145 
1811 .] Hugh P-eters' last Legacy to his Daughter, 
my self orthodox in all points of religion, 
according to i\\e Assemblies Confession^ ex¬ 
plained by others at the 6'awj/ also; so I 
have desired in nothing to be more clear, 
than in the two doctrines aforesaid: 1 
liave wished you to be perfect in 'Rom. 
8. and mind ners. 1. and ‘oers. 28. well, 
with what follows to the end of that 
chapter; this hath been my experience, 
that the preaching of these truths have 
been my greatest advantage, and of most 
benefit to others; though in this I have 
enough to bewail also. 
2. To this purpose, hear the best men, 
keep the best company, read the best 
books, especially n.ake the grounds of 
religion your own; l^ulls and the Assem¬ 
blies Catechism, with the like you liave 
from me commended to you : and though 
there are near an hundred several cate¬ 
chisms in the nation; yet (if found) they 
must speak one thing, viz. Man lost in 
himself, redeemed only by Christ, and 
holy walking, or thankfulness; you have 
my experience so often repeated to you, 
that an unbroken heart, and an unchu- 
techised head, will keep distance enough 
betwixt God and a poor sinfull creature : 
Oh! that parents and ministers would 
think of it, what a heap of mischiefs this 
neglect hath produced. 
The Waldenses and Germans had never 
been so famous for suffering, had they 
been uncatechized. This is a large 
field, in which I could walk long, preach 
long, yea, lose my -self in this sweet 
wilderness: For this is life eternal to 
know thee and Jesus Christ, Joh. 17. 23. 
But take this for a caution, that mdr^ 
may be well taught also, who never took 
forth Christ’s first three lessons, never 
denying themselves, nor taking up the 
Cross, novfollozving him, Matth. 16. 24. 
We know no more than we practise, yet 
we shall never practise without know¬ 
ledge; how many scriptures give evi¬ 
dence to this, which I forbear to quote; 
only remember how Solomon extols wis- 
dom and knowledge. 
I take my share in mourning, that I 
see in the afternoon of this age, the sha¬ 
dow longer than the substance, profession 
than practice; though the trade may not 
be condemned, when it falls into ill hands 
that manage it. 
He that sets up religion, to get any 
tljing by it more than the glory of God, 
and the saving bis own soul, will make a 
bad bargain of it in the close. My 
dear only child, be rooted in the truth, 
and thou shall be fruitful!, and thriving. 
3. Be constant in reading the Scrip¬ 
tures, and that with a fervent medita¬ 
tion, I mean, as to pray in praying, fast 
in fasting, so to read in reading: many 
doubtless take up a cursory trade, to 
read out the cries of a defiled or rackt 
conscience: I say read with delight, not 
as under a load, or as a labourer, who 
waits for the shadow of the evening, 
which you shall never do, unless your 
heart be connatural with the word ; and 
therefore remember as justification takes 
away guilt and punishment; sanctifica¬ 
tion takes away the power and filth; 
glorification takes away the presence of 
sin: so effectual calling takes away that 
jarre that is betwixt tlie soul*hnd the law 
of God, by reason of sin; the called of 
God read but their Fathei’s blessed will 
in reading bis word, his Testament, his 
legacies, his precepts, his threalnings 
against sin, all which his childe de¬ 
lights to hear and read. This one book, 
well read, will answer any question, or 
case, and you’l finde Solomons Proverbs 
the best politicks, and Christ crucified 
the best divinity. But in reading die 
Scriptures let me reach out this expe¬ 
rience, when you have prayed over your 
purpose that way, then in every chapter, 
first minde the method, then note the 
hard things you understand not, and get 
helps to clear them to you. And lastly, 
gather out the chief doctrines, or lessons, 
then ill reading one chapter, you may 
understand many: and if you read the 
Bible with the annotations of some di¬ 
vines, or the Dutch translated, it will not 
be amiss. I have formerly commended 
to you a little English library, in this 
kinde, wliich I now fear, your so much 
altered condition will not give you time 
to be vers’d in. However, remember 
David, Psal. 119. bow every verse almost 
■shews love to the Word. And truly you 
may be assured, you shall upon mine and 
your own experience finde, that you 
shall have no more Christ, nay, God, 
spirit, faith, peace, comfort, than you 
have scripture: nor will you have any 
Christ, a Saviour, that is not a scrip* 
tore Christ. Oh that the word may 
dwellplent fully in you, my poor child, 
4, Pray continually, is the apostle’s 
councel to the Thessalonians : and for 
this you may have far better helps, then 
from my unworthy unable self. There 
are many helps to devotion, M-C. Ruxter, 
Burrows, Gurnal, Bridge, &c. Yet you 
shall have what 1 promised, even my,ea;- 
perience : I hope you know, that prayer 
is the breathing forth of holy desires, or, 
lifting up the soul upon Godj or asking 
