Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A26687
|
Christian letters full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of godliness, both in person and families.
|
Alleine, Joseph, 1634-1668.
|
1673
(1673)
|
Wing A966; ESTC R10598
|
113,064
|
152
|
I engaged so earnestly to call upon you as one that watcheth for your soul to arise speedily and to set roundly to your work Oh consider your danger and work out your Salvation with fear and trembling away with these lazie Prayers away with these cold and heartless Professions away with this drowsie liveless â—…less Religion bestir your self to purpose for your soul before it be too late search your conscience as with Candles be jealous of your self consider now is your time what you do you must do quickly the patience of God is waiting Christ is knocking the Spirit of God is striving and death is at the door Oh now take your opportunity and take heed lest a â—…thful heart and the cares of this World or a presumptuous confidence that all is well and safe already should at last shut you out of the Kingdom of God I cannot write distinctly to your Husband but I beseech you to call upon him to set his heart to these Counsels which I havee written to you I earnestly entreat him to make Religion his business and to look heedfully to it that the gain of the World prove not the loss of his soul. I desire him that Closer and Family Prayers and weekly Catechising of his Houshold and strict sanctifying of the Sabbath and reading of the Scriptures singing of Psalms repeating of Sermons and diligent attendance upon powerful Preaching may be his continual exercises that so his house may be a little Church and God may delight to dwell in his Family pray give me to understand what is done of these things for I have a zeal for your welfare and that you and your houshould should serve the Lord that you may enter into his rest and carry children and servants and friends and all to Heaven with you As to my own estate I have lost all my limbs and about this twelve Months useless and been agaâ—…â—…nd again under the sentence of death but was brought in 〈…〉 â—…-litter to Bath where God hath wonderfully restored me so that I can feed my self and go alone and speak with a little more freedom Oh love the Lord praise the Lord for me notwithstanding I continue weak and have not strength to write yet I could not tell how to die in silence from you but have made use of a friendly hand to send these counsels and calls after you which I beseech you to accept in the fear of God for it is not unlike that they may be my last to you that ever you may receive I now commend you to the Lord and with mide own and my dear Wivet love to you both Rest Your loving and careful Uncle JOS. ALLEINE Octob. 21. 1668. LETTER XXXV The Concernments of our Souls especially to be regarded Dear Cousin YOu may think you are forgotten with me because you have not heard so long a time from me but this may let you know That though God hath taken away your Father and suffered your Mother to be helpless to you Yet you have one friend on earth that careth for you The welfare of your immortal soul is dear to me and is the matter of my sollicitons care and prayer Dear Cousin methinks I feel a Godly jealousie of you within my heart lest you should lose your soul amongst a croud of worldly cares and business O remember the story of him in the Book of the Kings who relates that he had a Soldier committed to his keeping upon condition that he should lose his life if he did let him go But while thy servant went hither and thither the man escaped But the King replies presently Even so shall thy judgement be thy life shall go for his life Ah Cousin take earnest heed lest while you are going hither and thither minding many things 〈…〉 in a hurry of worldly affairs the enemy run not away with your soul. Oh beware that the World doth not secretly steal away your heart Consider that whatever your business be you must and will have an eating time and a sleeping time Oh be as sollicitous every day to keep your praying times which are a thousand times more necessary than a time to eat in or sleep Be sure that there doth not a morning or evening pass over your head in which you have not perfumed your Closer with solemn and fervent prayer And take heed it you love your salvation lest Saran beguile you with the bare outward performance of duties aâ—…d ouâ—…ward acts of Religion See to it that you do not rest in a Worldly Religion to give God your knee while the World carries away your heart You may praâ—… hear and read and all to no purpose except your very Soul be employed and engaged in these duties and the â—…ife vigour and strength of your affections be found to go after God in them If therefore you will have Christ and Heaven see that you renounce the world You must cast overboard your worldly hopes and take up with God with a naked Christ as your whâ—… happiness both for this life and that which is to come There is no hopes of your Salvation without a sound mortification to the world you must be mortified to your worldly expectations look not for much from tbe world promise not your self much from the world seek not great things for your self say unto God So I may have thee for my portion and thy Kingdom for my inheritance give or deny me what thou wilt poverty or riches any thing or nothing I will be contented with my Lot Say unto your soul So I may but have Christ so I may but carry it for the other world let this world go which way it will I must be converted or condemned I must be born again or else would I had never been born but of this present world there is no such necessity I may be poor and yet happy but wo unto me if I remain unsanctified I must have grace or perish for ever Dear Cousin if I live you shall find me a friend to your worldly prosperity but whether I live or die I charge you by the Lord that you be infinitely tender of your immortal souls everlasting concernments Will you not spin a fair thread of it if while you are pursuing after earthly things you lose your soul in the throng While I live I shall pray and care for you Farewel in the Lord. I am Your truly loving and careful uncle JOS. ALLEINE LETTER XXXVI Godly Counsels Dear Cousin THE welcome tydings of your safe arrival at Barbadoes is come to my ears as also the News of your escape from a perillous sickness for which I bless the Lord and desire to be thankful with you for I am not without a care for your well being but do look upon my self as really concerned in you I have considered that God hath beâ—…est you of a careful Father and that your Mother takes but little care for you so that you have none nearer than my self to