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.

LETTER, 1.

To his Wife to Dispose her to his Acceptance of Taun∣ton, on small Maintenance.

My Dear Heart.

BY this time I hope thou hast received mine by Martin, and also an Answer touching their Resolution at Taun∣ton. My thoughts have been much upon that Business of late, so small as the outward Incouragements in point of Maintenance are, and methinks I find my heart much Inclin∣ing that way. I will tell thee the Principles upon which I go.

First, I say this for a Foundation, That a mans Life con∣sisteth not in the Abundance of the things that he possesseth. It was accounted a wise Prayer that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 put up of old, that he might only be Fed with Food convenient for him. And certain it is that where men have least of the World; they esteem it least, and live more by Faith and in dependance

upon God, casting their care and burden upon him. O the sweet breathings of Davids soul! the strong actings of his Faith and Love, that we find come from him, when his condition was low and mean in the World. How close∣ly doth he cling? How fully doth he Relie upon God? The Holy Ghost seems to make it a Priviledge to be brought to a necessity of living by Faith, as, I think, I have formerly hintted thee, out of Deut. 11. 10. 11. where Canaan is pre∣fer'd before AEgypt, in regard of its dependance upon God for the former and latter Rain, which in AEgypt they could live without, and have supplies from the River. And cer∣tainly could we that are unexperienced, but feel the Thorns of those cares and troubles that there are in gathering and keeping much, and the danger when Riches increase of setting our hearts upon them, we should prize the happiness of a middle condition much before it. Doubtless, Godliness with contentment, is great gain. Seekest thou great things for thy self (saith the Prophet to Baruch) seek them not. Certainly a good Conscience is a continual Feast, and enough for a happy Life: no man that Wareth intangleth himself with the affairs of this Life, that he may please him who hath cho∣sen him to be a Souldier. We should be but little Incumbred with the things of this World, and withal free from a World of Intanglements, which in a great place committed wholly to our charge, would be upon our Consciences as no small Burden.

Secondly, I take this for an undoubted truth, that a dram of Grace, is better than a Talent of Wealth; and therefore such a place where our Consciences would be free, and we had little to do in the World to take off our hearts and thoughts from the things of Eternity, and had the advan∣tage of abundance of means, and the daily opportunities of warming our hearts with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Society and Conference of Heavenly Christians, and no temptations to carry us away, nor discouragements in our walking with God, and the due performance of our duty is (if we pass a true and Spiritual Judgement, as the Holy Ghost in Scripture would) without comparison before another place, void of those Spi∣ritual helps and advantages. Let us think with our selves, what though our Purses, our Estates, may thrive better

in a place of a larger maintenance? yet where are our graces, our souls, like to thrive any way answerable to what they are in this? We should have but little in the World, and we could live hereafter; but alas, what is this if it be made up to us, as it will surely be in Communion with God and his People? If we thrive in Faith, and Love, Humility, and Heavenly mindedness, as above all places I know we are likely to do there, what matter is it though we do not raise our selves in the World? the thing it may well be accounted but mean; but alas, let us look upon it with a spiritual Eye, and then we shall pass another Judgement of it. Oh! who would leave so much Grace, and so much comfort in Com∣munion with Christ and his Saints, as we may gain there, for the probabilities of living with a little more gentility and handsomness in the world? 'Tis a strange thing to see how Christians generally do judge so carnally of things, looking to the things that are seen and Temporal, and not the things that will stick by us to Eternity. What is it worth a year? is the Maintenance certain and sure? What charges are there like to be? these are the questions we commonly ask first, when we speak of setling. But alas, though those things are duly to be considered too, yet what good am I like to do? what good am I like to get? (Both which questions I think might be as comfortably Answered concerning this, as any place in Eng∣land;) These should be the main Interrogatories, and the chief things we should judge of a place to settle in by. What if we have but a little in the World? Why then we must keep but a short Table, and shall make but a little noise in the World, and must give the meaner entertainments to our Friends. O but will not this be abundantly made up, if we have more outward and inward Peace, as we may well count we shall have. One dram of saving Grace will weigh down all this. Let others 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselves in their Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, in their sat Livings, and their large Tables, and their great resort, is we have more of the Light of Gods Counte∣nance, more grace, more comfort, who would change with them? surely if Paul were to chuse a Place, he would not look so much what 'twas a year, but would wish us to take that where we might be most likely to save our own and others Souls.

Thirdly, That the best and the surest way to have any out∣ward Mercy, is to be content to want it. When mens desires are over-eager after the World, they much have thus much a Year, and a House well Furnished, and Wife, and Children, thus and thus Qualified, or else they will not be content; God doth usually, if not constantly, break their wills by de∣nying them, as one would cross a froward Child of his stub∣born humour: Or else puts a sting into them, that a man had been as good he had been without them, as a man would give a thing to a froppish Child, but it may be with a knock on his Fingers, and a frown to boot. The best way to get Riches, is out of doubt to set them lowest in ones desires. Solomon found it so: Alas, he did not ask Riches, but Wis∣dom and Ability, to discharge his great Trust; but God was so pleased with his Prayer, that he threw in them into the Bargain. If we seek the Kingdom of God, and his Righteous∣ness in the first place, and leave other things to him, God will not stand with us for these outwards, though we never ask them we shall have them as over measure; God will throw them in as the Vantage. And to this suits the Experience of our dear Honorathius: And indeed (saith he, speaking of God) Honorathius finds that his onely hiding place and re∣fuge, and a place of Succour, from the Storms that fall upon him, and hath had such Helps at dead lift there, that he is engaged for ever to trust there. For when he hath been lowest, and in the greatest straights, he hath gone and made his moan Heaven-ward, with free submission to the rightful disposer of all things, and he hath been so liberally supplied, as makes him very confident the best way to obtain any Mer∣cy, or supply, is to be content to be without it: And he is perswaded nothing sets Gods Mercies farther off, than want of free submission to want them. Certainly, God will never be behind hand with us. Let our care be to Build his House, and let him alone to build ours.

Fourthly, That none ever was, or ever shall be, a loser by Jesus Christ. Many have lost much for him, but never did, ne∣ver shall any lose by him. Take this for a certainty, whatsoever probabilities of outward Comforts we leave, whatsoever out∣ward advantages we balk, that we may glorifie him in our Services, and enjoy him in his Ordinances more than other∣where

we could, we shall receive an hundred fold in this Life. 'Tis a sad thing to see how little Christ is trusted or believed in the World: Men will trust him no farther than they can see him, and will leave no work for Faith. Alas, hath he not a thousand ways, both outward and inward, to make up a little outward disadvantage to us? What doth our Faith serve for? Have any ventured themselves upon him in his way, but he made good every word of the Promise to them? let us therefore exercise our Faith, and stay our selves upon the Promise, and see if ever we are ashamed of our hope.

Fifthly, That what is wanting in the means, God will make up in the blessing. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 take for a certain truth, while a man commits himself and his affairs to God, and is in a way that God put him into: Now if a man have but a little In∣come, if he have a great Blessing, that's enough to make it up. Alas, we must not account Mercies by the Bulk. What if another have a Pound to my Ounce, if mine be Gold for his Silver, I will never change with him. As 'tis not Bread that keeps men alive, but the Word of Blessing that proceedeth out of his Mouth of God; so 'tis not the largeness of the Means, but the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich. Oh! if men did but believe this, they would not grasp so much of the World as they do. Well, let others take their course, and we will take ours, to wait upon God by Faith and Prayer, and rest in his Promise; and I am confident that is the way to be provided for: Let others toyl to enlarge their Income, (but alas, they will find they go not the right way to work) we will bless God to enlarge our blessing, and I doubt not but we shall prove the Gainers.

Sixthly, That every Condition hath its Snares, Crosses, and troubles, and therefore we may not expect to be with∣out them where ever we be, onely that condition is most eli∣gible that hath fewest and least. I cannot Object any thing against the Proposal of Taunton, but the meaness of the Main∣tenance; but if our Income be but short, we can I hope be content to live answerably, we must fare the meaner, that will be all the inconvenience that Animal know, and truly I hope we are not of the nature of that Animal, that hath his Heart in his Belly. I know how Daniel thrived by his Water

and Pulse, and think a mean Diet is as wholsome to the bo∣dy, yea, and sarless hurtful than a full and liberal is; and perswade my self it would be no such hard matter for us con∣rentedly to deny our Flesh in this respect. But let us con∣sider how little and utterly inconsiderable this Inconveni∣ence is, in comparison of those we must reckon upon meet∣ing with, if God cast us into another place, and whether this be not a great deal less than the trouble we shall have for want of comfortable and Christian Society, for want of the frequent and quickening means we shall here have, in wrangling and contending with the Covetous, or else losing our dues, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and malicious Re∣ports, that are we see raised upon the best by the wicked in most places, in their contentions about their right to the Sacraments, in our Intanglement in the cares and troubles of this life, &c. all which we should be here exempted from. Upon these and the like cousiderations, I find my heart very much inclined to accept of their offer at Taunton. I beseech thee to weigh, and throughly consider the matter, and tell me impartially thy thoughts, and which way thy Spirit in∣clines, for I have always resolved the place I settled in should be thy choice, and to thy content. The least intimation of thy will to the contrary, shall overballance all my thoughts of settling there, for I should account it the greatest unhap∣piness if I should thus settle, and thou shouldst afterwards be discontented at the straightness of our condition. But I need not have Wrote this, hadst not thou fully signified thy mind already to me, I had never gone so far as I have. Well, the Lord whose we are, and whom we serve, do with us as it shall seem good unto him. We are always as mindful as is possible of thee here, both together and apart. Captain Luke desired me to intreat thee to meet him one two Hours in a Day, for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Mercies upon the twenty third Day of every Month. Send word to me of their Resolution at Taunton, in two Letters, least possibly one should miscarry, though never a one did yet. I dare not think of settling under sixty Pound at Taunton, and surely it cannot be less. I have Written as well as I could on a suddeu my Mind to thee, I have been so large in

delivering my Judgement, that I must thrust up my Af∣fections into a Corner. Well, though they have but a corner in my Letter, I am sure they have room enough in my heart: But I must conclude; The Lord keep thee my Dear, and cherish thee for ever in his Bosom. Fare∣well mine own Soul.

I am as ever Thine own Heart. JOSEPH ALLEINE.

Oxon, May 27. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.