Vol 16 - TO ROBERT LENOX, OF DISDOVE.

TO ROBERT LENOX, OF DISDOVE.
DEAR BROTHER,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I beseech you in the LORD JESUS, make sure work of life eternal. Sow not rotten seed; every man's work will speak for itself, what his seed has been. O how many see I, who sow to the flesh! Alas, what a crop will that be, when the LORD shall put in his hook to reap this world, which is ripe and white for judgment! I recommend to you sanctification, and that you keep yourself clean from this present evil world. We delight to tell our own dreams, and to flatter our flesh with the hope we have. It were wisdom for us to be free, plain, honest, and sharp with our own souls; and to charge them to brew better, that they may drink well, and fare well, when time is melted away like snow in summer. O how hard a thing is it, to get the soul to give up all things on this side death and doomsday! We say, we are going from this world, but our heart stirreth not a foot, off its seat. Alas! I see few heavenly minded souls, that have nothing upon the earth but their body of clay going up and down, because their soul and the powers of it are up in heaven, and there their hearts live, desire, enjoy, rejoice. Oh! men's souls have no wings; and therefore night and day they keep their nest, and are not acquainted with CHRIST. Sir, take you to your one thing, to CHRIST, that you may be acquainted with his sweetness and excellency; and charge your love not to dote upon this world, for it will not do your business in that day, when nothing will come in but GOD’s favor. Build upon CHRIST, for when your soul for many years has wandered through the creatures, ye will come home again with the wind. They are not good,—at least not the soul's good: it is the infinite Godhead that must allay the sharpness of your hunger after happiness; otherwise there shall still be a want of satisfaction to your desires. And, if he would cast in ten worlds, all shall fall through, and your soul shall still cry hunger, black hunger: but, I am sure, there is sufficient for you in CHRIST. O that I could make my Lord JESUS lovely, desirable, and fair to all the world! O let my part of heaven go for it, so he would take my tongue to be his instrument, to set out CHRIST in his whole love, grace, sweetness, and glory, to the eyes and hearts of Jews and Gentiles! But " who is sufficient for these things " O for the help of Angels' tongues, to make CHRIST amiable to many thousands! O how little does this. world see of him, and how far are they from the love of him, seeing there is so much loveliness, beauty, and sweetness in CHRIST, which no created eye did ever yet see! I would that all men knew his glory, and that I could introduce many to his presence, to see his beauty, and to be partakers of his high, deep, and broad, and boundless love. O let all the world come near, and see CHRIST; and they shall then see more than I can say of him! O that I had a pledge to lay down for a seafull of his love; and that I could obtain so much of CHRIST, as would satisfy my longing for him, or rather increase it, till it were in full possession! I know we shall meet; and therein I rejoice. Sir, stand fast in the truth of CHRIST, which ye have received. Yield not to winds, but ride out; and let CHRIST be your anchor. Pray for me his prisoner, and that the LORD would send me among you to feed his people. Grace, grace be with you!
Yours in his LORD JESUS,
S. R.