HONOURED AND DEAR BROTHER,--I wrote of late to you: multitudes of letters burden me now. I am refreshed with your letter.
I exhort you in the bowels of Christ, set to work for your soul. And let these bear weight with you, and ponder them seriously: _1st_, Weeping and gnashing of teeth in utter darkness, or heaven's joy. _2ndly_, Think what ye would give for an hour, when ye shall lie like dead, cold, blackened clay. _3rdly_, There is sand in your glass yet, and your sun is not gone down. _4thly_, Consider what joy and peace are in Christ's service. _5thly_, Think what advantage it will be to have angels, the world, life and death, crosses, yea, and devils, all for you, as the King's serjeants and servants, to do your business. _6thly_, To have mercy on your seed, and a blessing on your house. _7thly_, To have true honour, and a name on earth that casteth a sweet smell. _8thly_, How ye will rejoice when Christ layeth down your head under His chin, and betwixt His breasts, and drieth your face, and welcometh you to glory and happiness. _9thly_, Imagine what pain and torture is a guilty conscience; what slavery to carry the devil's dishonest loads. _10thly_, Sin's joys are but night-dreams, thoughts, vapours, imaginations, and shadows. _11thly_, What dignity it is to be a son of God. _12thly_, Dominion and mastery over temptations, over the world and sin. _13thly_, That your enemies should be the tail, and you the head.
For your bairns, now at rest (I speak to you and your wife, and cause her read this). _1st_, I am a witness for Barbara's glory in heaven. _2ndly_, For the rest, I write it under my hand, there are days coming on Scotland when barren wombs, and dry breasts, and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed. They are, then, in the lee of the harbour ere the storm come on. 3_rdly_, They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christ's treasury in heaven. _4thly_, At the Resurrection, ye shall meet with them; thither they are sent before, but not sent away.[225] _5thly_, Your Lord loveth you, who is homely to take and give, borrow and lend. _6thly_, Let not bairns be your idols; for God will be jealous, and take away the idol, because He is greedy of your love wholly.
[225] He alludes to the almost classical saying, "Præmissi, non amissi." See Letter IV.
I bless you, your wife, and children. Grace for evermore be with you.
Your loving pastor,