Trouble of the Mind and the Disease of Melancholy, Collection of letters
The LETTERS that were ſent from ſeveral Divines to the Author, are theſe following.
LETTER I.
From Matching-Hall in Eſſex, Nov. 21. 1690.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sir, I took the firſt opportunity to read your good Book; and beſides the many uſeful things which are there to be learned in detail, the general ſcope and occaſion of it did much affect me, partly with gratitude, partly with an awful fear, with the former, to conſider, how it might have been with me; with the latter, conſidering how it may be with me; I ſee in what others ſuffer, what I might have ſuffered; and what am I that God ſhould exempt me from the lot of others better than my ſelf? It is likely now it is over, you may have cauſe to ſay, That all the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth; and the comforts that you have in the return of the morning after a night, like theirs that live under the Poles, may more than recompence all your ſorrows and pains. And God hath thereby fitted you to ſupport and comfort others from your own experience; yet it is a favour to be freed from ſuch pains and terrors. Thoſe that go down to the Sea in Ships, and do buſineſs in great waters, ſee the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep; but when he commandeth and raiſeth up the ſtormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof, they mount up to Heaven, they go down again to the depths, their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble, and they are at their wits end; ſo that many would be afraid to purchaſe their experience ſo dear, or to venture to Sea in a ſtorm, tho they might with pleaſure relate their adventures, when the danger is over. Some have a ſmooth and even way through the world, while others are like thoſe that go over Salisbury Plain, or ſome ſuch place, where they have ſometimes a clear proſpect of the City, and their way to it, when they get upon the high ground; but when they are down in a valley, quite loſe the ſight of it, and may fear they ſhall never find the way to it: Some by a fiducia perfugii, keep on a fair and ſoftly pace towards Heaven, and never have any experience, either of the raviſhing joys, or amazing terrors of others, who are ſometimes lift up to Heaven in raviſhing comforts, and ſometimes caſt down to Hell with fears and terrors. But tho, through the mercy of God, I have had a ſafe and eaſie paſſage hitherto through the world, I know not what ſtorms I may meet with before I get into harbor. I remember that great man Mr. Marſhal, (of whom we were lately ſpeaking) told me not long before he died, That through the mercy of God he had much peace and quietneſs in his own mind, tho he was not acquainted with the raviſhing joys which others felt, but knew not how it would be with him before he came to die, he did depend upon God, and was at his mercy not only for his Salvation, but for the comfort and aſſurance of it. Many charge the Doctrine of Aſſurance and Perſeverance, as tending to licentiouſneſs, and emboldening men to ſin, but if there were nothing elſe to be ſaid in the caſe, thoſe terrors which they who are ſure to go to Heaven, may here fall under, are ſufficient to check mens boldneſs and preſumption; if I were ſure that what I eat would not preſently kill me, yet if I knew that it would moſt likely breed the Gout, or the Stone, I ſhould forbear it. Tho God may not ſend us to Hell, he may bring Hell to us, and make us feel the anticipations of it in our Conſciences; who knows the power of his wrath? Or who can endure his terrors, if he run upon us like a Giant, take us by the neck, and ſhake us to pieces! We have need to pray, that he way not be a terror to us in the day of evil; we are always at his mercy, and depend upon him for the comfort and evidence of Grace, as well as for the habit and exerciſe of it. If he give quietneſs, none can cauſe trouble; but if he hide his face, who can behold him! I have ſometime been on a mountain in the skirts of the Alpes, when one while we have had the Sun ſhining out clear, and preſently a Cloud hath come, and we have been as in a thick miſt, and could nor ſee a ſtep before us. God when he pleaſes, can hold us as over the bottomleſs pit, as ſome will hold Children over ſome dangerous place to affright them; he can keep our minds intent upon our ſin, ſo as it ſhall be ever before us; he can ſuffer our judgments to be ſo clouded, that we ſhall have ſuch dark apprehenſions of things, as to look upon thoſe evidences which we have ſtored up againſt an evil day, as ſelf-deceivings and deluſions; he can let Satan looſe upon us to diſpute us out of all our hopes; he can make our hearts ſoft, ſo as our fears and troubles ſhall make a ſenſible impreſſion upon us, and be as an heavy burden, upon a galled back. He can bring our ſouls to the grave, and our lives to the deſtroyers, ſetting us upon the very borders of Eternity, ſo as we cannot relieve our ſelves, by putting far from us the evil day. And thus he deals ſometimes with ſuch as are to him as the apple of his eye; he uſes his Soveraignty in diſtributing both comforts and terrors; but an humble ſubmiſſion and reſignation of our ſelves to his good will and pleaſure, will be the beſt means to prevent ſuch ſtorms, or at leaſt the beſt poſture for them to find us in. I am
Your Real Friend Hen. Lukin.
LETTER II.
From Siſſafernes in Hartfordſhire, Nov. 4. 1690.
Dear Sir,
I Have Read your Practical Treatiſe upon Sickneſs and Recovery, which you, have lately publiſhed to the World, and am glad to find ſo Univerſal and deep a ſenſe of the goodneſs of God, manifeſted in your own wonderful and late return to the Miniſtry, as is expreſt in thoſe Lines, which I take as a real Copy, tranſcribed from the Original in your inward Parts. I hope Grace, Mercy, and Truth, will keep you, and preſerve alive thoſe ſparks of Zeal in your Soul, to fly always upwards to God, which have been kindled by him. If the Lord ſhines forth more clearly and influentially upon you after ſo black a Cloud, I queſtion not but the Light of His Countenance will make amends for the Darkneſs you lay under. The moſt violent Storms can never beat off the Loving-kindneſs of the Lord from One of his, tho' ſometimes, in the deep Waters, all hopes of being ſaved may be taken away by them. Bleſſed be the Lord, that threw out a Plank to ſave you in a time of need, and ſecured you comfortably upon dry Land, when you thought of nothing but of being Shipwrack'd, and ſwallowed up in the deepeſt Mire. You have found a Rock, when you fear'd a Gulf; and may ſtand upon one that is higher than you, when you had been carried ſo near unto the Land of forgetfulneſs, that God ſeemed to be juſt a laying you in the loweſt Pit, in Darkneſs, in the Deeps, with his Wrath lying hard upon you, and afflicting you with all his Waves. Doubtleſs God hath thus cloathed you with the Garment of Salvation, that you may encourage others to put on Chriſt, tho Hell be naked before them, and deſtruction hath no covering from thoſe that are not hid in him. God hath emptied you of your own Fulneſs that you may be filled with Him that filleth all in all. You have been taught, even under Judgment, to ſing of Mercy; and in every part of Salvation, to cry, Grace, Grace, unto it; having ſeen that his Grace is ſufficient for you. He hath given you a Sip of Wrath, that the Cup of your Conſolation may drink the ſweeter, and that you may taſt the more, how good the Lord is, that would not leave you to take up the Full Draught, or wring out the Dregs in your Cup of Bitterneſs and Aſtoniſhment to all Eternity. I deſire to adore the Divine Goodneſs on your behalf, that he hath viſited you with his own Preſence, tho he had his way in the whirlwind, and in the ſtorm, when he came unto you. I bleſs the unſearchable Riches of his Grace in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that he hath ſhed abroad any ſenſe of his Love upon your Soul, who had poured ſo much of his diſpleaſure forth, that you complain of his Anger in every ſtroke of the Rod of God upon you. I rejoyce abundantly, that he hath bowed his ear unto Prayer for you, when you thought he had bent his Bow like an Enemy; that he hath botled up your Tears, when your Roarings were poured forth like the Waters; that God hath form'd you into a Veſſel of Mercy, when you thought he had ſlung you away as a Veſſel wherein is no Pleaſure. In a word, I rejoyce with comfort and enlargements, that the Lord hath given us ſo good hopes through Grace, that you are Sealed up unto the Day of Redemption, who did once mournfully expreſs it in my own Hearing, That you were Sealed up unto the Black Day of Wrath, and ſhould not ſee me until the Heavens were no more. No more at preſent, but my Hearty Requeſts at the Throne of Grace, That He, who hath been the Author of your Faith, may become the finiſher of the ſame, and confirm you unto the End, till an Abundant Entrance (through the Broad Gate of Aſſurance) be adminiſtred unto you into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. I am,
SIR, Your Affectionate Friend, Servant, and Brother in the Lord, J. HUSSEY.
LETTER III.
Dear Brother,
AS the tidings of your Diſtemper affected my Soul, and drew out my heart to make requeſt unto God for you; ſo the tidings of your deliverance from trouble, confirmed by ſo evident a demonſtration of it as your appearance both in the Pulpit and Preſs, hath much affected me with joy and thankfulneſs to the Lord. In your Book I read the Wiſdom and Goodneſs of God in his ſevereſt dealings with his afflicted Servants, and the accompliſhing of what Job ſpeaks, That when he hath tried them, he brings them forth at gold; you have not been in the Furnace in vain; but to humble and prove you, and do you good in the end: O how good is God! good in himſelf, good and kind to all his Creatures, but eſpecially good to Iſrael. You have had abundant experience of it; he hath upheld you when falling, and raiſed you up when you was bowed down; and hath turned for you your mourning into dancing; hath put off your ſackcloth, and girded you with gladneſs, that your ſoul may ſing praiſe unto him, and not be ſilent; and you have well done in making ſo publick an acknowledgement of your thankfulneſs to God; that as deliverance hath been granted at the requeſt of many, ſo by the many who have been concerned for you, thanks may be given unto the Lord on your behalf. I am perſuaded the Lord hath taught you the truth of that, (viz.) That the School of the Croſs is the School of Light. You had not known ſo well, either your own vanity, or the Vanity of the Creature, and of all humane help; nor the marvellous loving-kindneſs of the Lord in ſtepping in betwixt the Bridge and the Water many times for your help, had you not learned theſe things by being in the School of Affliction; and I am encouraged to believe, that the Lord hath reſerved you, and reſtored you, that you may be, through his Grace, greatly inſtrumental for the glory of his Name, in turning many to righteouſneſs, the moſt eminent Servants in the Lord's work have been prepared for it by manifold temptations; our Bleſſed Redeemer himſelf was tempted, that he might be able to ſuccour thoſe who are tempted; and the Lord comforts his Servants in all their tribulations, that they might comfort others with the ſame comfort wherewith they have been comforted of God; the Lord hath brought you out of the depths of diſtreſs, that you may be the more skilful Pilot to lead others through the Waves and Billows which they are afraid will ſwallow them up. Now, Dear Brother, What doth the Lord require of you, but what Paul ſets before young Timothy? 1 Tim. 4.12. Be you an example to Believers, in word, in converſation, in charity, in ſpirit, in faith, in purity, your ſound ſpeech, holy converſe, ſervent love, and ſpiritual mindedneſs; rightly improving ſpiritual Gifts, both in ſincere profeſſing and publiſhing of the truth; and unſpotted purity of life, will be a ſpeaking Rule to others, and ſo adorn both your Perſon and Profeſſion, that it will appear you have been with Jeſus, and that the Life of Chriſt doth ſhine forth in you. And that you may be long a ſhining and burning Light in this World, and at laſt be abundantly recompenced with the Reward promiſed to the Wiſe and Faithful, is the fervent deſire and prayer of
Your Ʋnworthy, but Affectionate Brother in the ſervice of the Goſpel, RALPH WARD. York, Nov. 6. 1690.
LETTER IV.
From Steeple in Dorſetſhire, May 1. 1691.
My Dear Friend,
I Did hope, when I was laſt in London, to have had the ſatisfaction of a free and large Converſation with your ſelf; and to have diſcours'd ſome particular matters with you; but I was unhappily defeated. I am now at too great a diſtance to uſe ſo much freedom with you, as ſome of my Circumſtances would prompt me to, if I were placed ſo near you, as would admit of my waiting on you perſonally. But tho I do not think it proper to deſire ſatiſfaction from you by Letter about ſome things, which would be of great uſe to my ſelf, and about which I believe you can better reſolve me than other of my Acquaintance; yet if it be conſiſtent with your conveniences, I would be glad that you and I might maintain a correſpondence ſometimes by writing. I heartily bleſs God for his gracious dealings with you, and for the good, I hope, he hath done me, by what you have publiſhed to the World. I have found my ſelf obliged frequently to peruſe your Book; and the oftner I do read it, the more I am affected with it. I heartily wiſh, Engliſh People might become ſo ſenſible of their great concernment, that you might have encouragement to publiſh what you intimate in your Preface you did deſign. It is what I earneſtly long to ſee, and what I am perſuaded would be of ſingular uſe, if people were a little awakened out of their Lethargick Diſtemper, Peradventure God will uſe it to rouze and awaken many, who otherwiſe will ſleep on, and continue in their doleful regardleſneſs and formality. It would greatly rejoice me to underſtand by a line or two from you, that I have ſome ground to hope to ſee that Tract in Print. The Lord preſerve his faithful Meſſengers, and arm them againſt Diſcouragements. Remember Eccleſ. 11.1, & 6. I am,
Your Affectionate Friend, SA. BOLD.
LETTER V.
Dear Mr. Rogers,
SIR, I thank you for your Diſcourſes on Sickneſs and Recovery; I truſt, that God that hath given you (as it were) a reſurrection from the dead, hath deſigned you for more than ordinary work in your Generation. Your Deliverance and Salvation has been extraordinary; and tis more than probable, that ſo muſt your After-work be. God, who gives to his Servants the Talents of Gifts or Graces will find imployment for them anſwerable unto the ſame. I long to ſee ſomething you hint in your Epiſtle before your Book, about your ſpiritual Conflict under your bodily Affliction; It will be, I hope, of uſe to all tender afflicted Conſciences. I have bleſſed the Lord on your behalf, for his ſignal favour ſhown you in your wonderful recovery. And ſhall pray to God for you, That he will pleaſe to continue your life, health, and opportunities to you, that you may be eminently uſeful in your Miniſterial Capacity for his Name. Your dear Parents would have rejoyced (if they had been alive) to have heard and ſeen the fruits of your Labours. Dear Sir, though I am a little ſtraitned for time at preſent, yet my heart is inlarged towards you; wiſhing you all health and happineſs in this World, and in the next, Eternal Felicity. I am,
Dear Sir, Your unfeigned Well-wiſher and Servant, GEO. NICHOLSON. From Hudleskeugh in Cumberland, Apr. 17. 1691.
LETTER VI.
Dear Sir,
IT was your ſignal happineſs to be deeply writ upon the hearts of many of God's praying Servants, when in your own apprehenſion you ſeemed as if you had been caſt out of God's heart: And I heard ſome, when you were at your loweſt ebb, expreſs their ſaith and hope, That God was but preparing you by thoſe afflictive Methods for more eminent Service. And now it cannot but greatly rejoice me, to ſee ſuch blooming appearances of the Iſſue anſwering both their Prayers and Hopes. Miniſters, of all Perſons, had need to ſet up upon a good ſtock of Experience, ſpiritual and uſeful Experience! And no School more proper to improve us in that kind, than the School of Affliction; which made Luther ſometimes ſay, That Affliction, Temptation and Prayer, were the three Things that made a Miniſter. And hence it is, that God in his wiſe and holy Providence, many times puts his Servants to School under the preparatory Pedagogy of Affliction, whom he deſigns for more than ordinary uſefulneſs. When we enter upon the ſervice of Souls, we know not what Caſes may occur, to require our wiſe and tender management: And a Scribe cannot be better inſtructed for the Kingdom of God, than when he has felt in himſelf what he meets with in others. When we have been brought to the mouth of the Pit our ſelves, and there have been conſcious to the thoughts and fears, and workings of our own hearts, we can better tell how to miniſter proper applications to others in the like condition. When we have our ſelves been toſs'd upon the tumultuous waves of temptation, and one deep has call'd to another, to put the greateſt diſcouragement upon our condition, we are the better furniſh'd to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to others under the like circumſtances. Every Storm weathered, furniſhes the Pilot with more dextrous skill, not only to work his own Veſſel in ſucceeding Tempeſts, but to be ſingularly helpful to others, when they fall into the like depths and Straits. Our Bleſſed Lord himſelf learned experience by the things which he ſuffered: And if he muſt be put to School to lead him into a practical experience of what he was to pity and help in others; How much more is it requiſite in ſuch poor unskilful Creatures as we! A Wiſe and Holy God has been hewing you upon the dark Mountains; and I hope it has been to make you a more expert and polite Pillar in his Sanctuary: And the more workmanſhip he has beſtowed upon you, the more eminent Station probably he deſigns for you. God works his greateſt works many times in the dark, and forms his moſt curious Pieces in the gloomy ſhades of Adverſity; ſo that neither our ſelves, nor others, can tell what he is a-doing, till he hath accompliſh'd his Work. He throws us into the Furnace, Lead or Iron, and for a long time no body can tell what he will make of us: Sometimes he looks as if he would conſume, and make an utter end of us: And yet at laſt he brings us forth as Gold. We go into the Fire light, and fooliſh, and frothy; and when he has melted and tried us, what time he ſees meet, he brings us forth ſerious, holy and gracious Souls. When we thought we ſhould have loſt Life, and Soul, and All, we have loſt nothing but our droſs and feculency, to make us more refined for Temple-ſervice, When you ſeriouſly reflect upon your by-paſt days of trouble, whatever thoughts you had then, yet, I hope, now you can ſay through grace, that God has made you no loſer, but a bleſſed gainer by that gloomy diſpenſation. And what wiſdom, and grace, and experience you have obtained, I pray God you may be helped humbly to imploy in his Holy Sanctuary. We ſhould labour to diffuſe a more ſhining and burning Light, when God has been trimming us from our droſs and filth, and has ſet us up again in his Temple-Candleſtick. God has been dreſſing and trimming you a long time; and after a long and diſmal time of complicated afflicton, he has reſtored you to your ſtation in the Aſſemblies of his People: Now the good Lord make both your gifts and graces ſo much the more reſplendent, not only for your own ſake, but alſo that you may miniſter the more light and warmth to others in their way to glory. You promiſe a Second Volume of Diſcourſes, giving account of the ſpiritual part of your Affliction, which I ſhall be very glad to ſee, as ſoon as your leiſure will permit you to make it publick. In the mean time I commend you to God, and to the riches of his Grace, in hopes that what God has done for you, is but a pledge of what he deſigns to do by you. To which I ſhall only add my earneſt Prayers, and tell you, That it is in all ſincerity.
SIR, Your affectionate Fellow-labourer in the Work, of the Goſpel, THO. WHITAKER. Leeds, Nov. 25. 1690.
LETTER VII.
SIR,
I Do now at laſt return you my hearty thanks for your Book; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I ſhould not have been thus far behind in expreſſing my gratitude, but that I have been hindred by weakneſs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It was a Book to me both ſeaſonable and ſuitable; I pray God it may be as well improv'd, as 'tis generally liked by Chriſtians. If I were to give an account of my Viſitation, it would in very many things correſpond with yours. I have been for ſome years paſt under an Hypochondraical evil habit of body, which has had many grievous Symptons attending it; viz. Vertigo's, Convulſions, Paralytick Effects, with a Fever, thought to be Hectical; and with it I have had an univerſal languor and decay of Spirits; together with dreadful Temptations, Clouds, Confuſions and Terrors of Soul, &c. ſo that there was no hope, or help to be expected, but from Heaven, in anſwer to many Prayers, which (through mercy) were ſucceſful; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . though ſtill I am under weakneſs; though I hope rather going forward, than contrary. As to my Soul, I have not been without good experiences (bleſſed be the free Grace of God!) I cannot, neither may I trouble you, to enlarge upon any of theſe things. My old Enemy will not lay down but by force; ſtrong Temptations and Corruptions, &c. are my daily Exerciſe: Good Sir, help me by your Prayers over to the Lord Jeſus; there's as much in that, as if I had made more words; Pray Sir, forget me not, and pleaſe to put others in remembrance of me; you know what Graces are neceſſary to ſuch a Condition. 'Tis a true ſaying, Tranquillus Deus, tranquillat omnia; the Lord teach me to be as humble as he would have me be; and in every thing give thanks. I deſire to rejoice with you, and them that rejoice concerning you, for your reſtauration. Good Sir, again remember them that are ſtill out in the ſtorm; ſuch have need of patience, &c. I know not how to break off. But time and ſtrength failing me, I remain,
Daventry, March 10. 1690/1. SIR, Your Friend and Servant, Joh. Worth, Jun.
LETTER VIII. From a Young Student in Divinity.
Dear and much reſpected Couſin,
LOng Experience proves it, beyond a thouſand Arguments, that they who have made choice of God for their happineſs, muſt expect none here; 'tis a contradiction to expect Heaven on Earth, or to look for a ſetled duration where all things ruſh round in viciſſitude. I cannot tell what they may find who have the world at will, but I am ſure Believers, upon a reflection and conſideration of the hard uſage, and unquieting perplexities which they are ſtill meeting with, cannot but long to be where the weary are at reſt. The Saints who have now got to the end of their way, may well rejoyce, for they have good reaſon for it: happy are they who have got ſafely to their Father's Houſe through ſo many threatning Difficulties. When others are lawleſs as to their practices, we are limited to the holy Rule of the Word; our life muſt be a life of Self-denial, mortification, and contempt of the World. I know not what thoughts many Profeſſors may have of Religion; but for my ſelf, when I ſeriouſly think what a life a true Chriſtian's is, I am ready to cry out, True Religion is a rare thing! Dear Couſin, What manner of men ſhould you and I be, who are deſigned for ſuch ſpecial work! I deſire to bear part in the praiſes for your wonderful Deliverance; the Lord teach us the true nature of Thankfulneſs, that we may live more to, and for God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I deſire an intereſt in your Prayers, that God would keep me from Melancholly, which I am inclined to; and that God would bleſs my ſtudy to me, and make it ſucceſsful; and in ſo doing, you will add one more to the Favours you have beſtow'd on
Rauthmell in Yorkshire, Novemb. 17. l690. Your very Loving Couſin, THO. BARNS.
LETTER IX. To a Relation of the Author's who was long under Melancholly, from a Miniſter who ſeveral years was under that Diſeaſe.
My dear Chriſtian Friend,
AS Chriſt has given me any bowels of mercy, I cannot but pity you under your Soul-affliction, and diſquietment of ſpirit, being greatly oppreſſed by Satan, that malicious and active Spirit, who hates you for the Truth's ſake; and (no doubt) therefore hates you, becauſe he finds in you the love of the truth, by the proper and convincing evidences of it; And that you might not have any comfort by it, as the work of the Spirit of Grace in your heart, as alſo that God might not have from you the praiſe and glory due unto his Grace for it, (for he envies him all the worſhip and glory that's given him by his Saints in Heaven and Earth.) Therefore he does all he can to hide the knowledge of it from you, by clouding your mind, by darkning your evidences by his own malicious ſuggeſtions againſt you, as alſo by ſtirring up all ſorts of ſin in you, but more eſpecially Unbelief, the ſin of ſins, his Firſt-born, the Mother of all Abominations in the Soul, and ſo the Provocative; whereby, he well knows, if he can work it up to its perfect and full dominion, he ſhall effectually hinder the income of all peace and joy, and ſo fill the poor deſpairing Soul with all heavineſs and horror, never to be removed but by faith, and its actings on Jeſus Chriſt, the King of Righteouſneſs, and the King of Peace. I beſeech you therefore (Dear Siſter, and the Lord himſelf work it in you!) turn away your mind from all the malicious, deceitful, lying Suggeſtions of the Adverſary, whom you know, by the Scripture of Truth, to be a Lyar and a Murtherer from the beginning; and will do all that he can to beguile you of the Grace of God in you, as alſo of all that mercy, pardon and peace, which God has provided in his Son, for all believing, broken-hearted Sinners, ſuch as (I doubt not) you are, whatever you may ſeem to your ſelf in your preſent darkneſs, and hour of temptation. Turn your ſelf (yea the Lord do it for you, and in you;) from him, to your Saviour, who will not accuſe you with the Father, as he does; but is pleading his Sufferings, and preſenting his Blood and Atonement made thereby, for you: Look to him (dear Siſter) look to him, whom you ſhall find to be as the true Brazen Serpent to your love-ſick Soul, which has been ſore wounded by that fiery-flying Serpent, and old Dragon; but your Lord has overcome him by death, and you alſo (I doubt not) have overcome him in divers Combats and Temptations already, and ſhall overcome him fully and finally by the Faith of your mighty Redeemer, and the Captain of your Salvation; who, as he is able to ſave you to the utmoſt, ſo I doubt not, he will do it, whatever your Doubts and Fears may be at preſent. He is with you, taking care of your Soul, and all its Concerns, though your eyes are withheld, that you cannot diſcern him, as it was ſometimes with the Apoſtles themſelves; but he will ere long manifeſt himſelf to you and then you ſhall know and acknowledge alſo. That he has born with you, and will be with you for ever; even as I now do, though I were as much to ſeek for his gracious preſence with me, as you are, or can well be. The Lord himſelf even our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, work this very thing in you, and cauſe you to hold faſt your confidence firm unto the end; and you ſhall find, that it has great recompence of reward, as the Apoſtles has teſtified to the Hebrews; For he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry: He will not only come to Judgment at the laſt day; but he will come to you in the Spirit, and judge for your Soul againſt your Enemies, to deliver you from all, even Sin (which is ſuch a burthen to you;) As alſo from Satan, the great Troubler of your peace, who does either accuſe you falſly, or aggravates all your Infirmities and Miſcarriages, though ſuch as he has tempted you to, above all reaſon. I ſhall be glad to have ſome account from you, how it is with your Soul;. . . . . . . . . . I ſhall endeavour (what lies in me, as enabled by the Spirit of Chriſt) to be a helper to your faith and joy. . . . . . . . . . . . I ſhall add no more at this time, but only to let you know, That I have you, and others in your condition, daily in my prayers; ſo I commend you to the mercy of God in our dear Redeemer, I am,
Your very affectionate Friend, and Brother in Chriſt, GEORGE PORTER. Febr. 21. 1688/9.
LETTER II. Written to a Relation of the Author's by one that had been under Melancholly.
Mrs. Rogers,
IF you dare believe one that hath been in your Caſe (which I confeſs is very ſad, and much to be pitied) you have very much of a Bodily diſtemper, and tho, by reaſon of your Clouds, you cannot hope for relief, either by ſpiritual or natural means, yet know, that nothing is too hard for God to do; uſe both, and look up to God as well as you can, for a Bleſſing: The Lord's arm is not ſhortned that he cannot ſave; nor his ear heavy, that he cannot hear. And tho your Sins, and ſad Apprehenſions, keep you in ſadneſs, that you cannot ſee the Lord Jeſus, nor call him yours, yet he ſees you bemoaning your Miſery and Diſability to love and ſerve him. I know you would give all the World, were it at your diſpoſal, for a glimpſe of this favour. Do not ſide with your Enemy ſo far as to believe that you would not accept of the Lord Jeſus to be your King, as willingly as to be your Saviour; If you can get ſo much ground of your ſelf, then judge you are not alone in this, for thoſe that have been in deep Melancholly, have not only had hard thoughts of themſelves, but hard and ſinful thoughts of God, as if he delighted in the death of a Sinner (although he hath ſworn the contrary.) In that diſmal condition they could not ſee the lovelineſs of Chriſt, nor hardly diſcern deſires after him, unleſs only to be ſaved from Hell; they could plead againſt themſelves, That their Day of Grace was paſt, and that they had ſinned the unpardonable ſin, and that for ſeveral years. Much more I could ſay, but I know it is to no purpoſe, none can ſpeak to the heart but God alone; only I beg of you to cheriſh that hope you have, which the Devil would have you diſown; but had you none, you would not ask any to pray for you. I knew one that was in ſo deſpairing a Condition that did not that; nor believed it more poſſible to be ſaved, than the Devil: At length was perſuaded to uſe a Steel Courſe, and Drink the Waters, and other means, which, by God's Bleſſing, did good; and as the bodily diſtemper wore off, more clearneſs came into the Mind, and hope returned, which before ſeemed to be quite dead; and tho the Party ſtill hath Clouds, . . . . . . . . . . . and Satan is apt to put in, that all is naught ſtill, through God's Mercy, the poor creature can reply, I am changeable in my frame, God is unchangeable in his Covenants. Tho I cannot find the ſenſible joy, nor love, nor delight that I would; yet bleſſed be God that he inables me to wait on him, in the uſe of the means, by which he hath promiſed to renew my ſtrength; and tho I want that ſweet ſenſible Communion with God, which is the Life of Heaven, Is it not a Mercy that I can hope in his Mercy? Have I deſerved ſuch high favours, that I muſt be always full of Joy! This is what I would; but if the Lord will keep me a poor Beggar, 'tis infinite Mercy that I am not in Hell; and that the deſire of my heart is after him, I chuſe to love him, I caſt my ſelf on him, I neither expect nor deſire any other Saviour; if I periſh, it ſhall be in ſerving him as well as I can, and let him do his will: There is forgiveneſs with him, that he ſhould be feared. This poor Creature often thinks of that Scripture, when Chriſt ſpoke to Thomas, Thou ſeeſt and believeſt, bleſſed are they that do not ſee, yet believe. You ſay this is no Comfort to you, it is not your Caſe; true, but you know not how ſoon it may be: This Party that I ſpeak of, was in your Caſe, and I verily believe in worſe; therefore, pray caſt not off your confidence, the Lord I verily hope will ſhew you Mercy: But you muſt wait; be not impatient; Is not Redemption from Hell, and hope of Heaven-worth waiting for?. . . . The Lord ſhine in upon your Soul, and let you ſee, that whatever he doth is in love and faithfulneſs. Pray for me, that I may not forget how it hath been with, nor be inſenſible of your Condition, or others in your caſe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I am in ſome ſmall manner ſenſible of your trouble, I wiſh I were abundantly more ſo; for then I ſhould hope to be hereafter, a partaker with you in your Joys.
July 24. 89.
LETTER III. To a Relation of the Author's.
MY very kind, and dear Friend, whom I much reſpect and love in the Lord, even as I have Cauſe; having found you to be one, who (I am perſuaded) Love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity, which you have fully manifeſted by your longings after him, and your great inward ſorrow, when you could not enjoy him as you would: And now he is returned unto you, your ſoul is at reſt, rejoycing in him, as the Lord your Righteouſneſs, Peace, and Life, in whom you have all your ſoul needs and deſires. And the Lord manifeſt himſelf to you more and more, and fill you with abundance of Peace and Joy in Believing; which (I doubt not) you deſire for this end, That his Joy being your Strength, and your Heart enlarged by it, you may be able to run the ways of his Commandments, and to ſerve him not only in ſincerity, but with all gladneſs, in all love and thankfulneſs, for all his loving-kindneſs, and all the great things he has done for your ſoul, in bringing it out of that horrible pit of darkneſs, and the ſhadow of death, wherein you ſaw neither Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars, but were afflicted, toſſed with tempeſt, and not comforted; without all light, comfort and joy; tho the Father of Lights, and the God of all Conſolation were with you, when you perceived him not, and could diſcover no tokens of his Gracious Preſence, as neither could I, in the like gloomy Condition: But I now find, as you alſo do, bleſſed be the Father of Mercies, That he was ready at hand, to give forth Light and Joy, when his own ſet time came; which tho we did not wait for in a due manner, by Faith, Patience, and Humility, yet he paſſed by all our unbelief, impatience, and peeviſhneſs, and viſited our ſinful Souls, in his tender Mercy, notwithſtanding all whereby we had provoked him, to turn his ſhort withdrawing from us, into an everlaſting departure from us, and have left us wholly to the unbelief and frowardneſs of our own evil hearts: Wherefore, let us magnify his Name together, and let his high praiſes be in our hearts and mouths as long as we live, and unto all Eternity; for he is moſt worthy to be praiſed: And bleſſed be his Name for ever and ever, Amen. And let us walk circumſpectly and humbly with him all our days, that we grieve not his good Spirit any more, and provoke him to withdraw from us, and to take his bleſſed influences and comforts from us, as he has done. He is the life of our ſouls, and the joy of our hearts; without him, we are but a ſink of all filth, and a hell of ſorrow and confuſion. . . . . . . . . . . . I hope you will give me the contentment, to let me ſee you as oft as you can; I ſhall be glad to be a means to help forward your Faith and Joy, unto a more full ſettlement of Spirit, and more abundant rejoycing in the Lord Jeſus: Thus, with my conſtant Prayers for you, I commend you to the Grace of God, in Chriſt, and Reſt
London, Febr. 8. 1689. Your moſt Affectionate Friend and Brother in the Lord, GEORGE PORTER.
LETTER IV. To a Relation of the Authors.
Mrs. Rogers,
I Have read your doleful Letter, wherein you expreſs your diſtreſs of mind under which you lately labour'd; 'twas indeed a very ſad miſapprehenſion of God, and of your own condition; but yet this is no more than what hath befaln many a dear Servant of God, who have managed the ſame Objection againſt themſelves, and have labour'd under the ſame afrightments. This you counterballance with the comfortable account you give of God's great Mercy to you in commanding down theſe waves and ſtorms: I rejoice with you in this, and pray that God would pleaſe to confirm and ſettle you in the ſenſe of his Love. And that you may go forward in your preſent peaceable Eſtate, I would adviſe you to take a due care of your Body, and to reduce it into order; I know well you are naturally melancholly, and you may be aſſured the Devil took no ſmall advantage from thence, to raiſe up your diſtreſſing fears; and if you take not heed, to take away this advantage, he may (except God wonderfully prevent) raiſe up trouble to you a ſecond time: 'Tis not poſſible for me at ſo great a diſtance to direct you in this matter; Phyſicians upon the place that ſee you, and can occaſionally fit or change their preſcriptions, are only fit to adviſe you. This being cared for, I ſhall only put you in mind of a few things, which I would have you to eſtabliſh upon your mind; and theſe are ſuch as a review of your apprehenſions in your former trouble will help you to underſtand. Firſt then, Call to mind that ſuch dreadful Terrors as you have had, are not to be underſtood as certain evidences of God's rejecting thoſe that are ſo afflicted; tho you ſo concluded againſt your ſelf, yet the preſent peace which God in great mercy hath given you, is enough to tell you, that you were miſtaken when you thought ſo. Heman's Caſe, and the inſtances of many others of your own Acquaintance, may abundantly ſatisfy you, that theſe things may befall the precious Servants of God. Secondly, Note alſo, That a true converted Perſon may be brought to that paſs, as to deny all the Evidences of Grace which he formerly had, and may condemn himſelf for an Hypocrite, when at the ſame time theſe Evidences appear to By-ſtanders, and ſhine through the black Cloud of their terror. Thirdly, 'Tis further to be noted, that the ſad Speeches ſuch Men utter, and the deſperate concluſions that ſuch do make, are little elſe than the Diſcourſes of thoſe that are diſtracted; nor will God rigidly preſs them upon us, as ſins of that nature which we would take them to be. God, in Mercy, conſiders our diſtreſs, and will more gently paſs by ſuch extravagancies, than we can readily believe. 4. You ſhould alſo call to mind, that you and others in this Caſe, boldly venture to determine that, which neither you nor no Man elſe can know; as that you were cut off, reprobated, made to be deſtroyed, no time of Mercy left, &c. This was a concluſion which you had no warrant to make, nor could you prove it: If you concluded your preſent ſtate to be bad, you ſhould not have taken upon you to pronounce God's purpoſe to have been againſt you for the future; Who knows the Mind of God? 5. I alſo think that you might poſſibly have ſome diſadvantage, by ſome darkneſs of mind, about the nature of Faith; ſome expreſſions in your Letter (where you complain you could not believe) look as if you thought Faith muſt be a believing that our ſins are pardoned; I will not much inſiſt on this, becauſe I may miſtake: But if you had ſuch a miſtake in your mind, 'tis no wonder to ſay you could not believe. Theſe things you may do well to conſider as miſtakes, which the diſordered Reaſon you had, run upon, to the increaſe of your trouble; and now, while you are in the calm, fix the contrary upon your mind, and come up as fully as you can to theſe following concluſions. 1. Let the amiable, lovely, and compaſſionate Nature of God be deeply impreſſed upon your mind; think often, ſeriouſly meditate, That God is Love, That he delights not in the death of ſinners; That he is willing to ſave. 2. Make much of the probability, or even poſſibility of Salvation, even when the aſſurance of Faith is wanting; 'tis a great ſtay, to be able to nouriſh hope concerning this thing. 3. Perſuade your ſelf for certain, That God's Decree is no rule for you to go by, and that you muſt interpret his Decree by his Promiſes; for it's certain his Decree doth not contradict his Promiſe. 4. Aſſure your ſelf, that if God ſincerely incline your heart to accept of Chriſt as your Righteouſneſs and Lawgiver, and endeavour faithfully to live accordingly, he will undoubtedly fulfil his Promiſe of Peace and Pardon to you; and that it is a comfortable evidence of his ſpecial Grace. 5. Do not think you want Faith, becauſe you have not aſſurance; Faith is ſuch a belief of the proffer of Salvation by Chriſt in the Goſpel, as makes us willing to accept it upon God's terms. 6. Liſten not to ſevere and malignant ſuggeſtions of Satan againſt the Mercifulneſs and Goodneſs of God; if any ſuch thoughts come into your mind, caſt them out preſently, and raiſe up your mind unto a deteſtation of them. 7. Be thankfully content with that meaſure of Peace which God hath given you, expect not more than you ought, but patiently wait, in holy walking, and dependance upon God, till he inlarge you with Joy and Peace in believing; 'tis a mercy that he allows us peaceable encouraging hopes; all muſt not expect to be treated in his Banquetting-houſe, with his Banner of Love over them. 8. Live watchfully; Lament daily ſailings, and ſo make up Peace with God daily; expect it beſt, you will have cauſe of complaint againſt your ſelf, but ſtill conſider God's merciful Promiſe to Pardon; and that for common infirmities, he will not be ſevere, nor ſhould we affright our ſelves with them; conſider theſe few things, and endeavour to ſettle your mind upon them; God that hath brought you up out of the horrible Pit, will, I hope, preſerve you from the like diſtreſs. I am glad to hear your Brother is grown better; in time he may be capable to do Service, which I earneſtly deſire, and ſhall pray for. I am
Newcaſtle, Jan. 28. 89. Your aſſured Friend, RICH. GILPIN.
LETTER V. Written to another Relation of the Author's by an Old and Experiencad Chriſtian.
My dear Friend,
I Would not have difference in Opinion, or alterations in worldly Conditions, to breed a diſtance between us; The Lord pardon us, for we are apt to grow cold in love. And, O that the ancient Spirit of Love among Chriſtians might be revived, which would more honour Chriſt, than all our Conformity, or Nonconformity! For the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the glory of Chriſtianity, lies not in Forms and Opinions, but in Power, and Holineſs, and Righteouſneſs, and Joy of the Holy Ghoſt, and love to one another.
I have been under deep Melancholly, and many Temptations, and Buffetings of Satan, and many have paſſed by me, as the Levite did the wounded Man in the way to Jericho, and have not only withdrawn from me, but cenſured me alſo. I hope I ſhall love and pardon all thoſe who in the hour of temptation withdrew from me, and ſtood afar off, becauſe of my ſorrow; nay thoſe, who added affliction to my affliction. It were a ſhame for me to complain of any unkindneſs of my Friends, when Chriſt hath been ſo kind to me; he helped, ſuccoured me, ſtood by me, when all forſook me; I looked on my right hand, and on my left hand, and there was none that cared for my Soul; even then did the Lord appear a preſent help, elſe the great waters of Unbelief and Deſpair had overwhelmed me; for I have had greater Conflicts with Satan greater ſhakings of Spirit than I had at my firſt Converſion. I have been ready to give up all for loſt; yet all hath been in order to clearer manifeſtations of Everlaſting Love; Chriſt hath carried me through ſeveral Graves, ſeveral Chambers of Darkneſs, and Fields of Temptation, yet all in order to light and triumph, and greater diſcoveries of his Power, Wiſdom, Faithfulneſs, Love to me; I have exceedingly put Chriſt to it, as much as ever any; I would not believe, unleſs I might put my Finger in his Wounds; unleſs I had ſuch and ſuch clear manifeſtations and ſealings given him. O this unbelieving and proud temper of ſpirit hath coſt me very dear; though Chriſt hath wonderfully indulged me, I have put him to take ſtrange courſes with me; nay, to throw me with Jonas into the Belly of the Whale, and of Hell it ſelf, that he might further convince me of my diſobedience and unbelief, and of his mighty glorious power, in preſerving and delivering me out of the gulph of Temptations. He hath ſhewed many Miracles of mercy and grace towards me, too big for me to expreſs. Heaven only is fit ſufficiently to declare thoſe wonderful dealings of his. If ever any was a pattern of rich grace, I am. You never ſo grieved, and wounded, and tempted Chriſt, as I have done; and therefore never was caſt into thoſe Hells, ſcorched in thoſe Fires, ſcourged with thoſe Rods, exerciſed with thoſe Temptations, that I have been exerciſed with. I cannot tell what God hath been doing to me. As the Heavens are high above the Earth, ſo are his thoughts above all my thoughts, or words. Sure I am, I ſhould have been in Hell, and in Chains of darkneſs, if I had had my deſert. But God hath ſtretched out his Arm of power and love, and fetched me up out of the loweſt Pit, where I was ſunk, and diſplayed the banners of his Love over me, and opened his heart, and ſhewed me his Blood. That thus he ſhould deal with me, the very worſt piece of old Adam; nay, a piece of Hell, Angels and Men may ſtand amazed at; ſo great, and ſo unexpected were the manifeſtations of his Love. But what ſhall I ſay, It is Chriſt, it is Chriſt, an Infinite Perſon; 'tis impoſſible for any other (Men or Angels all put together) to contain ſuch his Love; ſuch ſtrange Love, to ſuch an unworthy Wretch! I write and ſpeak what I do not fully comprehend: If I did fully know it, Mortality could not bear it; it would immediately be ſwallowed up; and ſink under the weight of Infinite Love. Ah, but dear Friend, I am not yet out of Gunſhot, I ſee a great Field of Enemies before me; a Devil full of Policy and Malice, a deſperate wicked World, a Heart, in which is a World of evil, nay an Hell of Wickedneſs; all theſe I have to grapple with, each of them ſtands armed with thouſands of Temptations; I muſt fight, and overcome too, elſe undone for ever. I confeſs it is a good Fight, a glorious Fight, becauſe I have ſuch a good Captain; but often I am ſorely put to it; when I take a view of my Enemies, I think I ſhall never be able to ſtand againſt ſuch Principalities and Powers. The Enemy hath too dangerous Correſpondence within me; Spiritual Pride and Security, Lord keep me humble and watchful, and eying the Enemy, and alſo eying my Captain. Living out of my ſelf, and fighting in his ſtrength, and then my Soul ſhall tread down Strength daily, and triumph always in Chriſt, and in the power of his might.
I hear the Lord is pleaſed to keep you under the Rod, and to exerciſe you with the Infirmities of a dying body, as he doth me; He hath worn (as I may ſay) his Rods upon me, as a ſtubborn Child. He hath tried his Axes, and Hammers, and Saws upon me; you cannot imagine what a Rock I am under all his ſtroaks. I hope Afflictions work more kindly with you than they do with me; and that you are found better metal in the fire than I am. I hear you are under Melancholly as well as I, though not in ſo great a degree. Satan can make uſe of it to raiſe ſtrange ſtorms and tempeſts, and confuſions and darkneſſes in the Soul, as I have found by experience, though Chriſt turned all to good. Such Melancholly Perſons had need be pitied, and tendred; Men uſually do not pity them, Chriſt will. I could tell you many experiences of a Melancholly Condition, but the time fails me. Let us lift up our heads in faith and patience, our Redemption draweth near; ſhortly we ſhall be out of the reach of Satan, Sin, Melancholly, Sickneſs, &c. we have a Jordan to go over, but the Ark goes before us; it ſhall be made paſſable. Chriſt will take us by the hand, and bring us through to the other ſide. I mention you daily in my prayers, do you the like. I am
Yours in Chriſt; your Fellow-ſoldier, and Sufferer, T. L.
LETTER VI. Sent to a Relation of the Author's.
Chriſtian Friend,
THE Lord hath made me ſo ſenſible of your diſconſolate Condition, that you are ſeldom out of my thoughts, and frequent remembrances in my Prayers, that God would give you comfort and peace in believing, which he can convey by what inſtrument he pleaſeth. We read in Job 33.23, 24. If there be a meſſenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thouſand, to ſhew unto man his uprightneſs: Then he is gracious unto him, and ſaith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ranſom. Elihu in theſe words makes a defence for God's proceedings with man; where he ſhews, it is not man's Ruine that God deſires by his various methods; he ſpeaks in dreams, and by afflictions; and he ſends a Meſſenger ſometimes with the affliction, to ſhew unto a man his uprightneſs. I hope God hath no deſign to manifeſt his wrath to you, but to give you evidences of your ſincerity; for if you did not love God, you would not lament for his abſence as you do. Suppoſing that your delays in opening to Chriſt have cauſed him to depart from you, never to return more; if you had rejected the good motions of the Spirit, it appears by your ſorrow, that it was not out of malice, nor no other fault, but what the Spouſe was guilty of: If he ſhould caſt off every one that does not always readily obey his call, he would not manifeſt ſo great willingneſs to receive all thoſe that come to him: You may be, and I doubt not but you are miſtaken in your Condition, as Mrs. Honnywood was, whom God convinced by a Miracle. Peter, tho he denied his Lord, and forſwore him, yet he manifeſted himſelf firſt to him, rather than to any of the other Diſciples, and took care that he ſhould have the firſt news of his Reſurrection. Chriſt is a merciful and faithful High-Prieſt; he conſiders our Infirmities; he is full of bowels of Compaſſion, and came to ſeek and ſave that which was loſt. Give no credit to Satan, who would make you believe that God is not willing to be reconciled, who ſends Ambaſſadors on purpoſe to beſeech us to be ſo: If we do our utmoſt, we cannot depend on our own Righteouſneſs, but muſt rely on the mercy of God in Chriſt; which if you do, it will be the way to comfort here, or at length you will come ſafe to Heaven, which is the Prayer of
Your Compaſſionate Friend, G. D.