To Miss Pywell
The speechless awe which dares not move,
And all the silent heaven of love.
I am no great friend to solitary Christianity; nevertheless, in so peculiar a case as yours, I think an exception may be admitted. It does seem most expedient for you to retire out of the city, at least for a season, till God has increased your strength. For the company of those who know not God, who are strangers to the religion of the heart, especially if they are sensible, agreeable people, might quite damp the grace of God in your soul. You cannot oblige me more than by fully opening your mind to me: There is no danger of your tiring me. I do not often write such long letters; but when I write to you, I am full of matter. I seem to see you just before me, a poor, feeble, helpless creature, but just upon the point of salvation; upright of heart, (in a measure,) full of real desires for God, and emerging into light. The Lord take you wholly! So prays
My dear Lady,
Your affectionate servant.
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CCCLXIV. — To Miss Pywell.
MY DEAR SISTER, KILKENNY, April 23, 1771.
I HARDLY knew whether you were dead or alive, having not heard from you for so long a season. Yesterday I received yours of March 28th, and am glad to hear you are not moved from your steadfastness. Certainly it is not the will of our Lord that you should: His gifts are without repentance. Do you find no decay in faith? Do you as clearly as ever see Him who is invisible? Is your hope as lively as at first? Do you still taste of the powers of the world to come? And can you say, in as strong a sense as ever,
“I nothing want beneath, above,
Happy in a Savior’s love?”
Do you feel no anger at any time? no pride? no will but what is subordinate to the will of God? And have you the witness in yourself that all your ways please Him? Then expect to see greater things than these, for there is no end of His goodness; and do not forget,
My dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.
CCCLXV. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, January 22, 1772.
YOU have given me clear and satisfactory answers to the questions which I proposed, and I rejoice over you for the grace of God which is in you. May He increase it more and more! How should I rejoice to see you, and to talk with you more particularly on these subjects! I hope that may be in the spring; but before then you can tell me whether you are always sensible of the presence of God. Is that sense never interrupted by company, or by hurry of business? Is your heart lifted up to God, whatever your hands are employed in? Do you rejoice evermore? Are you always happy? always more or less enjoying God? Do you never fret; never so grieve at anything as to interrupt your happiness? Do you never find lowness of spirits? Are you enabled in everything to give thanks? I am, my dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.
CCCLXVI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, December 19, 1773.
IT is plain the wisdom and power of God order all things well: He has brought you to the right place, and you have no need to be careful for anything, but only in everything to make your requests known unto Him
with thanksgiving. I am glad to hear that Mrs. K——y’s love does not grow cold. One part of your work is to stir up all who have believed, to go on to perfection, and every moment to expect the full salvation which is received by simple faith. I am persuaded your being where you are will be for good. Speak to all about you, and spare not. God will bear witness to his own truth.
I am, my dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.
CCCLXVII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, December 29, 1774.
I AM glad you parted from our honest friend C——ne upon so good terms. All the trials you suffered while you were there, are now passed away like a dream. So are all the afflictions we endured yesterday; but they are noted in God’s book, and the happy fruit of them may remain when heaven and earth are passed away. Trials you are likewise to expect where you are now; for you are still in the body, and wrestle, if not with flesh and blood, yet with “principalities, and powers, with the rulers of the darkness of this world, with wicked spirits in high places;” and it is good for you that every grain of your faith should be tried; afterwards you shall come forth as gold. See that you never be weary or faint in your mind; account all these things for your profit, that you may be a full partaker of His holiness, and
Brighter in all His image shine.
I am, my dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.