less necessary, or for things that are no charge to them, and cost
them nothing but the breath of contention, though that may be too
great a price for the small things they purchase with it!

But further, Do we not all agree, that men that preach the gospel
should do it like workmen that need not be ashamed? and yet how
little is this considered by many preachers, who never consider
before they speak of what they say, or whereof they affirm! How few
give themselves to study that they may be approved! How few
meditate and give themselves to these things, that their profiting
may appear to all!

For the Lord's sake let us unite to practise those things we know;
and if we would have more talents, let us all agree to improve those
we have.

See the spirit that was among the primitive professors, that knowing
and believing how much it concerned them in the propagating of
Christianity, to shew forth love to one another (that so all might
know them to be Christ's disciples), rather than there should be any
complainings among them, they sold all they had. O how zealous were
these to practise, and as with one shoulder to do that that was upon
their hearts for God! I might further add, how often have we agreed
in our judgment? and hath it not been upon our hearts, that this and
the other thing is good to be done, to enlighten the dark world, and
to repair the breaches of churches, and to raise up those churches
that now lie gasping, and among whom the soul of religion is
expiring? But what do we more than talk of them? Do not most
decline these things, when they either call for their purses or
their persons to help in this and such like works as these? Let us