Lambeth, September 27, 1767
My very dear Friend: — I have been waiting for good news, but in vain. I wanted some satisfactory answer to your last, and though I can give you none, yet I take up my pen to make an apology for the great Lord, (who will not send you a minister,) lest you should begin to think hardly of him, and of me, too, his poor servant. I would have you to remember, that the government is upon his shoulders — the government of heaven and earth. His Church is the object of his special government. It is his body — bought with his blood — quickened by his Spirit — kept by his power — blest with his love. All its concerns are upon his heart: his eyes
are upon: he sees his people there with
perfect complacency; and they shall want nothing that he has to give. Among the rest, he beholds you and yours, and is managing all for your good. All shall be blest to you, your relations, your house, your substance, your state of body and of mind, your life and death, things temporal and spiritual. He will turn all things into blessings; for he does all things well. He does not, he cannot, make one mistake in his government; no, not the least. He is wisdom, he is love, he is power itself. Infinite wisdom directs his love, and sets it to work; and, being Almighty, he makes all things w-ork together for the best of his dear people. You are
as dear to him at, as we are at London,
When he knows it to be right, he will send you a pastor after his own heart; and when he does not want one there, you cannot get one. When it is right you should be comforted, you shall be humbled, and then your consolations shall abound: and when it is right you should be low and mourning, he will bring good, yea, joy out of heaviness. Think of all that his power can do; his love disposes, his covenant binds him, to do it for his people.
O blessed Mrs.! What a happy
woman are you! Jesus is yours. All he is, all he has, (and mind he is the Lord of all things,) is yours. Who is like unto your Jesus? None, none in heaven or earth: for your friend has all power in heaven and earth, and he will use it for your good, to keep you, to guide you, to give you what is best, what he knows to be best; and has, as such, appointed for you in his wise counsel and purpose of grace. Leave yourself, then, to his care and management; yourself and yours. Trust him for a pastor. Faith is the best way to get one. Ask of him, believing,
and Mr., or some you never heard of,
shall be sent. Believe for your mercies, and you cannot want your mercies. If you take notice of God’s dealings, you will find.
That God never takes away what you are enjoying by faith. All things are possible, both to get and to keep, to him that believeth. And when belief goes, all goes. And well it is so: for that which is not enjoyed by faith, is not worth enjoying. It can bring no real good to us, and no glory to God; therefore, we had better be without it. In this holy art of believing for our blessings, I wish you most heartily a great proficient. Faith alone makes the difference. I would have you daily to practice it for every earthly good thing you enjoy; then shall it produce a gladness of heart: but without faith, it will not be to your true solid comfort, because not sanctified. You see how open I write, my very heart appears. For I know your weak side. There I fear for you; and my fear is a holy fear. I fear for God’s glory, in the use of a comfort so near your very soul, and I know of no way but what I now tell you. Believe for your mercies. That will secure God’s honor and your comfort. To the sweet arms of your Divine Lover I commend you and yours, that he would give you grace to trust all your earthly comforts daily in the Saviour’s care. This I shall entreat for you, being very heartily yours, in that loveliest of all loves, W. R.