Madeley, near Shiffnal, Salop. Oct. 26th, 1815.
My dear Armstrong,
* * * * * * * *
Since I last wrote to you I have seen it my duty to give up myself wholly
to the work of the Lord. I am ashamed to confess to you, that the former
years of my ministry have been very partially devoted to his service. I
have too frequently picked and chosen among my duties, avoided too many
which seemed to promise humiliation and mortification, and entered upon
others only so far as they left me an opportunity of cultivating and
enjoying other more favourite pursuits. Oh, my dear friend, what a cage
of unclean birds is the polluted heart of man, and how many corners of it
still remain impure, even after it has been for the most part cleansed.
How much selfishness, (latent, indeed, or glossed over with some
speciousness of appearance,) still keeps lurking behind. The Lord,
however, has very mercifully been leading me to part first with one
favourite pursuit and then with another, till at last I seem to have but
one business, and that is, to do the will of him who has called me to the
ministry. That I perform this business in such a way as daily humbles
me, and fills me with confusion of face, I need scarcely tell you; for
you have long known the pride and the naughtiness of my heart, and,
though I keep fighting with my spiritual enemies, and am determined by
the grace of God, neither to find for them any apology, nor to give them
any quarter, yet I am but an unskilful combatant, and fall under a severe
wound instead of habitually conquering through him who hath loved me. As
to my parish, I am very thankful to be able to state that matters are
going on very comfortably. The spirit of dissent seems to be weekly
abating, and all seems harmony and love. Two of the principal men among
us have not only given the most cordial and unexpected support, but have
discovered a degree of seriousness under the word, and a willingness to
converse about it, when not actually hearing it, as encourages me to
hope, that they are inquirers after the things which make for their
peace. I was much struck yesterday with the very friendly conduct of a
Mr. A., one of the masters of a considerable coal and iron work in the
neighbourhood. I had been inquiring about a place where I might go near
the Iron Bridge, one of the most populous places in the parish, to
expound the Scriptures and thus prepare them, by means of this stepping
stone, for an attendance upon the church, and for their meeting in one of
our little classes. I soon heard of a room over the market place, which
was employed as a day school, nicely accommodated with benches, and
capable of holding between two and three hundred people; I was told it
belonged to Mr. A., but was let by him to the person who now held it,
upon the express condition, that it should never be used for any
religious purpose. An application under such circumstances seemed
somewhat uncertain, but when I waited upon him, he expressed not only his
willingness, but his great satisfaction in having it so employed, and
told me, moreover, that he would give immediate orders to his foreman to
see that everything by way of whitewashing, and so on, should be done, so
as to make it as comfortable as might be. I don’t know how it is, but I
feel my heart peculiarly united with this amiable man. One night, after
spending two or three hours in his company, I felt just the same
sensation of indescribable union which I felt towards yourself the first
day I knew you. O how should I rejoice to be made serviceable to his
soul, and to meet him a saved character in the day of the Lord Jesus. My
Iron Bridge meeting I begin to morrow evening. I feel it much upon my
mind, and should be greatly obliged by your praying for a particular
blessing as connected with it. The population there and within a short
distance extends to some thousands. * * * *
With our kind and united regards to Mrs. A. and yourself,
Believe me, my dear Friend,
Yours, most affectionately,
G. MORTIMER.