so, when Jesus hides himself, we presently for you, and accompanies every outward priperceive what is in our hearts, and what a vilege with his special blessing; and I trust he poor shift we can make without him; when will lead you on from strength to strength, he returns, his light chaces the evils away, and shew you still greater things than you and we are well again. However, they are have yet seen. They whom he teaches are alnot dead when most controuled by his pre-ways increasing in knowledge, both of them. selves and of him. The heart is deep, and, sence. It is your great and singular mercy, my like Ezekiel's vision, presents so many chamdear Miss, that he has taught you to seek him bers of imagery, one within another, that it so early in life. You are entered in the way requires time to get a considerable acquaintof salvation, but you must not expect all at ance with it, and we shall never know it thoonce. The work of grace is compared to the roughly. It is now more than twenty-eight corn, and to a building; the growth of the years since the Lord began to open mine to one, and the carrying forward of the other, my own view; and from that time to this, alare gradual. In a building, for instance, if most every day has discovered to me someit be large, there is much to be done in pre-thing which till then was unobserved; and paring and laying the foundation, before the the farther I go, the more I seem convinced A perwalls appear above ground; much is doing that I have entered but a little way. within, when the work does not seem, per-son that travels in some parts of Derbyshire haps, to advance without; and when it is may easily be satisfied that the country is caconsiderably forward, yet being encumbered vernous; but how large, how deep, how nuwith scaffolds and rubbish, a byestander sees merous, the caverns may be, which are hidden it at a great disadvantage, and can form but from us by the surface of the ground, and an imperfect judgment of it. But all this what is contained in them, are questions which while the architect himself, even from the lay-our nicest inquiries cannot fully answer. Thus ing of the first stone, conceives of it accord- I judge of my heart, that it is very deep and ing to the plan and design he has formed; he dark, and full of evil; but as to particulars, prepares and adjusts the materials, disposing I know not one of a thousand. each in its proper time and place, and views And if our own hearts are beyond our com it in idea as already finished. In due season prehension, how much more incomprehensible it is completed, but not in a day. The top-is the heart of Jesus! If sin abounds in us, stone is fixed, and then, the scaffolds and rub grace and love superabound in him; his ways bish being removed, it appears to others as he and thoughts are higher than ours, as the intended it should be. Men indeed often heavens are higher than the earth; his love plan what, for want of skill or ability, or from has a height, and depth, and length, and unforeseen disappointments, they are unable breadth, that passeth all knowledge; and his to execute. But nothing can disappoint the riches of grace are unsearchable riches, Eph. All that we have received or heavenly Builder; nor will he ever be re-iii. 8, 18, 19. proached with forsaking the work of his own can receive from him, or know of him in this hands, or beginning that which he could not life, compared with what he is in himself, or or would not accomplish, Phil. i. 6. Let us what he has done for us, is but as the drop of a therefore be thankful for beginnings, and pa-bucket compared with the ocean, or a single His enemies strive to tiently wait the event. ray of light in respect of the sun. retard the work, as they did when the Jews, of the sanctuary flow to us at first almost by his order, set about rebuilding the temple, upon a level, ankle deep, so graciously does vet it was finished in defiance of them all. the Lord condescend to our weakness: but Believe me to be, &c. they rise as we advance, and constrain us to cry out with the apostle, O the depth! We find before us, as Dr. Watts beautifully ex presses it, LETTER X. April 29, 1776. MY DEAR MISS M The waters A sea of love and grace unknown, O the excellency of the knowledge of Christ! I THANK you for your last; and I rejoice in It will be growing upon us through time, yea, the Lord's goodness to you. To be drawn I believe through eternity. What an astonishby love, exempted from those distressing ter-ing and what a cheering thought, that this rors and temptations which some are beset high and lofty One should unite himself to with; to be favoured with the ordinances and our nature, that so, in a way worthy of his ameans of grace, and connected with those, dorable perfections, he might by his Spirit, and with those only, who are disposed and unite us to himself! Could such a thought qualified to assist and encourage you in seek-have arisen in our hearts, without the waring the Saviour; these are peculiar privileges, raut of his word 'but it is a thought which which all concur in your case; he loves you, no created mind was capable of conceiving be deals gently with you, he provides well till he revealed it), it would have been pre sumption and blasphemy; but now he has LETTER XI. MY DEAR MISS M, September 3, 1776. many a storm comes. A sincere person has reasons for distrusting his own judgment; is sensible of the vast importance of the case, and afraid of too hastily concluding in his own favour, and therefore not easly satisfied. However, this fear, though useful especially to young beginners, is not comfortable; and they who simply wait upon Jesus, are gradually freed from it, in proportion as their knowledge of him, and their experience of his goodness, increases. He has a time for settling and establishing them in himself, and his time is best. We are hasty, and would be satisfied at once, but his word is, Tarry thou WE saw no danger upon the road homeward: the Lord's leisure. The work of grace is not but my judgment tells me we are always up-like Jonah's gourd, which sprang up and on the brink of danger, though we see it not; flourished in a night, and as quickly withered, and that, without the immediate protection and care of him who preserveth the stars in their courses, there could be no travelling safely a few miles, nor even sitting in safety by the fire-side. But with him we are safe in all places and circumstances, till our race is done, and his gracious purposes concern-ever. ing us, in the present life, are completely to be awakened, making a speedy profession answered; then he will call us home, that we may see his face, and be with him for ever, and then it will not much signify what messenger he shall be pleased to send for us. but rather like the oak, which, from a little acorn and a tender plant, advances with an almost imperceptible growth from year to year, till it becomes a broad spreading and deep-rooted tree, and then it stands for ages. The christian oak shall grow and flourish for When I see any soon after they appear of great joy, before they have a due acquaintance with their own hearts, I am in pain for them. I am not sorry to hear them afterwards complain that their joys are gone, and they are While he took care of us abroad, he almost at their wits end; for without some watched over our concerns at home likewise; such check, to make them feel, their weakso that we found all well upon our return, ness and dependence, I seldom find them turn and met with nothing to grieve us. Many out well; either their fervour insensibly abates go out and return home no more, and many till they become quite cold, and sink into find distressing things have happened in their the world again, (of which I have seen many absence; but we have to set up our Ebenezer, instances), or if they do not give up all, their and to say, Hitherto he has helped us. As- walk is uneven, and their spirit has not that sist me to praise him. The Lord is leading savour of brokenness and true humility which you in the good old way, in which you may is a chief ornament of our holy profession. perceive the footsteps of his flock who have If they do not feel the plague of their hearts gone before you. They had in their day the at first, they find it out afterwards, and too same difficulties, fears, and complaints, as we often manifest it to others. Therefore though have, and through mercy we partake of the I know the Spirit of the Lord is free, and same consolation which supported and re- will not be confined to our rules, and there freshed them; and the promises which they may be excepted cases; yet, in general, I betrusted and found faithful, are equally sure lieve the old proverb, "Soft and fair goes to us. It is still true, that they who believe far," will hold good in christian experience. shall never be confounded. If left to our- Let us be thankful for the beginnings of selves, we should have built upon sand: but grace, and wait upon our Saviour patiently for he has provided and revealed a sure founda- the increase. And as we have chosen him tion, removed our natural prejudices against | for our physician, let us commit ourselves to it; and now, though rains, and floods, and storms assault our building, it cannot fall, for it is founded upon a rock. The suspicions and fears which arise in an awakened mind, proceed, in a good measure, from remaining unbelief; but not wholly so, for there is a jealousy and diffidence of ourselves, a wariness owing to a sense of the deceitfulness of our hearts, which is a grace and a gift of the Lord. Some people who have much zeal, but are destitute of this jealous fear may be compared to a ship that spreads a great deal of sail, but is not properly ballasted, and is therefore in danger of being overset whenever his management, and not prescribe to him what he shall prescribe for us. He knows us and he loves us better than we do ourselves, and will do all things well. You say, "It never came with power and life to my soul, that he died for me." If you mean, you never had any extraordinary sudden manifestation, something like a vision or a voice from heaven, confirming it to you, I can say the same. But I know he died for sinners; I know I am a sinner: I know he invites them that are ready to perish; I am such a one : I know, upon his own invitation, I have committed myself to him; and I know, by the effects, that he has been with me hitherto, otherwise I should have been an apostate long ago; and therefore I know that he died for me; for had he been pleased to kill me (as he justly might have done), he would not have shewn me such things as these. If I must perish, would the Lord him for mine. For such a choice and desire could never have taken place in my heart, if he had not placed it there himself. By nature I was too blind to know him, too proud to trust him, too obstinate to serve him, too base-minded to love him; the enmity I was filled with against his government, righteousand grace, was too strong to be subdued by any power but his own. The love I bear to him is but a faint and feeble spark, but it is an emanation from himself. He kindled it, and he keeps it alive; and because it is his work, I trust many waters shall not quench ness, I know that I am a child, because he teach-it. es me to say, Abba, Father. I know that I I have only 100m to assure you, that I am, am his, because he has enabled me to choose &c. LETTERS ΤΟ THE REVEREND MR. R MY DEAR SIR, LETTER I. April 15, 1776. advantages from the occasions of every day, in which we are unavoidably and unexpectedly concerned; there is so much combustible within, and so many temptations arising from I OFTEN rejoice on your behalf. Your call without, capable of setting all in a flame; that out of the world was a singular and comfort- we cannot be too jealous of ourselves and our able instance of the power of grace. And circumstances. The duke of Devonshire's when I consider the difficulties and snares of motto, if I mistake not, well suits the chrisyour situation, and that you have been kept tian, Cavendo tutus. When we can say, in in the middle path, preserved from undue the psalmist's spirit, "Hold thou me up,' compliances on the one hand, and unneces- we may warrantably draw his conclusion, sary singularities on the other, I cannot doubt" and I shall be safe;" but the moment we but the Lord has hitherto helped and guided you. Indeed, you have need of his guidance. At your years, and with your expectations in life, your health firm, and your natural spirits lively, you are exposed to many snares; yet, if the Lord keeps you sensible of your danger, and dependent upon him, you will walk safely. Your security, success, and comfort, depend upon him; and in the way of means, chiefly upon your being preserved in an humble sense of your own weakness. It is written, "Fear not, I am with thee." It is written again, "Blessed is the man who feareth always.' There is a perfect harmony in those seemingly different texts. May the wisdom that cometh from above teach you and me to keep them both united in our view. If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, his arm over us, his ear open to our prayer; his grace suffieient, his promise unchangeable. Under his protection, though the path of duty should lie through fire and water, we may cheerfully and confidently pursue it. On the other hand, our hearts are so deceitful, fallible, and frail; our spiritual enemies so subtle, watchful, and powerful; and they derive so many | " lean to our own understanding, we are in im- The Lord bless and keep you. Pray for us, and believe me to be sincerely yours. THE Lord, who mercifully called you out of prince. We likewise are soldiers; we have a Prince and Captain who deserves our all. They who know him, and have hearts to conceive of his excellence, and to feel their obli gations to him, cannot indeed seek their own glory, but his glory is dearer to them than a thousand lives. They owe him their souls, for he redeemed them with blood, his own blood; and by his grace he subdued and pardoned them when they were rebels, and in arms against him. Therefore they are not their own, they would not be their own. When his standard is raised, when his enemies are in motion, when his people are to be rescued; they go forth clothed with his panoply, they fight under his eye, they are sure of his support, and he shews them the conqueror's crown. O, when they think of that εν δουλε ayas,† with which he has promised to welcome them home, when the campaign is over, hard things seem easy, and bitter things sweet; they count nothing, not even their own lives, dear, so that they may finish their course with joy. May the Lord make us thus minded; give us a hearty concern for his business, and he has engaged to take care of ours; and nothing that can conduce to our real comfort and usefulness shall be withheld. Believe me to be sincerely yours. LETTER III. December 21, 1776. MY DEAR FRIEND, YOUR letter brought me tidings of joy, and then furnished me with materials for a bonfire upon the occasion. It was an act of passive obedience to burn it, but I did obey. I congratulate you upon the happy issue to which the Lord has brought your affairs. I see that his good Spirit and good providence have been and are with you. I doubt not but your union with Miss may rest assured, that whenever he, who loves you better than you do yourself, sees it best for you, upon the whole, to change your condition, he will bring it about, he will point out the person, prepare the means, and secure the success, by his providence, and the power he has over every heart. And you shall see that all previous difficulties were either gracious preventions, which he threw in the way to prevent your taking a wrong step, or temporary bars, which, by his removing them afterwards, should give you opportunity of more clearly perceiving his care and interposition in your favour. In the mean time, remember your high calling. You are a minister and an ambassador of Christ; you are entrusted with will be a muthe most honourable and important employ-tual blessing, and, on your part, heightened ment that can engage and animate the heart by being connected with such a family. I of man. Ταύτα μελίτα, εν τούτοις ισθό, επιμενε could enlarge upon this head, if my letter likewise was to be burnt as soon as you have read it. I look upon the friendship the Lord has given me there as one of my prime privileges, and I hope I shall always be thankful that it proved a means of introducing you into it. αυτοίς. Filled and fired with a constraining sense of the love of Jesus, and the worth of souls; impressed with an ardour to carry war into Satan's kingdom, to storm his strongholds, and rescue his captives; you will have little leisure to think of any thing else. How does I congratulate you likewise upon your acthe love of glory stimulate the soldier, make cession to ―, not because it is a good liv him forget and forego a thousand personal ten-ing, in a genteel neighbourhood, and a fine dernesses, and prompt him to cross oceans, to country, but because I believe the Lord sends traverse deserts, to scale mountains, and plunge you there for fulfilling the desires he has given into the greatest hardships and the thickest you of being useful to souls. Church-predangers! He does it for a corruptible crown, ferment, in any other view, is dreadful; and a puff of breath, an empty fame; his highest I would as soon congratulate a man upon prospect is the applause and favour of his seeing a millstone tied about his neck, to sink 1 Tim iv. 15, 16. Well done, good servant. |