Christian Letters Full of Spiritual Instructions, Letter 37
LETTER XXXVII. [To a person of Quality to be constant.]
Most Honoured Sir,
MAny charges have passed over both you and my self, since my last Writing to you, but I am glad to hear that in that great change of your condition, you have made so wise and happy a choice. Mine unfeigned desire to God is for your Temporal and Spiritual prosperity; and that the blessings of both Worlds may be heaped up upon you. Yet I should desire you not to expect too much here, nor to count it a strange thing, if you meet with disappointments. Is it enough if you have the Lord for your portion, and Heaven for your Inheritance; though the World should not answer your expectations. I doubt not but you will be likely, as well as we, to meet with manifold temptations: the Lord make you, when you have done all to stand. Hold out a while in faith, patience, and self-denial, and you shall be as sure as God can make you of the Crown. Now arise and shine, and hold forth the power of holiness in all your converse. We have lived in times when Religion was the way to credit and esteem, and then it was more difficult to discern sincerity of ones profession, because men might be drawn to it upon worldly ends. But now is the time when God will prove us, if we will appear for him, and own his ways, when they are the common scorn of the World. Oh Sir, think it not hard if God do call you forth to own him in such a time as this, when few of your rank and quality will bear you company: but look upon it as a special advantage to prove your sincerity, and your fidelity to the Lord your Maker. The holy and blessed life of that noble Marquess Galeacius, I should much commend to your reading and imitation. Court not the World nor its preserments, Moses his self-denying choice. which the World would have branded for unparalled folly, when he voluntarily left all the Court-preferments and pleasures, the wisest Judge commends for the great… wisdom. If Religion will make you vile, resolve with tha… …yal Worthy, that you will be yet more vile. Remember who accounted the reproaches of Christ greater riches, than the Treasures of Egypt. Verily it is a greater honour to you to be vilified for Christ, than to be …ignified with the highest Titles that the greatest on Earth can conser: and to be call'd Puritan or Phanatique, for the bold and constant owning of the power of Christianity, than to have whole Pages filled up with the honourable offices and marks of Dignity, that Earthly Princes can bestow. Now then is your time to get the true honour. Few of your places and dignity, will take this way to get it: But he that can but use the prospective os Faith, and look as far as the approaching Judgement, will easily see the vanity of the worlds riches and flattering preferments, and the everlasting glory and honour wherewith the dispised Saints shall surely be Crowned. Fix your eyes and Meditations here, and that will set you above the worlds temptations, when by its offers or threatnings it would make you to warp, and to let go your hold-fast of Eternal life. Now is the time for you to make Heaven sure, and when that is done, you are prepared for the worst that can come. I desire you to accept of my service and respects, and my Wives, which I do hereby present unto you, and to your most deserving yoak-fellow, whom I unfeignedly honour though I never saw her, not so much for her noble blood, which yet calls sor great respects, as for her far more noble qualifications, and priviledges of her second birth. Pardon my boldness with you, in troubling you so long, I am Sir,
Your most Oblidged Friend, and Servant, JOS. ALLEINE. Feb. 26. 1661.