[Motives and marks of growth.]

_To the most loving and best beloved, the servants

of Christ in |Taunton|, grace and peace._

_Most dear and tender friends_:

WHOSE I am, and whom under God I desire to serve; to build you up in

holiness, and comfort, hath been through grace my great ambition. This

is that which I laboured for; this is that which I suffer for: and

in short, the end of all my applications to you, and to God for you.

How do your souls prosper? Are they in a thriving case? What progress

do you make in sanctification? Doth the house of _Saul_ grow weaker

and weaker, and the house of _David_ stronger and stronger? Behold,

I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, lest any of you should lose

ground in these declining times: and therefore cannot but be often

calling upon you to look to your standing, and to watch and hold fast,

that no man take your crown. Ah! How surely shall you reap in the end,

if you faint not! Take heed therefore that you lose not the things you

have wrought, but as you have begun well, so go on in the strength of

Christ, and give diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end.

Do you need motives? 1. _How much are you behind hand?_ Oh the fair

advantages that we have lost! What time, what sabbaths, sermons,

sacraments, are upon the matter lost? How much work have we yet to do?

Are you sure of heaven yet? Are you fit to die yet? Surely they that

are under so many great wants, had need to set upon some more thriving

courses.

Secondly, _Consider what others have gained, whilst we it may be sit

down by the loss_: Have we not met many vessels richly laden, while

our souls are empty? Oh, the golden prizes that some have won? While

we have folded the hands to sleep! Have not many of our own standing

in religion, left us far behind them?

*Thirdly, _Consider you will all find little enough when you come to

die_: The wise among the virgins have no oil to spare, at the coming

of the bridegroom; temptation and death will put all your graces to it.

How much ado have many had at last to put into this harbour! _David_

cries for respite, till he had recovered a little more strength.

Fourthly, _Consider how short your time for gathering in probably is_?

The Israelites gathered twice so much manna against the sabbath as

they did at other times, because at that time there was no manna fell.

Brethren, you know not how long you have to lay in for. Do you ask for

marks how you may know your souls to be in a thriving case?

_First, If your appetites be more strong._ Do you thirst after God and

after grace, more than heretofore? Do your cares for and desires after

the world abate? And do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?

Whereas you were wont to come with an ill-will to holy duties, do you

come to them as an hungry stomach to its meat?

_Secondly, If your pulses beat more even._ Are you still off and on,

hot and cold? Or is there a more even spun thread of holiness through

your whole course? Do you make good the ground from which you were

formerly beaten off?

*_Thirdly, If you do look more to the carrying on together the duties

of both tables._ Do you not only look to the keeping of your own

vineyards, but do you lay out yourselves for the good of others, and

are filled with zealous desires for their conversion and salvation? Do

you manage your talk and your trade, by the rules of religion?

*Do you eat and sleep by rule? Doth religion form and mould, and

direct your carriage towards husband, wife, parents, children, masters,

servants? Do you grow more universally conscientious? Is piety more

diffusive than ever with you? Doth it come more abroad with you, out

of your closets, into your houses, your shops, your fields? Doth it

journey with you, and buy and sell for you? Hath it the casting voice

in all you do?

_Fourthly, If the duties of religion be more delightful to you._ Do

you take more delight in the word than ever! Are you more in love with

secret prayer, and more abundant in it? Cannot you be content with your

ordinary seasons, but are ever and anon making extraordinary visits to

heaven? And upon all occasions turning aside, to talk with God in some

short ejaculations? Are you often darting up your soul heavenwards? Is

it meat and drink for you, to do the will of God? Do you come off more

freely with God, and answer his calls with more readiness of mind?

*_Fifthly, If you are more abundant in those duties which are most

displeasing to the flesh._ Are you more earnest in mortification?

Are you more strict and severe than ever in the duty of daily

self-examination, and holy meditation? Do you hold the reins harder

upon the flesh than ever? Do you keep a stricter watch upon your

appetites? Do you set a stronger guard upon your tongues? Have you

a more jealous eye upon your hearts?

_Sixthly, If you grow more vile in your own eyes._ Do you grow more

out of love with men’s esteem, set less by it? Are you not marvellous

tender of being slighted? Can you rejoice to see others preferred

before you? Can you heartily value and love them that think meanly of

you?

_Seventhly, If you grow more quick of sense, more sensible of

divine influences, or withdrawings._ Are you more afraid of sin than

ever? Are your sins a greater pain to you than heretofore? Are your

very infirmities your great afflictions? and the daily workings of

corruption a continual grief of mind to you?

I must conclude abruptly, commending you to God, and can only tell you

that I am,

_Your’s in the Lord Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_From the common gaol, in |Ivelchester|,

October 31, 1663._

LETTER XI.

_To my dearly beloved, the inhabitants of |Taunton|,

grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and

the Lord Jesus Christ_.

_Most dearly beloved_,

I HAVE been through mercy many years with you, and should be willingly

so many years a prisoner for you, so I might further your salvation. I

must again and again thank you for your abundant affection to me, which

I value as a great mercy, not in order to myself, but in order to your

benefit, that I may thereby be a more likely instrument of your good.

Surely, so much as I value your love, yet had I rather be forsaken of

you all, and buried in oblivion; so that your eyes and hearts may be

fixed on Christ, and sincerely engaged to him. Brethren, I have not

bespoken your affections for myself: O that I might win your hearts

to Christ. O that I might convert you to him though you were diverted

from me. *I should much rather chuse to be hated of all, so this might

be the means to have Christ set up savingly in the hearts of you all.

And indeed there is nothing great but in order to God; nothing is

considerable as it is terminated in us: it matters not whether we

are in riches or poverty, sickness or health, in honour or disgrace,

so Christ may be by us magnified in the condition we are in. Welcome

prison and poverty, welcome scorn and envy, welcome pain or contempt,

if by these God’s glory may be promoted. What are we for, but for God?

What doth the creature signify separated from his God? Why just so much

as the cypher separated from his figure. We are nothing worth, but in

reference to God and his ends. Better were it that we had never been,

than that we should not be to him. Better that we were dead than we

should live, and not to him. Better that we had no understandings, than

that we should not know him. Better that we were blocks and brutes,

than that we should not use our reason for him. What are our interests,

unless they may be subservient to his interest? Or our reputation,

unless we may hereby glorify him?

Do you love me? I know you do. But who is there, that will leave his

sins for me? With whom shall I prevail to give up himself in strictness

and self denial to the Lord? Who will be intreated by me to set upon

neglected duties, or reform accustomed sins? Oh wherein may you rejoice

me? In this, my brethren; in this you shall befriend me, if you obey

the voice of God by me, if you be prevailed with to give yourselves

up throughly to the Lord. Would you lighten my burden? Would you make

glad my heart? Let me hear of your owning the ways and servants of the

Lord in adversity, of your patient continuing in the ways of holiness.

O that I could but hear that the prayerless souls, the prayerless

families among you, were now given to prayer! That the profane sinners

were awakened, and induced by the preaching of these bonds, to leave

their drunkenness, their loose company, their deceit and wantonness!

Will you not be made clean? When shall it once be? How long shall the

patience of God wait for you? How long shall the Lord Jesus stretch

out his hands toward you? O sinners, cast yourselves into his arms! Why

should you die? Why will you forsake your own mercy? Will you perish

when mercy woos you? Confess and forsake your sins, and you shall find

mercy. Will you sell your souls to perdition for a little ease and

delight in your flesh? Or a little of the gain of unrighteousness? Why,

these are the things that part between sinners and Christ.

*I know many are spun with a finer thread, and are not so far from the

kingdom of God. But I must again warn you of staying in the suburbs

of the city of refuge. O what pity is it that any should perish at

the gates! That any should escape the pollutions of the world, and do

many things, yea, and suffer too, and yet fall short of the glory of

God! Oh ye halting Christians, that halt between Christ and the world,

that are as _Ephraim_, like a cake not turned, dough-bak’d, professors,

that have lamps without oil, that cry, Lord, Lord, but do not the will

of our Father which is in heaven! How long will you stay in the place

of the breaking forth of children! and stick between the womb and

the world? Your religion will carry you from the profane, and ye own

the people of the Lord. But godliness is a heart-work, it goes deep,

and spreads far: unless the frame of your hearts, and the drift of

your course be changed, unless you be universally conscientious, and

unreservedly delivered up to the Lord for all times and conditions,

whatever be the cost, you are none of Christ’s, how far soever you go

in external performances. Hear then, O people, and let not an almost

Christianity deceive you, or carry you blindfold to perdition. Oh the

thousands, and ten thousands that have been undone by one of these!

Ah, how often have you been warned against them, lest you should split

against these dangerous rocks. O _Taunton_, _Taunton_, how often would

God’s servants have gathered you, and you would not. But will you now?

Will you _yet_ come in? I cannot forbear once more, even out of the

prison, to call after poor sinners, and make one tender of mercy more.

O come to the waters of life, wash you, make you clean.

But for you, whose hearts are set against every sin, and are resolved

for God and holiness; you that experience a thorough change, and have

respect to all God’s commandments, who will have none but God for your

happiness, none but Christ for your treasure, that must and will have

him, come what will come, blessed are ye of the Lord: O happy souls

rejoice in the Lord, and again, I say, rejoice: let your souls magnify

the Lord, and your spirits rejoice in God your Saviour. Live you a life

of praise; you are highly favoured of the Lord, your lines are fallen

in a pleasant place: only stick to your choice: beware lest any man

beguile you of your reward: watch and keep your garments about you,

lest you walk naked, and men see your shame. Many will be plucking to

pull you out of Christ’s hands; but the harder they pluck, the harder

do you cling, and cleave to him: blessed is he that overcometh.

And now the God of heaven fill you all with himself, and make all grace

to abound in you, and toward you. May he be a sun to comfort you, and

shine with his beams of grace and glory on you all: farewell in the

Lord, I am,

_Your’s in the bonds of the gospel_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

LETTER XII.

[How to live to God.]

_To the beloved people, the inhabitants

of |Taunton|, grace and peace._

_Most endeared Christians_,

BELOVED, I am, without a compliment, the devoted servant of your soul’s

prosperity: may the Lord Jesus be set up in your hearts: may his name

ever live in you, and I have what I ask. If this work be not promoted

among you, I shall account all my pains but lost labour. Brethren, I

beseech you that none of you live to yourselves, for this were directly

to cross the end of Christ’s death; for therefore he died that you

should not live to yourselves. O live to him that died for you! Live

to him that is the God of your life! Live to him that bought your lives

with his own! To him that bought you from destruction, and not only so,

but bought you the eternal inheritance. Will a man be easily persuaded

to lose his life? How infinitely tender are men here! And yet the

most of men do lose their lives, yea, lose them for nothing. *Beloved,

consider, I beseech you, that life is lost, that is not lived unto

God. If you would not lose your lives that you live, live to him who

is the end of your lives. Oh remember this, and reckon that day lost

which you have not lived unto God! Brethren, how great a part of our

lives have we lost? I beseech you take heed; you are careful about many

things; but beware that other things do not put out this, the spending

your days and strength for him that made you. Would it not be dreadful

for a man to find at last when he comes to his account with God,

that his whole life, or at least the main of it had been but damnable

self-seeking? That a man should have so many years allowed him by God,

and he should at last be found to have been a wicked servant, that had

set up for himself with his master’s stock, and alienated his goods?

Well, that you may throughly learn the grand lesson of living to God,

take these counsels:

*First, _Settle it in your heart that it is the sum of all your

business and blessedness to live unto God_: ’tis your _business_,

for his pleasure you are and were created: what have you to do but to

serve your Maker in your general and particular callings! Beloved, what

else have you strength for, but for God? Doth he maintain servants,

and shall he not look for their work? Would you endure it, that the

servants you find with meat and wages should set up for themselves?

Beloved, God’s service is your business, and he made you and keeps you

for no other end. And it is your blessedness too. Labour to be under

the rooted conviction of this, that your happiness lies in pleasing and

honouring God. Let the sense of this live fresh upon your hearts, and

it will regulate your whole course.

Secondly, _Labour to keep alive in yourselves a deep sense of your

strong obligations to God_. Often think with yourselves, what a

reasonable thing it is, that you should with all you have serve the

Lord. Beloved, shall not the vessel be for the use of the potter that

made it? Shall not the servant trade for his master with whose goods he

is entrusted? Do you not fetch all your bread from God’s door? Is not

he the author of our being and well-being? Is it not from him that you

fetch every breath? Your interest obliges you to please him. Why should

_Belshazzer_’s charge be against you? That the God in whose hand your

breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified, _Daniel

v. 23._

Thirdly, _Every morning let this be your first and firm resolution,

I will set forth this day in the name of God_. Your first and last

thoughts are of the greatest consequence, and therefore I advise you

to begin and end with this; whenever you lie down, say in yourselves, I

will make use of my bed as an ordinance of God, that I may be refreshed

and fitted for his work: whenever you rise up, think, I will spend this

day for God, and follow the business of my calling, because I am so

appointed by God.

Beloved, I design the sweetness and comfort, as well as strictness of

your lives. Live to God as you are directed, and you shall marvellously

prosper in both. I am not sure yet whether or no I shall see you at

the assizes. I leave all things to your Father’s wise disposal, and

commending you to God, I rest

_Your’s in the bonds of the Lord Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_From the prison at |Ivelchester|,

November 14, 1663._

LETTER XIII.

_To the beloved people, the flock of God

in |Taunton|, grace and peace_.

_Most dear friends and brethren_,

I HAVE sent these few lines, to beseech you by these bonds, which

I gladly endure for your sakes, to hold forth, and hold fast the

profession of your faith without wavering. The Lord make you stedfast

in the holy doctrine wherein you have been taught. I have not shunned

to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. O remember, that by the

space of eight years, I ceased not to warn you every one, and kept back

nothing that was profitable unto you, but have taught you publickly,

and from house to house, warning every man, and teaching every man,

that I might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

You that have taken upon you the profession of strict godliness, I

shall only press you to press towards the mark. You have much work to

do, and God hath given you no time to loiter in. I beseech you to put

on. That person that sits down when he hath gotten to that pitch that

he thinks will bring him to heaven, is never like to come thither:

grace is one of those things that saith, _It never hath enough_. Let

me urge upon you the apostle’s counsel, _Follow after holiness_.

_First._ Holiness is the choicest ornament: it is an adorning in the

sight of God, of great price. It is the glory of God, and will you

count it your shame? _Exodus_ ♦15. God is glorious in holiness, and

grace is called glory, _2 Corinthians iii. 18._ Yet we may now cry out

as the _psalmist_, _O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory

into shame?_ _Psalms iv. 2._ But be of good comfort, the shame of

holiness is real glory.

♦ Chapter omitted from reference in text.

_Secondly._ Holiness is the safest defence; grace is not only for

ornament, but for use. Righteousness is a breast-plate that keeps

the vitals, and is a sure defence from any mortal wounds. When the

politicians have done their best, it is he _that walketh uprightly_,

that _walketh surely_, _Proverbs x. 19._ _Let integrity and uprightness

preserve me_, saith _David_. I desire to be no longer safe than these

can preserve me; when I must let go my integrity or my safety, I will

chuse the danger rather than the sin: and yet will never doubt but

my integrity will save me harmless. *Never persuade me that the man

chooses wisely, who runs upon the displeasure of God, to flee man’s

displeasure. Did you ever hear of a man so mad as to run upon the

sword’s point, to avoid the scratch of a pin? Why this is the wisdom

of the distracted world, who will sin rather than suffer, and to save

themselves harmless in the world, will run upon God, even upon the

thick bosses of his buckler.

_Thirdly._ Holiness will be found to be your real happiness: eat of

this tree, and you shall be indeed as God. Godliness is God’s likeness.

The beauty of holiness is his very image; sin is the disease of which

holiness is the cure. O what peace and tranquility doth holiness work

in the mind! _Great peace have they that love thy commandments, and

nothing shall offend them._ In a word, holiness is the perfection of

man’s nature, the communication of the divine nature, the earnest of

glory, and the very entrance of heaven.

Let me say now to every one of you, as our Saviour to _Martha_;

_Believest thou this?_ If you do, live like believers, and do you

follow after holiness as others follow their trades or studies. Let

religion be your business, and not a thing by the bye: follow as hard

after grace, as if you did indeed believe riches and honor were in it.

Let holiness sit on your lips, and season all your speech with grace.

Profess it, own it, plead stoutly for it, be advocates for holiness,

in an adulterous and wicked generation; wear it as a robe of honour,

when the world cast their reproaches at you for it: let it dwell in

your hearts: let it adorn your houses: let it be your companion in your

closets: let it travel with you in your journies: let it lie down and

rise up with you: let it close your eyes in the evening, and call you

out of your beds in the morning. Be you the votaries of holiness: keep

her, and she shall keep you.

Because I know you love to hear of my welfare, I must tell you that

goodness and mercy follow me perpetually every day, and every night,

glory to God in the highest. Dear brethren, fare you well in the Lord,

I am

_Your devoted servant in the gospel,

whether a bond-man, or a free_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_From the common Gaol, at |Ivelchester|,

December 3, 1663._

LETTER XIV.

_To the flock of Christ in |Taunton|, grace and peace_.

_Most endeared friends_,

I WOULD have you count nothing as certain but Christ’s love and care.

This you may build upon: you need not fear lest time and distance

should wear out the remembrance of you with him. Do any of you question

whether you are so happy, as to have your names recorded above? I shall

bring it to a speedy issue: do you question whether Christ hath taken

your names? Whether you are upon his heart? Let me ask you, Is _heaven

upon your hearts_? Is the name of Jesus deeply engraven upon your

souls? Is his image and superscription there? If you find that heaven

is the main of your cares, that your hearts are set upon it as your

home and your country; and that it is your business to seek it and

secure it. If your hearts be upon heaven, your names are unquestionably

written in heaven. Again, hath Christ recorded his name in your hearts?

Is the name of Jesus, the beloved name with you? Precious above all;

next to your hearts? Is there no other name under heaven so dear and

sweet to you? What room hath Christ in you? If any thing be deeper in

your hearts than he is, you are unsound. As the Father hath given him,

so do your hearts give him a name above every name. Is Christ uppermost

with you in your affections? Then rejoice and leap for joy, your names

are most precious with Christ if his name be above all dear to you.

*Once more, hath Christ drawn out his own similitude upon you? Is

Christ within you? Doth he dwell in your hearts? Then be sure you have

a room in his heart: the image of Christ is in holiness. Is this that

which your very heart is set upon? Do you thirst for holiness? Do you

follow after holiness? Do you prize it above all prosperity and worldly

greatness? Do you hate every sin, and long to be rid of it as your

most irksome burden, and use all God’s means against it as far as you

know them? If it be thus with you, Christ hath set his stamp upon your

hearts, and hath set you as a seal upon his heart.

Rejoice then, O Christians, and bless yourselves, in being under

Christ’s care. Fear not little flock; stronger is he that is with you,

than he that is against you: what though Satan should raise all his

militia against you? Adhere to Christ, doing and suffering his pleasure,

and he shall secure you: the Lord will not forsake you, because it hath

pleased the Lord to make you his people: many will be plucking at you,

but fear not, he hath all power. Can omnipotence secure you? He is all

treasure. Can unsearchable riches suffice you? In a word, he is all

fullness. Can fullness fill you? If so, you are blessed and shall be

blessed.

Beloved, We lose unutterably for want of considering our own privileges,

and blessedness. O man, is Christ thine, and yet dost thou live at

a low rate? Is thy name written in heaven, and yet dost thou not

rejoice? Shall the children of the kingdom, the chosen generation, be

like other men? O Christians, remember who and whence you are, consider

your obligations, bestir yourselves, run and wrestle, and be strong

for the Lord of Hosts, (and earnestly, yet peaceably) contend for the

faith once delivered to his saints. What, shall we make nothing of

all that God hath said and done for us? O Christians, shall he that

hath obtained the King’s patent for an earldom, glory in his riches

and honour? And shall the grant of heaven signify little with thee? Or

Christ’s patent for the son-ship and partnership with himself be like

a cypher? Shall _Haman_ come home from the banquet with a glad heart,

glorying in the greatness of his riches, and all the things wherein

the king had promoted him? And shall we find it under God’s own hand,

that he intends the kingdom for us, that he will be a father to us,

that he gives and grants all his infinite perfections to us, and yet

not be moved? *Christians live like yourselves, let the world see that

the promises of God and privileges of the gospel are not empty sounds.

Let the heavenly chearfulness and the restless diligence, and the holy

raisedness of your conversation prove the reality, excellency, and

beauty of your religion. See that you receive not the grace of God

in vain. Remember with trembling, _To whom much is given, of him much

shall be required_. With my most dear loves to you all, I commend you

to your Father and my Father, your God and my God, remaining

_Your’s in all manner of obligations_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_From the common goal, in |Ivelchester|,

January 20, 1663._

LETTER XV.

[What do you more than others?]

_To the most dearly beloved, the servants of God,

in |Taunton|, grace and peace_.

_Most loving and entirely beloved_,

YOU are a great joy to me. I know not what thanks to render to the

Lord for you, when I hear of your constancy and fidelity, and zeal,

in adhering to him, and his ways, even in such a time as this; you

are highly favoured. Blessed be the Lord God of _Israel_, that he hath

regarded the low estates of his servants: that he should ever indulge

you as he hath, and hover over you, even as the eagle stirreth up her

nest, and fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh

them, beareth them on her wings, for so hath the Lord your God dealt

with you: he hath kept you as the apple of his eye, _and since the

streams of Cherith were dried up, yet to this day he hath not suffered

the handful of meal to waste, nor the oil in the cruise to fail_, but

hath continually provided for you. How should I love and bless the Lord

for this his great grace towards you? Now I beseech you my brethren,

that you consider the kindness of the Lord; for the Lord your God is

he that careth for you, and that you love the Lord your God, _and fear

him for ever, for he is your life, and the length of your days_. But as

_Job_ had a holy fear of his children, lest they should have offended:

so I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, lest any of you should

receive this grace of God in vain. I must not cease to put you mind,

that God doth look for no small matter from you. Remember my charge,

that there be not a barren tree nor a dwarf Christian among you; where

the Lord soweth much, he expects to reap accordingly. Whose account, my

beloved, is like to be so great as yours? O look about you, and think

of the master coming to reckon with you for his talents; when he will

expect no small increase. Beloved, what can you do? How much are you

grown? What spoil have you made upon your corruptions? What progress

in grace?

Suppose Christ should put the awakening question to you, What do you

more than others? God doth expect more of his people, than of any

others in the world: and well he may. For

First, _He hath bestowed more on them than on others_: now where

much is given, much shall be required; can you think of that without

trembling? He hath bestowed on them singular love; _Thee only have I

known of all the families on earth_: and he looks that his love should

be a constraining argument to obedience. Again, he hath laid out a

singular care for his people, more than for others: he cares for no men,

for nothing in the world, in comparison of them. He reproveth kings

for their sakes. He will give nations and kingdoms for their ransom.

So precious are they in his sight, and so dearly beloved, that he will

give men for them, and people for their life. He withdraweth not his

eyes from the righteous, he will not endure them out of his sight. The

eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and first the eye of his more

accurate observation: God can wink at others as it were, and overlook

what they do with little notice, but he has a most curious eye upon his

people, he marketh their steps, and booketh their words, he weigheth

their actions, and pondereth all their goings. And should they not

walk more cautiously than any alive, that are under so exact an eye?

Secondly, the eye of special care and protection. Behold the eye of

the Lord is upon them that fear him, I will guide thee with mine eye:

and should not they be infinitely tender and careful how to please the

Lord, who have his singular care laid out on them? In short, God hath

bestowed on them singular privileges: these are a peculiar treasure

to him above all people, a kingdom of priests, an holy nation; they

dwell alone, they are diverse from all people. When the whole world

lies in wickedness, these are called and chosen, and faithful, washed,

and justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by

the Spirit of our God. The rest are the refuse; these the jewels. Shall

not God’s priests be cloathed with righteousness, and shall not princes

live above the rate of peasants?

Secondly, _He hath entrusted them with more than others_: not only

with the talents of his grace, (for the increase whereof they must give

a strict account) but also with the jewel of his glory. How tenderly

should they walk, that are entrusted with such a jewel? Remember, your

Maker’s glory is bound up in your fruitful walking.

Thirdly, _He hath qualified them more than others_. He hath put into

them a principle of life, having quickened them together with Christ.

He hath set up a light in their minds, when others lie in darkness. He

hath given them other aids, than others have, even his Spirit to help

their infirmities, when others lie like vessels that are wind-bound,

and cannot stir.

Fourthly, _He hath provided for them other manner of things than for

others_. These are the little flock to whom it is his good pleasure

to give the kingdom: great are the preparations for them. The Father

hath prepared the kingdom for them from the foundations of the world:

the Son is gone to heaven on purpose to prepare a place for them: the

Spirit is preparing them, and making them meet to be partakers of the

inheritance of the saints in light: and should these be like other

people?

Brethren, God and men expect you should do more than others, see that

you be indeed singular. For

1. If you do no more for God than others, he will do more against you

than others: _You only have I known, therefore will I punish you_.

The barren tree in the vineyard must down, whereas had he been in the

common he might have stood much longer. God looketh for grapes from his

vineyard, on which he had bestowed such care more than ordinary, but

when they bring forth wild grapes, he will lay them waste in a worse

manner than the forest.

2. If you do no more than others, you must look for no more than others:

If you should put off God with a common obedience, you must expect to

be put off with common mercies.

3. Except you do more than others, God will be dishonoured by you more

than others.

And truly, as God looks for more from his own than others, so he looks

for more from you than others, even of his own, because he hath done

more: see that you be shining Christians, that you be strong in the

grace of God, that you press towards the mark. But I must conclude; I

give my love among you all, being able to add no more, but that I am

_Your’s in fervent love and longings_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

LETTER XVI.

_To the servants of God in |Taunton|, salvation._

_Most endeared Christians_,

I AM your’s, and love to be so, being ambitious not to have dominion

over your faith, but to be a helper of your joy. Christ’s officers are

so your rulers in the Lord, as yet to preach not themselves, but the

Lord Jesus Christ, and themselves your servants for Jesus’s sake. I

have no greater felicity under God, than to serve the good of souls.

Brethren, how fares it with your souls? Are they in health? Do they

prosper? It is a joy to me to hear when your trade flourishes: but

these are very little things if we look into eternity. Brethren, my

ambition for you is, that you should be cedars among the shrubs; that

from you should sound out the word of the Lord, and that in every place

your faith to God-ward should be spread abroad. That ye should be as

a field that the Lord hath blessed: that you should not only have the

name, but the spirit, life, power, heat, growth, vigour of Christianity

among you. Let not _Taunton_ only have the name to live: but to see

to it, that the kingdom of God be with you: Oh that every one of your

souls might be a temple of God! Oh that every one of your families

might be a church of God! Beloved, look to it, that every one that

nameth the name of Christ among you depart from iniquity, secret as

well as open, of the heart as well as of the life. Let no man think

that to make an out-cry upon the _wickedness of the times_, will serve

his turn; many go to hell in the company of the wise virgins. That no

man may be a _self-deceiver_, let every man be a _self-searcher_. He

that keeps no day-book in his shop, and no account in his conscience,

his estate and his soul will thrive both alike. Beloved, I would that

you should remember whither you are going. If a man be after a few

months to be transported into another country, never to return, he will

send over whatever he can, and make the best provision he may against

he come into that country. Brethren, you are strangers and pilgrims

here, and have but a few month’s stay in this country; see that you

traffic much with heaven. Christ is our common factor. O send over to

him what possibly you can. Give alms plentifully, pray continually,

be much in meditation and consideration; reckon with yourselves daily:

walk with God in your callings. Do all the duties of your relations as

unto God: live not one day to yourselves, but unto Christ: so shall you

be continually transporting into another world, and laying up treasure

in heaven: and O the blessed store that you shall find there after a

few years diligence! *Beloved, while you are here in this world, you

are but like a merchant’s ship in a strange port; the day for your

return is set, and you are to stay no longer than ’till your freight

is ready. Be wise, know your season, improve your time, you are made or

marred forever, as you speed in this one voyage. There is no returning

to this country to mend a bad market. God will call in all his talents,

time shall be no longer. Oh, come in, come and buy now, while the

market is open, that you who want may have grace, and you that have,

may have it more abundantly. Go and plead with the Lord Jesus, that he

hath bid you _come, buy and eat_ without money, and without price: that

he hath counselled you to come buy of him, gold, raiment, and eye-salve;

tell him you are come according to his call, and wait upon him for

grace, for righteousness, for light and instruction: lay hold on his

word, plead it, live upon it; he is worthy to be believed, worthy to

be trusted, go out of yourselves to him, unlearn yourselves. There is

a threefold foot that we naturally stand upon, our own _wisdom_, our

own _righteousness_, and our own _strength_; these three feet must be

cut off, and we must learn to have no subsistence but in Christ, and

to stand only on his bottom. Study the excellent lesson of self-denial,

self-annihilation. A true Christian is like a vine that cannot stand of

itself, but is wholly supported by the prop it leans on. It is no small

thing to know ourselves to be nothing, of no might, of no worth, of no

understanding; to look upon ourselves as helpless, worthless, foolish,

empty shadows. This holy littleness is a great matter; when we find

that all our inventory amounts to nothing but folly, weakness, and

beggary: when we set down ourselves for cyphers, our gain for loss,

our excellencies for very vanities, then we shall learn to live like

believers. A true saint is like a glass without a foot, that set him

where you will, is ready to fall every way till you set him to a prop:

let Christ be the only support you lean on. When you are throughly

emptied, and see all your comeliness to be but as a withered flower,

dead, dried, past recovery, then you will be put upon the happy

necessity of going out to Christ for all.

I can add no more but my prayers to my counsels, and so commending you

to God, and the word of his grace, I rest

_The fervent well-wisher of your souls_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

LETTER XVII.

_To the servants of God in |Taunton|, salvation._

_Most endeared Christians_,

I SEND you a few prison counsels.

1. _To improve for eternity, the advantages of your present state._

Though you are at many disadvantages with respect to the public

ordinances, yet you have many most happy privileges. Oh what a mercy

have you that you may serve God when you will in your families!

That you may be as much as you will with God in secret prayer, and

holy meditation, and self-examination! I beseech you consider what a

blessing you have above others, that have your health, and a competency,

and are free from those heart-eating cares, that others are disabled

by, from looking after God and their souls. Oh consider what a blessed

seed-time you have for eternity! Now be wise and improve your happy

season. Prepare for death. Make all sure: press on towards the mark.

Lay up in store for yourselves a good foundation against the time to

come. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withdraw not

your hand. Treasure up much in heaven. What profit is it that you have

more than others? More liberty, more comfort, more health, more wealth?

Except you love God more, and serve him better than others. Now ply

your work, and dispatch your business, so as that you may have nothing

to trouble you upon your death-beds.

2. _To consider also the disadvantages of your state._ Study to know

your own weakness, and where your danger lies, that you may obviate

Satan, and prevent your miscarrying: there is no condition but has

its snares. See that ye acquaint yourselves with his devices lest you

be beguiled by him, through your own unwariness. You that are well

provided for in the world had need to watch yourselves, lest you fall

in love with present things, lest you be lifted up, lest you trust in

those carnal props, and put confidence in the creatures, lest you warp,

and decline, and baulk your duties, through the desire of preserving

your estates. You that have little in the world, are not without your

temptations: Oh take heed of envying others prosperity, of murmuring

and discontent, of diffidence and distrustfulness, of using indirect

means to help yourselves: be sure you make not any pressures an excuse

from your daily serving God in your families, and in secret. Set this

down as your rule, and unchangeable resolution, that God and your souls

and your families shall be looked duly and continually after, go the

world which way it will. Consider what sins your tempers, relations,

callings, most expose you to. Be not strangers to yourselves. Prove

yourselves upright in keeping from your iniquities.

*3. _To converse often with your dust._ Brethren, we are going; the

grave waiteth for us: O forget not that corruption is your father,

and the worm your mother, and your sister! These are your kindred that

you must shortly dwell with, when you come to your long home. Remember

the days of darkness which shall be many. Take every day some serious

turns with death. Think where you shall be a few days hence. Happy he

that knew not what to-morrow meant for twenty years together. Believe

it, you will find it no little thing to die. Think often how you are

provided. Were you never within sight of death? How did it look? What

did you wish for most at that time? What did then trouble you most? Oh

mark these things, and live accordingly. Often ask your hearts, What if

God should this night require my soul?

*4. _To serve your generation with your might while you have time._ You

have but a very little time to bring God any glory here, or to do your

friends any good. Now up and be doing. Now or never live in the deep

and constant sense of the very little time that you have for this world,

and the great work you have to do. You are going whence you shall not

return. There’s no after-game to be played. What! But one cast for

eternity, and will you not be careful to throw that well?

Most dearly beloved, I covet after your furtherance in mortification,

and growth in grace. And oh that I could represent death unto you, as

it will shew shortly itself: or could but open a window into eternity

to you: How effectually would this do the work! Then the cripple would

fling away his crutches, the slothful would pluck his hand out of his

bosom, and shake off his excuses, and be night and day at his work.

Then the _Laodicean_ would be recovered from his ♦benumbed frame; then

we should have no halving in religion, no lazy wishing and complaining;

but men would ply the oars to purpose, and sweat at their work.

♦ “benummed” replaced with “benumbed”

Brethren, lift up yourselves above the objects of sense; be men for

eternity, and carry it like those that seek for glory, honour, and

immortality. I commend you to divine grace; and am

_Your’s in the bonds of the gospel of our Lord Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_From the common gaol at |Ivelchester|,

March 5, 1665._

LETTER XVIII.

_To the loving and most beloved people, the servants of God

in |Taunton|, grace and peace._

_Most dearly beloved_,

*ALTHOUGH I am forced at the present, to be at a distance from you, yet

I would not have you ignorant, that the care of your eternal welfare

is always living upon my heart. Therefore as my beloved friends I warn

you, and cease not to stir you up by way of remembrance, being jealous

for you with a godly jealousy, that no man take your crown. I know

you have many enemies, and above all I fear your bosom enemies: and

as the watchman of the Lord I give you careful warning, and exhort you

all not to be high-minded, but fear. Blessed is the man that feareth

always. Look diligently, lest any of you fail of the grace of God. You

have made long profession of the name of Jesus Christ: Oh, see upon

what ground you stand. You must, every one of you, stand shortly before

the judgment-seat of Christ, and be tried for your lives: Oh, try

yourselves throughly first. ’Tis easy to mistake a partial reformation

and external obedience, for true sanctification. Therefore I beseech

you every one, to examine whether you are in the faith. Prove your

ownselves. Tell not me, you hope you are sincere, you hope you shall go

to heaven: never put it off with hopes, but pray, and try, and search,

till you know you are passed from death unto life, and that you have a

building, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Suppose I should ask you one by one, where are your evidences for

heaven? Could you make out your claim? Can you bring me scripture

proof? Can you shew me the marks of the Lord Jesus? What mean you to

live at uncertainties? Brethren, it is an intolerable ignorance for

any of you in these days of glorious light, not to be able to tell

the distinguishing marks of a sound believer. And it is intolerable

♦carelessness, if you do not bring yourselves to the trial by these

marks. What! Are your hands filled with books, and your ears with

sermons, that tell you so plainly from the word of God, how you shall

know whether you are in Christ, and are you still to seek? Oh, stir

up yourselves. Take heed, lest a promise being left of entering into

his rest, any of you fall short of it at last. You are a professing

people; you pray, and you hear; but oh, look to your sincerity. Look

to your principles, look to your ends; else you may lose all at last.

Examine not only what is done, but whence ’tis done; look to the root

as well as to the fruit. Eye not only your actions, but your aims.

Remember what a strict eye you are under. The Lord Jesus makes strict

observation upon all your works and ways. He observes who of you

are fruitful, and who are barren and unprofitable. He knows who are

thriving, and who declining. He observes who are warm, and who lukewarm:

who are sound Christians, and who have only a name to live.

♦ “carelesness” replaced with “carelessness”

Christians, put on, press towards the mark, be adding to your faith

virtue; and to virtue knowledge. See that you grow extensively, being

abundant in all sorts of good works. Be pitiful, be courteous, gentle,

easy to be intreated. Be slow to anger, soon reconciled. Be patient,

be temperate, be chearful. Study not every one only his own things, but

also the good of his neighbour. Think it not enough to look to your own

souls but watch for the souls of others. Pray for them, warn them, be

kind to them, study to oblige them, that by any means you may win them,

and gain your souls.

Labour to grow intensively, to do better the things that you did

before, to be more fervent in prayer, more free and willing in all the

ways of the Lord, to hear with more profit, to examine yourselves more

thoroughly, to mind heaven more frequently.

I commend myself to your prayers, and you to the grace of God,

remaining

_Your’s in the Lord Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_Dorchester_,

July 7, 1663.

LETTER XIX.

[The character and privileges of true believers.]

_To the most beloved people, the servants of God

in |Taunton|, grace and peace._

_Most dearly beloved_,

I REJOICE to hear of God’s continual goodness towards you; he is your

shepherd, and therefore it is that you do not want. Me you have not

always, but he is ever with you; his rod and his staff shall comfort

you. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all your days, and you

shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

In this my dear brethren, rejoice, that God is engaged in so near

and so sweet a relation to you. Doubtless your souls shall lodge in

goodness, and be provided for carefully, that have the Almighty for

your shepherd. Blessed are the flock of his hands, and the sheep of his

pasture; happy are the people that are in such a case.

But who are Christ’s sheep?

Not all professors. I beseech you to take heed how you rest in

profession. It is not _profession_, but _conversion_ that turns a

man from a swine to a sheep. Let none of you flatter yourselves, that

because you have escaped the gross pollutions of the world, therefore

you are among the number of Christ’s sheep. All this you may attain to,

and yet be but washed swine; there must be an inward, deep, thorough,

universal change upon your natures, dispositions, inclinations, or else

you are not Christ’s sheep.

*If you will be put out of doubt whether you are his sheep or not, you

must try it by the mark that Christ sets upon all his sheep, even your

_sanctification_. You that will stand to the trial, answer me truly

and deliberately to these questions. Do you hate every sin as the sheep

doth the mire? Do you regard no iniquity in your hearts? Do you strive

against, and oppose all sin, though it may seem never so necessary,

never so natural to you, or have you not your secret haunts for evil?

For every swine will have his swill. Do you abstain from sin out of

fear, or out of dislike? Are you at peace with no sin? Do you not hide

some iniquity as a sweet morsel under your tongue? Is there not some

practice that you are not willing to know is a sin for fear you should

be forced to leave it? Do you love the commandment that forbids your

sin, or do you not wish it out of the bible, as that evil man wished,

God had never made the seventh commandment? Again, How do you stand

affected towards holiness? Do you love it? Do you choose it? Do you

hunger and thirst after it, and desire it more than any temporal good?

Have you chosen the way of God’s precepts, and had rather live holily

than be allowed to live in your sins? Do you in your very hearts

prefer a strict life in communion with and conformity to God, before

the prosperity of the world? Do you chuse holiness, not out of bare

necessity, because you cannot go to heaven without it, but out of

_love_ to it, and from a deep sense that you have of the surpassing

loveliness, and beauty of it? If it be thus with you, you are the

persons that the Lord Jesus hath marked for his sheep.

And now, come all that have this mark, come and understand your

happiness. You are marked out for preservation, and let it go how it

will with the rest, it shall go well with you. You are the separated

ones upon whom the angel hath set the seal of the living God; you are

redeemed unto God from among men, being the first fruits unto God and

the Lamb, and have your Father’s name written in your foreheads.

_Hail, you are highly favoured of the Lord, blessed are ye among men!_

Though you are but poor and despised, and little like _Benjamin_ among

the thousands of _Judah_; you carry away the blessing and the privilege

from all the rest. God hath done more for the least of you than for

the whole world of mankind besides. _Fear not little flock, it is your

Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom._ All that the scripture

speaks of that kingdom of glory, that everlasting kingdom, it speaks

to you. Behold your inheritance. You are the sons of God, inheritors of

the kingdom of heaven, joint heirs with Christ the Lord of glory.

Do you believe this? Do you thoroughly believe? If so, my work is

done, I need not bid you _rejoice_, nor bid you be _thankful_,

only _believe_. Do this and do all. _Believe_ and you _will rejoice_

with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. _Believe_ and you will be

_fruitful_, and shew your faith by your works. _Believe_ and you

will _love_, for faith worketh by love. In a word, keep these things

upon your hearts by daily and lively consideration, and this will

bring heaven into your souls, and engage you to all manner of holy

conversation. This will mortify you to the world, the grand enemy

which I charge you to beware of. O remember, your’s is the kingdom;

and ponder these sayings in your hearts. Beloved, I have written these

things to _you_ that your joy may be full. And now peace I leave with

_you_. I am Christ’s embassador to you, an embassador of peace; his

peace I pronounce unto you; in his name I bless you. Farewell in the

Lord.

I am,

_The fervent well-wisher of your souls_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_Devizes_, June 29, 1666.

LETTER XX.

[Of the love of Christ.]

_To the servants of God in |Taunton|, salvation_,

_Most dearly beloved_,

OH that my letters in my absence might be useful to you! It is my joy

to serve you, and my love to you is without dissimulation: Witness my

twice lost liberties, and my impaired health, all which I might have

preserved, had it not been for my readiness to minister to you.

But what do I speak of my love? It is the infinite love of God your

Father that I would have to dwell upon you. Forget me, so you remember

him. Let me be very little, so he be very lovely in your eyes. Bury me,

so you set the Lord always before you. Let my name be written in the

dust, so his name be written deep upon all your souls.

*O Lord, I am thy servant, truly I am thy servant, glorify thine own

name by me, and thou shalt have my hand to it, that I will be content

to be hid in obscurity, and to disappear through the brightness of thy

glory.

I preach not myself, but the Lord Jesus. Give him your hearts, and I

have my errand. I am but the friend of the bridegroom, and my business

is, but to give you to understand his love, and to gain your hearts

unto him. He is an object worthy of my commendations, and of your

affections. His love is worth the writing of, and worth the thinking

of, and worth the speaking of. Oh my brethren, never forget, I beseech

you, how he loveth you. He is in heaven, and you are on earth; yet he

loveth you. His heart is infinitely tender of you. Even now while he is

at the right-hand of the Majesty on high, how feelingly doth he cry out

at the hurt of his poor members on earth, _Saul, Saul, why persecutest

thou me!_ Oh of what quick sense is our dear Lord unto us! When we are

touched on earth, he feels it in heaven.

Brethren, possess your hearts with this, that Christ’s love doth go

out with infinite dearness towards you. Even now, whilst he is in all

his glory, he earnestly remembers you still. This is the high-priest,

that now entered into the holy of holies, doth bear your names,

remembring every poor believer. He bears your names, but where? Upon

his breast-plate, upon his heart, _Exodus xxviii. 29._ Sure your lot is

fallen in an happy place! What, in the bosom of Christ? Yea, verily I

may apply that of _Gabriel_, _O Daniel, thou art greatly beloved!_ unto

you. You are beloved indeed, to have your names written upon the very

heart of Christ now he is in glory.

Oh, let his _name_ be written on _your_ hearts. Do not write his name

in the sand, when he has written yours upon his _own breast_! Do not

forget him who hath taken such care, that while he is, he may never

forget you, having recorded your names, not only on his _book_, but on

his _flesh_, and set you as a seal upon his heart. He hath you upon his

heart, but why? For a memorial before the Lord continually. Beloved,

your Lord is so far from forgetting you in all his greatness and glory,

that he is gone into heaven on purpose, there to present you before

the Lord, that you may be always in remembrance before him. O beloved,

glory, yea, and triumph in his love: doubtless it must go well with us.

Who shall condemn? It is Christ that died and rose again, and is now

making intercession. His interest is potent. He is always present. Our

advocate is never out of court. Never did cause miscarry in his hand.

Trust you safely in him.

Oh, the riches of Christ’s love! He did not think it enough to die for

you. His love doth not end with his natural life on earth, but he ever

liveth to make intercession for us. His love is like his life, ever,

ever: knowing no remission in degree, nor intermission of time, no

cessation of working, but is ever, ever in motion towards us.

If the pens of all the world were employed to write volumes of love,

if the tongues of all the living were exercised in nothing else but

talking of his love; if all hearts were made up of love; and all the

powers and affections of the mind turned into love, yet this were no

less than infinitely too little, either to conceive or express the

greatness of Christ’s love.

O my beloved, may your souls be swallowed up in this love. Think and

think while you will, you can never think how much you are beloved. See

that you love again by way of _gratitude_, though not of _requital_:

What though your souls be but narrow, and your powers but little? Yet

love him with all you have. Love him with all your hearts and all your

strength. To the meditations, and to the embraces of divine love I

leave you, remaining,

_Your’s in the bonds of the most dear Lord Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_August 11, 1665._

LETTER XXI.

_To the beloved people, the inhabitants

of |Taunton|, grace and peace._

_Most dear friends_,

MY chief joy is, that my beloved is mine and I am his. But next to that

I have no joy so great as that you are mine and I am yours, and you

are Christ’s. My relation to Christ is above all: he is my life and my

peace, my riches and my righteousness: he is my hope and my strength,

and mine inheritance, and my rejoicing: in him will I please myself for

ever, and in him will I glory. I esteem myself most happy and rich, and

safe in him, though of myself I am nothing. In him I may boast without

pride, and glory without vanity. Here is no danger of being over-much

_pleased_; neither can the Christian exceed his bounds in valuing his

own riches and happiness in Christ. The Lord hath dealt bountifully

with me, and none shall stop this my confidence of boasting in Christ.

But as my lot in him is above all, so it is no small content to me,

that my lot is fallen with you. And though I have broken my health, and

lost my liberty once and again for your sakes, yet none of these things

move me. I wish nothing more than to spend and to be spent upon the

service of your faith. I bless the Lord for it is an invaluable mercy,

that ever he called me to be an embassador of the Lord Jesus Christ

to you-wards. In this station I desire to approve myself to him, and

that I am withdrawn from my work for a season, it is but that I may

return to you refreshed, and more enabled for my work among you. I am

tender of preserving the little strength God doth add to me, entirely

for your sakes. I bless the Lord I am in great tranquility here in this

town, and walk up and down without any questioning me. I do by this

return you my hearty thanks for your earnest prayers in my behalf, for

it is God that must do the cure. I seem to be retired to this place,

as a vessel rent and shattered and torn in the service, that is come

to recruit in the _harbour_: And here I am as it were repairing and

victualling to put forth again in the service: which I shall do as soon

as I am ready. What is my life unless I am serviceable? And though I

must for the present forbear my wonted labour, yet I shall not cease to

exhort you while I am absent from you, to stand fast, and to grow up in

your holy faith.

Be warned, my beloved, that you fall not upon those rocks on which so

many have been split.

There are three things which I beseech you carefully to beware of.

_First, Lest while Christ is in your mouths, the world run away with

your hearts._ There is many a seeming Christian that will be found a

mere Idolater. Many a soul goes down to _Hell_ in this sin, and never

discerns it till it be too late. Remember, that the _Oxen_, the Farm,

Wife, Merchandize, all of them lawful comforts, did effectually keep

men from closing with Christ, as the vilest lusts of the worst of

men. Whatever you find your hearts very much _pleased_ in among these

earthly comforts, set a mark upon that thing, and remember that there

lies your greatest danger. What you love most, you must fear most; and

think often with yourselves, this, if any thing, is like to be my ruin.

Oh, the multitudes that perish by the secret hand of this enemy, the

over-valuing of earthly things. The hearers compared to the thorny

ground did openly fall away; but while others withered they were as

green and fresh as ever; and yet their inordinate affection to the

things of this life, secretly undid all at last. Little do most think

while they please themselves in their estates, while they delight

themselves so freely in their children, in their wives, in their

habitations and possessions; that these are the things which are like

to undo them for ever. How little is that scripture thought of, _love

not the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not

in him_. Are there not many among us, who though they keep up prayer,

and other holy duties; yet the strength of their hearts goeth out

after earthly things? And these are their chief care and their chief

joy. Such must know they are none of Christ’s; and they had better

understand now, and seek to be renewed by repentance, than hereafter,

when there shall be no place for repentance.

Secondly, _Lest while iniquity abounds, your love to Christ wax cold_.

Remember what an abomination _Laodicea_ was to Christ, because she

grew luke-warm; and what a controversy he had with _Ephesus_, a sound

church, because she did but slacken and grow remiss in her love. A

friend is born for adversity; and now is the time, if you will prove

the sincerity of your love to Christ, by following him zealously,

resolvedly, fully, now he is rejected and opposed.

Thirdly, _Lest you keep up a barren and fruitless profession_. See to

it, that you be not only professors, but proficients. Many think all

is well because they go on in the exercises of religion; but alas! You

may keep on praying and hearing all the week long, and yet be not one

jot the farther. Many there are that keep going, but it is like the

horse in the mill, that is going all day, but yet is no farther than

when he first began. Nay, it often happens in the trade of religion,

as in trading in the world, many keep on trading still, ’till for want

of care, and examining their accounts, they trade themselves out of

all. Oh, look to it my brethren, that none of you rest in the doing

of duties, but examine what comes of them. Otherwise, as you may trade

yourselves into poverty, so you may hear and pray yourselves into

hardness of heart and desperate security and formality. This was the

very case of wretched _Laodicea_, who kept in the track of religious

duties, and verily thought that all was well, because the trade went on,

and that she was increased in spiritual goods. But when her accounts

were cast up, all comes to nothing, and ends in wretchedness, poverty,

and nakedness. I commend you to the living God, remaining

_Your fervent well-wisher and Embassador in Christ_.

JOS. ALLEINE.

Devizes, _June 22, 1666_.

LETTER XXII.

[An admiration of the love of God.]

_To the most loving and best beloved,

the servants of God in |Taunton|, salvation._

_My most dear friends_,

I LOVE you, and long for you in the Lord, and I am weary with

forbearing that good and blessed work that the Lord hath committed to

me, for the furtherance of your salvation. How long, Lord, how long

shall I dwell in silence? How long shall my tongue cleave to the roof

of my mouth? When will God open my lips, that I may stand up and praise

him? But it is my Father’s good pleasure yet to keep me in a total

disability of publishing his name among you; unto him my soul shall

patiently subscribe. I cannot complain that he is hard to me: I am full

of the mercies of the Lord, and shall I complain? Far be it from me.

*But though I may not murmur, methinks I may mourn a little, and sit

down and wish, O if I may not have a tongue to speak, would I had but

hands to write, that I might from my pen drop some heavenly counsels to

my beloved people. But it cannot be; alas, my right hand seems to have

forgot her cunning, and hath much ado with trembling to lift the bread

into my mouth. Do you think you should have had so little to shew under

my hand, to bear witness of my care for you, and love to you, if God

had not shook my pen as it were out of my hand? But all that he doth

is done well, and wisely, and therefore I submit. I have purposed to

borrow hands wherewith to write unto my beloved, rather than be silent

any longer.

But where shall I begin, or when should I end? If I think to speak of

the mercies of God towards me, or mine enlarged affections towards you,

I feel already how in-sufficient all I can say will prove at last to

utter what I have to tell you: but shall I say nothing because I cannot

utter all? This must not be neither.

Come then all ye that fear the Lord, and I will tell you what he hath

done for my soul. Oh help me to love that precious name of his, which

is above all my praises. O love the Lord all ye his saints, magnify him

with me, and let us exalt his name together! He hath remembred my low

estate, because his mercy endureth for ever. Blessed be you of the Lord,

for all your remembrances of me before the Lord. You have wrestled with

the Lord for me, you have wrestled me out of the jaws of death: O the

strength of prayer! Surely it is stronger than death. See that you

have the honour the power and prevalency of prayer: Oh be in love with

prayer, and have high and venerable thoughts of it. What distresses,

diseases, or death, can stand before it? Surely I live by prayer,

prayer hath given a resurrection to this body of mine, when physicians

and friends had given up their hopes.

O infinite love never to be comprehended, but ever to be admired,

magnified, and adored by every creature! O let my heart be filled,

let my mouth be filled, let my papers be filled with the thankful

commemoration of this matchless love. O turn your eyes from other

objects! O bury me in forgetfulness, and let my love be no more

mentioned nor had in remembrance among you, so you be throughly

possessed and inflamed with the love of God. See that you study this.

Fill your souls with wonder, and be ravished with this love: take your

daily walk, and lose yourselves in the field of love. O that your souls

may be drowned in the love of Christ, ’till you say with the spouse,

_I am sick of love_. Who in all the earth should admire and commend

this love, if I should not? I feel it, I taste it, the sweet savour

thereof reviveth my soul; it is light to mine eyes, and life to mine

heart; the warm beams of this blessed sun, O how have they comforted

me, ravished, and refreshed me both in body and soul! Now my own hands

can feed me, and my own feet can bear me, my appetite is quick, my

sleep comfortable, and God is pleased to give some increase continually

though by insensible degrees: and shall not I praise that love which

hath done all this for me? My heart is enlarged; but I told you paper

could not hold what I have to speak of the goodness of the all-gracious

God, in which I live. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.

Farewell in the Lord, I remain

_Your unworthy minister and servent

Well-wisher in the Lord_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

LETTER XXIII.

_To the servants of Christ in |Huntingdon|, grace and peace._

_Most dear Christians_,

I THANKFULLY acknowledge, both to God and you, that I am many ways

obliged to love and serve you, and surely, when the Lord shall turn

our captivity, I will (through his grace) endeavour to shew myself

thankful. I am the more sensible of your great love, because I cannot

be insensible how little I have been able to do to oblige you. Able, I

say, for I am sure I have been willing to be much more serviceable. But

now letters and prayers are all that I have for you: of these I shall

be ready to be prodigal. I fervently pray, and do not doubt to speed,

that you may reap in grace and glory, what you have sown in bounty.

_Verily, there is a reward for the righteous._ Ah how sure is it! And

how great, and how near!

Come on, my dear brethren and fellow-travellers. Stir up yourselves

and set to your race. See that you loiter not, but speed in your holy

course. What, tire by the way, or think of looking back when heaven

is the prize? God forbid. To him that soweth righteousness there shall

be a sure reward. What though it should seem slow? As long as it is so

sure, and so great, never be discouraged. In the end you shall reap, if

you faint not. Wait but awhile, and you shall have a blessed harvest.

The Lord speaks to the Christian, as he to his creditor in another

case, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Oh for faith

and patience! How safely will these carry us to the harbour, thro’ all

difficulties.

Brethren, be ye followers of them, who thro’ faith and patience inherit

the promises. It is want of patience that undoes the world. Patience

I mean, not so much in the bearing the afflictive evil, as in waiting

for the deferred good. If the reward of religion were in hand, who

would not be religious? But the Lord deals all upon trust, and on that

account is but little dealt with. You must plow and sow, and wait for

the return of all at the harvest, when this life is ended. They that

like not religion upon these terms, may see where they can mend their

markets. But you, my brethren, be stedfast, unmovable, abounding in

the work of the Lord; for as much as ye know your labour shall not be

in vain in the Lord. Wait a little; there is but a short life between

you, and the blessed inheritance of glory. Ah wretched unbelievers!

How worthy are you to be shut for ever out of the kingdom, that did

so undervalue all the glory that God had promised, as not to count it

sufficient to pay you for a little waiting? Beloved, lift up your eyes,

and behold your inheritance, the good land that is beyond Jordan, and

that goodly mountain. The promises are a map of heaven. Do but view

it believingly and considerately, as it is drawn there, and tell me,

what think you of that worthy portion, that goodly heritage? Will not

all this make you amends for your stay? Why then act like believers.

Never think much of the pains and expences of religion. Let no man

think he shall come off a loser. What though you are much upon the

spending hand? God is before-hand with you however: but I would have

you principally to look forward. It is much that God hath laid out upon

you; but who can tell what he hath laid up for them that fear him? And

will you miss of all for want of patience? God forbid.

Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth,

and hath long patience, ’till he receive the early and latter rain.

Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord

draweth nigh. What, shall the husbandman have more patience for the

fruits of the earth, than you for the precious fruits of your faith?

The husbandman hath no such certainty as you: he hath but a probability

of an harvest, and yet he hath patience; he is content to venture.

He is at great pains, and much cost; he is still laying out, and hath

nothing coming in, and yet he is content to wait for his reimbursement,

’till the corn be grown. But your harvest is more sure, as sure as the

infallible promise, the immutable oath of God.

Again, the husbandman hath no such increase to look for as you. If he

were sure, that every corn would bear a crown, with what joy, rather

than patience, would he go through all his cost and labour? Why,

brethren, such is a believer’s increase. Every grain shall produce a

crown; and every tear shall bring forth a pearl; and every minute in

pains or prayers, an age of joy and glory. Beside, the husbandman hath

long patience, and will not you have a little patience? It is not long

patience that God doth expect of you: for behold the coming of the Lord

draweth nigh. Will the garrison yield when relief is at hand? Or the

merchant give up his hopes, when within sight of the harbour? Or will

the husbandman give up all for lost, when he sees the fields white for

harvest? And shall he do more for a crop of corn, than you will do for

a crop of glory? Far be it. Behold the Judge is at the door. The Lord

is at hand. He cometh quickly, and his reward is with him. He comes

with the crown in his hand, to set upon the head of patience. Therefore

cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

The prisoners of the Lord, your brethren in the patience of Jesus, can

tell you, it is good suffering for such a master.

We must tell you, as they said to our Lord in another case, He is

worthy for whom you should do this. God is beyond measure gracious to

us here. He shines bright into our prison. He waters us from heaven and

earth. As we trust, you forget not the poor prisoners, when you pray,

so we would that many thanksgivings should abound in our behalf. And

prayer being the only key that can open our prisons, we trust you will

pray and not faint. Farewell, dear brethren, Fare ye well in the Lord,

I am,

_An unworthy embassador of Jesus, in bonds_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_From the Prison at |Ivelchester|,

October 28, 1663._

LETTER XXIV.

[To his wife.]

_My most dear Theodosia_,

THOU seemest to have been long from me; let nothing any longer detain

thee, but my sister’s necessity, or father’s authority. I am in a

comfortable state of health, through divine goodness, to which be glory

for ever. See that thou love and admire that fountain of our life,

and peace: and be ever mindful that ’tis all thy business to love, and

serve, and praise thy Creator and Redeemer. I have no other business

but this to write to thee about: but this is all our business. What we

use to call business is but vanity and pastime in comparison of this.

Remember that ’tis thy one end, to glorify God, and enjoy him for ever.

Learn well that lesson, and know, that it is the only thing necessary.

Every morning remember that thy serving and pleasing God is the whole

business of that day, and therefore set out accordingly with an express

design and intention to please God in thy eating, drinking, visiting,

conversing, and duties throughout the day. My most dear heart, I have

nothing in the world that doth concern thee, or me so much to write

of to thee, as this. Oh that thou mayst still be laying up in heaven!

Still furthering thy account; still adding to the heap, and increasing

thy glorious reward? Nothing is done for God, but thou shalt hear of

it again. What is not done for God, is but so much lost. Those things

which others do, being led by their natural affections and desires,

those things do thou with holy aims, for spiritual ends, and then

God will put it on the account, as so much done for him. So it is, my

dearest, God keeps a true account. See that thou believe it, and so

plough in hope, and sow in hope, pray and hear with an eye to the sure

reward. Let thy hopes be strong and lively, and then thy hands will be

strong, and thy resolutions and affections will be strong. My time is

very precious, and I would not lose an inch of it. See thou to it, that

my time in writing this letter be not lost time. Love God the more, and

set thy heart the straiter towards him, and practise this one thing, in

every action look to thy end, and then I have got well, and thou better

by these counsels. My dearest, I love thee in truth and tenderness, but

my love signifies little, unless it serve thine eternal good.

_I rest thine own_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

[To his wife.]

_My dear heart_,

*MY heart is now a little at rest to write to thee. I have been these

three days much disturbed. Strong sollicitations I have had from

several hands, to accept very honourable preferment; but I have not

found the invitations to suit with the inclinations of my own heart, as

I was confident they would not with thine. I have sent away my friends

satisfied with the reasons of my refusal, and now can say, _Soul,

return unto thy rest_. But alas, that such things should disturb me!

I would live above this lower region, that no passages whatsoever

might put me out of frame, or unsettle me from my desired rest. I would

have my heart fixed upon God, so as no occurrences might disturb my

tranquility, but I might be still in the same quiet and even frame.

Well, though I am apt to be unsettled, yet I am like a bird out of the

nest, I am never at quiet till I am in my old way of communion with God;

like the needle in the compass, that is restless, till it be turned

towards the pole.

I can say through grace, with my soul have I desired thee in the night,

and with my spirit within me have I sought thee early; my heart is

early and late with God, ’tis the business and delight of my life to

seek him. But alas, how long shall I spend my days in wishing, when

my glorified brethren spend theirs in enjoying? As the poor imprisoned

captive sighs under his irons, and can only look through the grate, and

long for the liberty which others enjoy: such is my condition. I can

only look through the grate of this prison, my flesh; I see _Abraham_,

and _Isaac_, and _Jacob_, sitting down in the kingdom of God. But alas,

I myself must stand without, longing, praying, waiting, for what they

are enjoying. Happy souls! When shall these fetters of mine be knocked

off? When shall I be set at liberty from this prison of my body? You

are cloathed with glory, when I am cloathed with dust. I dwell in flesh,

in a house of clay, when you dwell with God in a house not made with

hands, eternal in the heavens.

I must be continually clogged with this cumbersome body, when you have

put on incorruption and immortality. What continual molestation am I

subject to by reason of this flesh? What pains doth it cost me to keep

this earthen vessel from breaking! It must be exercised; and which is

worst of all, cherished with time-devouring sleep; so that I live but

little of the short time I have allotted me here. But oh blessed souls,

you are swallowed up of immortality and life, your race is run, and

you have received your crown. How cautious must I be to keep me from

dangers! How apt am I to be troubled with the cares and fears of this

life, when your souls are taken up with God and Christ, and ’tis your

work to be still contemplating, and admiring that love that redeemed

you from all this. What pains must I be at to repair the ruinous

building of this earthly tabernacle, which when I have done, I am sure

will shortly fall about my ears; when you are got far above mortality,

and are made equal with the angels. Oh! I groan earnestly to be

cloathed upon with my house which is from heaven, being willing rather

to be absent from the body and present with the Lord! Oh, when shall

I come and appear before him? When shall I receive the purchase of my

Saviour, the fruit of my prayers, the harvest of my labours, the end of

my faith, the salvation of my soul? Alas, what do I here? This is not

my resting place, my treasure is in heaven. Oh when shall I be where

my heart is? Wo is me that dwell in the tents of _Kedar_! Oh that I had

wings like a dove, that I might fly away and be at rest! Then would I

hasten my escape from the storm and tempest, and be out of the reach of

fears, disturbances, and distractions. How long shall I live at such a

distance from my God, at such a distance from my country? Alas, how can

I sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? No, I will hang my harp upon

the willows, and sit down and weep when I remember _Sion_. But yet my

flesh shall rest in hope, and I will daily bathe my soul in the sweet

thoughts of my blessed home. I will rejoice in hopes of what I do not

yet enjoy, and content myself with the taste of what I shall shortly

have my fill of.

The Lord grant the request I daily pour out before him, and make us

furtherances to each other’s soul, that we may quicken and promote and

forward one another in his ways! Help me by thy prayers, as thou dost

always. The God of all peace and comfort be with thee my sweet love!

Farewell!

_Thine beyond expression_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

LETTER XXVI.

[God is a satisfying Portion.]

_My most dear friend_,

HAD not my right hand long since forgot her cunning, and the Almighty

shook the pen out of my hand, I should long e’er this have written to

thee; but it is a wonder of divine power and goodness that my soul had

not before this time dwelt in silence, and that death had not put the

long period to all my writing and converse.

Long is the song of love that I have to tell thee. I rejoice in the

constancy of thy love, that the waters of so long a silence, and so

great a distance have not yet quenched it. But thy desires are towards

me, and thy heart is with me, though providence hath hindered me from

thy much-desired company. I will assure thee it hath been a pleasure

to my heart a good part of this summer, to hope that I should come

one half of the way to give thee a meeting. But such is my weakness

hitherto, that I am forced to put off those hopes till the spring, when,

if God gives me strength to ride, I intend to see thee before mine own

home. I thank thee for all the dear expressions of thy fervent love: my

expences have been vast; but surely goodness and mercy hath followed me,

and do follow me in every place, and in every change of my condition;

so that as to temporals, I have lack of nothing, and as for spirituals

I abound and superabound, and the streams of my comforts have been

full and running over. The joy of the Lord hath been my strength at the

weakest, and in the multitude of my thoughts within me, his comforts

have refreshed my soul. I have found God a satisfying portion to me,

and have sat under his shadow with full delights, and his fruit is most

sweet to my taste: he is my strength ♦and my song, for I will talk of

him, and write of him with perpetual pleasure. Through grace I can say,

methinks I am now in my element, since I have begun to make mention

of him, I am rich in him and happy in him, and my soul saith unto him

with _David_, Thou hast made me most blessed for ever more. Happy is

the hour that ever I was born, to be made partaker of so blissful a

treasure, so endless a felicity, such angelical a prerogative, as I

have in him: O how sweet are his converses, how delightful it is to

triumph in his love.

♦ duplicate word “and” removed

Methinks the story of the lepers comes not unaptly to my mind, who said

one to another when they had eat and drunk and carried away silver and

gold and raiment, and went and hid it, _We do not well; this day is a

day of good tidings, and we hold our peace_. It is fit that I should be

cloathed with shame; I acknowledge before God, who trieth the hearts I

am unworthy, everlastingly unworthy. But it is not fit that he should

lose his praise; nay rather let him be the more adored, and magnified

and admired for ever and ever. Bless the Lord, O my soul, bless the

Lord, O my friend; let us exalt his name together. He is my solace

in my solitude; he is my standing comforter, my tried friend, my sure

refuge, my safe retreat; he is my paradise, he is my heaven; and my

heart is at rest in him: and I will sit and sing under his shadow, as a

bird among the branches. And whither should I go but unto him? Shall I

leave the fatness of the olive, and the sweetness of the fig-tree, and

of the vine, and go and put my trust under the shadow of the bramble?

No, I have made my everlasting choice: this is my rest for ever, he

is my well-beloved, in whom I am well-pleased. Suffer me to boast a

little: here I may glory without vanity, and I can praise him without

end or measure; but I have nothing to say of myself: I find thou dost

over-value me; set the crown upon the head of Christ; let nothing

be great with thee but him, give him the glory. God that knoweth all

things, knoweth my poverty, how little, how low, and how mean I am, and

how short I come of the attainments of the saints, who yet themselves

come so exceedingly short of the rule that God hath set before us. I

often think of the complaint of the devout _Monsieur De Renty_ [I feel

myself very poor this week; and very defective in the love of God; if

you would know wherein you can pleasure me, love God more: that what

is wanting in me may be made up in the abundance of your love:] in this

thou mayest highly pleasure me: love God a little the better, praise

him a little the more for my sake; let me have this to please myself in,

that God is a little the better loved for me, and that I have blowed up,

if it be but one spark of divine love in the bosom of my dearest friend,

towards him.

Thy cautions are acceptable to me, I desire to provide for manifold

changes and storms. I know I am not yet in the harbour; O pray with me

that I may not enter into temptation; for I am very weak in spirit, as

well as in body, God knoweth. Somewhere or other I must break off, and

thou wilt say, it is time to shut up. For once only know, that I am thy

daily orator, and will be whilst I am. And yet once more, I must have

room to add my thankful acknowledgment of thine. With our most dear

affections to you both, I commend you to the God of love, still abiding,

_Thy fast and sure_

FRIEND.

_Bath, October 12, 1668._

LETTER XXVII.

_Dear Cousin_,

THE welcome tidings of your safe arrival at _Barbadoes_ is come to my

ears; as also the news of your escape from a perilous sickness, for

which I bless the Lord. I have considered, that God had bereft you of

a careful father, and that your mother takes but little care for you;

so that you have none nearer than myself to watch for your soul, and to

charge and admonish you in the Lord.

But yet, be not discouraged by these things, but look to heaven,

fly unto Jesus, put away every known sin, set upon the conscientious

performance of every known duty; make Christ your choice, embrace him

upon his own terms; deliver up yourself, body and soul to him: see that

you have no reserves nor limitations in your choice of him; give him

your very heart; cast away your worldly hopes and expectations, make

religion your business.

These things do, and you shall be sure of a friend in heaven; and, if

I may be any comfort to you, you shall not fail, while I live, to have

one friend on earth to care for you. You are gone far from me, even to

the uttermost parts of the earth: but I have sent these letters to call

after you; yea, not only to call, but to cry in your ears. O what is

like to become of your soul! Where is that immortal soul of yours like

to be lodged for ever? Amongst devils or angels? Upon a bed of flames,

or in the joys of paradise?

Go aside; retire from the noise of the world, and say to yourself,

_Oh my soul! Whither art thou going? Do not I know, that I must be

converted or condemned? That I must be sanctified, or I can never be

saved?_ Oh my soul! What seekest thou? What is my chief care? Is it

for this world, or the world to come? Do I first seek the kingdom of

heaven, and the righteousness thereof? Do I think heaven will drop into

my mouth? That glory and immortality will be got with a wet finger,

with cold prayers, and heartless wishes, while the world has my heart?

Do I think to be crowned, and yet never fight? To gain the race and

never run? To enter at the strait gate, and never strive? To overcome

principalities and powers, and never wrestle? No, no; Oh my soul,

either lay by the hopes of heaven for ever, or rouse up thyself, put

forth thy strength after God and glory. Either lay by thy worldly hopes,

or thy hopes of immortality; away with thy sins, or let Christ go for

ever. Think not to have Christ and the world too, to serve God and

mammon: if thou follow the world, thou must die: the Lord hath spoken

it, and all the world can never reverse it. Thus reason the case with

your own soul, and give not rest to thyself night nor day, till you

are gotten off from the world, broken off from every known sin, and got

safe into Christ.

Dear cousin, I charge you by the Lord, to observe these things. Pray

over them, weep over them, read them again and again; do not pass

them over as slight and ordinary things. Your soul is at stake; it is

your salvation which is concerned in them; think not that I am in jest

with you. I travel in birth with you, till Christ be formed in you.

Why should you die? Oh repent and live, lay hold on eternal life, win

Christ, and you win all. Oh be thankful to the Lord, that now you are

fatherless and friendless, yet you have one remembrancer to warn you to

flee from the wrath to come. God forbid that I should find you at last

in the place of torments, for your not embracing these counsels. To

conclude, I charge you as a minister, as a father, take heed of these

three things:

1. _Lest the gain of the world prove the loss of your soul_:

2. _Lest company draw you from God_:

3. _Lest a lofty or a worldly heart should thrust you out of the

kingdom of heaven._

Oh labour whatever you do for an humble heart. Be little, be vile in

your own eyes; seek not after great things; be poor in spirit: without

this, heaven will be no place for you. Your lot is fallen in a place

of great wickedness, where your soul is in much danger, where your

temptations are many, and your helps for heaven but few: where good

examples are rare, and many will entice ♦you to sin and vanity. O!

look about you, consider your danger, fear lest you should miscarry for

ever. I can but warn you and pray for you: but though you have none to

oversee you, remember the eye of God is upon you, to observe all your

actions, and that he will surely bring all your practices into judgment.

I commend you to the Lord, and remain,

_Your loving and careful uncle_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_August 19, 1668._

♦ “yo” replaced with “you”

LETTER XXVIII.

_Dear friend_,

*YOUR letter was exceeding welcome to me, not only as reviving the

remembrance of our old friendship, but also, as bringing me news of

some spiritual good that you received by me, which is the best tidings

that I can receive: For what do I live for, but to be useful to souls

in my generation? *I desire no other business than to please and honour

my God, and serve my generation in that short allowance of time I have

here. Shall I commend to you the lesson that I am about to learn? It is,

_to be entirely devoted to the Lord, that I may be able to say after

the apostle, To me to live is Christ_. I would not be serving God only

for a day in the week, or an hour or two in the day: but every day,

and all the day. I am ambitious to come up to that of our Lord and

Master, _To do always those things that please God_. I plainly see that

self-seeking is self-undoing; and that then we promote ourselves best,

when we please God most. I find, that when I have done all, if God be

not pleased, I have done nothing; and if I can but approve myself to

God, my work is done: I RECKON I DO NOT LIVE THAT TIME I DO NOT LIVE TO

GOD.

*I am fain to cut off so many hours from my days, and so many years

from my life, as I have lived to myself. I find no enemy so dangerous

as myself, and O that others may take warning by my hurt: O that I

had lived wholly to God! Then had every day and every hour that I have

spent, been found upon my account at that day: then had I been rich

indeed, in treasure laid up there, whither I am apace removing; then

I had been every day and hour adding to the heap, and increasing the

reward which God of his mere grace hath promised, even to the meanest

work that is done to him. I perceive I am an eternal loser by acting no

more for God; for what is done to myself is lost; but what is done for

God, is done for ever, and shall receive an everlasting reward. Verily,

if there be a world to come, and an eternal state after this short life,

it is our only wisdom to be removing, and, as it were transplanting and

transporting what we can, from hence into that country to which we are

shortly to be removed, that what we are now doing we may reap the fruit

of for ever.

Well, let us be wholly swallowed up in religion, and know no other

interest but Jesus Christ. I cannot say, I have already attained; but

this is what my heart is set to learn. That in all that I do, whether

sacred or civil actions, still I may be doing but one work, and driving

on one design, _That God may be pleased by me, and glorified in me_;

That not only my praying, preaching, alms, may be found upon my account;

but even my eating, drinking, sleeping, visits, discourses, because

they are done to God. Too often do I miss my mark; but I will tell you

what are the rules I set myself: _Never to lie down but in the name of

God_; nor barely for natural refreshment, but that a wearied servant

of Christ may be recruited and fitted to serve him better the next day.

_Never to rise up but with this resolution, I will go forth this day

in the name of God, and will make religion my business, and spend the

day for eternity. Never to enter upon my calling, but first thinking, I

will do these things as unto God_, because he requireth these things at

my hands, in the place and station he hath put me into. _Never to sit

down to the table, but resolving, I will not eat meerly to please my

appetite, but to strengthen myself for my Master’s work. Never to make

a visit, but to leave something of God where I go; and in every company

to leave some good savor behind._ This is that which I am pressing hard

after: and if I strive not to walk by these rules, let this paper be a

witness against me.

I perceive you are otherwise persuaded in some things than I am: but

however, I trust we meet in our end. May it be your whole study to gain

souls, and to build them up in holiness, which is with too many the

least of their cares. One duty (miserably neglected) I shall be bold to

recommend from my own experience, and that is, the visiting your whole

flock from house to house, and enquiring into their spiritual estates

particularly, and dealing plainly and truly with them about their

conversion to God.

You see how free I am with you: but I know your candour. I rejoice in

your happy yoke-fellow: salute her from your old friend, and accept of

the unfeigned respects of him who is, Sir,

_Your real and faithful friend_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

LETTER XXIX.

[To a minister in prison.]

_Worthy Sir_,

IT was but a little after my release from my own confinement, but I

heard of yours: and now write to you, as one that hath taken a higher

degree than ever, being commenced prisoner of Christ. I was once

affected with the picture of a devout man, to whom a voice came down

from heaven, saying, _Quid vis fieri pro te?_ To which he answered,

_Nihil domine, nifi pati ac contemini pro te_. Undoubtedly, Sir, it

is our real glory to be throughout conformed to Jesus Christ, not only

in his sanctity, but in his sufferings. I doubt not your consolations

in Christ superabound in all your tribulations for him. Yet let me add

this, that you have a whole shoal of promises come in to you, which you

had not before; I mean all the promises to suffering saints, in which

they have not so immediate a part, unless in a suffering state. And

doubtless he hath got well, that hath gotten such a number of exceeding

great and precious promises.

I can tell you little good of myself: but this I can tell you, that

the promises of God were never so sweet to me, as since my imprisoned

state. It shames me that I have let such a treasure lie by so long,

and have made so little use of it. Never did my soul know the heaven of

a believer’s life, till I learnt to live a life of praise, and to set

home the unspeakable riches of the divine promises, to which, through

grace, I am made an heir. I verily perceive that all our work were

done, if we could but prevail with ourselves and others to live like

believers; to tell all the world by our carriage, that there is such

pleasantness in Christ’s ways, such beauty in holiness, such reward to

obedience, as we profess to believe!

It is but a little while that prisons shall hold us, or that we shall

dwell in dirty flesh. _Porphyry_ tells us of _Plotinus_, that he was

ashamed to see himself in the body; to see a divine and immortal soul

in a prison of flesh (for so they held the body to be;) but the worst

shackles are those of sin. Well, they must shortly fall off; our Lord

doth not long intend us for this lower region: surely he is gone to

prepare a place for us: yea, and he will come again, and receive us to

himself, that where he is, we may be also. And what have we to do, but

to believe, and wait, and love, and long, and look out for his coming,

in which is all our hope? ’Twill be time enough for us to be preferred

then. We know before hand who shall then be uppermost. Our Lord hath

shewed us where our places shall be, even at his own right hand; and

what he will say to us, _Come ye blessed_. Surely we shall stand in

his judgment: he hath promised to stand our friend: let us look for the

joyful day: and sure as there is a God, this day will come, and then

it shall go well with us. What if bonds and banishment abide us for

a season? This is nothing but what our Lord hath told us, _The world

shall rejoice, but ye shall lament: ye shall be sorrowful, but your

sorrow shall be turned into joy_. Oh how reviving are his words! _I

will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man

taketh from you._

If that miserable wretch leapt chearfully off the ladder, saying, _I

shall be a queen in hell_: with what joy should we do and suffer for

God, knowing that we shall be crowned in heaven? They are wonderful

preparations that are making for us: the Lord make us meet to be

partakers. *It was the highest commendation that ever that worthy

_R. Baxter_ received, which fell from his scoffing adversary _Tilenus,

Totum, puritanismum totus spirat_. Oh that this may be true of us and

ours!

Let your true yoke-fellow, and my Christian friends with you, have my

hearty commendation: and these counsels I pray you give them from me.

1. _To habituate themselves, both as to their thoughts and discourses,

more throughly than ever to holiness._ Brethren, I would teach you

the lesson that I resolve to learn, that your minds and tongues may

as naturally run upon the things of heaven, as others on the things of

this world. Why should it not be thus? I am sure God and heaven as well

deserve to be thought on, and talked of as froth and vanity. There are

many that have in a great measure learnt this lesson, and why should

not we? What if it be hard at first? Every thing is so to a beginner.

And is not ours a religion of self-denial? If we do but force ourselves

awhile to holy thoughts, and heavenly discourse, it will grow habitual

to us, and then it will be most natural, familiar, and sweet. O what

gainers will you be, if you learn this lesson?

’Tis the shame of religion, that Christians are so unlike themselves,

unless upon their knees. Our lives and language should tell the world

what we are, and whither we are going. Christians, let little things

content you in the world, but aspire after great things in the grace

of God. Many little think what high degrees of holiness they may grow

up to even in this life with pains and diligence. Sirs, be you men

of great designs: think it not enough if you have wherewith to bear

your charges to heaven; but aspire to be great in the court of heaven,

favourites of the Most High, of tall growth, singular communion,

that you may burn and shine in your place, that you may savour of

heaven wherever you come, and that there may be an even-spun thread

of holiness running through your whole course. ’Tis our disgrace, that

there is so little difference to be seen in the ordinary conversation

of believers and other men. Is it not a shame, that when we are in

company with others, this should be all the difference that is to be

seen, that we will not curse and swear? If you will honour the gospel,

bring forth your religion out of your closets into your shops, trades,

visits, and exemplify the rules of religion in the management of all

your relations, and in your ordinary converse. Let there be no place

or company that you come into, in which you do not drop something of

God; this will be the glory of religion, and we shall never convince

the world ’till we come to this. May you come, my brethren, out of your

prisons with your faces shining, having your minds seasoned, and your

tongues tipt with holiness! May your mouths be as a well of life, from

whence may flow the holy streams of edifying discourse! May you ever

remember, as you are sitting in your houses, going by the way, lying

down, rising up, what the Lord doth then require of you.

2. _To improve their present retirements from the world, for the

settling their spiritual estates._ ’Tis a common complaint amongst

Christians, that they want assurance. Oh, if any of you that wanted

assurance when you came to prison, may carry that blessing out, what

happy gainers would you be? Now you are called more than ever to

self-searching. Now bring your graces to the touchstone. Be much in

self observation. Rest not in probable hopes. Think not that it is

enough that you can say, you hope ’tis well. Be restless till you can

say, that you know ’tis well; that you know you are passed from death

to life.

*Think not that this is a privilege that only a few may expect. Observe

but these three things:

1. _To take heed of laying the marks of salvation either too high or

too low_;

2. _To be much in observing the frame, and bent, and workings of your

own heart_:

3. _To be universally conscientious, and to be constant in even and

close walking_, and then I doubt not but you will have a settled

assurance, and know and feel that peace of God that passeth all

understanding.

I wish your prison may be a paradise of peace, and a _Patmos_ of divine

discoveries, _Lord Jesus set to thy Amen_. I am, Sir,

_Your unworthy brother and companion in the

kingdom and patience of Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_January 10, 1664._

LETTER XXX.

_To the most beloved people, the servants of God

in |Taunton|, salvation._