CCCLIV-To Miss Jane Hilton, afterwards Mrs. Barton, MY DEAR SISTER, of Beverley. York, July 22, 1766. SEE that you stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free. You need never more be entangled either with pride, or anger, or desire of any creature. Christ is yours; all is yours. O be all His, and admit no rival into your heart! But above all, beware of unbelief. Beware of the reasoning devil. In every cloud, or shadow of doubt, look up; and help, while yet you ask, is given. All you want is ready! Only believe! I am, my dear sister, Your affectionate brother in Christ. I hope your health is better. MY DEAR SISTER, CCCLV.-To the Same. York, June 25, 1768. YOUR conversation gave me much satisfaction. I rejoiced to find that you were sensible of your loss, and determined, by the grace of God, never to rest till you had recovered all which you once enjoyed. Nay, and you will recover it with increase; you will find a deeper communion with God, and a more full self-devotion than ever. An earnest of this was given you the other day. Hold that fast, and continually expect the rest. How did you find yourself on Thursday morning? Had you not again a taste of the great salvation? And how have you been since? Are you still happy in God; and resolved not to rest, till you are all devoted to Him? See that you do not fall again into evil reasonings! Be simple before God. Continue instant in prayer; and watch against whatever you know, by experience, to be a weight upon your mind. How soon may you then have your whole desire ! How soon may your heart be all love! Why not now? All things are ready: Only believe! And speak freely to Your affectionate brother. VOL. XII. A A CCCLVI.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, Guiseley, July 1, 1768. You must now expect temptations. Perhaps they will assault you on every side; for all the powers of hell are enraged at you, and will use every art to move you from your steadfastness. But He that is for you is greater than all that are against you: Only beware of evil reasoning! Hang simply on Him that loves you, and whom you love; just as a little helpless child. Christ is yours, all yours: That is enough. Lean your whole soul upon Him! Do you find a witness in yourself, that He has cleansed your heart? Do you feel this always? And have you a constant sense of the loving presence of God? You never need lose anything that God has given, so you keep close to Him. Be little and mean in your own eyes, glorying only in the Lord. And do not cease to pray for Your affectionate brother. You may direct to me at Epworth, near Thorne, Yorkshire. It is a pity but you should now read the "Plain Account of Christian Perfection," (I suppose you may get it at Hull,) and the First Epistle of St. John. CCCLVII. To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, Epworth, July 13, 1768. COMING here this afternoon, I found your welcome letter. I would have you write as often as you can. For you have need of every possible help; inasmuch as your grace is as yet young and tender, and all the powers of darkness are at work to move you from your steadfastness. But it is enough that Christ is yours: And He is wiser and stronger than all the powers of hell. Hang upon Him, and you are safe: Lean on Him with the whole weight of your soul. Do you find now as clear an evidence of the invisible as of the visible world? And are your thoughts continually fixed on the God of your salvation? Do you pray without ceasing? Does He preserve you even in your dreams? Hold fast what you have, and look for more: For there is no end of his goodness. Mr. Robertshaw is to stay with you another year; and doubt not, the Lord will stay with you for ever. Him, and think sometimes of Think always of Your affectionate brother. To-morrow I go hence: But I expect to be here again next week, and to stay here till Monday se'nnight. CCCLVIII.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, Bristol, August 20, 1768. I WRITE often, because I know you are yet weak and tender, and in need of every help. I am not sorry that you have trials: They are intended to show you your own helplessness; and to give you a fuller confidence in Him who has all power in heaven and earth. You have reason to cast all your care upon Him; for He has dealt bountifully with you. When any trial comes, see that you do not look to the thing itself; but immediately look unto Jesus. Reason not upon it, but believe. See the hand of God in Shimei's tongue. If you want advice in any point, write to me without delay. And, mean time, stay your whole soul upon Him who will never leave you nor forsake you. Tell Him simply all you fear, all you feel, all you want. Pour out your soul into His bosom. Do you feel no pride, no anger, no desire? You will feel temptations to all: And the old deceiver will tell you again and again, "That is pride; that is anger!" But regard him not. And cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Your affectionate brother. I am to spend a month or two in and near Bristol. CCCLIX.-To the Same. Bristol, September 30, 1768. You, as it were, ask my advice. But I know nothing of the matter: You should have spoken to me when I saw you. Is the person a believer? Is he a Methodist? Is he a member of our society? Is he clear with regard to the doctrine of perfection? Is he athirst for it? If he fails in any of these particulars, I fear he would be a hinderance to you, rather than a help. Was not inordinate affection for him, one cause of your losing the pure love of God before? If it was, you have a great reason to be afraid lest it should again rob you of that pearl. Has it not already? Have you all the life you had two months ago? Is your soul still all love? Speak freely to Your affectionate brother. CCCLX-To the Same. Bristol, October 8, 1768. MY DEAR SISTER, You need never be afraid "of wearying my patience," unless it be by your silence. There is no danger of your writing too often. I can easily believe, the description you give is just: Therefore there are only two particulars remaining: First, Have you both the consent of your parents? Without this, there is seldom a blessing. Secondly, Is he able to keep you? I mean, in such a manner as you have lived hitherto. Otherwise, remember! "When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window." Do you find as much as ever of the spirit of prayer, and of continual watchfulness? Are you always sensible of the presence of God? in the greatest hurry of business? Have you power over wandering thoughts? Your affectionate brother. CCCLXI.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, London, November 26, 1768. THERE seems to have been a particular providence in Hannah Harrison's coming to Beverley, especially at that very time when a peace-maker was so much wanting: And it was a pledge that God will withhold from you no manner of thing that is good. The words of our Lord himself show us, what we are to expect from "those of our own household." But all this, likewise, shall be for good. "It is given to you, to suffer" for Him And all will turn to your profit, that you may be more largely a partaker of his holiness. Do you feel, when you are tried in a tender point, no temper contrary to love? Grief there may be: But is there no resentment or anger? Do you feel invariable calmness of spirit? Do you perceive nothing but pity and tender good-will, both at the time and afterwards? Write to me of the trials you meet with. You may always direct to London, and the letter will come safe. Expect more faith and love daily. Your affectionate brother. CCCLXII.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, London, March 1, 1769. I REJOICE that I have confidence in you in all things. I believe you do not willingly lose any opportunity of speaking for a good Master. I apprehend you should particularly encourage the believers, to give up all to God; and to expect the power whereby they will be enabled so to do, every day, and every moment. I hope none of your Preachers speak against this; but rather press all the people forward. Do you now feel anything like anger, or pride, or self-will, or any remains of the carnal mind? Was your second deliverance wrought while I was at Beverley? at the time of the sermon, or after it? You did not tell me, in what manner you found the change; and whether it has continued without any intermission from that moment. Certainly there never need be any decay: There never will, if you continue watching unto prayer. Continue to pray for Your affectionate brother, CCCLXIII.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, Lisburn, April 9, 1769. I THANK Brother Barton for his letter. Both of you have now more need than ever continually to watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation. There will be a great danger of so cleaving to each other, as to forget God; or of being so taken up with a creature, as to abate your hunger and thirst after righteousness. There will be a danger likewise of whiling away time; of not improving it to the uttermost; of spending more of it than needs, in good sort of talk with each other, which yet does not quicken your souls. If you should once get into a habit of this, it will be exceeding hard to break it off. Therefore you should now attend to every step you take, that you may begin as you hope to hold on to the end. And beware you are not entangled with worldly care, any more than worldly |