To Mr. C——.
DCCCLXXVII. — To Mr. C ——.
DUNDEE, May 2, 1786.
I DOUBT not but both —— and you are in trouble, because —— has “changed his religion.” Nay, he has changed his opinions, and mode of worship: But that is not religion; it is quite another thing. “Has he then,” you may ask, “sustained no loss by the change?” Yes, unspeakable loss; because his new opinion, and mode of worship, are so unfavorable to religion, that they make it, if not impossible to one that once knew better, yet extremely difficult.
“What then is religion?” It is happiness in God, or in the knowledge and love of God. It is “faith working by love;” producing “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” In other words, it is a heart and life devoted to God; or, communion with God the Father and the Son; or, the mind which was in Christ Jesus, enabling us to walk as He walked. Now, either he has this religion, or he has not: If he has, he will not finally perish, notwithstanding the absurd, unscriptural opinions he has embraced, and the superstitious and idolatrous modes of worship. But these are so many shackles, which will greatly retard him in running the race that is set before him. If he has not this religion, if he has not given God his heart, the case is unspeakably worse: I doubt if he ever will; for his new friends will continually endeavor to hinder him, by putting something else in its place, by encouraging him to rest in the form, notions, or externals, without being, born again, without having Christ in him, the hope of glory, without being renewed in the image of Him that created him. This is the deadly evil. I have often lamented that he had not this holiness, without which no man can see the Lord. But though he had it not, yet in his hours of cool reflection, he did not hope to go to heaven without it: But now he is or will be taught, that, let him only have a right faith, (that is, such and such notions,) and add thereunto such and such externals, and he is quite safe. He may indeed roll a few years in purging fire, but he will surely go to heaven at last!
Therefore, you and my dear have great need to weep over him: But have you not also need to weep for yourselves? For have you given God your hearts? Are you holy in heart? Have you the kingdom of God within your righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? the only true religion under heaven? O cry unto Him that is mighty to save, for this one thing needful! Earnestly and diligently use all the means which God hath put plentifully into your hands! Otherwise, I should not at all wonder if God permit you also to be given up to a strong delusion. But whether you were or were not; whether you are Protestants or Papists, neither you nor he can ever enter into glory, unless you are now cleansed from all pollution of flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. I am
Your affectionate
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DCCCLXXVIII. — To the Rev. Mr. L——.
DEAR BROTHER, LEWISHAM, December 14, 1771.
FOR some time I have been in doubt whether it was best for me to write, or to leave you to your own reflections. But at length love turns the scale. I cannot be silent any longer without being wanting in affection. I will therefore state the case as impartially as I can; and may God give you a right judgment in all things!
It has pleased God to entrust you with several talents; a measure of his grace, of natural understanding improved by reading and conversation; and a tolerable utterance. And what are you doing with these talents? You are well-nigh burying them in the earth. A dispensation of the Gospel is committed to you; and yet you preach not the Gospel, or but now and then; instead of, continually stirring up the gift of God that is in you. Is this inactivity, this losing so many precious opportunities, owing to any temporal views? Do you expect to get more money by delay? I hope not. Do you want to avoid labor, shame, or censure? I would fain think better things of you. Surely you have not so learned Christ!
But you have promised (not indeed to man but) before God, that you will not leave the Church. What do you mean by this? What ideas do you affix to that confused expression? In what sense can the officiating at West — street or Spitalfields chapels (both of them consecrated places, if that avails anything) be called leaving the Church? Does Mr. Dodd, one of the Kings Chaplains, leave the Church by officiating at Charlotte — street chapel? although this was never consecrated yet, neither is under any Episcopal jurisdiction.
But if you had made that promise ten times, still I ask, Would it not be “more honored in the breach than in the observance?” For, what was it you promised?. To wait for dead men’s shoes? Was not this a foolish promise? To bury your talent in the earth? Was not this a sinful provide? To incur the woe of not preaching the Gospel? Is not this both foolish and sinful? “But you do not intend to stand in the vineyard all the day idle. You will but wait a while longer.” Well, how long will you be as a dumb dog? twenty years? or ten? or one and a half? If you have a lease of your life, well. But what, if you are called in one year to give an account of your stewardship? O live today! Do all the good you can while! it is called today! Now stir up the gift of God which is in you! Now save as many souls as you can and do all you can to ease the labor and prolong the life of Your affectionate friend and brother,
DCCCLXXIX. — To the Same.
October 25, 1786.
LAST night I had a long conversation with a few sensible men, concerning going to church. I asked them what objection they had to the hearing of Mr. L——. They answered, they could not hear him; he generally spoke so low, that they lost a good part of what he said; and that what they could hear was spoken in a dead, cold, languid manner, as if he did not feel anything which he spoke. This would naturally disgust them the more, because Dr. C—— leaned to the other extreme. I doubt there is some ground for their objection. But I should think you might easily remove it. I asked again, “Have you any objection to anything in his behavior?” They answered, “One thing we cannot approve of; his being ashamed of the Methodists. His never recommending or defending them at all, we think, is a full proof of this: For every one knows his near relation, and his many obligations to you. They know how you have loved and cherished him from a child.” They might have added,
“You owe your whole education to him, and therefore, in effect, your ordination, your curacy, your school, yea, and your wife: None of which you would in all likelihood have had, had it not been for him.” I would add a word upon this head myself. I do not think you act wisely. Not one of your genteel friends can be depended on: They are mere summer flies. Whereas, had you condescended to make the Methodists your friends, they would have adhered to you one and all. And they are already no inconsiderable body of people; beside that, they are increasing more and more.
Suffer me now to speak a word between you and me. Is not the reason of your preaching so languidly and coldly, that you do not feel what you say? And why not? Because your soul is not alive to God. Do you know that your sins are forgiven? I fear not. Can you say, “I know that my Redeemer liveth?” I doubt, if you did know once, whether you know it now! Have you fellowship with the Father and the Son? Alas, it is well if you know what it means! And are you content to have your portion in this would? Do you savor only earthly things? Then I do not wonder that you are shy to the Methodists; for they are not to your taste! O think and pray today; for I do not promise you that you shall live another year! I now give you a full proof that
I am
Your truly affectionate.
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