(_RICHES OF CHRIST FAIL NOT--SALVATION--VANITY OF CREATED
COMFORTS--LONGING FOR MORE OF CHRIST._)
MUCH HONOURED IN THE LORD,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am
still in good terms with Christ: however my Lord's wind blow, I have
the advantage of the calm and sunny side of Christ. Devils, and hell,
and devil's servants, are all blown blind, in pursuing the Lord's
little bride. They shall be as a night-dream who fight against Mount
Zion.
Worthy Sir, I hope that ye take to heart the worth of your calling.
This great fair and meeting of the people shall skail, and the port is
open for us. As fast as time weareth out, we fly away; eternity is at
our elbow. Oh, how blessed are they who in time make Christ sure for
themselves! Salvation is a great errand. I find it hard to fetch
heaven. Oh that we would take pains on our lamps, for the Bridegroom
is coming! The other side of this world shall be turned up
incontinently, and up shall be down: and those that are weeping in
sackcloth will triumph on white horses, with Him whose name is The
Word of God. Those dying idols, the fair creatures that we whorishly
love better than our Creator, shall pass away like snow-water. The
Godhead, the Godhead! a communion with God in Christ! To be halvers
with Christ of the purchased house and inheritance in heaven, should
be our scope and aim.
For myself, when I lay my accounts, oh what telling, oh what weighing
is in Christ! Oh how soft are His kisses! Oh love, love surpassing in
Jesus! I have no fault to that love, but that it seemeth to deal
niggardly with me; I have little of it. Oh that I had Christ's seen
and read bond, subscribed by Himself, for my fill of it! What garland
have I, or what crown, if I looked right on things, but Jesus! Oh,
there is no room in us on this side of the water for that love. This
narrow bit of earth, and these ebb and narrow souls can hold little of
it, because we are full of rifts. I would that glory, glory would
enlarge us (as it will), and make us tight, and close up our seams and
rifts, that we might be able to comprehend it--which is yet
incomprehensible.
Remember my love to your wife. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,