_To Mr. G―――― C――――._
_On board the Savannah for Georgia, Dec. 11, 1740._
_Dear Brother C――――_,
YOUR late letters, especially that which you sent me by way of
_Charles-Town_, made me smile.――I was glad to find that you had not so
far thrown off all outward things, as to resolve not to write to any
one; and I thought I knew the frame of your heart, as though I was
within you. My dear, dear _George C――――_, I love you tenderly in the
bowels of JESUS CHRIST, and therefore would not have you be deceived.
Alas, why do you pervert this text of scripture, “Be still, and know
that I am the LORD,” as if it was designed to keep a christian from
striving, or meant a _stillness of body_, or waiting upon GOD only in
silence? The expression is taken out of the 46th Psalm, where GOD’s
fury against the heathen is described in the most lively colours;
and then lest his people should complain of the severity of his
dispensations, GOD commands them to be _still_, “not to murmur or
repine, knowing that he was the LORD, and might do what seemed him
good.” Thus _Tate_ and _Brady_ in their translations explain it, and
this is the true and genuine meaning of that sentence. It hath no
reference to stillness in prayer, or stillness of body. Dear brother,
I speak to you plainly, because I love you. I think I know what it is
to wait upon the LORD in silence, and to feel the spirit of GOD making
intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered. Often have
I been at such times filled as it were with the fulness of GOD, and
I do now daily carry on a communion with the most high GOD and the
ever-blessed JESUS. But all this I fear is contrary to the _false
stillness_, you and some others seem to have fallen into. I was just
in the same case some years ago at _Oxford_, when I declined writing,
reading, and such like exercises, because I would be _still_. The LORD
convinced me; I pray he may also convince you of this delusion. Dear
_George_, consider how contrary your maxim is to our Saviour’s. You
say, “_Be still._” He says, “_Strive._” As in an agony, “Strive that
you may enter in at the strait gate.” Indeed, my dear man, I pity you,
knowing you have but a weak judgment, though a well-meaning heart.
You once thought that you was born again; then, you found it was only
an elapse of the Holy Ghost. You used to say, you wished you could
believe from experience in the doctrine of election; now, you find
as yet no evidence within yourself that you are a real christian.
You take too much refuge, I fear, in the doctrine of _universal
redemption_. It is the finest doctrine in the world to cause a soul to
be falsely still, and to say _Peace, Peace_, when there is no peace.
You seem to insist upon sinless perfection, and to think a man hath
no real salvation till he literally cannot commit sin. From whose
experience do you write this? Not from your _own_, dear _George_;
for I much question, if ever your heart was truly broken or had a
saving closure with CHRIST. You seem to mention _Peter Bochler_ as
an instance; but alas, though he has been washed in the blood of the
Lamb, so as to be justified from all his sins, yet like me his feet
want washing still, and will, till he bows down his head and gives up
the ghost. I have conversed with him intimately. Take heed, brother,
of having any thing too much in admiration, or of thinking you must
necessarily find CHRIST at such and such a place. You have been at
_M――――_. I believe you have seen many dear children of GOD; but have
you returned home with CHRIST in your heart? Your letters do not speak
much improvement in the school of CHRIST. If GOD loves you, he will
let you see the vanity of your present imaginations, and bring you to
see that salvation is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth,
but of GOD that sheweth mercy. Dear _George_, be not given to change;
be not too fond of new things. “To the law and to the testimony,” and
see what CHRIST and his apostles have spoken. I speak this out of love,
and not in reference to myself. If GOD blesses another ministry to
your soul, I rejoice, yea and will rejoice. But if I see you fall into
errors, do not be angry if I tell you the truth. If you are, I will
notwithstanding love and pray for you. That errors are crept in among
you, I think is too plain: but I suspend my judgment till the Spring,
when, GOD willing, I hope to be in _London_. In the mean while pray
for me, that I may with joy bear to be deserted by those, who once
were blessed and awakened by my ministry, and to whom I am a spiritual
father, though they may have many instructors. Dear _George_, may the
LORD be with you. He only knows how dear you are to my heart. It is
near midnight; but it was much upon my heart to write you this letter.
That GOD may sanctify it to your edification and comfort, is the
hearty prayer of
Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._