TO THE TRULY CHRISTIAN MERCHANTS AND OTHER CITIZENS Or LONDON. As my .disease, and the restraint of rulers, seem to tell me that my pulpit work is at an end, so also my abode among you, or in this world, cannot be long. What work I have lived for, I have given the world more durable notice than transient words: it bath been such as men in power were, against, and, it seems, will no longer endure. What doctrine it was that I last pre- pared for you, I thought meet to desire the press thus to tell you ; not to vindicate myself, nor to characterize them who think that it deserves six months' imprisonment, but to be in your hands, a provocation and direction ;" for that great work of a Christian life, sincerely done, will prepare you for that safety, joy, and glory, which London, England, or earth will not afford, and which men or devils cannot take from you. When, through the meritorious righteousness of Christ, your holy love and good works to him in his. brethren shall make you the joyful objects of that sentence, "Come, ye blessed, in- herit the kingdom," lac. ; this is the life that need not be repent- ed of, as spent in vain. Dear friends, in this farewell, I return you my most hear- ty thanks for your extraordinary love and kindness to my- self, much more for your love to Christ, and to his ser- vants, who have more needed your relief. God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love. You have visited those that others imprisoned, and fed those that others brought into want ; and when some ceased not to preach for our affliction, it quenched not your impartial charity. It has been an unspeak- able mercy untome almost all my days, (when I received noth- ing from them) to have known so great a number as I have VOL. II. 68
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