and daughters, who must be taught these things betimes, and for your friends, who will be invited hither for your sake. They that know you not, will think I have taken too much liberty, and spoken too much both of you and to you. But I appeal from such: They that know not how easily you can pardon any one, except yourself, will aggravate the` weaknesses which your charity will cover. I was purposely the longer, because the treatise is defective; and if one kingdom do not hold us, and I should see your face no more on earth, yet till we meet in the glorious, everlasting kingdom, we shall have frequent converse by such means as these, notwithstanding our corporal distance. And as I am assured of a room in your frequent prayers, so I hope I shall remain,

Madam,

Your faithful servant,

And remembrancer at the throne of grace,

August 25, 1661.

RICHARD BAXTER.

POSTSCRIPT.

MADAM,

SINCE the writing of this epistle, finding you under the afflicting hand of God, I thought meet to remember you of what you know, That God thus traineth up his children for their rest: "Whom he loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If we endure chastening, God dealeth with us as with children: and if we be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then we are bastards and not sons." (Heb. xii. 6, 7, 8.) The same flesh that would be pleased, will grudge when it is displeased; and that which is our enticing enemy in prosperity, will be our disturbing enemy in adversity. "As fleshly minds misjudge of the law and service of God, and cannot be subject, because of the enmity against him," (Rom. viii. 7,) so do they misjudge of his chastisements: and so far as they participate of this disease, the best will be repining, and tempted to unworthy thoughts of God. Even innocent nature is loath to suffer; Christ himself saith, "If it be thy will, let this cup pass from me:" and nature, so far as it is corrupted,

is yet much more averse, because the flesh is more inordinately desirous of its ease, and passion more turbulent when it is denied; and the soul hath less apprehension and relish of that love of God, which is the cause and end, and should sweeten all to a reconciled well composed mind: and it is also less satisfied in the will of God, and it is less subject to it; and patience is defective, because of the weakness of the graces that should support us. Besides which also, a tenderness of spirit, and overmuch sensibility, fears and trouble, are ordinary effects of the weak and tender nature of man, especially of the more weak and tender sex. And when all these concur, (the averseness of the most innocent nature, the remnants of sin, and the special tenderness of your nature and sex) your burden and trial is much the greater, and your grief must needs be much the more. But, I beseech you, remember, that you have not to do with an enemy, but a Father that knoweth what he doth, and meaneth you no hurt, but that which is the fittest means to your good, and to your escaping greater hurt; that loveth you no less in the greatest of your pain and danger, than in the greatest of your prosperity and peace. "That you have a Head in heaven that was partaker with us of flesh and blood, that he might deliver us from our bondage, which we are in through the fear of death, who was made perfect by suffering, and is not ashamed to call us brethren; being in all things made like unto us, that he might be a merciful and faithful high-priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for our sins, who, in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, is able to succour them that are tempted," (Heb. ii. 10, 11. 14, 15. 17, 18.) We have not an high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted or tried as we are, but without sin. He that himself, in the days of his flesh, did offer up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, to him that was able to save him from death,' (Heb. v. 7,) will not be angry if his servants complain and cry to him in their suffering. He that cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!" will pity his poor distressed members, and not forsake them, when they think themselves forsaken: and if they go beyond their bounds. in their complainings, he will not therefore disregard their moans: but he that honoured the patience of Job, though

he so passionately cursed the day of his birth, will love the faith and patience of his people, notwithstanding the mixtures of unbelief and impatience; he is ready with his gracious excuse," (Matt. xxvi. 41,) "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak;" and he considereth that our "strength and flesh is not of stones or brass." (Job vi. 12.) "6 'He will therefore revive the spirit of the contrite, and will not contend for ever, nor be always wroth, lest the spirit should fail before him, and the souls which he hath made," (Isa. lvii. 15, 16.) "And though no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; yet the end is, that he may make us partakers of his holiness, and afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby." (Heb. xii. 10, 11.) "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him." (James i. 12.) "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teacheth him out of thy law, that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked: for the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance." (Psal. xciv. 12, 13, 14.)

Madam, If nothing in all the world be more certain, than that there is a God, who is true and just, and delighteth in his people when they are lowest in the world: If nothing be more sure, than that there is a heaven for persevering penitent believers than are our arguments for the comfort of God's afflicted ones, no fancies, but fetched as from the highest excellencies, so from the surest realities that ever were presented to the understanding of a man. And though the best of saints have been put to wrestle with the temptations that arise from the adversity of believers, and the prosperity of the wicked, yet this is still the result of all their perplexing thoughts; "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Though sometimes their feet are almost gone, and their paths do well nigh slip, and they are ready to say, we have cleansed our hearts in vain, and washed our hands in innocency; for all the day are we plagued, and chastened every morning; yet they soon learn in the sanctuary of God, that the wicked are set in slippery places, and cast down into destruction, and brought to desolation as in a moment, and utterly consumed with terrors

as a dream when one awaketh, so the Lord when he awaketh, will despise their image." (Psal. lxxiii.) "But mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." (Psal. xxxvii. 37.) Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil: but though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know, that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him." (Eccles. viii. 11, 12.) If not here, yet certainly at last all shall say, “ Verily there is a reward for the righteous," (Psal. lviii. 11.) "Rest therefore in the Lord, and wait patiently for him; commit your way to him; trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass: for the needy shall not alway be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever." (Psal. ix. 18.) How happy are you, that God doth thus save you from the temptations of prosperity, which you see befool and undo so many before your eyes! And that you are not left in the number of those that are men of the world, which have their portion in this life! (Psal. xvii. 14,) “and are given up to their own heart's lusts, to walk in their own counsels," (Psal. lxxxi. 12,) and must-hear at last, "Remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedest thy good things," but that here you have your evils, and shall be comforted when the now prosperous wicked are tormented. (Luke xvi. 25.) If heaven be enough to make you a felicity, and eternity be long enough for your fruition of it, then never think hardly of God for any of his chastisements.. Lazarus repenteth not there that he was poor; nor Job that he was covered with sores; nor David, that he washed his couch with tears, and that his sore ran and ceased not. The longest of our sorrows will there be reviewed, as short in respect of our endless joys; and the sharpest of our pains as nothing to those pleasures. Madam, experience as well as faith assureth me, that it is good for us that we are afflicted; and though for the sake of others, I shall earnestly beseech the Lord, that he will not unseasonably remove such as you from this unworthy generation; yet I doubt not but your removal and sufferings in the way, will advantage you for your everlasting rest. And for myself, I desire, that my lot may still fall with those that follow Christ through tribulation, bearing the cross, and crucified to the world, and waiting for his ap

pearance, desiring to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord; and not with those that are fed as beasts for the slaughter, and prosper a while in their iniquity, till sudden destruction come upon them, and at last their sins do find them out, "when the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psal. ix. 17; Numb. xxxii. 23; 1 Thess. v. 3; Phil. iii. 19.) And that these words of life may be engraven upon my heart, (Psal. Ixiii. 3,) Thy lovingkindness is better than life;" (Psal. Ixxiii. 26;) "My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever;" (Rom. viii. 28;) All things work together for good to them that love God ;” (John xiv. 19;) Because I live, ye shall live also ;" (Col. iii. 3,4;)" Our life is hid with Christ in God: when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory; and that I may be fit for the title of the beloved apostle, (Rev. i. 9,) though as a servant to you and the Church of God,

Your Brother and Companion in Tribulation, and

in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ,

Nov. 1, 1661.

RICH. BAXTER,