To Miss Mary Stokes

I am

Your affectionate brother.

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DCXXXIII. — To Miss Mary Stokes.

DEAR MISS STOKES, CHESTER, March 17, 1771.

I ALMOST wonder, have I found another Jenny Cooper? I take knowledge of her spirit in you. I doubt not God has begun a good work in your heart. He has given you a taste of the powers of the world to come. He has delivered you from the vain expectation of finding happiness in the things of earth; and I trust you will be entangled no more in that snare. You know where true joys are to be found. Now stand fast in that beginning of liberty, wherewith Christ has made you free. Yet do not stand still. This is only the dawn of day: The Sun of Righteousness will rise upon you, in quite another manner than you have hitherto experienced. And who knows how soon? Is He not near? Are not all things now ready? What hinders you from receiving Him now? “If thou canst believe.” Here is all the bar: Only unbelief keeps out the mighty blessing! How many things have you been enabled to overcome since I saw you in the great garden? But do not leave my poor Molly Jones behind; — not that you can stay for her; but bring her on with you. I have much hopes that nothing will stop Sally James or Miss Flower. O bear one another’s burdens! Then shall you be, not almost, but altogether, Christians! Then shall you fulfill the joy of, My dear Miss Stokes,

Yours affectionately.

While I am in Ireland, you need only direct to Dublin.

DCXXXIV. — To the Same.

MY DEAR MISS STOKES, DUBLIN, April 4, 1771.

THERE is a sweetness and friendliness in your spirit which is exceeding agreeable to me. And you have an openness withal which makes it the more pleasing. Let nothing rob you of this; although you cannot retain it without a good deal of resolution; for the example of all the world is against you; even of the religious world, which is full of closeness and reserve, if not of disguise also. How will you do then to retain that artless simplicity which almost every one disclaims? Nay, this is not all: You must likewise expect to be yourself deceived, more or less. You will believe persons to be sincere, who will abuse your confidence; who will say much and mean nothing. But let not my dear maid copy after them: Let them have all the artifice to themselves. Still let not mercy or truth forsake you, but write them upon the table of your heart. Only know to whom you speak; and then you cannot be too free. Open the window in your breast. I pray, never be afraid of writing too large letters: You must not measure yours by mine; for I have a little more business than you. Your weakness and tenderness of constitution, without great care, may prove a snare to you. Some allowance must be made on that account; but the danger is of making too much. Steer the middle way. So far as you are able, rejoice to endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ; and deny yourself every pleasure, which you are not divinely conscious prepares you for taking pleasure in God. I am glad you can converse freely with Sally Flower. Let her not lose her rising in the morning. Surely she and you together might overrule Molly Jones’s Irish reason for not meeting, “I said I would not.” I feel much for poor Sally James. Perhaps she will outrun many of you by and by.

My dear Miss Stokes,

Your affectionate brother.

DCXXXV. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER, LYNN, November 9, 1771.

HOW glad should I be, could I be of any service to one I so tenderly regard! You have a heart susceptible of friendship; and shall it not be a blessing to you, a means of increasing every holy temper, and perhaps of guarding you against some of the dangerous temptations which are incident to youth?

Shall I give you a few advices?

1. Keep that safe which God has given; never let slip any blessing you have received. Regard none who tell you, “You must lose it.” No; you may have more or less of joy. This depends upon a thousand circumstances: But you never need lose one degree of love.

2. You never will, if you are a careful steward of the manifold gifts of God. “To him that hath,” (that is, uses 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 native, according to your strength. Speak for God wherever you are. But, mean time,

4. Be humble! Let all that mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. Pray for the whole spirit of humility, that you may still feel you are nothing, and may feel those words,

“All might, all majesty, all praise,

All glory be to Christ my Lord!”

I am accustomed to remember a few of my friends about ten o’clock in the morning: I must take you in among them, on condition you will likewise remember me at that time. I never shall think your letters too long. My dear Molly,

Yours affectionately.

DCXXXVI. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, December 26, 1771.

SANCTIFIED crosses are blessings indeed; and when it is best our Lord will remove them. A peculiar kind of watching, to which you are now called, is, against the suggestions of that wicked one, who would persuade you to deny or undervalue the grace of God which is in you. Beware of mistaking his voice for the voice of the Holy One. Do justice to Him that lives and reigns in you, and acknowledge His work with thankfulness. There is no pride in doing this: It is only giving Him his due, rendering Him the glory of his own graces. But in order to this, you stand in continual need of the unction, to abide with you and teach you of all things. So shall you never lose anything of what God has given; neither the blessing itself, nor the witness of it. Nay, rather you shall sink deeper and deeper into his love; you shall go on from faith to faith; and patience shall have its perfect work, until you are perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Cannot poor Molly Jones discern the difference between John Pawson and T. Jones? In Tommy’s conversation there is nothing solid or weighty; as neither was there in his preaching. Therefore neither religion nor sound reason would lead one to admit either one or the other. It is only free, open love, however shy she may be, whereby you can make any impression upon her. And love, seconded with prayer, will persuade.

Do you not find as much life in your soul as ever? Can you still give God all your heart? Do you find as much of the spirit of prayer, and the same zeal for God? Go on, in his name, and in the power of his might, trampling yours and his enemies under your feet.

My dear Molly,

Your affectionate brother.

DCXXXVII. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER,

IN order to speak for God, you must not confer with flesh and blood, or you will never begin. You should vehemently resist the reasoning devil, who will never want arguments for your silence. Indeed, naturally all the passions justify themselves: So do fear and shame in particular. In this case, therefore, the simple, child-like boldness of faith is peculiarly necessary. And when you have broke through and made the beginning, then prudence has its office; that is, Christian (not worldly) prudence, springing from the unction of the Holy One, and teaching you, how far and in what manner to speak, according to a thousand various circumstances. You do not yet see the day dawn, with regard to those who are near and dear to you. But you must not hence infer, that it never will. The prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips will not fall to the ground; but “though it seem to tarry long, true and faithful is His word.”

I am glad Miss Williams comes a little nearer to us. Do the same good office to Molly Jones. She professes to love you: If she really does, press on, and you will prevail. Does not Tommy Jones hurt her? He is lively and good natured, but has no liking either to the doctrine or discipline of the Methodists. Such a person is just calculated for weakening all that is right, and strengthening all that is wrong, in her. If you speak to Mr. Pawson concerning the preaching at the Hall on Sunday evening, I believe it may be continued. Only it could not be by the Travelling Preachers: They are otherwise engaged.

Yours affectionately.

DCXXXVIII. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER, February 11, 1772.

I AM glad you have had an opportunity of spending n little time with that lovely company. The day I leave Bristol, (Monday, March 9,) I hope to

be at Stroud myself. You are not sent thither for nothing, but in order to do, as well as to receive, good; and that not to one family only, or to those four of your acquaintance; nay, but you have a message from God, (you and —— Eden too,) to all the women in the society. Set aside all evil shame; all modesty, falsely so called. Go from house to house; deal faithfully with them all; warn every one; exhort every one. God will everywhere give you a word to speak; and his blessing therewith. Be you herein a follower of Nancy Boltan, as she is of Christ.

In doing and bearing

The will of our Lord,

We still are preparing

To meet our reward.

I have great hope for Sally James. In the company which commonly surrounds her, it is best to use reserve. And this is apt to form a habit, which it is not easy to conquer, even with those she loves well; but I trust she will conquer this and every enemy. Perhaps we shall soon rejoice with her. It is good that you may be emptied, that you may be filled. But how is this, that you have never given me an hour’s pain since I was first acquainted with you? Do you intend to be always going forward, without standing still, or going backward at all? The good Lord enable you so to do, and all those that are with you! So fulfilll the joy of

Yours affectionately.

DCXXXIX. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER, ABERDEEN, May 1, 1772.

SALLY JAMES is a letter in my debt. I have had but one letter from her since I left Bristol: And that I answered almost as soon as I received it. I a little wondered at not hearing from you; but as I know both the constancy and tenderness of your affection, there was no danger of my imputing it to ingratitude.

I think your present exercise, though it is one of the most trying, is one of the most profitable, which a good providence could prepare for you. And

it will probably be one means of plucking a brand out of the burning; of saving a soul alive. O what would not one do, what would not one suffer, for this glorious end! You certainly have good reason to hope: For any that feels himself a sinner will hardly perish; more especially if he sees where to look for help, and is willing to give up every plea beside. You are never to put repentance and faith asunder; the knowledge of your emptiness and His fulness.

Naked, and blind, and poor, and bare,

You still your want of all things find.

But at the same instant, (such is the mystery of Christian experience,) you can say,

“Jesus, I all things have in thee!”

Our blessed Lord carries on his work in our souls, by giving us either to do or to suffer. Hitherto you are led most in the latter of these ways. I expect when you have more to do for Him, you shall suffer less. Every morning, and frequently in the day, you are very near to,

My dear sister,

Your affectionate brother.

DCXL. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER, YARM, June 16, 1772.

THAT remedy mentioned in the “Primitive Physic” (the manna dissolved in a decoction of senna) hardly ever fails to relieve in the severest bilious colic, within twelve or thirteen minutes. Warm lemonade (so stupid are they who forbid acids in these cases) frequently gives ease in half a minute. And I have known this to take place in such inveterate complaints as would yield to no other remedy.

We are sure, the means which our blessed Lord uses to conform us to his image are (all circumstances considered) the very best; for He cannot but do all things well: Therefore, whenever it pleases Him to send affliction, then affliction is best. Yet we must not imagine He is tied down to this, or that he cannot give any degree of holiness without it. We have reason to believe, from the earliest records, that St. Paul suffered a thousand times more than St. John. And yet one can hardly doubt but St. John was as holy as he, or any of the Apostles. Therefore, stand ready for whatsoever our Lord shall send; but do not require him to send you affliction. Perhaps he will take another way; he will overpower your whole soul with peace, and joy, and love; and thereby work in you a fuller conformity to himself than you ever experienced yet. You have; — hold fast there, — “All’s alike to me, so I

In my Lord may live and die.”

I am

Yours affectionately.

DCXLI. — To the Same.

MY DEAR SISTER, SHEFFIELD, August 10, 1772.

HAVING finished, for the present, my business at Leeds, I am come thus far on my journey to Bristol. But I must take Haverford-West in the way thither; so that I do not expect to be there till the 30th instant. How many blessings may you receive in the mean time, provided you seek them in the good old way wherein you received the Lord Jesus Christ! So walk in him still. Beware of striking into new paths! of being wise above that is written! Perhaps we may find sweetness in the beginning; but it would be bitterness in the latter end. O my sister, my friend, I am afraid for you! I doubt you are stepping out of the way. When you enter into your closet, and shut the door, and pray to your Father who seeth in secret; then is the time to groan, to Him who reads the heart, the unutterable prayer. But to be silent in the congregation of his people is wholly new, and therefore wholly wrong. A silent meeting was never heard of in the church of Christ for sixteen hundred years. I entreat you to read over, with much prayer,