Vol 16 - TO JOHN FENNICK.

TO JOHN FENNICK.
Much honored and dear Friend,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! The necessary impediments of my calling have hitherto kept me from making a return to your letter, the heads whereof I shall now briefly answer.—I approve of your going to the fountain, when your own cistern is dry. Ye commend his free love; and it is well done; O that I could help you, and that I could gather an earthfull and an heavenfull of tongues, to raise a song of praises to him, between the east and west, and the furthest points of the broad heaven! Come, come, dear friend, and be pained, that the King's free love and his banqueting house should be so abundant, so overflowing, and your shallow vessel so little to take in some part of that love. But since it cannot come into you, for want of room, enter yourself into this sea of love, and breathe under these waters, and live as one swallowed up of this love. Your troubles are many and great, yet not an ounce weight beyond the measure of infinite wisdom, nor beyond the measure of grace that he is ready to bestow; for, our LORD never yet brake the back of his child, O what bonds has our chirurgeon of broken spirits, to bind up all his lame and bruised ones with! Cast your disjointed spirit into his lap, and lay your burden upon one who is so willing to take your cares and your fears from you, and to exchange your crosses, and to give you new for old, and gold for iron, even to give you garments of praise for the spirit of' heaviness. Wait on) till he return with salvation, and cause you to rejoice in the latter end.
It is not much to complain; but rather believe, than complain, and sit in the dust, and close your mouth, till he make your light to grow again. For your afflictions are not eternal; time will end them;. and so shall ye at, length see the Lord's salvation. His love sleepeth not, but is still working for you; his salvation shall not tarry nor linger; and suffering for him, is. the noblest cross that is out of heaven. Your Lord has the choice of ten' thousand other crosses to exercise you with; but his wisdom and his love chose out this for you, in preference to them all: take it as a choice one, and make use of it, so as to look to this world as your stepmother in your borrowed prison; for it is a longing look to heaven, and to the other side of the water, that GOD seeketh: and this is the fruit, the flower, and the bloom, growing out of your cress, that ye be a dead man to time, to clay, to gold, to country, to friends, to wife, to children, and all pieces, of created nothings; for in them there is not a seat nor a bottom for our love. O what room there is for your love (if it were as broad as the sea) in: heaven and in GOD! And what would not CHRIST give for your love GOD gave so much for your soul; and blessed are ye if ye have a love for him, and. can call in your soul's love from all idols, and can make a GOD of Go), a GOD of CHRIST, and draw a line between your heart and him. If your deliverance come not, CHRIST'S love must stand as surety: for your deliverance, till your Lord send it in his blessed time;, for CHRIST has many salvation, if we could see them. And I would think it better born comfort and joy that cometh from the faith of deliverance, and, the faith of his love, than that which cometh from deliverance itself. It is not much matter, if ye find ease to your afflicted soul, what be the means, either of your own wishing, or of GOD's choosing; the latter I am sure is best, and the comfort strongest and sweetest. Let the LORD absolutely have the ordering of your troubles; and put them off yourselves, by recommending your furnace to him, who has skill to melt his own metal, and knows well what to do with his furnace. Let your heart be willing that GOD’s fire have your tin, and brass, and dross. Now take CHRIST in with you under your yoke, and " let patience have her perfect work." The LORD is rising up to do you good in the latter end: see him posting and hasting towards you! Help me with your prayers for this people, this College, and my own poor soul. Grace be with you!
St. Andrew's,
Yours in CHRIST JESUS,
February 13, 1640.
S. R.