Chapter XXXIX: Letter XXIX: To a minister in prison

_Worthy Sir_,

IT was but a little after my release from my own confinement, but I heard of yours: and now write to you, as one that hath taken a higher degree than ever, being commenced prisoner of Christ. I was once affected with the picture of a devout man, to whom a voice came down from heaven, saying, _Quid vis fieri pro te?_ To which he answered, _Nihil domine, nifi pati ac contemini pro te_. Undoubtedly, Sir, it is our real glory to be throughout conformed to Jesus Christ, not only in his sanctity, but in his sufferings. I doubt not your consolations in Christ superabound in all your tribulations for him. Yet let me add this, that you have a whole shoal of promises come in to you, which you had not before; I mean all the promises to suffering saints, in which they have not so immediate a part, unless in a suffering state. And doubtless he hath got well, that hath gotten such a number of exceeding great and precious promises.

I can tell you little good of myself: but this I can tell you, that the promises of God were never so sweet to me, as since my imprisoned state. It shames me that I have let such a treasure lie by so long, and have made so little use of it. Never did my soul know the heaven of a believer’s life, till I learnt to live a life of praise, and to set home the unspeakable riches of the divine promises, to which, through grace, I am made an heir. I verily perceive that all our work were done, if we could but prevail with ourselves and others to live like believers; to tell all the world by our carriage, that there is such pleasantness in Christ’s ways, such beauty in holiness, such reward to obedience, as we profess to believe!

It is but a little while that prisons shall hold us, or that we shall dwell in dirty flesh. _Porphyry_ tells us of _Plotinus_, that he was ashamed to see himself in the body; to see a divine and immortal soul in a prison of flesh (for so they held the body to be;) but the worst shackles are those of sin. Well, they must shortly fall off; our Lord doth not long intend us for this lower region: surely he is gone to prepare a place for us: yea, and he will come again, and receive us to himself, that where he is, we may be also. And what have we to do, but to believe, and wait, and love, and long, and look out for his coming, in which is all our hope? ’Twill be time enough for us to be preferred then. We know before hand who shall then be uppermost. Our Lord hath shewed us where our places shall be, even at his own right hand; and what he will say to us, _Come ye blessed_. Surely we shall stand in his judgment: he hath promised to stand our friend: let us look for the joyful day: and sure as there is a God, this day will come, and then it shall go well with us. What if bonds and banishment abide us for a season? This is nothing but what our Lord hath told us, _The world shall rejoice, but ye shall lament: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy_. Oh how reviving are his words! _I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you._

If that miserable wretch leapt chearfully off the ladder, saying, _I shall be a queen in hell_: with what joy should we do and suffer for God, knowing that we shall be crowned in heaven? They are wonderful preparations that are making for us: the Lord make us meet to be partakers. *It was the highest commendation that ever that worthy _R. Baxter_ received, which fell from his scoffing adversary _Tilenus, Totum, puritanismum totus spirat_. Oh that this may be true of us and ours!

Let your true yoke-fellow, and my Christian friends with you, have my hearty commendation: and these counsels I pray you give them from me.

1. _To habituate themselves, both as to their thoughts and discourses, more throughly than ever to holiness._ Brethren, I would teach you the lesson that I resolve to learn, that your minds and tongues may as naturally run upon the things of heaven, as others on the things of this world. Why should it not be thus? I am sure God and heaven as well deserve to be thought on, and talked of as froth and vanity. There are many that have in a great measure learnt this lesson, and why should not we? What if it be hard at first? Every thing is so to a beginner. And is not ours a religion of self-denial? If we do but force ourselves awhile to holy thoughts, and heavenly discourse, it will grow habitual to us, and then it will be most natural, familiar, and sweet. O what gainers will you be, if you learn this lesson?

’Tis the shame of religion, that Christians are so unlike themselves, unless upon their knees. Our lives and language should tell the world what we are, and whither we are going. Christians, let little things content you in the world, but aspire after great things in the grace of God. Many little think what high degrees of holiness they may grow up to even in this life with pains and diligence. Sirs, be you men of great designs: think it not enough if you have wherewith to bear your charges to heaven; but aspire to be great in the court of heaven, favourites of the Most High, of tall growth, singular communion, that you may burn and shine in your place, that you may savour of heaven wherever you come, and that there may be an even-spun thread of holiness running through your whole course. ’Tis our disgrace, that there is so little difference to be seen in the ordinary conversation of believers and other men. Is it not a shame, that when we are in company with others, this should be all the difference that is to be seen, that we will not curse and swear? If you will honour the gospel, bring forth your religion out of your closets into your shops, trades, visits, and exemplify the rules of religion in the management of all your relations, and in your ordinary converse. Let there be no place or company that you come into, in which you do not drop something of God; this will be the glory of religion, and we shall never convince the world ’till we come to this. May you come, my brethren, out of your prisons with your faces shining, having your minds seasoned, and your tongues tipt with holiness! May your mouths be as a well of life, from whence may flow the holy streams of edifying discourse! May you ever remember, as you are sitting in your houses, going by the way, lying down, rising up, what the Lord doth then require of you.

2. _To improve their present retirements from the world, for the settling their spiritual estates._ ’Tis a common complaint amongst Christians, that they want assurance. Oh, if any of you that wanted assurance when you came to prison, may carry that blessing out, what happy gainers would you be? Now you are called more than ever to self-searching. Now bring your graces to the touchstone. Be much in self observation. Rest not in probable hopes. Think not that it is enough that you can say, you hope ’tis well. Be restless till you can say, that you know ’tis well; that you know you are passed from death to life.

*Think not that this is a privilege that only a few may expect. Observe but these three things:

1. _To take heed of laying the marks of salvation either too high or too low_;

2. _To be much in observing the frame, and bent, and workings of your own heart_:

3. _To be universally conscientious, and to be constant in even and close walking_, and then I doubt not but you will have a settled assurance, and know and feel that peace of God that passeth all understanding.

I wish your prison may be a paradise of peace, and a _Patmos_ of divine discoveries, _Lord Jesus set to thy Amen_. I am, Sir,

_Your unworthy brother and companion in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus_,

JOS. ALLEINE.

_January 10, 1664._