Part 23
I THANK you, my love, for writing to me, and rejoice that you are happy: God never fails to hear those that call upon him, and is gracious above all that we can either ask or think. As to my illness, it is extremely troublesome, but I believe not dangerous: and I must continue to bear it for a good while longer, without attempting to remove it, because my apothecary himself knows not what to make of it: *however, I am just as I ought to be; I delight to do and to suffer the will of God, and his mercies are sweet to my soul. I am in that happy state of resignation, that I have not a wish, but for an increase of grace and holiness. Sunday my soul longed after the sacrament, and the tears came in my eyes, because I could not go to church. But are the flowing streams of redeeming love confined to place or time? I found indeed they were not; for my soul was at home sweetly replenished with every blessing I could have hoped for at the altar. How much are those to be pitied who know not the love of God! How much are those to be pitied who set their hearts on any thing in this infant-state of existence! How poor, how low, how trifling is every thing, that does not look towards eternity! I have such an experimental sense of the nothingness of all worldly things, that they seem no more to me than dancing puppets; and I am sometimes ready to affront my brother and Mr. ****, by smiling at the important air with which they talk of their _business_, as they call it.――I think there is very little probability that I shall be fit to come to the wedding. Pray God keep your sister’s heart in this time of danger and distraction, and bless you both with the blessings of his children.
****
_January 7, 1755._
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To the Rev. Mr. ****.
_Reverend Sir_,
YOUR character for candour and piety takes from me all fear that you should be offended at the address of a person unknown, _even_ though this address is designed to point out something amiss in you; which it is absolutely necessary (for the good of your own soul, and for the eternal welfare of those who hear you) that you should amend.――――You _believe_!――You _feel_ the power, and live the _life_ of _faith_!――Oh why will you not strive that others may be partakers of like happiness with you?――I know your general manner of preaching: I myself have heard you; and while my ear has been delighted with your affecting delivery, your elegant language, and well-turned periods, my heart has _bled_ to think that _such talents_ should be so miserably perverted: _bled_ for _you_, and for those _poor souls_, whom this way of preaching lulls into a fatal _security_. Pardon my freedom of speech; pardon my boldness towards you; but you yourself will acknowledge, that where the foundation is unsound, the building must fall; and no true foundation can be laid except Jesus Christ. Your own experience must tell you, that a divine power can alone change the heart; that all outward regularity of behaviour, all rounds and forms of devotion, and all moral duties, without this change are, utterly unavailing, and only like beautifying the outside of a sepulchre, which within is full of dead mens bones and of all uncleanness. _You_ are sensible _too_, that faith in a dying Redeemer is the only means given us by which this change of heart can be effected. To what purpose then is it to tell _poor, lost, undone_ man, of the _dignity_ of his _rational_ nature, and the beauty of _virtue_?――Dear sir, for the sake of that God whom you love and _adore_, _away_ with these _shadows_, and substitute in their place realities. How would it delight the heart of several of your friends (who greatly love and esteem you, and who wish well to the gospel of Christ) to see you, with all the force of eloquence, labouring to convince your hearers of the _sin_ of their _nature_, their condemnation in the sight of God, and their utter incapacity to help _themselves_; and then proclaiming to them, “Behold the _Lamb_ of _God_, who taketh away the _sins_ of the world!”
I am sensible of the difficulties you will have to encounter, in thus changing your manner of preaching: but though the battle be hard to fight, great will be the glory of the victory. ’Tis true, your enemies are strong and powerful; the devil, the world, all the wicked, and all the self righteous will be joined together against you: but look up with an eye of faith, and see how many more are for you. Think of the holy angels rejoicing over every sinner converted by your means; think that the Captain of your salvation, your God and Redeemer, will be ever near to help, to strengthen and comfort you! And consider what unutterable joy your soul will feel, when at that period of time which is the most delightful to the true Christian, you can with firm confidence cry out with St. _Paul_, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.”
_I am, (though your unknown and unworthy) Your truly affectionate friend._
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To Mr. G****.
I AM much obliged to you for your letter to me; and if it will increase your joy to know that I love my Saviour more than _health_, or _light_, or _life_, be assured that I do; and that I should think myself the most ungrateful and vile of all creatures if I did not. It is my constant and earnest desire every day, nay every hour, to increase in the knowledge and love of God, and to be saved not only from the guilt, but also from the power of sin. I know that the grace of God through Christ is sufficient for me; I know that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin; and I know (blessed be God for giving me that knowledge) that I _have_ redemption through his blood, even the _forgiveness_ of my sins. Think now, what a wretch I should be, if I did not love this Redeemer, and if I did not wish above all things to be conformed to his image?――And in consequence of my thus loving God because he first loved me, I love every creature which God has made, and every soul of man, without any regard had to sects, names, or parties. The _Moravian_ church, though I am certain at this time it is over-run with _dreadful errors_, I love, pity, and pray for. Oh may the God of love and unbounded mercy, convince and restore it!――I thank you for the glorious advice you give me, of “living very near the cross:” _there_ is life indeed! Life freely given, to every soul that seeks it. And that you and I may ever partake of this life, is the hearty wish of, your
****
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To the Rev. Mr. ****.
_November 30, 1755._
_Dear Sir_,
I AM much obliged to you for your apostolical letter, and for the truly christian joy you express for my baby’s happiness. That I have felt all that the greatest sensibility of temper is capable of feeling on such an occasion, is certain: but here has been my great comfort, that, in every thing which concerned the child, I have had neither will nor wish of my own. He was peculiarly dedicated to God, even before he was born: and _since_, he has been daily, nay almost hourly offered up; and that not in word only, but in truth: and as it has pleased God to accept him as a sacrifice, rather than as a servant, I have nothing to say, but “thy will be done!” If I could have seen you, or any of my Christian friends at this time, when all the finest springs of human nature were on the rack, it would have been a great satisfaction; but it pleased God to with-hold all creature comfort from me; and though his own arm sustained me, it was in a manner not sensibly perceived by my soul: *so that I had the great blessing of bearing something of the _cross_. And this I look upon to be a particular blessing to me, because I have been so wholly led by love, that before this, I knew but very little of what it was to _suffer_ the will of God. In short, every dispensation of my heavenly Father towards me, is nothing but mercy and unbounded goodness. I _see_ and I _adore_.――The Lord Jesus bless and preserve you in body, soul, and spirit. Fail not to pray for,
_Your obliged and affectionate_,
****
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_Monday, December 22, 1755._
_Dear Sir_,
I SEE with delight, that you _are set up_ as a mark, for every one of the _devil_’s tools to shoot _at_: and _he_ certainly wounds the deepest by those, who, while they are working for him, imagine they are doing God service, and acting with _Christian prudence_. How often is _that wisdom_ which comes from _beneath_, taken for that which comes from _above_! And _fear_ of man, _secret_ desire of preferment, and being _ashamed_ of the _cross_ of _Christ_, dignified with the title of true _discretion_, and caution not to give offence!――’Tis hard, indeed, to be wounded in the house of your friends; nothing, perhaps, is more painful to nature; but if they have called the master of the house _Beelzebub_, how much more those of his houshold!――Those servants of Christ who are designed by him for _eminent usefulness_, must of necessity have the largest share of tribulation; for the highest place of honour under our _king_, is that of the sharpest sufferings. I should not wonder if the tongues and pens of all your brethren (except two or three) were employed against _you_; and I am so far from being sorry (on your account) for Mr. _L._’s preaching against you, that I look upon it as a _precious_ and _blessed mark_, and a _seal_ to the truth of your ministry.――Happy parting, indeed, with the world! And happy parting with every comfort in it, if nearer union with God is the consequence! Oh cease not to pray for me, that all things may thus work together for my good!――This poor dream of life will soon be at an end; and _then_, if those who have only given a cup of cold water for the sake of Christ, shall not lose their reward, what an exceeding and eternal weight of glory attends those happy souls who constantly labour, and patiently suffer for him!
_I am, your obliged and faithful Friend and Servant_,
****
The End of the THIRTEENTH VOLUME.
ERRATA, Volume XIII.
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