(_HEAVEN'S HAPPINESS--JOY IN THE CROSS._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I rejoice that ye
cannot be quit of Christ (if I may speak so), but that He must, He
will have you. Betake yourself to Christ, my dear brother. It is a
great business to make quit of superfluities, and of those things
which Christ cannot dwell with. I am content with my own cross, that
Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot, because it is Christ's and
mine together. I marvel not that winter is without heaven, for there
is no winter within it: all the saints, therefore, have their own
measure of winter, before their eternal summer. Oh for the long day,
and the high sun, and the fair garden, and the King's Great City up
above these visible heavens! What God layeth on let us suffer; for
some have one cross, some seven, some ten, some half a cross. Yet all
the saints have whole and full joy; and seven crosses have seven joys.
Christ is cumbered with me (to speak so) and my cross; but He falleth
not off from me; we are not at variance. I find the very glooms of
Christ's wooing a soul sweet and lovely. I had rather have Christ's
buffet and love-stroke, than another king's kiss. Speak evil of Christ
who will, I hope to die with love thoughts of Him. Oh that there are
so few tongues in heaven and earth to extol Him! I wish His praises go
not down amongst us. Let not Christ be low and lightly esteemed in the
midst of us: but let all hearts and all tongues cast in their portion,
and contribute something to make Him great in Mount Zion.
Thus recommending you to His grace, and remembering my love to your
wife and mother, and your kind brother, R. B.,[359] and entreating you
to remember my bonds, I rest,
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,