_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_,