Lambeth, January 16, 1766
My dear Friend: — I have several reasons for writing to you at this time. The first is, that ever so long ago I wrote you an huge scribble; to which having received no answer, I thought it was high time I should get a little out of your debt, and pay off some of my old score with these scraps of paper. I hope you will take them, according to the American phrase, for paper currency. Put every letter to account, and, having rated them just what you please, make me creditor for it.
My second reason for writing is to inquire after you. How can I help being concerned for those whom I love, especially in the Lord? Such friends I have at. It
would be a real pleasure to me, and a profit to yourself, if I knew what to ask for you, when I go to Court. How is your bodily health? I know you are generally weak and low, and I know it is good for you, yea, the best of all for you. The Physician who never mistook a case prescribes to your tender constitution. His prescription is perfect love. He could not bring about his gracious designs any other way; he wants to wean you from a life of sense, therefore in infinite mercy he takes away sensible enjoyments. He would have you to go on from faith to faith; but how could faith grow so fast, as by keeping you from those things which are its very bane and destruction? He is bringing you to more fellowship with him than you have had, therefore you must have less fellowship with the world. Fewer outward comforts will certainly make you experience more spiritual comforts. This is our Physician’s fixed practice — he never varies from it, not in one instance: mind, one of his favorite patients, thy rod and thy staff comfort ME: the afflicting rod could not comfort, pain could not be pleasure, no chastening can be in itself joyous; but the staff, the being supported under the rod, and the feeling of that support — he found faith and patience bear him up under the rod, which brought him to such close communion with his gracious Saviour, that he was comforted under the cross. This is also the experience of one highly favored, as you may read, Rom. V. 3, 4, 5. Let me know, then, how your soul prospereth under Jesus’ care.
I have also a third reason for writing, which is to wish you a happy new year, the happiest of all you ever saw, and therefore I wish you more, still more enjoyment of our infinitely rich, everlastingly precious Jesus. You will live to a blessed purpose, if every day of this new year you get more out of SELF, and live more in and on Jesus. We have had a most remarkable time this Christmas of his grace and love. I have scarce an acquaintance who has not been favored with blessed visits from him. Oh, how great is his goodness! how great is his beauty! Incomparable both! May your dear heart, my friend, feel what I did at the Lock on Innocents’ day, when I was preaching on these words of Ps, lxxxvii., All my springs are in thee. I gave them first a translation of the psahn, then a paraphrase, then application: the substance of the two first I send you: the psalm literally rendered runs thus. Title is,
“For the sons of miserable man, a psalm to be sung,”
Ver, 1. He is to be established in the mountains of his Holy One. — Mind, how sweetly. the Holy Spirit begins; he mentions not who this He that was to be established is, for all who are under his teaching know.
2. Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3. Weighty things are spoken of thee, thou city of Alehim. Selah, attend to this. — What this love in v. 2 was for, what these weighty things in v. 3 were, the next words show, where God the Father is introduced speaking.
4. I will cause it to be remembered by them who knew me in Rahab and Babylon, behold Philistia, and Tyre, the people of Ethiopia — here was the name born — born in Zion, to be the Saviour of Rahab and Babylon, Philistia and Tyre, and Ethiopia, fO LETTERS OF THE LATE
even as many as the Lord our God shall call in these countries.
David, speaking by the Holy Ghost, adds, in verse
5. And of Zion it shall be said, a person and a person (God and man) shall be born in her, and he himself the Most High shall perfectly establish her. (Namely, the Church founded upon the incarnate God, against which, he says himself, the gates of hell shall not prevail.)
6. Jehovah shall record it, when he is describing the people, that here was the NAME born; that Divine name in which alone there is salvation, and from which all true joy both in heaven and earth ariseth, as the saints sung in the Old Testament, as the angels sung at his birth, and as the redeemed of the Lord will sing for.ever.
7. And the singers, as well as the players on instruments, shall say, All my springs ARE IN THEE (ALL, all the Springs of grace, of glory, all arise from Jehovah manifest in the flesh). O that such a spring as we had at the opening of these words, may flow into and refresh your heart quite through the wilderness till you come to the fountain-head; may you still drink of the water which flows through the rock, Christ, till you drink of that which flows from the throne of the Lamb. And so it will be; the Rock will follow you, and you will have the comfort of it, if you keep in mind that little word IN — all my springs are in thee — not only from thee, through thee, (which is true,) but IN thee. If faith fix here, all will be well. For, if at any time the stream fail, then you may go up to the fountain-head, making up your happiness in Jesus, get you whatever it be, little or much, in present comfort out of his fullness. Yet still he, and all he is and has, is yours.
My paper grows short, and my fingers are so cold I can scarce write; yet I have a fourth reason for writing — upon Mr. Alexander Cole’s death. I wrote to Newcastle for his papers, especially for a book in manuscript, after the manner of the Pilgrim’s Progress. My brother sent me word, his
daughter at had been over, and carried
away all her father’s papers. I wish you could get this book and read it, and send
me your opinion of it., perhaps, could
help you, to whom give my kind love.
One thing more, and I have done. Yesterday I dined with Mr. Berridge, He was making great complaint of his debts, contracted by his keeping, out of his own living, two preachers and their horses, and several local preachers, and for the rents of several barns in which they preach. He sees it was wrong to run in debt, and will be more careful. But it is done. My application is to Lady Marg — t. Will you stand my friend with her, and tell her Berridger’s case? If she pleases to assist him, I should be glad to convey her charity to him. You will be the judge whether this be proper or not to mention to her. I beg my kind love to her. Nothing is yet done at Blackfriars; but Jesus does all things well, he times all things for the best; I am sure of it, therefore I wait my Lord’s time, and blessed waiting it is. May he bless you and yours in body and soul, and that forever and ever: so prays,
W. R.