A26687:178
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, XXI. [What do you more than others?] To the most dearly Beloved, the Servants in Taunton, Grace and Peace.
Most loving and entirely Beloved,
You are a great Joy to me. I know not what thanks to render to the Lord for you, when I hear of your Constancy, and Fidelity, and Zeal, in adhering to him, and his ways, even in such a time as this, you are highly favoured, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that he hath regard ed the low Estates of his Servants: That he should ever Indulge you as he hath, and hover over you, even as the Eagle stirreth up her Nest, and fluttereth over her Young, spreadeth abroad her Wings, taketh them, beareth them on her Wings, for so hath the Lord your God dealt with you: He hath kept you as the Apple of his Eye, and since the Streams of Cherith were dried up, yet to this day he hath not suffered the handful of Meal to wast, nor the Oil in ⟨p. 68⟩the Cruse to fail, but (though you have no certainty to trust to) hath continually provided for you to the full. How should I love and bless the Lord for this his great Grace towards you, while I live? Now I beseech you my Brethren, that you consider the Kindness of the Lord; for the Lord your God is he that careth for you, and that you love the Lord your God, and fear him for ever, for he is your Life, and the Length of your Days. And as Job had a holy fear of his Children, least they should have offended: So my most dearly Beloved, I am jealous of you with a Godly jealousy, lest any of you should receive this Grace of God in vain. I must not cease to put you in mind, that God doth look from no small matter from you. Remember my most endeared Charge, that the Lord doth look for singular things from you, that there be not a barren Tree nor a Dwarf Christian among you; where the Lord doth strew much, he looks to gather much; and where he soweth much, he expects to reap accordingly. Whose account my Beloved, is like to be so great as yours? O look about you, and think of the Master coming to Reckon with you for his Talents; when he will expect no small increase. Beloved, what can you do? How much are you grown? What spoil have you made upon your Corruptions? What progress in Grace?