I THANKFULLY acknowledge, both to God and you, that I am many ways obliged to love and serve you, and surely, when the Lord shall turn our captivity, I will (through his grace) endeavour to shew myself thankful. I am the more sensible of your great love, because I cannot be insensible how little I have been able to do to oblige you. Able, I say, for I am sure I have been willing to be much more serviceable. But now letters and prayers are all that I have for you: of these I shall be ready to be prodigal. I fervently pray, and do not doubt to speed, that you may reap in grace and glory, what you have sown in bounty. _Verily, there is a reward for the righteous._ Ah how sure is it! And how great, and how near! Come on, my dear brethren and fellow-travellers. Stir up yourselves and set to your race. See that you loiter not, but speed in your holy course. What, tire by the way, or think of looking back when heaven is the prize? God forbid. To him that soweth righteousness there shall be a sure reward. What though it should seem slow? As long as it is so sure, and so great, never be discouraged. In the end you shall reap, if you faint not. Wait but awhile, and you shall have a blessed harvest. The Lord speaks to the Christian, as he to his creditor in another case, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Oh for faith and patience! How safely will these carry us to the harbour, thro’ all difficulties. Brethren, be ye followers of them, who thro’ faith and patience inherit the promises. It is want of patience that undoes the world. Patience I mean, not so much in the bearing the afflictive evil, as in waiting for the deferred good. If the reward of religion were in hand, who would not be religious? But the Lord deals all upon trust, and on that account is but little dealt with. You must plow and sow, and wait for the return of all at the harvest, when this life is ended. They that like not religion upon these terms, may see where they can mend their markets. But you, my brethren, be stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as ye know your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Wait a little; there is but a short life between you, and the blessed inheritance of glory. Ah wretched unbelievers! How worthy are you to be shut for ever out of the kingdom, that did so undervalue all the glory that God had promised, as not to count it sufficient to pay you for a little waiting? Beloved, lift up your eyes, and behold your inheritance, the good land that is beyond Jordan, and that goodly mountain. The promises are a map of heaven. Do but view it believingly and considerately, as it is drawn there, and tell me, what think you of that worthy portion, that goodly heritage? Will not all this make you amends for your stay? Why then act like believers. Never think much of the pains and expences of religion. Let no man think he shall come off a loser. What though you are much upon the