(_PROSPERITY UNDER THE CROSS--NEED OF SINCERITY, AND BEING FOUNDED ON
CHRIST._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am well.
Christ triumpheth in me, blessed be His name. I have all things. I
burden no man. I see that this earth and the fulness thereof is my
Father's. Sweet, sweet is the cross of my Lord. The blessing of God
upon the cross of my Lord Jesus! My enemies have contributed (beside
their design) to make me blessed. This is my palace, not my prison;
especially, when my Lord shineth and smileth upon His poor afflicted
and sold Joseph, who is separated from his brethren. But often He
hideth Himself; and there is a day of law, and a court of challenges
within me; I know not if fenced in God's name. But, oh, my neglects!
oh, my unseen guiltiness! I imagined that a sufferer for Christ kept
the keys of Christ's treasure, and might take out his heart-full of
comforts when he pleased; but I see, a sufferer and a witness shall be
holden at the door, as well as another poor sinner, and be glad to eat
with the bairns, and to take the by-board.
This cross hath let me see that heaven is not at the next door, and
that it is a castle not soon taken. I see, also, that it is neither
pain nor art to play the hypocrite. We have all learned to sell
ourselves for double price; and to make the people (who call ten
twenty, and twenty an hundred) esteem us half gods, or men fallen out
of the clouds. But, oh, sincerity, sincerity, if I knew what sincerity
meaneth!
Sir, lay the foundation thus, and ye shall not soon shrink, nor be
shaken. Make tight work at the bottom, and your ship shall ride
against all storms, if withal your anchor be fastened on good ground;
I mean within the vail. And verily I think this is all, to gain
Christ. All other things are shadows, dreams, fancies, and nothing.
Sir, remember my love to your mother. I pray for mercy and grace to
her; I wish her on-going toward heaven. As I promised to write, so
shew her that I want nothing in my Lord's service. Christ will not be
in such a poor man's common as mine. Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,