Christian Letters Full of Spiritual Instructions, Letter 33
LETTER XXXIII. [For Perseverance.] To my dear Friends the Servants of Christ in Luppit, Salvation.
Beloved Christians,
HAving taken up a Resolution to Write to, and to endeavour to confirm all the Places, where I have gone up and down Preaching the Kingdom of God, You were by no means to be omitted. You were the People that were last upon-my heart, before my taking up, and had I not been made a Prisoner, I think I had in a few hours after the time of my Apprehension been with you. Now I can no way but by Prayers, Letters, and Councels visit you; and so have sent these, to let you know, that you are upon my Heart, and that your Welfare is dear unto me. I bless the Lord to hear that his Work doth not cease among you. It is the Joy of our Bonds, Beloved, to hear that the Word is not bound, and that Satan hath not his design upon the People of God, who doubtless intended by these Sufferings to have struck Terrour into them, and to have made their Hands weak. Know, dear Christians, that the Bonds of the Gospel are not tedious through Grace unto us, that Christ is a Master worth a suffering for, that there is really enough in Religion to defray all our Charges, to quit all the Cost and Expence you can be at in or upon it; That you may Build upon it that you can never be losers by Jesus Christ, that Christs Prison is better than the Worlds Paradise, that the Divine Attributes are alone an All-sufficient Livelihood, that the Influences of Heaven, and shines of Gods Countenance are sufficient to lighten the darksomest Dungeon, and to perfume and sweeten the noisomest Prison to a poor Believer; that if you can bring Faith and Patience, and the Assurance of the Divine Favour with you to a Prison, you will live comfortably in spight of Earth & Hell. These are Truths that the Prisoners of Christ can in a measure Seal unto; and I would have you to be more soundly assured of, and established in. Brethren we are of the same mind in a Prison, that we were os in the Pulpit; that there is no life to a life of Holiness; that Christ, and his Yoak, and his Cross, are worthy of all acceptation; that it is the best, and wisest, and safest and gainfulllest course in the World to stick close to Christ and his Ways, and to adhere to them in all hazards. Come on, Beloved Christians, come on, stack not your pace, but give diligence to the full assurance of Hope unto the end, and be ye followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises. Strengthen the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees. If you faint in the day of Adversity, your strength is small. Chear up, my Brethren, look what a Crown, what a Kingdom here is; What say you? Is not here a worthy Portion, a goodly Heritage? Were it not pity to lose all this for want of Diligence and Patience? Come, dear Christians, and fellow Travellers, I pray you, let us put on: Pluck up the weary Limbs, our Home is within sight. Lift up your Eyes from the Pisga of the Promises: You may see the Land of Rest. Will any of you think of returning into Egypt? God forbid: A little patience, and Christ will come. 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. He is not a Christian indeed, that cannot be content to tarry for his Preferment in another World. Cast upon it, my Brethren, that your Kingdom is not of this World; that here you must have Tribulations, and that all is well as long as we are secured for Eternity. Exhort one another daily: strive together in Prayer, unite your strength therein, and pull a main: Mercy will come sooner or later, however we will be content to wait till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ah how surely will he come! He will render Tribulation to them that trouble us, and to us that are troubled, rest with him. OnelyOnly believe and wait: What not watch with him one hour? Why the Judge is even at the door! And how blessed will you be if you do but continue and hold fast till he come! Watch therefore, and stand fast, quit you like men, be Zealous, and let your hearts be strong: God is your Friend, and you may trust him. He is able to bear you out, and bear you up: faint not therefore, but be stedfast, unmoveable, abounding in the works of the Lord. Speak often one to another, provoke to love, and to good Works. Let the Bay of opposition against Godliness, make the Torrent of your Zeal break over with the more violence. But it's time to end, I have been bold to call upon you, you see; and to stir you up by way of remembrance. May the Spirit of the most high God excite you, encourage you, enflame you: may these poor lines be some quickning to you: may the good-will of him that dwelt in the Bush dwell with you. My dear loves to you all, pray sor the Prisoners. Farewel dear Brethren, farewel in the Lord, I am
Yours in the Bonds of the Lord Jesus, JOS. ALLEINE. Octob. 11. 1665.