_Dear friend_,
*YOUR letter was exceeding welcome to me, not only as reviving the remembrance of our old friendship, but also, as bringing me news of some spiritual good that you received by me, which is the best tidings that I can receive: For what do I live for, but to be useful to souls in my generation? *I desire no other business than to please and honour my God, and serve my generation in that short allowance of time I have here. Shall I commend to you the lesson that I am about to learn? It is, _to be entirely devoted to the Lord, that I may be able to say after the apostle, To me to live is Christ_. I would not be serving God only for a day in the week, or an hour or two in the day: but every day, and all the day. I am ambitious to come up to that of our Lord and Master, _To do always those things that please God_. I plainly see that self-seeking is self-undoing; and that then we promote ourselves best, when we please God most. I find, that when I have done all, if God be not pleased, I have done nothing; and if I can but approve myself to God, my work is done: I RECKON I DO NOT LIVE THAT TIME I DO NOT LIVE TO GOD.
*I am fain to cut off so many hours from my days, and so many years from my life, as I have lived to myself. I find no enemy so dangerous as myself, and O that others may take warning by my hurt: O that I had lived wholly to God! Then had every day and every hour that I have spent, been found upon my account at that day: then had I been rich indeed, in treasure laid up there, whither I am apace removing; then I had been every day and hour adding to the heap, and increasing the reward which God of his mere grace hath promised, even to the meanest work that is done to him. I perceive I am an eternal loser by acting no more for God; for what is done to myself is lost; but what is done for God, is done for ever, and shall receive an everlasting reward. Verily, if there be a world to come, and an eternal state after this short life, it is our only wisdom to be removing, and, as it were transplanting and transporting what we can, from hence into that country to which we are shortly to be removed, that what we are now doing we may reap the fruit of for ever.
Well, let us be wholly swallowed up in religion, and know no other interest but Jesus Christ. I cannot say, I have already attained; but this is what my heart is set to learn. That in all that I do, whether sacred or civil actions, still I may be doing but one work, and driving on one design, _That God may be pleased by me, and glorified in me_; That not only my praying, preaching, alms, may be found upon my account; but even my eating, drinking, sleeping, visits, discourses, because they are done to God. Too often do I miss my mark; but I will tell you what are the rules I set myself: _Never to lie down but in the name of God_; nor barely for natural refreshment, but that a wearied servant of Christ may be recruited and fitted to serve him better the next day. _Never to rise up but with this resolution, I will go forth this day in the name of God, and will make religion my business, and spend the day for eternity. Never to enter upon my calling, but first thinking, I will do these things as unto God_, because he requireth these things at my hands, in the place and station he hath put me into. _Never to sit down to the table, but resolving, I will not eat meerly to please my appetite, but to strengthen myself for my Master’s work. Never to make a visit, but to leave something of God where I go; and in every company to leave some good savor behind._ This is that which I am pressing hard after: and if I strive not to walk by these rules, let this paper be a witness against me.
I perceive you are otherwise persuaded in some things than I am: but however, I trust we meet in our end. May it be your whole study to gain souls, and to build them up in holiness, which is with too many the least of their cares. One duty (miserably neglected) I shall be bold to recommend from my own experience, and that is, the visiting your whole flock from house to house, and enquiring into their spiritual estates particularly, and dealing plainly and truly with them about their conversion to God.
You see how free I am with you: but I know your candour. I rejoice in your happy yoke-fellow: salute her from your old friend, and accept of the unfeigned respects of him who is, Sir,
_Your real and faithful friend_,