_Tho’ painful at present_, _’twill cease before long_, _And then_, _O how pleasant the conqueror’s song_.
Permit me here to drop a few words more. Suffer the word of exhortation. As a church, many among you have professed to receive the word with power in this place, and among this people, by my feeble instrumentality. Let me beg of you to keep near to the Saviour by secret, humble, and fervent prayer, that your minds may be more divinely opened, to receive Jesus as set forth in the gospel—that God will condescend to raise up a more able, more faithful, and more useful preacher—that you may be fed with the sincere milk of the word, and with _strong meat_, as the apostle describes the great things of God. Let me intreat you to walk in love and humility together. Let me beg of you all to avoid sin, secret and public; I mean, as to the commission of it; and by looking to Jesus, to get rid of the guilt, power, and love of it. Let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ; and it will be the joy of my heart when I am gone from you, to hear that you are walking in the truth, that many are added to you, whose experience, views, and conduct, are consistent with the Gospel. _Walk in love_, _and the God of love and peace be with you all_. Amen.
I conclude this humble farewell address, in that devout Prayer of the Litany of the Church of England.
“_O God_, _merciful Father_, _that despiseth not the sighing of a contrite heart_, _nor the desires of such as be sorrowful_; _mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities_, _whensoever they oppress us_; _and graciously hear us_, _that those evils_, _which the craft and subtilty of the Devil or man worketh against us_, _be brought to nought_; _and by the providence of thy goodness_, _they may be dispersed_; _that we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions_, _may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church_, _through Jesus Christ our Lord_.” _Amen_.
Printed by R. THOMAS, Red Lion Street, BOROUGH.
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