Imaginations or of the Lifeless motions in a Poppit-Play where there is much stir to little purpose till the Play be ended further than the Matters of God and of the Church and Mens everlasting concernments are comprehended in them The report of one Souls Conversion to God and of the Reformation of one Family City or Church and of the noble Operations of the blessed Spirit by which he brings up Souls to God and conquereth the World the Flesh and the Devil the Heavenly Communications of God unto Sinners for their Vivification Illumination and holy Love to God and to his Image are so far better than the Stories of these grand Murderers and Tyrants and their great Robberies and Murders called Conquests as the Diagnosticks of Health are than those of Sickness Or as it is more pleasant to read of the Building of Cities than of their ruins or of the Cures of a Physitian than of the hurts done by Robberies and Frays yea of the Healing of Immortal Souls than of the over-hasty destroying of mens Bodies which would quickly turn to Dust of themselves if these valiant Murderers had but the patience to stay the time And among all parts of Church-History the Lives of Wise and Holy Men do seem to be not least Useful and Delightful which is the reason why Satan hath so marvelously and successfully bestird himself to corrupt this part of History with so many impudent lies in the Popish Legends as might render all such Narratives afterwards Contemptible and Incredible and might destroy the Ends Therefore is the Sacred Scripture so much Historical and the Gospel it self is not a Volumn of well composed Orations or a Systeme or Encuclopaedia of the Sciences and Arts nor yet a great Volumn of unnecessary Laws but the History of the Life and Death of Christ and the wonderous Works of Himself and his Spirit in his Servants and a Record of those brief Laws and Doctrines which are needful to the Holiness and Happiness of Man In the Lives of Holy Men we see God's Image and the Beauties of Holiness not only in Precept but in Reality and Practice not Pictured but in the Substance And though the Precepts and Rules be more perfect in their kind as wanting no Degree or Part yet the real Impress and Holiness in the Soul is that living Image of God which is the end of the former and of which the Scripture is but the Instrumental cause And Holiness in visible Realities is apt to affect the World more deeply than in Portraiture and Precept only Therefore we find that Satan and his Instruments are used to do that against the Scriptures exemplified in the Godly which they have not done against the Scriptures in themselves They can bear the bare Precepts of a perfect Rule who cannot bear the very imperfect practice of them in a Holy Life Many have burnt Martyrs that could endure good Books Living Holiness most exciteth Malice Besides that the best of men have Imperfections which may be a pretence for Detraction Slander and Persecution when the Sacred Rule is not so boldly to be accused till they are ripened in Malignity and Audacity Many a one can read with Reverence the Life of a dead Saint who will neither imitate nor indure the Living And I doubt not but many can bear the Narrative of this holy persons Life who could not have endured to see themselves condemned in the Exercises of his present Holy Zeal And yet it is not to be denied but that Humane Nature yet containeth such Principles and Inclinations as give an honourable testimony to goodness For the exercises of prudent impartial equal Vertue and eminent holiness in a Heavenly Life and in the joyful Hopes of the invisible Blessedness and in servent Love to God and Man and in an innocent Life and Self-denying endeavours to do good to all do so much convince and awe Mans Nature and so powerfully command Approbation and Honour that Satan and bad Men could not resist them were it not that such excellent Persons are too Rare and that the far greater number of good Men are lamentably imperfect and tainted with many unlovely Faults And were it not 〈◊〉 for two great advantages that Satan layeth hold on that is Mens Strangeness and Disaecquaintance with those that are good and the Slanderous reports of them by others And whoever noteth it shall find that most that ever Hated and Persecuted men of eminent Holiness were such as never intimately knew them but only at a deceitful distance and such as heard them odiously described by lying Tongues And it is not a small benefit of this kind of History that the Weak and Lame Christians may see such excellent Examples for their imitation and the sluggish and distempered Christian may have so real and lively a reproof and the discouraged Christian may see that higher degrees of goodness are indeed attainable and that the dark and troubled Christian may see the Methods in which Gods Spirit doth work upon his Servants and see that a Genuine Christian life is a Life of the greatest joy on earth And that the sloathful Hypocrite may see that Religion is a serious Business And that the factious Christian may see that a man may be eminently Holy that is not of his Opinion Side or Party And that both the proud domineering Pharisee may see that eminent Piety is separated from his Traditions Formalities Ceremonies and Pomp And the Opinionative Hypocrite may see that Holiness consisteth of something else than in circumstantial and siding Singularities and in a condemning of other mens outward Expressions or Modes of Worship or a boisterous Zeal against the Opinions and Ceremonies of others And it is a notable benefit of this kind of History that it is fitted to Insinuate the Reverence and Love of Piety into young unexperienced Persons For before they can read much of Theological Treatises with understanding or delight Nature enclineth them to a pleasure in History and so their Food is sugard to their Appetites and Profit is entertained by delight And nothing taketh well with the Soul that is not pleasant to it nor did he ever know the true way of Educating Youth or doing good to any that knew not the way of drawing them to a pleasedness and love to goodness Omne 〈◊〉 punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. On such Accounts we may conclude that such men as Melchior Adamus Mr. Samuel Clark c. that have served the Church with this sort of History have done no small or useless Service which we the easilier perceive when we remember at what rates now the Church would purchase a full History of the Lives of all the Apostles and all the Eminent Pastors of the Churches for the first two hundred or three hundred Years yea or but of some few of them And how much of the History of the Times they lived in is contained in a just History of such mens Lives It were to be wished that
be of one Religion c. in twelves 39. The true Catholick and Catholick Church described in twelves c. 40. The successive visibility of the Church of which Protestants are the foundest Members c. in octavo 41. A Sermon of Repentance 42. Of Right Rejoycing 43. A Sermon of Faith before the King 44. A Treatise of Death 45. The Vain Religion of the Formal Hypocrite c. in several Sermons preached at the Abbey in Westminster in twelves 46. Two Sheets for poor Families c. 47. Short Instructions for the Sick a sheet 48. A Saint or a Bruit c. in quarto 49. The mischief of Self-Ignorance and benefit of Self-acquaintance in octavo 50. Universal Concord c. in octavo 51. The last Work of a Believer c. in twelves 52. The Divine Life in three Treatises The first Of the Knowledge of God The second Of Walking with God The third Of Conversing with God in Solitude in quarto 53. The Reasons of the Christian Religion c. 54. Directions for weak distempered Christians to grow up into a confirmed state of Grace c. 2. The Characters of a sound confirmed Christian written to imprint on Man's Mind the true Idea or Conception of Godliness and Christianity in octavo 55. Now or Never in twelves 56. The Life of Faith in three parts in quaerto 57. The Cure of Church-Divisions or Directions for week Christians to keep them from being Dividers and Troublers of the Church in octavo 58. A defence of the Principles of Love which are necessary to the Unity and Concord of Christians and are delivered in a Book called the Cure of Church Divisions in octavo 59. A second Admonition to Mr. Edward Bagshaw written to call him to Repentance for many false Doctrines Crimes and especially fourscore palpable Untruths in matter of Fact deliberately published by him in two small Libels in which he exemplifieth the Love-killing and depraving Principles of Church-Dividers And telleth the World to what Men are hastning when they sinfully avoid Communion with true Churches and Christians for tolerable faults in octavo 60. The Difference between the Power of Magistrates and Church Pastors and the Roman Kingdom and Magistracy under the Name of Church and Church Government usurped by the Pope as liberally given him by Popish Princes in quarto 61. The Church Told of Mr. Edward Bagshaws Scandals and warned of the dangerous snares of Satan now laid for them in his Love-killing Principles in quarto 62. The Duty of Heavenly Meditation in quarto 63. How far Holiness is the Design of Christianity in 4to 64. God's goodness Vindicated with respect to the Doctrine of Reprobation and Damnation in twelves 65. The Divine Appointment of the Lord's Day in octavo 66. More Reasons for the Christian Religion and no Reason against it in twelves There is now extant another Treatise of Mr. Jos. Allens Entituled An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners with many Practical Cases of Conscience in octavo There is now in the Press and will in a few Months be Published A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY Or sum of Practical Divinity With the Pertinent Cases of Conscience BEING A Promptuary and Help for 1. Young Preachers 2. Masters of Families 3. Private Christians in their daily Practice And some performance of the request of many Foreign Divines long since made to A. Bp. Usher and published by Mr. Dury By Richard Baxter In Folio Books Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings-Arms in the Poultry Folio PRins New History of the Kings of England Stapletons Translation of Juvenal Quarto Mount Pisgah or a Prospect of Heaven Being an Exposition on the Fourth Chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians by Tho. Case The Real Christian or a Treatise of Effectual Calling wherein the Work of God in drawing the Soul to Christ being opened according to the Holy Scriptures some things required by our late Divines as necessary for a right preparation for Christ and a true closing with Christ which hath caused and doth still cause great trouble to some serious Christians are with due respects to those Worthy Men brought to the Ballance of the Sanctuary there weighed and accordingly judged by Giles Fermin The Christian Man's Calling or a Treatise of making Religion ones Business wherein the Christian is directed how he may perform it in his Religious Duties in Natural Actions in his Particular Vocation in his Family Directions and in his own Recreations By George Swinnock late Preacher at Great Kingbal in the County of Bucks An Exposition of the Song of Solomon by James Durham late Minister at Glasgow with a Preface prefixed by Doctor Owen Mr. Caryls Exposition of the Book of Job The Sinners Sanctuary or a Discovery made of those Glorious Priviledges offered unto the Penitent and Faithful under the Gospel being forty Sermons on the Eighth Chapter of the Romans by Hugh Binning The Quakers Spiritual Court Proclaimed Doctor Robert Wilds Letter to a Friend in London upon the receipt of his Majesties Declaration for Liberty of Conscience together with his Poetica Licentia or a Friendly Debate between a Conformist and a Nonconformist Octavoes and Twelves Heaven on Earth or the best Friend in the worst of Times To which may be added A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Thomas Mosely an Apothecary with a full account of his Conversion drawn up by his own hand before his death and published by James Janeway Minister of the Gospel A Token for Children Being an Exact Account of the Holy and Exemplary Lives and Joyful Deaths of several Young Children in two Parts by James Janeway Memorials of God's Judgments Spiritual and Temporal being Sermons preached in London during the late Visitation by Nicholas Lockier Lazarus Redivivus or a Discovery of the Tryals and Triumphs that accompany the Work of God in and about his People laid open in several Sermons by N. Blakie Fenners four Sermons against Popery Bishop Ushers Life and Death A Plat for 〈◊〉 or the Seamans Preacher delivered in several Sermons on Jonah's Voyage to Niniveh by John Rither Preacher of God's Word at Wapping THE Life Death Of that Excellent Minister of Christ Mr. JOSEPH ALLEIN Late Teacher of the Church at Taunton in Somerset-shire Assistant to worthy Mr. Newton CHAP. I. The Introduction AS History is both Useful and Delightful to Man-kind so Church-History above all hath the preheminence in both for it Treateth of the greatest and most necessary Subjects It is most eminently Divine as Recording those Works of God in which he most Graciously condescendeth unto Man and those Actions of Men in which they have most nearly to do with God and Treating of those Holy Societies Events and Businesses in which God's Holiness is most conspicuous and his Honour most concerned in the World The Narratives of the great Victories and large Dominions of Alexander Caesar Tamberlain or such others are but the Portraiture of Phantasms and the Relation of the Dreams of Vagrant
eyes that he attained to the right temperament of the Christian Religion and to a truly Evangelical frame of Spirit suitable to the glorious hopes of Faith and to the wonderful love of our Redeemer And when most Christians think that they have done much if they can but weep and groan over their Corruptions and can abstain from the lustful Pollutions of the World in the midst of many doubts and fears LOVE and JOY and a HEAVENLY MIND were the Internal part of his Religion and the large and fervent PRAISES of God and THANKS GIVING for his Mercies especialiy for CHRIST and the SPIRIT and HEAVEN were the External Exercises of it He was not negligent in confessing Sin nor Tainted with any Antinomian Errours but PRAISE and THANKSGIVING were his Natural Strains his frequentest longest and heartiest Services He was no despiser of a broken Heart but he had attained the blessing of a healed joyful Heart The following Narratives the strain of his Letters but above all the admirations of his nearest Friends will tell him that will enquire how his tryumphant Discourses of the Hopes of Glory and his frequent and fervent Thanksgiving and Praise were the Language which he familiarly spake and the very business of his Heart and Life And O how amiable is it to hear the Tongue employed seriously and frequently in that which it was made for even in the praise of him that made it And to see a man passing with joyful hopes towards Immortality And to live as one that seriously believeth that he must quickly be in the Heavenly Church and live with God and Christ for ever O how comely is it to see a man that saith he believeth that Christ hath redeemed him from Hell and reconciled him to God and made him an Adopted Heir of Glory to live like one that was so strangely saved from so great a misery and with the most affectionate gratitude to honour the Purchaser of all this Grace And how uncomely a thing is it to hear a man say That he believeth all this Grace of Christ this Heavenly Glory this Love of God and yet to be inclined to no part of Religion but fears and complainings and scarce to have any words of Praises or Thanksgiving but a few on the by which are heartless affected and constrained O did Christians yea Ministers but Live with the Joy and Gratitude and Praise of Jehovah which beseemeth those that believe what they believe and those that are entring into the Coelestial Chore they would then be an honour to God and their Redeemer and would win the World to a love of Faith and Holiness and make them throw away their worldly Fool-games and come and see what it is that these Joyous Souls have found But when we shew the World no Religion but Sighing and Complaining and live a sadder life than they and yet talk of the glad-Tydings of Christ and Pardon and Salvation we may talk so long enough before they will believe us that seem no more to be Believers our selves or before they will leave their fleshly pleasures for so sad and dreadful a Life as this And as this kind of Heavenly Joyful Life is an honour to Christ and a wonderful help to the Converting of the World so is it a Reward to him that hath it which made this Holy Person live in such a vigour of Duty such fervour of holy Love and such continual Content in God so that the Kingdom of God in him was Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which others think consisteth in Meats Drinks and Dayes in Shadows and Circumstances in Sidings and in singular Conceits Rom. 14. Col. 2. 16. It was not a Melancholy Spirit that acted him nor did he tempt his People into such an uncomfortable state and strein But in the multude of his thoughts within him the comforts of God did delight his Soul His Meditation of God and his Redeemer was sweet and he rejoyced in the Lord. He delighted in the Law of the Lord and when delight invited him no wonder if it were his Meditation day and night Psal. 1. 2. 104. 34. 119. 103. 94. 19. And how great a Solace was this in his Sufferings when he could be in a Goal and in Heaven at once When he could after the terrible torment of Convulsions have the foresight and taste of Heavenly Pleasures Nihil Crus sentit in Nervo cum Animus est in Coelo saith Tertul. And as he lived so he died in Vigorous Joyful Praises and Thanksgivings Reviving out of his long speechless Convulsion into those fervent Raptures as if he had never been so impatient of being absent from the Lord as when he was just passing into his Presence or rather as if with Stephen he had seen Heaven opened and Christ in his Glory and could not but speak of the unutterable things which he had seen I deny not but his vigorous active Temper might be a great help to all his holy Alacrity and Joy in his healthful State But when that frame of Nature was broken by such Torments and was then dissolving to hear a dying Man about sixteen hours together like the ferventest Preacher in the Pulpit pour out his Soul in Praises and Thanskgiving and speak of God of Christ of Heaven as one that could never speak enough of them and that with a Vivacity and Force as if he had been in former Health and to tryumph in Joy as one that was just laying hold upon the Crown surely in this there was something that was the Reward of all his former Praise and Thankfulness and that which must needs tell the Auditors the diference not onely between the death of a Righteous Believer and the wicked Unbeliever but the weak and distempered Believer also the difference between a sound and a diseased Christian and between the tryumphant Faith and Hopes of one that saw the God and World invisible and the staggering Faith and trembling Hopes of a feeble and distrustful Soul and between the death of one that had been used to converse in Heaven and to make Thanksgiving and Praise his Work and of one that had been used to cleave to Earth and make a great matter of the concernments of the Flesh and to rise but little higher in Religion then a course of outward Duty animated most with troublesome Fears Though he died not in the Pulpit yet he died in Pulpit-Work And I must also note how great an advantage it was to himself and to his Ministerial Works that he was possessed deeply with this true sentiment That the PLEASING of GOD is the proper ultimate end of Man not doubting but it includeth the notion of glorifying him for thus his heart was rightly principled and all his Doctrine and Duties rightly animated And as in all his Ministry he was extraordinarily addicted to open to the Hearers the Covenant of Grace and to explain Religion in the true Notion of Covenanting with God and
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Verily Sir it is but a very little while that Prisons shall hold us or that we shall dwell in dirty flesh 〈◊〉 tells us of 〈◊〉 that he was ashamed to see himself in the Body to see a divine and immortal Soul in a 〈◊〉 of Flesh for so they held the body to be but the worst shackles are those of sin Well they must shortly off all together our Lord doth not long intend us for this lower Region Surely he is gone to prepare a place for us Doubtless it is so 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 'T will 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 place shall be even at his own right hand and what he will say to us Come ye blessed c. Surely we shall stand in his Judgment He hath promised to stand our Friend Let us look for the joyful day As sure as there is a God this day will come and then it shall go well with us What if Bonds and Banishments abide us for a season This is nothing but what our Lord hath told us The world shall rejoyce but ye shall weep and lament You 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 rejoyce 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 who have his Truth in pawn that we shall be Crown'd in Heaven Verily they are wonderful Preparations that are making for us The Lord prepare us apace and make us meet to be Partakers It was the highest Commendation that ever that Worthy R. Baxter received which fell from the Pen of his scoffing Adversary Tilenus who saith of him 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 in the Bonds of the Gospel have my hearty Commendations And these Counsels I pray you give them from me for the improving of their present state 1. To habituate themselves both as to their thoughts and discourses more throughly than ever unto Holiness Brethren I would teach you the Lesson that I resolve to learn with you That your minds and tongues may as naturally run on the things of Heaven as others on the things of this world Why should it not be thus I am sure God and Heaven do as well deserve to be thought on and talked of by us as froth and vanity can deserve of the world There are many that have in a great measure learnt this lesson and why should not we be some of them What if it be hard at first Every thing is so to a beginner Besides is not ours a Religion of self-denial Further if we do but force our selves a while to holy Thoughts and Heavenly Discourse it will grow habitual to us and then it will be most natural familiar and heavenly sweet Oh what gainers will you be if you do but learn this Lesson Verily it 's the shame of Religion that Christians are so unlike themselves unless upon their knees Sirs 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 real Christians do little think what high frames of Holiness they might 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 with an holy ambition to be great in the Court of Heaven Favourites of the most High of 〈◊〉 growth great experience singular communion that you may burn and shine in your places and convince the world that you may savour of Heaven where ever you come and that there may be an even-spun thred of Holiness running through your whole course 'T is the disgrace of Profession that there is so little difference to be seen in the ordinary coversation of Believers from 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 onely that we will not curse and swear as do the worst of men Christians if you will honour the Gospel bring forth your Religion out of your Closets the world can't see what you do there into your Shops Trades Visits c. and exemplifie 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 〈◊〉 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 Deut 6. 7. 2. To improve their present retirements from the World for the settling of their spiritual estates 'T is 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 See what your hearts do with most love and delight go out unto what are your greatest hopes and your chief designs See whether God's Intrest be uppermost in you prove this and prove all Rest not in probable hopes Think not that is enough that you can say you hope 't is well God lookes for extraordinary things from you under such great helps such extraordinary Dispensations Be restless till you can say that You know 't is well that you know you are passed from Death to Life Think not that this is a priviledge that only a few may expect Observe but these three things 1. To acquaint your selves throughly with the conditions of Life and take heed of laying the marks of Solvation cither too high or too low 2. To be much in observing the frame and bent and workings of your own hearts 3. To universally conscientious and to be constant in even and close walkings and then I
alwayes mingled with Heavenly and Holy Discourses he was ready to Instruct and to Exhort and to Reprove which he never failed to do when he thought it necessary what-ever the event might be But he performed it usually with such respect humility tenderness self-condemnation and compassion that a reproof from him did seldom if at all miscarry In the Houses where he Sojourned their Hands fed one but his Lips fed many God freely poured Grace into his Lips and he freely poured it out None could live quietly in any visible and open sin under his inspection When he came to any House to take up his abode there he brought Salvation with him when he departed he left Salvation behind him His manner was when he was ready to depart and to transplant himself into some other Family as that the exigence of his condition and the time did more than once constrain him to to call the People one by one into his Chamber from whence it was observed that scarce any one returned with dry eyes In matters of Religion and the first Table his strictness was so exemplary which was near to rigour that I have scarce known any of his years keep pace with him Surely he did more than others His Righteousness exceeded not the Publican only but the Pharisees too He was much taken with Monsieur de Reuty whose Life he read often and imitated some of his Severities upon better grounds How often have I heard him to admire among many other things especially his self-annihilation striving continually to be Nothing that God might be all But here he stayeth not he was a second-Table-man a man of Morals I never knew him spotted in the least degree with any unjust or uncharitable Act. And I am sure the many failings of Professors in this kind touched him to the very quick and brought him low drew Prayers Tears Complaints and Lamentations both by Word and Letter from him though yet the Lord would not permit him to behold and reap the Fruit before he died He had an eminently free and bountiful heart to his power and I may truly say beyond his power yea much beyond it he was willing of himself It is but seldom that the best do need restraint in these Matters and yet we read of some who brought more than enough yea much more than enough Exod. 36. 5. So that there was a Proclamation issued out to put a stop upon their Bounty and it is added presently so the People were restrained Men universally almost do need a Spur but he did rather need a Bridle When other men gave little out of much he gave much out of little and while they heapt and gathered up he dispersed and scattered abroad He did not hide himself from his own flesh but was helpful to Relations as some of them have great reason to acknowledge His charity began at home but it did not end there for he did good to all according to his opportunities though especially to the Houshold of Faith He considered the Poor he studied their condition he devised liberal things he was full of holy Projects for the advancement of the good of others both Spiritual and Temporal which he pursued with such irresistable vigor and zeal and activity that they seldom proved abortive He was a man of extraordinary condescention to the infirmities of weaker Brethren as they that are most holy and best acquainted with themselves are wont to be Instructing those that were contrary minded in meekness If God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth Restoring those who were overtaken with a fault with the Spirit of Meekness So dealing with them in such a loving sweet and humble way as considering himself lest he also might be tempted In their confessed failings he was no way supercilious captious and censorious he would maintain a good opinion of another upon a narrower footing than many others who to say no more were nothing stricter holier humbler than himself would be His Charity Believed all things that were to be believed and Hoped all things that were to be hoped And when he deeply condemned the Action he would not judge of the Estate Indeed he had more charity for others than himself and though he were sufficiently mild in his judgment of others he was severe enough in his judgment of himself He was not Peremptory in matters that belong to doubtful Disputations He laid no more weight and stress on Notions and Opinions in Religion that wholly depend upon Topical Arguments than belongs to them He was not like many who are so over-confident in their determinations that they will hardly hold communion Nay scarce so much as a pleasing conversation with any man how gracious soever who cannot think and say and act in every thing as they do He would allow his Fellow-Members the Latitude that the Apostle doth and so would freely and familiarly converse with those who are sound in the Faith as to the fundamentals of Religion and who were strict and holy in their lives of all Perswasions His Ministerial Studies were more than usually easie to him being of a quick conceit a ready strong and faithful memory a free expression which was rather nervous and substantial than soft and delicate and which was best of all a holy Heart that boyled and bubled up with good matter This 〈◊〉 him on all occasions not with warm affections onely but with holy Notions too For his Heart was an Epistle written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God And out of this Epistle he drew many excellent things In the course of his Ministry he was a good Man and in his Heart a good Treasure whence he was wont continually to bring forth good things both in publick and private He was apt to Preach and Pray most ready on all occasions to lay out himself in such Work yea spending himself in such Work When my suddain Distemper seised upon me put him at any time as many times they did upon very short and 〈◊〉 preparations he never refused no nor so much as fluctuated in the undertaking But being called he confidently cast himself upon the Lord and trusted perfectly to his Assistance who had never failed him and so he readily and freely went about his Work without distraction He began upon a very considerable stock of Learning and Gifts Ministerial and Personal much beyond the proportion of his Years and grew exceedingly in his Abilities and Graces in a little time So that his profiting appeared to all Men he waxed very rich in heavenly Treasure by the blessing of God on a diligent hand so that he was behind in no good Gift He found that pretious promise sensibly made good To him that hath for use and good employment shall be given and he shall have abundance He had no Talent for the Napkin but all for Traffique which he laid out so freely for his Masters use that in a little time they
Judgment Discretion Though it footed high yet like a Bird in a String when it had gone to its 〈◊〉 length it was check'd by his Judgment and Humility left it should ascend above its height His Will and Affections His Will he had so long lost in the Divine Will as not to find it or to be troubled with its reluctancies under so long and sad a Series of Tryals and Afflictions as those which attended him constantly to his Grave His Affections were strong and servent and to use his Words They kept to their right Objects and their due Bounds never inkindled but with a Coal from the Altar and then they soared to marvellous Heights He was indeed as it were all affection in pursuing and promoting the grand interests of Religion The Zeal of God's House had consumed him and that not Blind nor Wild but well attempered with Light and Heats In Sum what Holy Mr. Herbert said of himself that may be said of him That his Active Soul was as a keen Knife in a thin Sheath ever about to cut through and take its flight into the Region of Souls His great Gravity But to proceed to some of his excellent Properties His gravity appeared to be true and genuine as not affected or morose not through any inability but unwillingness to press his Wit to the service of Vanity resulting from a mind ever in the awe of God Because his Presence and Deportment struck such an awe even on all with whom he conversed and composed them to a true decorum So that as Reverend Mr. Bolton when walking in the Streets was so much cloathed with majesty as by the notice of his coming in these Words Here comes Mr. Bolton as it were to charm them into order when vain or doing amiss so this most grave Divine wheresoever he came was as a walking Ghost by his presence conjuring them into a grave deportment his countenance ever pointing at his awful Soul What the Image or Statue of Senacherib did speak that much more did this lively Image of the most High GOD speak viz. He who looketh to me let him be Religious This his great gravity was not onely Universally discerned by all but also more particularly and especially acknowledged and loved by his Brethren in the Ministry for there being some matter of moment depending among them the care of which was to be devolved on some one man A worthy Divine far exceeding him in years sollicited him to take it on him who modestly waved it wondering that they should pitch on one so young and unexperienced as himself for so solemn an undertaking To whom the forenamed Divine replyed That of all the Ministers his Brethven whereof many for Age were his Fathers he knew none of greater Gravity Industry and fitness for the management of that Affair than himself His Affability Neither was he so immured in his Study as to be a stranger to or averse from that generous and innocent freedom and obligingness of converse for Love and Affability were accurately attempered with his great Gravity He became all things to all men that he might gain the more and so communicative innocent and obliging were all his Converses that he commanded the imitation and admiration of his Friends and forc'd this acknowledgment from his Adversaries both Prophane Atheistical and Sectarian viz. That if there were ever a good Man among them meaning the Nonconformists Mr. Ahein was he His Charity Communicative I say he was both of Spiritual and also Temporal good things together according to and even beyond his Power as it is else-where abundantly ascertained both when he heard the loud Complaints of some and when he listened to the silent Suits of others viz. some modest and indigent House-keepers who only spake by their real needs and entered their Suits at the Eyes of an inquisitive Almoner more than at his Ears Of the good things pertaining to this Life he was often liberal beyond his measure and of those pertaining to another Life often beyond his strength and by this Constellation of his Charity and Alms-deeds he made the one more Profitable and the other more Acceptable the one the greater and the other the happier and more successful and by this Conjunction also he approved himself more perfect before God the more throughly furnished to every good Word and Work His Utterance His Prolation or manner of Speech was Free Eloquent Sublime and Weighty Of him it may be well said as of our Blessed Saviour That all bear him witness and wondered at the gracious Words which proceeded out of his Mouth It will be hard to tell what Man ever spake with more Holy Eloquence Gravity Authority Meekness Compassion and Efficacy to Souls than he did to those to whom in Instruction Exhortation Consolation Reprehension he most wisely frequently and successfully applyed himself Few could resist or stand before the powerful Charms and united Force of his Love and Authority being equally attracted by the one and awed by the other In him if in any that common observation did evidently fall viz. Non bene conveniunt nec in 〈◊〉 sede locantur Majestas Amor. True it is that this young Timothy with whom few were like minded in caring naturally for the state of his Flock was at his first entrance on his Ministry despised for his Youth by those who after with shame confessed their Errour and deplored their rashness resolving after for his sake no more to judge according to appearance but to honour for their work and intrinsick worth those whom Age hath not made Venerable Secondly His Studies and Learning As respects his Studies he had a strong inclination to and delight in the Study of the Natural and Ethnick Theologie in which he proceeded to a great acquaintance with the chief Sects of the Philosophers especially the Academicks and Stoicks of his insight into whom he made singular use by gathering their choicest Flowers to adorn Christianity 〈◊〉 and indeed searce did he Preach a Sermon wherein he did not Select some excellent Passage or other out of these whereby to illustrate and fortifie his Discourse And how well becoming a Divine and most 〈◊〉 this his Inclination and Choice was is most manifest to considering Men for hereby he more confirmed himself in the Christian Religion which he had espoused with so much Judgment and Zeal by a distinct and certain knowledge of the highest Principles and Hopes of the Ethnick Religions and by a sober comparing of that with these He also much delighted in Anatomy in which he acquired a considerable skill which also he not a little improved by frequent Dissections And in his publick Ministry he often made use of this his insight by composing with Galen Hymns to the Creator whose infinite Wisdom he was often heard to admire in the contrivance of Mans outward frame and in the rare contexture dependance and use of all even the minutest parts in the excellent Fabrick of Mans body
his People was most apparent in that he was still after he had finished a foregoing Text or Discourse even at a loss as he hath often expressed himself to some of his Friends what Subject most advantagious and seasonable to his Auditory he should next insist on so far he was from aiming or shooting at Rovers in his Divine Instructions and Exhortations And so loth he was to labour in vain and to pass from one Discourse to another as one unconcerned whether he had sown any good Seeds or no on the Hearts of his Hearers that in the close of his Applicatory part on any Text which sometimes he handled for a considerable while he ever expressed his great unwillingness to leave that Subject till he could have some assurance that he had not fought in that Spiritual Warfare against Sin as one who beateth the Air when also he expressed his great fear lest he should after all his most importunate Warnings leave them as he found them And here with how much Holy-Taking Rhetorick did he frequently expostulate the Case with Impenitent Sinners in words too many to mention and yet too weighty to be forgotten vehemently urging them to come to some good resolve before he and they parted and to make their choice either of Life or Death 2. His Compassion on Souls His Compassion also towards all committed to his charge was most manifest especially towards the Ignorant those that were out of the way and those that did move heavily on in the way 1. On the Ignorant in instructing and catechizing them To the Ignorant And here knowing that without knowledge the Heart is not and cannot be good and considering also how too successfully the evil one by sowing evil Seeds betimes in the hearts of Youth doth ever after forestal and defeat the most laborious endeavours for their recovery and salvation Thus knowing and considering he was in nothing more industrious and in nothing more happy and successful in exerting his industry than in an early sowing those Blessed Seeds of Divine Knowledge in the Hearts of all the Youth that he could reach in person or otherwise by which they were exceedingly formed to receive all good Impressions During the time of his publick Ministry on every Lords-day in the Afternoon he constantly catechised before a great Congregation the Youth of each Sex by turns amongst whom were several both young Men and Women sometimes five or six of the chief Scholars of the Free-School sometimes five or six of the Apprentices of the Town some of whom though of mans estate who accounted it not a disgrace to learn according to the guise of this mad World but to be ignorant Sometimes of the other Sex five or six young Gentlewomen who were under his Wifes Tuition and so his Domestick over-sight kept their turns of whom she had not a few and those the Daughters of Gentlemen of good rank far and near whose laudable emulation and love to their Father as they styled him and to the Work was the cause why they were not so over-bashful as to decline so advantagious a course by which together with domestick Instructions and Example even all received a tincture of Piety and Religion and many a through Impression Besides these several Virgins also and among these the Daughters of some of the chief Magistrates in the Town did keep their turns In this his course he drew out on the short Answers in the Assemblies Catechism an excellent Discourse on all the Points of the Christian Theology which he handled successfully reducing his Discourse to several Heads which he also proved by pertinent Places of Scripture which done he gave both the Heads and Proofs written at length on a Week day to those whom he designed to Catechize on the ensuing Lords-day which besides the short Answers in the Catechism and the annexed Proofs they committed to memory and rendred on the After-noon of the day aforesaid Throughout all which course he approved himself to be a most substantial Divine Neither did his Catechistical Labours rest here but also on Thursdayes in the Afternoon as I remember he Catechised in the Church Street by Street whole Families excepting the Married or more Aged in order Which Exercise I suppose he designed as preparatory to his Lord's-Dayes Work Besides this on Saturdayes in the Morning he Catechised the Free-School of that place instructing them in the Points of Christian Doctrine and excellently explaining the Answers in the Assemblies Catechism discovering a Mine of Knowledge in them and in himself How excellent was his design and great his Labour besides all this in going from House to House and instructing both Old Young is elsewhere abundantly declared Neither was this his Labour in vain but became even as successful as laborious for there are few but have gratefully acknowledged that by this means they were either led into the Knowledge or induced to the belief choice and practice of that which was and is of Soveraign advantage to them to this day And how happy and likely a course he took herein to advance Religion in the Nation on the hearts and lives of men and how far less successful and probable all other means are aiming at this end without this initial Work it is left to all pious and considering men to judge 2. On those that Err by reproving and reducing them He had not onely compassion over the Ignorant but also over those who were out of the way witness his faithful and effectual discharge of that great duty of giving seasonable reproofs of which his great faithfulness there is abundant mention else-where And by so much the more did his excellent discharge hereof speak forth his high praise by how much the more difficult he ever apprehended it aright to apply it He hath been heard often to say That it was far more difficult to him to give than to take a Reproof considering how great Wisdom Courage Compassion Self-denyal c. is required in order to its right discharge And though he was so rarely Passive and often Active in this Work yet the frequency of his giving a Reproof never made it so easie as to be less difficut than to receive it Lut ever his Work was to him not only an Act of the greatest Self-denyal but also the result of a strong conflict within 〈◊〉 his Indignation at the Sin and Compassion on the Sinner And yet the consideration of the difficulty was not to him an Argument to forbear but rather a stronger Motive to undertake it who ever delighted to converse in and conquer the difficulties of Christianity both in doing and suffering Small difficulties here were not his match and there were no noble Atchievements in Religion to which he attained not or vigorously aspired His truly Heroick Spirit As it is said of Themistocles that famous Athenian Captain that the Acts of Miltiades broke his sleep so as truly may it be said of this Blessed Saint That the Acts and
overshaddow you and bear you safe to the Kingdom In the Holy Arms of Divine Love I desire to leave you May you live under its daily Influences and be melted and overcome with its warming Beams with its quickning piercing powerful Rays My most dear love to you all See that you live not in a dull fruitless liveless course Be patient be watchful instant in Prayer servent in Spirit serving the Lord I am very healthful and chearful through grace See that none of these things move you that befal us Fare you well my dear Brethren farewel in the Lord I am Yours in the strongest Bonds of Affection and Affliction JOS. ALLEINE From the Prison at Jeulchester Octob. 25. 1663. LETTER XI Remember Christ crucified and crucifie Sin To the Faithful and Well-beloved People the Servants of Christ in Taunton Salvation Most dear Christians I Am by Office a Remembrancer the Lords Remembrancer for you and your Remembrancer in the behalf of Christ-My business is with the Apostle to stir up your pure minds by way of Remembrance And what or whom should I remember you of but your most mindful Friend your Intercessour with the Father who hath you alwayes in remembrance appearing in the presence of God for you May his Memory ever live in our Hearts though mine should die Oh Remember his Love more than Wine Remember in what a Case he found you and yet nothing could anihelate his Heart nor divert the purpose of his Love from you He loathed not your Rags nor your Rottenness He found you in a loathsome Vomit and filthiness in a nasty and Verminous Tatters think not these expressions too odious No Pen can describe no Heart can imagine the odiousness of sin in his sight in which you lay and rolled your selves as the filthy Swine in the mire Yet he pitied you his Bowels were moved and his Compassions were kindled when one would have thought his wrath should have boiled and his indignation have burned down to Hell against you he loathed not but loved you and washed you from your sins in his own Blood Ah monstrous and polluted Captives Ah vile and putrid Carkases that ever the holy Jesus should take the hands of you and should his own self wash you and wrinse you methinks I see him weeping over you and yet it was a wore costly Bath by which he cleansed you Ah Sinners look upon the streaming Blood flowing out wharm from his blessed Body to fetch out the ingrained filthiness that you by sin had contracted Alas what a horrid filthiness in sin that nothing but the blood of the Covenant could wash away and what a love is Christs than when no Sope nor Nitre could suffice to cleanse us when a whole Ocean could not wash nor purifié us would opon every vein of his heart to do the work look upon your crucified Lord do you not see a sacred stream flowing out of every Member Ah how those Holy Hands those unerring Feet do run a stream to purge us Alas how that innocent Back doth Bleed with cruel scourgings to save ours how the great drops of Blood fall to the ground from his sacred Face in his miraculous sweat in his bitter and bloody Agony to wash and beautifie ours how his wounded hearts and side twice pierced first with love and pity and then with Souldiers cruelly do pour out their healthful and saving Flouds upon us Lord how do we make a shift to forget such a love as this ah mirrors or rather Monsters of ingratitude that can be unmindful of such a Friend do we thus requite him is this our kindness to such an obliging friend Christians where are your affections to what use do you put your faculties what have you memories for but to remember him What have you the power of loving for but that you should love him wherefore serves joy or desire but to long for him and delightfully to embrace him may your souls and all their Powers be taken up with him May all the little Doors of your souls be set open to him Here fix your thoughts here terminate your desires here you may light your Candle and kindle your Fire when almost out Rub and chase your hearts well with the deep consideration of the love of Christ and it is a wonder if they do not get some warmth The Lord shed abroad his love in your hearts by the Holy Ghost Oh! that this love might constrain you Brethren what will you do now for Jesus Christ. Have you never a Sacrifice to lay upon his Altar come and I will shew you what you shall do let your hands be in the blood of your sins fall foul with them search them out with diligence search your hearts and your houses whatever iniquities you find there out with them put them far from your Tabernacles if you crucifie them not you are not Jesus his Friends Godforbid that there should be a lying Tongue or any way of deceit in your Shops That his service should give place to the World in your Families Far be it from any of you my Brethren that you should be careful to teach your children and servants the way of your Trades and Callings and neglect to instruct them in the way of Life Is weekly Catechising up in every one of your Families The Lord convince any of you that may be guilty of this neglect Oh! set up God in your Houses and see that you be not slovenly in Closet performances beware of serving the Lord negligently serve not the Lord with that which costs you nothing look to it that you content not your selves with a cheap and easie Religion Put your flesh to it be well assured that the Religion that costs you nothing will yeeld you nothing keep up the life of Religion in your Family and Closet duties Fear nothing like a customary and careless performance of Gods Service Judge your own selves whether lazie wishes idle complaints and yawning Prayers are like to carry you through the mighty difficulties that you must get through if ever you come to Heaven When you find your selves going on in a liftless liveless heartless course and have no mind to your work ask your selves is this to take the Kingdom of Heaven by violence or can I hope to win it without see that you sacrifice your selves to the Lord that you deliver up your selves to him that now you live to Christ himself As Christ hath made over his life and death to you so let it be your care to live and die to him labour to forget your selves and look upon all your enjoyments as Christs goods upon your time parts strength as his Talents look upon your selves only in the quality of Servants and Stewards that are to husband all these for your Lords advantage and as those that must give an account And pray for me that I may take the Counsel that I give I bless the Lord I want nothing but the opportunity of being
every prophane 〈◊〉 every prayerless Soul and every prayerless family and convince them of their miserable condition while without thee in the world Set thy Image upon their Souls set up thy Worship in their Families Let not pride ignorance or slothfulness keep them in neglect of the means of Knowledge Let thine eyes be over the place of my desires for good from one end of the year to the other end thereof Let every House therein be a Seminary of Religion and let those that cast their eyes upon these lines find thee sliding in by the secret influence of thy Grace into their hearts and irresistably engaging them to do thy pleasure Amen Amen LETTER XXXII He that endureth to the end shall be saved To the Loving and Well-Beloved the Servants of Christ in Huntington Grace and Peace Most dear Christians I Do 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 my self thankful wherein I may unto You. I am the more sensible of your great love because I cannot be insensible how little I have deserved such a Mercy and 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 to you But now Letters and Prayers are all that I have for you of these I shall be ready to be prodigal Your love to me hath been very bountiful I may not forget the liberal Supplies that you have sent many of you even out of your poverty to me and not to me only but to the whole Family of my Brethren and Fellow-Prisoners who do all bless you and send by these with me their thankful respects unto you I servently pray and do not doubt to speed that you may reap in Grace and Glory what you have sown to us in bounty Verily there is a reward for the Righteous Ah how sure is it And how great and how near is it Come on my dear Brethren and Fellow-Travellers Stir up your selves and set to your race See that you loiter not but speed apace 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 a while 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 now for Faith and Patience How safely how sweetly would these carry us to our Home and Harbour through all difficulties Brethren beloved be ye followers of them who through 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 inflicted evil as in waiting for the deferred good If the Reward of Religion would be presently in hand who would not be Religious Who but the deceitful world count it doubtful and distant and they are all for something in hand and so take up with a present felicity The Lord deals all upon trust and upon that account is but little dealt with You must have Patience and be content to 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 unmoveable abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you 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 the endless 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 them for a little waiting Beloved lift up your Eyes and behold your Inheritance the good Land that is beyond the Jordan and that goodly Mountain The Promises are a Map of Heaven Do but view it believingly and considerately as it is darkly drawn there and tell me what think you of that worthy portion that goodly Heritage Will not all this make you 〈◊〉 for your stay Why then act like Believers Never bethink the pains nor expences of Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall come off a loser What though You are much upon the spending 〈◊〉 I might tell you God but I would have you 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 later 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 pretious fruits of your Faith The Husbandman hath no such certainty is 〈◊〉 he hath but a probability of an harvest and yet he hath 〈◊〉 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 must sure as sure as the irrevocable Decree the infallible Promise the immutable Oath of a God a God that cannot lie that knows no place for Repentance can make it Again the Husbandman hath no such increase to look for as you Oh if he were but sure that every Corn would bear a Crown with what exultation and joy rather than patience would he go through all his cost and labour Why Brethren such is a Believers 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 Besides 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 sit down and give up his hopes when within sight of the Harbour Or will the Husbandman 〈◊〉 and give up all for lost when he sees the fields even white for the Harvest Or 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 even at Door The Lord is at hand He cometh quickly and his reward is with him He comes with the Crown in his hand to 〈◊〉 upon the head of patience Therefore cast not
run not with others into the wretched practice of Lying and Couzening Whoredom and the like but what is this more than a Pharisee may have to say for himself can I prove by Scripture my claim to Heaven can I produce Chapter and Verse to justifie my self Oh Couzin fear least a Promise being lest of entring into rest you should by any mistakes or self-deceits fall short through unbelief fear lest you should take Counters of gold or some common workings for saving Grace Oh there is a world of counterfeit Coin going multitudes perish by mistake and wake in Hell whilest they dreamt they were in Heaven the tempter is very subtile and will sure deceive if he can your heart is deceitful above all things and is willing to cheat you if it can Therefore am I engaged so earnestly to call upon you as one that watcheth for your soul to arise speedily and to set roundly to your Work Oh consider your danger and work out your Salvation with fear and trembling away with these lazie Prayers away with these cold and heartless Professions away with this drowsie liveless liftless Religion bestir your self to purpose for your Soul before it be too late Search your Conscience as with Candles be jealous of your self consider now is your time what you do you must do quickly the patience of God is waiting Christ is knocking the Spirit of God is striving and death is at the door Oh now take your opportunity and take heed lest a slothful heart and the cares of this world or a presumptuous confidence that all is well and safe already should at last shut you out of the Kingdom of God I cannot write distinctly to your Husband but I beseech you to call upon him to set his heart to these Counsels which I have written to you I earnestly entreat him to make Religion his business and to look heedfully to it that the gain of the world prove not the loss of his soul. I desire him that Closet and Family Prayers and weekly Catechesing of his Houshold and strict sanctifying of the Sabbath and reading of the Scriptures singing of Psalms repeating of Sermons and diligent attendance upon powerful Preaching may be his continual exercises that so his house may be a little Church and God may delight to dwell in his Family pray give me to understand what is done of these things for I have a zeal for your welfare and that you and your Houshould should serve the Lord that you may enter into his rest and carry children and servants and friends and all to Heaven with you As to my own estate I have lost all my Limbs and about this twelve Months useless and been again and again under the sentence of death but was brought in a Horse-litter to Bath where God hath wonderfully restored me so that I can seed my self and go alone and speak with a little more freedom Oh love the Lord praise the Lord for me notwithstanding I continue weak and have not strength to write yet I could not tell how to die in silence from you but have made use of a friendly hand to send these counsels and calls after you which I beseech you to accept in the fear of God for it is not unlike that they may be my last to you that ever you may receive I now commend you to the Lord and with mine own and my dear Wives love to you both Rest Your loving and careful unkle JOS. ALLEINE Octob. 21. 1668. FINIS LETTER XXXV The Concernments of our Souls especially to be regarded Dear Cousin YOU may think you are forgotten with me because you have not heard so long a time from me but this may let you know That though God hath taken away your Father and suffered your Mother to be helpless to you yet you have one friend on earth that careth for you The welfare of your immortal soul is dear to me and is the matter of my sollicitous care and prayer Dear Cousin Methinks I feel a godly jealousie of you within my heart lest you should lose your soul amongst a croud of worldly cares and business Oh remember the story of him in the Book of the Kings who relates that he had a Soldier committed to his keeping upon condition that he should lose his life if he did let him go But while thy servant went hither and thither the man escaped But the King replies presently Even so shall thy judgment be thy life shall go for his life Ah Cousin take earnest heed lest while you are going hither and thither minding many things tossed in a hurry of worldly affairs the enemy run not away with your soul. Oh beware that the world doth not secretly steal away your heart Consider that whatever your business be you must and will have an eating time and a sleeping time Oh be as sollicitous every day to keep your praying times which are a thousand times more necessary than a time to eat in or sleep Be sure that there doth not a morning or evening pass over your head in which you have not perfumed your closet with solemn and fervent prayer And take heed if you love your salvation lest Satan beguile you with the bare outward performance of duties and outward acts of Religion See to it that you do not rest in a worldly Religion to give God your knee while the World carries away your heart You may pray hear and read and all to no purpose excep your very Soul be employed and engaged in these duties and the life vigour and strength of your affections be found to go after God in them If therefore you will have Christ and Heaven see that you renounce the world You must cast overboard your worldly hopes and take up with God with a naked Christ as your whole happiness both for this life and that which is to come There is no hopes of your salvation without a sound mortification to the world you must be mortified to your worldly expectations look not for much from the world promise not your self much from the world seek not great things for your self say unto God So I may have thee for my portion and thy Kingdom for my inheritance give or deny me what thou wilt poverty or riches any thing or nothing I will be contented with my Lot Say unto your soul So I may but have Christ so I may but carry it for the other world let this world go which way it will I must be converted or condemned I must be born again or else would I had never been born but of this present world there is no such necessity I may be poor and yet happy but wo to me if I remain unsanctified I must have grace or perish for ever Dear Cousin if I live you shall find me a friend to your worldly prosperity but whether I live or die I charge you by the Lord that you be infinitely tender of your immortal Souls everlasting