O my affectionately and greatly beloved sister, let us always well see to it, and take good heed to ourselves: that we always do the will of the Father, according to our weak ability even unto the end, so that we may not hear with the others: “Depart from me, all ye that work iniquity,” and thus with them receive reward in the fiery lake which will burn with fire and brimstone; which is the second death (Revelation 21:8); but that we may enter into the kingdom of heaven with all the elect children of God, where it will endure forever and ever. All that we have suffered here, and this for a short time, for the name of the Lord, namely, persecution, tribulation, or affliction, will then in no wise be to our detriment. Matt. 5:11,12.
O my most beloved, always be resigned and patient in all tribulations and sufferings which may come upon you for the name of Christ; and let us ever diligently watch and pray, and prepare ourselves, till Christ comes, and constantly lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye faint in your distress, and be wearied in the way of truth, and in the love of Christ, on account of all that men may do unto you. But always think of Christ’s great love toward us, how much he suffered for us poor sinful men on the tree of the cross, and shed his blood for us, as the four evangelists testify in order to redeem and save us; for, surely he “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows ... the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Is. 53:4.
O my dear beloved sister, if Christ so loved us that he suffered for us in the flesh, let us arm ourselves likewise with the same mind, as Peter says, 1 Peter 4:1. And also Paul: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5–8. And though he was the Son of the living God, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; for he said himself: I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (John 6:38); and though he prayed his Father to take the bitter cup from him he nevertheless said: Not what I will, but what thou wilt. Mark 14:36.
Behold, my dear lamb, how Christ our Head abased and humbled and utterly renounced himself, and was obedient to his heavenly Father, even unto the death of the cross, and became poor for our sakes (2 Cor. 8:9), that he might in all things be an example unto us (1 Pet. 2:21), and redeemed or reconciled us in the body of his flesh through death (Col. 1:21,22); and we have the forgiveness of sins, through his blood, according to the riches of his grace. Eph. 1:7. Hence my dear sister, let us also, in return, love Christ even unto death, and always walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. Eph. 5:2. Therefore let us also willingly deliver up ourselves for his holy name; always wholly forsake ourselves; renounce our own will and mind; abase and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God; no longer live to ourselves, but unto him who died for us and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15) and always be obedient to him, constantly fearing and serving him all the days of our life, in all righteousness and holiness (Luke 1:74,75), as obedient children, so that we may not resort to former lusts, in which we were when we did not yet know Christ, even as Peter says: “But as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written; Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Pet. 1:15,16; Lev. 19:2. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, says Paul. For, know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey; his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Hence, as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death, says Paul. For the wages of sin is death. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty. Rom. 8:6; 6:16; 8:13,14; 2 Corinthians 6:16–18.