To a Fellow Minister

Dear Sir, 

I received your letter and dare not say that I am sorry for your fall, nor indeed for any afflictions that God lays on His children; they are tokens of His fatherly love, and needful medicine for us. Rather would I pray that while God keeps you in the furnace, you may be still, and feel your dross and tin being purged away. The Lord Jesus gives me a dose of this medicine most days; and I am never so well as when I am taking it, though I frequently make a crooked face at it.  If your heart is as my heart, it will need many a bitter potion to cleanse and strengthen it! 

Afflictions have been to me some of my greatest mercies. No lasting gain do I get, but in a furnace. Comforts of every kind make me either light or lofty, and swell me, though imperceivably, with self-sufficiency. Indeed, so much dross, native and acquired, is found in my heart, that I have constant need of a furnace. Jesus has selected a suitable furnace for me, not a hot and hasty one, which seems likely to harden and consume me, but one with a gentle and lingering heat, which melts my heart gradually, and lets out some of its dross. 

Though I cannot love a furnace yet the longer I live, the more I see of its need and its use. A believer seldom walks steadily and brightly, unless he is well-furnaced. Why do you write to me with so much reverence? Is this befitting language from one sinner to another sinner? Ought the dust of the earth to elevate his kindred ashes? Should a frog croak out a compliment to a toad? May the Lord water your soul, and your vineyard, and teach you to know nothing, and preach nothing but Jesus Christ! 

For His sake, I am your servant, 

John Berridge

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Letter To His Daughter

My Dear Kitty, 

Yelling, July 31, 1782. 

You have given me much pleasure in writing so full an account of Mr. Riland's sermon: you must have attended closely. Strive to be as attentive under every sermon. Avoid, with all of your might, a trifling spirit under preaching, and in your secret prayer. Great is the gain which is sure to follow from being quite in earnest, and laboring against sloth and laziness. 

On the contrary, no benefit is received from making many prayers in a spirit of indifference. No benefit from hearing sermons or reading God's most holy Word unless our heart is engaged. His Spirit is grieved; our hearts are hardened; we bring religion into contempt, and not one evil temper is ever conquered. 

Fix it always in your mind, that you are to answer the end for which you are born: to follow His example and be made like Him. 

[Henry Venn]

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(To his sister E.) 1807

Dear Sister, 

I was permitted for years to go on in my own strength, to let me see what mighty acts I could perform. A self-righteous spirit will lead us to make such a patch-work garment as will for a while conceal the filthy imaginations of the heart; and thus, we carefully preserve our reputation and honor and get the name of devout Christians; the chief of our food is the applause of those about us. If we are disposed to exercise our charity, we take care to blow the trumpet, lest we should not be seen by men; and leave nothing undone but the weightier matters of the law. But as God had purposes of grace towards me, I was not allowed to go on in this spirit to the end; for all my fair and fond hopes of keeping everything straight, shunning the cross, and appearing outwardly devout, were brought down being founded on my own strength and on my own wisdom. I was permitted to raise this airy tower until it reached nearly to Heaven but the Lord looked down and scattered all my lofty thoughts, and I was obliged to acknowledge that the wisdom of man is foolishness with God, and I was so hemmed in on every side as to be made to cry, "Lord, save me, or I perish!" 

In this frame of mind, I was allowed to continue for some time, until I was filled with my own devices (Proverbs 1:30). I felt much pity for myself and much enmity against God, and thought I was dealt harshly with; and began to look for nothing but the fiery indignation of the Lord. Every refuge seemed to fail me, every false confidence was destroyed; my life hung in perpetual doubt, and every outward providence untoward. But underneath all this there certainly was an almighty arm of mercy, so that though exceedingly perplexed, I was not in utter despair; and it was in the midst of the darkest outward providences that the Lord was pleased to raise my soul to a hope that Jesus would reveal himself to me as my friend; and in the strength of this I was enabled to go many days. For faith, though "as a grain of mustard seed," yet being of the operation of the Holy Spirit, will enable us to creep along fearful of our own strength, looking to Christ for strength, hoping and despairing. So it was with me, until at length be revealed himself to me as the sinner's all in all; and then I knew the Lord by this most glorious name "I AM THAT I AM." 

Yours affectionately, James Bourne

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Heart-Searching Suitable to a Birthday

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them. Number 6:24-27

My beloved, 

 I have been told that you this day attain your twenty-first year. Will you accept an affectionate greeting from a pilgrim friend? and will you allow me to express the feelings of my heart, though they be not so lively or so congratulatory as may seem to comport with a birthday. You have reached another milestone on the pathway of life, and where does it find you? In a medium path between the world and Christ? Ah! there is no middle path. Consider it, and then "consider your ways;" for either you are serving the Lord or serving His enemies the world, the flesh, and the devil. I do think you sometimes long to be on the Lord's side, and that your heart says of His people "Numbered with them may I be, Here and in eternity." 

 My heart says Amen; and may it be soon, that I may have joy over you in the Lord, and that He may have the cream of your life, the flower of your days for He is worthy. He who bled and died for sinners such as you and I, is worthy of all our powers, and of a thousand hearts if we had them. May the blessed Spirit make you feel deeply your need of Him, and this very day, if it be His holy will, may your language be "Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it in Your courts above." 

 Most heartily I desire for you a spiritual birthday in the fulfillment of that precious promise "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Then will you say, "My Father, you are the guide of my youth;" and only then will you find true happiness, for "Fading is the worldling's treasure, all his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting pleasure, none but Zion's pilgrims know!" Though not with you, I am bearing you on my heart before the Lord. May He guide you every step in life and grant you the blessings of the upper and the nether springs. Forgive the intrusion of these poor lines from one who watches for your never-dying soul; and, with tender love, remains your affectionate friend, 

Ruth Bryan

Psalm 90:12 ...  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. ❤

"Blessed By God"

My dear Brother,

 I am happy to say that the sermon has been blessed by God in this neighborhood and consequently has made a very great stir. I received a letter from a poor man at some distance, thanking me for printing the sermon, as it has been a comfort to his soul and to others. Of course, I shall have neither the praise of the unbelievers, nor their good wishes. The gospel is a fan that will separate the chaff from the wheat. The Pharisees and philosophers get but little hope from me, and will, therefore, seek more flattering preaching elsewhere. I am thankful to say the Lord enables me to be faithful; but it will avail nothing to assent to this or that doctrine, unless the Lord writes it on the heart. What is received in the flesh is all nothing, for the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, nor can he know them; consequently, a man must be born again of the Spirit to understand then. By nature, there is no difference among us; we are all sprung from Adam, and Christ says, "A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit." The Scriptures make no distinction in us; we are all vile sinners. "What then? are we better than they? No, in nowise." 

 The more you know of the truth in a spiritual way, the humbler you will be. To know the mysteries of the gospel it is necessary that you be taught of the Spirit, so as to divide the law and the gospel, and the flesh and the Spirit. Then you will understand the two covenants. Read your Bible frequently. The whole work of salvation is Christ's, and Christ's alone. It is to Him we owe all blessing, in Him all fullness dwells, and we are complete in Him. If you can understand and realize that happy, are you. Faith will not profit you without love to Christ and His people. He will then be precious to your soul, and you will rejoice in Him. You will see when the true light shines into your heart, that you are vile and sinful. You will say with the bride, "I am black, because the sun has looked upon me." We must be taught of God, that we are not even able to think a good thought. We shall then give all the glory to God and shall not then think that we can choose between good and evil. A child must be born before it receives milk, and so must man be born again before he can receive the sincere milk of the word. 

Praying that grace, peace, and love may be multiplied, I am yours most affectionately, 

William Tiptaft

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A Faithful Minister!

Dear fellow pastor, 

You have desired a good work; may the Lord give you the desires of your heart. May He give you the wisdom of Daniel, the meekness of Moses, the courage of Joshua, the zeal of Paul, and that self-abasement and humility which Job and Isaiah felt when they not only had heard of Him by the hearing of the ear-but when they saw His glory and abhorred themselves in dust and ashes! 

May you be taught of God for none teaches like Him-and come forth an able minister of the New Covenant, well instructed to rightly divide and faithfully distribute the Word of truth. In the school of Christ, you will have to learn some lessons which are not very pleasant to flesh and blood. You must learn to labor, to run, to fight, to wrestle-and many other hard exercises; some of which will try your strength, and others your patience. You know the common expression, 'a jack of all trades'. 

I am sure a minister had need be such a one: a brave soldier, an alert watchman, a caring shepherd, a hardworking farmer, a skillful builder, a wise counselor, a competent physician, and a loving nurse. But do not be discouraged-you have a wonderful and a gracious Master, who does not only give instructions, but power and ability! He engages that His grace shall be sufficient, at all times and in all circumstances, for those who simply give themselves up to His teaching and His service. 

[John Newton]

1 Timothy 4:12 ...  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

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"The Barber"

Dear Sir, 

As it respects 'The Barber," I can speak with confidence. It was the first book that ever was attended with light, as well as power, to show me the desperate condition I was in. I had been convicted, and I believe it was the Spirit of God that convicted me; yet I had not light to understand what it meant; and I went on in misery and vexation eighteen years, until this book (whoever likes or dislikes it) fell into my hands. 

I always determined never to read Mr. Huntington's controversial books, lest I should be prejudiced against his preaching; because I was told they were cruel and abusive, and written in a bad spirit. But one night, walking along Oxford Street, I thought I would turn into a bookshop and ask if they had any of Mr. Huntington's works. They replied that they had The Barber and another, both of which I bought, and immediately read. Until then I knew nothing of the spider's web I had been weaving; but that book plainly showed me the difference between the letter and the spirit, the form of godliness and the power. 

God by it so entangled me with my own deceiving's, that I was forced to cry out, "Lord, save me, or I perish." Let who will find fault with The Barber or his bad spirit, I will thank God that he should condescend to send that book with such power to my heart and will pray that the author may be established in his own soul and blessed in all his labors. 

 Yours faithfully, James Bourne

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"Your Justification"

My dear Sister, I always loved you as my sister; now I love you much more than ever. I trust in God that you will soon stand related to me by a more close and dearer bond than nature can tie. Only go on, and you will be happy. God has begun His work; let Him finish it. 

All my prayers shall be offered for your speedy experience of His pardoning love. And until you taste of it, let me entreat you to be earnest in the careful use of all the means of grace. Be much in prayer, and in reading and meditating on the Word of God. But then take care that you do not build your salvation on these duties. You are not to imagine that anything you can do is able to justify you in the sight of God. 

Your justification is a free act of God's grace, without works,

 William Romaine

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"Look unto Jesus!"

Dear fellow-sinners, 

If you take refuge by faith in this sacrifice of Emmanuel, you are saved and cannot come into condemnation. But if you despise and reject it, then sooner may heaven and earth pass away than that you should escape being in hell to all eternity for your sins! 

I rejoice to hear that some of you seem to have gotten a glimpse of the love of Jesus, and of the preciousness of His atoning blood. To such I would say remain at Calvary, be there sleeping and waking, at work or at play, living and dying. Gaze upon that great sight until your conscience enjoys perfect peace with God, until your heart is filled with Emmanuel's love, and your whole soul is transformed into His image, and becomes as a mirror, finely polished to reflect the rays of His grace and glory to all eternity! 

"Look unto Jesus!" is the whole of the gospel. Look and wonder, look and live, look and love, look and adore, look and admire, look and be blessed, look and be glorified, look eternally and your hearts will be filled with everlasting love, and your mouth with an unending hallelujah! But what can I say to those among you, who have heard of Jesus, and whose hearts are given to another to the world, to themselves, to a lust, to a passion, to an idol, to sin, to Satan! 

Ah! to hellfire you will go if the Lord, in infinite mercy, does not interpose for you! Children, young people, who have not yet come to Jesus realize that you are under the wrath of God and that every moment it is coming nearer and nearer to your poor souls! Awake, arise, flee without a moment's delay to Jesus, and take refuge below His atoning cross and enjoy now and to all eternity His free, infinite, and unchangeable love to perishing sinners! Shall I meet you in heaven or see you going away in your impenitence and unbelief to hell? 

Yours in Emmanuel, 

William Burns

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My Real Name!!

 To Rev. John Newton,

Oh, what is man! How easily we spy the vanity and inconsistency in another, and how hardly we discern it in ourselves. The foulest stain, and worst absurdity in our nature, is pride! And yet this vile hedgehog so rolls himself up in his bristly coat, that we can seldom get a sight of his claws. Pride cleaves to us, like a shirt soaked in tar cleaves to the skin. No sharp ploughing and harrowing will clear the ground of it. This foul weed will be sure to spring up with the next rain!

Pride follows me like my shadow! This diabolical sin has brought more scourges on my back than everything else! It is of so insinuating a nature, that I know not how to rid myself of it. I hate it and love it. I quarrel with it and embrace it. I dread it and yet allow it to lie in my bosom. It pleads a right, through the fall, to be a tenant for life. It has such an amazing appetite that it can feed both on grace and garbage! It will be as warm and snug in a monastery, as a brothel and be as much delighted with a fine prayer, as a foul curse!

Lord, save me! If pride must dwell with me, let it not be a lordly master, but a loathed viper! Oh, that I could once say unto you, foul pride: "Farewell forever!"  There is no Christian grace, but pride will creep into its bosom and mix with it as freely as oil with oil. Nor is Lady Pride ever so delighted as when she becomes intimate with humility, and by soft caresses and kind speeches, encourages the sweet damsel to think highly of herself, even when she looks and talks humbly.

One moment she whispers and tells me that I am a fine fellow and then I am elated. By and by, she calls me a fool and then I am sullen. I can do no religious act, but pride is skulking at my elbow and much affecting me both by her smiles and frowns. This foul pride besieges my heart, besets all my steps, and meets me at every turn. Pride has more heads than a Hydra! (A mythological serpentine water monster which had many heads. Every time someone would cut off one of them, two more heads would grow out!) Pride has more shapes than Proteus! (A mythical Greek figure who could assume a different shape at will.)

It is such an odd mysterious evil that I can even be proud of loathing my pride. Henceforth if you ask my real name, it is Pride!

[John Berridge]

Proverbs 16:18 ... Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

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Letter on Spiritual Subjects

Dear Friend, 

Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.  

I hear you say, "I greatly want to know whether I am one of those who are born again." There are two ways whereby a soul comes to know that it is born again. The first is by the revelation of the Spirit bearing witness to the soul in some word or other where this truth is declared. The second is by His enabling the soul to discern its own acts in Divine light, and to draw conclusions from its discerned acts of grace that it has the principle; and in both these ways the Lord can give you satisfaction in an instant if it pleases Him. But, generally speaking, it is some time before a child of God can draw steady conclusions of its being new-born from its own feelings of the new life; and therefore, you may be new-born though you do not know it! 

A living infant, you know, when first born into the world has life, but it does not know it. It had a secret life from its first quickening in the womb, and from thence a secret motion; but as soon as it is born it begins to live visibly to others, but yet the child itself knows nothing of the matter. It cries, desires the breast, tastes the milk, and is satisfied, sees the light and feels the heat with pleasure, all of which are visible demonstrations of its life to bystanders, but the child knows nothing of it, because it is not capable of self-reflection. 

And thus it is with a newborn soul; there is a secret work of God upon all the heart, a principle of life given, and from thence some secret motions and faint stirrings now and then, under begun convictions, before it is brought forth into the visible life of grace, which discovers itself as soon as ever the soul is born again, in the breath or cry of the new creature, its desires, its discerning's, and its enjoyments, which, when communicated to grown Christians, they know such a soul is one of Christ's new-born babes, although this child itself is not yet capable so to reflect upon its own acts as to conclude its life from thence. And if this be your case, that you can not pass a judgment from what you have experienced that you have the life of grace, or are newborn, then tell me, as a rational creature, how it is with you, for as such you can tell what the feelings of the soul have been, although as a new creature you may not yet be come to such an exercise of your spiritual senses as to know those feelings to be feelings of grace, and a certain demonstration of your being born again. 

Well, a living child sees. What have you seen? Have you seen yourself to be a sinner by nature as well as by practice, in heart as well as life, and that you are utterly undone, and must perish forever without a saving interest in Jesus Christ, as being utterly unable to do anything to deliver yourself from the wrath to come? Have you seen your own righteousness to be but filthy rags, and your own strength to do any good but weakness? Again, have you seen as excellency in Christ, as a complete Savior, that is exceedingly suitable to your case as a lost sinner? And have you any discerning's of the glory of God's free grace and mercy in Christ? You have then the new creature's eye, discerning faith, even the faith of God's elect. And from these discerning's have you been made to cry unto the Lord, to lament your sinfulness before Him, and to supplicate His Throne for mercy, praying Him to give you Christ whatever He denies you of? You have then the new creature's breath, which flows from none but those that have the new creature's life. 

Again, what are your desires? Are the longings of your soul after the free grace and mercy of God in Christ, as held forth in the Promises, those breasts of consolation? You have then the new creature's appetite and are certainly born of the Word and Spirit of God. Once more, what are your enjoyments? What satisfies and pleases your soul best? Has the free grace of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ been sweet and savory to you in a promise or in an ordinance, to the refreshing and satisfying of your soul for some moments, just so long as you have had the breast in your mouth, the grace of the promise milked out to you? Then you have tasted that the Lord is gracious and are one of Christ's new-born babes. And have you ever felt any refreshing warmth and comfort in the love of God, which, like fire, has warmed and heated your cold soul? 

You have then that sensation which is proper to a new creature, and it is evident in these respects that you are certainly born again, and as such you shall see, that is, enjoy the kingdom of God as a kingdom of grace here, which is a kingdom of power, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; and you shall enter into the kingdom of glory hereafter, as being made fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light; for he who is your God has prepared for you a city, and wrought your soul for this self-same thing, there being never a soul in the world that is thus wrought upon but is a vessel of mercy prepared unto glory, by a saving work of the Holy Spirit upon it, as well as in the purpose of God concerning it. Go on, therefore, as a new-born babe, to desire the sincere milk of the Word the unmixed grace of the Gospel that you may grow thereby, for it is on purpose for you to maintain and increase the begun life of grace in your soul, until it is perfected in the life of glory. Rejoice, then, you lamb of Christ, for you are exceedingly safe under your kind Shepherd's care. He will gather you with His arm and carry you in His bosom; He will lead you into green pastures, beside the still waters, and make you to lie down safely. (Psalm 23:2)

[Anne Dutton]

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Swept Off

Dear Friend, 

We shall both very soon, I anticipate, be called away from seeing all things through a glass darkly to meeting God face to face and shall have to answer to Him for the deeds done in the body. 

We would certainly exhibit the most inordinate vanity, if we thought that the great mass of our fellowmen would be losers by our being swept off the great chessboard of this world. This board, indeed, is always so crowded that, with the exception of our attached relations and a few friends, the greater number of our neighbors will be glad to know that our being cleared away has left more elbowroom for them. 

Think how soon the world gets over the death of an eminent minister and let us be content that the place that knew us once, shall know us no more. 

[George Wilson]

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Psalm 103:15-16 ... As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Ecclesiastes 1:11 ... There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Ecclesiastes 2:16 ...  For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

Psalm 90:10 ... The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. ❤

A Word of Warning Against Worldly Conformity

"Adam, where are you?" Genesis 3:9 

 "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9 

To E. M., August 5, 1854. 

My Beloved Friend, 

The above questions came to my mind for my beloved friend, I know not why. This evening, I have heard a sermon from the last of these passages, and I must send you the substance of a few remarks, though not in the exact words. "What are you doing here, Elijah?" It may be said to some believers, "What are you doing here inactive and indolent in your Lord's cause? You were very lively in the service of Satan and the world. Why are you so lethargic in the service of Him who bought you with His blood, and knew what it was to be weary in working for you?" 

Again, it may be said to some, "What are you doing here in a place, or in society, where your Lord is not loved, honored, or known?" Your soul will suffer, your spirituality will be withered, for it is a very tender plant; and it is easily injured. If the believer will be in worldly society, uncalled by Providence, his spirituality is sure to suffer blight. Ah! What are you doing here, Elijah? "What are you doing here?" it may be said again, when the believer is in the midst of mist and gloom, which hide the Savior from his view. What are you doing here? you whom I have ransomed you to whom I have manifested myself you whom the Spirit has sealed whom I have loved with an everlasting love what are you doing here with darkened evidence? 

Is it not because you are looking into your own heart instead of looking unto Me, and coming unto Me, who am made unto your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption? The Spirit may discover to us what is in our hearts to abase us and lay us low; but if we look into our hearts to find comfort or encouragement, then our evidence will be darkened, the clouds will gather quickly around us, and our dreariness will grow yet more dreary! What are you doing here, Elijah? We must look away from self and learn that we are not to live upon past experience, however real, or upon past manifestations, however bright; but we must be seeking for fresh incomings of grace.

It is a great lesson which we are very slow in learning, not to live upon grace received. 

[Ruth Byron]

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"My Dear Sister"

My dear Sister, I always loved you as my sister; now I love you much more than ever. I trust in God that you will soon stand related to me by a more close and dearer bond than nature can tie. Only go on, and you will be happy. God has begun His work; let Him finish it. All my prayers shall be offered for your speedy experience of His pardoning love. And until you taste of it, let me entreat you to be earnest in the careful use of all the means of grace. Be much in prayer, and in reading and meditating on the Word of God. But then take care that you do not build your salvation on these duties. You are not to imagine that anything you can do is able to justify you in the sight of God. Your justification is a free act of God's grace, without works. 

 William Romaine

           G░O░D░ ░L░O░V░E░S░ ░Y░O░U 

ƸӜƷ ƸӜƷ ƸӜƷ 

Stand For God.

Dear Christian, 

 Your biblically convictions will divide you from the world.

 

 You will be called bigot, hater and all sorts of names for following Jesus. 

 Your friends and family will hate you for standing firm. 

 Stand firm.

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Luke 12:51 ...  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Mark 13:13 ... And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

John 15:19 ... If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Ephesians 6:14 ...  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  ❤

Free Act

My dear Sister, 

I always loved you as my sister; now I love you much more than ever. I trust in God that you will soon stand related to me by a more close and dearer bond than nature can tie. Only go on, and you will be happy. God has begun His work; let Him finish it. All my prayers shall be offered for your speedy experience of His pardoning love. And until you taste of it, let me entreat you to be earnest in the careful use of all the means of grace. Be much in prayer, and in reading and meditating on the Word of God. But then take care that you do not build your salvation on these duties. You are not to imagine that anything you can do is able to justify you in the sight of God. Your justification is a free act of God's grace, without works. 

 William Romaine

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We Live in a World of Changes!

Dear Sir, 

We live in a world of changes! The dispensations of God toward us alter the manifestations of His love vary the kindness of friends' ebbs and flows and our love to God and to each other varies like the changing light. But this, oh this, is our unspeakable privilege and the spring of our bliss ineffable and eternal the love of God to us changes not! 

The love of God's heart towards us is as unchangeable as His great Being, whose name is I AM and is as invariable as that glorious Person through whom it flows, who is yesterday, today, and forever the same. The designs of Jehovah's kindness, the thoughts of His heart concerning us, stand fast unto all generations; and by all our earthly-changes He ushers in upon us some new fruit of His eternal unchanging love to refresh our pilgrim-souls in this desert land, and to prepare us for our promised rest in the unchanging bliss of blessed eternity.  Darkness and distance attend the sons of God in the present state, but our approaching inheritance lies in light, in the immediate presence of God and of the Lamb where unfading joys will be new and full unto endless days! 

O blessed state, when we shall be as happy, as holy as we desire to be! A few more trials and we shall be as gold that is seven times refined! A little more faith and patience, and our race will be run, and the crown won! And glory to our three-one God! all needful grace to enable us to hold out unto endless glory is and shall be given us. Ah, were our graces left to their own strength, and to our management, they would soon fly in pieces and be no more. But blessed is the man whose strength is in the Lord, and whose new-created soul is under Jehovah's care, who works in saints both to will and to do of His own good pleasure, and will perfect that which concerns them, and not forsake the work of His own hands. 

I commit you to Him on whom you have believed, who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy! 

[Ann Dutton]

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Ministry of the Church

My dear Brother, 

As you express the desire of several that I should visit you again as soon as possible, I intend being at Oakham as early in July as I conveniently can, and shall be with you to speak, if the Lord will, on the 14th in the Riding School. The time seems short since I was with you. 

I am of Cole's opinion in his "New Birth," that the ministry and the church must rise and sink together. Individuals may be brought through deep trials and taught deep things; but very few indeed can be found who have not been profited much in hearing, whether they have humility enough to confess it or not. I never heard of a church that was manifest as such, without a preacher. 

If the soul is quickened, it will "desire the pure spiritual milk," "for the young children ask bread, and no man breaks it unto them." No great work of the Lord will go on at Oakham or elsewhere without such instruments in the hands of the Lord as preachers and builders up of the church of God. Meeting together and talking, singing a hymn and praying, will be blessed of God rather than hearing false prophets; but deadness and coldness will prevail if the gospel is not preached occasionally. 

If your souls are much blessed in your meeting together without preaching, I shall rejoice, but I must assure you I shall be much surprised. Many places, as Wallingford, Chichester, etc., if they have not a preacher, read a sermon of Huntington's, or of some deep-taught minister of God. Yours very affectionately, for Christ's sake, 

[William Tiptaft June 27, 1833]

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Early Rising - My Brother's Kepper

My dear brother, 

In the course of my reading, I am always glad to meet with anything which strikes me as suitable for your instruction. This morning I opened upon a page of Mr. Jay's daily devotional books, in which he speaks of early rising, and his thoughts are so excellent, that I shall make free use of them, and mingle them with my own. "The habit of early rising, if ever formed, is commonly established in childhood or youth. If one has wasted the delightful morning hours of fifteen years in bed, he will not readily learn to deny himself as an adult. Therefore, I wish you now to learn to enjoy, The cool, the fragrant, and the silent morn, To meditation due, and sacred song." 

Perhaps you are ready to ask, "How much sleep is necessary?" This cannot be answered in a word. Some need more than others. But Mr. Jay says, "It is questionable whether they require much more. Yes, it may be questioned whether they require any more, as to length. What they need more of, is better sleep; and the quality would be improved by lessening the quantity." This remark used to be often made by the celebrated and excellent Dr. Benjamin Rush. Try the experiment of shortening your slumbers; you will have fewer dreams, fewer turnings and tossing but more solid repose, more refreshment. But you must shorten your rest at the right end; not by sitting up late at night but by rising early in the morning. Physicians say that one hour's sleep before midnight is worth more than two hours after it. 

However, this may be, one hour of study before breakfast is certainly worth two after supper. The mind is more fresh and cheerful, and the health is less injured. And then, how much more delightful are the early hours! The poet says truly, "Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds." In the delightful months of spring, summer, and autumn, you should be up at sunrise. When the morning haze begins to disperse, you will observe all nature bedewed with sweetness. Fresh odors breathe from the woods, and fields, and gardens. A thousand birds are singing in the branches. The morning walk among such scenes is as useful to the health as it is pleasing to the taste. 

 It is time that you should begin to care for your health and take measures to secure strength for future usefulness. The advantage of early rising, as it regards this, will be apparent in your vigor, your appetite, your nerves, your spirits, and even your complexion. Ask your physician. Is there a medical man on earth that would risk his reputation by a contrary opinion? Dr. Sinclair, in his volumes on health and long life, remarks, that though those who lived to a very great age differed in many things, they all resembled each other here. There was not one who did not rise early. Whatever business you may ever be engaged in, will be furthered by early rising. What an advantage has a student from this habit in planning and arranging his pursuits for the day! And in having leisure for any incidental engagement, without putting everything else into disorder! While another is disposed to cry out, "A little more sleep, and a little more slumber," and who begins at ten what he should have begun at six, is thrown into hurry and confusion; and bustles about trying to remedy his situation. He feels himself a drudge all day; and at night is weary, without having accomplished his task. All this is so well known. 

Among all businessmen, a man's reputation suffers from the want of this virtue. The heathen used to say, 'Morning is the friend to the muses.' It surely is a friend to the graces. If it is the best time for study, it is also the best time for devotion. When prayer and praise are neglected in the morning, they are commonly neglected all day; and if you let the world get the start of your soul in the morning, you will seldom overtake it all day. Morning devotion sweetens every succeeding hour, pours a balm on the conscience, gives a pleasant savor to business, locks the door against wicked thoughts, and furnishes matter for pious reflection. It is better to go from prayer to business than from business to prayer. Fellowship with God prepares for fellowship with our fellow creatures, and for every event, whether pleasing or painful. 

Boerhaave, celebrated physician, rose early in the morning, and through his life, his practice was to dedicate an hour each morning for private prayer and meditation. Colonel Gardiner, even when in camp, used to spend two hours of the early morning in pious exercises. The great Judge Hale, also, rose early for prayer, and read a portion of God's word, without which, he said, nothing prospered with him all day. Howard, the philanthropist, was an early riser. John Wesley usually slept five hours; and for many years, he, and all the first Methodist preachers, had a public service at five in the morning. President Dwight of Yale was in the habit of studying Scripture before day. And there was in one of our southern States, a laboring man who, by devoting two hours of every morning to study, before he went to his work, became a learned theologian. If you have already acquired the disgraceful habit of lying in bed late, break it off now, not gradually but at once. Do not regard the little unpleasant feelings you may have to endure for a few weeks. 

Go forth and inhale the fragrance of the charming spring and autumnal mornings; it will be a cordial to your body and your mind. And in the summer, the season from early dawn until breakfast is the only time you available, when you can enjoy a book, a walk or ride in the open air. I have written to you more than once, concerning the example of our adorable Savior; and I wish the chief object of these letters may be, to set His blessed example more fully before you. Now, what do you suppose was our Lord's practice? Just imagine to yourself, the way in which he spent his morning hours. Can you for an instant suppose that he passed them in slumbers upon his couch? When the hum of business began among the laborers of Judea or of Galilee, and the sun shone warmly on the fields and villages was the Redeemer asleep? Is it possible for you to think so? No, it is not. 

On a certain occasion, we read, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" and yet he had been greatly occupied the whole of the day preceding this. We think little of time but he never passed an idle hour. The language of the whole of his life was, "I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is yet day the night comes, when no man can work." Yet he was really a man. He took our infirmities, and wearied nature required repose. But he distinguished between what was necessary and what was needless. It may be also said of his whole life, "He pleased not himself." 

 Your affectionate brother,

James

[James Alexander - letter to his younger brother]

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January 27, 1869

My dear Friend, Mrs. Peake, 

In all who truly fear God and believe in His dear Son; in all in whose hearts the blessed Spirit is graciously at work, both to bring down and raise up, lay low in their own eyes and make Christ precious, show the evil of sin, give them repentance for it, creating a love for true holiness and spirituality of mind, with meekness, simplicity, sincerity, tenderness, brokenness of heart, and contrition of spirit I say, where the blessed Spirit is thus at work, there and there only will there be true union in the solemn things of God. True union lies deep, and its foundations are out of sight. There is nothing in it earthly or carnal; and as what is earthly and carnal in us ever floats, so to speak, at the top, everything truly spiritual, holy, and gracious, being weighty and solid, lies at the bottom. 

If you will examine your heart, as seeing light in God's light, you will see that the best part of your religion lies the deepest. No man therefore can know anything of the mysteries of true religion and the secrets of vital godliness, who is not well brought down in his own soul. And thus, a Christian, to his wonder and surprise, finds that the lower he sinks in himself, the more that he is abased, humbled, and brought down in his soul before the Lord, the nearer he is able to approach Him. In this way a sight and sense of our dreadful sins, the evils of our heart, the iniquities which are more in number than the hairs of our head, when attended with a feeling of the infinite forbearance of God, His tender mercy in Christ, the riches of His superabounding grace, the depths of His wondrous love, are made most profitable. 

Until we are really humbled and brought down before God, with a view of His mercy and grace in Christ Jesus, we cannot bear to deal honestly with ourselves, or for others to deal honestly with us. It is our pride, our self-righteousness, our presumption, and our hypocrisy, our double dealing with God and our own consciences, which make us shrink from being searched by His Word and the light of His Spirit. As long as a man stands in his own strength or goodness, all the curses of God's law strike at him as a sinner; but when he falls flat, as it were, on his face, confessing his iniquity, loathing himself in his own eyes for his baseness, and looking up in faith, hope, and love to the Lord of life and glory, as putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, then all the storm is ceased, and the blessings, promises, and mercies of the Gospel fall upon his soul like the still small rain and the refreshing dew. 

And as these mercies enter into his heart, they bring forth in him every Gospel fruit. Prayer, and sometimes praise, spirituality of mind, love to the Lord and His truth, earnest desires to walk in His fear and live to His praise, separation in heart and spirit from an ungodly world, an understanding of the heavenly meaning of the Scriptures, and a stretching forth of the cords of love and affection toward the dear family of God these and other fruits spring up and grow in the heart which is truly brought down by grace. 

On the contrary, where the evil of sin is little seen or felt, where there is no abasement of spirit or humility of mind before the Lord, as being so utterly vile, and no corresponding sense of the infinite mercy and goodness of God, there religion for the most part is only in name. In that soil pride, self-righteousness, presumption, hypocrisy, worldliness, carnality, and covetousness, a spirit of strife and contention, a name to live when dead, a trifling with God and conscience, an indulgence of secret idols, and walking in many things which are highly displeasing to the Lord, will be found rife and strong. 

Be not afraid therefore, dear friend, of seeing the worst of yourself. You have not seen half or a tenth part, I may say a hundredth part, yet. With all your experience of many years, and all the sight and sense which you have had of the evil that is in you, you have really seen and known but little of what a fallen sinner is in the sight of God. Indeed, none of us could bear to see it. The sight would sink us into despair, unless specially held up by the power of God. 

But I would say to you and to all my friends in the Lord, be not afraid of sinking too low in your own eyes. Dread presumption, pride, self-righteousness, vain security, a dead assurance, and empty formality; but covet sweet humility, brokenness of heart, contrition of spirit, tenderness of conscience, spirituality of mind, meekness, and quietness; and above all things covet earnestly precious manifestations of the Lord to your soul, sweet glimpses of His Person and work, and breakings in of the light of His countenance, and of what He is in Himself as the Son of God, and as the Mediator between God and men, the risen and glorified Intercessor, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. 

The Lord means to teach us that grace is grace, and that we can be saved in no other way. It is a lesson easy to learn in word, but to know it in its blessed reality and truth is no such easy matter; for it can only be known by knowing experimentally the depths of sin and guilt out of which it saves. When then we are being led down into these depths, there seems to be little before the soul but ruin and despair. It does not see that this sight and sense of sin is a needful preparation, to know what grace is and what grace can do; but when grace is manifested in its fullness and its super-abounding's, then the wonder is that grace so rich and free should ever be extended unto, or should ever reach, a soul so vile. 

Yours very affectionately in the truth, 

J. C. P. 

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