But I have industriously ial, and kept close to what is true Christians.

th of these and other errors, hath been much longer free nks among us would closely of faith, God's word, and national engagements we of tain the pure truths of God sition to all sorts of errors, Arian, Antinomian, &c.; doctrine that would teach der!

day to suspect that Satan, ubtle plot for shaking our weakening a Protestant ne hand, some are beginpropagate the old abjured Reformers did throw out, would go at once to cut and at the same time, on be at breaking down the rmation, viz. our Covestrate's power, &c. For and positions advanced, ss of our national covethe obligation thereof; by Reformers and ancesframed and took them,

and also denying the (for the support of the resies,) acknowledged by Confession of Faith; and ay for a toleration of all though they cannot but e religions, is expressly Iden in the second comexposition exposition of our Larger mned by the twenty third

Wherefore it seems the more necessary to handle it in writing, that so the afflicted may have a book in their houses, and at their bedsides, as a monitor to preach to them in private, when they are restrained from hearing sermons in public.

And though sometimes ministers' sermons may be very suitable to the case of the sick and afflicted; yet, alas! the most part are careless and forgetful hearers of these things while they are in health and prosperity, as reckoning the evil day at some distance from them. A book then, such as the following Directory, being with them in time of sickness and affliction, may, by the divine blessing, be useful to bring to their remembrance these counsels and admonitions which they very much neglected in the time of their health.

Again, ministers of the gospel, though ever so much inclined to attend the sick, yet by reason of disability and multiplicity of other work, cannot be al ways with them, to direct, resolve, and comfort them. But such a book as this they may have still at hand to consult with.

And in regard, the afflicted, for the most part, are out of case to read for themselves, it would be a most charitable work for friends or neighbours that attend them, to lay hold on proper seasons for reading such a book as this in their hearing, and especially such chapters or directions as they judge most suitable for them. Thus you might be helped in some measure to exoner your consciences, and do your last offices of kindness to your sick and dying friends, when you can serve them no longer in the world.

I might have brought in, and handled some controversies (had I been fond of them) in the ensuing treatise, about the administration of the Lord's supper to the sick, and about extreme unetion, which some also begin to plead for, and thence have taken occasion to touch at some other new usages, such as the middle state, prayers for the dead, and other Popish errors,

some (called Protestants) would have revived

and introduced among us. But I have industriously shunned what is controversial, and kept close to what is practical, and owned by all true Christians.

For preventing the growth of these and other errors, (from which this nation hath been much longer free than others), I wish all ranks among us would closely observe the sacred rule of faith, God's word, and remember the solemn and national engagements we of this land are under, to maintain the pure truths of God therein contained, in opposition to all sorts of errors, whether Popish, Pelagian, Arian, Antinomian, &c. And may we ever abhor the doctrine that would teach us to break these bands asunder!

Have we not ground this day to suspect that Satan is carrying on a deep and subtle plot for shaking our covenanted reformation, and weakening a Protestant interest? when, upon the one hand, some are beginning openly to advance and propagate the old abjured Popish doctrines, which our Reformers did throw out, and with axes and hammers would go at once to cut down all the carved work; and at the same time, on the other hand, some would be at breaking down the excellent fences of our Reformation, viz. our Covenants, Confessions, the Magistrate's power, &c. For this end, papers are spread and positions advanced, impugning the warrantableness of our national covenants and confessions, and the obligation thereof; reflecting also upon our worthy Reformers and ancestors, as unenlightened, who framed and took them, or died adhering thereunto; and also denying the magistrate's power circa sacra, (for the support of the truth, and suppressing of heresies,) acknowledged by the word of God, and our Confession of Faith; and all this, forsooth, to make way for a toleration of all errors and sects among us; though they cannot but know, that tolerating of false religions, is expressly ranked among the sins forbidden in the second commandment according to the exposition of our Larger Catechism; and is also condemned by the twenty third

chapter of our Confession: in both which we may see the clear scripture texts cited by the Assembly, for refuting and condemning any such toleration. Ah! what joy may all this cause at Rome! therefore tell it not in Gath, &c.

As the Lord did signally countenance our Reformers' practice, in entering into solemn and national covenants with God, and among themselves, for religion and reformation, by the pouring out of his Spirit from on high, for bringing in of many souls to himself, and for overturning idolatry and superstition, and advancing reformation to a great pitch, in spite of al} the enemies and difficulties that were in the way; so their practice of national covenanting even under the New Testament dispensation, is sufficiently warranted both by the light of nature, and by the word of God, and that in both Testaments. And this will appear, if we consider the scripture precedents, together with the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament relating to gospel times, and compare them with the New; and especially these which foretel the unchurching of the Jewish nation, and the ingrafting of the Gentile nations into their room; and that thereupon the national church state and privileges of the Jews were to be transferred to Christian nations, and parti cularly this of being nationally in covenant with God; -which prophecies are to have their special and full accomplishment at Babylon's downfall. For illustrating these points, and applying the scripture texts relative thereto, I might expatiate in several sheets of paper, if it were proper here. I shall only at this time cite some of the texts that may be well improven to the foresaid purposes; which the reader may turn to, and consider at his leisure, such as Isa. xix. 18, 21, 23, 24, 25. Isa. xlv. 23. Jer. 1. 4, 5. the lx. lxi, and lxii. chapters of Isaiah throughout. Isa. lv. 3, 4, 5. Micah iv. 1, 2. Zech. viii. 21, 22, 23. Rev. ii. 15. Rom. xi. 17, 19. Rom. x. 12, 19. Matth. iii. 5, 6. Acts viii. 6. 12. 2 Cor. viii. 5. Matth. xxi. 43. Rom. ix. 24, 25, 26.