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LETTER XXXI.
To the most endeared People, the Inhabitants of Taunton, Salvation:
Most dearly Beloved and longed for, my Joy and Crown,
MY Hearts desire and Prayer for you is, that you may be saved. This is that which I have been Praying and Studying, and Preaching for these many Years; and this is the end of my Venturing, and Suffering, and Writing at this present time. God that knoweth all things, he knoweth that this is my 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Oh that I could but come 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Souls! And that this is the Pride and the Gain that I 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 I might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Souls. I seek 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other Gifts, give 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your Hearts, let me but part between your sins and You 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me but to save You; give me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to carry you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jesus Christ, and I will not ask you any more. I will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 You 〈◊〉〈◊〉, I will suffer for You thankfully, so I may but save You. Do not wonder why I follow you 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 I call upon you so frequently 〈◊〉〈◊〉; not my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be grievous to You, all this is but to save You. Christ did not bethink his Blood, and shall I bethink my Breath, or Ink, too 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in order to your Salvation 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 is it, that any of You should miscarry 〈◊〉〈◊〉, under the power of Igno∣rance, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a prophane Negligence, or a formal and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Profession of strict God liness.
Beloved, I am afraid of You lest (as to many of You) I have run in vain. I cannot but most thankfully acknow∣ledg, that (considering the Paucity of those that are saved) there are not a few of You who are the Joy of your Ministers, and the Glory of Christ. But it cannot be dissembled, that far the greater number give little ground to Hope, that they