Letters

Dear Sir, — Yours I received. O that we had learned Christ to any purpose! It were well to have learned but as much of him as to convince us that he is far above our comprehension. There is nothing in creation, but the more acquaintance we have with it, the more spots and blemishes we shall see; but Christ, the more he is seen and known, he appears so much the more comely. Created things answer but a few wants, and that for a little time; but Jesus answers all wants at once, and makes up one for ever and ever. It is truly sad, that silly trifles should be able to call off our hearts from him! O, it is sad, that when Christ is infinitely better than all, he should be chiefly slighted by us! And wretched is our ingratitude, that, when Christ has done so much for us, we should be unwilling to do any thing for him! O what a mercy that he deals not with us as we deserve! As all lawful business is full of Christ, and of eternal things, yours is so in a peculiar manner.* Your asking of persons what

* His correspondent being a merchant. they desire, as they come in, is an emblem of Christ’s saying, 41 What will ye that I should do unto you? Buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.” Your arranging of goods on shelves, puts me in mind of Christ’s arranging his blessings, in the ordinances of the gospel and in the various promises. Often you let people see things, and they refuse to buy them at all; or, at least, to take them at your price — a sad emblem of our conduct before Christ! Ah, how often do we come to his ordinances, and buy nothing; view his covenant in a careless manner, and refuse to have any of his special benefits! We reason with Christ, not to have his blessings cheaper — that cannot be — but to have them at a higher rate than that at which Christ offers them. Is not this madness with a witness? We can give nothing, and yet will bid something, when Christ tells us that he will not take any thing as his price. O, cursed is our contempt of Jesus, when we tempt him with any of our things! Perhaps you sometimes exchange goods; but no exchange is like that which Christ made; he took our curse, and gives us his blessing; he took our sorrows, and gives us his joys; he takes our old heart, which is little worth, and gives us a new one; he takes away our filthy garments, and clothes us with change of raiment! You get your own share of slack trade on some days; but if you could learn the way of trading quick with Christ; if bad debtors make you rightly consider what you

owe to Christ, and how poorly you pay; you might make the worst part of your business the most profitable. Yours, &c.

LETTER II.

Dear Sir, — I desire to sympathize with you in your affliction. Experience hath made me to know how hard it is to part with a pleasant child. God hath, in this dispensation, showed you that u Vanity of vanities, all that cometh is vanity.” There is no certain source of pleasure besides Christ. When we come into life, we are much in the same situation as you were when you got home — we find created joys on their death-bed. May we put as little trust in them as they deserve! In this stroke, I am sure, God is righteous. Think if your tender little one did not twine about your heart, and draw it off from God. Is it not then just that God abolish the idol? But methinks this stroke is not only just, but it is good also, both to you and to your child. What you have met with on the occasion, appears to me an evidence, so far as I can see into the secrets of Jehovah, that God has at once taken your child to himself, and, in some measure, taken your child’s room in your heart. Now, if, when young ones are in such danger here, God hath taken your daughter to educate her in heaven; if she is gone to Christ, your best friend above, as I think, from your concern about her, appears manifest — is she any worse? rather, is she not far better? Do you well to be angry that God has dealt so graciously with her? Learn, from the death of children, to pant for the everliving God; to consider them, and all created things, as mere loans, which God may recall at pleasure. Esteem nothing but Christ your proper possession; all things beside him give us the slip. As to the question which you propose, 14 How may one know that afflictions are sanctified?” I would answer, if they tend to humble us; if they open our eyes to discern a vanity in creatures; if they fill us with resentment at our sin; if, under them, we would rather choose to get rid of corruption than of trouble; if we would fain acquiesce in God’s will, even in smiting us, and are grieved for the rising of our hearts against him — these are a good sign that our troubles are sanctified. But, in order to put all out of doubt, even now try to believe, and lay the burden of your whole salvation upon Jesus, as bearing your griefs and carrying your sorrows; and then I am sure your trouble will be sanctified. Fear not, only believe. As to the note at the service of the table, of which you spake, it was to this purpose — u When the savages of Louisiana were going to murder Lascde, or his Italian friend, he told them, that such was his regard for them, that he had them all in his heart; and would they murder a man who loved them so well? At the same time, applying a small looking-glass to his breast, he desired them to

look and see if it was not so. It is said that the poor savages, observing their own image, had their barbarity melted into the most tender compassion and love; they would not for a world have hurt him, or suffered him to be hurt by others. Now, believing communicants, Jesus bids you look into his heart, and see yourselves there. c Behold,’ saith he, c you were on my heart from eternity, when I undertook for you; then my delights were with the sons of men, and I rejoiced in the habitable parts of the earth! Lo, you were in my heart on Calvary, when it was melted as the wax with the wrath due to your crimes! Behold, how you are in my heart, now that I am in the midst of the throne, while I appear in the presence of God for you, and prepare a place for you!’ Will you any more, by sin, murder a man — a God-man, that had, that has, and that will ever have, you in his heart? Melts not thy soul into tender affection to him? Startles not thy heart at the thought of imbruing thy hands in his blood? Do not all thy inward powers cry out, Was I, a very Beelzebub, a prince of devils, in Jesus’ heart from everlasting, and shall I be there to everlasting? Were all his thoughts, thoughts of love concerning me? Was all his heart inflamed with love to me, and all inflamed with wrath on my account? What shall I render to him for his kindness? Doth the eternal God give me full and everlasting room in his blessed heart? And shall not I give him some, give him all the room in that stye, that hidden hell of mine? Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; why standest thou without? Fill the house, my heart, with thy glory. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I forget thee, O Jesus, and do not prefer thee to my chiefest joy! O Jesus, go up higher and higher; and ye created enjoyments, come down, and sit below his footstool.” I am Yours, &c.

LETTER III.

Sir, — Despise not the day of small things, I might say of good things. When you consider yourself as one of the first-rate deservers of damnation, how may you admire the great kindness of God! Compare your mercies, your visits, not with the wishes of your soul, but with the deserts of your sin; and then a little one will appear as a thousand, and a small one as a strong nation of astonishing favours. Though we should get but one smile of his countenance, and hear but one word from his blessed lips in a whole year, what a mercy to those who deserve, all the year throughout, to be tormented in the lowest hell! Bless God for any transient blinks you enjoy; but let the unchangeable Saviour be the only confidence of your soul. Frames, as well as heart and flesh, do fail; but He will never fail you, nor forsake you. You ask me concerning marks of fellowship with our Lord Jesus. Alas, that I should

know so little about that happiness! How easy to talk about spiritual things when we feel not their power; but, without doubt, our communion with Christ is real, if it make us to lie in the dust before him, and cause us to loathe and abhor ourselves before him; Tsa. vi. 5, 44 Then said I, woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the king — the Lord of hosts.” O, what a kindly, a heart-humbling, a soul-shaming, and paining view of sin — particularly of inward enmity and unbelief — does the smile, the voice of God produce! We cannot look on a God of redeeming love, without thinking ourselves unclean, outrageous beasts and devils. Psalm lxxiii. 20, 21; Rom. vii. 24. Real communion, too, melts our hearts with love to God, and to his laws, ordinances, and people; and renders us vexed and ashamed that we cannot love him to purpose. 1 Cor. v. 14. But it is one thing to know these matters in our head, and another thing to feel them in our heart. Ah, how many of us called Christians are led like beasts, by the head; and how few, like saints indeed, are led by the heart! O to hear his heartdrawing voice! O to see his soul-attracting countenance! O to be fast bound by the cords of his love, so that neither strong lusts within us, nor numerous devils, nor an evil world, may ever be able to loose us! The Christian Journal, I suppose, is now published. You may send for what copies you need; and O pray for its doing some good!

No doubt it will be the saviour of death, and a stumbling-block, to some carnaTand profane readers; but, if Jesus render it useful to the serious, it is my business to bear patiently the scoffs of the profane. Wishing that the eternal God, the dying Redeemer, may be your all and in all, and the all and in all of your seed, I am, Yours, &c.

LETTER IV.

Dear Sir, — I received yours: — I would desire to join with you in prayer for your children. May God write on the afflicted little one his new name. I am glad to find that you receive so many of the tender mercies of God in your afflictions. If you or I get a crumb from the Master’s table, wThat a wonder of sovereign mercy it is! It is quite undeserved, nay, contrary to all desert. Often it is not desired, or rather, is half forbidden. What else are our careless prayers, and our careless waiting on ordinances, but a courting the denial of mercies! However, endless praise be to our liberal Jesus, who, seeing our needs, doth grant unto us his gracious presence! His going forth is prepared as the morning; and as the rain that waiteth not for a man, and tarrieth not for the sons of men. At our last sacramental solemnity, I thought that some drops of Heaven’s dew fell on my soul. The views of that unmatched Jesus, as my all

and in all, suiting all my sins, and all my troubles, and all that I could desire, and infinitely more than I could ask or think, were delightful to my heart. But, alas, such is my worse than infernal temper, that when at any time he begins to touch my heart, or to take me into his embrace, I struggle to get from him; and scarcely are a few minutes past, when I am often seven fold more like a child of hell than before in respect of carnality, heart- wanderings, and the like! O that cursed heart of unbelief, that will forsake our own mercy!

Truly, Sir, when I compare the poor commendations, which I give to the unmatched Immanuel, with the conduct of my soul, I am apt to say, O what a dreadful compassing of God with lies and deceit is found in me! May the Lord have mercy on an inward blasphemer. Dear friend, pity me, and cry mightily to God in my behalf. It is shocking, if you knew it, to think what difference there is between my sermons and my own inward life. Oh, what astonishing grace and blood that must be, which can save such devils! I should say, such sinners worse than devils! Yet, O to be distinguished debtors to free grace! O happy, happy, to be drowned for ever in debt to redeeming love! Oh, to be set up here, and at the last day, and for ever, in the most public place, as bankrupts that owed infinitely much to divine kindness, and that could not pay a farthing! Yours, &c.

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LETTER V.

Dear Friends, — The repeated strokes on your little babes are very affecting: bat the words with which Jesus entertains your souls, give you reason to hope that the children are removed to the immediate care of their better and more proper parents, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now, view the matter in what light you will, you may see that the Lord is doing all things well. God had a better right to your children than you; why then should you grudge, or think that you are ill used, when he takes back his loan? he can manage them better than you. It no doubt delighted you to see them walking about your hands, or dandled on your knees; but how much better is it to walk about the hands of a redeeming God, and to enjoy him as their eternal all, and in all!

We cannot conceive the pleasure of Jehovah, in seeing the travail of a Redeemer’s soul; his children sitting like so many olive plants around his table! It was pleasant to hear a Saviour say, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God and to see him take them up in his arms and bless them; but how much more pleasant to see him seat them with himself upon his throne, and in his divine manner say, 44 Behold I and the children whom thou hast given me!” Methinks your babes, by their early death, are, as it were, addressing you, to O, father and mother, make

haste and come away — we are not lost, but gone before! O, do not reflect on the Lord, — he does all things well; all his ways are mercy and truth.” Beware of thinking that all these things are against you. The Lord’s right way is in the sea, and his path in the mighty waters. Though to you he is covering himself with a cloud of dark providences, yet never fear, the rainbow of the new covenant is round about his head. God often loves them in a peculiar manner, whom he peculiarly afflicts. It is really strange, that we are all so fond of having the mark of bastards, viz., freedom from chastisements! but what better than opposition to God, can we think, will proceed from our carnal minds? I confess it is not to our honour that we need so many trials; but, O, it is kind in God, either to draw or to drive us to himself! O friends, fill your bosom with promises, since your babes are taken from you; and, when you lie down without your children, take promises to lie down and rise up with you. That single promise, Isa. xli. 10; or that, Isa. xliii. 1 — 3, is sweeter than thousands of the sweetest babes. Methinks God is saying to you, 66 Parents, am I not better to you than ten sons?” Let your hearts reply, 44 Yes, Lord, thou art better than a thousand. - Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon the earth whom I desire besides thee.’” God’s promises are good bread for mourners; and his words are refreshing to a sorrowful heart. Even now he is saying to you, u Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink

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abundantly, O beloved!” Many a lesson we have got, that all besides Christ is “vanity of vanities;” and that time is short, and eternity long and important; but, ah! we are dull scholars, who scarce learn a letter in a whole year! Since God by troubles lets us know that it is night, and prevents us from sound sleep, let us, instead of keeping dead babes in our thoughts, think, when will it be morning? when will the Lamb in the midst of the throne feed us, and lead us by fountains of living waters? and when shall God himself wipe away all tears from our eyes? May God, that comforteth the cast down, comfort you by the coming of Jesus. Yours, &c.

LETTER VI.

Dear — — — — Having heard some days ago of your illness, I have transmitted to you the few following hints: — 1. Let your days of trouble be days of trying your own heart and way before God; and O, let your search be earnest, as you know not how soon death, and an appearance before the tribunal of Christ, may actually take place. Mind that it is not the having somewhat of a profession, but the having our soul united to Jesus Christ, and our being renewed in the spirit of our minds, that will stand as real religion before God. 2. Think how much better it will be, to discern the mistakes relative to your LIFE AND REMAINS OF

state, or relative to your thoughts, words, and actions, now when sovereign grace may rectify them, than to have them discovered when it is too late to obtain a happy change. 3. Ponder under what view Christ answers your case. He is made of God to you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and so is answerable to you as foolish and ignorant, naked and guilty, corrupted and denied, imprisoned and in bondage. Think, I beseech you, how he suits you in his new covenant characters, and how great is your need of him in all these views. 4. Ponder carefully, that Christ, and all the fulness of God, is given unto you in the free promises and offers of the gospel, such as, Prov. i. 22, 23; ix. 4, 5; xxiii. 26; Isa. xlv. 22, 24; xlvi. 12, 13; lv. 1, 7; xlii. 6, 7; John vi. 37; 2 Cor. v. 18, 21; Acts xiii. 26; Rev. xxii. 17. See that you do not merely look over and think over the scriptures, but try and apply them to your heart. 5. Rather think too ill of your soul’s case before God, and of your conduct in life, than too well. If they cannot stand the trial of such texts as these, Matt. v. 3, 8; Rom. viii. 2; vii. 14, 15, 24; 2 Cor. v. 17; Gal. iv. 19; vi. 15; 1 Pet. ii. 7; John xxi. 17; all is naught. 6. Consider what pains God hath been at with you. His language in this rod is plainly, O that they were wise, that they understood this! And see also John v. 6; Matt, xx. 32; Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Finally, Mind that all the instructions parents and others have given you, all the offers of salvation which have been made to you. and all the strivings of the Spirit with your conscience, will bear witness against you, if you make not the receiving of Christ and walking in him your most earnest study. “Now,” my dear friend, “now is the accepted time, now is the day of your salvation.” O harden not your heart, but fly for refuge to Jesus as the hope set before you. May the Lord himself persuade you. Yours, &c.

LETTER VII.

Dear Sister in Affliction, — I am essaying to weep with you that weep. Yet let me beseech you that you do not mourn as those that have no hope. “The Lord liveth, and blessed be our rock, and let the God of our salvation be exalted!” Fret not at the inexpressible kindness of God to your husband. We have no reason to doubt but that he is gone to Jesus, which is far better. No more dim eyes nor feeble limbs now! Nor will it be long, I suppose, till he and you meet, where ye shall for ever love one another, and rejoice over one another, as the ransomed of the Lord. There the kind relations of husband and wife will be quite swallowed up in the great relations to God and the Lamb. The Lord hath now an opportunity of giving you an experience of himself, as the widow’s husband, the widow’s judge, and the widow’s stay. Stir up your soul, and cry, u I know that my Redeemer liveth;” 41 my Lord and my God;” yea, mine own God is be — I hope. Jer. xlix. 21, 14 Leave thy fatherless children upon me, I will preserve them alive, and let your widows trust in me,” will be the security for you and yours. Fear not, only believe. Permit me to say a few things to the children. Remember your father hath often and solemnly devoted you to the Lord. O, for the Lord’s sake, never give yourselves to Satan or to your own lusts! If you cast yourselves on the God of your father, I dare foretell that God will take care of you all, both of soul and of body. I myself was thrown to the wide world when young, and yet to this moment I never was in a strait as to outward things, nor as to inward things either, unless when my own unbelieving heart was the cause. Your friends will, no doubt, point out what course you should take as to earthly business; but let me recommend to your consideration these scriptures; Jer. xxxiv. 19; xlix. 11; Psalm lxix. 5; cxlvi. 9; xxxiv. 3, 20; xxxvii. 3, 5; Isa. xli. 10, 17, 18; xliii. 2; Matt. vi. 33; Phil. iv. 19. I beseech — nay, charge — every one of you to read these scriptures, and to lay them up in your minds. Perhaps your father’s illness disqualified him for giving you dying advice; if so, take these scriptures instead of them. O, if the grace of God wrould enable you to live according to the manifold directions which you have received! See that you study to live, before God and men, in such a manner as that you wilt be an honour to your deceased father, and a comfort to your distressed mother. Yours, &c.

LETTER VIIL*

Dear, — When I get an opportunity, I

have some thoughts of making a trial of the medicine which you mention, though my hopes of being better by it are not very high. My life and health seem now to pass like a declining shadow, nor dare I repine at the matter. God hath, in some measure, satisfied me with old age; I would therefore be longing to see his salvation. I observe several things relative to my family, which urge my carnal heart to wish continuance; but my death can make no vacancy in my family, and far less in the church, which Jesus cannot easily fill up. What I desire is, to have the presence of God in my trouble, and to be enabled to act for his glory. I can hardly bear the thought of being consigned to be an useless weight on his earth. But I must not quarrel at his disposal; — he cannot but do right, nor would I wish to attempt making straight what he has made crooked. Redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, is what I ever desire to enjoy; and I wish to leave the circumstances of my depar-

* This and the three following Letters were written by the author to his relations, when he was in distress.

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ture to his high sovereign will. If grace reigns through Jesus righteousness to eternal life to me and mine, I ask no more. I believe that I shall never be perfectly well, till I be with the Lamb in the midst of the throne. In the mean time I earnestly desire to die as a wax taper, sending forth a sweet smell of Him whose garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia. I am yours, &c.

LETTER IX.

Dear, — I am at present in a weak and languishing condition; but, as it is the doing of the Lord, I desire to be resigned; and would gladly be content, whether death or recovery be the issue. Indeed, the desire of my heart is, that, if it be his will, I should depart and be with Christ, which is far better than being in this sinful world. But it would be improper for me, to set up my ignorant and corrupt will, as a rule to the Most High. I wish to be at entire and cordial resignation to his will, who hath so graciously performed all things for me. Let him recover, or let him kill me, as is most for his glory, I hope that it shall be in infinite love to my soul. I desire to take all kindly from his hand, and I hope that he will sweeten all with believing views of his everlasting love to me. To leave a multitude of kind relations, hearers and neighbours, on earth, is an easy matter, in order to depart and to be with Jesus Christ for ever. When I write, perhaps my last letter to you, 0 that I could commend him who is white and ruddy; the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely! Rather, O that the Holy Ghost would enable you and your children to come and see him! I am sure that is a pleasant and enriching sight. May never one of you get rest in your minds till you obtain such a blessed discovery! I give it, perhaps as my last words to you and your children, that there is none like Christ, there is none like Christ, there is none like Christ!

Yours, affectionately, &c.

LETTER X.

Dear, — My weakness still continues, nor,

indeed, is my mind anxious about this, but a Christglorifying death, and a being for ever with the Lord. My concern, too, is, that all my relations should have my place on earth delightfully supplied by the knowledge, care, and fellowship of Jesus Christ; even he whom, notwithstanding all my present and now long* continued carelessness and wickedness, I still hold to be Jesus Christ my Lord. O, could my soul enter into the full meaning of these words as I would wish! But I hope that I shall be allowed this attainment by and bye. Already my poor soul, in a manner hovering between time and eternity, cries, ;t None like Christ! and 44 None but Christ for me /” And may I, and all my relations and friends, be his henceforth

and for ever! It is do small comfort to have my relations on earth so kind and agreeable to me; but my superlative desire, I think, is to be with Jesus and his ransomed millions above. That such a sinner, and originally such a mean sinner, should be kindly treated by so many brethren and friends, doth and may amaze me; but O, how sweetly doth Jesus and his Spirit exceed them all! Now I in some sweet measure feel and see, that there is no friendship like that of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This week my bodily appetite is no better; but little matter, if God would enable me to drink up a river of his redeeming blood, and to feed full on Jesus’ flesh — on all the fulness of God. At the meeting of the Synod, let my weakness be represented to them; and, if they judge that it has disqualified me for teaching the students, I heartily agree to be laid aside from this work, and that one more fit should be chosen. It is Jesus Christ, whom I wish to have exalted; and the best means for saving sinners, I wish to take place. I hope the brethren will take care to supply my congregation with sermons, as want of this would sink my spirits. I have been but a dry tree myself among them; and O, it would rejoice my heart to hear of Jesus’ power being felt, and his glory seen by the ministry of my brethren helping me! I do not wish to be a burden to them: and, if providence bring me back into any measure of strength, I shall inform the supplier. The longer I live, I see myself the less worthy of being regarded by anybody. Wishing all the blessings of time and eternity on your family, and that the Lord may render you and your brother, and all my pupils, more faithful, diligent, and successful in the ministry than I have been,

I remain Yours, &c.

LETTER XL

Dear — I am, and have been since you went

away, much as when you saw me. Still weak, but desiring to wait for the salvation of God, which I hope will make me strong in his due time: his afflicing hand lies very mercifully on me: how pleasantly his glorifying hand, in a short time, will lie on me, I with humility wish to know, as soon as it is for his glory, and my own and others’ good. O study early fellowship with Christ. It is sweet in days of trouble to look back to this. I hope that you will not grudge to preach for me another Sabbath; and may that sweet Jesus Christ, and his Spirit, give you and me many days of sweet fellowship with them, which I am sure and glad that they can give us. My allowed inclination is to serve the Lord on earth, or to praise him in heaven, as he thinks most for his honour, for a time; though, saving his will, I would cheerfully prefer the last. O, to be with Christ in heaven, appears to me a double, a triple heaven for such a sinner! This, with my kind compliments to all my brethren about you.

Yours, affectionately, &c.