MY heart’s desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved. I know that you are the butt of men’s rage and malice: but you may satisfy yourselves as _David_ in sustaining _Shimei_’s curses: it may be the Lord will look upon your affliction, and requite good for their cursing this day. But however that be, hold on your way. Your name indeed is cast out as evil, and you are hated of all men for Christ’s sake, for cleaving to his ways and servants: but let not this discourage you, for you are now more than ever blessed: only hold fast, that no man take your crown. Let not any that have begun in the spirit end in the flesh. Do not forsake God, till he forsake you; he that endureth to the end shall be saved: the promise is to him that overcometh; therefore think not of looking back: now you have set your hands to Christ’s plough, though you labour and suffer, the crop will pay for all: now the Lord is trying who they be that will trust him. The world are all for a present pay; they must have something in hand, and will not follow the Lord when there are hazard and hardship in his service. But now is the time for you, to prove yourselves believers, when there is nothing visible but hazard and expence, and difficulty in your Maker’s service. Now, my brethren, stand fast in faith, quit you like men, be strong: if you can trust in his promises now, when nothing appears but bonds, and losses, and tribulation, this will be like believers. *Brethren, I beseech you to reckon upon no other but crosses here. Let none of you flatter yourselves with dreams of sleeping in your ease, and temporal prosperity, and carrying heaven too. Count not upon rest till you come to the land of promise. Not that I would have any of you to run upon hazards uncalled: no, we shall meet them soon enough in the way of our duty, without we turn aside: but I would have you cast over-board your worldly hopes, and be content to wait till you come on the other side the grave. Is it not enough to have a whole eternity of happiness? If God throws in the comforts of this life too, I would not have you throw them back again, or despise the goodness of the Lord: but I would, that you should use this world, as not abusing it, that you should be crucified to the world, and the world to you; that you should declare plainly that you seek a better country, which is an heavenly. Ah! my dear brethren, I beseech you carry it like pilgrims and strangers; abstain from fleshly lusts which war against your souls; for what have we to do with the customs and fashions of this world, who are strangers in it? Be contented with travellers lots: know you not that you are in a strange land? All is well as long as it is well at home; I pray you brethren, daily consider your condition: Do you not remember that you are at an inn? And what though you be but meanly accommodated? Though you fare hard, and lie hard! Is this a strange thing? What should travellers look for else? Indeed if you were