Vol 16 - TO THE LADY CARDONNESS.

TO THE LADY CARDONNESS.
My dearly beloved and longed-for in the LORD,
GRACE, mercy, and. peace, be to you! I long to hear how your soul prospereth, and how the’ kingdom of CHRIST thriveth in you. I exhort you and beseech you, in the bowels of CHRIST, faint not, weary not. There is a great necessity of heaven; ye must needs have it: all other things, as houses, lands, children, husband, friends, country, credit, health, wealth, honor, may be wanted; but heaven is your " one thing necessary, that good part which shall not be taken from you." See that ye buy the field where the pearl is; sell all, and make a purchase of salvation., Think it not easy, for it is a steep ascent to eternal glory; many are’ lying dead in the way, that are slain with security. O what I want! I want so many things, that I am almost asking if I have any thing at all. Every man thinketh he is rich enough in grace, till he finds his pack poor and light in the day of a heavy trial. I found that I had not enough to bear my expenses, and should have fainted, if want had not chased me to the store-house of all. I beseech you, make conscience of your ways; deal kindly with your tenants: to fill a breach, make not a greater breach in the conscience. I wish plenty of love to your soul. Let the world be the portion of bastards; make it not yours; after the last trumpet is blown, the world and all its glory will be like an old house that is burned to ashes, and like an old fallen castle without a roof. Fie, fie upon us, fools, who think ourselves debtors to the world! My LORD has brought me to this, that I would not give a drink of cold water for this world's kindness. I wonder that men long after,’ or care for, these feathers: to give out conscience, and to get in clay again, is a strange bargain. I have written my mind at length to your husband; I cannot forget him in my prayers; my counsel is, that ye bear with him, when passion overtaketh him: " A soft answer putteth away wrath." When CHRIST hideth himself, wait on, and importune him till he return; it is not time then to be carelessly patient: I love to be grieved when he hideth his smiles. I counsel you to study sanctification, and to be dead to this world. Counsel your husband to fulfill my joy, and to seek the LORD's face: show him from me, that my joy and desire is to hear that he is in the LORD. GOD casteth him often in my mind; I cannot forget him: I hope, CHRIST and he have some-thing to do together. Bless JOHN from me; I write blessings to him, and to your husband, and the rest of your children.
Your lawful and loving Pastor
In his only LORD JESUS,
S.R.