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deject you, our preaching is vain and your faith is vain. Let the
thoughts of God be your daily repast: and never be satisfied till your
hearts run out as freely, naturally, unweariedly after God, as others
do after the world. Farewell my dear brethren, the Lord God
Almighty be a protection to you, and your exceeding great reward;
Farewell in the Lord.

I am,
Your’s in the bowels of the Lord Jesus,

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the common gaol, in Ivelchester,

September 11, 1663.

L E T T E R VII.
[How to shew love to ministers, and to live joyfully.]

To the most loving and dearly beloved, my Christian friends

in Taunton, grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Most endeared brethren,

I HAVE received your moving letter, and could not look over such
tender expressions without some commotion. I may confidently
say, I spent more tears upon those lines, than ever you did ink. Your
deep sense of my labours I cannot but thankfully acknowledge, yet
withal, heartily confessing, that all was but what I owed to your
immortal souls; which God knows was very much short of my duty.
The omissions, imperfections, deadness, that accompanied my
duties I own, and the Lord humble me for them. But all that was of
God (and that was all that was good) be sure that you give to God
alone. To him I humbly ascribe both the will and the deed, to whom
alone be glory for ever.
 *My dear brethren, my business as I have often told you, is not
to turn your eyes to me, but to Christ: his spokesman I am, will you
give your hands, your names to him? Will you subscribe to his laws,
and consent to his offices, and be at defiance with all his enemies?
This do, and I have my errand. Who will follow Christ’s colours? Who
will come under his banner? This shall be the man that shall be my
friend; this is he that will oblige me for ever. Do these letters come
to no loose sinner? No ignorant sinner? No unsound professor?
Would they do me a kindness, as I believe they would? Then let
them come away to Christ! O sinner, be no more in love with
darkness; stick no longer in the skirts and outside of religion. Waver
no more, halt no farther, but strike in throughly with Jesus Christ;
except nothing, reserve nothing, but come throughly to the Lord,
and follow him fully. And then happy man thou shalt be, for thou wilt
be made for ever; and joyful man I shall be; for I shall save a soul
from death. The earnest beggings of a poor prisoner, use to move
some bowels: hear O friends, will you do nothing for a minister of
Christ? Nothing for a prisoner of Jesus Christ? Methinks I hear you
answer, “Yea, what will we not do? He shall never want while we
have it; he shall need no office of love, but we will run and ride to
do it.” Yea, but this is not it that I beg of you; will you gratify me
indeed? Then come in, bow to the name of Jesus; yea, let your souls
bow, let all your powers do him homage. Let that sacred name be
graven into the substance of your hearts. Let me freely speak for
him, for he is worthy for whom you shall do this thing; worthy to be
beloved of you; worthy to have your very hearts, worthy to be
admired, adored, praised, served, glorified to the uttermost by you,
and every creature; worthy for whom you should lay down all, leave
all: can any thing be too much for him? Can any thing be too good
for him, or too great for him? Come give up all, resign all, lay it at
the feet of Jesus, offer all as a sacrifice to him, see that you be
universally the Lord’s; keep nothing from him: I know through the
goodness of God, that with many of you this work is not yet to do.
But this set solemn resignation to the Lord is to be done more than
once, and to be followed with an answerable practice when it is
done: see that you walk worthy of the Lord; but how? In the fear of
the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; let these two go
together. So shall you adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and
experience the heavenly felicity of a Christian life: cleave fast to
Christ, never let go your hold; cling the faster, because so many are
labouring to loosen your hold. Hold fast your integrity, hold fast the
beginning of your confidence stedfast to the end: If you do but keep
your hold, and keep your way; all that the world can do, and all that
the powers of darkness can do, can never do you harm. Keep your
own vineyard with constant care and watchfulness, and be sure that
there be no inroad made upon your consciences, that the enemy do
not get between your souls and God; and then let what will assail
you without, you need not fear! Let this be your daily exercise, to
keep your consciences void of offence: keep fair weather at home,
however it be abroad. I would not only that you should walk holily,
but that you should walk comfortably. I need say the less to this,
because the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, lie
together. Oh the provision God hath made for your continual
comfort: dear brethren, do but understand your own blessedness,
happy men that you are, if you did but know and consider it: who
would count himself poor that hath all the fullness of the Godhead
for his. O Christians, live like yourselves, live worthy of your portion,
and your glorious prerogatives. That you may walk worthy of your
glorious hopes, and live answerable to the mercies you have
received, is the great desire of

Your souls fervent well-wisher in bonds.

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the prison at Ivelchester,

September 18, 1663.
 L E T T E R VIII.
[Remember Christ crucified; and crucify sin.]

To the faithful and well-beloved people, the servants of

Christ in Taunton, salvation.

Most dear Christians,

I AM by office a remembrancer, the Lord’s remembrancer for you,
and your remembrancer in the behalf of Christ. My business is
with the apostle, to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.
And who shall I remember you of, but your intercessor with the
Father, who hath you always in remembrance, appearing in the
presence of God for you? May his memory ever live in your hearts,
though mine should die; Oh, remember his love more than mine;
remember in what a case he found you, and yet nothing could divert
the purpose of his love from you: He loathed not your rags nor your
rottenness: he found you in loathsome filthiness, yet he pitied you.
His bowels were moved, and his compassions were kindled, when
one would have thought his wrath should have boiled and his
indignation have burned down to hell against you: he loathed not,
but loved you, and washed you from your sins in his own blood. Ah
polluted captives! Ah vile and putrid carcases! that ever the Holy
Jesus should his ownself wash you. Methinks I see him weeping over
you; and yet it was a more costly bath by which he cleansed you. Ah
sinners look upon the streaming blood flowing from his blessed
body, to fetch out the ingrained filthiness that you by sin had
contracted. Alas! What a horrid filthiness, that nothing but the blood
of the covenant could wash away! And what a love is Christ’s, that,
when a whole ocean could not wash nor purify us, would open every
vein of his heart to do the work! Look upon your crucified Lord: do
you not see a sacred stream flowing out of every member? Ah, how
those holy hands, those unerring feet do run a stream to purge us!
Alas, how the great drops of blood fall to the ground from his sacred
face in his bitter agony, to wash and beautify ours! How his
wounded heart and side twice pierced, first with love and pity, and
then with the soldier’s cruelty, pour out their healthful and saving
floods upon us? Lord! How do we forget such love as this? Ah
monsters of ingratitude, that can be unmindful of such a friend! Do
we thus requite him? Is this our kindness to such an obliging friend!
Christians, where are your affections? To what use do you put your
faculties? What have you memories for, but to remember him? What
have you the power of loving for, but that you should love him?
Wherefore serves joy or desire, but to long for him? And delightfully
embrace him? May your souls and all their powers be taken up with
him; may all the doors of your souls be set open to him. Here fix
your thoughts, terminate here your desires; here you may kindle
your fire when almost out. Brethren what will you do now for Jesus
Christ? Have you never a sacrifice to lay upon his altar? Come and I
will shew you what you shall do, let your hands be in the blood of
your sins, search them out with diligence, search your hearts and
your houses; whatever iniquities you find there, out with them, put
them far from your tabernacles; if you crucify them not, you are not
Jesus’s friends. *God forbid that there should be a lying tongue, or
any way of deceit in your shops: that his service should give place to
the world in your families. Far be it from any of you, my brethren,
that you should be careful to teach your children and servants the
way of your callings, and neglect to instruct them in the way of life.
Is weekly catechising in every one of your families? The Lord
convince any of you that may be guilty of this neglect: Oh, set up
God in your houses; and see that you be not slovenly in closet
performances. Beware of serving the Lord negligently; serve not the
Lord with that which costs you nothing: look to it that you content
not yourselves with a cheap and easy religion. Put your flesh to it:
be well assured that the religion that costs you nothing, will yield
you nothing: Keep up the life of religion in your family and closet
duties. Fear nothing like a customary and careless performance of
God’s service. Judge your ownselves whether lazy wishes, idle
complaints, and yawning prayers are like to carry you through the
mighty difficulties that you must get through, if ever you come to
heaven. When you find yourselves going on in a listless, heartless
course, ask yourselves, is this to take the kingdom of heaven by
violence? See that you sacrifice yourselves to the Lord, that now you
live to Christ himself. As Christ hath made over his life and death to
you, so let it be your care to live and die to him. Labour to look upon
all your enjoyments as Christ’s goods; upon your time, parts,
strength, as his talents: look upon yourselves only in the quality of
servants and stewards, that are to husband all these for your Lord’s
advantage, and as those that must give an account. And pray for me
that I may take the counsel that I give. I bless the Lord, I want
nothing but the opportunity of being serviceable to you: but I hope
the Lord will make my bonds for you, to be useful to your
edification; if I may glorify God, and serve you best by being here, I
shall never wish to come out. Finally brethren, farewell: be perfect,
be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of
love and peace shall be with you. I am,

The ready servant of your faith and joy,

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the prison at Ivelchester,

October 14th, 1663.

L E T T E R IX.
[On daily self-examination.]

To the most beloved people, the flock of Christ in Taunton,

salvation.

Most dear brethren,

B RETHREN how stands it with you? Doth the main work go on?
do your souls prosper? This is my care; beware that you flag
not, that you faint not now in the evil day. I understand that your
dangers grow upon you. May your faith and courage grow much
more abundantly!
 Some of your enemies, I hear, are in great hopes to satisfy their
desires upon you. Well, be not discouraged my dear brethren, but
bless the Lord, who of his abundant mercy, hath so remarkably
preserved you so long beyond all expectation. Let it not be a strange
thing to you, if the Lord doth now call you to some difficulty: forsake
not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is.
I plainly see the coal of religion will soon go out, unless it have some
better helps to cherish it, than a carnal ministry, and lifeless
administration. Dear brethren, now is the time for you that fear the
Lord, to speak often one to another: manage your duties with what
prudence you can, but away with that carnal prudence, that will
decline duty to avoid danger.
 *I left you some helps for daily examination, I am jealous lest
you should grow slack, or slight, and careless in that duty. Let me
ask you in the name of the Lord, doth never a day pass you, but you
solemnly and seriously call yourselves to an account, what your
carriage hath been to God and men? Speak conscience? Is there
never an one within the hearing of this letter, that is a neglecter of
this duty? Doth every one of your consciences acquit you? Oh that
they did! Tell me, would not some of you be put shrewdly to it, if I
should ask you when you read, or thought over the questions that
were given you for your help? Would you not be put to a blush, to
give me an answer? And will you not be much more ashamed, that
God should find you tardy? Not that I would necessarily bind you up
to that very method; only till you have found a way more profitable,
I would desire you, yea, I cannot but charge you, to make daily use
of that. Awake conscience, and do thou fall upon that soul that thou
findest careless in this work, and never let him be at rest till thou
canst witness for him, that he is a daily and strict observer of
himself, and doth live in the constant practice of this duty. What!
Shall neither God’s charge nor your profit hold you to your work? Yet
I may not doubt, but some of you do daily perform this duty. The
Lord encourage you in it: yet give me leave to ask you what you
have gained? Are you grown more universally conscientious, more
strict, more humble, and more sensible of your many and great
defects, than you were before? If so blessed are you of the Lord; if
otherwise, this duty hath been but slightly performed by you. What
can you say to this question? Doth your care of your ways abate or
increase, by the constant use of this duty? If it abate, remember
from whence you are fallen, and repent; as good not to do it at all,
as not to the purpose.

The Lord God be a sun and a shield to you. My most dear love to
you all; fare you well in the Lord. I am,

Your embassador in bonds,

JOS. ALLEINE.
From the common gaol at Ivelchester,
October 20, 1663.

L E T T E R X.
[Motives and marks of growth.]

To the most loving and best beloved, the servants of Christ

in Taunton, grace and peace.

Most dear and tender friends:

W HOSE I am, and whom under God I desire to serve; to build

you up in holiness, and comfort, hath been through grace
my great ambition. This is that which I laboured for; this is that
which I suffer for: and in short, the end of all my applications to you,
and to God for you. How do your souls prosper? Are they in a
thriving case? What progress do you make in sanctification? Doth
the house of Saul grow weaker and weaker, and the house of David
stronger and stronger? Behold, I am jealous of you with a godly
jealousy, lest any of you should lose ground in these declining times:
and therefore cannot but be often calling upon you to look to your
standing, and to watch and hold fast, that no man take your crown.
Ah! How surely shall you reap in the end, if you faint not! Take heed
therefore that you lose not the things you have wrought, but as you
have begun well, so go on in the strength of Christ, and give
diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end.
 Do you need motives? 1. How much are you behind hand? Oh
the fair advantages that we have lost! What time, what sabbaths,
sermons, sacraments, are upon the matter lost? How much work
have we yet to do? Are you sure of heaven yet? Are you fit to die
yet? Surely they that are under so many great wants, had need to
set upon some more thriving courses.

Secondly, Consider what others have gained, whilst we it may be

sit down by the loss: Have we not met many vessels richly laden,
while our souls are empty? Oh, the golden prizes that some have
won? While we have folded the hands to sleep! Have not many of
our own standing in religion, left us far behind them?

*Thirdly, Consider you will all find little enough when you come
to die: The wise among the virgins have no oil to spare, at the
coming of the bridegroom; temptation and death will put all your
graces to it. How much ado have many had at last to put into this
harbour! David cries for respite, till he had recovered a little more
strength.

Fourthly, Consider how short your time for gathering in probably

is? The Israelites gathered twice so much manna against the
sabbath as they did at other times, because at that time there was
no manna fell. Brethren, you know not how long you have to lay in
for. Do you ask for marks how you may know your souls to be in a
thriving case?

First, If your appetites be more strong. Do you thirst after God

and after grace, more than heretofore? Do your cares for and
desires after the world abate? And do you hunger and thirst after
righteousness? Whereas you were wont to come with an ill-will to
holy duties, do you come to them as an hungry stomach to its meat?
 Secondly, If your pulses beat more even. Are you still off and on,
hot and cold? Or is there a more even spun thread of holiness
through your whole course? Do you make good the ground from
which you were formerly beaten off?

*Thirdly, If you do look more to the carrying on together the

duties of both tables. Do you not only look to the keeping of your
own vineyards, but do you lay out yourselves for the good of others,
and are filled with zealous desires for their conversion and salvation?
Do you manage your talk and your trade, by the rules of religion?

*Do you eat and sleep by rule? Doth religion form and mould,
and direct your carriage towards husband, wife, parents, children,
masters, servants? Do you grow more universally conscientious? Is
piety more diffusive than ever with you? Doth it come more abroad
with you, out of your closets, into your houses, your shops, your
fields? Doth it journey with you, and buy and sell for you? Hath it
the casting voice in all you do?

Fourthly, If the duties of religion be more delightful to you. Do

you take more delight in the word than ever! Are you more in love
with secret prayer, and more abundant in it? Cannot you be content
with your ordinary seasons, but are ever and anon making
extraordinary visits to heaven? And upon all occasions turning aside,
to talk with God in some short ejaculations? Are you often darting up
your soul heavenwards? Is it meat and drink for you, to do the will
of God? Do you come off more freely with God, and answer his calls
with more readiness of mind?

*Fifthly, If you are more abundant in those duties which are most
displeasing to the flesh. Are you more earnest in mortification? Are
you more strict and severe than ever in the duty of daily self-
examination, and holy meditation? Do you hold the reins harder
upon the flesh than ever? Do you keep a stricter watch upon your
appetites? Do you set a stronger guard upon your tongues? Have
you a more jealous eye upon your hearts?
 Sixthly, If you grow more vile in your own eyes. Do you grow
more out of love with men’s esteem, set less by it? Are you not
marvellous tender of being slighted? Can you rejoice to see others
preferred before you? Can you heartily value and love them that
think meanly of you?

Seventhly, If you grow more quick of sense, more sensible of

divine influences, or withdrawings. Are you more afraid of sin than
ever? Are your sins a greater pain to you than heretofore? Are your
very infirmities your great afflictions? and the daily workings of
corruption a continual grief of mind to you?

I must conclude abruptly, commending you to God, and can only

tell you that I am,

Your’s in the Lord Jesus,

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the common gaol, in Ivelchester,

October 31, 1663.

L E T T E R XI.
To my dearly beloved, the inhabitants of Taunton, grace,
mercy, and peace from God our Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Most dearly beloved,

I HAVE been through mercy many years with you, and should be
willingly so many years a prisoner for you, so I might further
your salvation. I must again and again thank you for your abundant
affection to me, which I value as a great mercy, not in order to
myself, but in order to your benefit, that I may thereby be a more
likely instrument of your good. Surely, so much as I value your love,
yet had I rather be forsaken of you all, and buried in oblivion; so
that your eyes and hearts may be fixed on Christ, and sincerely
engaged to him. Brethren, I have not bespoken your affections for
myself: O that I might win your hearts to Christ. O that I might
convert you to him though you were diverted from me. *I should
much rather chuse to be hated of all, so this might be the means to
have Christ set up savingly in the hearts of you all. And indeed there
is nothing great but in order to God; nothing is considerable as it is
terminated in us: it matters not whether we are in riches or poverty,
sickness or health, in honour or disgrace, so Christ may be by us
magnified in the condition we are in. Welcome prison and poverty,
welcome scorn and envy, welcome pain or contempt, if by these
God’s glory may be promoted. What are we for, but for God? What
doth the creature signify separated from his God? Why just so much
as the cypher separated from his figure. We are nothing worth, but
in reference to God and his ends. Better were it that we had never
been, than that we should not be to him. Better that we were dead
than we should live, and not to him. Better that we had no
understandings, than that we should not know him. Better that we
were blocks and brutes, than that we should not use our reason for
him. What are our interests, unless they may be subservient to his
interest? Or our reputation, unless we may hereby glorify him?
 Do you love me? I know you do. But who is there, that will leave
his sins for me? With whom shall I prevail to give up himself in
strictness and self denial to the Lord? Who will be intreated by me to
set upon neglected duties, or reform accustomed sins? Oh wherein
may you rejoice me? In this, my brethren; in this you shall befriend
me, if you obey the voice of God by me, if you be prevailed with to
give yourselves up throughly to the Lord. Would you lighten my
burden? Would you make glad my heart? Let me hear of your
owning the ways and servants of the Lord in adversity, of your
patient continuing in the ways of holiness. O that I could but hear
that the prayerless souls, the prayerless families among you, were
now given to prayer! That the profane sinners were awakened, and
induced by the preaching of these bonds, to leave their
drunkenness, their loose company, their deceit and wantonness! Will
you not be made clean? When shall it once be? How long shall the
patience of God wait for you? How long shall the Lord Jesus stretch
out his hands toward you? O sinners, cast yourselves into his arms!
Why should you die? Why will you forsake your own mercy? Will you
perish when mercy woos you? Confess and forsake your sins, and
you shall find mercy. Will you sell your souls to perdition for a little
ease and delight in your flesh? Or a little of the gain of
unrighteousness? Why, these are the things that part between
sinners and Christ.
 *I know many are spun with a finer thread, and are not so far
from the kingdom of God. But I must again warn you of staying in
the suburbs of the city of refuge. O what pity is it that any should
perish at the gates! That any should escape the pollutions of the
world, and do many things, yea, and suffer too, and yet fall short of
the glory of God! Oh ye halting Christians, that halt between Christ
and the world, that are as Ephraim, like a cake not turned, dough-
bak’d, professors, that have lamps without oil, that cry, Lord, Lord,
but do not the will of our Father which is in heaven! How long will
you stay in the place of the breaking forth of children! and stick
between the womb and the world? Your religion will carry you from
the profane, and ye own the people of the Lord. But godliness is a
heart-work, it goes deep, and spreads far: unless the frame of your
hearts, and the drift of your course be changed, unless you be
universally conscientious, and unreservedly delivered up to the Lord
for all times and conditions, whatever be the cost, you are none of
Christ’s, how far soever you go in external performances. Hear then,
O people, and let not an almost Christianity deceive you, or carry
you blindfold to perdition. Oh the thousands, and ten thousands that
have been undone by one of these! Ah, how often have you been
warned against them, lest you should split against these dangerous
rocks. O Taunton, Taunton, how often would God’s servants have
gathered you, and you would not. But will you now? Will you yet
come in? I cannot forbear once more, even out of the prison, to call
after poor sinners, and make one tender of mercy more. O come to
the waters of life, wash you, make you clean.
 But for you, whose hearts are set against every sin, and are
resolved for God and holiness; you that experience a thorough
change, and have respect to all God’s commandments, who will have
none but God for your happiness, none but Christ for your treasure,
that must and will have him, come what will come, blessed are ye of
the Lord: O happy souls rejoice in the Lord, and again, I say, rejoice:
let your souls magnify the Lord, and your spirits rejoice in God your
Saviour. Live you a life of praise; you are highly favoured of the Lord,
your lines are fallen in a pleasant place: only stick to your choice:
beware lest any man beguile you of your reward: watch and keep
your garments about you, lest you walk naked, and men see your
shame. Many will be plucking to pull you out of Christ’s hands; but
the harder they pluck, the harder do you cling, and cleave to him:
blessed is he that overcometh.

And now the God of heaven fill you all with himself, and make all
grace to abound in you, and toward you. May he be a sun to comfort
you, and shine with his beams of grace and glory on you all: farewell
in the Lord, I am,

Your’s in the bonds of the gospel,

JOS. ALLEINE.
 L E T T E R XII.
[How to live to God.]

To the beloved people, the inhabitants of Taunton, grace

and peace.

Most endeared Christians,

B ELOVED, I am, without a compliment, the devoted servant of
your soul’s prosperity: may the Lord Jesus be set up in your
hearts: may his name ever live in you, and I have what I ask. If this
work be not promoted among you, I shall account all my pains but
lost labour. Brethren, I beseech you that none of you live to
yourselves, for this were directly to cross the end of Christ’s death;
for therefore he died that you should not live to yourselves. O live to
him that died for you! Live to him that is the God of your life! Live to
him that bought your lives with his own! To him that bought you
from destruction, and not only so, but bought you the eternal
inheritance. Will a man be easily persuaded to lose his life? How
infinitely tender are men here! And yet the most of men do lose their
lives, yea, lose them for nothing. *Beloved, consider, I beseech you,
that life is lost, that is not lived unto God. If you would not lose your
lives that you live, live to him who is the end of your lives. Oh
remember this, and reckon that day lost which you have not lived
unto God! Brethren, how great a part of our lives have we lost? I
beseech you take heed; you are careful about many things; but
beware that other things do not put out this, the spending your days
and strength for him that made you. Would it not be dreadful for a
man to find at last when he comes to his account with God, that his
whole life, or at least the main of it had been but damnable self-
seeking? That a man should have so many years allowed him by
God, and he should at last be found to have been a wicked servant,
that had set up for himself with his master’s stock, and alienated his
goods? Well, that you may throughly learn the grand lesson of living
to God, take these counsels:
 *First, Settle it in your heart that it is the sum of all your business
and blessedness to live unto God: ’tis your business, for his pleasure
you are and were created: what have you to do but to serve your
Maker in your general and particular callings! Beloved, what else
have you strength for, but for God? Doth he maintain servants, and
shall he not look for their work? Would you endure it, that the
servants you find with meat and wages should set up for
themselves? Beloved, God’s service is your business, and he made
you and keeps you for no other end. And it is your blessedness too.
Labour to be under the rooted conviction of this, that your happiness
lies in pleasing and honouring God. Let the sense of this live fresh
upon your hearts, and it will regulate your whole course.

Secondly, Labour to keep alive in yourselves a deep sense of your

strong obligations to God. Often think with yourselves, what a
reasonable thing it is, that you should with all you have serve the
Lord. Beloved, shall not the vessel be for the use of the potter that
made it? Shall not the servant trade for his master with whose goods
he is entrusted? Do you not fetch all your bread from God’s door? Is
not he the author of our being and well-being? Is it not from him
that you fetch every breath? Your interest obliges you to please him.
Why should Belshazzer’s charge be against you? That the God in
whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have
not glorified, Daniel v. 23.

Thirdly, Every morning let this be your first and firm resolution, I
will set forth this day in the name of God. Your first and last
thoughts are of the greatest consequence, and therefore I advise
you to begin and end with this; whenever you lie down, say in
yourselves, I will make use of my bed as an ordinance of God, that I
may be refreshed and fitted for his work: whenever you rise up,
think, I will spend this day for God, and follow the business of my
calling, because I am so appointed by God.
 Beloved, I design the sweetness and comfort, as well as
strictness of your lives. Live to God as you are directed, and you
shall marvellously prosper in both. I am not sure yet whether or no I
shall see you at the assizes. I leave all things to your Father’s wise
disposal, and commending you to God, I rest

Your’s in the bonds of the Lord Jesus,

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the prison at Ivelchester,

November 14, 1663.

L E T T E R XIII.
To the beloved people, the flock of God in Taunton, grace
and peace.

Most dear friends and brethren,

I HAVE sent these few lines, to beseech you by these bonds, which
I gladly endure for your sakes, to hold forth, and hold fast the
profession of your faith without wavering. The Lord make you
stedfast in the holy doctrine wherein you have been taught. I have
not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. O
remember, that by the space of eight years, I ceased not to warn
you every one, and kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
but have taught you publickly, and from house to house, warning
every man, and teaching every man, that I might present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus.
 You that have taken upon you the profession of strict godliness, I
shall only press you to press towards the mark. You have much work
to do, and God hath given you no time to loiter in. I beseech you to
put on. That person that sits down when he hath gotten to that
pitch that he thinks will bring him to heaven, is never like to come
thither: grace is one of those things that saith, It never hath
enough. Let me urge upon you the apostle’s counsel, Follow after
holiness.

First. Holiness is the choicest ornament: it is an adorning in the

sight of God, of great price. It is the glory of God, and will you count
it your shame? Exodus ♦15. God is glorious in holiness, and grace is
called glory, 2 Corinthians iii. 18. Yet we may now cry out as the
psalmist, O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into
shame? Psalms iv. 2. But be of good comfort, the shame of holiness
is real glory.

♦ Chapter omitted from reference in text.

Secondly. Holiness is the safest defence; grace is not only for

ornament, but for use. Righteousness is a breast-plate that keeps
the vitals, and is a sure defence from any mortal wounds. When the
politicians have done their best, it is he that walketh uprightly, that
walketh surely, Proverbs x. 19. Let integrity and uprightness
preserve me, saith David. I desire to be no longer safe than these
can preserve me; when I must let go my integrity or my safety, I will
chuse the danger rather than the sin: and yet will never doubt but
my integrity will save me harmless. *Never persuade me that the
man chooses wisely, who runs upon the displeasure of God, to flee
man’s displeasure. Did you ever hear of a man so mad as to run
upon the sword’s point, to avoid the scratch of a pin? Why this is the
wisdom of the distracted world, who will sin rather than suffer, and
to save themselves harmless in the world, will run upon God, even
upon the thick bosses of his buckler.
 Thirdly. Holiness will be found to be your real happiness: eat of
this tree, and you shall be indeed as God. Godliness is God’s
likeness. The beauty of holiness is his very image; sin is the disease
of which holiness is the cure. O what peace and tranquility doth
holiness work in the mind! Great peace have they that love thy
commandments, and nothing shall offend them. In a word, holiness
is the perfection of man’s nature, the communication of the divine
nature, the earnest of glory, and the very entrance of heaven.

Let me say now to every one of you, as our Saviour to Martha;

Believest thou this? If you do, live like believers, and do you follow
after holiness as others follow their trades or studies. Let religion be
your business, and not a thing by the bye: follow as hard after
grace, as if you did indeed believe riches and honor were in it. Let
holiness sit on your lips, and season all your speech with grace.
Profess it, own it, plead stoutly for it, be advocates for holiness, in
an adulterous and wicked generation; wear it as a robe of honour,
when the world cast their reproaches at you for it: let it dwell in your
hearts: let it adorn your houses: let it be your companion in your
closets: let it travel with you in your journies: let it lie down and rise
up with you: let it close your eyes in the evening, and call you out of
your beds in the morning. Be you the votaries of holiness: keep her,
and she shall keep you.

Because I know you love to hear of my welfare, I must tell you

that goodness and mercy follow me perpetually every day, and every
night, glory to God in the highest. Dear brethren, fare you well in the
Lord, I am

Your devoted servant in the gospel,

whether a bond-man, or a free,

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the common Gaol, at Ivelchester,

December 3, 1663.
 L E T T E R XIV.
To the flock of Christ in Taunton, grace and peace.

Most endeared friends,

I WOULD have you count nothing as certain but Christ’s love and
care. This you may build upon: you need not fear lest time and
distance should wear out the remembrance of you with him. Do any
of you question whether you are so happy, as to have your names
recorded above? I shall bring it to a speedy issue: do you question
whether Christ hath taken your names? Whether you are upon his
heart? Let me ask you, Is heaven upon your hearts? Is the name of
Jesus deeply engraven upon your souls? Is his image and
superscription there? If you find that heaven is the main of your
cares, that your hearts are set upon it as your home and your
country; and that it is your business to seek it and secure it. If your
hearts be upon heaven, your names are unquestionably written in
heaven. Again, hath Christ recorded his name in your hearts? Is the
name of Jesus, the beloved name with you? Precious above all; next
to your hearts? Is there no other name under heaven so dear and
sweet to you? What room hath Christ in you? If any thing be deeper
in your hearts than he is, you are unsound. As the Father hath given
him, so do your hearts give him a name above every name. Is Christ
uppermost with you in your affections? Then rejoice and leap for joy,
your names are most precious with Christ if his name be above all
dear to you. *Once more, hath Christ drawn out his own similitude
upon you? Is Christ within you? Doth he dwell in your hearts? Then
be sure you have a room in his heart: the image of Christ is in
holiness. Is this that which your very heart is set upon? Do you thirst
for holiness? Do you follow after holiness? Do you prize it above all
prosperity and worldly greatness? Do you hate every sin, and long to
be rid of it as your most irksome burden, and use all God’s means
against it as far as you know them? If it be thus with you, Christ
hath set his stamp upon your hearts, and hath set you as a seal
upon his heart.
 Rejoice then, O Christians, and bless yourselves, in being under
Christ’s care. Fear not little flock; stronger is he that is with you,
than he that is against you: what though Satan should raise all his
militia against you? Adhere to Christ, doing and suffering his
pleasure, and he shall secure you: the Lord will not forsake you,
because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people: many will
be plucking at you, but fear not, he hath all power. Can omnipotence
secure you? He is all treasure. Can unsearchable riches suffice you?
In a word, he is all fullness. Can fullness fill you? If so, you are
blessed and shall be blessed.
 Beloved, We lose unutterably for want of considering our own
privileges, and blessedness. O man, is Christ thine, and yet dost
thou live at a low rate? Is thy name written in heaven, and yet dost
thou not rejoice? Shall the children of the kingdom, the chosen
generation, be like other men? O Christians, remember who and
whence you are, consider your obligations, bestir yourselves, run
and wrestle, and be strong for the Lord of Hosts, (and earnestly, yet
peaceably) contend for the faith once delivered to his saints. What,
shall we make nothing of all that God hath said and done for us? O
Christians, shall he that hath obtained the King’s patent for an
earldom, glory in his riches and honour? And shall the grant of
heaven signify little with thee? Or Christ’s patent for the son-ship
and partnership with himself be like a cypher? Shall Haman come
home from the banquet with a glad heart, glorying in the greatness
of his riches, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him?
And shall we find it under God’s own hand, that he intends the
kingdom for us, that he will be a father to us, that he gives and
grants all his infinite perfections to us, and yet not be moved?
*Christians live like yourselves, let the world see that the promises
of God and privileges of the gospel are not empty sounds. Let the
heavenly chearfulness and the restless diligence, and the holy
raisedness of your conversation prove the reality, excellency, and
beauty of your religion. See that you receive not the grace of God in
vain. Remember with trembling, To whom much is given, of him
much shall be required. With my most dear loves to you all, I
commend you to your Father and my Father, your God and my God,
remaining

Your’s in all manner of obligations,

JOS. ALLEINE.

From the common goal, in Ivelchester,

January 20, 1663.
 L E T T E R XV.
[What do you more than others?]

To the most dearly beloved, the servants of God, in

Taunton, grace and peace.

Most loving and entirely beloved,

Y OU 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 regarded 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 waste, nor the oil in the
cruise to fail, but hath continually provided for you. How should I
love and bless the Lord for this his great grace towards you? 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. But as Job had a holy fear of his children,
lest they should have offended: so 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 mind, that God doth look for no small
matter from you. Remember my charge, that there be not a barren
tree nor a dwarf Christian among you; where the Lord 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?

Suppose Christ should put the awakening question to you, What

do you more than others? God doth expect more of his people, than
of any others in the world: and well he may. For