middle of a sentence, if not in the middle of a word; especially, the moment we heard the chapel bell ring, or a knock at our door. If nature reclaimed, we remembered the word of the Heathen: Ejicienda est hæc mollities animi.* I am glad there is so good an understanding among the Preachers: A great deal depends upon it. But I hope you do not forget gentle T. O. May not you venture to give him a hint, that your Hints were incorrectly printed? If he says, "They were written so, I could hardly read them;" you can tell him, "I hope to write the next better." Miss Briggs's spending so much of her time at Shoreham answers an excellent design. It, in a great measure, supplies the want both of Miss Perronet and of her father, whom I remember with sincere affection. DEAR SIR, I am, dear Sir, Your affectionate friend and brother. DXX.-To the Same. Londonderry, June 5, 1787. THE Irish posts are not the quickest in the world; though I have known one travel full two miles in an hour. And they are not the most certain. Letters fail here more frequently than they do in England. Mr. Heath has need of abundance of faith and patience. He is in a very unpleasing situation. But this I am determined on; he shall not want, as long as I have either money or credit. He is a truly pious and a very amiable man: His wife and children are cast in the same mould. I am glad you all showed him, while he was in London, the respect which he well deserves. As the work of God increases in so many parts both of England and Ireland, it would be strange if there were no increase of it in London; especially while all the Preachers are of one mind, and speak the same thing. Only do not forget strongly and explicitly to urge the believers to "go on to perfection." When this is constantly and earnestly done, the word is always clothed with power. Truly I claim no thanks for loving and esteeming Betsy Briggs; for I cannot help it. And I shall be in danger of This softness of mind must be cast away.-EDIT. quarrelling with you, if you ever love her less than you do now. Peace be with all your spirits! I am Your affectionate friend and brother. DXXI.-To Mr. Charles Perronet. DEAR CHARLES, London, December 28, 1774. CERTAINLY there is nothing amiss in the desire to do something for a good Master; only still adding, (in this, as in all things else,) "Yet not as I will, but as thou wilt." If we could once bring all our Preachers, itinerant and local, uniformly and steadily to insist on those two points, Christ dying for us, and Christ reigning in us, we should shake the trembling gates of hell. I think most of them are now exceeding clear herein, and the rest come nearer and nearer; especially since they have read Mr. Fletcher's Checks, which have removed many difficulties out of the way. I expect more good from Mrs. B.'s medicine than from a heap of others. Remember Hezekiah's figs. I am, dear Charles, Ever yours. DXXII.-To Miss Perronet. MY DEAR SISTER, Near Leeds, August 6, 1775. I BELIEVE my late illness has already answered many wise ends of Providence. It has been a blessing to me and to many others,‚—a fresh proof that God doeth all things well. I doubt not but brother Wood and his fellow-labourer will be still zealous and active for God; and, if so, his work will surely increase at Sevenoaks and the Wells, as well as other places. Nay, I do not despair of poor Canterbury: It is not out of God's reach. I dreamed last night that the Spaniards were come, and were searching all houses, and putting men to the torture. But on a sudden they were vanished out of the land, I could not tell how. My Betsy should not think that I am ever so busy as not to have leisure to read and answer her letters. I think Philothea too, since I am alive again, should have written to me, either in verse or prose. I am, my dear sister, Your affectionate brother. DXXIII.-To Miss Briggs. MY DEAR BETSY, Chester, March 17, 1771. You have great reason to praise Him who has done great things for you already. What you now want is, to come boldly to the throne of grace, that the hunger and thirst after his full image, which God has given you, may be satisfied. Full salvation is nigh, even at the door. Only believe, and it is yours. It is a great blessing that, at your years, you are preserved from seeking happiness in any creature. You need not, seeing Christ is yours! O cleave to Him with your whole heart! I am, my dear Betsy, Yours affectionately. DXXIV. To the Same. Athlone, April 14, 1771. MY DEAR BETSY, You may be assured that I am always well pleased to hear from you; and that I shall never think your letters too long. Always tell me whatever is in your heart; and the more freely, the better. Otherwise, it would be hardly possible to give you the advice you may want from time to time. As soon as you had your armour on, it was fit that it should be proved: So God prepared for you the occasions of fighting, that you might conquer, and might know both your own weakness and His strength. Each day will bring just temptation enough, and power enough to conquer it: And, as one says, "temptations, with distinct deliverances from them, avail much." The unction of the Holy One is given to believers for this very end,-to enable them to distinguish (which otherwise would be impossible) between sin and temptation. And this you will do, not by any general rule, but by listening to Him on all particular occasions, and by your consulting with those that have experience in the ways of God. Undoubtedly both you, and Philothea, and my dear Miss Per Π ronet, are now more particularly called to speak for God. In so doing you must expect to meet with many things which are not pleasing to flesh and blood. But all is well. So much the more will you be conformed to the death of Christ. Go on in his name, and in the power of his might. Suffer and conquer all things. I am, my dear Betsy, Yours affectionately. DXXV. To the Same. Castlebar, May 31, 1771. MY DEAR BETSY, You judge exceeding right: As yet you are but a little child, just a babe in the pure love of Christ. As a little child, hang upon him, and simply expect a supply of all your wants. In this respect reasoning profits you nothing: Indeed, it is just opposite to believing, whereby you hearken to the inward voice, which says, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Undoubtedly it would be a cross to declare what God has done for your soul: Nay, and afterwards Satan would accuse you on the account, telling you, "You did it out of pride." Yea, and some of your sisters would blame you, and perhaps put the same construction upon it. Nevertheless, if you do it with a single eye, it will be well pleasing to God. Your letters will be always agreeable to, MY DEAR BETSY, Yours affectionately. DXXVI. To the Same. December 28, 1774. You have done what you could in this matter; and "angels can do no more." I am glad you tried: By and by she may see more clearly. I am always glad to hear from you, whether you have time to write accurately or not. And I love that you should tell me both what you feel, and what you do; for I take part in all. I doubted not but you would find a blessing at this solemn season: See that you strengthen each other's hands in God. I should be glad to see both, or either of you, when it is convenient. I am, my dear Betsy, Yours affectionately. DXXVII.-To Lady Huntingdon. MY DEAR LADY, September 14, 1772. WHEN I received the former letter from your Ladyship, I did not know how to answer; and I judged, not only that silence would be the best answer, but also that with which your Ladyship would be best pleased. When I received your Ladyship's of the 2d instant, I immediately saw that it required an answer; only I waited till the hurry of the Conference was over, that I might do nothing rashly. I know your Ladyship would not "servilely deny the truth." I think, neither would I; especially that great truth,-justification by faith; which Mr. Law indeed flatly denies, (and yet Mr. Law was a child of God,) but for which I have given up all my worldly hopes, my friends, my reputation; yea, for which I have so often hazarded my life, and, by the grace of God, will do again. The principles established in the Minutes, I apprehend to be no way contrary to this, or to that faith, that consistent plan of doctrine, which was "once delivered to the saints." I believe, whoever calmly considers Mr. Fletcher's Letters will be convinced of this. I fear therefore," zeal against those principles" is no less than zeal against the truth, and against the honour of our Lord. The preservation of His honour appears so sacred to me, and has done for above these forty years, that I have counted, and do count, all things loss in comparison of it. But till Mr. Fletcher's printed letters are answered, I must think everything spoken against those Minutes is totally destructive of His honour, and a palpable affront to Him, both as our Prophet and Priest, but more 'especially as the King of his people. Those letters, which therefore could not be suppressed without betraying the honour of our Lord, largely prove that the Minutes lay no other foundation than that which is laid in Scripture, and which I have been laying, and teaching others to lay, for between thirty and forty years. Indeed, it would be amazing, that God should at this day prosper my labours as much if not more than ever, by convincing as well as converting sinners, if I was establishing another foundation, repugnant to the whole plan of man's salvation under the covenant of grace, as well as the clear meaning of our Established Church, and all other Protestant Churches." This is a charge indeed! but I plead, Not 66 |