These duties, however others have
cavilled at them, I know you agree in them, and are persuaded of
your duty therein: but where is your zeal to practise? O how well
would it be with churches, if they were but half as zealous for the
great, and plain, and indisputable things, and the more chargeable
and costly things of religion, as they are for things doubtful or
less necessary, or for things that are no charge to them, and cost
them nothing but the breath of contention, though that may be too
great a price for the small things they purchase with it!
But further, Do we not all agree, that men that preach the gospel
should do it like workmen that need not be ashamed? and yet how
little is this considered by many preachers, who never consider
before they speak of what they say, or whereof they affirm! How few
give themselves to study that they may be approved! How few
meditate and give themselves to these things, that their profiting
may appear to all!
For the Lord's sake let us unite to practise those things we know;
and if we would have more talents, let us all agree to improve those
we have.
See the spirit that was among the primitive professors, that knowing
and believing how much it concerned them in the propagating of
Christianity, to shew forth love to one another (that so all might
know them to be Christ's disciples), rather than there should be any
complainings among them, they sold all they had.
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