LETTERIV.To my most endeared friends, the servants of Christ inTaunton, grace and peace.Most dearly beloved and longed for,my joy and crown:MY heart’s desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved. I know that you are the butt of men’s rage and malice: but you may satisfy yourselves asDavidin sustainingShimei’s curses: it may be the Lord will look upon your affliction, and requite good for their cursing this day. But however that be, hold on your way. Your name indeed is cast out as evil, and you are hated of all men for Christ’s sake, for cleaving to his ways and servants: butlet not this discourage you, for you are now more than ever blessed: only hold fast, that no man take your crown. Let not any that have begun in the spirit end in the flesh. Do not forsake God, till he forsake you; he that endureth to the end shall be saved: the promise is to him that overcometh; therefore think not of looking back: now you have set your hands to Christ’s plough, though you labour and suffer, the crop will pay for all: now the Lord is trying who they be that will trust him. The world are all for a present pay; they must have something in hand, and will not follow the Lord when there are hazard and hardship in his service. But now is the time for you, to prove yourselves believers, when there is nothing visible but hazard and expence, and difficulty in your Maker’s service. Now, my brethren, stand fast in faith, quit you like men, be strong: if you can trust in his promises now, when nothing appears but bonds, and losses, and tribulation, this will be like believers. *Brethren, I beseech you to reckon upon no other but crosses here. Let none of you flatter yourselves with dreams of sleeping in your ease, and temporal prosperity, and carrying heaven too. Count not upon rest till you come to the land of promise. Not that I would have any of you to run upon hazards uncalled: no, we shall meet them soon enough in the way of our duty, without we turnaside: but I would have you cast over-board your worldly hopes, and be content to wait till you come on the other side the grave. Is it not enough to have a whole eternity of happiness? If God throws in the comforts of this life too, I would not have you throw them back again, or despise the goodness of the Lord: but I would, that you should use this world, as not abusing it, that you should be crucified to the world, and the world to you; that you should declare plainly that you seek a better country, which is an heavenly. Ah! my dear brethren, I beseech you carry it like pilgrims and strangers; abstain from fleshly lusts which war against your souls; for what have we to do with the customs and fashions of this world, who are strangers in it? Be contented with travellers lots: know you not that you are in a strange land? All is well as long as it is well at home; I pray you brethren, daily consider your condition: Do you not remember that you are at an inn? And what though you be but meanly accommodated? Though you fare hard, and lie hard! Is this a strange thing? What should travellers look for else? Indeed if you were of the world, the world would love his own. But now God hath called you out of the world; therefore the world hateth you. But remember, it is your duty to love them, even while they hate you; and to pray for mercy for them, that will shew no mercy,or justice. This I desire you to observe as a great duty of the present times: and let not any so forget their duty, as to wish evil to them that do evil to us, or to please themselves with the thoughts of being even with them. Let us commit ourselves to him that judgeth righteously, and shew ourselves the children of the Most High, who doth good to his enemies, and is kind to the unkind and unthankful: And what though they do hate us? Their love and goodwill were much more to be feared, than their hatred. Brethren, keep yourselves in the love of God; here is wisdom. O happy souls, that are his favourites! For the Lord’s sake look to this, make sure of something: look to your sincerity above all things: let not any of you conclude, that because you are of the suffering party, therefore all is well: look to the foundation, that your hearts be taken off from every sin, and set upon God as your blessedness: beware that none of you have only a name to live, and be no more than almost Christians. For the love of your souls, make a diligent search, and try upon what ground you stand; for it pities me to think any of you should hazard so much, and yet lose all at last. But when once you bear the mark of God’s favour, you need not fear the world’s frowns: chear up therefore, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and of good courage under the world’s usage: fear not, in our Father’s house there is bread enough, and room enough:this is sufficient to comfort us under all the inconveniences of the way, that we have so happy a home, so ready a Father, so goodly an heritage. Oh, comfort one another with these words: let God see that you can trust in his word: let the world see that you can live upon God. I shall share my prayers and loves among you all, and commit you to the almighty God: the keeper of Israel that never slumbereth nor sleepeth, be your watchman and keeper to the end, farewell. I am,A fervent well-wisher of your temporal and eternal affairs,JOS.ALLEINE.From the common goal atIvelchester,July 24, 1663.
To my most endeared friends, the servants of Christ inTaunton, grace and peace.
Most dearly beloved and longed for,my joy and crown:
MY heart’s desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved. I know that you are the butt of men’s rage and malice: but you may satisfy yourselves asDavidin sustainingShimei’s curses: it may be the Lord will look upon your affliction, and requite good for their cursing this day. But however that be, hold on your way. Your name indeed is cast out as evil, and you are hated of all men for Christ’s sake, for cleaving to his ways and servants: butlet not this discourage you, for you are now more than ever blessed: only hold fast, that no man take your crown. Let not any that have begun in the spirit end in the flesh. Do not forsake God, till he forsake you; he that endureth to the end shall be saved: the promise is to him that overcometh; therefore think not of looking back: now you have set your hands to Christ’s plough, though you labour and suffer, the crop will pay for all: now the Lord is trying who they be that will trust him. The world are all for a present pay; they must have something in hand, and will not follow the Lord when there are hazard and hardship in his service. But now is the time for you, to prove yourselves believers, when there is nothing visible but hazard and expence, and difficulty in your Maker’s service. Now, my brethren, stand fast in faith, quit you like men, be strong: if you can trust in his promises now, when nothing appears but bonds, and losses, and tribulation, this will be like believers. *Brethren, I beseech you to reckon upon no other but crosses here. Let none of you flatter yourselves with dreams of sleeping in your ease, and temporal prosperity, and carrying heaven too. Count not upon rest till you come to the land of promise. Not that I would have any of you to run upon hazards uncalled: no, we shall meet them soon enough in the way of our duty, without we turnaside: but I would have you cast over-board your worldly hopes, and be content to wait till you come on the other side the grave. Is it not enough to have a whole eternity of happiness? If God throws in the comforts of this life too, I would not have you throw them back again, or despise the goodness of the Lord: but I would, that you should use this world, as not abusing it, that you should be crucified to the world, and the world to you; that you should declare plainly that you seek a better country, which is an heavenly. Ah! my dear brethren, I beseech you carry it like pilgrims and strangers; abstain from fleshly lusts which war against your souls; for what have we to do with the customs and fashions of this world, who are strangers in it? Be contented with travellers lots: know you not that you are in a strange land? All is well as long as it is well at home; I pray you brethren, daily consider your condition: Do you not remember that you are at an inn? And what though you be but meanly accommodated? Though you fare hard, and lie hard! Is this a strange thing? What should travellers look for else? Indeed if you were of the world, the world would love his own. But now God hath called you out of the world; therefore the world hateth you. But remember, it is your duty to love them, even while they hate you; and to pray for mercy for them, that will shew no mercy,or justice. This I desire you to observe as a great duty of the present times: and let not any so forget their duty, as to wish evil to them that do evil to us, or to please themselves with the thoughts of being even with them. Let us commit ourselves to him that judgeth righteously, and shew ourselves the children of the Most High, who doth good to his enemies, and is kind to the unkind and unthankful: And what though they do hate us? Their love and goodwill were much more to be feared, than their hatred. Brethren, keep yourselves in the love of God; here is wisdom. O happy souls, that are his favourites! For the Lord’s sake look to this, make sure of something: look to your sincerity above all things: let not any of you conclude, that because you are of the suffering party, therefore all is well: look to the foundation, that your hearts be taken off from every sin, and set upon God as your blessedness: beware that none of you have only a name to live, and be no more than almost Christians. For the love of your souls, make a diligent search, and try upon what ground you stand; for it pities me to think any of you should hazard so much, and yet lose all at last. But when once you bear the mark of God’s favour, you need not fear the world’s frowns: chear up therefore, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and of good courage under the world’s usage: fear not, in our Father’s house there is bread enough, and room enough:this is sufficient to comfort us under all the inconveniences of the way, that we have so happy a home, so ready a Father, so goodly an heritage. Oh, comfort one another with these words: let God see that you can trust in his word: let the world see that you can live upon God. I shall share my prayers and loves among you all, and commit you to the almighty God: the keeper of Israel that never slumbereth nor sleepeth, be your watchman and keeper to the end, farewell. I am,
A fervent well-wisher of your temporal and eternal affairs,
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the common goal atIvelchester,July 24, 1663.
LETTERV.To my most dearly beloved friends, inTaunton, grace and peace.Most endeared Christians.MY heart is with you, though I am absent. Dear fellow soldiers under the captain of our salvation, consider your calling, and approve yourselves men of resolution; be discouraged with no difficulties of your present warfare. As for human affairs, I would have you to be as youare,men of peace. I would have youarmed, not for resisting, God forbid; but forsuffering only. You should resist, to the uttermost, striving against sin. Here you must give no quarter! For if you spare but oneAgag, the life of your souls must go for the life of your sin. God will not smile on that soul that smiles on sin, nor have any peace with him, that is at peace with his enemy. Other enemies you must forgive, and love, and pray for; but for these spiritual enemies, all your affections, and all your prayers must be engaged against them: yea, you must admit no parley: it is dangerous to dispute with temptations. *Remember whatEvelost by parleying with Satan: you must fly from temptations, and put them off at first with a peremptory denial. If you will but hear the devil’s arguments, and the flesh’s pleas, it is an hundred to one but you are insnared. And for this present evil world, the Lord deliver you from it. Surely you had need watch and be sober, or else thisworldis like to undo you. I have often warned you not to build upon an external happiness; and to promise yourselves nothing but hardship here: Oh still remember your station; soldiers must not count upon rest, and fullness, but hunger, and hardness. Labour to get right apprehensions of the world. Do not think these things necessary. One thing is needful: you may be happy in the want of all outward comforts. Do not think yourselves undone, ifbrought to want or poverty: study eternity, and you will see it to be little material to you, whether you are poor or rich: you may have never such an opportunity for your advantage in all your lives, as when you seem to run the vessel upon the rocks. Set your enemies one against the other; death against the world; no such way to get above the world, as to put yourselves into the possession of death.*Look often upon the dust that you shall be reduced to, and imagine you saw your bones tumbled out of your graves, as they are like shortly to be, and men handling your skulls, and enquiring whose is this? Tell me, of what account will the world be then? Put yourselves often into your graves, and look out from thence upon the world, and see what judgment you have of it. Must not you shortly be forgot among the dead? Your places will know you no more, and your memory will be no more among men, and then what will it profit you to have lived in fashion and repute? One serious walk over a church-yard, might make a man mortified to the world. Think upon how many you tread; but ye know them not: no doubt they had their estates, their friends, their businesses, and kept as much stir in the world as others do now. But alas, what are they the better for all this? Know you not that this must be your own case shortly? Oh the unhappiness of man; how is he bewitched; and befooled, that he shouldexpend himself for that which he knows shall forever leave him! Brethren, I beseech you lay no stress upon these perishing things, but labour to be at a holy indifference about them: is it for one that is in his wits to sell his God, his soul, for things he is not sure to keep a day, and which he is sure after a few sleepings and wakings more, to leave behind him for ever? Go, and talk with dying men, and see what apprehensions they have of the world? If any should come to these, and tell them here is such and such preferments for you; you shall have such titles of honour and delights, if you will now disown religion, do you think such a motion would be embraced? Brethren, why should we not be wise in time! Why should we not now be of the mind, of which we know we shall be all shortly? Woe to them that will not be wise, till it be to no purpose! Woe to them whose eyes nothing but death and judgment will open! Woe to them that though they have been warned by others, and have heard the world’s greatest darlings in death cry out of its vanity, yet would take no warning; but must serve themselves too, for warnings to others. Ah! my beloved, beware there be none among you, that will rather part with their consciences than with their estates; that have secret reserves to save themselves whole, when it comes to the pinch; and not to be of the religion that will undo them in the world. Beware that none of you have yourhearts where your feet should be, and love yourmammonbefore your Maker.May the Lord of Hosts be with you, and the God ofJacobyour refuge. Farewell my dear brethren, farewell, and be strong in the Lord. I amYour’s to serve you in the gospel,whether by doing or sufferingJOS.ALLEINE.From the common gaol atIvelchester,August 31, 1663.
To my most dearly beloved friends, inTaunton, grace and peace.
Most endeared Christians.
MY heart is with you, though I am absent. Dear fellow soldiers under the captain of our salvation, consider your calling, and approve yourselves men of resolution; be discouraged with no difficulties of your present warfare. As for human affairs, I would have you to be as youare,men of peace. I would have youarmed, not for resisting, God forbid; but forsuffering only. You should resist, to the uttermost, striving against sin. Here you must give no quarter! For if you spare but oneAgag, the life of your souls must go for the life of your sin. God will not smile on that soul that smiles on sin, nor have any peace with him, that is at peace with his enemy. Other enemies you must forgive, and love, and pray for; but for these spiritual enemies, all your affections, and all your prayers must be engaged against them: yea, you must admit no parley: it is dangerous to dispute with temptations. *Remember whatEvelost by parleying with Satan: you must fly from temptations, and put them off at first with a peremptory denial. If you will but hear the devil’s arguments, and the flesh’s pleas, it is an hundred to one but you are insnared. And for this present evil world, the Lord deliver you from it. Surely you had need watch and be sober, or else thisworldis like to undo you. I have often warned you not to build upon an external happiness; and to promise yourselves nothing but hardship here: Oh still remember your station; soldiers must not count upon rest, and fullness, but hunger, and hardness. Labour to get right apprehensions of the world. Do not think these things necessary. One thing is needful: you may be happy in the want of all outward comforts. Do not think yourselves undone, ifbrought to want or poverty: study eternity, and you will see it to be little material to you, whether you are poor or rich: you may have never such an opportunity for your advantage in all your lives, as when you seem to run the vessel upon the rocks. Set your enemies one against the other; death against the world; no such way to get above the world, as to put yourselves into the possession of death.
*Look often upon the dust that you shall be reduced to, and imagine you saw your bones tumbled out of your graves, as they are like shortly to be, and men handling your skulls, and enquiring whose is this? Tell me, of what account will the world be then? Put yourselves often into your graves, and look out from thence upon the world, and see what judgment you have of it. Must not you shortly be forgot among the dead? Your places will know you no more, and your memory will be no more among men, and then what will it profit you to have lived in fashion and repute? One serious walk over a church-yard, might make a man mortified to the world. Think upon how many you tread; but ye know them not: no doubt they had their estates, their friends, their businesses, and kept as much stir in the world as others do now. But alas, what are they the better for all this? Know you not that this must be your own case shortly? Oh the unhappiness of man; how is he bewitched; and befooled, that he shouldexpend himself for that which he knows shall forever leave him! Brethren, I beseech you lay no stress upon these perishing things, but labour to be at a holy indifference about them: is it for one that is in his wits to sell his God, his soul, for things he is not sure to keep a day, and which he is sure after a few sleepings and wakings more, to leave behind him for ever? Go, and talk with dying men, and see what apprehensions they have of the world? If any should come to these, and tell them here is such and such preferments for you; you shall have such titles of honour and delights, if you will now disown religion, do you think such a motion would be embraced? Brethren, why should we not be wise in time! Why should we not now be of the mind, of which we know we shall be all shortly? Woe to them that will not be wise, till it be to no purpose! Woe to them whose eyes nothing but death and judgment will open! Woe to them that though they have been warned by others, and have heard the world’s greatest darlings in death cry out of its vanity, yet would take no warning; but must serve themselves too, for warnings to others. Ah! my beloved, beware there be none among you, that will rather part with their consciences than with their estates; that have secret reserves to save themselves whole, when it comes to the pinch; and not to be of the religion that will undo them in the world. Beware that none of you have yourhearts where your feet should be, and love yourmammonbefore your Maker.
May the Lord of Hosts be with you, and the God ofJacobyour refuge. Farewell my dear brethren, farewell, and be strong in the Lord. I am
Your’s to serve you in the gospel,whether by doing or suffering
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the common gaol atIvelchester,August 31, 1663.
LETTERVI.To the beloved friends, the flock of Christ inTaunton, salvation.Most dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown:IMUST say of you asDaviddid ofJonathan, Very pleasant have you been unto me, and your love to me is wonderful. And as I have formerly taken great content in that my lot was cast among you, so I rejoice in my present lot, that I am called to approve my love to you by suffering for you; for you, I say; for you know I have not sought your’s but you; and that for doing my duty to your souls, I am here in these bonds,which I chearfully accept through the grace of God that strengtheneth me: Oh! that your hands might be strengthened, and your hearts encouraged in the Lord your God by our sufferings! See to it, that you stand fast in the power of the holy doctrine, which we have preached from the pulpit, preached at the bar; preached from the prison: it is a gospel worth suffering for: see that you follow after holiness, without which no man shall see God! Oh the madness of the blind world, that they should put from them the only plank upon which they can escape to heaven! Alas for them! They know not what they do. What would not these foolish virgins do, when it is too late, for a little of the oil of the wise! But let not any of you be wise too late: look diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God. Beware that none of you be cheated through the deceitfulness of your hearts, with counterfeit grace. There is never a grace but hath its counterfeit; and there is nothing more common, than to mistake counterfeit grace for true. And remember you are undone for ever, if you should die in such a mistake. Not that I would shake the confidence of any sound believer, whose graces are of the right kind: build your confidence sure: see that you get the certain marks of salvation, and make sure, by observing your own hearts, that these marks be in you, and then you cannot be too confident. But as you love your souls, take heed of a groundless confidence.Take heed of being confident before you have tried. I would fain have you all secured against the day of judgment; I would that the state of your souls were all well settled: Oh how comfortably might you think of any troubles, if you were but sure of your pardons! I beseech you, whatever you neglect, look to this: I am afraid there are among you that have not made your peace with God; that are not yet acquainted with that great work of conversion: such I charge before the living God, to speed to Christ, and without any more delay to put away their iniquities, and deliver up themselves to Jesus Christ, that they may be saved. It is not your profession or external duties, that will save you: no, no, you must be converted or condemned. It is not enough that you have some love to God’s ways and people, and are willing to venture something for them; all this will not prove you sound Christians: Have your hearts been changed? Have you been soundly convinced of your sins? Of your damnable and undone condition? And your utter inability to lick yourselves whole by your own duties? Have you been brought to such a sense of sin, that there is no sin, but you heartily abhor it? Are you brought to such a sense of the beauty of holiness, and of the laws and ways of God, that you desire to know the whole mind of God? Would you not excuse yourselves by ignorance from any duty, and do not you allow yourselves in the neglect of anything conscience charges upon you as a duty? Are your very hearts set upon the glorifying and enjoying of God, as your greatest happiness? *Had you rather be the holiest than be the richest and greatest in the world? And is your greatest delight in the thoughts of your God, and in your conversings with God in holy exercises! Is Christ more precious than all the world to you? And are you willing upon the thorough consideration of the strictness and holiness of his laws, to take them all for the rule of your thoughts, words and actions, and though religion may be dear, do you resolve, if God assist you, to go through with it, let the cost be what it will? Happy the man that is in such a case. This is a Christian indeed, and whatever you be and do short of this, all is unsound. But you that bear in your souls the marks above-mentioned, upon you I lay no other burden, but to hold fast, and make good your ground, and to press forwards towards the mark. Thankfully acknowledge the grace of God to your souls; and live rejoicingly in the hopes of the glory of God; live daily in the praises of your Redeemer; and study the worthiness, excellency, and glory of his attributes: let your souls be much taken up in contemplating his glorious perfection, and blessing yourselves in the goodly portion you have in him: live like those that have a God, and then be disconsolate if you can: if there be not more in an infinite God to comfort you, than in a prison,or poverty or affliction to deject you, our preaching is vain and your faith is vain. Let the thoughts of God be your daily repast: and never be satisfied till your hearts run out as freely, naturally, unweariedly after God, as others do after the world. Farewell my dear brethren, the Lord God Almighty be a protection to you, and your exceeding great reward; Farewell in the Lord.I am,Your’s in the bowels of the Lord Jesus,JOS.ALLEINE.From the common gaol, inIvelchester,September 11, 1663.
To the beloved friends, the flock of Christ inTaunton, salvation.
Most dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown:
IMUST say of you asDaviddid ofJonathan, Very pleasant have you been unto me, and your love to me is wonderful. And as I have formerly taken great content in that my lot was cast among you, so I rejoice in my present lot, that I am called to approve my love to you by suffering for you; for you, I say; for you know I have not sought your’s but you; and that for doing my duty to your souls, I am here in these bonds,which I chearfully accept through the grace of God that strengtheneth me: Oh! that your hands might be strengthened, and your hearts encouraged in the Lord your God by our sufferings! See to it, that you stand fast in the power of the holy doctrine, which we have preached from the pulpit, preached at the bar; preached from the prison: it is a gospel worth suffering for: see that you follow after holiness, without which no man shall see God! Oh the madness of the blind world, that they should put from them the only plank upon which they can escape to heaven! Alas for them! They know not what they do. What would not these foolish virgins do, when it is too late, for a little of the oil of the wise! But let not any of you be wise too late: look diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God. Beware that none of you be cheated through the deceitfulness of your hearts, with counterfeit grace. There is never a grace but hath its counterfeit; and there is nothing more common, than to mistake counterfeit grace for true. And remember you are undone for ever, if you should die in such a mistake. Not that I would shake the confidence of any sound believer, whose graces are of the right kind: build your confidence sure: see that you get the certain marks of salvation, and make sure, by observing your own hearts, that these marks be in you, and then you cannot be too confident. But as you love your souls, take heed of a groundless confidence.Take heed of being confident before you have tried. I would fain have you all secured against the day of judgment; I would that the state of your souls were all well settled: Oh how comfortably might you think of any troubles, if you were but sure of your pardons! I beseech you, whatever you neglect, look to this: I am afraid there are among you that have not made your peace with God; that are not yet acquainted with that great work of conversion: such I charge before the living God, to speed to Christ, and without any more delay to put away their iniquities, and deliver up themselves to Jesus Christ, that they may be saved. It is not your profession or external duties, that will save you: no, no, you must be converted or condemned. It is not enough that you have some love to God’s ways and people, and are willing to venture something for them; all this will not prove you sound Christians: Have your hearts been changed? Have you been soundly convinced of your sins? Of your damnable and undone condition? And your utter inability to lick yourselves whole by your own duties? Have you been brought to such a sense of sin, that there is no sin, but you heartily abhor it? Are you brought to such a sense of the beauty of holiness, and of the laws and ways of God, that you desire to know the whole mind of God? Would you not excuse yourselves by ignorance from any duty, and do not you allow yourselves in the neglect of anything conscience charges upon you as a duty? Are your very hearts set upon the glorifying and enjoying of God, as your greatest happiness? *Had you rather be the holiest than be the richest and greatest in the world? And is your greatest delight in the thoughts of your God, and in your conversings with God in holy exercises! Is Christ more precious than all the world to you? And are you willing upon the thorough consideration of the strictness and holiness of his laws, to take them all for the rule of your thoughts, words and actions, and though religion may be dear, do you resolve, if God assist you, to go through with it, let the cost be what it will? Happy the man that is in such a case. This is a Christian indeed, and whatever you be and do short of this, all is unsound. But you that bear in your souls the marks above-mentioned, upon you I lay no other burden, but to hold fast, and make good your ground, and to press forwards towards the mark. Thankfully acknowledge the grace of God to your souls; and live rejoicingly in the hopes of the glory of God; live daily in the praises of your Redeemer; and study the worthiness, excellency, and glory of his attributes: let your souls be much taken up in contemplating his glorious perfection, and blessing yourselves in the goodly portion you have in him: live like those that have a God, and then be disconsolate if you can: if there be not more in an infinite God to comfort you, than in a prison,or poverty or affliction to deject you, our preaching is vain and your faith is vain. Let the thoughts of God be your daily repast: and never be satisfied till your hearts run out as freely, naturally, unweariedly after God, as others do after the world. Farewell my dear brethren, the Lord God Almighty be a protection to you, and your exceeding great reward; Farewell in the Lord.
I am,Your’s in the bowels of the Lord Jesus,
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the common gaol, inIvelchester,September 11, 1663.
LETTERVII.[How to shew love to ministers, and to live joyfully.]To the most loving and dearly beloved, my Christian friends inTaunton, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.Most endeared brethren,IHAVE received your moving letter, and could not look oversuchtender expressions without some commotion. I may confidently say, I spent more tears upon those lines, than ever you did ink. Your deep sense of my labours I cannotbut thankfully acknowledge, yet withal, heartily confessing, that all was but what I owed to your immortal souls; which God knows was very much short of my duty. The omissions, imperfections, deadness, that accompanied my duties I own, and the Lord humble me for them. But all that was of God (and that was all that was good) be sure that you give to God alone. To him I humbly ascribe both the will and the deed, to whom alone be glory for ever.*My dear brethren, my business as I have often told you, is not to turn your eyes to me, but to Christ: his spokesman I am, will you give your hands, your names to him? Will you subscribe to his laws, and consent to his offices, and be at defiance with all his enemies? This do, and I have my errand. Who will follow Christ’s colours? Who will come under his banner? This shall be the man that shall be my friend; this is he that will oblige me for ever. Do these letters come to no loose sinner? No ignorant sinner? No unsound professor? Would they do me a kindness, as I believe they would? Then let them come away to Christ! O sinner, be no more in love with darkness; stick no longer in the skirts and outside of religion. Waver no more, halt no farther, but strike in throughly with Jesus Christ; except nothing, reserve nothing, but come throughly to the Lord, and follow him fully. And then happy man thoushalt be, for thou wilt be made for ever; and joyful man I shall be; for I shall save a soul from death. The earnest beggings of a poor prisoner, use to move some bowels: hear O friends, will you do nothing for a minister of Christ? Nothing for a prisoner of Jesus Christ? Methinks I hear you answer, “Yea, what will we not do? He shall never want while we have it; he shall need no office of love, but we will run and ride to do it.” Yea, but this is not it that I beg of you; will you gratify me indeed? Then come in, bow to the name of Jesus; yea, let your souls bow, let all your powers do him homage. Let that sacred name be graven into the substance of your hearts. Let me freely speak for him, for he is worthy for whom you shall do this thing; worthy to be beloved of you; worthy to have your very hearts, worthy to be admired, adored, praised, served, glorified to the uttermost by you, and every creature; worthy for whom you should lay down all, leave all: can any thing be too much for him? Can any thing be too good for him, or too great for him? Come give up all, resign all, lay it at the feet of Jesus, offer all as a sacrifice to him, see that you be universally the Lord’s; keep nothing from him: I know through the goodness of God, that with many of you this work is not yet to do. But this set solemn resignation to the Lord is to be done more than once, and to be followed with an answerable practice when it is done: see that you walkworthy of the Lord; but how? In thefear of the Lord, and in thecomfort of the Holy Ghost; let these two go together. So shall you adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and experience the heavenly felicity of a Christian life: cleave fast to Christ, never let go your hold; cling the faster, because so many are labouring to loosen your hold. Hold fast your integrity, hold fast the beginning of your confidence stedfast to the end: If you do but keep your hold, and keep your way; all that the world can do, and all that the powers of darkness can do, can never do you harm. Keep your own vineyard with constant care and watchfulness, and be sure that there be no inroad made upon your consciences, that the enemy do not get between your souls and God; and then let what will assail you without, you need not fear! Let this be your daily exercise, to keep your consciences void of offence: keep fair weather at home, however it be abroad. I would not only that you should walkholily, but that you should walkcomfortably. I need say the less to this, because the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, lie together. Oh the provision God hath made for your continual comfort: dear brethren, do but understand your own blessedness, happy men that you are, if you did but know and consider it: who would count himself poor that hath all the fullness of the Godhead for his. O Christians, live like yourselves, live worthy of your portion, and your glorious prerogatives. Thatyou may walk worthy of your glorious hopes, and live answerable to the mercies you have received, is the great desire ofYour souls fervent well-wisher in bonds.JOS.ALLEINE.From the prison atIvelchester,September 18, 1663.
[How to shew love to ministers, and to live joyfully.]
To the most loving and dearly beloved, my Christian friends inTaunton, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Most endeared brethren,
IHAVE received your moving letter, and could not look oversuchtender expressions without some commotion. I may confidently say, I spent more tears upon those lines, than ever you did ink. Your deep sense of my labours I cannotbut thankfully acknowledge, yet withal, heartily confessing, that all was but what I owed to your immortal souls; which God knows was very much short of my duty. The omissions, imperfections, deadness, that accompanied my duties I own, and the Lord humble me for them. But all that was of God (and that was all that was good) be sure that you give to God alone. To him I humbly ascribe both the will and the deed, to whom alone be glory for ever.
*My dear brethren, my business as I have often told you, is not to turn your eyes to me, but to Christ: his spokesman I am, will you give your hands, your names to him? Will you subscribe to his laws, and consent to his offices, and be at defiance with all his enemies? This do, and I have my errand. Who will follow Christ’s colours? Who will come under his banner? This shall be the man that shall be my friend; this is he that will oblige me for ever. Do these letters come to no loose sinner? No ignorant sinner? No unsound professor? Would they do me a kindness, as I believe they would? Then let them come away to Christ! O sinner, be no more in love with darkness; stick no longer in the skirts and outside of religion. Waver no more, halt no farther, but strike in throughly with Jesus Christ; except nothing, reserve nothing, but come throughly to the Lord, and follow him fully. And then happy man thoushalt be, for thou wilt be made for ever; and joyful man I shall be; for I shall save a soul from death. The earnest beggings of a poor prisoner, use to move some bowels: hear O friends, will you do nothing for a minister of Christ? Nothing for a prisoner of Jesus Christ? Methinks I hear you answer, “Yea, what will we not do? He shall never want while we have it; he shall need no office of love, but we will run and ride to do it.” Yea, but this is not it that I beg of you; will you gratify me indeed? Then come in, bow to the name of Jesus; yea, let your souls bow, let all your powers do him homage. Let that sacred name be graven into the substance of your hearts. Let me freely speak for him, for he is worthy for whom you shall do this thing; worthy to be beloved of you; worthy to have your very hearts, worthy to be admired, adored, praised, served, glorified to the uttermost by you, and every creature; worthy for whom you should lay down all, leave all: can any thing be too much for him? Can any thing be too good for him, or too great for him? Come give up all, resign all, lay it at the feet of Jesus, offer all as a sacrifice to him, see that you be universally the Lord’s; keep nothing from him: I know through the goodness of God, that with many of you this work is not yet to do. But this set solemn resignation to the Lord is to be done more than once, and to be followed with an answerable practice when it is done: see that you walkworthy of the Lord; but how? In thefear of the Lord, and in thecomfort of the Holy Ghost; let these two go together. So shall you adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and experience the heavenly felicity of a Christian life: cleave fast to Christ, never let go your hold; cling the faster, because so many are labouring to loosen your hold. Hold fast your integrity, hold fast the beginning of your confidence stedfast to the end: If you do but keep your hold, and keep your way; all that the world can do, and all that the powers of darkness can do, can never do you harm. Keep your own vineyard with constant care and watchfulness, and be sure that there be no inroad made upon your consciences, that the enemy do not get between your souls and God; and then let what will assail you without, you need not fear! Let this be your daily exercise, to keep your consciences void of offence: keep fair weather at home, however it be abroad. I would not only that you should walkholily, but that you should walkcomfortably. I need say the less to this, because the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, lie together. Oh the provision God hath made for your continual comfort: dear brethren, do but understand your own blessedness, happy men that you are, if you did but know and consider it: who would count himself poor that hath all the fullness of the Godhead for his. O Christians, live like yourselves, live worthy of your portion, and your glorious prerogatives. Thatyou may walk worthy of your glorious hopes, and live answerable to the mercies you have received, is the great desire of
Your souls fervent well-wisher in bonds.
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the prison atIvelchester,September 18, 1663.
LETTERVIII.[Remember Christ crucified; and crucify sin.]To the faithful and well-beloved people, the servants of Christ inTaunton, salvation.Most dear Christians,IAM by office a remembrancer, the Lord’s remembrancer for you, and your remembrancer in the behalf of Christ. My business is with the apostle, to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. And who shall I remember you of, but your intercessor with the Father, who hath you always in remembrance, appearing in the presence of God for you? May his memory ever live in your hearts, though mine should die; Oh, remember his love more than mine; remember in what a case he found you, and yet nothing could divert the purpose of his love from you: He loathed not your rags nor your rottenness: he found you in loathsome filthiness, yet hepitied you. His bowels were moved, and his compassions were kindled, when one would have thought his wrath should have boiled and his indignation have burned down to hell against you: he loathed not, but loved you, and washed you from your sins in his own blood. Ah polluted captives! Ah vile and putrid carcases! that ever the Holy Jesus should his ownself wash you. Methinks I see him weeping over you; and yet it was a more costly bath by which he cleansed you. Ah sinners look upon the streaming blood flowing from his blessed body, to fetch out the ingrained filthiness that you by sin had contracted. Alas! What a horrid filthiness, that nothing but the blood of the covenant could wash away! And what a love is Christ’s, that, when a whole ocean could not wash nor purify us, would open every vein of his heart to do the work! Look upon your crucified Lord: do you not see a sacred stream flowing out of every member? Ah, how those holy hands, those unerring feet do run a stream to purge us! Alas, how the great drops of blood fall to the ground from his sacred face in his bitter agony, to wash and beautify ours! How his wounded heart and side twice pierced, first with love and pity, and then with the soldier’s cruelty, pour out their healthful and saving floods upon us? Lord! How do we forget such love as this? Ah monsters of ingratitude, that can be unmindful of such a friend! Do we thus requite him? Is this our kindness to suchan obliging friend! Christians, where are your affections? To what use do you put your faculties? What have you memories for, but to remember him? What have you the power of loving for, but that you should love him? Wherefore serves joy or desire, but to long for him? And delightfully embrace him? May your souls and all their powers be taken up with him; may all the doors of your souls be set open to him. Here fix your thoughts, terminate here your desires; here you may kindle your fire when almost out. Brethren what will you do now for Jesus Christ? Have you never a sacrifice to lay upon his altar? Come and I will shew you what you shall do, let your hands be in the blood of your sins, search them out with diligence, search your hearts and your houses; whatever iniquities you find there, out with them, put them far from your tabernacles; if you crucify them not, you are not Jesus’s friends. *God forbid that there should be a lying tongue, or any way of deceit in your shops: that his service should give place to the world in your families. Far be it from any of you, my brethren, that you should be careful to teach your children and servants the way of your callings, and neglect to instruct them in the way of life. Is weekly catechising in every one of your families? The Lord convince any of you that may be guilty of this neglect: Oh, set up God in your houses; and see that you be not slovenly incloset performances. Beware of serving the Lord negligently; serve not the Lord with that which costs you nothing: look to it that you content not yourselves with a cheap and easy religion. Put your flesh to it: be well assured that the religion that costs you nothing, will yield you nothing: Keep up the life of religion in your family and closet duties. Fear nothing like a customary and careless performance of God’s service. Judge your ownselves whether lazy wishes, idle complaints, and yawning prayers are like to carry you through the mighty difficulties that you must get through, if ever you come to heaven. When you find yourselves going on in a listless, heartless course, ask yourselves, is this to take the kingdom of heaven by violence? See that you sacrifice yourselves to the Lord, that now you live to Christ himself. As Christ hath made over his life and death to you, so let it be your care to live and die to him. Labour to look upon all your enjoyments as Christ’s goods; upon your time, parts, strength, as his talents: look upon yourselves only in the quality of servants and stewards, that are to husband all these for your Lord’s advantage, and as those that must give an account. And pray for me that I may take the counsel that I give. I bless the Lord, I want nothing but the opportunity of being serviceable to you: but I hope the Lord will make my bonds for you, to be useful to your edification; if I mayglorify God, and serve you best by being here, I shall never wish to come out. Finally brethren, farewell: be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. I am,The ready servant of your faith and joy,JOS.ALLEINE.From the prison atIvelchester,October14th, 1663.
[Remember Christ crucified; and crucify sin.]
To the faithful and well-beloved people, the servants of Christ inTaunton, salvation.
Most dear Christians,
IAM by office a remembrancer, the Lord’s remembrancer for you, and your remembrancer in the behalf of Christ. My business is with the apostle, to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. And who shall I remember you of, but your intercessor with the Father, who hath you always in remembrance, appearing in the presence of God for you? May his memory ever live in your hearts, though mine should die; Oh, remember his love more than mine; remember in what a case he found you, and yet nothing could divert the purpose of his love from you: He loathed not your rags nor your rottenness: he found you in loathsome filthiness, yet hepitied you. His bowels were moved, and his compassions were kindled, when one would have thought his wrath should have boiled and his indignation have burned down to hell against you: he loathed not, but loved you, and washed you from your sins in his own blood. Ah polluted captives! Ah vile and putrid carcases! that ever the Holy Jesus should his ownself wash you. Methinks I see him weeping over you; and yet it was a more costly bath by which he cleansed you. Ah sinners look upon the streaming blood flowing from his blessed body, to fetch out the ingrained filthiness that you by sin had contracted. Alas! What a horrid filthiness, that nothing but the blood of the covenant could wash away! And what a love is Christ’s, that, when a whole ocean could not wash nor purify us, would open every vein of his heart to do the work! Look upon your crucified Lord: do you not see a sacred stream flowing out of every member? Ah, how those holy hands, those unerring feet do run a stream to purge us! Alas, how the great drops of blood fall to the ground from his sacred face in his bitter agony, to wash and beautify ours! How his wounded heart and side twice pierced, first with love and pity, and then with the soldier’s cruelty, pour out their healthful and saving floods upon us? Lord! How do we forget such love as this? Ah monsters of ingratitude, that can be unmindful of such a friend! Do we thus requite him? Is this our kindness to suchan obliging friend! Christians, where are your affections? To what use do you put your faculties? What have you memories for, but to remember him? What have you the power of loving for, but that you should love him? Wherefore serves joy or desire, but to long for him? And delightfully embrace him? May your souls and all their powers be taken up with him; may all the doors of your souls be set open to him. Here fix your thoughts, terminate here your desires; here you may kindle your fire when almost out. Brethren what will you do now for Jesus Christ? Have you never a sacrifice to lay upon his altar? Come and I will shew you what you shall do, let your hands be in the blood of your sins, search them out with diligence, search your hearts and your houses; whatever iniquities you find there, out with them, put them far from your tabernacles; if you crucify them not, you are not Jesus’s friends. *God forbid that there should be a lying tongue, or any way of deceit in your shops: that his service should give place to the world in your families. Far be it from any of you, my brethren, that you should be careful to teach your children and servants the way of your callings, and neglect to instruct them in the way of life. Is weekly catechising in every one of your families? The Lord convince any of you that may be guilty of this neglect: Oh, set up God in your houses; and see that you be not slovenly incloset performances. Beware of serving the Lord negligently; serve not the Lord with that which costs you nothing: look to it that you content not yourselves with a cheap and easy religion. Put your flesh to it: be well assured that the religion that costs you nothing, will yield you nothing: Keep up the life of religion in your family and closet duties. Fear nothing like a customary and careless performance of God’s service. Judge your ownselves whether lazy wishes, idle complaints, and yawning prayers are like to carry you through the mighty difficulties that you must get through, if ever you come to heaven. When you find yourselves going on in a listless, heartless course, ask yourselves, is this to take the kingdom of heaven by violence? See that you sacrifice yourselves to the Lord, that now you live to Christ himself. As Christ hath made over his life and death to you, so let it be your care to live and die to him. Labour to look upon all your enjoyments as Christ’s goods; upon your time, parts, strength, as his talents: look upon yourselves only in the quality of servants and stewards, that are to husband all these for your Lord’s advantage, and as those that must give an account. And pray for me that I may take the counsel that I give. I bless the Lord, I want nothing but the opportunity of being serviceable to you: but I hope the Lord will make my bonds for you, to be useful to your edification; if I mayglorify God, and serve you best by being here, I shall never wish to come out. Finally brethren, farewell: be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. I am,
The ready servant of your faith and joy,
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the prison atIvelchester,October14th, 1663.
LETTERIX.[On daily self-examination.]To the most beloved people, the flock of Christ inTaunton, salvation.Most dear brethren,BRETHREN how stands it with you? Doth the main work go on? do your souls prosper? This is my care; beware that you flag not, that you faint not now in the evil day. I understand that your dangers grow upon you. May your faith and courage grow much more abundantly!Some of your enemies, I hear, are in great hopes to satisfy their desires upon you. Well, be not discouraged my dear brethren, but bless the Lord, who of his abundant mercy, hath so remarkably preserved you so long beyond allexpectation. Let it not be a strange thing to you, if the Lord doth now call you to some difficulty: forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is. I plainly see the coal of religion will soon go out, unless it have some better helps to cherish it, than a carnal ministry, and lifeless administration. Dear brethren, now is the time for you that fear the Lord, to speak often one to another: manage your duties with what prudence you can, but away with that carnal prudence, that will decline duty to avoid danger.*I left you some helps for daily examination, I am jealous lest you should grow slack, or slight, and careless in that duty. Let me ask you in the name of the Lord, doth never a day pass you, but you solemnly and seriously call yourselves to an account, what your carriage hath been to God and men? Speak conscience? Is there never an one within the hearing of this letter, that is a neglecter of this duty? Doth every one of your consciences acquit you? Oh that they did! Tell me, would not some of you be put shrewdly to it, if I should ask you when you read, or thought over the questions that were given you for your help? Would you not be put to a blush, to give me an answer? And will you not be much more ashamed, that God should find you tardy? Not that I would necessarily bind you up to that very method; only till youhave found a way more profitable, I would desire you, yea, I cannot but charge you, to make daily use of that. Awake conscience, and do thou fall upon that soul that thou findest careless in this work, and never let him be at rest till thou canst witness for him, that he is adaily and strict observer of himself, and doth live in the constant practice of this duty. What! Shall neither God’s charge nor your profit hold you to your work? Yet I may not doubt, but some of you do daily perform this duty. The Lord encourage you in it: yet give me leave to ask you what you have gained? Are you grown more universally conscientious, more strict, more humble, and more sensible of your many and great defects, than you were before? If so blessed are you of the Lord; if otherwise, this duty hath been but slightly performed by you. What can you say to this question? Doth your care of your ways abate or increase, by the constant use of this duty? If it abate, remember from whence you are fallen, and repent; as good not to do it at all, as not to the purpose.The Lord God be a sun and a shield to you. My most dear love to you all; fare you well in the Lord. I am,Your embassador in bonds,JOS.ALLEINE.From the common gaol atIvelchester,October 20, 1663.
[On daily self-examination.]
To the most beloved people, the flock of Christ inTaunton, salvation.
Most dear brethren,
BRETHREN how stands it with you? Doth the main work go on? do your souls prosper? This is my care; beware that you flag not, that you faint not now in the evil day. I understand that your dangers grow upon you. May your faith and courage grow much more abundantly!
Some of your enemies, I hear, are in great hopes to satisfy their desires upon you. Well, be not discouraged my dear brethren, but bless the Lord, who of his abundant mercy, hath so remarkably preserved you so long beyond allexpectation. Let it not be a strange thing to you, if the Lord doth now call you to some difficulty: forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is. I plainly see the coal of religion will soon go out, unless it have some better helps to cherish it, than a carnal ministry, and lifeless administration. Dear brethren, now is the time for you that fear the Lord, to speak often one to another: manage your duties with what prudence you can, but away with that carnal prudence, that will decline duty to avoid danger.
*I left you some helps for daily examination, I am jealous lest you should grow slack, or slight, and careless in that duty. Let me ask you in the name of the Lord, doth never a day pass you, but you solemnly and seriously call yourselves to an account, what your carriage hath been to God and men? Speak conscience? Is there never an one within the hearing of this letter, that is a neglecter of this duty? Doth every one of your consciences acquit you? Oh that they did! Tell me, would not some of you be put shrewdly to it, if I should ask you when you read, or thought over the questions that were given you for your help? Would you not be put to a blush, to give me an answer? And will you not be much more ashamed, that God should find you tardy? Not that I would necessarily bind you up to that very method; only till youhave found a way more profitable, I would desire you, yea, I cannot but charge you, to make daily use of that. Awake conscience, and do thou fall upon that soul that thou findest careless in this work, and never let him be at rest till thou canst witness for him, that he is adaily and strict observer of himself, and doth live in the constant practice of this duty. What! Shall neither God’s charge nor your profit hold you to your work? Yet I may not doubt, but some of you do daily perform this duty. The Lord encourage you in it: yet give me leave to ask you what you have gained? Are you grown more universally conscientious, more strict, more humble, and more sensible of your many and great defects, than you were before? If so blessed are you of the Lord; if otherwise, this duty hath been but slightly performed by you. What can you say to this question? Doth your care of your ways abate or increase, by the constant use of this duty? If it abate, remember from whence you are fallen, and repent; as good not to do it at all, as not to the purpose.
The Lord God be a sun and a shield to you. My most dear love to you all; fare you well in the Lord. I am,
Your embassador in bonds,
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the common gaol atIvelchester,October 20, 1663.
LETTERX.[Motives and marks of growth.]To the most loving and best beloved, the servants of Christ inTaunton, grace and peace.Most dear and tender friends:WHOSE I am, and whom under God I desire to serve; to build you up in holiness, and comfort, hath been through grace my great ambition. This is that which I laboured for; this is that which I suffer for: and in short, the end of all my applications to you, and to God for you. How do your souls prosper? Are they in a thriving case? What progress do you make in sanctification? Doth the house ofSaulgrow weaker and weaker, and the house ofDavidstronger and stronger? Behold, I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, lest any of you should lose ground in these declining times: and therefore cannot but be often calling upon you to look to your standing, and to watch and hold fast, that no man take your crown. Ah! How surely shall you reap in the end, if you faint not! Take heed therefore that you lose not the things you have wrought, but as you have begun well, so go on in the strength of Christ, andgive diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end.Do you need motives? 1.How much are you behind hand?Oh the fair advantages that we have lost! What time, what sabbaths, sermons, sacraments, are upon the matter lost? How much work have we yet to do? Are you sure of heaven yet? Are you fit to die yet? Surely they that are under so many great wants, had need to set upon some more thriving courses.Secondly,Consider what others have gained, whilst we it may be sit down by the loss: Have we not met many vessels richly laden, while our souls are empty? Oh, the golden prizes that some have won? While we have folded the hands to sleep! Have not many of our own standing in religion, left us far behind them?*Thirdly,Consider you will all find little enough when you come to die: The wise among the virgins have no oil to spare, at the coming of the bridegroom; temptation and death will put all your graces to it. How much ado have many had at last to put into this harbour!Davidcries for respite, till he had recovered a little more strength.Fourthly,Consider how short your time for gathering in probably is? The Israelites gathered twice so much manna against the sabbath as they did at other times, because at that time there was no manna fell. Brethren, you know not how long you have to lay in for. Do you ask formarks how you may know your souls to be in a thriving case?First, If your appetites be more strong.Do you thirst after God and after grace, more than heretofore? Do your cares for and desires after the world abate? And do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Whereas you were wont to come with an ill-will to holy duties, do you come to them as an hungry stomach to its meat?Secondly, If your pulses beat more even.Are you still off and on, hot and cold? Or is there a more even spun thread of holiness through your whole course? Do you make good the ground from which you were formerly beaten off?*Thirdly, If you do look more to the carrying on together the duties of both tables.Do you not only look to the keeping of your own vineyards, but do you lay out yourselves for the good of others, and are filled with zealous desires for their conversion and salvation? Do you manage your talk and your trade, by the rules of religion?*Do you eat and sleep by rule? Doth religion form and mould, and direct your carriage towards husband, wife, parents, children, masters, servants? Do you grow more universally conscientious? Is piety more diffusive than ever with you? Doth it come more abroad with you, outof your closets, into your houses, your shops, your fields? Doth it journey with you, and buy and sell for you? Hath it the casting voice in all you do?Fourthly, If the duties of religion be more delightful to you.Do you take more delight in the word than ever! Are you more in love with secret prayer, and more abundant in it? Cannot you be content with your ordinary seasons, but are ever and anon making extraordinary visits to heaven? And upon all occasions turning aside, to talk with God in some short ejaculations? Are you often darting up your soul heavenwards? Is it meat and drink for you, to do the will of God? Do you come off more freely with God, and answer his calls with more readiness of mind?*Fifthly, If you are more abundant in those duties which are most displeasing to the flesh.Are you more earnest in mortification? Are you more strict and severe than ever in the duty of daily self-examination, and holy meditation? Do you hold the reins harder upon the flesh than ever? Do you keep a stricter watch upon your appetites? Do you set a stronger guard upon your tongues? Have you a more jealous eye upon your hearts?Sixthly, If you grow more vile in your own eyes.Do you grow more out of love with men’s esteem, set less by it? Are you not marvelloustender of being slighted? Can you rejoice to see others preferred before you? Can you heartily value and love them that think meanly of you?Seventhly, If you grow more quick of sense, more sensible of divine influences, or withdrawings.Are you more afraid of sin than ever? Are your sins a greater pain to you than heretofore? Are your very infirmities your great afflictions? and the daily workings of corruption a continual grief of mind to you?I must conclude abruptly, commending you to God, and can only tell you that I am,Your’s in the Lord Jesus,JOS.ALLEINE.From the common gaol, inIvelchester,October 31, 1663.
[Motives and marks of growth.]
To the most loving and best beloved, the servants of Christ inTaunton, grace and peace.
Most dear and tender friends:
WHOSE I am, and whom under God I desire to serve; to build you up in holiness, and comfort, hath been through grace my great ambition. This is that which I laboured for; this is that which I suffer for: and in short, the end of all my applications to you, and to God for you. How do your souls prosper? Are they in a thriving case? What progress do you make in sanctification? Doth the house ofSaulgrow weaker and weaker, and the house ofDavidstronger and stronger? Behold, I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, lest any of you should lose ground in these declining times: and therefore cannot but be often calling upon you to look to your standing, and to watch and hold fast, that no man take your crown. Ah! How surely shall you reap in the end, if you faint not! Take heed therefore that you lose not the things you have wrought, but as you have begun well, so go on in the strength of Christ, andgive diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end.
Do you need motives? 1.How much are you behind hand?Oh the fair advantages that we have lost! What time, what sabbaths, sermons, sacraments, are upon the matter lost? How much work have we yet to do? Are you sure of heaven yet? Are you fit to die yet? Surely they that are under so many great wants, had need to set upon some more thriving courses.
Secondly,Consider what others have gained, whilst we it may be sit down by the loss: Have we not met many vessels richly laden, while our souls are empty? Oh, the golden prizes that some have won? While we have folded the hands to sleep! Have not many of our own standing in religion, left us far behind them?
*Thirdly,Consider you will all find little enough when you come to die: The wise among the virgins have no oil to spare, at the coming of the bridegroom; temptation and death will put all your graces to it. How much ado have many had at last to put into this harbour!Davidcries for respite, till he had recovered a little more strength.
Fourthly,Consider how short your time for gathering in probably is? The Israelites gathered twice so much manna against the sabbath as they did at other times, because at that time there was no manna fell. Brethren, you know not how long you have to lay in for. Do you ask formarks how you may know your souls to be in a thriving case?
First, If your appetites be more strong.Do you thirst after God and after grace, more than heretofore? Do your cares for and desires after the world abate? And do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Whereas you were wont to come with an ill-will to holy duties, do you come to them as an hungry stomach to its meat?
Secondly, If your pulses beat more even.Are you still off and on, hot and cold? Or is there a more even spun thread of holiness through your whole course? Do you make good the ground from which you were formerly beaten off?
*Thirdly, If you do look more to the carrying on together the duties of both tables.Do you not only look to the keeping of your own vineyards, but do you lay out yourselves for the good of others, and are filled with zealous desires for their conversion and salvation? Do you manage your talk and your trade, by the rules of religion?
*Do you eat and sleep by rule? Doth religion form and mould, and direct your carriage towards husband, wife, parents, children, masters, servants? Do you grow more universally conscientious? Is piety more diffusive than ever with you? Doth it come more abroad with you, outof your closets, into your houses, your shops, your fields? Doth it journey with you, and buy and sell for you? Hath it the casting voice in all you do?
Fourthly, If the duties of religion be more delightful to you.Do you take more delight in the word than ever! Are you more in love with secret prayer, and more abundant in it? Cannot you be content with your ordinary seasons, but are ever and anon making extraordinary visits to heaven? And upon all occasions turning aside, to talk with God in some short ejaculations? Are you often darting up your soul heavenwards? Is it meat and drink for you, to do the will of God? Do you come off more freely with God, and answer his calls with more readiness of mind?
*Fifthly, If you are more abundant in those duties which are most displeasing to the flesh.Are you more earnest in mortification? Are you more strict and severe than ever in the duty of daily self-examination, and holy meditation? Do you hold the reins harder upon the flesh than ever? Do you keep a stricter watch upon your appetites? Do you set a stronger guard upon your tongues? Have you a more jealous eye upon your hearts?
Sixthly, If you grow more vile in your own eyes.Do you grow more out of love with men’s esteem, set less by it? Are you not marvelloustender of being slighted? Can you rejoice to see others preferred before you? Can you heartily value and love them that think meanly of you?
Seventhly, If you grow more quick of sense, more sensible of divine influences, or withdrawings.Are you more afraid of sin than ever? Are your sins a greater pain to you than heretofore? Are your very infirmities your great afflictions? and the daily workings of corruption a continual grief of mind to you?
I must conclude abruptly, commending you to God, and can only tell you that I am,
Your’s in the Lord Jesus,
JOS.ALLEINE.
From the common gaol, inIvelchester,October 31, 1663.
LETTERXI.To my dearly beloved, the inhabitants ofTaunton, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.Most dearly beloved,IHAVE been through mercy many years with you, and should be willingly so many years a prisoner for you, so I might further your salvation. I must again and again thank you for your abundant affection to me, which I value asa great mercy, not in order to myself, but in order to your benefit, that I may thereby be a more likely instrument of your good. Surely, so much as I value your love, yet had I rather be forsaken of you all, and buried in oblivion; so that your eyes and hearts may be fixed on Christ, and sincerely engaged to him. Brethren, I have not bespoken your affections for myself: O that I might win your hearts to Christ. O that I might convert you to him though you were diverted from me. *I should much rather chuse to be hated of all, so this might be the means to have Christ set up savingly in the hearts of you all. And indeed there is nothing great but in order to God; nothing is considerable as it is terminated in us: it matters not whether we are in riches or poverty, sickness or health, in honour or disgrace, so Christ may be by us magnified in the condition we are in. Welcome prison and poverty, welcome scorn and envy, welcome pain or contempt, if by these God’s glory may be promoted. What are we for, but for God? What doth the creature signify separated from his God? Why just so much as the cypher separated from his figure. We are nothing worth, but in reference to God and his ends. Better were it that we had never been, than that we should not be to him. Better that we were dead than we should live, and not to him. Better that we had no understandings, than that we should not know him. Better that we were blocks and brutes, than that we shouldnot use our reason for him. What are our interests, unless they may be subservient to his interest? Or our reputation, unless we may hereby glorify him?Do you love me? I know you do. But who is there, that will leave his sins for me? With whom shall I prevail to give up himself in strictness and self denial to the Lord? Who will be intreated by me to set upon neglected duties, or reform accustomed sins? Oh wherein may you rejoice me? In this, my brethren; in this you shall befriend me, if you obey the voice of God by me, if you be prevailed with to give yourselves up throughly to the Lord. Would you lighten my burden? Would you make glad my heart? Let me hear of your owning the ways and servants of the Lord in adversity, of your patient continuing in the ways of holiness. O that I could but hear that the prayerless souls, the prayerless families among you, were now given to prayer! That the profane sinners were awakened, and induced by the preaching of these bonds, to leave their drunkenness, their loose company, their deceit and wantonness! Will you not be made clean? When shall it once be? How long shall the patience of God wait for you? How long shall the Lord Jesus stretch out his hands toward you? O sinners, cast yourselves into his arms! Why should you die? Why will you forsake your own mercy? Will you perish when mercy woos you? Confess and forsakeyour sins, and you shall find mercy. Will you sell your souls to perdition for a little ease and delight in your flesh? Or a little of the gain of unrighteousness? Why, these are the things that part between sinners and Christ.*I know many are spun with a finer thread, and are not so far from the kingdom of God. But I must again warn you of staying in the suburbs of the city of refuge. O what pity is it that any should perish at the gates! That any should escape the pollutions of the world, and do many things, yea, and suffer too, and yet fall short of the glory of God! Oh ye halting Christians, that halt between Christ and the world, that are asEphraim, like a cake not turned, dough-bak’d, professors, that have lamps without oil, that cry, Lord, Lord, but do not the will of our Father which is in heaven! How long will you stay in the place of the breaking forth of children! and stick between the womb and the world? Your religion will carry you from the profane, and ye own the people of the Lord. But godliness is a heart-work, it goes deep, and spreads far: unless the frame of your hearts, and the drift of your course be changed, unless you be universally conscientious, and unreservedly delivered up to the Lord for all times and conditions, whatever be the cost, you are none of Christ’s, how far soever you go in external performances. Hear then, O people, and let notan almost Christianity deceive you, or carry you blindfold to perdition. Oh the thousands, and ten thousands that have been undone by one of these! Ah, how often have you been warned against them, lest you should split against these dangerous rocks. OTaunton,Taunton, how often would God’s servants have gathered you, and you would not. But will you now? Will youyetcome in? I cannot forbear once more, even out of the prison, to call after poor sinners, and make one tender of mercy more. O come to the waters of life, wash you, make you clean.But for you, whose hearts are set against every sin, and are resolved for God and holiness; you that experience a thorough change, and have respect to all God’s commandments, who will have none but God for your happiness, none but Christ for your treasure, that must and will have him, come what will come, blessed are ye of the Lord: O happy souls rejoice in the Lord, and again, I say, rejoice: let your souls magnify the Lord, and your spirits rejoice in God your Saviour. Live you a life of praise; you are highly favoured of the Lord, your lines are fallen in a pleasant place: only stick to your choice: beware lest any man beguile you of your reward: watch and keep your garments about you, lest you walk naked, and men see your shame. Many will be plucking to pull you out of Christ’s hands; but the harder theypluck, the harder do you cling, and cleave to him: blessed is he that overcometh.And now the God of heaven fill you all with himself, and make all grace to abound in you, and toward you. May he be a sun to comfort you, and shine with his beams of grace and glory on you all: farewell in the Lord, I am,Your’s in the bonds of the gospel,JOS.ALLEINE.
To my dearly beloved, the inhabitants ofTaunton, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Most dearly beloved,
IHAVE been through mercy many years with you, and should be willingly so many years a prisoner for you, so I might further your salvation. I must again and again thank you for your abundant affection to me, which I value asa great mercy, not in order to myself, but in order to your benefit, that I may thereby be a more likely instrument of your good. Surely, so much as I value your love, yet had I rather be forsaken of you all, and buried in oblivion; so that your eyes and hearts may be fixed on Christ, and sincerely engaged to him. Brethren, I have not bespoken your affections for myself: O that I might win your hearts to Christ. O that I might convert you to him though you were diverted from me. *I should much rather chuse to be hated of all, so this might be the means to have Christ set up savingly in the hearts of you all. And indeed there is nothing great but in order to God; nothing is considerable as it is terminated in us: it matters not whether we are in riches or poverty, sickness or health, in honour or disgrace, so Christ may be by us magnified in the condition we are in. Welcome prison and poverty, welcome scorn and envy, welcome pain or contempt, if by these God’s glory may be promoted. What are we for, but for God? What doth the creature signify separated from his God? Why just so much as the cypher separated from his figure. We are nothing worth, but in reference to God and his ends. Better were it that we had never been, than that we should not be to him. Better that we were dead than we should live, and not to him. Better that we had no understandings, than that we should not know him. Better that we were blocks and brutes, than that we shouldnot use our reason for him. What are our interests, unless they may be subservient to his interest? Or our reputation, unless we may hereby glorify him?
Do you love me? I know you do. But who is there, that will leave his sins for me? With whom shall I prevail to give up himself in strictness and self denial to the Lord? Who will be intreated by me to set upon neglected duties, or reform accustomed sins? Oh wherein may you rejoice me? In this, my brethren; in this you shall befriend me, if you obey the voice of God by me, if you be prevailed with to give yourselves up throughly to the Lord. Would you lighten my burden? Would you make glad my heart? Let me hear of your owning the ways and servants of the Lord in adversity, of your patient continuing in the ways of holiness. O that I could but hear that the prayerless souls, the prayerless families among you, were now given to prayer! That the profane sinners were awakened, and induced by the preaching of these bonds, to leave their drunkenness, their loose company, their deceit and wantonness! Will you not be made clean? When shall it once be? How long shall the patience of God wait for you? How long shall the Lord Jesus stretch out his hands toward you? O sinners, cast yourselves into his arms! Why should you die? Why will you forsake your own mercy? Will you perish when mercy woos you? Confess and forsakeyour sins, and you shall find mercy. Will you sell your souls to perdition for a little ease and delight in your flesh? Or a little of the gain of unrighteousness? Why, these are the things that part between sinners and Christ.
*I know many are spun with a finer thread, and are not so far from the kingdom of God. But I must again warn you of staying in the suburbs of the city of refuge. O what pity is it that any should perish at the gates! That any should escape the pollutions of the world, and do many things, yea, and suffer too, and yet fall short of the glory of God! Oh ye halting Christians, that halt between Christ and the world, that are asEphraim, like a cake not turned, dough-bak’d, professors, that have lamps without oil, that cry, Lord, Lord, but do not the will of our Father which is in heaven! How long will you stay in the place of the breaking forth of children! and stick between the womb and the world? Your religion will carry you from the profane, and ye own the people of the Lord. But godliness is a heart-work, it goes deep, and spreads far: unless the frame of your hearts, and the drift of your course be changed, unless you be universally conscientious, and unreservedly delivered up to the Lord for all times and conditions, whatever be the cost, you are none of Christ’s, how far soever you go in external performances. Hear then, O people, and let notan almost Christianity deceive you, or carry you blindfold to perdition. Oh the thousands, and ten thousands that have been undone by one of these! Ah, how often have you been warned against them, lest you should split against these dangerous rocks. OTaunton,Taunton, how often would God’s servants have gathered you, and you would not. But will you now? Will youyetcome in? I cannot forbear once more, even out of the prison, to call after poor sinners, and make one tender of mercy more. O come to the waters of life, wash you, make you clean.
But for you, whose hearts are set against every sin, and are resolved for God and holiness; you that experience a thorough change, and have respect to all God’s commandments, who will have none but God for your happiness, none but Christ for your treasure, that must and will have him, come what will come, blessed are ye of the Lord: O happy souls rejoice in the Lord, and again, I say, rejoice: let your souls magnify the Lord, and your spirits rejoice in God your Saviour. Live you a life of praise; you are highly favoured of the Lord, your lines are fallen in a pleasant place: only stick to your choice: beware lest any man beguile you of your reward: watch and keep your garments about you, lest you walk naked, and men see your shame. Many will be plucking to pull you out of Christ’s hands; but the harder theypluck, the harder do you cling, and cleave to him: blessed is he that overcometh.
And now the God of heaven fill you all with himself, and make all grace to abound in you, and toward you. May he be a sun to comfort you, and shine with his beams of grace and glory on you all: farewell in the Lord, I am,
Your’s in the bonds of the gospel,
JOS.ALLEINE.