shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness;" 2 Peter iii. 11—13.

I need not lengthen my counsels further to you now, having been called by the will and providence of God to leave behind me a multitude of books, which may remember you of what you heard, and acquaint the world what doctrine I have taught you; and if longer studies shall teach me to retract and amend many failings, in the writings or practice of my unripe and less xperienced age, as it will be to myself as pleasing as the cure of bodily disease, I hope it will not seem strange or ungrateful to you though we must hold fast the truth which we have received, both you and I are much to be blamed, if we grow not in knowledge, both in matter, words, and method: the Lord grant that also we may grow in faith, obedience, patience in hope, love, and desire to be with Christ.

Now, the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb. xiii. 20, 21.

HOW TO DO GOOD TO MANY:

OR,

THE PUBLIC GOOD IS THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE.

DIRECTIONS AND MOTIVES TO IT.

NTENDED FOR AN AUDITORY OF LONDON CITIZENS;
AND PUBLISHED FOR THEM FOR WANT OF
LEAVE TO PREACH THEM.

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people zealous of good works."-TITUS ii. 14.

TO THE

TRULY CHRISTIAN MERCHANTS

AND

OTHER CITIZENS OF LONDON.

As my disease, and the restraint of rulers, seem to tell me that my pulpit work is at an end, so also my abode among you, or in this world, cannot be long. What work I have lived for, I have given the world more durable notice than transient words: it hath been such as men in power were against, and, it seems, will no longer endure. What doctrine it was that I last prepared for you, I thought meet to desire the press thus to tell you not to vindicate myself, nor to characterize them who think that it deserves six months' imprisonment, but to be in your hands a provocation and direction; for that great work of a Christian life, sincerely done, will prepare you for that safety, joy, and glory, which London, England, or earth will not afford, and which men or devils cannot take from you. When, through the meritorious righteousness of Christ, your holy love and good works to him in his brethren shall make you the joyful objects of that sentence, "Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom," &c.; this is the life that need not be repented of, as spent in vain.

Dear friends, in this farewell, I return you my most hearty thanks for your extraordinary love and kindness to myself, much more for your love to Christ, and to his servants, who have more needed your relief. God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love. You have visited those that others imprisoned, and fed those that others brought into want; and when some ceased not to preach for our affliction, it quenched not your impartial charity. It has been an unspeakable mercy unto ine almost all my days, (when I received nothing from them,) to have known so great a number as I have

done, of serious, humble, holy, charitable Christians, in whom I saw that Christ hath an elect, peculiar people, quite dif ferent from the brutish, proud, hypocritical, malignant, unbelieving world! O, how sweet hath the familiarity of such been to me, whom the ignorant world hath hated! Most of them are gone to Christ; I am following: we leave you here to longer trial: it is like you have a bitter cup to drink; but be faithful to the death, and Christ will give you the crown of life. The word of God is not bound, and the Jerusalem above is free, where is the general assembly of the first-born, an innumerable company of angels, the spirits of the just made perfect, with Christ their glori fied Head. The Lord guide, bless, and preserve you.

[1682.]