August 20, 1771
My dear Madam: — I have sent you in a
parcel, directed to your brother I, three
volumes of the second part of the Walk of Faith, as before, unbound, with one set bound
for yourself, another for Miss W r, a
third for the Rev, Mr. B: they come to
K with many prayers. I have prayed
over it in writing; and I am daily begging the free Giver of every good and perfect gift that he would go out with it, and own it to the hearts of his dear people. My design in writing the book was for his glory, and their good. The plan is simple. It was to show, that Christian principles are sufficient for all the purposes of Christian practice; so that whenever we fail in practice, we have first failed in principle. How should it be otherwise, since the principles are mighty through God? The same grace which teaches them, as the truth of God, gives also the experience of them, as the power of God. If, therefore, peace rules in the conscience and love in the heart, the effect will follow, as light does when the sun is risen. There will be a dependence on the promised power of God to do and to suffer his will; and this power will as certainly be put forth as God is true, so long as peace and love are maintained. Try yourself Observe narrowly how it is that you fail in practice; and you will always see your faith give way, and you was not living up to your privileges. I know not how I have succeeded in describing this grand mistake in the Christian walk, or in rectifying it; but this I know well, that the salvation of Jesus is absolutely, infinitely, everlastingly perfect in every part, and at the very given moment, and the belief of it will produce an even, holy, happy walk; and if this belief was perfect, (as it should be,) an enjoyment of this salvation would be upon earth what it is in heaven. I pray God to carry you and me on from faith to faith, that we may daily bring greater honor to his Word and to his work.
If any light, or love, or joy, warm your heart in reading, remember me. My trials are very great. I have the old burden very heavy indeed — a vast body of sin, under which I groan, and great bodily pain, hard to bear. I have been to the sea for relief; but my Lord thinks proper to refuse it. When I had other trials, he spared me, and never let me know what bodily pain was; but, now outward trials are in a great measure removed, this is my cross. He is merciful in all his dealings: blessings on him for his kitid rod! You will find in the second volume a chapter on the outward cross, and another on the inward: they are the longest chapters, because I felt what I wrote, and because all God’s children carry these two crosses to the grave. I beg your attention to the inward cross, and, when you have read the chapter, be so good as to tell me how you like it. To manage it well, is the greatest lesson in the school of Christ: O that he may teach you, as you read, and be your prophet, to enable you to live upon him as your priest!
Many years ago I chose my motto — Cease ye from Man. You see how needful it is. Place your happiness on anything but the heavenly Lover, it makes itself wings and flies away. How many sweet hours (the remembrance is sweet) have I spent at K!
Yearly visits, pleasing and profitable; but I am debarred this enjoyment. I must learn my motto in an instance of hard self-denial. Happy for you and for me if every such disappointment lead us nearer to God. I beg your daily remembrance, as you are in mine.
Every good wish to Miss W r, and desire
her acceptance of a bound set. My kind
respects to Mr. M. I wish Mr. J
may walk with us in our way, and all his sisters. I wish that little dear, dear boy, does not get some of Christ’s place in your heart. God bless him, and make him a comfort to you! Write my motto upon his forehead, and remember it, whenever you look at him. My love to Mr. I m. May every blessing of the everlasting covenant be yours on earth and heaven! So prays yours, in Jesus,
W. R.