_To the beloved friends, the flock of Christ in |Taunton|, salvation._ _Most dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown_: I MUST say of you as _David_ did of _Jonathan_, Very pleasant have you been unto me, and your love to me is wonderful. And as I have formerly taken great content in that my lot was cast among you, so I rejoice in my present lot, that I am called to approve my love to you by suffering for you; for you, I say; for you know I have not sought your’s but you; and that for doing my duty to your souls, I am here in these bonds, which I chearfully accept through the grace of God that strengtheneth me: Oh! that your hands might be strengthened, and your hearts encouraged in the Lord your God by our sufferings! See to it, that you stand fast in the power of the holy doctrine, which we have preached from the pulpit, preached at the bar; preached from the prison: it is a gospel worth suffering for: see that you follow after holiness, without which no man shall see God! Oh the madness of the blind world, that they should put from them the only plank upon which they can escape to heaven! Alas for them! They know not what they do. What would not these foolish virgins do, when it is too late, for a little of the oil of the wise! But let not any of you be wise too late: look diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God. Beware that none of you be cheated through the deceitfulness of your hearts, with counterfeit grace. There is never a grace but hath its counterfeit; and there is nothing more common, than to mistake counterfeit grace for true. And remember you are undone for ever, if you should die in such a mistake. Not that I would shake the confidence of any sound believer, whose graces are of the right kind: build your confidence sure: see that you get the certain marks of salvation, and make sure, by observing your own hearts, that these marks be in you, and then you cannot be too confident. But as you love your souls, take heed of a groundless confidence. Take heed of being confident before you have tried. I would fain have you all secured against the day of judgment; I would that the state of your souls were all well settled: Oh how comfortably might you think of any troubles, if you were but sure of your pardons! I beseech you, whatever you neglect, look to this: I am afraid there are among you that have not made your peace with God; that are not yet acquainted with that great work of conversion: such I charge before the living God, to speed to Christ, and without any more delay to put away their iniquities, and deliver up themselves to Jesus Christ, that they may be saved. It is not your profession or external duties, that will save you: no, no, you must be converted or condemned. It is not enough that you have some love to God’s ways and people, and are willing to venture something for them; all this will not prove you sound Christians: Have your hearts