(_CALL TO EARNESTNESS ABOUT SALVATION--INTRUSION OF MINISTERS._)
HONOURABLE, AND DEAREST IN THE LORD,--Your letter hath refreshed my
soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together. Ye are my
joy and my crown. Ye know that I have recommended His love to you. I
defy the world, Satan, and sin. His love hath neither brim nor bottom
in it. My dearest in Christ, I write my soul's desire to you. Heaven
is not at the next door. I find Christianity to be a hard task; set to
in your evening. We would all keep both Christ and our right eye, our
right hand and foot; but it will not do with us. I beseech you, by the
mercies of God, and your compearance before Christ, look Christ's
account-book and your own together, and collate them. Give the remnant
of your time to your soul. This great idol-god, the world, will be
lying in white ashes on the day of your compearance; and why should
night-dreams, and day-shadows, and water-froth, and May-flowers run
away with your heart? When we win to the water-side, and black death's
river-brink, and put our foot into the boat, we shall laugh at our
folly. Sir, I recommend unto you the thoughts of death, and how ye
would wish your soul to be when ye shall lie cold, blue, ill-smelling
clay.
For any hireling to be intruded, I, being the King's prisoner, cannot
say much; but, as God's minister, I desire you to read Acts i. 15, 16,
to the end, and Acts vi. 2-5, and ye shall find that God's people
should have a voice in choosing church-rulers and teachers. I shall be
sorry if, willingly, ye shall give way to his unlawful intrusion upon
my labours. The only wise God direct you.
God's grace be with you.
Your loving pastor,