Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v3

COLLIER. 29 the churches in other places. I am not yet got so far as London; but I shall, I expect, to-morrow. Dearly beloved, my desire and prayer to our Father, on your behalf, is, that your souls may be satisfied with his fulness, that you may live above, and then you shall not want comfort. My ex- hortation to you is, to wait upon the Lord, in his own way, and not to look forth into the world. There is bread enough in your Father's house, where he bath promised his presence. Though you seem to want gifts, yet you shall not want the presence of your Father, your Jesus, if you wait upon him. There are two brethren I suppose will visit you from Hampton; brother Sims and brother Row, whom I desire you to receive as from the Lord. The unlimited power of the presbyterians is denied them, of which you shall hear more shortly. I desire to be remembered to all my kind friends with you, and at present rest " Your dear brother in the faith and fellowshipof the gospel, " THOMAS COLLIER. In a note to the above letter, Mr. Collier says, " I shall see you as speedily as possible." His second letter breathes the same pious feelings, and is also addressed " To the Saints in the order and fellowship of the gospel." It is dated from London, May e, 1646, and is as follows " My dear ones in the Lord Jesus, I salute you, desiring Him who is our head and husband, our life and liberty, our all and in all, to gather up our souls more abundantly into the glorious unity and fellowship of the Son of God ; that you may not live upon these lower things, which are but instru- ments to convey light and love unto us : I mean, even ordi- nances, or the like; which indeed are but as a shell without the kernel, further than we enjoy Christ in them. My dear ones, you are in my heart continually, and my desire is to be with you as soon as possibly I can, to impart some spiritual gifts unto you, and to enjoy fellowship in Jesus Christ with you. But what is this ? you are upon the heart of Christ; nay, engraven upon his hand, and shall be had in everlasting remembrance before him. I am much in haste at present, the post coming forth of town, only I have sent you these few lines, and two books here enclosed, as a remembrance of my love. I desire to be remembered to all my dear friends with you, and at, present rest and remain " Your dear brother in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, " THOMAS COLLIER." * Edwards's Gangrmna, part iii. p. 52.

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