Christian Letters Full of Spiritual Instructions, Letter 3
LETTER III. [Warning to Professors.] To my most dearly beloved, my Christian Friends in Taunton, Salvation.
Most loving Brethren,
I Shall never forget your old kindnesses, and the entire affections that you have shed upon me, not by drops, but by floods, would I never so fain forget them, yet I could not, they are so continually renowned; for there is never a day but I hear of them; Nay, …ore than hear of them, I feel and taste them. The God that hath promised to them that give to a Prophet though but a cup of cold Water, shall receive a Prophets reward; he will recompence your labour of love, your servent prayers, and constant cryes, your care for my welfare, your bountiful supplies who have given me, not a cup of cold water, but the Wine of your loves, with the sense and tidings whereof I am continually refreshed. I must, I do and will bless the Lord as long as I live, that he hath cast my lot in so fair a place, to dwell in your communion; and especially to go in and out before you, and to be the Messenger of the Lord of Host to you, to proclaim his Law, and to Preach his Excellencies, to be his Spokesman to you, and to woo… for him, and to espouse you to one Husband, and to present you as a chaste Virgin unto Christ. Lord! how unworthy am I, everlastingly unworthy of this glorious Dignity, which I do verily believe the most brightest Angels in Heaven would be glad of, if the Lord saw it fit to imploy them in this work! Well, I do not, I cannot repent, notwithstanding all the difficulties and inconveniences that do attend his dispised Servants, and hated ways, and that are like to attend them; for we have but sipped yet of the Cup; but I have set my hand to his plow; my Ministry I took up with you, and my Testimony I finished with you, though I thought I had espoused you till death; and when I was entred into that Sacred Office, which through rich Grace I was imployed in, I told you in the close of what I spake before the laying of the holy Hands upon me (most gladly do I take up this Office with all the persecution, affliction, difficulties an tribulation and inconveniencies that do and may attend it) and blessed be God, I am through his goodness of the same mind still, and my tribulations for Christ, do (to him be Glory, for to me belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face) confirm my choice and my resolution to serve him with much more than my labours. Verily, Brethren, it is a good choice that I have commended to you: Oh! that there might not one be found among you that hath not made Maries choice, I mean of that good part which shall never be taken away from you. Brethren, let them take up with the world that have no better portion: be content that they should carry the Bell, and bear away th… riches and perferments and glory, and splendor of the World. Alas! you have no reason to envy them: verily, they have a lye in their right hand: Ah! how soon will their hopes fail them: how soon will the crackling blast be out, and leave them in eternal darkness: they shall go to the generation of their Fathers, they shall never see light, like sheep they shall be laid in their Graves, and the upright shall have Dominion over them in the morning. But for my Brethren, I am jealous that none of you should come short of the Glory of God. I am ambitious for you that you should be all the heirs of an endless life, the living hopes of the Saints, the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fades not away.
Ah my Brethren! why should not you be all happy? I am jealous for you with a Godly jealousie, lest a promise being left you of entering into his rest, any of you should come short of it. O look diligently, lest any man fail of the Grace of God: Alas! how it pities me to see this Rest neglected: How it grieves me that any of you should fall short of mercy at last! That any of that flock over which the holy Ghost hath made be in part overseer, should perish; when Christ hath done so much for you, and when his under Officers (through his Grace, for we are not sufficient of our selves) have done somewhat to recover and save them. Ah dear Brethren! I was in great earnest with you when I besought you out of the Pulpit, many a time, to give a Bill of Divorce to your sins, and to accept of the match and the mercy that in the name of God Almighty I did there offer to you. Alas! how it pitied me to look over so great a Congregation, and to think that I could not, for my life I could not, perswade them, one quarter of them, in likelihood to be saved? how it moved me to see your diligence in flocking, not only to the stated Exercises, but to the Repetitions and to most hazardous opportunities, for which you are greatly to be commended, since the Law forbad my publick Preaching, and yet to think that many of you that went so far, were like to perish for ever for want of going further. I must praise your diligent attendance on all opportunities: Blessed be God that made a willing ministry and a willing people: for I remember how I have gone furnished with a Train! How I went with the multitude to the House of God, with the voice of joy and praises, with the multitude that kept Holy-days. The remembrance of which moves my soul, but, O my flock, my most dear flock, how fain would I carry you farther then the external and outward profession; O! how loath am I to leave you there! How troubled to think that any of you should go far and hazard much for Religion, and yet miscarry for ever by the hand of some unmortified lust! as secret pride or untamed passion, or an unbridled tongue, or which I fear most of all, a predominate love of the World in your hearts. Alas! must it be so, and is there no remedy but I must carry you to Heavens-gate and leave you there! Oh, that I should leave the work of your Souls but half done; and bring you no farther than the almost of Christianity, Hear, O my people, hear, although I may command you, upon your utmost peril in the Name of the Lord Jesus that shall shortly judge you, I beseech you, I warn you as a Father doth his Children, to look to the setling and securing of your everlasting condition; and for life take heed of your resting in the outter-part of Religion, but to be restless till you find the through-change of Regeneration within, that you are quite new in the frame and bent of your hearts: for here is the main of Religion in the hidden man of the heart: for Christs sake, for your Soul-sake look to it, that you build upon the Rock, that you be sure in the Foundation work, that you do unfeignedly deliver over your selves to the Lord to be under his command and at his dispose in all things: see that you make no exceptions, no reserve, that you cast over board all your worldly hopes, and count upon parting with all for Christ: that you take him alone for your whole happiness. Wonder not that I often inculcate this: If it be well here, it is well all; if unsound here, the error is in the foundation, and you are undone. Brethren, I see great tryals coming, when we shall see Professors fall like leaves in the Autumn, unless they be well setled: therefore is it that I would so fain have you look to your standing, and to secure the main. And for you whose Souls are soundly wrought upon, O make sure whatever you do: get and keep your evidences clear! How dreadful would your temptations be, if you should be called to part with all for Christ, and not be sure of him neither: get a right and clear understanding of the terms of life, which I have set before you in that form of Covenanting with God in Christ, that I commended to you. I would that none of you should be without a Copy of it: be much in observing your own hearts, both in duties and out-crying mightily to God for assurance: If you cannot discern your estate your selves, go to some body that is albe and faithful, and fully open your Case, your Evidences and doubts, and be extraordinary strict and watchful in your whole course, and I doubt not but you will quickly grow up to assurance.
I cannot tell how to make an end, methinks I could write all the day to you, but my straights of time are great, and my Letter already too long, yet I cannot conclude till I have given you my unfeigned than… for your most kind and gracious Letter. Surely it shall be in store with me, and laid up among my Treasures; that God is pleased so to unite your hearts to me, and to make use of me for your edification, is matter of highest joy unto me; as also to see your stedfas… ness in Christ, your unshaken resolutions, notwithstanding all the Tempters wiles. Go on, my dearly Beloved, and the Lord strengthen your hands and your hearts, and lift you up above the fears of men. My most dear Brother Norman salutes you with manifold Loves and Respects, earnestly wishing that you may wear the Crown of perseverance; as also Brother Turner. The Lord strengthen, establish, settle you, and after you have suffered a while, make you perfect: I leave my Brethren in the everlasting Arms, and rest,
From the common Goale at Juelchester, June 13th. 1663. Your Embassador in bonds, Joseph Alleine.