_To Mr. H._
_Oxon, Sept. 17, 1734._
_Dear Sir_,
I Had the favour of your letter last _Friday_, which brought me the
agreeable news of your and Mrs. _H._’s welfare, together with the
much-desired account of your approving the scheme, inclosed in my
last. Indeed, I did not doubt of its meeting with a candid reception,
from all those persons to whom it was recommended. Their known
concern for religion, giving me sufficient assurance, that nothing
can be unacceptable to them, which any way tended to promote their
improvement in the divine life. It must be confessed, indeed, as you
very justly observed, that we must make a great progress in religion,
and be inured by frequent prayer and meditation, to the extatic
contemplation of heavenly objects, before we can arrive at true
heavenly-mindedness; and, perhaps, after all our endeavours, whilst
our souls are immersed in these fleshly tabernacles, we shall make
but very small advances in so delightful and glorious an undertaking.
But believe me, _Sir_, you cannot imagine, how vastly serviceable the
constant use of all the means of religion will be, in acquiring this
blessed habit of mind. Such, as an early rising in the morning, public
and private prayer, a due temperance in all things, and frequent
meditation on the infinite love and purity of that unparalleled
pattern of all perfection, our dear Redeemer. As for your mentioning,
_Sir_, the degeneracy of the age, as the least objection against our
making further advances in any religious improvement, I cannot by any
means admit of it. The scriptures (as I take it) are to be the only
rules of action. And the examples of our blessed LORD and his apostles,
the grand patterns whereby we are to form the conduct of our lives. It
is true, indeed, that instances of an exalted piety are rarely to be
met with in the present age, and one would think, if we were to take
an estimate of our religion, from the lives of most of its professors,
that christianity was nothing but a dead letter. But then it is not
our religion, but ourselves that are to be blamed all this while.
Would we live as the primitive christians did, we might no doubt
have the same assistance vouchsafed us, as they had. GOD’s grace is
never restrained, and though we should not arrive at those heights of
heavenly-mindedness, as some of the primitive christians were eminent
for, yet, methinks we should imitate them as far as we can, and rely
on the divine goodness for grants of such a supply of grace, as he,
in his good pleasure, shall judge most convenient for us. Be pleased
to send for Mr. _Law’s Christian Perfection_ for me against my coming
into the country, if printed in a small edition. I am, with due
respects to self, spouse, and all other friends,
Your’s sincerely,
_G. W._