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 fidelity, and zeal, in adhering to him, and his ways, even in such a time as this; you are highly favoured. Blessed be the Lord God of _Israel_, that he hath regarded 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 waste, nor the oil in the cruise to fail_, but hath continually provided for you. How should I love and bless the Lord for this his great grace towards you? 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 days_. But as _Job_ had a holy fear of his children, lest they should have offended: so I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, lest any of you should receive this grace of God in vain. I must not cease to put you mind, that God doth look for no small matter from you. Remember my charge, that there be not a barren tree nor a dwarf Christian among you; where the Lord soweth much, he expects 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 the awakening question to you, What do you more than others? God doth expect more of his people, than of any others in the world: and well he may. For