London, October 8, 1795

DEAR SIR,

I HOPE you have seen Mr. Goode’s Funeral Sermon on Mr. Romaine, at Edinburgh. There is a striking quotation in it from the late Lord Chesterfield. The Lord sometimes permits eminent preachers, like R. Erskine, to be in the dark for a season, towards the close of life, to teach us that he does not accept them for their gifts or services, but merely for that faith in Jesus, in which they are often equalled, often exceeded, by the poorest and most obscure people of his flock.

E e, G — — b, and Co. the old seceders,

were like unripe fruit, good in its kind, but harsh and sour. Succeeding summers and winters have mellowed those that are now upon the tree; and such as come in my way have generally a good flavour. We know what human nature is, and th% power of prejudice and self-will, or we might wonder that any who love and preach the gospel of peace, should be bitter in their spirit.

I am glad that Mr. Black grows and thrives in his new situation. Transplanting a useful minister is like moving a large tree, which will not always take deep root in another spot. But sometimes it is the Lord’s doing, and then it prospers of course. Give my love to him, with thanks for his letter, which I hope to answer if I am spared.

I have no further concern in the M — y S — y than to pray that the Lord may bless and succeed the design. This I do both in public and in private, daily. I had my reasons for not taking an active part in it. Nor was my presence needful. They have many to plan, and much money. The design is undoubtedly commendable, and

Si

when I think of the uncommon concurrence it has met with throughout the kingdom, I cannot but hope that much good will come of it: but I think they are too sanguine in the outset. For myself, I am already engaged to support and recommend the Moravian missions; there I seem to know what I am about — there I see the hand of the Lord already stretched out. I know their missionaries are eminently endued with a spirit of disinterestedness, self-denial, humility, fortitude, and the meekness of wisdom; and the success the Lord has given them is truly wonderful. Perhaps there has been nothing equal to what th»y have suffered, and what they have done among the heathens, since the apostle’s days. But it may be said of our Saviour’s kingdom, so far as the Brethren or Moravians are concerned in it, that lt cometh not with observation. It makes no noise — it attracts but little attention. They are a people little known, and therefore despised and undervalued by many, but not by me. I judge that true christian discipline is better observed by them, than by any other body of people that profess the gospel.

October 15. My letter has already been a week in hand. It seems from your MS. that your correspondence with me was maintained through the whole of your low uncorcfortable state; yet I do not recollect any remarkable hints of your despondency; on the contrary, you still

Supplied me with anecdotes. However, I praise the Lord for your deliverance, and that the account you give of it is so scriptural and solid. The sting of death is now taken away, and I hope the stroke of death is yet at a distance from you; and that you will live to be an ornament, and an- instrument for good, to the cause you profess-Though not a minister, you may be able to apply the apostle’s words to yourself, 2 Cor. i. 3 — 6. It is this thought makes me try to be thankful that my life is prolonged; though I see little else worth living for in such a world as this: and yet no one has less reason to be weary of living, for I abound with comforts, and hardly meet with any thing deserving the name of a trial. To depart, and be with.’esus, is certainly far better .: but upon that very account it is well worth waiting for.

I thank you for the printed papers. I can feel for Mr. E***. But he is a young man. I hope the Lord will heal his wound, and perhaps in due time the breach may be comfortably repaired. Had they lived so long together as my dear wife and I did, and in harmony, as I believe they would; the separating stroke would have been no less keen after forty years than in the first. And then it is probable, that he, if the survivor, must have lived a solitary like me, for the rest of his days. The Lord’s dispensations are various to different persons, but they are all right.

I think I may now take my leave of you. I have some thoughts of attempting to write some account of my friend, the late Mr. Grimshaw. What was said of him in was very poor and imperfect. If I undertake this job, it will make me very tardy in my correspondence. He was, in some respects, the most extraordinary man I have known. I shall enclose you a letter to my brother: the Lord bless you in all things.

I am affectionately yours,
J. X.

Oct. 16.