One Thing Necessary

Letter XXXIV from Joseph Alleine to his beloved wife Theodosia in Christian Letters by the Rev. Joseph Alleine:

MY MOST DEAR THEODOSIA, -- Thou seemest to have been long from me: Let nothing any longer detain thee, but my sister's necessity, or father's authority. I am very sorry that thou shouldst lose two sacraments. I am in a comfortable state of health, through divine goodness, to which be glory for ever! See that thou love and admire that Fountain of our life and peace; and be ever mindful that it is all thy business to love, and serve, and praise thy Creator and Redeemer. I have no other business but this, to write to thee about: But this is all our business. What we use to call business is but vanity and pastime, and some bye matter, in comparison of this.

Remember and forget not, that it is thy chief end to glorify God, and enjoy him for ever. Learn well that lesson; and know that it is the one thing necessary. Every morning remember that thy serving and pleasing of God, is the whole business of that day, and therefore set out accordingly with an express design and intention to please God in thy eating, drinking, visiting, conversing, calling, and duties of thy relations throughout the day. My most dear heart, I have nothing in the world that doth concern thee, or me so much to write of to thee, as this is. Oh, that thou mayst still be laying up in heaven; still furthering thy account; still adding to the heap, and increasing thy glorious reward! Nothing is done for God, but that thou shalt hear of it again. Whatever is not done for God, is but so much lost. Those things which others do, being led by their natural affections and desires, those things do thou do with holy aims for spiritual ends; and then God will put it on the account, as so much done for him. So it is, my dearest; God keeps a true account. See that thou believe it, and so plough in hope, and sow in hope; pray and hear, with an eye to the sure reward. Let thy hopes be strong and lively; and then thy hands will be strong, and thy resolutions and affections will be strong. My time is very precious, and I would not lose an inch of it. See thou to it, that my time in writing this letter be not lost time. Love God the more, and set thine heart the straighter towards him, and do but practice this one thing, -- IN EVERY SOLEMN ACTION TO LOOK TO THY ENDS; and then I have got well, and thou better by these counsels.

My dearest, I love thee in truth and tenderness; but my love signifies little, unless it serve thine eternal good. I rest

Thine own,
Joseph Alleine