"But I sorrow not as one without hope. I have a twofold hope : I hope he is now among the spirits of the just made perfect, and that he will be of the blessed and holy number who have part in the first resurrection: and I hope also through the same rich, free, sovereign, almighty, matchless grace, to join the number too. Pleasing thought! Unite to divide no more! "I preached last night from Rev. xxi. 6. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. I took occasion to expound the former part of the chapter, and found therein a pleasure inexpressible; especially when speaking from the first verse, And there was no more sea. The first idea which presented itself to me was this, there shall be no bar to intercourse. Whether the thoughts be just or not, I leave with you and my hearers to determine; but I found happy liberty in illustrating it. What is it that separates one nation, and one part of the globe from another? Is it not the sea? Are not Christians, though all of one family, the common Father of which is God, separated by this sea, or that river, or the other stream below? Yes; but they are one family still. There shall be none of these obstructions to communion, or these bars to intercourse; nothing to divide their affections, or disunite their praise for ever. Forgive my freedoms. I am writing to a friend, to a brother. "S. P." THERE are few, if any, thinking men, but who at some seasons have had their minds perplexed with regard to religious principles, even those which are of the greatest importance. In the end, however, where the heart is right, they commonly issue in á more decided attachment to the truth. Thus it was with Mr. Pearce. In another part of the above letter, he thus writes to his friend Steadman :-"I have, since I saw you, been much perplexed about some doctrinal points, both Arminian and Socinian, I believe through reading very attentively, but without sufficient dependence on the Spirit of truth, several controversies on those subjects; particularly the writings of Whitby, Priestley, and others. Indeed, had the state of mind I was in about ten weeks since, continued, I should have been incapable of preaching with comfort at all. But in the mount of the Lord will he be seen. Just as I thought of giving up, he who hath the hearts of all men in his hand, and turneth them as the rivers of water are turned, was pleased, by a merciful though afflicting providence, to set me at a happy liberty. "I was violently seized with a disorder very rife here, and which carried off many, supposed to be an inflammation in the bowels. One Sabbath evening I felt such alarming symptoms that I did not expect to see the Monday morning. In these circumstances I realized the feelings of a dying man. My mind had been so accustomed to reflect on virtue and moral goodness, that the first thing I attempted was a survey of my own condcut, my diligence and faithfulness in the ministry, my unspotted life, &c. &c. But ah! vain props these for dying men to rest on! Such heart sins, such corruptions, and evil propensities, recurred to my mind, that if ever I knew the moment when I felt my own righteousness to be like loathsome and filthy rags, it was then. And where should 1, where could I, where did I flee, but to Him, whose glory and grace I had been of late degrading, at least in my thoughts? Yes, there I saw peace for guilty consciences was to be alone obtained through an almighty Saviour. And oh! wonderful to tell, I again came to him; nor was I sent away without the blessing. I found him full of all compassion, ready to receive the most ungrateful of men. • Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrain❜d to be.' Thus, my dear brother, was the snare broken, and thus I escaped. 'A debtor to mercy alone, Of covenant mercy I sing.' Join with me in praising Him, who remembered me in my low estate, because his mercy endureth for ever. Yet this is among the all things. I have found it has made me more spiritual in VOL. VI. 37 preaching. I have prized the gospel more than ever, and hope it will be the means of guarding me against future temptations. "Your brother, with ardent affection, "in the dear Lord Jesus, "S. P." FROM his first coming to Birmingham, his meekness and patience were put to the trial, by an Antinomian spirit which infected many individuals, both in and out of his congregation. It is well known with what affection it was his practice to beseech sinners to be reconciled to God, and to exhort Christians to the exercise of practical godliness: but these were things which they could not endure. Soothing doctrine was all they desired. Therefore it was, that his ministry was traduced by them as Arminian, and treated with neglect and contempt. But, like his Divine Master, The bore the contradiction of sinners against himself, and this, while he had the strongest satisfaction that in those very things to which they objected, he was pleasing God. And though he plainly perceived the pernicious influence of their principles upon their \ own minds, as well as the minds of others, yet he treated them with great gentleness and long forbearance: and when it became necessary to exclude such of this description, as were in communion with him, it was with the greatest reluctance that he came into that measure, and not without having first tried all other means in vain. He was not apt to deal in harsh language; yet, in one of his letters about that time, he speaks of the principles and spirit of these people as a "cursed leaven." Among his numerous religious friendships, he seems to have formed one for the special purpose of spiritual improvement. This was with Mr. Summers, of London, who often accompanied him in his journeys; to whom, therefore, it might be expected he would open his heart without reserve. Here, it is true, we sometimes see him, like his brethren, groaning under darkness, want of spirtuality, and the remains of indwelling sin; but frequently rising above all, as into his native element, and pouring forth his ardent soul in expressions of joy and praise. On Aug. 19, 1793, he writes thus : "MY DEAR BROTHER, "WHEN I take my pen to pursue my correspondence with you, I have no concern but to communicate something which may answer the same end we propose in our annual journeys: viz lending some assistance in the important object of getting and keeping nearer to God. This I am persuaded is the mark at which we should be continually aiming, nor rest satisfied until. we attain that to which we aspire. I am really ashamed of myself, when,, on the one hand, I review the time that has elapsed. since I first assumed the Christian name, with the opportunities of improvement in godliness which have crowded on my moments since that period; and when on the other, I feel the little advance I have made! More light, to be sure, I have; but light without heat leaves the Christian half dissatisfied. Yesterday, I preached on the duty of engagedness in God's service, from Jer. xxx. 21. Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord. (A text for which I am indebted to our last journey.) While urging the necessity of heart religion, including sincerity and ardour, found myself much assisted by reflecting on the ardour which our dear Redeemer discovered in the cause of sinners. "Ah," I could not help saying, "if our Saviour had measured his intenseness in his engagements for us, by our fervency in fulfilling our engagements to him,-we should have been now further from hope than we are from perfection.” 'Dear Lord, the ardour of thy love "Two things are causes of daily astonishment to me :- -The readiness of Christ to come from heaven to earth for me; and my backwardness to rise from earth to heaven with him. But oh, how animating the prospect! A time approaches when we shall rise to sink no more: to "be for ever with the Lord." To be with the Lord for a week, for a day, for an hour; how sweetly must the moments pass! But to be for ever with the Lord,—that instamps salvation with perfection; that gives an energy to our hopes, and a dignity to our joy, so as to render it unspeakable and full of glory! I have had a few realizing moments since we parted and the effect has been," I trust, a broken heart. Oh my brother, it is desirable to have a broken heart, were it only for the sake of the pleasure it feels in being helped and healed by Jesus! Heart-affecting views of the cursed effects of sin, are highly salutary to a Christian's growth in humility, confidence, and gratitude. At once how abasing and exalting is the comparison of our loathsome hearts with that of the lovely Saviour! In Him, we see all that can charm an angel's heart: in ourselves, all that can gratify a devil's. And yet we may rest perfectly assured that these nests of iniquity shall ere long be transformed into the temples of God; and these sighs of sorrow be exchanged for songs of praise. "Last Lord's day I spent the most profitable Sabbath to myself that I ever remember since I have been in the ministry; and to this hour I feel the sweet solemnities of that day delightfully protracted. Ah, my brother, were it not for past experience, I should say, 'My heart presumes I cannot lose But now I rejoice with trembling; desiring to "hold fast what I have, that no man take my crown." find, how Yet fearing that I shall - Ere one fleeting hour is past, The flatt'ring world employs Some sensual bait to seize my taste, And to pollute my joys.' "Yours in our dear Saviour, "S. P." |