To Miss Bolton
treated them as such; sometimes saying in terms, “Will nobody knock that mad dog on the head?”
Let every one, then, speak as he finds: As for me, I cannot admire either the wisdom, or virtue, or happiness of mankind. Wherever I have been, I have found the bulk of mankind, Christian as well as Heathen, deplorably ignorant, vicious, and miserable. I am sure they are so in London and Westminster. Sin and pain are on every side. And who can account for this, but on the supposition that we are in a fallen state? I have proved at large, it can no otherwise be accounted for. Yet none need perish; for we have an almighty Savior; one who is able and willing to save to the uttermost all that come unto God through Him.
I am, dear Sir,
Your affectionate servant.
—————
DLVIII. — To Miss Bolton.
MY DEAR SISTER, BANDON, May 2, 1771.
I WANTED much to know how your soul prospered. I could not doubt but the God of this world, the enemy of all righteousness, would use every means to move you from your steadfastness. Blessed be God, you are not moved! that all his labor has been in vain! Hitherto hath God helped you; and, fear not, he will help you to the end. He gives you health as a token for good: He can trust you with it, while you give him your heart. And O stand fast in the glorious liberty wherewith he has made you free! You are not called to desire suffering. Innocent nature is averse from pain; only, as soon as his will appears, yours is to sink down before it. Hark! what does he say to you now? “Lovest thou me more than these?” more than these, —
Wealth, honor, pleasure, or what else
This short enduring world can give?
Then, “feed my lambs;” carry the little ones in thy bosom; gently lead those that are great with young.
Be not weary of well-doing: In due time thou shalt reap, if thou faint not, etc., etc.
Yours most affectionately.
DLIX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, June 15, 1771.
A LETTER from you is always welcome; but never more so than now; as this is the time therein it seems good to our Lord to try you as by fire. Fear nothing; only believe. He is with you in the fire, so that the flames shall not kindle upon you. O how will you praise him by and by, for his wise and gracious visitation! He is purging away all your dross, that you may be a vessel meet for the Master’s use. Happy are they that do his will; and happier still, they that suffer it. But, whatever you suffer, cast not away that confidence which hath great recompense of reward. In order to keep it, do not reason, but simply look up to Him that loves you. Tell him, as a little child, all your wants. Look up, and your suit is made: He hears the cry of your heart. And tell all that troubles you to Yours affectionately.
DLX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LYNN, November 7, 1771.
AT length I have snatched an hour to repeat to you in writing the advises which I gave you before.
1. Keep that safe which God has given you: Never let slip any blessing which you have received. Regard none who tell you, “You must lose it.” No; you never need lose one degree of love.
2. You never will, provided you are a careful steward of the manifold gifts of God. To him that hath, that is, useth what he hath, it shall be given still, and that more abundantly. Therefore,
3. Use your every grace. Stir up the gift of God that is in you. Be zealous! Be active! Spare no one. Speak for God, wherever you are. But, meantime,
4. Be humble: Let all that mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. And be clothed with humility. Pray that you may always feel that you are nothing, less than nothing, and vanity. In this spirit speak and do everything, giving all the glory to Him that lives and rules in your heart by faith.
Last night I was reading some advices of a French author, part of which may be of use to you. Only observe, he is writing to one that had living faith, but was not perfected in love.
“How can I distinguish pride from temptation to pride?” “It is extremely difficult to distinguish these, and still more so to lay down rules for doing it. Our eyes cannot penetrate the ground of our hearts. Pride and vanity are natural to us; and, for that reason, nothing is more constantly at hand, nothing less observed, than their effects. The grand rule is, to sound sincerely the ground of our hearts, when we are not in the hurry of temptation. For if, on inquiry, we find that it loves obscurity and silence; that it dreads applause and distinction; that it esteems the virtue of others, and excuses their faults with mildness; that it easily pardons injuries; that it fears contempt less and less; that it sees a falsehood and baseness in pride, and a true nobleness and greatness in humility; that it knows and reveres the inestimable riches of the cross, and the humiliations of Jesus Christ; that it fears the lustre of those virtues which are admired by men, and loves those that are more secret; that it draws more comfort even from its own defects, through the abasement which they occasion; and that it prefers any degree of compunction before all the light in the world: Then you may trust that all the motions you feel tending to pride or vanity, whether they are sudden or are thrust against you for some time, are not sin, but temptation. And then it may be the best to turn from and despise them, instead of giving them weight, by fixing your attention upon them.”
I want a particular account both of your inward and outward health. Tell me how you are, and what you are doing: Withhold nothing from Your affectionate friend and brother.
DLXI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, December 5, 1772.
I KNOW not that ever you asked me a question which I did not readily answer. I never heard any one mention anything concerning you on that account; but I myself was jealous over you. Perhaps I shall find faults in you that others do not; for I survey you on every side. I mark your every motion and temper; because I long for you to be without spot or blemish. What I have seen in London occasioned the first caution I gave you. George Bell, William Green, and many others, then full of love, were favored with extraordinary revelations and manifestations from God. But by this very thing Satan beguiled them from the simplicity that is in Christ. By insensible degrees they were led to value these extraordinary gifts more than the ordinary grace of God; and I could not convince them that a grain of humble love was better than all these gifts put together. This, my dear friend, was what made me fear for you. This makes me remind you again and again. Faith and hope are glorious gifts, and so is every ray of eternity let into the soul. But still these are but means: The end of all, and the greatest of all, is love. May the Lord just now pour it into your heart us he never has done before.
By all means spend an hour every other day in the labor of love, even though you cannot help them as you would. Commending you to Him who is able to make you perfect in every good word and work, I am
Yours affectionately.
DLXII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, July 18, 1773. YOUR late conversation was exceeding pleasant to me. I had sometimes been almost inclined to think that your affection was lessened; but I now believe it is not. I trust your love is not grown cold. This gave me much satisfaction though I could not but be concerned at seeing you so encumbered with worldly business. Surely it will not be so always. But God’s time is best! Two or three of those little things I have sent you: — WITH peaceful mind thy race of duty run: God nothing does, or suffers to be done, But what thou wouldst thyself, if thou couldst see, Through all events of things as well as He. Let thy repentance be without delay: If thou defer it to another day,
Thou must repent for a day more of sin, While a day less remains to do it in. Nor steel nor flint alone produces fire, Nor spark arises till they hath conspire: Nor faith alone, nor works without, is right; Salvation rises when they both unite. If gold be offer’d thee, thou dost not say, “Tomorrow I will take it, not today:” Salvation offer’d? why art thou so cool To let thyself become tomorrow’s fool? PRAYER and thanksgiving is the vital breath That keeps the spirit of a man from death: For prayer attracts into the living soul The life that fills the universal whole; And giving thanks is breathing forth again The praise of Him who is the life of men.
Two different painters, artists in their way,
Have drawn religion in her full display.
To both she sat: One gazed at her all o’er;
The other fix’d upon her features more.
Hervey has figured her with every grace
That dress could give; but Law has hit her face.
The specious sermons of a learned man
Are little else than flashes in the pan.
The mere haranguing upon what they call
Morality, is power without ball:
But he who preaches with a Christian grace
Fires at your vices, and the shot takes place.
Faith, Hope, and Love, were question’d what they thought Of future glory, which Religion taught.
Now Faith believed it firmly to be true,
And Hope expected so to find it too:
Love answer’d, smiling with a conscious glow,
“ Believe! expect! I know it to be so.”
Go on in this humble, gentle love; that you may abound therein more and more. Aim at nothing higher than this: And may the God of love still possess you whole, and guide your every thought, and word, and work. Continue to pray for
Your affectionate brother.
DLXIII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, August 8, 1773.
IT gives me much pleasure to observe that you do not lose your simplicity. You seem not only to retain simplicity of spirit, (the great thing,) but likewise of sentiment and language. God has indeed dealt very graciously with you from the beginning hitherto. He has led you tenderly by the hand from grace to grace, and from faith to faith: And you may well say, “The mercy I feel To others I show;
I set to my seal That Jesus is true.”
Go on in His name, and earnestly exhort all that know Him to press forward to the mark. Encourage them to aspire after full salvation, salvation into the whole image of God. Beware you do not decline in your zeal for this: Let no prudence hinder you. Let prudence “guide, not cool, its fires.”
Still let it for His glory burn,
With unextinguishable blaze:
And trembling to its source return,
In flames of love, and joy and praise.
But I had forgotten that I am in haste. I hope Mr. S. will be a blessing to many. He is alive to God. This day I set out for Bristol, and thence to Cornwall; but I hope to be at Bristol again on the 28th instant. Life is short! We have need to improve every moment!
Adieu!
DLXIV. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, BRISTOL, September 27, 1777.
UNDOUBTEDLY Satan, who well understands the manner how the mind is influenced by the body, can, by means of those parts in the animal machine which are more immediately subservient to thinking, raise a thousand perceptions and emotions in the mind, so far as God is pleased to permit. I doubt not but he was the chief agent in your late painful exercises. And you gave him advantage by reasoning with him, that is, fighting him with his own weapons; instead of simply looking up, and saying, “Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.” You undoubtedly want more thankfulness; and you want more simplicity; that grace, Cambray says, “which cuts the soul off from all unnecessary reflections upon itself.” You are encompassed with ten thousand mercies; and the greatest of all is,
Christ in a pure and spotless heart.
Beware of ever admitting any doubt or reasoning concerning this! Whereunto you have attained, hold fast; and use all the grace you have received. Warn every one, and exhort every one, and especially those who groan after full salvation.
I cannot, on any account, pass a whole day without commending you to God in prayer.
I thank you for writing to me so soon. Continue to love and pray for Yours most affectionately.
DLXV. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, January 2, 1781.
IT is a great step towards Christian resignation, to be thoroughly convinced of that great truth, that there is no such thing as chance in the world; that fortune is only another name for Providence; only it is covered Providence. An event, the cause of which does not appear, we commonly say, comes by chance. O no; it is guided by an unerring hand; it is the result of infinite wisdom and goodness. Such are all the afflictive circumstances that have followed you in a constant succession, almost from your childhood. He that made the Captain of your salvation perfect through sufferings has called you to walk in the same path, and for the same end; namely, that you may learn obedience, more full, inward obedience, a more perfect conformity to His death, by the things that you suffer. A little while, and “He will wipe all tears from your eyes; and there shall be no more sorrow or crying; neither shall there be any more pain!” but you shall hear the great voice out of heaven, saying, “The tabernacle of God is with men; and God himself shall be with them, and be their God!” Still love and pray for Your ever affectionate brother.
DLXVI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, BRISTOL, August 31, 1784.
MANY years ago, Mr. Hall, then strong in faith, believed God called him to marry my youngest sister. He told her so. She fully believed him, and none could convince one or the other to the contrary. I talked with her about it; but she had “so often made it matter of prayer, that she could not be deceived.” In a week he dropped her, courted her elder sister; and, as soon as was convenient, married her. The disappointed one then found exactly the same temptations that you do now. But neither did she keep the devil’s counsel. She told me all that was in her heart; and the consequence was, that, by the grace of God, she gained a complete victory. So will you. And you will be the better enabled, by your own experience, to guard all, especially young persons, from laying stress upon anything but the written word of God. Guard them against reasoning in that dangerous manner, “If I was deceived in this, then I was deceived in thinking myself justified.” Not at all; although nature, or Satan in the latter case, admirably well mimicked the works of God. By mighty prayer repel all those suggestions, and afterwards your faith will be so much the more strengthened; and you will be more than conqueror through Him that loveth you. Whenever you find yourself pressed above measure, you must make another little excursion. While you help others, God will help you. This may be one end of this uncommon dispensation. You must not bury your talent in the earth. Wishing you more and more of that Lovely, lasting peace of mind.
I am
Yours most affectionately.
DLXVII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, WEDNESBURY, March 28, 1785.
You are in danger of falling into both extremes; of making light of, as well as fainting under, His chastening. This you do whenever you look at any circumstance, without seeing the hand of God in it; without seeing at the same instant, This unkindness, this reproach, this returning evil for good, as well as this faintness, this weariness, this pain, is the cup which my Father hath given me. And shall I not drink it? Why does He give it me? Only for my profit, that I “may be a partaker of his holiness.” I have often found an aptness both in myself and others, to connect events that have no real relation to each other. So one says, “I am as sure this is the will of God, as that I am justified.” Another says, “God as surely spake this to my heart as ever he spoke to me at all.” This is an exceedingly dangerous way of thinking or speaking. We know not what it may lead us to. It may sap the very foundation of our religion. It may insensibly draw us into Deism or Atheism. My dear Nancy, my sister, my friend, beware of this! The grace of God is sufficient for you! And whatever clouds may interpose between, his banner over you is love. Look to yourself that you lose not the things that you have gained; but that you may receive a full reward.
Adieu!
DLXVIII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, January 9, 1789.
“SIR, you are troubled,” said Mr. Law to me, “because you do not understand how God is dealing with you. Perhaps if you did, it would not so well answer his design. He is teaching you to trust Him farther than you can see Him.” He is now teaching you the same lesson. Hitherto you cannot understand his ways. But they are all mercy and truth. And though you do not know now what He does, you shall know hereafter.
I am acquainted with several persons whom I believed to be saved from sin. But there is great variety in the manner wherein God is pleased to lead them. Some of them are called to act much for God; some to rejoice much; some to suffer much. All of these shall receive their crown. But when the Son of Man shall come in His glory, the brightest crown will be given to the sufferers. Look up, thou blessed one! the time is at hand! I am
Ever yours.
DLXIX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LEEDS, August 1, 1789.
I THANK you for sending me so particular an account of your sister’s death. “Right precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints!” It is well you have learned to say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” And you can say it even When loss of friends ordain’d to know, —
Next pain and guilt; the sorest ill below.
But why does our Lord inflict this upon us? Not merely for his pleasure, but that we may be partakers of his holiness. It is true, one grand means of grace is the doing the will of our Lord. But the suffering it is usually a quicker means, and sinks us deeper into the abyss of love. It hath pleased God to lead you in the way of suffering, from your youth up until now. For the present this is not joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, it has yielded peaceable fruit. Your soul is still as a watered garden, as a field which the Lord hath blessed. Cleave to Him still with full purpose of heart. To His tender care I commend you; and am
Yours affectionately.
DLXX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, HIGH-WYCOMB, November 4, 1790.
THE more I consider your case, the more I am convinced that you are in the school of God, and that the Lord loveth whom he chasteneth. From the time you omitted meeting your class or band, you grieved the Holy Spirit of God, and he gave a commission to Satan to buffet you: Nor will that commission ever be revoked, till you begin to meet again. Why were you not a mother in Israel? — a repairer of the waste places? — a guide to the blind? — a healer of the sick? — a lifter up of the hands which hung down? Wherever you came, God was with you, and shone upon your path. Many daughters had done virtuously; but thou excelledst them all. Woman, remember the faith! In the name of God, set out again, and do the first works! I exhort you, for my sake, (who tenderly love you,) for God’s sake, for the sake of your own soul, begin again without delay. The day after you receive this, go and meet a class or a band. Sick or well, go! If you cannot speak a word, go; and God will go with you. You sink under the sin of omission! My friend, my sister, go! Go, whether you can, or not. Break through! Take up your cross. I say again, do the first works; and God will restore your first love! and you will be a comfort, not a grief, to
Yours most affectionately.
DLXXI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, December 15, 1790.
THERE can be no possible reason to doubt concerning the happiness of that child. He did fear God, and, according to his circumstances, work righteousness. This is the essence of religion, according to St. Peter. His soul, therefore, was “darkly safe with God,” although he was only under the Jewish dispensation.
When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and assign every man his own reward, that reward will undoubtedly be proportioned,