This hand has poured out upon most of you the symbol of consecration to the fear, the love, and the service of God. The oath of his covenant is on your souls. Have your consciences felt the power of its obligation? My ministry, which for more than eleven years I have discharged among you, is at an end; but not so the consequences. The good Lord knows with what fidelity and what success my labours have been attended. The hour is not far distant when I must deliver up my account, and you must deliver up yours. O, to deliver them up with joy! Thou blessed and heavenly Judge, shall I stand before thy seat, charged with any of their blood? Shall they stand before it charged with their own? Shall all the offers of thy mercy, all the pathos of thy sufferings, all thine inimitable patience, and all thy marvellous love, have been preached to them in vain? Shall there be any here who does not more certainly turn his back upon the closed doors of this house of prayer, than he does upon the last, lingering offer of thy salvation? The thought is too overwhelming. Pardon me, my friends. -I can no more. ORIGINAL LETTERS FROM PERSONS EMINENT FOR LEARNING OR PIETY. (Copied from a Collection of Autographs, in the Possession of the Rev. Thomas Raffles, LL.D., of Liverpool.) VI. FROM THE REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD TO THE Reverend and dear Brother, THOMAS JOLLIE. June 12, 1700. REV. YOUR letter by your maid I received yesterday, am glad to hear from you, but sorry for your bodily infirmitys, and desire to sympathize with you, god will gradually wean us from and weary us out of the world that heaven may be more welcom, that zeal which drives, or that love which draws us, to god, makes us meet for heaven. I am heartily sorry for that unhappy fraction amongst our friends in Craven, a sad comment upon the 3d of James-tantæne animis cœlestibus ira! that, with the like in some other places, bodes ill to the nation, and our liberty and if my ink, or breath, or blood would afford a plaistre, I should rejoyce, for they have been, and are dear to me, but what can man doe? I am very jealous that Mr. K hath missd it various ways, and he must either seriously repent; and solemnly declare in a publick professed way, or he cannot expect that either god or man will be reconciled to him: Sin will bring shame, and shaming ourselves is the best fruit of it. I purpose (if the Lord will) to write home to him, to which I have some peculiar obligations: I am glad you have so far concern'd yourself in this affair, and have been faithfull to him and them, and that he shews any relentings, but thats not enough; them that sin, rebuke before all, 1 Tim. 3. 20: especially preachers: and I think a time of probation of the truth of Repentance may be fit: I am troubled for his prejudices agt you, and silence to your lettres: I am far from palliating, extenuating, or excusing any ones faults, nuga in laicis nuga sunt in clericis Blasphemia; yet its frequently observed that when men begin to draw up Articles they oft run far back, make worse constructions of tollerable actions, aggravate things to the height; new prejudices are raised, fomented, severall will bring storys out of ill intents, and desire to perpetuate dissentions: I wish there had been more caution and moderation used by our Christian brethren, had they advised with some of us at first before matters came to this head and height who knows but much scandall had been prevented? and yet for all this if both sides would lay aside bitterness, and quietly state their case, methinks something might be done by the ministers of Christ at a distance, for I must confesse I am not capable of reaching them or conversing personally with them; nor is it fit for them to come, but some proposals of generall termes of accommodation subscribed by 3 or 4 of us, and presented to them, might make an experiment, how far that may goe before there be a totall rupture, for I should be sorry Dr. Stillingfleet should be a true prophet 20 years; let the dissentres alone and they will destroy themselves; that war with its authority as much as their Apocalypticall courts: you that live nearer may have some opportunity to help them, and the deference they have for your person, gifts, gravity, age and graces, is as likely to put an end to the matter as any I know; and I shall contribute the best assistance that lyes within my power, if you or they shall signify what procedure is made therein, and methinks there seemes some necessity of their uniting, upon severall considerations, but I cannot inlarge, however I must make it matter of my poor prayers, that the god of all grace would humble and soften their hearts, that they may walk in the fear of the Lord, and comfort of the Holy ghost may be edified. Dear Brother, we have not many steps to our father's house; where our soules shall unanimously sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, with our godly friends and brethren, now at rest, where he longs to be who is Accept this little treatise as a viand. VII. FROM JOHN THORNTON, ESQ. TO THE REV. WILLIAM 1775 Feb: 10 30 Hymns ARMITAGE, OF CHESTER. Sent to Mr Thomas Jones in Chester From the Swan with two necks Lad Lane. 24 Omicron 40 Alleines admonition 6 Mc. Ewen on the Types 2 Burgess with Omicron 1 Gilpin on Satan's temptations.— DEAR SIR, Clapham 21st Feby 1775. I HAVE to thank you for your acceptable favor of the 16th. Novr & to acquaint you that I have sent the above Books directed to Mr. Jones which I hope may be useful to you, pray desire him to acquaint me the Charge of Carriage which he will pay & I will return it him by Mr. Jewson or as he directs when I know the amount I trust the Lord will continue to shine upon your labours & that many will be brought home to the great Bishop of souls, I have endeavoured to persuade Mr. Edwards of Leeds to pay you a visit & give you any assistance he can as I don't know a more sagacious worthy Minister for such a business if he can make it convenient to get so far from his people & I dare say you will be happy in his Comp our friend, Mr Venn is well in body & Soul he is now on a Journey into Wiltshire to attend Mr Venns Mother to the grave who died last Week. I told him of your remembrance of him & he is not unmindful of you he has experienced a blessing & is I trust since his Removal been much moulded into the true Gospel humbling & reviving Spirit, as humbly dependant on the Lord only, as Mr Jones wished for some Book on Satan's temptations I have sent the best I know of, which I would not recommend to the perusal of weak Christians, as you'l find it will raise the Devil instead of laying him wth many, & it is best not to fight the Enemy till he comes of himself, & yourself & any sagacious established Disciples can study what is needful & use it as you find occasion, my chief view in desiring Mr Edwards to visit you is to help you in any of these matters by informing you of his repeated long experience in whatever may be embarrassing. I have seen Capt. Scott but once since he came to Town & he was well when he called of me, I ramble very little from home as I find Closet devotion reading & praying over the Word & close self examination with watchfulness, much more profitable than much hearing. I have a Church at Camberwell near me where I put in the Revd Mr Bentley as Vicar who I hear twice on Sunday & twice in the week beside & I rarely hear any other from Week end to Year end & when I do it is seldom indeed that I don't lose thereby, except about once a Year that I Visit Yilling & Helmsley, the account you gave me of the work with you, I was refreshed With, as soon as you see any wildnesses check them sharply and firmly in the first few instances & you will save yourself much trouble & vexation grace if genuine is ever humbling & the counterfeit puffeth up, if Men are full of themselves of the peculiar favor shewn them & are talking of the Minister or means only they are seldom if ever in the right way & there is as much pride oft in the pronouncing oneself vile as in self Commendation, such are wilful & not meek as a little Child, may the Lord keep us & all that are dear to us from Every Snare & enable us to watch, that to avoid one rock we run not on another. We cannot be too watchful over our own Spirits & mind that we are actuated by a Spirit of love for God is love. It is a great blessing to be kept by Almighty power in a loving Spirit, to be interested in the prayers of all God's Saints, the invaluable efficacy of whose intercession for us, separating Mountains; & vast distance of space is no hindrance or impediment; by such intercessions we are no doubt often refreshed from the living Fountain, this is to sit in heavenly places in Xt Jesus-to enjoy the Communion of Saints & truly partake of the fellowship of the blessed. Herein we mutually bear each others burdens, rejoice with them that rejoice & weep with them that weep, these are acts of Charity in wch the poor may be equally liberal with the rich. These are some of the privileges of all Believers as Sons of God beloved of the Father for Xts sake and influenced by the Spirit of holiness, the true Comforter of all Zions Mourners. This we share in common as the fruit of his purchase who hath enriched us with heavenly treasures in Xt Jesus. Prayers Sypathetically put up unto the Man of Sorrows who is acquainted with grief meets no doubt wth a kind reception seeing he ever liveth at the right hand of the Majesty on high, expecting till all the Enemies of his Church be made his footstool, & the Nations of this World become the Kingdoms of God & of his Christ. For this end was the Captain made perfect through sufferings that he might be a merciful high Priest. His word & promise stand sure that they who ask shall receive, & that they who call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. And if these promises relating to Individuals shall thro the Spirit avail to conquest how much more the united prayers of many Sons Shall thro the same spirit pull down the strong Holds of Satan, & demolish principalities & powers & spiritual wickedness in high Places. Satan's Watch Word is divide & devour, if once he can separate us from the fold & withdraw us from the Shepherd's Tents, his work is half done. But Christ's Watch Word is Unite and Conquer. While we keep in the paths of duty we are in the way of safety. While we obey his Commandment, we fulfil the Royal Law of love & draw down the blessing of Heaven on ourselves & them that are Fellow Heirs with us of that glory that shall be revealed. Remember me to Mr Jones and believe me |