20. - To Miss Hatton.
As to your correspondent’s letter, I approve its contents, but would have no one depend on my judgment, especially on the points it treats of; as I have been thought sometimes to consider them with a mind prepossessed in their behalf. This I know, that all cannot, ought not to receive some of the sayings that letter contains; and yet, happier far, in my opinion, are those that can and do receive them. Let every one follow grace and Providence, and we shall be guided aright. I am, &c,
JOHN FLETCHER.
20. - TO MISS HATTON.
MADELEY, Dec. 1764.
MADAM, - I am sensible how much I want advice in a thousand particulars, and how incapable I am safely to direct any one; I shall, nevertheless, venture to throw upon this sheet the following observations, as they came to my mind on the reading your letter.
You cannot expect, on the Gospel plan, to attain to such a carriage as will please all you converse with. The Son of God, the original of all human perfection, was blamed, sometimes for his silence, and sometimes for his speaking, &c; and shall the handmaid be above her Master? There is no sin in wearing such things as you have by you, if they are not out of character; I mean if they are necessary for your station, and characterise your rank.
There is no sin in allowing yourself a little more latitude of speech, provided you listen to Christ, by inward attention to his teaching, and the end of what you say may be to introduce what is useful and edifying; for God judgeth of words according to the intention of the speaker. I may speak idly even in the pulpit; and I may speak to edification in the market, if what I say is either necessary or proper to introduce, or drive the nail of a profitable truth. Some parables of our Lord would have been deemed idle talk, had it not been for the end he pursued, and, upon the whole, accomplished by them. No particular rule can be given here; a thousand circumstances of persons, tempers, places, times, states, &c, will necessarily vary a Christian’s plan.
There is no sin in looking cheerful. No, it is our duty to be cheerful. Rejoice evermore; and if it is our duty always to be filled with joy, it is our duty to appear what we are in reality. I hope, however, your friends know how to distinguish between cheerfulness and levity.
If you want to recommend religion to those you converse with, and, in many instances, to pluck up offence by the root, let your heart lie where Mary’s body did. Keep close to Jesus, be attentive to his still, small voice, and he will fill you with humble love, and such love will teach you, without any rule, as by the instinct of your new nature, “to become all things to all men.”
You ask what the apostle meant by that expression. It is certain he did not mean to overset his own precept, “Be not conformed to the world.” I apprehend, that in every case, wherein we might promote the spiritual or temporal good of any one, by doing or suffering things of an indifferent nature, or even painful and disagreeable to us, we ought to be ready to become all things to all; provided the good we propose is superior to the inconveniences to which we submit. Here also we stand in need of humble love, and meek wisdom, that we may so weigh circumstances, as to form a right judgment in all things.
I am glad the Lord strips you; I wish self may never clothe you again. Beware of stiff singularity in things barely indifferent - it is self in disguise; and it is so much the more dangerous, as it comes recommended by a serious, self - denying, religious appearance.
I hope the short comings of some about you will not prevent your eyeing the prize of a glorious conformity to our blessed Head. It is to be feared, that not a few of those, who talk of having attained it, have mistaken the way; they are still something, and I apprehend an important step toward that conformity, is to become nothing! Or rather, with St. Paul, to become in our own eyes “the chief of sinners,” and the “least of saints.” Mr. Harris seems to me one among ten thousand; he has left a particular blessing behind him in this place. The God of peace give us the blessings that the Messenger and the Mediator of the new covenant brought with him, at this time, into the world! May we so receive him, that, by a blessed exchange, as he was clad with our flesh, so we may put him on, and be covered with his righteousness, and filled with his Spirit! Salute the Church in your house. From your servant in the gospel.
J. FLETCHER