Part 60

MY heart’s desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved. I know that you are the butt of men’s rage and malice: but you may satisfy yourselves as _David_ in sustaining _Shimei_’s curses: it may be the Lord will look upon your affliction, and requite good for their cursing this day. But however that be, hold on your way. Your name indeed is cast out as evil, and you are hated of all men for Christ’s sake, for cleaving to his ways and servants: but let not this discourage you, for you are now more than ever blessed: only hold fast, that no man take your crown. Let not any that have begun in the spirit end in the flesh. Do not forsake God, till he forsake you; he that endureth to the end shall be saved: the promise is to him that overcometh; therefore think not of looking back: now you have set your hands to Christ’s plough, though you labour and suffer, the crop will pay for all: now the Lord is trying who they be that will trust him. The world are all for a present pay; they must have something in hand, and will not follow the Lord when there are hazard and hardship in his service. But now is the time for you, to prove yourselves believers, when there is nothing visible but hazard and expence, and difficulty in your Maker’s service. Now, my brethren, stand fast in faith, quit you like men, be strong: if you can trust in his promises now, when nothing appears but bonds, and losses, and tribulation, this will be like believers. *Brethren, I beseech you to reckon upon no other but crosses here. Let none of you flatter yourselves with dreams of sleeping in your ease, and temporal prosperity, and carrying heaven too. Count not upon rest till you come to the land of promise. Not that I would have any of you to run upon hazards uncalled: no, we shall meet them soon enough in the way of our duty, without we turn aside: but I would have you cast over-board your worldly hopes, and be content to wait till you come on the other side the grave. Is it not enough to have a whole eternity of happiness? If God throws in the comforts of this life too, I would not have you throw them back again, or despise the goodness of the Lord: but I would, that you should use this world, as not abusing it, that you should be crucified to the world, and the world to you; that you should declare plainly that you seek a better country, which is an heavenly. Ah! my dear brethren, I beseech you carry it like pilgrims and strangers; abstain from fleshly lusts which war against your souls; for what have we to do with the customs and fashions of this world, who are strangers in it? Be contented with travellers lots: know you not that you are in a strange land? All is well as long as it is well at home; I pray you brethren, daily consider your condition: Do you not remember that you are at an inn? And what though you be but meanly accommodated? Though you fare hard, and lie hard! Is this a strange thing? What should travellers look for else? Indeed if you were of the world, the world would love his own. But now God hath called you out of the world; therefore the world hateth you. But remember, it is your duty to love them, even while they hate you; and to pray for mercy for them, that will shew no mercy, or justice. This I desire you to observe as a great duty of the present times: and let not any so forget their duty, as to wish evil to them that do evil to us, or to please themselves with the thoughts of being even with them. Let us commit ourselves to him that judgeth righteously, and shew ourselves the children of the Most High, who doth good to his enemies, and is kind to the unkind and unthankful: And what though they do hate us? Their love and goodwill were much more to be feared, than their hatred. Brethren, keep yourselves in the love of God; here is wisdom. O happy souls, that are his favourites! For the Lord’s sake look to this, make sure of something: look to your sincerity above all things: let not any of you conclude, that because you are of the suffering party, therefore all is well: look to the foundation, that your hearts be taken off from every sin, and set upon God as your blessedness: beware that none of you have only a name to live, and be no more than almost Christians. For the love of your souls, make a diligent search, and try upon what ground you stand; for it pities me to think any of you should hazard so much, and yet lose all at last. But when once you bear the mark of God’s favour, you need not fear the world’s frowns: chear up therefore, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and of good courage under the world’s usage: fear not, in our Father’s house there is bread enough, and room enough: this is sufficient to comfort us under all the inconveniences of the way, that we have so happy a home, so ready a Father, so goodly an heritage. Oh, comfort one another with these words: let God see that you can trust in his word: let the world see that you can live upon God. I shall share my prayers and loves among you all, and commit you to the almighty God: the keeper of Israel that never slumbereth nor sleepeth, be your watchman and keeper to the end, farewell. I am,