Page:God's Promise to His Plantation.pdf/25

 commanded a blessing, even life for evermore: Psal. 133. 1. 2.

Fourthly, goe forth, every man that goeth, with a publicke spirit, looking not on your owne things onely, but also on the things of others: Phil. 2. 4. This care of universall helpfullnesse was the prosperity of the first Plantation of the Primitive Church: Acts 4. 32.

Fifthly, have a tender care that you looke well to the plants that spring from you, that is, to your children, that they doe not degenerate as the Israelites did; after which they were vexed with afflictions on every hand. How came this to passe? Ier. 2. 21. I planted them a noble Vine, holy, a right seede, how then art thou degenerate into a strange Vine before mee? Your Ancestours were of a noble divine spirit, but if they suffer their children to degenerate, to take loose courses, then God will surely plucke you up: Otherwise if men have a care to propagate the Ordinances and Religion to their children after them, God will plant them, and not roote them up. For want of this, the seede of the repenting Ninivites was rooted out.

Sixthly, and lastly, offend not the poore Natives, but as you partake in their land, so make them partakers of your precious faith: as you reape their temporalls, so feede them with your spiritualls: winne them to the love of Christ, for whom Christ died. They never yet refused the Gospell, and therefore more hope they will now receive it. Who knoweth whether God have