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LETTER XIX. [1. Try. 2. Rejoyce.]
To the most Loving, and best Beloved, the Flock of Christ in Taunton, Grace and Peace.
Most endeared Friends,
MY heart is solicitous for You: Your Spiritual and E∣ternal welfare is the matter of my desires and designes. Let not my Beloved think they were forgotten by me, be∣cause you heard not from me the last Week: sleep depart∣ed from my eyes to write to you at large; but in the morn∣ing I concluded it best, to defer the imparting of it to You for a season, that you might have it a better way. Can a wo∣man forget her Child, that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb? Yea, they may forget; but Christ will earnestly remember You still. Natural Parents may be so far unnatural; spiritual Parents may be so far carnal, as to forget their own Children: I would have you count nothing as certain but Christs love and care. This you may build upon: You need not fear lest time and distance should wear out the remembrance of you with him: Your names are in∣rolled in the everlasting Decrees of Heaven, and a whole E∣ternity hath not been able to wear them out. Do any of you Question whether you are so happy as to have your Names recorded above? I shall bring it to a speedy issue: Do you Question whether Christ hath taken your Names? Whe∣ther you are upon his heart? Let me ask you, Is Heaven upon your Hearts? Is the Name of Jesus deeply engraven upon your Souls? Is his Image and Superscription there? If you can find that Heaven is the main of your cares, that your hearts are set upon it as your home and your Countrey; and that it is your great business to seek it and to secure it, then