LETTER XXXI. DEAR FRIEND, I AM sorry to hear thou art so ill, but I am more than sure that thou art safe in the bond of the everlasting covenant; my Lord and Master will have nothing to do with the whole, the full, or the righteous; he came to heal the sick, to feed the hungry, and to call sinners to repentance. When I received Mr. M's letter yesterday, I was very sorry at the accounts, but last night in private prayer for my friend I was much indulged and enlarged on his behalf, and I did hope and conclude that he himself would feel the effects of my petitions, and so I said last night to my family when at supper. The union I feel with my yokefellow, the love I have to him in the bowels of Christ, the confidence and hope I have of his eternal safety, and the boldness I find in pleading for him, convinces and assures me that there is no absence between us but in body; we are still one, and present in the spirit; and this is the evidence of the union and oneness between us in Christ Jesus. God permits me to use great freedom with him for my dear friend, and I know that his faith grows and gathers strength under his afflictions, that his hope abounds upon every revival of the good work in him, and that his spiritual life is more abundant; and I am sure that his confidence has got so firm a hold that even the king is held in the galleries, so that he cannot get off or get away from my friend with faithfulness and honour on his side, without acknowledging the victory of his own implanted faith, and pronouncing a blessing on it. I know that my friend stands now upon this ground, holds fast his own integrity, pleads strongly his own cause; he maintains his own standing, insists upon his own honesty and sincerity, and takes no denial; he gives not up his suit, but states with boldness the truth of his case and state; he rehearses former deliverances, refreshings, lovevisits, and tokens for good; he insists upon his unfeigned love to the brethren, and to me in particular; he pleads his sincerity and his heartiness in the Saviour's cause; his hatred to those that despise his Lord; his earnest desire to be useful; his gladness at any addition to his family, though he himself has been starving for the very crumbs that fell from the table or lips of the new-born soul; he insists upon it, that none but God could have undeceived him at the first; none could change his heart, and quicken his soul, and make his conscience so tender but the Almighty; none could support him under such temptations, deliver him out of such troubles, or keep him from the great transgression, but the Lord God of Hosts himself: this is the ground that my friend has gained, this is his present confidence, and this is the business that he is now engaged in; and the same Lord that keeps him pleading, dictated, wrote, and now sends this; and therefore I shall sign it with his own name, CHRIST JESUS THE LORD. LETTER XXXII. · TO JAMES BAKER and OLD PEG, being Invalids. BELOVED, THE Doctor wishes grace, mercy, and peace to the old soldiers who are creeping into winter quarters. It is written in our laws, that there was a commandment which went forth from the King of kings and Lord of lords eighteen hundred years ago, that the poor, the halt, the lame, and the blind were to be invited, compelled, yea brought in to be present, and to be guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This command has never been recalled; this law has never been repealed; but stands in full force to this day, like the laws of the Medes and Persians, which alter not. It is also appointed and decreed by an un alterable statute, that all old soldiers or invalids who have been engaged on the Lord's side against the world, the flesh, and the devil, that these upon being dismissed from service, shall have a pension settled upon them, and shall be free from war for ever after. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in case these soldiers have continued, and appeared staunch to his Majesty's interest, and have not been finally overcome by the King's enemies, namely, the world, the flesh and the devil, so as to be drawn away from his Majesty's service, and to engage with the rebels against the King and his forces as aforesaid; it is decreed, ordained, and immutably fixed by an eternal mandate, that such shall wear a crown, in token of royalty, loyalty, and victory; and that they shall have a branch of palm in their hands, an emblem of peace, of conquest, and of eternal triumph; and shall shout among all the King's worthies, "Salvation to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." Long live the King, long live the King. W. H. S.S. LETTER XXXIII. To Mr. B. DEAR FRIEND, SATAN, sin, and death, have got their allies in our depraved nature; (this I know by woful experience) namely, corrupt affections, carnal enmity, and unbelief; and there are darkness and death in all these: but there are charity, a sound mind, and faith also, and these are from above, and there are light and life in all these. The workings of these I have long observed, and find in heavy and sharp conflicts, much darkness and confusion, much hastiness of spirit and heat of temper, and so much impatience, that I am quite bewildered and confounded; and here I lose sight of every grace, and even in prayer I often observe that there is no going forth either in faith, hope, or love, all appear to be inactive, and at this I have often wondered, that they should lay dormant when their exercises are so much wanted; but this arises from my ignorance. These are not idle or inactive, but abide at home on certain occasions, to prop up the heart and fix that, that it may not sink too low; "Perplexed, but not in |