1. The earnest _desire_ of some _Godly Friends_.
2. Mine owne _desire_ of sowing a little handfull of _spirituall seed_ while the short _Minute_ of my _seed-time_ (the _opportunity_ of life) lasteth.
[Sidenote: The least of the little ones of Christ Jesus ought to rejoyce.]
My scope is to fill each truly _Christian soule_ with _triumphing_ and _rejoycing_: I speak _peace_ and _joy_ to the Weakest _Lamb_ and _Child_ (in _Christianity_) that is so _low_, so _weake_, so _litle_, so _poor_ in its owne eyes, that it sometimes saith, it hath no _Christ_, no _Spirit_, no _Faith_, no _Love_, no nor true _Desire_ in it selfe. To this poore weake one I speak _peace_ and _joy_, and say, this _spirituall poverty_ is blessed, and is the first _step_ or _round_ of that spirituall _Ladder_, _Mat. 5_. Blessed are the poor in _spirit_, for theirs is the _Kingdome_ of _Heaven_.
Secondly, I found joyfull _Alarums_ of _Encouragement_ to the _strong_ to grow (as _Peter_ exhorteth) in the _Grace_ and _Knowledge_ of the _Lord Jesus_.
[Sidenote: Communion of Saints most sweet, and to be lamented after.]
Tis true, the _communion_ of _Saints_ is _sweet_ and joyfull, _strong_ and powerfull, eternally _gainfull_ and profitable; and holy and blessed is that _Spirit_ that makes the _Saints_ (who are the _Excellent_ of the Earth) its _Delight_, and after that blessed hour of the _Saints uniting_ in _one Heart_, _one Spirit_, _one Worship_, let all that love _Christ Jesus_ mourne and lament, and breath and pant: And yet the weakest and the faintest _Lamb_ that comes but stealing in the Crowd to touch the hemb of the _Lord Jesus_ his garment, that is content to be esteemed a _Dog_, and to wait for _crums_ of _mercy_ under the _Table_ of the Son of _God_: let them I say rejoyce also, for he that hath begun that blessed work by his owne free and eternall _Spirit_, will by the same his owne holy _Arme_, gloriously finish it.
I end (_Deare Christian_) with the _proposall_ of two _Christian knots_, or _Riddles_, not unsuitable to these present _Times_ and _Spirits_?
[Sidenote: Two Christian Riddles, suiting these times and spirits.]
_First_, Why is the _Heart_ of a _David_ himself (_Psa. 30._) more apt to decline from _God_, upon the Mountaine of _Joy_, _Deliverance_, _Victory_, _Prosperity_, then in the dark _Vale_ of the shadow of _Death_, _Persecution_, _Sicknesse_, _Adversity_, &c.