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 XXI. [What do you more than others?]

To the most Dearly Beloved, the Servants in Taun∣ton, Grace and Peace.

Most loving and entirely Beloved,

YOu are a great Joy to me. I know not what thanks to render to the Lord for you, when I hear of your Constancy, and Pidelity, and Zeal, in adhering to him, and his Ways, even in such a time as this, you are highly favour∣ed, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that he hath regard∣ed the low Estates of his Servants: That he should ever Indulge you as he hath, and Hover over you, even as the Eagle stirreth up her Nest, and fluttereth over her Young, spreadeth abroad her Wings, taketh them, beareth them on her Wings, for so hath the Lord your God dealt with You: He hath kept you as the Apple of his Eye, and since the Streams of Cherith were dried up, yet to this day he hath not suffered the handful of Meal to wast, nor the Oyl in the Cruse to fail, but (though you have no certainty to trust to) hath continually provided for you to the full. How should I love and bless the Lord for this his great Grace to∣wards you, while I live! Now I beseech you my Brethren, that you consider the Kindness of the Lord; for the Lord your God is he that careth for you, and that you love the Lord your God, and fear him for ever, for he is your Life, and the Length of your Daies. And as Job had a holy fear of his Children, least they should have offended: So my most dearly Beloved, I am jealous of you with a Godly jea∣lousie, lest any of you should receive this Grace of God in vain. I must not cease to put you in mind, that God doth look for no small matters from You. Remember my most

endeared Charge, that the Lord doth look for singular things from you, that there be not a barren Tree, nor a Dwarf Christian among you; where the Lord doth strow much, he looks to gather much; and where he soweth much, he ex∣pects to reap accordingly. Whose account my Beloved, is like to be so great as yours? O look about you, and think of the Master coming to Reckon with you for his Talents; when he will expect no small increase. Beloved, what can you do? How much are you grown? What spoil have you made upon your Corruptions? What progress in Grace?

Suppose Christ should put that awakening Question to you, What do you more than others? Beloved, God doth expect more of his People, than of any others in the World besides: And well he may. For

First, He hath bestowed more on them than on others: Now where much is given, much shall be required; Can you think of that without trembling? He hath bestowed on them singular Love more than on others; You only have I known of all the Families on Earth. He hath a distinguishing Love and Favour for his People, and he looks that his Love should be a constraining Argument to Obedience. Again he hath laid out a singular care on his People, more than on others: He cares for no man, for nothing in all the World, in com∣parison of them. He reproveth Kings for their sakes. He will give Nations, and Kingdomes for their Ransome. So precious are they in his sight, and so dearly Beloved, that he will give men for them, and People for their Life. He withdraweth not his Eyes from the Righteous, he will not indure them out of his sight. The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous, and first the Eye of his more accurate Observation: God can wink at others as it were, and over∣look what they do with little notice, but he hath a most cu∣rious eye upon his People, he marketh their steps, and booketh their words, he weigheth their Actions, and pondereth all their goings. And should not they walk more cautiously, and charily, than any alive, that are under so exact and cu∣rious an Eye? Secondly the Eye of special Care, and Pro∣tection. Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him. I will guide thee with mine Eye: And should not they be infinitely tender and careful how to please the Lord,

who have his singular Care laid out on them? In short, God hath bestowed on them singular Priviledges more than others: These are a peculiar Treasure to him above all Peo∣ple, a Kingdome of Priests, an Holy Nation, a singular sepa∣rated People, they dwell alone, they are diverse from all People: When the whole World lies in wickedness, these are Called and Chosen, and Faithful, Washed and justified, and Sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. The rest are the Refuse: These the Jew∣els: These are taken, and they are left. Shall not Gods Priests be Cloathed with Righteousness, and shall not Princes Live above the rate of Peasants?

Secondly. He hath intrusted them with more than others: Not onely with the Talents of his Grace (for the increase whereof they must give a strict account) but also with the Jewel of his Glory. How tenderly should they walk, that are entrusted with such a Jewel? Remember, your Makers Glory is bound up in your fruitful walking.

Thirdly, He hath qualified them more than others. He hath put into them a Principle of Life, having quickned them to∣gether with Christ. He hath set up a Light in their Minds, when others lie in Darkness. He hath given them other Aids, than others have, even his Spirit to help their Infirmities, when others lie like Vessels that are Windbound, and can∣not stir.

Fourthly, He hath provided for them other manner of things than for others. These are the little Flock to whom it is his good pleasure to give the Kingdom; great are the preparations for them. The Father hath prepared the King∣dome for them from the Foundations of the World: The Son is gone to Heaven on purpose to prepare a place for them: The Spirit is preparing them, and making them meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: And should these be like other People?

Brethren beloved, God and Men do expect you should do more than others, see that that you be indeed singular. For

1. If you do no more for God than others, he will do more against you then others: You onely have I known, there∣fore will I punish you. The barren Tree in the Vineyard must down, whereas had he been in the Common he might have

stood much longer. God looked for Grapes from his Vine∣yard, on which he had bestowed such Care and Cost more than ordinary, but when they bring forth wild Grapes, he will lay them waste in a worse manner than the Forrest. When Christ came to the Figg-tree seeking Fruit, and met with none, he Curst it from the Root, whereas had it been a Thorn or Bramble, it might have stood as before.

2. If you do no more than others, you must look for no more than others: If you should put off God with a common Obedience, you must expect to be put off with common Mercies.

3. Except you do more than others, God will be disho∣noured more by you than others.

I have been too long with you, but I am earnestly desi∣rous you should be sensible of Gods extraordinary Expecta∣tions from you. And truly, as God looks for more from his own than others, so he looks for more from you than others, even of his own, because that he hath done more: See that you be shining Christians, that you be strong in the Grace of God; that you press toward the Mark. But I must con∣clude; I give my Loves among you all, being able to add no more, but that I am

Yours in servent Loves and Longings, JOS. ALLEINE.

From the Prison at Juelchester, January 2. 1663.