Vol 16 - TO THE LADY CARDONNESS THE ELDER.

TO THE LADY CARDONNESS THE ELDER.
Worthy and well-beloved in the LORD,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I long to hear from you, that I may know how your soul prospereth. My desire and longing is, to hear that ye walk in the truth, and that ye are content to follow the despised, but lovely, Son of GOD. I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband, your well-beloved, your portion, your comfort, and your joy. He has watered with his sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner. He was always kind to my soul, but never so kind as now, in my greatest extremities. I dine and sup with CHRIST: he visiteth my soul with the visitation of his love in the night-watches. I exhort you, in the name of CHRIST, to continue in the truth, which I delivered to you. Make CHRIST sure to your soul; for your day draweth nigh to an end. Many slide back now, who seemed to be CHRIST'S friends but " be ye faithful to the death, and ye shall have the crown of life." This span-length of your days, whereof the SPIRIT of GOD speaketh, will within a short time come to nothing. O how comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be, when your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, and the breath turn cold, and your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay, and long to be out, and to have the gaoler to open the door, that the prisoner may be set at liberty! Ye draw nigh the water-side; look to your accounts; ask for your guide to take you to the other side. Let not the world be your portion; what have ye to do with dead clay Ye are not a bastard, but a lawfully-begotten child; therefore set your heart on the inheritance. Go up before-hand and see your lodging; look through all your Father's rooms in heaven, for in your Father's house are many dwelling-places. " Set your heart on things that are above, where CHRIST is at the right-hand of GOD." Stir up your husband to mind his own country; and counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of GOD under him: they are CHRIST'S, and not his; there-fore desire him to show them kindness, and to be good to their souls. It may be, that my parish forget me; but my witness is in heaven, I do not forget them; they are my sighs in the night, and my tears ill the day. I think myself like a husband plucked from the wife of his youth, O LORD, be my judge, what joy it would be to my soul, to hear that my ministry has left the Son of GOD among them! Remember my love to your son and daughter; desire them from me to seek the LORD in their youth, and to give him the morning of their days. Acquaint them with the word of GOD and prayer. Grace be with you! Pray for the prisoner of CHRIST: In my heart I forget you not.
Your lawful and loving Pastor,
S. R