immediately. If you would also meet a class or two, it would be so much the better: You know, the more labour the more blessing. Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God. Therefore, every voluntary breach of the law of love is sin; and nothing else, if we speak properly. To strain the matter farther is only to make way for Calvinism. There may be ten thousand wandering thoughts, and forgetful intervals, without any breach of love, though not without transgressing the Adamic law. But Calvinists would fain confound these together. Let love fill your heart, and it is enough! Your affectionate brother. MY DEAR SISTER, Bristol, August 31, 1772. My health is not worse, but rather better. Your account of the society in Waterford is pleasing. Continue to exercise your talent amongst them, and you will be a gainer by it. You need not dispute or reason about the name which belongs to the state you are in. You know what you have: Be thankful for it. You know what you want,-zeal, liveliness, stability, deliverance from wandering imaginations. Well then, ask, and they shall be given. The way into the holiest is open through You have free access through Him. the blood of Jesus. To Him your every want In instant prayer display; Pray always, pray and never faint, See, help, while yet you ask, is given ! Your affectionate brother. CCCCIV. To the Same. DEAR SISTER, Colchester, November 3, 1772. YOUR time was well bestowed at Waterford: Many, I doubt not, will remember it with thankfulness. But why this want of discipline in Limerick? Whenever this is dropped, all is confusion: See that it be immediately restored. Captain Webb is now in Dublin; invite him to visit Limerick; he is a man of fire, and the power of God constantly accompanies his word. Speak a little to as many as you can; go among them, to their houses; speak in love, and discord will vanish. It is hardly possible for you to comfort or strengthen others, without some comfort returning into your own bosom. It is probable I shall visit Ireland in the spring, though I am almost a disabled soldier. I am forbid to ride, and am obliged to travel mostly in a carriage. You have need to Light will spring up. hand? stir up the gift of God that is in you. Why not now? Is not the Lord at I am, my dear sister, Your affectionate brother. CCCCV.-To the Same. DEAR SISTER BENNIS, Shoreham, December 16, 1772. THE plan which you mention, I prefer to any other, and have written to put it in practice immediately. I I think you make most of your trials by unbelief and giving too much way to reasoning. Do not stoop to reason with the adversary, but flee to the Strong for more strength, which, by asking, you will receive. Be diligent in helping others. hope you visit Mrs. D- frequently. Let not your talent rust, but see to gain a double interest. You work for a generous Master. Fight on, and conquer all! Joy you shall have, if joy be best. My dear sister, adieu. Your affectionate brother. CCCCVI.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, February 12, 1773. WHEN we draw near to God in his appointed ways, he will surely draw near to us: Pray remind Mr. G― of using the same means, then he and you will find the same blessing. Write to Waterford to brother S-, and encourage him to do there as he did at Limerick. I can observe, by Mrs. D-'s manner of writing, a very considerable change in her spirit; more acquaintance with God; more humility, and more artless, simple love. I am much pleased that you visit so frequently. Continue to lead the simple, and God will give you more wisdom. As long as you trust, not in yourself, but in Him that has all power in heaven and in earth, you will find his grace sufficient for you, and his strength made perfect in your weakness. Look to him continually, and trust in him, that you may increase with all the increase of God. I am, my dear sister, Your ever affectionate brother. CCCCVII. To the Same. April 1, 1773. I FEAR you are too idle: This will certainly bring condemnation. Up and be doing! Do not loiter. See that your talent rust not: Rather let it gain ten more; and it will, if you use it. You are permitted to be in heaviness, to humble and prove you yet more. Then you shall come forth as gold. If you love me, you will both write and speak freely to, My dear sister, Your affectionate. CCCCVIII.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, Bristol, September 10, 1773. WHEN two or three agree to seek God by fasting and prayer, it cannot be that their labour should be in vain. Espe cially if they add their endeavours to their prayers for the increase of the work of God. I hope you will encourage every Preacher to visit the whole society in order, from house to house Dinner, or drinking tea, does not answer the same intention. This may and ought to be done over and above. I thought you had been in more danger of being hurt by worldly abundance than worldly care. But we cannot stand under either one or the other, unless we be endued with power from on high; and that continually, from hour to hour, or rather from moment to moment. Yet distress is not sin: We may be grieved, and still resigned. And this is acceptable with God. In all these cases, you should remember that observation, never to be let slip,— SOME time since, when I heard brother Bennis had got very rich, I was in fear for you, lest the world should again find a way into your heart, and damp your noblest affections. I am not sorry that you have not that temptation. It is most desirable, to have neither poverty nor riches; but still you cannot be without temptation, unless you would go out of the world. How far that sudden emotion which you speak of is a preternatural dart from Satan, and how far it springs from your own heart, it is exceeding hard to judge. It is possible it may be neither one nor the other, but a mere effect of the natural mechanism of the body, which has no more of good or evil than blushing or turning pale. But whether it be natural or preternatural, it is grievous to one whose conscience is tender. We may therefore undoubtedly pray against it. And surely He can and will deliver us. Come therefore boldly to the throne of grace, and find grace to help in time of need. You will find full employment in Waterford: I believe that society wants your exertions. See therefore that you be not weary of well doing. I am, my dear sister, Your affectionate brother. CCCCX.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, London, January 18, 1774. A WILL steadily and uniformly devoted to God is essential to a state of sanctification; but not a uniformity of joy, or peace, or happy communion with God. These may rise and fall in various degrees; nay, and may be affected either by the body or by diabolical agency, in a manner which all our wisdom can neither understand nor prevent. As to wanderings, you would do right well to consider the sermon on Wandering Thoughts: You might likewise profit by Elizabeth Harper's Journal, whose experience much resembled yours, only she was more simple: And you may learn from her to go straight to God, as a little child, and tell him all your troubles, and hinderances, and doubts; and desire him to turn them all to good. You are not sent to Waterford to be useless. Stir up the gift of God which is in you; gather together those that have been scattered abroad, and make up a band, if not a class or two. Your best way would be to visit from house to house. By this means you can judge of their conduct and dispositions in domestic life, and may have opportunity to speak to the young of the family. By motion you will contract warmth; by imparting life, you will increase it in yourself. As to the circumstance mentioned in the postscript of your last, I should think you would do well to exert yourself in that matter as much as possible. It will be a cross: Take up that cross; bear your cross, and it will bear you; and if you do it with a single eye, it will be no loss to your soul. I am, my dear sister, Your affectionate brother. CCCCXI.-To the Same. MY DEAR SISTER, London, March 1, 1774. ELIZABETH HARPER was frequently in clouds too; and in that case it is the best way to stand still: You can do nothing but simply tell all your wants to Him that is both able and willing to supply them. I enclose James Perfect's letter, on purpose that you may talk with him. He has both an honest heart and a good understanding; but you entirely mistake his doctrine. He preaches salvation by faith in the same manner that my brother and I have done; and as Mr. Fletcher (one of the finest writers of the age) has beautifully explained it. None of us talk of being accepted for our works: That is the Calvinist slander. But we all maintain, we are not saved without works; that works are a condition (though not the meritorious cause) of final salvation. It is by faith in the righteousness and blood of Christ that we are enabled to do all good works; and it is for the sake of these that all who fear God and work righteousness are accepted of Him. |