(_A GOOD CONSCIENCE--CHRIST KIND TO
SUFFERERS--RESPONSIBILITY--YOUTH._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I wonder
that ye write not to me; for the Holy Ghost beareth me witness, that I
cannot, I dare not, I dow not,[256] forget you, nor the souls of those
with you, who are redeemed by the blood of the great Shepherd. Ye are
in my heart in the night-watches; ye are my joy and crown in the day
of Christ. O Lord, bear me witness, if my soul thirsteth for anything
out of heaven, more than for your salvation. Let God lay me in an
even-balance, and try me in this.
[256] Letter CIV. might suggest "do not" to be the right word.
Love heaven; let your heart be on it. Up, up, and visit the new Land
and view the fair City, and the white Throne, and the Lamb, the
bride's Husband in His Bridegroom's clothes, sitting on it. It were
time that your soul cast itself, and all your burdens, upon Christ. I
beseech you by the wounds of your Redeemer, and by your compearance
before Him, and by the salvation of your soul, lose no more time; run
fast, for it is late. God hath sworn by Himself, who made the world
and time, that time shall be no more (Rev. x. 6). Ye are now upon the
very border of the other life. Your Lord cannot be blamed for not
giving you warning. I have taught the truth of Christ to you, and
delivered unto you the whole counsel of God; and I have stood before
the Lord for you, and I will yet still stand. Awake, awake to do
righteously. Think not to be eased of the burdens and debts that are
on your house by oppressing any, or being rigorous to those that are
under you. Remember how I endeavoured to walk before you in this
matter, as an example. "Behold, here am I, witness against me, before
the Lord and His Anointed: whose ox or whose ass have I taken? Whom
have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed?" (1 Sam. xii. 3). Who knoweth
how my soul feedeth upon a good conscience, when I remember how I
spent this body in feeding the lambs of Christ?
At my first entry hither, I grant, I took a stomach against my Lord,
because He had casten me over the dyke of the vineyard, as a dry tree,
and would have no more of my service. My dumb Sabbaths broke my heart,
and I would not be comforted. But now He whom my soul loveth is come
again, and it pleaseth Him to feast me with the kisses of His love. A
King dineth with me, and His spikenard casteth a sweet smell. The Lord
is my witness above, that I write my heart to you. I never knew, by my
nine years' preaching, so much of Christ's love, as He has taught me
in Aberdeen, by six months' imprisonment. I charge you in Christ's
name to help me to praise; and show that people and country the
loving-kindness of the Lord to my soul, that so my sufferings may
someway preach to them when I am silent. He hath made me to know now
better than before, what it is to be crucified to the world. I would
not now give a drink of cold water for all the world's kindness. I owe
no service to it: I am not the flesh's debtor. My Lord Jesus hath
dawted His prisoner, and hath thoughts of love concerning me. I would
not exchange my sighs with the laughing of adversaries. Sir, I write
this to inform you, that ye may know that it is the truth of Christ I
now suffer for, and that He hath sealed my suffering with the comforts
of His Spirit on my soul; and I know that He putteth not His seal upon
blank paper.
Now, sir, I have no comfort earthly, but to know that I have espoused,
and shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation. The Lord
hath given you much, and therefore He will require much of you again.
Number your talents, and see what you have to render back. Ye cannot
be enough persuaded of the shortness of your time. I charge you to
write to me, and in the fear of God to be plain with me, whether or
not ye have made your salvation sure. I am confident, and hope the
best; but I know that your reckonings with your Judge are many and
deep. Sir, be not beguiled, neglect not your one thing (Phil. iii.
13), your one necessary thing (Luke x. 42), the good part that shall
not be taken from you. Look beyond time: things here are but
moonshine. They have but children's wit who are delighted with
shadows, and deluded with feathers flying in the air.
Desire your children, in the morning of their life, to begin and seek
the Lord, and to remember their Creator in the days of their youth
(Eccles. xii. 1), to cleanse their way, by taking heed thereto,
according to God's word (Ps. cxix. 9). Youth is a glassy age. Satan
finds a swept chamber, for the most part, in youthhood, and a
garnished lodging for himself and his train. Let the Lord have the
flower of their age; the best sacrifice is due to Him. Instruct them
in this, that they have a soul, and that this life is nothing in
comparison of eternity. They will have much need of God's conduct in
this world, to guide them by[257] those rocks upon which most men
split; but far more need when it cometh to the hour of death, and
their compearance before Christ. Oh that there were such an heart in
them, to fear the name of the great and dreadful God, who hath laid up
great things for those that love and fear Him! I pray that God may be
their portion. Show others of my parishioners, that I write to them my
best wishes, and the blessings of their lawful pastor. Say to them
from me, that I beseech them, by the bowels of Christ, to keep in mind
the doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which I taught
them; that so they may lay hold on eternal life, striving together for
the faith of the Gospel, and making sure salvation to themselves. Walk
in love, and do righteousness; seek peace; love one another. Wait for
the coming of our Master and Judge. Receive no doctrine contrary to
that which I delivered to you. If ye fall away, and forget it, and
that Catechism which I taught you, and so forsake your own mercy, the
Lord be Judge betwixt you and me. I take heaven and earth to witness,
that such shall eternally perish. But if they serve the Lord, great
will their reward be when they and I shall stand before our Judge. Set
forward up the mountain, to meet with God; climb up, for your Saviour
calleth on you. It may be that God will call you to your rest, when I
am far from you; but ye have my love, and the desires of my heart for
your soul's welfare. He that is holy, keep you from falling, and
establish you, till His own glorious appearance.
Your affectionate and lawful pastor,