in your
affairs, and you shall prosper; and learn to know that you have need of
God to be your friend."

To another cousin he said, "David, you are an aged man, and you know not
well what an account you have to make. I know you better than you
believe, for you worship God according to men's devices; you believe
lies of God; your soul is in a dreadful case; and till you know the
truth you shall never see your own way aright."

To a young man his neighbour, "Because you are but young, beware of
temptation and snares; above all, be careful to keep yourself in the use
of means; resort to good company, and howbeit you be named a puritan and
mocked, care not for that, but rejoice, and be glad that they would
admit you to their society, for I must tell you, when I am at this point
in which you see me, I get no comfort to my soul from any other second
means under heaven, but from these who are nicknamed puritans; they are
the men that can give a word of comfort to a wearied soul in due season,
and that I have found by experience."

To one of his natural sisters, "My dove, thou art young, and alas
ignorant of God. I know thy breeding and upbringing well enough, seek
the Spirit of regeneration. Oh! if thou knew it, and felt the power of
the Spirit as I do now. Think not all is gone because your brother is
dead. Trust in God, and beware of the follies of youth. Give yourself to
reading and praying, and be careful in hearing God's word, and take heed
whom you hear, and how you hear, and God be with you."

To a minister he said, "Mr. James, it is not holiness enough to be a
minister, for you ministers have your own faults, and those more heinous
than others. I pray you, be more painful in your calling, and take good
heed of the flock of God, know that every soul that perisheth by your
negligence, shall be counted to your soul, murdered before God. Take
heed in these dangerous days how you lead the people of God, and take
heed to your ministry."

To Mr. George Gillespie, then his chaplain, "You have carried yourself
discreetly to me, so that I cannot blame you. I hope you shall prove an
honest man; if I have been at any time harsh to you, forgive me. I would
I had taken better heed to many of your words, I might have gotten good
by the means God gave me, but I made no use of them, &c. I am grieved
for my ingratitude against my loving Lord, and that I should have sinned
against him who came down from heaven to the earth for my c