A26687:123
Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of…
Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of godliness, both in person and families.
London : Printed for and sold by Nevil Simmons and Dorman Newman, 1673
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
LETTER. XVI. [How to live to God.] To the Beloved People, the Inhabitants of the Town of Taunton, Grace and Peace.
Most endeared Christians,
TO tell you I love and long for you, seems somewhat needless. I cannot doubt of your confidence that you have a deep share in my tenderest affections: for this let my labours among you, and the hazards for you speak, rather that I my self. Beloved, I am, without a Complement the devoted servant of your souls prosperity, and the interest of Christ in you: way the Lord Jesus be set up higher in your hearts; may his name ever live in you, and be magnified by you, and I have what I ask. If this work be not promoted among you, I shall account all my letters but waste Paper, and all my pains but lost labour. Brethren, I beseech you, that none of you live to your selves, for this were directly to cross the very end of Christ's death: for therefore he died that you should not live to your selves, 2 Cor. 5. 15. Oh live to him that died for you! live to him that is the God of your life! live to him that bought your lives with the expense of his own! To him that bought you from destruction; and not only so, but bought your names into the eternal Inheritance, reserved in the Heavens for you. Will a man be easily persuaded to lose his life? how infinitely tender are men here! And yet in the worst sense the most of men do lose their lives, yea, lose them for nothing. Beloved, consider, I beseech you, that life is lost, that is not lived unto God. If you would not loss your lives that you live, see to him who is the end of your lives. Oh remember this, and reckon that day lost which you have not lived unto God! Brethren how great a part of our lives have we really, alas! to too really lost? I beseech you take heed: here you are careful about many things, but beware that other things do not put out this which should be the main of your cares, to wit, the spending your days and strength for him that made you. Would it not be dreadful for a man to find at last when he comes