righteousness the glory of his people, the defire of nations, the hope of falvation, the confolation of Ifrael.

MY Lord and my God; my hiding-place from the wind, and my coA 2

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vert from the tempeft; my fhadow, cloud, defence, and tabernacle; my cleft, of the rock, and secret place of the stairs; my deareft patron and choiceft friend in all the world, (for all others, men or angels are but inftruments, and fubordinate if they'll act as fuch.)----This worthlefs work, and last piece of practical divinity, with all I have, and all I am, do I submissively offer yield, confecrate and dedicate. And oh that I, and all I bring, may find acceptance with him thro' his glorious merits! whofe promife it is not to despise the day of fmall things; and in no wife to caft out, or to shut the door against them whom his Father hath given him.

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RIGHT HONOURABLE,

Sir ORLANLO BRIDGEMAN, Kt.

Lord Chief Juftice of his Majefty's Court of COMMON PLEAS.

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RIGHT HONOURABLE,

Have known you from your childhood; and when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith which dwelt firft in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, (if I may fo call her of pious memory) and I am perfuaded in you alfo, 2 Tim.i. 5. abincunabulis. I cannot but comfortably hope, that the fame feed of God fown in your heart by the Spirit fo early, doth still remain, and abide in you to this very day: Many changes have you feen and run thro' in thefe few days of the years of your pilgrimage, and yet I hear the fame faith, and love, and fpirit of moderation continue with you as at the firft, and increase in you daily, like the rivers drawing nearer to the ocean. My heart rejoiceth in this good report, and I know not what more to beg o God for you as truly neceffary in this world, than that you may abound in thefe graces of faith in Christ, love to the faints, and moderation towards all men. In acting the firft grace, you look heaven-wards; in the fecond, on thofe that are heavenly; in the third, on the divided interefts of them who fhall ftudy and practise mutual forbearance, and condefcenfion towards each other. Oh that in this last day we had many more imitators of his Majefty that now is, or of you that walk in the steps of fo gracious a Sovereign! It is obferved

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ferved that in the primitive times, while the church was still known by its faith, and love, and moderation, and sweetness of deportment towards all its members, that on the contrary, the Arians and Donatifts, and fuch like, were ftill dividing and feparating, and rigorously impofing on others unneceffary things. If 1 may speak without offence to any, were it not happy with us, if all that agree in fubftantials and efentials of religion, would make it their main work to prefs faith and holiness, and allow a liberty to each other in indifferent things? Were all as fenfible of the advantage we give the common enemy (I mean the Papists) as I am, that live and refide amongst them, I suppose we should be more willing to unite ourselves, and to bear the burdens of one another in love. It was a working meditation of St. Jerome, That whatever he did, he thought still he heard that found of the trumpet, Arife ye dead and come to judgment, Phil. iv. 5. The fame meditation is held forth to us to perfuade us to unity, or at least to moderation, Let your moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand, Rom, xiv. 17. It were fad when he comes, he should find us fmiting our fellow-fervants, Matth. xxiv. 49. Oh that rather we may cherish one another, and help one another to promote these efential duties wherein the kingdom of God efpecially confifts, viz. righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. xiv. 17. These are the things wherein you were trained, and wherein you profited, and which I hope and defire you will promote to your dying day. O that that golden rule were written on the doors of all Chriftian's hearts, Follow righteoufnefs, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, 2 Tim. ii. 22. We have enemies enough to wrestle with, even a

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