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My dearest friends, whom I love dearly, remember daily, long for
greatly, pray for earnestly, and praise God heartily; to whom I could
write with my purest blood—I send these lines from my inward
affections.
Though I cannot say I am as transported with affection and zeal as Paul
—as to wish myself accursed from Christ for your sakes; yet I am
persuaded, I could be contented with Jonah, to be cast into the sea, to
the pacifying of God's wrath for you; that I may be free from the blood
of all men; and by the power of God, to deal plainly and sincerely with
all my fellow-creatures, not valuing the smiles, nor fearing the frowns of
wicked men. It is better to lose their smiles—than it is to lose their
precious souls. Though there are many who are enemies to me—yet I
am an enemy to none, a hater of no man's person, but a lover of their
souls.