November 16, 1780

My dear Friend: — Wave after wave — trouble after trouble — no ceasing till we get into the haven. I do not wish you out of them, but to profit by them. The furnace is to refine gold; so, faith, proved, improved, yea, perfected by trials. Mind what the great Refiner says: “I will bring the third part through the fire; and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say. It is my people; and they shall say. The Lord is my God.” O blessed furnace! — What! is this the efiect of being put into it? Does the Son of God appear for and with his suffering members? Does he keep off the evil of suffering — give patience under it, profit from it — deaden the life of sense — quicken the life of faith — and thus bring more real good to his people from their trials, than from all the comforts that ever they had? Say — It is great, an uncommon great trial: the furnace is heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. Still, this is not to destroy faith, but to refine and exalt it. The plain lesson from hence to be learnt is, we must now trust more to the Lord, and less to self. His strength must be our safety and not our weakness. His blessings must be our happiness. I write these things, because I am praying for them. It is not so much advice, as prayer. I know my Lord can, I believe my Lord uill, help you in this time of need. Whatever interest I have with him is yours. None feel for you, or can, more than I do.

I am thankful, however, for the grace of God given unto you at this trying time. The furnace is intended, in the Father’s hand, to prove faith, and to improve it. He puts it into the fire like gold, that upon trial it may appear sterling; and that, losing nothing but dross we may learn to trust him better. You now see and know that his trials of faith are acts of love. The burning bush, so far from being consumed in the flames, is cherished by them, and grows. Blessed be the name of our God! I find the miracle repeated in our visitations. In faith and patience you possess your soul; yea, the smell of fire does not pass upon you. Where could you have learnt what God has been teaching you so soon, or so well? All is well. May you see more of his love in every dispensation! Trust him. Go on trusting, without doubt or wavering, and he will grant you your heart’s desire. I commend myself very earnestly to your remembrance in the best place. Mention me to your divine and almighty Friend, in whom I am, with my very best wishes, your friend and servant,

W. R.

P. S. Our text for to-morrow is — We are the (rue circumcision, &c. Phil. iii. 3. God fulfill it, and give us this communion with the Trinity!