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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A23622	The life & death of Mr. Joseph Alleine, late teacher of the church at Taunton, in Somersetshire, assistant to Mr. Newton whereunto are annexed diverse Christian letters of his, full of spiritual instructions tending to the promoting of the power of Godliness, both in persons and families, and his funeral sermon, preached by Mr. Newton.	Alleine, Theodosia.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.; Alleine, Joseph, 1634-1668. Christian letters full of spiritual instructions.; Newton, George, 1602-1681. Sermon preached at the funeral of Mr. Joseph Alleine.	1672 (1672)	Wing A1013_PARTIAL; Wing N1047_PARTIAL; ESTC R19966	231,985	333

me all my dayes I am full and running over And now I charge you to walk chearfully and to follow me with your Praises whilst I am alive And for such in the Family as lay under doubts of their condition he took great care of them endeavouring daily to satisfie their Doubts and answer their Scruples and still would be enquiring whether they had yet any more settlement And if they said they knew not how to try themselves he would say Come let me help you and so would take them aside and propound some three or four sound Marks by way of Question and would ask them whether it were so with them or not And if any doubt appeared to remain about it he would not easily leave them till they were somewhat satisfied at that time and would bring all down to the 〈◊〉 Capacity by putting his Questions several wayes And if yet doubts remained he would use all the compassion and pitifulness that might be and open to them the goodness of God's Nature the sufficiency of Christ and his readiness to accept returning Sinners and after long tryal by fairer means would plainly labour to convince 〈◊〉 of the Sin of Unbelief c. And for any in the Family that seemed to stick under bare Convictions he much urged 〈◊〉 to go on and make a through and sound and sure work of it In Family Duties he seemed more excellent than at other times He was a man of singular patience in Affliction Though he lay under such weakness for certain years as rendered him almost wholly unable for his publick Work and many times not able to move a Hand or Finger or hardly any other part yet some that have been much with 〈◊〉 never heard him once complain of one pain or other unless any askt him and then would alwayes make the least of it And when he lay many nights and never took the least 〈◊〉 by sleep he would never shew the least impatiency nor so much as say he had not slept unless it were askt him And still would justifie and 〈◊〉 God and say Shall I receive good at God's hand and no evil Speaking of Exhortations and Reproof he said It 's the safest course where it may be done to take the opportunity and not to suffer our backward hearts to cheat us of the present on pretence of staying for a fitter time As advice for profitable Discourse he said It is good for such Christians as need it to study before-hand what to speak that they may alwayes have something in readiness to bring forth for the benefit of others which will prevent impertinencies Of Prayer with others he would say We have need to watch against confining our Thoughts and Desires to the cases of our own Souls with the neglect of those that joyn with us but above all with the neglect of the miserable World and of the Church of Christ. For though indeed Hypocrites use to Indite almost all their publick Prayers from the supposed case of those that are present and meddle but little with their own sins and wants unless in formality Yet sincere Christians are at first too apt to dwell upon their own Cases almost alone insomuch that they have need to be called outward and as they grow in Love they will grow enlarged in the case of their Brethren but especially of Publick and Universal Consequence CHAP. VIII An intire and exact Delineation of this Holy Person Written by one of his familiar Acquaintance presented in the last place as the Portraiture of a compleat Gospel-Minister First His Personal Character His Stature and Complexion AS to his Personal Bodily Character He was of Stature tall and erect of Complexion clear and lovely his Countenance being the seat of chearfulness gravity and love It contradicted that usual saying viz. Fronti 〈◊〉 fides for his spritely serene Countenance was the Index of an active and harmonious Soul Anger as it seldom beclouded so 〈◊〉 became not that Face most uncapable of sowr impressions It was forc'd and so not of long continuance for it never appeared but upon Summons when commanded to interpose it self the Glory of GOD and Honour of Religion being concern'd Neither did his Reason and Vertue sooner raise than lay it when the Cause was ceased He was angry and sinned not by being angry chiefly or only for sin His Constitution He had not a more hail Complexion than healthful Constitution hugely fitted for the Employment in which he was so successful viz. His Ministerial Labours and Studies Insomuch that he hath often been heard to confess that he knew not what an hours sickness or indisposition was for thirty years and upward even until after his first Imprisonment to which as it is else-where intimated it may well be thought that he owed the first and fatal impairs of his healthful vigour Since which first decay it may be affirmed that contrariwise for some years together till the period of his life he scarce knew what was an hours health Most deplorable it is that his great and even excessive labours and hard durance should have been prodigal of that strength which might perchance have been hitherto employed to the most noble purposes But alas the innocent flames of Divine Love to GOD and Zeal for his Glory and the good of Souls made all his strength a whole burnt Sacrifice and as well devoted as if sacrificed to the flames of Martyrdom His Judgment And here some injury would be done to his Worthy Name should his internal Excellencies which are of all the greatest be wholly forgotten His Judgment was as the Pot of Manna wherein were found and conserved all wholesome Soul-feeding-Doctrines most solid and accute it was For though with the Eye of his Body he could not see far off yet with the Eye of his mind or understanding he penetrated far into the recesses of difficult Truths and out of mental 〈◊〉 he was wont happily to extricate himself and others the toyl of his Intellect herein being not so pleasant as successful He was all judgment in his enquiries after Truth and all affection in pursuing and promoting that which is good His Memory His Memory was as the Tables of the Covenant GOD's LAW being his Meditation Day and Night and as the Sacred Records there kept It was a most Faithful and Refined Treasury out of which he continually brought Things New and Old for the Instruction and Consolation of his Hearers So 〈◊〉 it was that it needed not and wholly refused those helps by which it is usually fortified and its defects supplyed It knew not the slavery of an imposed task for what had once engaged his love was without delay or difficulty 〈◊〉 of his Mind or Memory His Phansie His Phansie was as Aarons Rod budding ever producing fresh 〈◊〉 of refined Divine Wit and Invention It was quick and happy a fruitful Store-house of hallowed and 〈◊〉 Notions Ever pregnant yet never bringing forth any other than the Off-springs of

much his Soul was grieved at them for the wrong they did hereby to their own Souls especially and the reproach they brought upon the Gospel of our Lord. 5. He was of great Patience To say nothing of his behaviour under sufferings of other kinds his great weakness and long languishing for some years together and his constant serenity calms and quietness of Spirit in all that time so far from the least touch of murmuring that he was still blessing the Lord for his tender dealings with him have given the World a full proof that he was of a patient Spirit 6. He was Eminent in Liberality He not only did but devised liberal things and by liberal things did he stand He studied and considered how he might both give himself and procure from others relief for those in want He gave much Alms daily both in the place where he lived and where-ever he came When there were Collections at any time for pious and charitable uses He stirred up others to bountiful giving both by Word and also by his Example In the Collection for the Fire in London He gave publickly such a liberal proportion as he thought meet to be an example to others and as I came occasionally to understand lest it should be misjudged he had been known to give more he gave more than as much again secretly He distributed much amongst his Relations His Aged Father and divers of his Brethren with their large Families being fallen into decay he took great care for them all and gave education to some Pensions to other Portions to others of them and notwithstanding all this he had but a very small matter of Stock to begin upon and never above 80 pounds per ann that I know of and near the one half of his time not above half so much only by the industry of his Wife who for divers years kept a Boarding-School his income was for that time considerably enlarged He took great pains in journeyings abroad to many Gentlemen and othe rich Men in the Countrey to procure a standing supply for such Non-conforming Ministers as were in want 7. He was of an Active Spirit He went about doing good As he was abundant and uncessant in his Labours in the Congregation where he lived So where-ever he came he would be scattering some good Seed not only among the Adult but he would be dealing much with the Children in those Families into which he came asking them Questions giving them Counsel and sometimes leaving them his Counsel in Writing In his own Family which was great whilst his Wife kept Boarders he was exceedingly industrious the gravity of his Carriage contempered with much sweetness and affability towards those young ones begat in many of them the Awe and Love as of Children to their Father and made way for the success of his Indeavours with them which was considerable upon divers of them At Bath while he lay sick there he sent for many of the Poor both Old and Children and gave them Catechisms engaging them to learn them and give him an account who came chearfully and frequently to him being encouraged hereto by his Familiar and Winning Carriage his giving them Money his Feeding and Feasting them He would sometimes say It 's pity that Counsel of our Lord Luk. 14. 13. of Feasting the Poor was no more practised amongst Christians 8. He was of an humble Spirit Though God had so exceedingly listed him up in the Hearts of others yet he was not puffed up in his own He was low in his own eyes and despised the praise of men His whole carriage was without the least ostentation and he was of great condescention to the Weakest or Meanest Once or twice he was complaining to me of the pride of his Heart I judging it to proceed rather from an holy jealousie of himself and a tenderness of the least spark of that evil than from any power it had upon him replyed to him as I remember to this purpose If he had a proud Heart he had it to himself for none else could perceive it But he answered Some men that are proud enough have more wit than to let every one know it Another time making the same complaint in a Letter to me he added this But my naughty heart whilst I am writing this is in hope you will not believe me So watchful was he as to espie and check the least motions of that Lust which he so much abhorred 3. As a Minister He was setled in Taunton Magdalen as an Assistant to the Reverend Pastour there with whom as a Son with the Father he served in the Gospel I shall say nothing here there being a large Account given under the Hand of that worthy Person But besides his Labours in that great Congregation in which alone he was fixed the care for many other Congregations was daily upon him He went forth frequently into several places about the Countrey amongst the poor ignorant people that lived in dark Corners and had none to take care of them and both Preached to them himself and stirred up many of his Brethren whose forward minds readily joyned with him to set up standing Lectures amongst them He had an Eye to poor Wales and had an influence upon the sending over some Ministers to them He resolved also to have gone and spent some time amongst them himself and by all the disswasions of his Friends from his great Weakness and Unfitness for Travail he was hardly with-held from his Purpose CHAP. IV. An Account of his Godly Life and Practice and of the Course of his Ministry in Taunton given by Mr. George Newton the Reverend Pastor there whose Assistant he was MR. Joseph Allein came to my Assistance in the Year 1655. being then in the One and Twentieth year of his Age and we continued together with much mutual Satisfaction I soon observed him to be a young Man of Singular Accomplishments Natural and Acquired His Intellectuals solid his Memory strong his Affections lively his Learning much beyond the ordinary Size And above all his Holiness eminent his Conversation exemplary In brief he had a good Head and a better Heart He spent a considerable part of his time in private converses with God and his own Soul he delighted very much to perform his secret Devotions in the view of Heaven and the open Air when he could find advantages fit for his purpose He used to keep many dayes alone and then a private Room would not content him but if he could he would withdraw himself to a solitary House that had no inhabitant in it And herein he was gratified often by some private Friends of his to whom he did not impart his design Perhaps it was that he might freely use his Voice as his Affections led him without such prudential considerations and restraints as would have been necessary in another place and that he might converse with God without any avocation or distraction His conversation with others was

alwayes mingled with Heavenly and Holy Discourses he was ready to Instruct and to Exhort and to Reprove which he never failed to do when he thought it necessary what-ever the event might be But he performed it usually with such respect humility tenderness self-condemnation and compassion that a reproof from him did seldom if at all miscarry In the Houses where he Sojourned their Hands fed one but his Lips fed many God freely poured Grace into his Lips and he freely poured it out None could live quietly in any visible and open sin under his inspection When he came to any House to take up his abode there he brought Salvation with him when he departed he left Salvation behind him His manner was when he was ready to depart and to transplant himself into some other Family as that the exigence of his condition and the time did more than once constrain him to to call the People one by one into his Chamber from whence it was observed that scarce any one returned with dry eyes In matters of Religion and the first Table his strictness was so exemplary which was near to rigour that I have scarce known any of his years keep pace with him Surely he did more than others His Righteousness exceeded not the Publican only but the Pharisees too He was much taken with Monsieur de Reuty whose Life he read often and imitated some of his Severities upon better grounds How often have I heard him to admire among many other things especially his self-annihilation striving continually to be Nothing that God might be all But here he stayeth not he was a second-Table-man a man of Morals I never knew him spotted in the least degree with any unjust or uncharitable Act. And I am sure the many failings of Professors in this kind touched him to the very quick and brought him low drew Prayers Tears Complaints and Lamentations both by Word and Letter from him though yet the Lord would not permit him to behold and reap the Fruit before he died He had an eminently free and bountiful heart to his power and I may truly say beyond his power yea much beyond it he was willing of himself It is but seldom that the best do need restraint in these Matters and yet we read of some who brought more than enough yea much more than enough Exod. 36. 5. So that there was a Proclamation issued out to put a stop upon their Bounty and it is added presently so the People were restrained Men universally almost do need a Spur but he did rather need a Bridle When other men gave little out of much he gave much out of little and while they heapt and gathered up he dispersed and scattered abroad He did not hide himself from his own flesh but was helpful to Relations as some of them have great reason to acknowledge His charity began at home but it did not end there for he did good to all according to his opportunities though especially to the Houshold of Faith He considered the Poor he studied their condition he devised liberal things he was full of holy Projects for the advancement of the good of others both Spiritual and Temporal which he pursued with such irresistable vigor and zeal and activity that they seldom proved abortive He was a man of extraordinary condescention to the infirmities of weaker Brethren as they that are most holy and best acquainted with themselves are wont to be Instructing those that were contrary minded in meekness If God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth Restoring those who were overtaken with a fault with the Spirit of Meekness So dealing with them in such a loving sweet and humble way as considering himself lest he also might be tempted In their confessed failings he was no way supercilious captious and censorious he would maintain a good opinion of another upon a narrower footing than many others who to say no more were nothing stricter holier humbler than himself would be His Charity Believed all things that were to be believed and Hoped all things that were to be hoped And when he deeply condemned the Action he would not judge of the Estate Indeed he had more charity for others than himself and though he were sufficiently mild in his judgment of others he was severe enough in his judgment of himself He was not Peremptory in matters that belong to doubtful Disputations He laid no more weight and stress on Notions and Opinions in Religion that wholly depend upon Topical Arguments than belongs to them He was not like many who are so over-confident in their determinations that they will hardly hold communion Nay scarce so much as a pleasing conversation with any man how gracious soever who cannot think and say and act in every thing as they do He would allow his Fellow-Members the Latitude that the Apostle doth and so would freely and familiarly converse with those who are sound in the Faith as to the fundamentals of Religion and who were strict and holy in their lives of all Perswasions His Ministerial Studies were more than usually easie to him being of a quick conceit a ready strong and faithful memory a free expression which was rather nervous and substantial than soft and delicate and which was best of all a holy Heart that boyled and bubled up with good matter This 〈◊〉 him on all occasions not with warm affections onely but with holy Notions too For his Heart was an Epistle written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God And out of this Epistle he drew many excellent things In the course of his Ministry he was a good Man and in his Heart a good Treasure whence he was wont continually to bring forth good things both in publick and private He was apt to Preach and Pray most ready on all occasions to lay out himself in such Work yea spending himself in such Work When my suddain Distemper seised upon me put him at any time as many times they did upon very short and 〈◊〉 preparations he never refused no nor so much as fluctuated in the undertaking But being called he confidently cast himself upon the Lord and trusted perfectly to his Assistance who had never failed him and so he readily and freely went about his Work without distraction He began upon a very considerable stock of Learning and Gifts Ministerial and Personal much beyond the proportion of his Years and grew exceedingly in his Abilities and Graces in a little time So that his profiting appeared to all Men he waxed very rich in heavenly Treasure by the blessing of God on a diligent hand so that he was behind in no good Gift He found that pretious promise sensibly made good To him that hath for use and good employment shall be given and he shall have abundance He had no Talent for the Napkin but all for Traffique which he laid out so freely for his Masters use that in a little time they

Christ his Constancy to his Principles in the most Wavering and Shaking Times joyned with an exemplary Carriage and Conversation was deservedly had in great repute among the People of God in these Western parts and indeed there were very few that knew him either among the sober Gentry or Commonalty but for his eminent Parts and spotless Life had great respects for him There were also five more Ministers with fifty Quakers which had all their Lodgings in the same Room only parted with a Mat which they had done for a little more Retirement It was not long after before Mr. Coven and Mr. Powel with eight more were brought into the same place being taken at Meetings which made their Rooms very straight and it was so nigh to the upper part of the Prison that they could touch the Tiles as they lay in their Beds which made it very irksom the Sun lying so hot on it all the day and there being so many of them and so much Resort continually of Friends they had very little Air till they were forced to take down the Glass and some of the Tiles to let in some Refreshment But here they were confined to Lie and eat their Meals and had no place but a small Garden joyned to the place where all the Common Prisoners were which was no Retirement for them they having there and in their Chamber the constaut noise of those Wretches except when they slept who lay just under them their Chains ratling their Tongues often Blaspheming or else Roaring and Singing by Night as well as in the Day And if they went into the Courts of the Prison there was the sight of their Clothes hanging full of Vermin and themselves in their Rags and Chains But that which was most grievous to them they had no place to retire to God in neither alone nor together They were also much molested by the Quakers who would frequently disturb them by their Cavils in the times of their Preaching Praying and Singing and would come and work in their Callings just by them while they were in Duties which was no small disturbance to them And the want of the Air was more to my Husband than to most of them because he alwayes accustomed himself both in Oxford and after to spend his most secret Hours abroad in by-Places in the Fields or Woods As soon as he came into the Prison he Preached and Prayed that he called the Consecration of it After he had spent a day or two in the Prison being willing to have me either in the Town or there to attend him and to keep company with his Friends who came frequently to visit him he then began to fit up his Lodging having prevailed with the Keeper for one Corner which was more private than the rest to set his Bed in about which he made a little Partition by some Curtains that so he might have some conveniency for Retirement This was much comfort to him and after a few Weeks he got leave of the Keeper to go out a Mornings and Evenings a mile or more which he did constantly unless the Weather or his Keepers fury did hinder him Their Diet was very good and sufficient and sometimes abundant by their Friends kindness Here they Preach once a day coustantly sometimes twice and many came daily to hear them eight or ten miles round about the Countrey and Multitudes came to visit them it being a strange sight to see Ministers laid in such a place Their Friends were exceeding kind to them endeavouring by their frequents Visits and provisions for Diet and supplies of Money to make their Prison sweet to them But my Husbands Labours were much increased by this spending all the day in converse he was forced to take much of the Night for his Studies and secret Converse with God Thus he with my Brother Norman and his Company with their fellow Prisoners continued in that place for four Months being tossed from Sessions to Assizes On the 14th of July following he was brought to the Sessions held at Taunton and was there Indited for Preaching on May the 17th but the Evidence against him was so slender that the Grand Jury could not find the Bill so that he was not brought to his Answer there at all And his Friends hoped he should have been dismissed it being the constant practice of the Court that if a Prisoner be Indited and no Bill found he is Freed by Proclamation But however my Husband was sent to Prison again until the Assizes and to his Friends that earnestly expected his Inlargement he said Let us bless God that his Will is done and not the will of such Worms as we August the 24th He was again Indited at the Assizes and though the Evidence was the very same that at the Sessions was by the Grand Jury judged Insufficient yet now at the Assizes the Bill was by them found against him So was he had to the Bar and his Indictment read which was to this purpose That he upon the 17th day of May 1663. with twenty others to the Jurors unknown did Riotously Routously and Seditiously Assemble themselves together contrary to the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King and to the great Terrour of his Subjects and to the evil Example of others Unto which his Answer was That as to Preaching and Praying which was the truth of the Case of these things he was guilty and did own them as his Duty but as for Riotous Routous and Seditious Assemblies he did abhor them with his Heart and of these he was not guilty At last he was found guilty by the Petty Jury and was Sentenced by the Judge to pay an Hundred Marks and to lie in Prison till payment should be made Sentence being pronounced against him he only made this brief Reply That he was glad that it had appeared before his Countrey That whatsoever he was charged with he was guilty of nothing but doing his Duty and that all did 〈◊〉 the Evidence was only that he had Sung 〈◊〉 Psalm and Instructed his Family others being there and both in his own House And that if nothing that had been urged would satisfie he should with all chearfulness and thankfulness accept whatsoever Sentence his Lordship should pronounce upon him for so Good and Righteous a Cause Thus from the Assizes he was sent to Prison again where he continued a whole Year wanting but three dayes But the Winter coming on they were willing to try if they could have the favour to be removed to the Ward this place being like to be as cold in the Winter as it had been hot in the Summer there being no Chimney in the whole Chamber which with some difficulty they obtained and then had more comfortable Accomodations in all respects Here they had very great Meetings Week-dayes and Sabbath-dayes and many dayes of Humiliation and Thanksgiving The Lords-dayes many Hundreds came And though my Husband and Brother Norman had many Threats from the

his People was most apparent in that he was still after he had finished a foregoing Text or Discourse even at a loss as he hath often expressed himself to some of his Friends what Subject most advantagious and seasonable to his Auditory he should next insist on so far he was from aiming or shooting at Rovers in his Divine Instructions and Exhortations And so loth he was to labour in vain and to pass from one Discourse to another as one unconcerned whether he had sown any good Seeds or no on the Hearts of his Hearers that in the close of his Applicatory part on any Text which sometimes he handled for a considerable while he ever expressed his great unwillingness to leave that Subject till he could have some assurance that he had not fought in that Spiritual Warfare against Sin as one who beateth the Air when also he expressed his great fear lest he should after all his most importunate Warnings leave them as he found them And here with how much Holy-Taking Rhetorick did he frequently expostulate the Case with Impenitent Sinners in words too many to mention and yet too weighty to be forgotten vehemently urging them to come to some good resolve before he and they parted and to make their choice either of Life or Death 2. His Compassion on Souls His Compassion also towards all committed to his charge was most manifest especially towards the Ignorant those that were out of the way and those that did move heavily on in the way 1. On the Ignorant in instructing and catechizing them To the Ignorant And here knowing that without knowledge the Heart is not and cannot be good and considering also how too successfully the evil one by sowing evil Seeds betimes in the hearts of Youth doth ever after forestal and defeat the most laborious endeavours for their recovery and salvation Thus knowing and considering he was in nothing more industrious and in nothing more happy and successful in exerting his industry than in an early sowing those Blessed Seeds of Divine Knowledge in the Hearts of all the Youth that he could reach in person or otherwise by which they were exceedingly formed to receive all good Impressions During the time of his publick Ministry on every Lords-day in the Afternoon he constantly catechised before a great Congregation the Youth of each Sex by turns amongst whom were several both young Men and Women sometimes five or six of the chief Scholars of the Free-School sometimes five or six of the Apprentices of the Town some of whom though of mans estate who accounted it not a disgrace to learn according to the guise of this mad World but to be ignorant Sometimes of the other Sex five or six young Gentlewomen who were under his Wifes Tuition and so his Domestick over-sight kept their turns of whom she had not a few and those the Daughters of Gentlemen of good rank far and near whose laudable emulation and love to their Father as they styled him and to the Work was the cause why they were not so over-bashful as to decline so advantagious a course by which together with domestick Instructions and Example even all received a tincture of Piety and Religion and many a through Impression Besides these several Virgins also and among these the Daughters of some of the chief Magistrates in the Town did keep their turns In this his course he drew out on the short Answers in the Assemblies Catechism an excellent Discourse on all the Points of the Christian Theology which he handled successfully reducing his Discourse to several Heads which he also proved by pertinent Places of Scripture which done he gave both the Heads and Proofs written at length on a Week day to those whom he designed to Catechize on the ensuing Lords-day which besides the short Answers in the Catechism and the annexed Proofs they committed to memory and rendred on the After-noon of the day aforesaid Throughout all which course he approved himself to be a most substantial Divine Neither did his Catechistical Labours rest here but also on Thursdayes in the Afternoon as I remember he Catechised in the Church Street by Street whole Families excepting the Married or more Aged in order Which Exercise I suppose he designed as preparatory to his Lord's-Dayes Work Besides this on Saturdayes in the Morning he Catechised the Free-School of that place instructing them in the Points of Christian Doctrine and excellently explaining the Answers in the Assemblies Catechism discovering a Mine of Knowledge in them and in himself How excellent was his design and great his Labour besides all this in going from House to House and instructing both Old Young is elsewhere abundantly declared Neither was this his Labour in vain but became even as successful as laborious for there are few but have gratefully acknowledged that by this means they were either led into the Knowledge or induced to the belief choice and practice of that which was and is of Soveraign advantage to them to this day And how happy and likely a course he took herein to advance Religion in the Nation on the hearts and lives of men and how far less successful and probable all other means are aiming at this end without this initial Work it is left to all pious and considering men to judge 2. On those that Err by reproving and reducing them He had not onely compassion over the Ignorant but also over those who were out of the way witness his faithful and effectual discharge of that great duty of giving seasonable reproofs of which his great faithfulness there is abundant mention else-where And by so much the more did his excellent discharge hereof speak forth his high praise by how much the more difficult he ever apprehended it aright to apply it He hath been heard often to say That it was far more difficult to him to give than to take a Reproof considering how great Wisdom Courage Compassion Self-denyal c. is required in order to its right discharge And though he was so rarely Passive and often Active in this Work yet the frequency of his giving a Reproof never made it so easie as to be less difficut than to receive it Lut ever his Work was to him not only an Act of the greatest Self-denyal but also the result of a strong conflict within 〈◊〉 his Indignation at the Sin and Compassion on the Sinner And yet the consideration of the difficulty was not to him an Argument to forbear but rather a stronger Motive to undertake it who ever delighted to converse in and conquer the difficulties of Christianity both in doing and suffering Small difficulties here were not his match and there were no noble Atchievements in Religion to which he attained not or vigorously aspired His truly Heroick Spirit As it is said of Themistocles that famous Athenian Captain that the Acts of Miltiades broke his sleep so as truly may it be said of this Blessed Saint That the Acts and

Oh the thousands and ten thousands that have been undone by one of these Ah how often have you been warned against them least you should split against these dangerous Rocks O Jerusalem Jerusalem said Christ and O Taunton Taunton may I say from him how often who can tell how often would Gods servants have gathered you and you would not many very many of you would not But will you now will you yet come in I cannot forbear once more even out of the Prison to call after poor Sinners and make one tender of mercy more O come to the Waters of Life wash you make you clean read with diligent observation the melting passages Prov. 1. 22. to the end Isa. 1. 16 21. Isa. 55. 6 10. Oh obdurate Sinners if none of these things move you But for you whose very hearts are set against every sin and are deliberately resolved for God and Holiness before all the Worlds delight you that have experience of a thorow change and are brought to have respect to all Gods Commandments who will have none but God for your happiness none but Christ for your Treasure that must and will have him come what will come blessed are you of the Lord O happy Souls rejoyce in the Lord and again I say Rejoyce let your Souls magnifie the Lord and your spirits rejoyce in God your Saviour Live you a life of praise you are highly favoured of the Lord your Lines are fallen in a pleasant place only stick you fast to your choice Beware lest any man beguile you of your reward watch and keep your Garments about you lest you walk naked and men see your shame Many will be plucking to pull you out of Christs hands but the harder they pluck the harder do you cling and cleave to him and the better hold fast do you take of him Blessed is he that overcometh And now the God of Heaven fill you all with himself and make all Grace to abound in you and toward you and that he may be a Sun to comfort you and a Shield of protection to you and shine with his happy Beams of Grace and Glory on you all Farewel in the Lord I am Yours in the Bonds of the Gospel JOSEPH ALLEINE August 28. 1663. LETTER XVI How to live to God To the Beloved People the Inhabitants of the Town of Taunton Grace and Peace Most endeared Christians TO tell you I love and long for you seems somewhat needless I cannot doubt of your confidence that you have a deep share in my tenderest affections for this let my labours among you and the hazards for you speak rather that I 〈◊〉 self Beloved I am without a Complement the devoted servant of your souls prosperity and the interest of Christ in you may the Lord Jesus be set up higher in your hearts may his name ever live in you and be magnified by you and I have what I ask If this work be not promoted among you I shall account all my letters but waste Paper and all my pains but last labour Brethren I beseech you that none of you live to your selves for this were directly to cross the very end of Christ's death for therefore he died that you should not live to your selves 2 Cor. 5. 15. Oh live to him that died for you live to him that is the God of your life live to him that bought your lives with the expense of his own To him that bought you from destruction and not only so but bought your names into the eternal Inheritance reserved in the Heavens for you Will a man be easily perswaded to lose his life how infinitely tender are men here And yet in the worst sence the most of men do lose their lives yea lose them for nothing Beloved consider I beseech you that life is lost that is not lived unto God If you would not loss your lives that you live see to him who is the end of your lives Oh remember this and reckon that day lost which you have not lived unto God! Brethren how great a part of our lives have we really alas too too really lost I beseech you take heed here you are careful about many things but be beware that other things do not put out this which should be the main of your cares to wit the spending your days and strength for him that made you Would it not be dreadful for a man to find at last when he comes to his account with God that his whole life or at least the main of it had been but damnable self-seeking That a man should have so many years allowed him by God and he should at last be found to have been but a false and wicked servant that had set up for himself with his Masters stock and alienated his goods and turned them to his own use Well that you may throughly learn the grand lesson of living unto God take these Counsels First Settle it upon your heart that it is the sum of all your business and blessedness to live unto God 'T is your business for his pleasure you are and were created what have you else to do but to serve your Maker in your general and particular Callings what was the Candle made for saith one but to be burnt beloved what else have you strength for but for God doth he maintain servants and shall not he look for their Work Would you endure it that the servants that you find with meat and wages should set up for themselves that they should eat your bread and all the while do their own work beloved Gods service is your business and he made you and keeps you for no other end and it is your blessedness too Labour to be under the rooted conviction of this principle that your very happiness lies in pleasing and honouring of God Let the sense of this live fresh upon your hearts and it will regulate your whole course Secondly Remember what a dangerous yea damnable thing it is to live your selves To make it our main care and business to please and gratifie our selves or to have applause from and reputation with others or to grow rich in the world and greaten our selves and posterity is the certain evidence of a graceless heart And though the Godly do make God their principle end in general yet they must know that for so much of their lives as is spent besides this end which is too too much they shall suffer loss Thirdly Labour to keep alive upon your selves a deep sense of your strong obligations to Good Often think with your selves what a righteous what a reasonable thing it is that you should with all that you have serve the Lord. Beloved shall not the Vessel be for the use of the Porter that made it Shall not the servant Trade for his Master with whose goods he is entrusted do you not fetch all your bread from Gods door Is not he the Rock that begat you the Author of your being and well-being

concernments Will you not spin a fair thread of it if while you are pursuing after earthly things you lose your soul in the 〈◊〉 While I live I shall pray and care for you Farewel in the Lord. I am Your truly loving and careful Uncle JOSEPH ALLEINE LETTER XXXVI Godly Counsels Dear Cousin THE welcom tidings 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 bereft 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 watch for your soul and to charge and admonish you in the Lord and to take care of you But yet Dear Cousin be not discouraged by these things but look to Heaven flie unto Jesus put away every known sin set upon the conscientious performance of every known duty make Christ your choice embrace him upon his own terms deliver up your self body and soul to him see that you have no reserves nor limitations in your choice of him give him your very heart cast away your worldly hopes and expectations make Religion your very business O Cousin these things do and you shall be sure of a Friend in Heaven to take the care of you and if I may be any comfort to you you shall not fail while I live to have one friend on earth to take care for you You are gone far from me even to the uttermost parts of the earth but I have sent these Letters to call even thither after you yea not onely to call but to cry in your ears O what is like to become of your soul Where is that immortal soul of yours like to be lodged for ever amongst Devils or amongst Angels upon a bed of Flames or in the joys of Paradise Dear Cousin go aside by your self in secret retire from the noise of the world and say to your self Oh my soul whether art thou going do not I know in my very heart that I must be converted or condemned that I must be sanctified or can never be saved Oh my soul what seekest thou what designs do I drive at what is my chief care which way do I bend my course Is it for this world or for the world to come Do I first seek the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof Do I think Heaven will drop into my mouth that glory and immortality will be gotten with a wet finger with cold prayers and heartless wishes while the world carries the main of my heart Do I think to be crowned and yet never fight to get the race and never run to enter at the strait gate and never strive to overcome Principalities and Powers and never wrestle No no say within your self Oh my soul either lay by the hopes of Heaven for ever or else rouse up thy self put forth thy strength in seeking after God and glory either lay by thy worldly hopes or thy hopes of immortality away with thy sins or thou must let Christ go for ever think not to have Chrst and the world too to serve God and Mammon it cannot be If thou follow the world as thy chief desire and delight if thou live after the flesh thou must die count upon it the Lord hath spoken it and all the world can never reverse it Thus reason the case with your own soul and give not rest to your self night nor day till you are gotten off from the world broken off from the wilful practice of every known sin and gotten safe into Christ. Dear Cousin I charge you by the Lord to observe these things pray over them weep over them read them again and again do not pass them over as slight and ordinary things your soul is at stake it is your salvation is concerned in them think not I am in jest with you Ah Cousin I travel in birth with you till Christ be formed in you Why should you die Oh repent and live lay hold on eternel life win Christ and you win all O be thankful to the Lord that now you are fatherless and friendless yet you have one Remembrancer to warn you to flie from the wrath to come God forbid that I should find you at last in the place of Torments for your not embracing the godly Counsels To conclude in short I charge you as a Minister as a Friend as a Father to you Take heed of these three things 1. Left the gain of the world prove the loss of your soul 2. Left the snare of evil company withdraw you from God and so prove your final ruine 3. Left a lofty and a worldly heart should thrust you out of the Kingdom of Heaven God abhors that the proud should come near him Oh labour whatever you do for an humble heart be little be vile in your own eyes seek not after great things be poor in spirit without this Heaven will be no place for you God will be no friend to you Dear Cousin your lot is fallen as I fear in a place of great wickedness where your soul is in much danger where your temptations are many and your helps for Heaven but few where godly examples are rare and many will entice you to sin and vanity O! if you love me or love your soul look about you consider your danger fear lest you should miscarry for ever by worldly loss and vain company which proves to so many the fearful cause of their eternal perdition I can but warn you and pray for you but though you have none to oversee you remember the strict and severe eye of God is upon you to observe all your actions and that he will surely bring all your practices into his Judgment Your Aunt with my self commend our dear love to you and I commend you to the Lord and remain Your loving and careful uncle JOSEPH ALLEINE August 19. 1668. LETTER XXXVII Dear Cousins THough you are removed far from me out of my sight and the Seas as a great gulf are fixed betwixt you and me yet my prayers follow you and my good wishes for your present and everlasting welfare like the wings of a Dove take speedy flight I look upon my self now God hath removed my Brother to be as in the room of a Father to you yea and of a Mother too for I know you have but little help from her My dear Neeces my heart is careful for you and therefore I cannot cease while I am in being in this world to warn and admonish you as my children and to call upon you in the name of the Eternal God to awaken your selves with all godly fear and holy diligence lest by any means you should come short of the glory of God Let me mind you dear Cousins of