Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of…

LETTER XXXIV. [To a Back-sliding Fellow Student.]

Sir,

Whom this will find you, or when, or where, I know not; but I have shot this arrow at a venture. Once you were an Associate with me in Corpus Christi, where I remember your blameless Conversation, and your zealous affection for, and adhesion to the ways and people of God. May you be still found in the same paths of holiness, without which no man shall see God. The vows of God are upon me (which, I confess, I have been to slack to pay) that I would put you in remembrance, and in all Brotherly tenderness advise you, to remember from whence you are fallen. I was informed, before your leaving of England, of many unhappy miscarriages, which the great reproach of your holy profession, you had been too manifestly guilty of, I am not ⟨p. 117⟩without some hope, that the Lord may have since recalled you, and brought you back to himself: and yet not without more fear, lest, if the power of corruption were so strong, as to precipitate you with such violence, at such a time as that was, and in such a place as England, as Oxon where you had so many encouragements, and inducements, examples, and faithful friendly, watchful observers, you may now much more be carried away, in such a place, and among such company, as now you may be likely to be in. Sir, I beseech you to be assured, that nothing but the conscience of my duty hath engaged me, now you have been so many years a stranger to me, and are at so many thousand miles distance from me, to write notwithstanding to you. And I beseech you, bear a little with me. Is it wisdom after you have begun in the Spirit, to end in the flesh? you did run well, who hath hindered you? I remember your strict walkings, your holy converse, your many tears: will you-lose the things that you have wrought? have you found out another, a nearer way to Heaven? do you hope to get in at the wide Gate, in the broad way? need I to mind you, that it had been better for you never to have known the way of Life, then after you have known it, to turn aside from the Holy Commandment? can you ever enter into Gods Hill, without you be of clean hands, and a pure heart? I know, you are not ignorant, That strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it: and will you yet do as the most, and decline the way of strictness, and whole self-denial, and give the flesh the reins?