tudes get their meanes of life by prating, and so doe numbers more by begging. Neither come these straits vpon men alwaies through intemperancy, ill husbandry, indiscretion, &c. as some thinke, but euen the most wise, sober, and discreet men, goe often to the wall, when they haue done their best, wherein as God's prouidence swaieth all, so it is easie to see, that the straitnesse of the place hauing in it so many strait hearts, cannot but produce such effects more and more, so as euery indifferent minded man should be ready to say with Father Abraham, Take thou the right hand, and I will take the left: Let vs not thus oppresse, straiten, and afflict one another, but seeing there is a spatious Land, the way to which is thorow the sea, wee will end this difference in a day.

That I speake nothing about the bitter contention that hath beene about Religion, by writing, disputing, and inueighing earnestly one against another, the heat of which zeale, if it were turned against the rude barbarisme of the Heathens, it might doe more good in a day, then it hath done here in many yeares. Neither of the little loue to the Gospell, and profit which is made by the Preachers in most places, which might easily driue the zealous to the Heathens who no doubt if they had but a drop of that knowledge which here flieth about the streetes, would be filled with exceeding great ioy and gladnesse, as that they would euen plucke the kingdome of heauen by violence, and take it as it were by force.

The greatest let that is yet behinde is the sweet fellowship of friends, and the satietie of bodily delights.

The last let.

But can there be two neerer friends almost then Abraham and Lot, or then Paul and Barnabas, and yet vpon as little occasions as we haue heere, they departed asunder, two of them being Patriarchs of the Church of old; the other the Apostles of the Church which is new, and their couenants were such as it seemeth might binde as much as any couenant betweene men at this day, and yet to auoid greater inconueniences they departed asunder.

Neither must men take so much thought for the flesh, as not to be pleased except they can pamper their bodies with variety of dainties. Nature is content with little, and health is much

endangered,

James 3. 6.

endangered, by mixtures vpon the stomach: The delights of the palate doe often inflame the vital parts: as the tongue setteth a fire the whole body. Secondly, varieties here are not common to all, but many good men are glad to snap at a crust. The rent taker liues on sweet morsels, but the rent payer eats a drie crust often with watery eies and it is nothing to say what some one of a hundreth hath, but what the bulke, body and cominalty hath, which I warrant you is short enough.

And they also which now liue so sweetly, hardly will their children attaine to that priuiledge, but some circumuentor or other will outstrip them, and make them sit in the dust, to which men are brought in one age, but cannot get out of it againe in 7. generations.

To conclude, without all partialitie, the present consumption which groweth vpon vs here, whilst the land groaneth vnder so many close-fisted and vnmercifull men, being compared with the easinesse, plainenesse and plentifulnesse in liuing in those remote places, may quickly perswade any man to a liking of this course, and to practise a remoual, which being done by honest, godly and industrious men, they shall there be right hartily welcome, but for other of dissolute and prophane life, their roomes are better then their companies; for if here where the Gospell hath beene so long and plentifully taught, they are yet frequent in such vices as the Heathen would shame to speake of, what will they be when there is lesse restraint in word and deed? My onely sute to all men is, that whether they liue there or here, they would learne to vse this world as they vsed it not, keeping faith and a good conscience, both with God and men, that when the day of account shall come, they may come forth as good and fruitfull seruants, and freely be receiued, and enter into the ioy of their master.

R. C:

FINIS.

HISTORICAL

AND

LOCAL ILLUSTRATIONS

OF

PRINCIPLES, PROVIDENCES, AND PERSONS.

CHAPTER I.

PRINCIPLES, PROVIDENCES, PERSONS. THE COLONY OF PRINCIPLE, AND THE COLONY OF GAIN.

PRINCIPLES, PROVIDENCES, PERSONS. This is God's order; principles come first, providences next, persons last. Principles are eternal. Providences develope principles, principles make persons. Sometimes principles, providences, and persons all go to form other persons, so directly and visibly, that the combination arrests a reflecting mind as indicative of some great and special design. This is the case in the history of the formation of character in a man like Luther. Indeed, persons can be used as instrumentalities in no grander way, and on no sublimer mission, than informing other persons; the greatest work of souls is upon souls, not upon railroads and steam-engines. Providences are the discipline of persons with respect to principles. Providences sometimes are the revelation of principles to persons, and sometimes they are the preparation of persons to sustain, hold forth, illustrate, and apply principles. Then again the principles sustain the persons to bear the providences, to understand them, and to carry forward their design.

In no company of men that the world ever saw was the Providence and Grace of God illustrated more remarkably, than with our Pilgrim Fathers. But God selected them