1709. hath given Life and Breath to all that move therein, can take it from them at his Pleasure, in the Twinkling of an Eye. Gen. 27. Oh! Happy is that Empire, Kingdom, State, or Province; Emperor, King, or Governor; Family, or particular Perfon, whole Inhabitants live and dwell in the holy Fear of God, and in the Self-denying Life of Jefus: No greater Happiness or Felicity, than to be one of these. Oh! let my Soul dwell here, and be in Unity and Fellowship with all fuch for ever. Now, as to the third and laft Part of the abovefaid Three-fold Argument, viz. Example; which, as the Proverb fays, is above Precept. Good Example is very taking with many, and oft happens to be very affecting to the younger Sort more particularly: For they look out much at others, and take great Notice of the Words and Conduct of their Elders and Superiors. Good Jacob was a good Example to his great Family: He was a pious, affectionate Father, a loving Husband, a faithful Servant, and an obedient Son: The History of his Life and Travels in Holy-Scripture is affecting: Oh! how he fought God betimes! how humble, how lowly, as well as lovely, doth he behave himself in his Pilgrimage! his Father and Mother call'd him, and bid him go; he does it, without any Replies to the contrary; not like fome of the Youth of this Age. And on his Way being benighted, he lays himfelf down, his Pillow was hard, but his Bed large, and the Heavens was his Curtain; his Sleep was sweet, and his Dreams precious. (Oh! the very Thoughts of it affects me at this Time) In which Sleep he fees Angels; and when he awakes, he fays, Surely this is none other than the House of God, and the Gate of Heaven. Now he makes the Conditions of his Covenant with his Maker, which (as to outward Things) was as fmall as well could be, viz. Bread to eat, and Raiment to put on, and the Prefence of bis Maker, with his Bleing. This was now when he was about about to fet up for himfelf in the World, his Mind 1709. was not high, neither fought he after great Things; nothwithstanding which, the Almighty gave him in Abundance. So onwards he went, and came to Laban, and became his Servant. I could wish that all young People, that are Servants, would follow his Steps in Faithfulness; then might they be a Bleffing to their Masters, as he was to his. I ever obferved in my Travels (having travelled much in divers Nations, and made many Obfervations) that Almighty God hath greatly bleffed obedient, induftrious Children and Servants: Which Obfervation, I hope, will be of good Use to the World, if well confider'd. And on the other Hand, I have taken Notice of the contrary, and have perfectly understood, that God's Hand hath been manifeftly against thofe that have been difobedient, and ill natured, and idle; which may be an useful Caution to all. Now the Lord bleffed the good Ser vice, and faithful Induftry, of this his Servant with great Increase; as alfo with many Children, for whom. he was concerned as a tender Father, even to the very laft And (like a pious and godly Father) pray'd to the Lord for their Prefervation; and was zealoufiy concerned to cleanfe his Family from Superftition and Idolatry; and calls them to go up to Bethel, or the Houfe of God. Oh! that all Heads of Families would be concern'd for their Pofterity, and feek God, and the Things of his Kingdom, for their Children and Servants, more than the Things of this World; there being too much Care for the one, and too little for the other, generally fpeaking: So that there is Need of this Caution. Now this good Man was not only concerned for his Family in his Life, but even at his Death alfo For he, waiting for the Salvation of God, and being fenfible of it, very livingly and fenfibly bleffed his Seed, and was opened in Faith to speak exactly to each of their States and Conditions. I refer to the Hiftory of it in Holy Scripture, the which I believe will D be 1709. be affecting to pious Minds. Oh! what a Race he left behind! All his twelve Sons were Patriarchs, and great Fathers of many People, who were highly favoured of God, and had been to this Day, had they walk'd in the Steps of their Fathers Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob: From whom came many valiant and noble Men, of and for God; as Mofes, Jolbua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Jofiah, Elijab and Elisha; alfo the Holy Bleffed Star, and Sun of Righteousness, Holy JESUS, whom the degenerate Offspring of good old Ifrael flew, and hanged on a Tree: Alfo the holy Apoftles were great Examples of Virtue: Alfo the bleffed Martyrs, and many modern good Men, might be brought in for inviting Examples, to ftir up the Minds of Men and Women, to ferve, love, and follow the Lord, and to believe in him, and in his dear Son, and in the Appearance of his Grace working in the Soul, in order to the convincing and converting of it. To be particular in all the above Inftances, would fwell this far beyond what is intended; and confidering the many and large Volumes that are in the World, though a large Door opened before me, yet am now willing to conclude, and recommend the Work, with the Reader, to the Grace of God, in and through his dear Son Chrift Jefus, our great Example: To whom, with the Father, through the Divine Spirit, be Glory for ever. Written at Frederickstadt, in Hollein. T. C. -Forcing Forcing a Maintainance, Not WARRANTABLE from the HOLY SCRIPTURE, FOR A MINISTER of the GOSPEL. BEING An ANSWER to fome Falfe and Erroneous Pages, writ by Jofeph Metcalfe, tending to ftir up PERSECUTION. Freely ye have received, freely give, MAT, x. 8. The PREFACE to the READER, of what Perfwafion foever. T being a known Principle of the People called Qua preached freely by his Minifters; yet, notwithstanding, divers People, of divers Perfwafions, either for want of Charity, or through Prejudice, or wrong Information, or all three, do fay, or believe, that the Quakers Minifters or Teachers are paid for their Preaching; I do pofitively declare to the World, that it is an utter Fallhood and Scandal upon the faid People: For we cannot in good Confcience make a Trade of our holy Calling, neither is the Word of God to be bought or fold for outward Gain; witness the Apoftle's Anfwer to Simon Magus, Als viii. 18, 20. And if we cannot pay our own, pray how can we pay others, and be clear of Guilt, or have the Anfwer of a good Confcience, we believing it to be Evil? And every Body that knows the Holy Scriptures, knows that what is not of Faith is Sin; and yet our Adverfaries would have us commit this Sin; and if we will not do it willingly, they will force it from us by the Power of the Magiftrates, although the Holy Scriptures and Reafon is clearly against them, as is plainly manifefted in the enfuing little Tract. And as for my Part, I have travelled many Thousands of Miles, and preached the Gospel among the faid People many Years, as Thousands of them can witness, and never received any Confideration therefor, neither directly nor indirectly; neither do I reckon they are beholden to me for fo doing, for a Neceffity is laid upon me, and woe is me if I preach not the Gofpel; neither do I boaft, for I have done but my Duty, and in that Senfe am but an unprofitable Servant, according as Chrift taught, for all the Profit is of Christ. And if Occafion were, there are many other Minifters among the faid People, could bear the like Teftimony. Oh, but (Jay the People) your Teachers are generally rich! Why Should any begrudge us that which we have, fince the Almighty bleeth our Industry in our honeft Trades and Callings, which other Teachers, through the like Industry and Bleffing, might obtain, if their Dependency for a Maintenance were more upon God, than the People. Yet notwithstanding thofe Teachers receive so mach Money of the Peeple, and the Quaker Preackers none at all (except they are poor and neceffitous) they are full f Com |