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Dr. Manton's Recommendation.

To my Rev. Friend Mr. THO. CASE.

SIR,

I

THANK you for the favour you did me in affording me a sight of your papers; I had heard much of your notions concerning afflictions, and therefore was very thirsty till you were pleased to give me to drink of the fountain: I can now say as the queen

of Sheba, The one half was not

told me; fame came much short of state. We are perfect in no lessons so much as those into which God whippeth us; and cannot speak

of

any argument so warmly and feelingly, as when we speak out of present experience. To treat of afflictions when we ourselves flourish a abound in ease and plenty, savoureth more of the orator than the preach

er, the brain than the heart. Certainly guess and imagination, cannot be so good a midwife to such conceptions, as sense and feeling.

It seemeth when you went into prison, the Spirit of God went into prison with you; and when you were shut up to others, you still lay open to the visits and free breathings of his grace; the restraints and enclosures of a prison cannot prejudice the freedom of his operations: he is a close prisoner indeed that is shut up, not only from the society of men, but converse with the Holy Ghost. I begin to see there is somewhat more than a strain and reach of wit in Tertullian's consolatory discourse to the martyrs: "You went out of prison (saith he) when you went into it, and were but sequestred from the world, that you might converse with God; the greatest prisoners and the most guilty are those that are at large, darkened with ignorance, chained with lusts, committed not by the proconsul,

but God." The Lord often manifested himself to his prophets in a wilderness, and to you in your secession and retirement.

Sir, I could even envy your prison-comforts, and the sweet opportunities of a religious privacy: we that are abroad are harassed and worn out with constant publick labors, and can seldom retire from the destraction of business for such free converse with God and our own souls: but we are not to choose our own portion; crosses will come soon enough without wishing for them; and if we were wise, we might make an advantage of every condition.

Good Sir, be persuaded to publish those discourses; the subject is useful, and your manner of handling it warm and affectionate; do not deprive the world of the comfort of your experiences; certainly my heart is none of the tenderest; yet if heart answereth heart

I can easily foresee much success, and that, you will not repent of the publication: the Lord bless your endeavours in the gospel of his dear Son.

I am,

SIR,

Your's in all Christian observance,

THO. MANTON.

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