Wellington, August 13th, 1812.
YOU have my condolence, my dear Miss — in not being able to attend the
kind of ministry you approve of. Most individuals have a turn of mind, a
peculiarity of thinking, which, in a great measure, may be considered as
their own; and hence it should seem advisable that when the choice rests
on ourselves, we should attend that ministry which comes nearest to our
own case and circumstances. But, alas! this privilege is seldom allotted
us; local situation, parental restraints, and a variety of other things,
render it in general necessary to attend some place or other, which is
not, perhaps, in every view, that which, if left to ourselves, we would
have fixed upon. The question, then, is merely this—ought we, under the
circumstances, to quarrel with the dispensations of providence, or
quietly and patiently submit, endeavouring to extract from existing
circumstances all the good we possibly can? The language of wisdom, as
well as of piety, seems to direct to the latter course, as that best
calculated to promote our present comfort, and future welfare. God has
certainly some wise end or other to answer in every thing of this nature,
and if we recollect, at the same time, how tenderly he loves us, how much
he desires our spiritual improvement, as well as our eternal felicity, we
shall rest so completely satisfied that we shall not have a single desire
to alter in the minutest particular. But we are too apt to lose sight of
the wisdom and love of God, as connected with our affairs, we listen to
the suggestions of Satan, and fondly imagine that if we had the disposal
of things we could easily regulate our concerns, so as to make them more
effectually conduce to our welfare. How presumptuous is such language,
when stripped of its false colouring, and presented under its real and
proper appearance.
* * * * *
On the 30th November, 1812, he writes to his sister—I think that I
mentioned in my last that there was an increase of congregation, and that
I could discover some traces of the operation of the Spirit of God in
applying the word. These effects, I gratefully acknowledge, are still to
be seen, and it has pleased God to encourage me by bringing to my
knowledge two instances in which I hope a decided and saving change has
been produced—one on a lady of respectability in an adjoining parish, and
the other on an individual among the lower circles.
On the 11th January, 1813, he writes to the same, on the birth of his
eldest son;—I feel grateful to God for his goodness and mercy, as
manifested on the present occasion, and I am cheered with a pleasing hope
that the deposit which has this day been placed in my hands, will become
an heir of immortality, a glory to his God, and an instrument of good to
all around him. He has been the subject of my prayers for some time
past, and I feel persuaded that God will not disappoint my hope. I, and
its dear mother, feel anxious on its account, but what is our solicitude
concerning him compared with that of the dear Redeemer! How kindly is he
interested in his welfare; how ardently does _he_ long to see in him of
the travail of his soul that he may be satisfied! What encouragement
does this consideration afford to the exercise of patient hope and
persevering prayer.
And on the 24th of the following month, he wrote in reference to the
baptism of the infant. We hope, should all be well, on this day
se’nnight, to devote our little charge to his gracious God in baptism. I
feel it to be a solemn occasion, for I cannot but think that much, both
of its future happiness and usefulness, may depend on the manner in which
it is thus surrendered. I am somewhat apprehensive that we shall not
quite please you with respect to the name which we think of giving it.
But it has long struck me as being a foolish custom which prevails at
present of giving those names by way of distinction, which, in fact,
owing to their commonness, are no distinction at all. George, Thomas,
Henry, John, are used from generation to generation, and thus individuals
are incessantly mistaken and confounded either for other. We have,
therefore, ventured to step out of the beaten track, and have accordingly
fixed upon Cecil, as one which, from many pleasing associations, has
become endeared to both of us.