Remains of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…Remaines of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…

To the much beloved, the flock of Christ in Taunton;grace, and peace.

Your prisoner in the Lord hath sent these lines to salute you, and to call upon you, or rather to beseech you, to walk worthy of the high calling in which you, recalled in Jesus Christ. Beloved, our word with you hath not been yea, and nay, uncertain and unsteadfast. The prison sounds forth to you the same doctrine, that the pulpit ever did: the Lord give you to hear; and receive from the prisoner, that which was not so thoroughly embraced from the preacher. But what doth the prison preach? it preaches repentance to you. God hath called to you from the pulpit often, and now he sendeth to you from the prison, that you should repent. Who is so deaf, as not to hear the loud calls of the living God to England, that they should repent? you have long had Moses and the Prophets; but now the Lord hath sent you; as it ⟨p. 246⟩were, what Dives asked; that one should come to you from the dead and testify to you that you should repent. From the dead, I say for you know, that in the sense of the Law, your Ministers are dead. But being dead we yet speak; yea our death; our removal, our silence doth speak; and all speaks the same thing, that you should repent. O that I could lift up my voice to you; that your streets, your houses, your ears, your hearts might be filled with this cry, repent O Taunton; repent and turn. Repent O profane, or else your iniquities will be your ruin. Repent O professors or else the Lord will not repent of the evil that he is about to bring upon us. The Lord now ringeth that thundering peal in your ears: Cleanse your hands ye sinners, purify your hearts ye double-minded, Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness. Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall list you up. O hear the voice of the Lord. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear. Repent, O back sliding Children, or else the Lord will fill you with your own ways. Speedily make up the breach, and endeavour to repair your decays, to regain your ground, and recover your first love. O at last bethink your selves, from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your first works. Repent O sluggard; when wilt thou awake out of thy sleep? what hath God kindled a fire in his Church, ready to devour us all, and wilt