if not impossible to one that once knew better, yet extremely difficult.

"What then is religion?" It is happiness in God, or in the knowledge and love of God. It is "faith working by love;" producing "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." In other words, it is a heart and life devoted to God; or, communion with God the Father and the Son; or, the mind which was in Christ Jesus, enabling us to walk as He walked. Now, either he has this religion, or he has not: if he has, he will not finally perish, notwithstanding the absurd, unscriptural opinions he has embraced, and the superstitious and idolatrous modes of worship. But these are so many shackles, which will greatly retard him in running the race that is set before him. If he has not this religion, if he has not given God his heart, the case is unspeakably worse: I doubt if he ever will; for his new friends will continually endeavour to hinder him, by putting something else in its place, by encouraging him to rest in the form, notions, or externals, without being born again, without having Christ in him, the hope of glory, without being renewed in the image of Him that created him. This is the deadly evil. I have often lamented that he had not this holiness, without which no man can see the Lord. But though he had it not, yet in his hours of cool reflection, he did not hope to go to heaven without it: but now he is or will be taught, that, let him only have a right faith, (that is, such and such notions,) and add thereunto such and such externals, and he is quite safe. He may indeed roll a few years in purging fire, but he will surely go to heaven at

last!

Therefore, you and my dear have great need to weep over him: but have you not also need to weep for yourselves? For have you given God your hearts? Are you holy in heart? Have you the kingdom of God within you? righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? the only true religion under heaven? O cry unto Him that is mighty to save, for this one thing needful! Earnestly and diligently use all the means which God hath put plentifully into your hands! Otherwise, I should not at all wonder if God permit you also to be given up to a strong delusion. But whether you were or were not; whether you are Protestants or Papists, neither you nor he can ever enter into glory, unless you are now cleansed from all pollution of flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of God.

I am

Your affectionate.

DCCCLXXVIII.-To the Rev. Mr. L

DEAR BROTHER,

LEWISHAM, December 14, 1771. FOR Some time I have been in doubt whether it was best for me to write, or to leave you to your own reflections. But at length love turns the scale. I cannot be silent any longer without being wanting in affection. I will therefore state the case as impartially as I can; and may God give you a right judgment in all things!

It has pleased God to entrust you with several talents; a measure of his grace, of natural understanding, improved by reading and conversation; and a tolerable utterance. And what are you doing with these talents? You are well-nigh burying them in the earth. A dispensation of the Gospel is committed to you; and yet you preach not the Gospel, or but now and then; instead of continually stirring up the gift of God that is in you. Is this inactivity, this losing so many precious opportunities, owing to any temporal views ? Do you expect to get more money by delay? I hope not. Do you want to avoid labour, shame, or censure? I would fain think better things of you. Surely you have not so learned Christ!

But you have promised (not indeed to man, but) before God, that you will not leave the Church. What do you mean by this? What ideas do you affix to that confused expression? In what sense can the officiating at Weststreet or Spitalfields chapels (both of them consecrated places, if that avails anything) be called leaving the Church? Does Mr. Dodd, one of the King's Chaplains, leave the Church by officiating at Charlotte-street chapel? although this was never consecrated yet, neither is under any Episcopal jurisdiction.

But if you had made that promise ten times, still I ask, Would it not be " more honoured in the breach than in the observance?" For, what was it you promised? To wait for dead men's shoes? Was not this a foolish promise? To bury your talent in the earth? Was not this a sinful promise? To incur the woe of not preaching the Gospel? Is not this both foolish and sinful? "But you do not intend to stand in the vineyard all the day idle. You will but wait a while longer." Well, how long will you be as a dumb dog? twenty years? or ten? or one and a half? If you have a lease of your life, well. But what, if you are called in one year to give an account of your stewardship? O live to-day! Do all the good you can while it is called to-day! Now stir up the gift of God which is in you!

Now save as many souls as you can; and do all you can to ease the labour and prolong the life of

Your affectionate friend and brother.

DCCCLXXIX.-To the Same.

October 25, 1786.

LAST night I had a long conversation with a few sensible men, concerning going to church. I asked them what objection they had to the hearing of Mr. L. They answered, they could not hear him; he generally spoke so low, that they lost a good part of what he said; and that what they could hear was spoken in a dead, cold, languid manner, as if he did not feel anything which he spoke. This would naturally disgust them the more, because Dr. Cleaned to the other extreme. I doubt there is some ground for their objection. But I should think you might easily remove it. I asked again, "Have you any objection to anything in his behaviour?" They answered," One thing we cannot approve of; his being ashamed of the Methodists. His never recommending or defending them. at all, we think, is a full proof of this: for every one knows his near relation, and his many obligations, to you. They know how you have loved and cherished him from a child." They might have added, "You owe your whole education to him; and therefore, in effect, your ordination, your curacy, your school, yea, and your wife: none of which you would in all likelihood have had, had it not been for him."

I would add a word upon this head myself. I do not think you act wisely. Not one of your genteel friends can be depended on: they are mere summer flies. Whereas, had you condescended to make the Methodists your friends, they would have adhered to you one and all. And they are already no inconsiderable body of people; beside that, they are increasing more and more.

Suffer me now to speak a word between you and me. Is not the reason of your preaching so languidly and coldly, that you do not feel what you say? And why not? Because your soul is not alive to God. Do you know that your sins are forgiven? I fear not. Can you say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth?" I doubt, if you did know it once, whether you know it now! Have you fellowship with the Father and the Son? Alas, it is well know what it means! And are you content to have your portion in this world? Do you savour only earthly

if you

things? Then I do not wonder that you are shy to the Methodists; for they are not to your taste! O think and pray to-day; for I do not promise you that you shall live another year! I now give you a full proof that

I am

Your truly affectionate.

DCCCLXXX.-To Mr. Theophilus Lessey.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

THERE is no one point in all the Bible concerning which I have said more, or written more, for almost these fifty years, than faith. I can say no more than I have said. To believe the being and attributes of God is the faith of a Heathen. To believe the Old Testament, and trust in Him that was to come, was the faith of a Jew. To believe, Christ gave himself for me, is the faith of a Christian. This faith He did give to you, and I hope does still hold it fast, without any philosophical refinement. When we urge any to believe, we mean, Accept that faith which God is now ready to give." Indeed, believing is the act of man, but it is the gift of God. For no one ever did believe unless God gave him the power. Take it simply without reasoning, and hold it fast.

I am

66

Your affectionate brother.

DCCCLXXXI.-To the Same.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

THAT you are slighted in some places ought not to discourage you, but to humble you, and to put you upon more diligence in searching the Scriptures with more meditation and prayer. As a balance for the slight you meet with in some places, you see that God gives you success in others. And there is no doubt but He gives you as much honour and success as you can bear. Many censures must be expected to follow the expulsion of unworthy members. But this will do you no hurt. The way to the kingdom lies through honour and dishonour. I am in great hopes that sister Cousins will now have better health than she has had for some time. And she may say with assurance, “Health I shall have, if health be best." Go on, fulfilling

your character, and being "patient in bearing ill, and doing well."

I am

Your affectionate brother.

DCCCLXXXII.—To Mr. John Stretton, in Harbourgrace, Newfoundland.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

LONDON, February 25, 1785. You did well in breaking through that needless diffidence if you had wrote sooner, you would have heard from me sooner. Although I have not been at Limerick for some years, yet I remember your father and mother well. They truly feared God when I conversed with them. Be a follower of them, as they were of Christ.

The last time I saw Mr. Coughlan, he was ill in body, but in a blessed state of mind. He was utterly broken in pieces, full of tears and contrition for his past unfaithfulness. Not long after I went out of town, God removed him to a better place.

If that deadly enemy of true religion, Popery, is breaking in upon you, there is indeed no time to be lost; for it is far easier to prevent the plague than to stop it. Last autumn Dr. Coke sailed from England, and is now visiting the flock in the midland provinces of America, and settling them on the New-Testament plan, to which they all willingly and joyfully conform, being all united, as by one Spirit, so in one body. I trust they will no more want such Pastors as are after God's own heart. After he has gone through these parts, he intends, if God permit, to see the brethren in Nova-Scotia, probably attended with one or two able Preachers who will be willing to abide there. A day or two ago, I wrote and desired him before he returns to England to call upon our brethren also in Newfoundland, and, perhaps, leave a Preacher there likewise. About food and raiment, we take no thought. Our heavenly Father knoweth that we need these things, and he will provide. Only let us be faithful and diligent in feeding his flock. Your Preacher will be ordained. Go on, in the name of the Lord, and in the power of his might! You shall want no assistance that is in the power of

Your affectionate friend and brother.