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

worthy Sir,

I Owe you a Letter, and more than a Letter, for your particular respects to me, your brotherly sympathy, your multiplied and earnest prayers, your tenderness of my health, your welcome Jewel in M. Ruth's Letters, from which I trust my soul and others may reap no small benefit. Much more do I owe you for your common respects to the people of my desires; and not only to them, but to the whole Church of God; and in all whose concernments, I see, you are concerned. Your indefatigable labours with us, we do with all thankfulness accept, as the undoubted evidence of your great love: For all which may he requi•e you, who will shortly say, Inasmuch as thou didst it unto the least of these my Brethren, thou didst it unto me.

I Owe you a Letter, and more than a Letter, for your particular respects to me, your brotherly sympathy, your multiplied and earnest prayers, your tenderness of my health, your welcome Jewel in M. Ruths Letters, from which I trust my soul and others may reap no small benefit. Much more do I owe you for your common respects to the people of my desires; and not only to them, but to the whole Church of God; and in all whose concernments, I see, you are concerned. Your indefatigable labours with us, we do with all thankfulness accept, as the undoubted evidence of your great love: For all which may he requi•e you, who will shortly say, Inasmuch as thou didst it unto the least of these my Brethren, thou didst it unto me.

It was but a little after my release from my own confinement, but I heard of yours; and now write to you, as one that hath taken a higher degree than ever, and more truly honourable, being commenced Prisoner of Christ. I was once affected with the Picture of a devout man, to whom a voice came down from Heaven, saying, Quid vis fieri pro te, To which he answered, Nihil domine nisi pati ac contemni proe. Undoubtedly, Sir, it is our real glory to be throughout conformed to Jesus Christ, not only in his sanctity, but in his sufferings. Paul counted all things but dung for this, that he might win Christ, &c. and know the fellowship of his sufferings, and be made conformable to his death. I doubt not but your consolations in Christ do much more then superabound in all your tribulations for him: Yet let me add this one Cordial, That now you have a whole shoal of Promises come in to you, which you had not before; I mean, all the Promises to suffering Saints, in which they have not so immediate, but only a remoter right, unless in a suffering state: