Remains of Joseph Alleine, Letters
To the most beloved people the flock of Christ in Taunton, Salvation.
Loving and most dearly beloved,
I have lately received your affectionate letter; and though I never question your affections to me, and need no verbal testimony; yet I cannot but take it thankfully, and read it delightfully, when I see it attested under your own hands. And I cannot but tell you, you are the people of my cares, the desire of my eyes, the people of my delights, & of my prayers. My labors with you for many years, though some time attended with difficulty, and danger, yet were not tedious; but my time passed like Jacobs, when he served for Rachel and my sufferings for you are not irksome, through grace, because I trust they are for your edisication, and are a seal of my love to you, and more especially of the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, which I have long preached among you. The Lord God teach me, with humility, and thankfulness to bear such honor, that I should be set for the defence, and consirmation of the Gospel. And now, my dearly beloved, (though you should not be insensible of Gods great visitation upon you, yet) I would not have you inordinately disquieted, that I am removed from you to a prison for a season; but rather imitate the Heroick vertue of that most gracious mother, in the Martyrologie; who, when the Son of her bowels came, not to a prison, but to a stake to be sacrificed in the flames for Christ, fell down on her knees, and blessed the Lord, that ever she should be so happy, as to have a Son to suffer for Jesus Christ. Ah my dear flock! how glad should … be, if God would send me forthwith among you again, to feed you as in the dayes of old, and to go in and out before you, that you might find pasture? yet be not dismayed, fear not little flock; though you are little, and despised, and hated of all men for Christs name sake; Christs relation to you, and tenderness of you is such, that you cannot miscarry. He liveth, and his care liveth. The Godly wife of that worthy Cornish Divine Mr. Vincent, being left in great want, with many little Children, would often answer them, when t…y came crying about her for bread, and she had none to give, with this gracious expression, be quiet, children, our God …. And surely, that, my brethren, may be a quieting, comforting consideration, both for you and me, though the bread do … fail. But at length this gracious wo…, being left quite destitute, and her children calling upon her, when she had neither bread nor money, breaks out into a bitter weeping, which one of the littleones observing, he comes, and puls his mother by the Apron, saying, Mother why do you weep thus? Is God dead now? such a rebuke did the Lord send her, by the mouth of a poor babe. Brethren be not dismayed, Christ liveth, and therefore let your hopes live, let your courage live, let your faith live also. Christ liveth ever, therefore let your hearts live for ever, Psal. 22. 26. He liveth to make intercession sor you, and from his living, you may be assured of life, John 14. 19. of your Jastification, Rom. 8. 34. Of your Salvation, Rom. 5. 10.
Beloved, do but seriously think of Christ's relation to you, and you cannot want comfort. Why, he is not ashamed to call you Brethren. Even when he was entred upon his state of exaltation, risen from the dead, far above the state of mortals, he own'd poor weak believers for his brethren, John 20. 17. Go to my Brethren. Math. 28. 10. Go tell my Brethren. Yea when he cometh with all his holy Angels with him, and sits upon the throne of his glory, he will own the very least, and lowest among poor believers, before all the world, for his Brethren, Math. 25. 31. with ver. 40. keep this, my beloved, as a Cordial at your heart, that Christ stands related to you as your Brother. Ah what consolation is here for a considering Christian! for, First, This may give you boldness with him, and that, both in your coming to him. and at his coming to you. I say in your coming to him. It may make you come with boldness to the throne of grace, that you have such a friend in court, that can have what he will, that is indeed all and in all in heaven: that you have a kinsman, a Brother there, a man like unto your selves, of the same race, and nature, and so sensible of humane infirmity, Heb. 4. 15, 16. Christs humane nature, by which he is a Brother to us, may make us come boldly and with full assurance, Heb. 10. 19, 20, 22. We might tremble to approach Gods terrible Majesty, to come near the consuming fire, but that we have a brother like unto us, a daies-man, a Mediator, the man Christ Jesus, between God and us. Again, it may give us boldness at his coming to us. Let not the Terror he will com with affright us Christians; for he is our brother, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone. Had even Dives himself a regard of his Brethren, that they might not come into that place of torment? and shall we think, Christ will send his brethren thither? How secure would he be whose life or estate were in controversie; if the matter were put into the hand of his own brother? Secondly, Then you may presume upon your interest in him. You may have boldness to speak and confidence to speed. You may make use of him, on all occasions, for your selves, and for your friends. You cannot stretch your interest. He upbraideth not that you make too bold, or come too often, or ask too much. Thirdly, Then you may d…d upon it that he will help in extremity. … friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity, Pro. 17. 17. He is not such a brother as Davids were Psa. 69. 8. Or as Jobs were, Job 6. 14, 15, 16, 17. He will own and delight in his, in their afflictions, Canticles 2. 14. 4. you may not question his affection. Love is the Natural duty, between Brethren, 1 Pet. 3. 8. Christ hath not onelyonly the name but the heart of a brother. He is not such a brother as Cain, that said, am I my brothers keeper, that hated his brother in his heart. Nor as Jacob, that took his brother by the heel, a supplanter, that deceived him of the birth-right. But such a brother as Joseph was, who was all along his eminent type. 1. Josep… Received great unkindnesses, and wretched usage from his Brethren. They conspired against his life, they sold him and pitied him not, when they saw the anguish of his soul. And is not the blood of Christ to be found upon the skirts of his Brethren? Touch him, and the body will bleed upon you. Look upon his mangled body: why, these are the wounds that he hath received in the house of his friends, by the hands of his brethren: I mean by their sins. Isa. 53. 5. 2dly. He shewed melting affections to his brethren after their unkindness to him. He weeped aloud over them, Gen. 45. 1, 2. to wit with tears of love, and joy. His bowels yearned over his brother, and he seeks where to weep, Gen. 43. 30. But there are no bowels to Christs. No yearnings like to his. How unkindly had his brethren dealt with him? One sold him, another denyed him, all forsook him. Yet when one would have expected a Message of d…iance he sends them a message of peace. The sweetest tidings that ever were sent; John 20. 17. Thirdly, Joseph was sent before to provide for his brethren, Gen. 45. 5. So is Christ. It is his business in heaven to prepare, and provide for his brethren. The provision you have for soul and body is from him: but all this is but as the corn to keep you alive upon the way. What is the store, that Joseph hath laid up in Egypt? the preparations that Christ hath made in heaven! Fourthly, Joseph saved the lives of his brethren, that sought his, Gen. 45. 7. And hath not Christ saved them that had their hands in his death? Fifthly, Joseph when he frowned with greatest severity, had his heart full of yearnings, and tenderness to his brethren. He spake roughly but could not forbear to turn about, and weep. Gen. 42. 24. So it is with Christ. He seems to repulse the woman of Canaan, and to put her off: but you know what was all the while in his heart. When he speaks hard sayings, and writes bitter things, and uses us roughly, his thoughts are thoughts of peace, and not of evil; peace is in his heart; He doth it but for your trial. When he seems to have forsaken you, he is but a withdrawing behind the curtain. He seems to have exposed you to perish, as Moses among the flags; but you see not how he stands like Moses his Sister behind the bush, wistly looking, what was done with her brother, the chil…. Sixthly, God so over ruled the wickedness of Joseph his brethren, that it tends greatly, to their good and his preferment. So that God made, that horrid sin in slaying Christ to be for our salvation, & his exaltation, Phil. 2. …, 9, 10. And the Lord hath preferred him as Pharaoh did Joseph, Gen. 41. 41, 42, 43, 44. Seventhly, Joseph provided for his brethren the fat, and the best of all the land. Gen. 47. 11. He bid, …y, and make ready when his brethren were to be with him. Gen. 43. 16. And doth not Christ mingle hiswine, and kill his Oxen, and his …, and think nothing is to good? Prov. 9. Math. 22. He cals for the best robe, and fatted calf, Luke 15. He prepares for you a Goshen, the good land, the inheritance of the Saints in light. Luke 22. 28, 29, 30. Eighthly, Joseph was never satisfied, though he had all the glory of Egypt, till he had his brethren down to him. As Haman, in another case; boasted of the glory of his riches, and all the things wherein the King had promoted him, above the Princes and servants of the King; and …t, sayes he, all this avails me nothing, &c. so all the glory to which Christ is exalted, far above all principalities, and powers, wi…l not content him till he hath his brethren with him; in no worse a place, and no worse a case then himself. John 17. 24. Ninethly, Joseph presents his brethren unto Ph…oh, and leads them into his presence Gen. 47. 2. so doth Christ for believers. He leads them to the father, John 14. 6. Josephs brethren, who would otherwise have been an abomination (being herdsmen) yet were treated kindly for Josephs sake, Gen. 47. And so doth God to us for our brothers sake. To conclude, what affliction is there, wherein Christs relation to you will not yield abundant consolation? But I have exceeded, pardon me: it is for two weeks: having been necessarily diverted from writing to you the week foregoing. The Lord teach you to live upon these cordials, in these sorrowful dayes. Fare you well, dear brethren: farewell in the Lord.
I am yours in the bonds of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To the much beloved, the flock of Christ in Taunton;grace, and peace.
Most Loving, and beloved.
YOur prisoner in the Lord hath sent these lines to salute you, and to call upon you, or rather to beseech you, to walk worthy of the high calling in which you, re called in Jesus Christ. Beloved, our word with you hath not been yea, and nay, uncertain and unstedfast. The prison sounds sorth to you the same doctrine, that the pulpit ever did: the Lord give you to hear; and recieve from the prisoner, that which was not so thorowly embraced from the preacher. But what doth the prison preach? it preaches repentance to you. God hath called to you from the pulpit often, and now he sendeth to you from the prison, that you should repent. Who is so deaf, as not to hear the louds cals of the living God to England, that they should repent? you have long had Moses and the Prophets; but now the Lord hath sent you; as it were, what Dives asked; that one should come to you from the dead and testifie to you that you should repent. From the dead, I say for you know, that in the sence of the Law, your Ministers are dead. But being dead we yet speak; yea our death; our removal, our silence doth speak; and all speaks the same thing, that you should repent. O that I could lift up my voyce to you; that your streets, your houses, your ears, your hearts might be fil'd with this cry, repent O Taunton; repent and turn. Repent O profane, or else your iniquities will be your ruine. Repent O professors or else the Lord will not repent of the evil that he is about to bring upon us. The Lord now ringeth that thundring peal in your ears: Cleanse your hands ye sinners, purifie your hearts ye double-minded, Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness. Humble your selves in the sight os the Lord, and he shall list you up. O hear the voyce of the Lord. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear. Repent, O back sliding Children, or else the Lord will fill you with your own wayes. Speedily make up the breach, and endeavor to repair your decayes, to regain your ground, and recover your first love. O at last bethink your selves, from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your first works. Repent O sluggard; when wilt thou awake out of thy sleep? what hath God kindled a fire in his Church, ready to devour us all, and wilt thou sleep with the house on fire about thine ears? What? wilt thou not ply thy bucket, and settle to thy work to purpose? wilt thou lye still and see the Tide coming in upon the? what…ot pluck thy handout of thy Bosom, nor rise out of thy bed-sloth, when the Almighty thunders from heaven, and scaters his lightning, and and sends abroad the tokens of his displeasure? repent O Laodicean. The Lord calleth to thee to be zealous and repent. Away with this lukewarm profession. Away with this heartlesse, listlesse, livelesse Religion. The Lord hates this halting and halving in Religion. As good not at all, as not to purpose. Never dream that lazie wishes and idle complaints, and key cold prayers, will carry it.
Judge in your own selves; is this the seeking, knocking, striving, fighting, running, wrestling, that the Scripture every where requires, as necessary to all that would be saved: but especially necessary at such a day of rebuke as this is? O quicken your selves, call up all your powers, and put you every man his strength to the rope. Cry mightily as Nineveh did. Humble your selves greatly before the Lord as Manasseh did. Let prayer be made without ceasing night and day, if ever you mean to pray open the prisons, and recover your spiritual priviledges. Repent O thou of Sardis, that hast a name to live but ar… dead. The name may serve to deceive thy self, and to deceive others, but God will not be … ed: he searcheth the heart. O prepare for …is search and for his scrutiny. Wo unto th…, is he pronounce of thee, and write against thee as against …elshazzar; thou art weighed in the balance and sound wanting. Hear the voyce of the living God; hear and live. Remember what you have received, and heard, and hold fast, and repent: and be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain and are ready to dye, lest the Lord come upon you as an enemy at unawares. Repent O worldly professor, that hast Christ in thy mouth and Mammon in thy heart. Ah what a Demas wilt thou quickly shew thy self, except thou repent! howsadly will the fears of loosing thy estate betray thee! How surely will the cares of this world choak thee! how surely will the prevailing love of earthly things undo thee! except thou repent, O study the vanity and vexation of the Creatures; the emptinesse, insufficiency, transitorinesse of present enjoyments; the superlative excellency of Jesus Christ, and his exceeding great reward, till thy very heart do breath with the Martyr; none but Christ; and with Paul, doubtless I account all things but losse, &c. O sinner pray over, and study over these things, till thy heart be brought to a low esteem of perishing things. Walk so osten with death, till thou art dead to the world, and canst look upon it, as a man would, that should peep out of his grave. Repent, O sleeper, that livest in carnal security, and layest not to heart the asflictions of Joseph. Doth the whole world ring of Gods Judgments upon England, and dost not thou awake yet, and call upon thy God? is the Church afflicted, and tossed with tempests, and not comforted, and yet art not thou rouzed up? is the ship even filled with water, and the disciples crying; Master save us, we perish, and all in jeopardy, and yet art thou unasfected? is our Lord ready to be betrayed into the hands of Sinners, and wilt thou sleep on now? art thou not yet come to thy sences? Alass, that there should be such a disease as security going now, at such a time as this! now methinks the dumb should speak, and the dead should wake. VVas the tongue of King Craesus his son, dumb from his birth, loosed when he saw his Father about to be murdered? and shall the Children of Zion see the knife even at the throat or heart of their mother; and yet be silent and unmoved? but what do I dwell on particulars? the Lord calleth on all men every where to repent. Repent, O ossicers, that you have not been so vigilant in the ossices which you have born, and in fulfilling the oaths that you have taken, in repressing of abounding sins as you should have been. This guilt will lye heavy at many doors, without repentance. Repent, O Masters, of your unnecessary hardnesse, and rigor to the bodies; but especially of your cruelty to the souls of your servants. Have you been as careful to train them up in the knowledge of their C…eator, as in the knowledge of your trades? have you taught them how to pray, as well as how to work? and instructed them in the mystery of their salvation, as much as in the mystery of their callings? have you looked for as good an account of the principles of Religion, or or of the Sermon of them, as of the task you have set them? and the work in which you have employed them? O that you had! repent, O you …usbands, of your harshness, bitterness, not dwelling with your wives as men of knowledge. Repent, you Parents, of your fond indulgence to Children, sparing their sins, neglecting their souls. Repent you wives, of your wilfulnesse, and frowardnesse, and disrespectfulnesse to them, towards whom the Almighty cals sor your reverence and obedience. Repent, O Children of your fearful ingratitude, in slighting and disobeying your Parents, a sin under which the earth do groan. Repent you Servants, of your slothsulness, wastfulnesse, unfaithfulneesse, and eye-service, and disobedience, that all families almost are filled with the complaint of. O that there might be some way to recover the credit of Religion from the wounds, that it hath received, by the neglect of relative duties: well let every man resolve to mend one. O see what hath been amisse in your hearts, and in your houses, and set upon repenting, and reforming. VVithout this our prayers will return upon our own heads without an Answer. Never think the storm will cease, till the Jonas be thrown over. Beloved, this is that, that God doth wait for. Throw over the head of Sheba and the … will be soon broken up.
I am apt to transgresse. I shall conclude my Counsels, with my prayers, that a spirit of Repentance and Reformation may be poured out upon you, and so rest,
yours in all manner of obligations to serve you and to suffer for you. Joseph Alleine.
To the dearly beloved the flock of Christ in Taunton, Salvation.
Most loving and dearly beloved,
THE care of you is continually upon me. I desire no other felicity than to serve the glory of Christ in you: and to enjoy him with you. And blessed be his hame he is no stranger, neither to us, nor you. Let all his prisoners praise him: let all his people praise him. Now is the sweetnesse, beauty, excellency of Christ to be seen. Now may we learn the suavity of his communion, the worth of his promises, the all-sufficiency of his fulnesse. Now taste and see. Sit you down under the safest, sweetest shadow of his protection, and eat of his fruit. The tree is good for food, and pleasant to the eyes, (except fully blind) And a tree to be desired to make one wise. Take of the fruit thereof and eat, not as Jonathan, who tasted but a little of the honey upon the top of his rod, but eat abundantly. This is no forbidden fruit. Here is no surfeting. You must live upon him every day, and in every duty. May every one of you be able to say as Paul, to me to live is Christ: then you live like Christians when Christ is the staff of your life. When Christ is both its Spring and its end. When you take root in him, and grow up into him. May every one of you be a tree of Righteousness, whose roots may spread into him, whose aspiring top may be still shooting upward, reaching out toward him: live as those that have no life but in him. And study to be able to say as Paul, that it is not you that live, but Christ living in you. You live in vain while you live not for him: without Christ you are dead while you live. You are of him, and through him, and for him. From whom shall he have glory, if not from you? the inanim…te & unreasonable Creatures, cannot praise him, unlesse in a dumb and silent manner, as they are the occasion and incentives of our praising him. The devils and ungodly will not praise him. The silver Trumpet of his praise is found onelyonly in the hands of a few poor believers. Ah! sound you forth his praise in the world; let your lips sing, let your light shine. Let your lives be at last as a can…le wasted and burnt out in holding forth the light. Now beloved, study that you may go out with comfort, that you may have your hearts as full as they can hold, with joy; to think when you are ready to breath forth your last, well my daies are run out for Christ, and my strength is exhausted in the service of Christ. My time is gone, and my labor done, but my Oyl is wasted in the work of God. I have spent my Fathers allowance in my Fathers business. This will make you to arise and say, I will go to my Father, with boldness and confidence: and not as the Prodigal, (when he had spent the portion of goods which his Father had allotted him) with diffidence, and fears of his being rejected. You know my business is but to bespeak you for Christ. I have four requests to present you for him. Thus are my requests, but his Commands.
First, Let the ballance be turned by Christ. Let Christ and his interest turn the scale against all the world. Let him be the Pearl, and the world the dung. Let Jesus be King, and Mammon as a despised broken Idol, or as the stamped Calf. Let Christ be the prize, & the rest but losse. Let gain give way to godliness. Let credit crack rather than Conscience stretch, be no body with the world rather than dishonor Christ, to keep up your reputation with men. Let all the flowers of pleasures wither, the paint fall off this harlots face, when set by Christ. Let the silver shrines and great Diana be as Nehushtan. 2. Kings 18. 4. And the crown fall from the head of honour, and the great Idol to come down into the dust before Jesus Christ, and lye like Dagon before the Ark, with head and hands broken off upon the threshold. Keep the world at your feet as a servant, or rather under foot as an enemy. But if it hath the heart you are undone. Where Christ hath not the swaying-interest all is rotten at the bottom.
Secondly, Let the Byass of your wils be set towards Christ. The needle of the will was at first touched with a magnetick verttue, which turn'd it towards God, as the needle is turned towards the pole: but now by the fall it hath quite lost its vertue: and will stand any where, but where it should. But God by fanctifying grace doth new-touch this needle. & though it may (by an accidental violence) be too too easily shakenyet it will never rest at a wrong point, but be unquiet and in continual restlessness and agitation till it stand direct towards Christ. If any thing but Christ would content you, you are none of his. Can you acquiesse no where but in him? do your wils cleave to him? is he your setled, resolved choice against all competitors? if so, doubtlesse it is well between you and him. Thus it must be, Christ must have your assent & consent. The judgement must prize him and the will must chuse him as the chief good.
Thirdly, Let the bent of your affections be to Jesus Christ. Look upon the height of his stature, and the goodlinesse of his countenance, and you will say surely he is worthy. Surely this is the Lords annointed. Frequently, and throughly view his excellencies, till your eye affect your heart. Let me set him among the other objects, like Saul among the people. and I must say to you as Samuel, see you him whom the Lord hath c…osen. There is none like him. O let all your affections, be moved at the sight of him, and shout with the joyful people, let the King live, let Christ have all. Let Sorrow sit with the melting penitent, weeping at her Saviours feet. Let your strongest …urning love be kindled, when you do but think of Christ, and fire your hearts, and so bring them forth as a flaming sacrifice to welcome him. Let fear make her obeysance, and with humble reverence and lowliest veneration bow the knee of the soul to Zions King. Let Joy be triumphant when you meditate on Christ. And call upon the daughters of Musick to praise and celebrate his excellency. Let desire be upon the wing, and spread the hands, and open the mouth wide, and pant for him. Let the most lively and pregnant hope sit by the way and look for him, and wait for his coming. And get up in every Ordinance like Zacheus on the Sycamore-tree that he might see Jesus as he passeth by; and big with earnest expectation of enjoying him. In a word, you must see to it that Christ be chief in your affections; That he be your chief desire; Your chief joy: And this will evidence you to be his: and without this all is unsound.
Fourthly, Let the Butt of all your Actions be no other but Christ. Whatsoever you do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here take your aim. Here let all your designs meet. Hither let all your motions tend. That Christ may be magnified in you, Phil. 1. 20. This is a mark undeniable. But he that hath more eye to the pleasing of men, his own advantage, or any worldly good, than to the pleasing and honouring of Christ, is no better than a Hypocrite.
I must do as much as I can in a little time, 'tis time now to close. I have given you together in these four heads the highest duties and surest characters of every true believer. I must add nothing farther, but onelyonly to send my prayers after my papers, and to let you know the Lords prison is not without his presence, and most refreshing influence. And that your prisoner is yours
in all Bonds Joseph Alleine.
To the most endearing and beloved people, the servants of Christ in Taunton,Salvation.
Most loving and best beloved,
YOur late most affectionate lines are now in my hands, your hearts cannot but be a most grateful and welcome present to me, I return you mine, not willingly, but thankfully, rejoycing to be yours; while the Lord will your preacher; and while the Lord will your prisoner; still yours. I acknowledge I am not my own. If I have any interest in heaven, it is yours, to be improved for you. If I have any talents of goods they are consessedly yours, your claim, your stock. By the grace of God I am what I am. I have nothing, but what I have received from above; and I have received for your use. I love to think how much I am yours. Make your claim with freedome; nothing can please me m…re. My …rength is yours; my labor, my liberty, my losses yours: Ultimately Christs, but nextly yours. I accept with all thankfullness your manifold respects. May whatever honour you put on me re…lect upon Christ, whose I am, and whom I serve. He is all, and therefore I must needs be nothing. Let no man set me above my place. I am too to sel…ish (to my shame and grief I acknowledge it; may your prayers be the cure of it) yet surely, I should chuse to be lower, so Christ might sit the higher in all your hearts, I am onelyonly the friend of the Bridegroom. My soul rejoyceth to hear how fast you stand, how close you cleave to him; my Joy is now fullfilled. What greater joy to the friend of the Bridegroom, than to hear the Bridegrooms voyce, how sweetly he converses with his Bride, and she with him, and to see the sweet passages of love between them, when he hath been a means to bring them together? This is my joy, it refreshes me; I am full of consolation, to hear how tender he is of you; to see him spreading the skirts of his love, the wing of his power and care over you. Happy thou! Who is like unto thee O people? A people saved of the Lord, the shield of thy strength, the sword of thine excellency. My dearly beloved, let the name of Jesus be more sweet and precious than ever to you. Verily, I am but his spokesman. Forget me, neglect me, any thing if you will but love him, and adore him, and admire him the more. I rejoyce, as to hear the sweet voice of the Bridegroom to you, so to hear of your love and … to him. Surely, the Lord hath a singular blessing for you. A… poor and despised d…spised, the Butt of humane malice, the eye-sor… of thy potent enemies! The Archers have shot sorely at thee, the Hunters have made thee the deere of the Chase, singled from the rest of the …, and design'd for the Game, for the prey of the …ungry pursuers, quick upo… the scent, following upon the scent, with full cry; and yet the beloved of the Lord … in sasety by him, …, … cov…reth thee all the day long: thou dwellest between his shoulders. O people of desires, hear the …rauld of God: (glorious office! Lord how unworthy am I of this strange grace, who am not worthy to stoop down and unloose the latchet of thy shooes!) yet here me as an … of God; unto you O people, it is commanded that you kiss the Son. That you sall down and worship, not the humane Idol, but him whom Jehovah hath set up, and sworn that every k…e shall bow, and every tongue confess to him, or be cast into the burning siery surnace os his tormenting wrath, seventimes hotter, yea seventy times seven than … was. Unto you it is commanded that you receive his mark in your foreheads, by open and bold profession; in your hands, your right hands by suitable works, in a holy diligent, active conversation; above all in your hearts, there he must be set as a seal (as well as write upon the palms of …our …) by most vehement servent affection. Let every one of your hearts be all on fire with strongest burning love to the name of Jesus, and offered as a flaming sacri… to him.
Beloved, I am affraid almost to tell you what Christ looks for from you. I think of his mercies to you with fear and great joy. Know my beloved, and remember, that he Looks for great things from you; you have received much, and God will … much. I beseech you be not as other people. My mouth is open to you, my heart is enlarged, but my time is very streight. Sleep hath departed from my eyes to write a few lines unto you: but I am upon your service when you know it not; yet I cannot end, without telling you that you had need look to it, that you be in all things more than ordinary, because the Lord looks for extraordinary prosiciency from you.
Brethren let your hearts be entire with God; be abundant in secret Duties, Prayer, Meditation, Self-examination, Watchfullness, Self-denial. Let none of you be another thing in your Families or Closets, from what he is in the Assembly, and the open profession that he makes. Look to the heartwork, See that you be truly, thorowly and unreservedly the Lords. Beware lest with any of you a secret root of Hypocrisie, should spoil a forward and goodly profession. Care above all things in the world, to approve your hearts to the piercing eye of the …lous God. Let your good works shine besore men, but reckon your selves to be no more, than what you are in secret. Maintain a holy jealousie of your selves, till upon much prayer, and tryal, and self-observation, you have found out by Scripture-marks the certainty of your state. But I intrench on other things to wade thus far. To my keeper I commend you, and with dearest loves to you all in the Bowels of our Lord, I remain
Your Ambassador in Bonds. Joseph Alleine.
My dear father and brother Norman remembers you tenderly, desiring you to hold fast what you have received and heard, and that you be holy, harmless, exemplary, and without offence in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.