_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_,