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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.

Joseph Alleine 1634–1668London : Printed for and sold by Nevil Simmons and Dorman Newman, 1673

150 p. · 57k words · Wing A966 · ESTC R10598

Title page: Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books microfilm (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

CHRISTIAN LETTERS, Full of SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS, Tending To the P… › Letter 37: LETTER XXXVII. [God is a satisfying Portion.]

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.

[ Earlier:339–354 of 419

:339p. 126

But why, my Pylades, why is thy stile towards me changed? why hast thou lost the old and wonted strain of our former pleasing familiarity? this I could not but observe with some disgust, is it because thy heart is changed; but this is a question in which I cannot ask any resolution; I am satisfied and at rest in thy love, but what this alterations means, I know not; art thou willing by degrees to grow strange; it cannot be, thou seest however that I cannot change my voice.

:340p. 126

Besides, I find some jealous passages in thy last lines unto us; but canst thou think that T. B. can be put into the balance against my old friend, my own, my Covenant Pylades, or can a friend of words come into any competition or comparison with thine experienced love? I cannot entertain the thoughts of this without some disdain.

Besides, I find some jealous passages in thy last lines unto us; but canst thou think that T. B. can be put into the ballance against my old friend, my own, my Covenant Pylades, or can a friend of words come into any competition or comparison with thine experienced love? I cannot entertain the thoughts of this without some disdain.

:341p. 126

But thy needful cautions are acceptable to me, I desire to foresee and provide for manifold changes and storms; I know I am not yet in the harbour; O pray with me that I enter not into Temptation, for I am very weak in Spirit, as well as in body, God knoweth. But there is no end with me, somewhere or other I must break off, and thou wilt say it is time to shut up; for once only know, that I am thy daily Orator, and will be whilst I am: and yet once more I must have room to add my thankful acknowledgement of thine and thy costly kindness; and so with our most dear affections to you both, I commend you to the God of love, still abiding

But thy needful cautions are acceptable to me, I desire to foresee and provide for manifold changes and storms; I know I am not yet in the harbor; O pray with me that I enter not into Temptation, for I am very weak in Spirit, as well as in body, God knoweth. But there is no end with me, somewhere or other I must break off, and thou wilt say it is time to shut up; for once only know, that I am thy daily Orator, and will be whilest I am: and yet once more I must have room to add my thankful acknowledgement of thine and thy costly kindness; and so with our most dear affections to you both, I commend you to the God of love, still abiding

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Position

Cited: :342
On this page: :339–354
Section: :332–342
Whole work: 419 passages

Cite

Joseph Alleine, Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of… (London, 1673), letter 37, p. 126. EEBO-TCP A26687.

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The book

Title as printed: Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of godliness, both in person and families.
Author: Joseph Alleine 1634–1668
Place: London
Year: 1673
Imprint: London : Printed for and sold by Nevil Simmons and Dorman Newman, 1673.
Size: 150 p.
Words: 56,564
Catalogue: Wing A966 · ESTC R10598
Text: EEBO-TCP A26687

Passages: 419
Sections: 52

The author

Joseph Alleine 1634–1668

PuritansEngland

Minister at Taunton; author of An Alarme to Unconverted Sinners.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter

:345p. 127–128

Many charges have passed over both you and my self, since my last Writing to you, but I am glad to hear that in that great change of your condition, you have made so wise and happy a choice. Mine unfeigned desire to God is for your Temporal and Spiritual prosperity; and that the blessings of both Worlds may be heaped up upon you. Yet I should desire you not to expect too much here, nor to count it a strange thing, if you meet with disappointments. Is it enough if you have the Lord for your portion, and Heaven for your Inheritance; though the World should not answer your expectations. I doubt not but you will be likely, as well as we, to meet with manifold temptations: the Lord make you, when you have done all to stand. Hold out a while in faith, patience, and self-denial, and you shall be as sure as God can make you of the Crown. Now arise and shine, and hold forth the power of holiness in all your converse. We have lived in times when Religion was the way to credit and esteem, and then it was more difficult to discern sincerity of ones profession, because men might be drawn to it upon worldly ends. But now is the time when God will prove us, if we will appear for him, and own his ways, when they are the common scorn of the World. Oh Sir, think it not hard if God do call you forth to own him in such a time as this, when few of your rank and quality will bear you company: but look upon it as a special advantage to prove your sincerity, and your fidelity to the Lord your Maker. The holy and blessed life of that noble Marquess Galeacius, I should much commend to your reading and imitation. Court not the World nor its preferments, Moses his self-denying choice. which the World would have branded for unparalleled folly, when he voluntarily left all the Court-preferments and pleasures, the wisest Judge commends for the great• wisdom. If Religion will make you vile, resolve with tha• •yal Worthy, ⟨p. 128⟩that you will be yet more vile. Remember who accounted the reproaches of Christ greater riches, than the Treasures of Egypt. Verily it is a greater honour to you to be vilified for Christ, than to be •ignified with the highest Titles that the greatest on Earth can confer:

MAny charges have passed over both you and my self, since my last Writing to you, but I am glad to hear that in that great change of your condition, you have made so wise and happy a choice. Mine unfeigned desire to God is for your Temporal and Spiritual prosperity; and that the blessings of both Worlds may be heaped up upon you. Yet I should desire you not to expect too much here, nor to count it a strange thing, if you meet with disappointments. Is it enough if you have the Lord for your portion, and Heaven for your Inheritance; though the World should not answer your expectations. I doubt not but you will be likely, as well as we, to meet with manifold temptations: the Lord make you, when you have done all to stand. Hold out a while in faith, patience, and self-denial, and you shall be as sure as God can make you of the Crown. Now arise and shine, and hold forth the power of holiness in all your converse. We have lived in times when Religion was the way to credit and esteem, and then it was more difficult to discern sincerity of ones profession, because men might be drawn to it upon worldly ends. But now is the time when God will prove us, if we will appear for him, and own his ways, when they are the common scorn of the World. Oh Sir, think it not hard if God do call you forth to own him in such a time as this, when few of your rank and quality will bear you company: but look upon it as a special advantage to prove your sincerity, and your fidelity to the Lord your Maker. The holy and blessed life of that noble Marquess Galeacius, I should much commend to your reading and imitation. Court not the World nor its preserments, Moses his self-denying choice. which the World would have branded for unparalled folly, when he voluntarily left all the Court-preferments and pleasures, the wisest Judge commends for the great• wisdom. If Religion will make you vile, resolve with tha• •yal Worthy, ⟨p. 128⟩that you will be yet more vile. Remember who accounted the reproaches of Christ greater riches, than the Treasures of Egypt. Verily it is a greater honour to you to be vilified for Christ, than to be •ignified with the highest Titles that the greatest on Earth can conser:

:346p. 128

and to be called Puritan or Fanatic, for the bold and constant owning of the power of Christianity, than to have whole Pages filled up with the honourable offices and marks of Dignity, that Earthly Princes can bestow. Now then is your time to get the true honour. Few of your places and dignity, will take this way to get it: But he that can but use the prospective of Faith, and look as far as the approaching Judgement, will easily see the vanity of the worlds riches and flattering preferments, and the everlasting glory and honour wherewith the despised Saints shall surely be Crowned. Fix your eyes and Meditations here, and that will set you above the worlds temptations, when by its offers or threatenings it would make you to warp, and to let go your hold-fast of Eternal life. Now is the time for you to make Heaven sure, and when that is done, you are prepared for the worst that can come. I desire you to accept of my service and respects, and my Wives, which I do hereby present unto you, and to your most deserving yoke-fellow, whom I unfeignedly honour though I never saw her, not so much for her noble blood, which yet calls for great respects, as for her far more noble qualifications, and privileges of her second birth. Pardon my boldness with you, in troubling you so long, I am Sir,

and to be call'd Puritan or Phanatique, for the bold and constant owning of the power of Christianity, than to have whole Pages filled up with the honourable offices and marks of Dignity, that Earthly Princes can bestow. Now then is your time to get the true honour. Few of your places and dignity, will take this way to get it: But he that can but use the prospective os Faith, and look as far as the approaching Judgement, will easily see the vanity of the worlds riches and flattering preferments, and the everlasting glory and honour wherewith the dispised Saints shall surely be Crowned. Fix your eyes and Meditations here, and that will set you above the worlds temptations, when by its offers or threatnings it would make you to warp, and to let go your hold-fast of Eternal life. Now is the time for you to make Heaven sure, and when that is done, you are prepared for the worst that can come. I desire you to accept of my service and respects, and my Wives, which I do hereby present unto you, and to your most deserving yoak-fellow, whom I unfeignedly honour though I never saw her, not so much for her noble blood, which yet calls sor great respects, as for her far more noble qualifications, and priviledges of her second birth. Pardon my boldness with you, in troubling you so long, I am Sir,

:350p. 129

Though I have been in the valley of the shadow of death, though I have had more than one foot in the Grave, and have been in deaths often, yet the love and remembrance of you, ever liveth on my heart: I have long had neither feet to walk nor hands to write, yet I have borrowed hands as you see, rather than I would stay any longer from warning and admonishing of you. Dear Cousin, that soul of yours, that precious-immortal soul is of no light value with me! I pray hard for its Salvation: I have a Godly fear for you, lest your soul should miscarry in a crowd of worldly business, and of earthly cares Ah, my dear Niece, it comforts me that you are so settled for this world, and are in want of nothing, I bless the Lord for this, but me thinks this doth not satisfy me. Oh, that I could be sure that you were once safe settled in Christ; though you are, I trust comfortably furnished with earthly things, yet in this you are but half provided for: have you a Treasure in Heaven? have you laid hold on eternal life? have you made sure work for everlasting? have you past the straits of the New-Birth? do you bear upon you the marks of the Lord Jesus?

THough I have been in the valley of the shadow of death, though I have had more than one foot in the Grave, and have been in deaths often, yet the love and remembrance of you, ever liveth on my heart: I have long had neither feet to walk nor hands to write, yet I have borrowed hands as you see, rather than I would stay any longer from warning and admonishing of you. Dear Couzin, that soul of yours, that precious-immortal soul is of no light value with me! I pray hard for its Salvation: I have a Godly fear for you, lest your soul should miscarry in a crowd of worldly business, and of earthly cares Ah, my dear Niece, it comforts me that you are so setled for this world, and are in want of nothing, I bless the Lord for this, but me thinks this doth not satisfie me. Oh, that I could be sure that you were once safe setled in Christ; though you are, I trust comfortably furnished with earthly things, yet in this you are but half provided for: have you a Treasure in Heaven? have you laid hold on eternal life? have you made sure work for everlasting? have you past the straits of the New-Birth? do you bear upon you the marks of the Lord Jesus?

:353p. 130

Oh Cousin, fear, least a Promise being left of entering into rest, you should by any mistakes, or self-deceits fall short through unbelief; fear lest you should take Count• •old, or some common workings for saving Grace. Oh, there is a world of counterfeit Coin going, multitudes perish by mistake, and wake in Hell, whilst they dreamt they were in Heaven: the temp•er is very subtle, and will sure deceive if he can: your heart is deceitful above all things, and is willing to cheat you if it can. Therefore am I engaged so earnestly to call upon you, as one that watcheth for your soul, to arise speedily and to set roundly to your work. Oh, consider your danger, and work out your Salvation with fear and trembling: away with these lazy Prayers, away with these cold and heartless Professions, away with this drowsy, lifeless, •less Religion; bestir your self to purpose for your soul before it be too late, search your conscience as with Candles, be jealous of your self; consider, now is your time, what you do you must do quickly, the patience of God is waiting, Christ is knocking, the Spirit of God is striving, and death is at the door: Oh now take your opportunity, and take heed lest a •thful heart, and the cares of this World, or a presumptuous confidence that all is well and safe already, should at last shut you out of the Kingdom of God.

Oh Couzin, fear, least a Promise being left of entring into rest, you should by any mistakes, or self-deceits fall short through unbelief; fear lest you should take Count• •old, or some common workings for saving Grace. Oh, there is a world of counterfeit Coin going, multitudes perish by mistake, and wake in Hell, whilest they dreamt they were in Heaven: the temp•er is very subtile, and will sure deceive if he can: your heart is deceitful above all things, and is willing to cheat you if it can. Therefore am I engaged so earnestly to call upon you, as one that watcheth for your soul, to arise speedily and to set roundly to your work. Oh, consider your danger, and work out your Salvation with fear and trembling: away with these lazie Prayers, away with these cold and heartless Professions, away with this drowsie, liveless, •less Religion; bestir your self to purpose for your soul before it be too late, search your conscience as with Candles, be jealous of your self; consider, now is your time, what you do you must do quickly, the patience of God is waiting, Christ is knocking, the Spirit of God is striving, and death is at the door: Oh now take your opportunity, and take heed lest a •thful heart, and the cares of this World, or a presumptuous confidence that all is well and safe already, should at last shut you out of the Kingdom of God.

:354p. 130–131

I cannot write distinctly to your Husband, but I beseech you to call upon him to set his heart to these Counsels which I have written to you; I earnestly entreat him to make Religion his business, and to look heedfully to it, that the gain of the World prove not the loss of his soul. I desire him that Closer and Family Prayers, and weekly Catechising ⟨p. 131⟩of his Household, and strict sanctifying of the Sabbath, and reading of the Scriptures singing of Psalms, repeating of Sermons, and diligent attendance upon powerful Preaching may be his continual exercises; that so his house may be a little Church, and God may delight to dwell in his Family: pray give me to understand what is done of these things, for I have a zeal for your welfare, and that you and your household should serve the Lord, that you may enter into his rest, and carry children, and servants, and friends, and all to Heaven with you- As to my own estate, I have lost all my limbs, and about this twelve Months useless, and been agar •nd again under the sentence of death; but was brought in […] •-litter to Bath, where God hath wonderfully restored me, so that I can feed my self, and go alone, and speak with a little more freedom. Oh, love the Lord, praise the Lord for me; notwithstanding I continue weak, and have not strength to write, yet I could not tell how to die in silence from you; but have made use of a friendly hand to send these counsels and calls after you, which I beseech you to accept in the fear of God, for it is not unlike that they may be my last to you that ever you may receive: I now commend you to the Lord, and with mine own and my dear Wivet love to you both, Rest,

I cannot write distinctly to your Husband, but I beseech you to call upon him to set his heart to these Counsels which I havee written to you; I earnestly entreat him to make Religion his business, and to look heedfully to it, that the gain of the World prove not the loss of his soul. I desire him that Closer and Family Prayers, and weekly Catechising ⟨p. 131⟩of his Houshold, and strict sanctifying of the Sabbath, and reading of the Scriptures singing of Psalms, repeating of Sermons, and diligent attendance upon powerful Preaching may be his continual exercises; that so his house may be a little Church, and God may delight to dwell in his Family: pray give me to understand what is done of these things, for I have a zeal for your welfare, and that you and your houshould should serve the Lord, that you may enter into his rest, and carry children, and servants, and friends, and all to Heaven with you- As to my own estate, I have lost all my limbs, and about this twelve Months useless, and been aga• •nd again under the sentence of death; but was brought in 〈…〉 •-litter to Bath, where God hath wonderfully restored me, so that I can feed my self, and go alone, and speak with a little more freedom. Oh, love the Lord, praise the Lord for me; notwithstanding I continue weak, and have not strength to write, yet I could not tell how to die in silence from you; but have made use of a friendly hand to send these counsels and calls after you, which I beseech you to accept in the fear of God, for it is not unlike that they may be my last to you that ever you may receive: I now commend you to the Lord, and with mide own and my dear Wivet love to you both, Rest,