PASTORAL LETTERS. Bath, Oct. 30th, 1765. To those who love the Lord Jefus Chrift in, and about Madeley: Peace be multiplied to you from God the Father, and from our Lord Jefus Chrift, through the operations of the Holy Ghoft. Amen. BY Y the help of divine provi dence, and the affiftance of your prayers, I came fafe here. I was, and am ftill, a good deal weighed down under the fenfe of my own infufficiency to preach the unfearchable riches of Chrift to poor, dying fouls. This place is the feat of Satan's gaudy throne: the Lord hath, nevertheless, a few names here," who are not ashamed of him, and of whom he is not afhamed, both among the poor and among the rich. There are not many of the laft, though bleffed be God for any one: it is a great miracle if one camel paffes through the eye of a needle, or, in other words, if one rich perfon enters into the kingdom of heaven. I thank God, none of you are rich in the things of this world. You are freed from a double fnare, even from Dives's portion in this life. May you know the happiness attending your state. It is a mercy to be driven to the throne of grace, even by bodily want, and to live in dependance on divine mercy for a morfel of bread. I have been fowing the feed the Lord hath given me both in Bath and Briftol, and I hope your prayers have not been loft upon me as a minister; for though I have not been enabled to discharge my office, as I would, the Lord hath yet, in fome measure, ftood by me, and over-ruled my foolishnefs and helplefinefs. I am much fupported by the thought that you bear me on your hearts, and when you come to the throne of grace to afk a bleffing for me in the name of Jefus, the Lord doth in no wife caft you out. In regard to the ftate of my foul, I find, bleffed be God, that as my day is, fo is my ftrength to travel on, either through good or bad report. My abfence from you anfwers two good ends to me:-I feel more my infufficiency, and the need of being daily ordained by Chrift to preach his gofpel; and I shall value the more my privileges among you, please God I return fafely to you. I had yesterday a moft advantageous offer made me of going, free coft, to vifit my mother, brothers, and fifters in the flesh, whom I have not seen for eighteen years; but I find my relations in the fpirit are nearer and dearer to me, than my relations in the flesh. I have, therefore, rejected the kind offer, that I may return among you, and be comforted by the mutual faith both of you and me. I hope, dear brethren, you improve much under the miniftry of that faithful fervant of God, Mr. Brown, whom Providence blefes you with. Make hafte to gather the honey of knowledge and grace grace as it drops from his lips; and may I find the hive of your hearts fo full of it, on my return, that I may fhare with you in the heavenly ftore. In order to this, befeech the Lord to excite your hunger and thirst for Jefus's flesh and blood, and to increase your defire of the fincere milk of the word. When people are hungry, they will find time for their meals; and a good appetite does not think a meal a day too much. As you go to your fpiritual meals do not forget to pray all the way, and to feaft your fouls in hopes of hearing fome good news from heaven, and from Jefus, the faithful, loving friend whom you have there: And when you return, be fure to carry the unfearchable riches of Jefus's dying and rifing love home to your houfes, in the veffel of a believing heart. Let your light be attended with the warmth of love. Be not fatisfied to know the way to heaven, but walk in it immediately, conftantly, and joyfully. Be all truly in earneft: you may, indeed, impose upon your brethren, by a formal attendance on the means of grace, but you cannot deceive the Searcher of hearts. Let him always fee your hearts ftruggling towards him; and if you fall through heavinefs, floth, or unbelief, do not make a bad matter worfe by continuing helpless in the ditch of fin and guilt. Up, and away to the fountain of Jefus's blood. It will not only wash away the guilt of paft fins, but ftrengthen you to tread all iniquity under your feet for the time to come. Never forget, that the foul of the diligent fhall be made fat, and that the Lord will fpue the lukewarm out of his mouth, unless he |