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LETTER XXII. [Christian Care, Faith, Self-denial.]
To the most Beloved People, the Servants of God in Taunton, Salvation:
Most endeared Christians,
THe reason why my Letters have not of late come so thick as formerly to you, is not because I forget to love you, and to care for you; but because I have been busily taken up in other Labors of sundry kinds for you. I am yours, and love to be so, being ambitious not to have dominion over your faith, but to be a helper of your Joy. Christs Officers are so your Ru∣lers in the Lord, as yet to Preach not themselves, but the Lord Jesus Christ, and themselves your Servants for Jesus sake. I have no greater felicity under God, than to serve the good of Souls. Brethren beloved, How fares it with your Souls? Are they in Health? Do they prosper? I wish your Tem∣poral prosperity. It is a joy to me to hear when your Trade doth flourish: But these are but very little things if we look into Eternity. Brethren, my ambition for you is, that you should be Cedars among the Shrubs, that from you should found out the Word of the Lord, and that in every place your Faith to God-ward should be spread abroad. That Taunton should be as a Field that the Lord hath blessed: That you should not onely have the Name, but the Spirit, Life, Power, Heat, Growth, Vigour of Christianity among you. Let not Taunton onely have the Name to live, and be noted for the Profession of Religion, but see to it my Bre∣thren, that the Kingdom of God be with you: Oh that every one of your Souls might be a Temple of God! Oh that every one of your Families might be a Church of God! Beloved,