Jeremiah Hignell's Loving and Friendly. ADVICE AND COUNCIL, Given forth to the Inhabitants of Bristol, And all others that may be concerned in other Places.

MY Loving Council and Advice to you all who are my [...] Citizens and Neighbours, and Country Men and Women, without exception, is this, I would have you consider your [...] plainly with the Lord whom we have to do with, and deal plainly wit [...] your own Souls, and Read in the Book of Conscience, what you are doing, and in plain­ness, see how your lives are squared by the Truth, or by the Law of God written in in your Hearts or according to the Testimonies of the Prophets of God in times past, or according to the Testimonies of Christ Jesus our Lord, and according to his Apostle's Doctrine. This will hurt none either Men, or Women, young or old, to have this Search pass through them in time, before it be too late; for late Repentance is not so good as early Repentance. Remember Esaw, that sought his Birth right with Tears, but could not obtain it: Yet I would not discourage any one that hath a true desire to turn unto the Lord God of Life, and Power, for it is left upon Record, i [...] the Scriptures of Truth, Isaiah, 55.6. and 7th. Verses, Seek ye the Lord whilst he m [...]y be found, cast upon him whilst he is near: Let the Wicked forsa [...]e his wa [...], and the Ʋngodly man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have Mercy upon him; and unto our God, for be will abundantly Pardon: So I would desire all to consider, who have spent their time in Valnity and foolish Pleasure, which will not profit, and still spend their time in Pride, which is grown to a great height, the more is the Pity, and I doubt, without timely Re­pentance, and the great Mercy of God, it will cause great Sorrow; for the long suffer­ing and Patience of God hath been great towards this City, and our Native Land, where­in God hath raised up such Instruments that hath sought unto him in the time of Need, to send yet a Blessing upon poor England: But if God should make a Desolation in the Land, and particularly in this City, the Righteous, I believe, should not be forsaken; and I hope the Lord will be yet intreated for this Nation, if People would but return from that which is Evil, and turn to that which is Good. Now some may say, How shall I learn to do that which is Good? Oh! Man, or Woman, [Page 2] whosoever thou art, thou dost see that Pride is a great sin, and Drunkenness is a great sin, whereby the Creatures are abused, that God doth give for the good of Men, and Wo­men, and not to be wasted, but received with thankfullness, that so many poor People in the Land that may want the Comforts of them, even in this City, and other places that may be destitute, and Whoredom is a great sin, let it be never so private; the Lord God of Heaven and Earth he sees you that are Guilty. He that made the Heaven and the Earth, he beholdeth all things, he Searcheth the Heart, and tryeth the Reins, he is near unto all. He that made the Heart, he knoweth the Heart, and he will Judge them: Swearing is a very great sin, even a crying sin, and it is grievous to hear so much of it about the Streets; so is Murther a great and crying sin, which calls for Vengeance, and which the Commandements of God do testifie against; and Theft is a sore Evil, which hangs in the Skirts of some, and I would to God these things were laid aside by all that is guilty, and Coveteouness is a great sin, which is said to be Idolatry, as it is written, and many other great Evils doth attend the Sors and Daughters of Men, Emulation, VVrath, Prejudice, Backbiteing, all this is for want of Love, and the great fear of God to be set up in the Heart, for the fear of God leepeth the Heart clean. But I cannot pass by this great sin of Pride which hath been set before me for above this two Years, and I have reasoned with my self, how I should manifest my Mind unto them that are walk­ing in this way: But now I humbly desire the People to leave off this great sin of Pride where ever it is found, whether in Man or Woman, of high or low degree, which is gotten up, as I may say, into a Monster, if it be well taken Notice of; and with La­mentation I speak it, for it is a grief to my Soul, and therefore I beseech you, O Neigh­bours and People, who are guilty of it, to lay it aside speedily, with all other the Evil and [...]i [...]uities of what kind soever; for these things will move God's Wrath against the Guilty, and draw down Judgments upon this City, which hath so many People in it that my Soul doth love; and I travel for the good of all sorts, Pride, Idleness, and Fullness of Bread, as I remember, was the sins of [...]odom, and shall not those that fear God, mourn before the Lord, that he may divert he Judgments, and turn away his displeas [...]re that is against the Inhab [...]tants of this our City and Native Countries, I speak and write, I Testifie in much Meekness, and in humility of soul, if it were possible to perswade my Loving fellow Citizens, and Countrey folks to turn to the Lord, with a Humble Heart, and in this Humble perswasion, I believe the Lord will be with me, so I commend you to the Grace of God, which is able to help in this great work of Salvation, if you Joyn with it, and turn not from it, for it teaches all that will be taught by it, to deny ungodliness and worldly Luts, and to live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly in this present World, Tit. 2.11. For all have a Measure of the Grace that comes from God, and measure of the Heavenly gift and Manifestation of the spirit of God, which is given to every one to profit withall, 1 Cor. 12.7. for God condemns not any for that they never had, but for what they have had, and not improved, but misused according to the Testimony of the Holy Scriptures, John 3.19. And this is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the World, and men Love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds were evil. And further, I have to signifie, that some that believe have a sight of Spiritual things, for God doth Reavel his Mind and Will by his Spirit, but they will not take up the Cross for fear of others, or being accounted Fools, or differing from their Neighbours; and this is the true State of some, but I pray God to help those poor People out of this state, which will be an happiness to them, and so I will leave you all to God's Grace, as I have done before, to teach you who are in any of the foregoing states and conditions, and commend my faith­full love to you, desiring that God may be with you in the great work of his Salvation, which is Revealed, and begun to be right spoken of in this day among a dispised People, even Christ in Man, the hope of Glory, Col. 1.27.

THE END

BRISTOL, Printed, by Will. Bonny, on the Back.

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