THE

*,

DEDICATION.

My dearest Friends,

WH

HOM I love dearly remember daily, long for greatly, pray for earneftly, and praife God heartily; to whom I could write with my pureft blood; and do fend thefe lines from my inward bowels.

THOUGH I cannot fay I am fo tranfported with affection and zeal as Paul, to wifh myself accurfed from Chrift for their fakes; yet I am perfuaded, I could be contented with Jonas, to be caft into the fea, to the pacifying of God's wrath for you; that I may be free from the blood of all men, and by the power of God, to deal plainly and fincerely with all my fellow-creatures, not valuing the fmiles, nor fearing the frowns of wicked men: It is better to lose their fmiles than it is to lose their precious fouls; though there are many that are enemies to me, yet I am an enemy to none, á hater

hater of no man's person, but a lover of their fouls; he that loved me when I was an enemy, commandeth me to love my enemies. Dear Chriftians, cleave to the Lord, and follow after him fully; neglect no duty, though you may know there is danger in doing it; fear God and fin, more than men and fuffering; let your fouls bear up with Chrift, bear off from the world; bear down your corruptions, and bear forth your teftimony; refpect all, reject none of God's commandments, but take patiently and thankfully the hardeft dealings of God,

THE heavieft afflictions on earth, are but light in comparifon of Chrift's fufferings, or the punishment of the wicked in hell. When God's people are humble, and the wicked high enough, and the Lord's appointed time is come, then expect deliverance to the godly, and not before. You fhould not envy the patience of God towards your enemies, for it is nothing in comparison of what love he fheweth to you; be you diligent at your work, and leave God at his, you need not fear fuccefs, the Lord will foon turn from his wrath, if men were turned from their wickedness; look narrowly to your hearts, tongues and ways; I never trufted God, but I found

him faithful; nor mine own heart, but I found it falfe: Take heed friends, that you be not always wooing Chrift, and yet never married to him; therefore do not leave, till have put you the great question out of all doubt.

LOOK upon Chrift without, and then fearch for him within you; he that will clearly fee with the eye of faith, muft fhut the eye of reason; it is the will of God, that faints fhould rejoice more in what Chrift hath done for them, than in what they have done for him. O lay up for Chrift, make hafte and do your work, and God will give you wages.

DEAR BRETHREN, I befeech you confider well thefe things, for they are precious, weighty, and neceffary truths.

I fhall add no more, but promife you my prayers, and request yours for me, and for a bleffing upon this, that it may bring comfort to God, and good to you, which is all that is aimed at by him, who is,

Your Soul's Servant,

WILLIAM DYER.

TO

IT

TO THE

CHRISTIAN READER.

T is the great unhappiness of our age, that the greateft part of men busy themselves moft in that which concerns them leaft; look into the world, amongst rich and poor, high and low, young and old, and fee whether it appear not by the whole fcope of their converfations that they fet more by fomething elfe than Chrift and falvation; fo they may have but fome of the earth in their hands, they care for nothing of heaven in their hearts; the' gold can no more fill their hearts, than grace their purses.

MOST men are like that filly woman, that when her house was on fire, fo minded the faving of her goods, that she left her children roaring in the flames; at laft being put in remembrance of it, fhe cries out, Oh! my child, my child. Oh! how many men are there, that drop into perdition, merely for a little wealth.

THERE

THERE are many that are temporally miserable, that are eternally happy; and there are many that are temporally happy, that fhall be enternally miferable. Oh! there is a great vanity in all worldly excellencies; the earth is big in our hopes, but little in our hands; it cannot fatisfy the fenfes of men, much less their precious fouls.

DEAR CHRISTIANS, according to my talents received, I have endeavoured to fet forth the riches, the loveliness, the preciousness and excellencies that are in Christ, to draw the heart after him, and to be fick of love for him. Oh! Oh! Jefus Chrift is a fountain of life, light, love, grace, glory, comfort, joy, goodness, fweetnefs, always full and flowing, yea, overflowing; Paul was so much taken with Chrift, that he was ever in his thought; he was near his heart, and upon his tongue; he names him fix or feven times in one chapter, 1 COR. i. Oh! that our our hearts and thoughts were thus bufied about, and taken up with Chrift, and thofe treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are in him.

THE defign of this piece is not the oftentation of the Author, but the edification of the reader; though the Author

be