The Life and Death of Joseph Alleine, Biography · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Some Notes from another, whose House he Lodged in (Mr. F.)
The Narrative of his most Constant, Tender, Compassionate dealing with ignorant and bad People, in the places when he came, (frequently giving them Money, with his Exhortations) is mentioned before.
AS for such as feared God already, he was still seeking their Edification, and stirring them up to a Holy Life: Very much pressing them, to intend God as their end, and to do whatever they did for God. When the Week began, he would say, Another Week is now before us, let us spend this Week for God. And in the Morning he would say, Come now let this day be spent for God. Now let us live this one day well: Could we resolve to be more than ordinary circumspect, but for one day at a time, and so on, we might live at extraordinary …. In the day time, he would (seasonably) ask People, How did you set out to day? Did you set out for God to day? What were your Morning Thoughts?
In the Week time, he would often ask the Servants for the Heads of the Sermon, which they had heard on the Lord's-Day before. As he walked about the House, he would make some Spiritual use of what-ever did occur, and still his Lips did drop like the Hony-Comb to all that were about him, to do any Offices for him in his Weakness, were all well requited. To give a few Instances of his savoury words.
To one that had done well.
There are two things (said he) that we must specially look to after well doing, and the special tast of the Love of God. 1. That we grow not proud of it, and so lose all. 2. That we grow not secure, and so give the Tempter new Advantages.
Speaking of the Vanity of the World, he said:
It is as good be without the World, and to bear that state as beseemeth a Christian, as to enjoy the World, though it were never so well imployed: If a Man hath Riches, and layeth them out for God, and for his Servants, yet is it as happy a state to receive Alms of another, so we bear our Poverty aright, and are chearful and thankful in our low Estate. (Though yet it is true, that Riches may be used to the good of others; and it is more honourable to give, than to receive.)
Another time he was saying:
How necessary a Duty it is for a Child of God, placidly to suit with all God's Dispensations, and that a Christian must not onelyonly quietly submit to God in all his dealings, but ever to be best pleased with what God doth, as knowing that he is infinitely Wise, and Good. And, O how unbecoming a Christian is it to do otherwise.
To which one answering, How short we ordinarily fall as to that temper: He replyed,
We have much ground to go yet, but so it must be; but we shall never be well indeed till we come to Heaven.
Another time said he,
O what an alteration will be shortly made upon us! Now we are the Sons of God, but yet it doth not appear (to sight) what we shall be: Did we imagine onelyonly that we shall shine as the Sun in the Firmament, it were too low a Conception of our … hereafter.
Another Morning as he was Dressing, he said,
O what a shout will there be when Christ shall come in his Glory! I … contribute to that shout.
Another time,
I bless the Lord, I delight in nothing in this World, further than I see God in it.
Another time (in his weakness) saith he:
There are three things which must be unlearned, as being mistakes among men. 1. Men think that their happiness lyeth in having the World, when it is much more in contemning the World. 2. Men think that the greatest contentment lyeth in having their Wills, when indeed it lyeth in crossing, mortifying, and subduing their wills to the Will of God. 3. Men think it their business and benefit to seek themselves, when indeed it is the denying of themselves.
Another time this was his advice.
1. Value precious time, while time doth last, and not when it is irrevocably lost. 2. Know the worth of things to come, before they come, (or are present) and the worth of things present, before they are past. 3. Value no Mercy as it serveth to content the flesh, but as it is serviceable for God, and to things eternal.
Such was his talk at the Table, where he would be still raised in gratitude for God's Bounty, and used to eat his meat with much chearfulness and comfort, as savouring of a sweeter good.
He took one that was watching with him by the hand, and said:
I hope to pass an Eternity with thee, in the praises of our God: In the mean time, Let us live a life of praise while we are here, for it is sweet to us, and delightful to God: It is harmony in his Ears, our failings being pardoned, and we and our praise accepted through Christ.
Such discourse is, I hope, no great rarity with good men, in the chearfulness of prosperity in health; but for a man on the Bed of tedious languishing it is more rare.
The night before he went to Bath, where he died, he said to the same Person:
O how much more hath God done for you, than for all the World of unconverted Persons, in that he hath wrought his Image on your heart, and will bring you at last to his Coelestial Glory: See now that you acknowledge the Grace of God, and give him the praise of it: For my part, I bless the Lord, I am full of his Mercy; Goodness and Mercy have followed me all my dayes; I am full and running over: And now I charge you to walk chearfully, and to follow me with your Praises whilst I am alive.
And for such in the Family as lay under doubts of their condition, he took great care of them, endeavouring daily to satisfie their Doubts, and answer their Scruples; and still would be enquiring, whether they had yet any more settlement: And if they said, they knew not how to try themselves; he would say, Come, let me help you; and so would take them aside, and propound some three or four sound Marks, by way of Question, and would ask them whether it were so with them or not? And if any doubt appeared to remain about it, he would not easily leave them; till they were somewhat satisfied at that time, and would bring all down to the … Capacity, by putting his Questions several wayes. And if yet doubts remained, he would use all the compassion and pitifulness that might be, and open to them the goodness of God's Nature, the sufficiency of Christ, and his readiness to accept returning Sinners; and after long tryal by fairer means, would plainly labour to convince … of the Sin of Unbelief, &c. And for any in the Family that seemed to stick under bare Convictions, he much urged … to go on, and make a through, and sound, and sure work of it.
In Family Duties, he seemed more excellent than at other times.
He was a man of singular patience in Affliction. Though he lay under such weakness for certain years, as rendered him almost wholly unable for his publick Work, and many times not able to move a Hand or Finger, or hardly any other part; yet some that have been much with …, never heard him once complain, of one pain or other, unless any askt him, and then would alwayes make the least of it. And when he lay many nights and never took the least … by sleep, he would never shew the least impatiency, nor so much as say, he had not slept, unless it were askt him. And still would justifie and … God, and say, Shall I receive good at God's hand, and no evil?
Speaking of Exhortations and Reproof, he said, It's the safest course (where it may be done) to take the opportunity, and not to suffer our backward hearts to cheat us of the present, on pretence of staying for a fitter time.
As advice for profitable Discourse, he said, It is good for such Christians as need it, to study before-hand what to speak, that they may alwayes have something in readiness to bring forth for the benefit of others, which will prevent impertinencies.
Of Prayer with others he would say; We have need to watch against confining our Thoughts and Desires to the cases of our own Souls, with the neglect of those that joyn with us; but above all, with the neglect of the miserable World, and of the Church of Christ. For though indeed Hypocrites use to Indite almost all their publick Prayers from the supposed case of those that are present, and meddle but little with their own sins and wants, unless in formality: Yet sincere Christians are at first too apt to dwell upon their own Cases almost alone, insomuch that they have need to be called outward; and as they grow in Love, they will grow enlarged in the case of their Brethren, but especially of Publick and Universal Consequence.