controversy, nor should I have mentioned it, but—1st, To inform you how
my mind was harrassed at times between Calvinism and Arminianism, and how
I was delivered from that shackling system into electing and
_constraining_ love.—2. To caution others against such a sandy
foundation.—3. To shew you the state of the professing church at this
day. How once _they_ tried those who said they were apostles and were
not, but were found liars, and who very industriously carried their
system, as they now do, to almost every quarter of the globe: but, alas!
this first love is left, and a system of moderation is adopted to please
the pharisaic part of the world, by those who _know_ better; this is
giving their colours to the enemy indeed. We see this in some old
ministers who were once zealous for truth; but now, alas! occupy the very
pulpits, and wink at those very errors they once opposed. How is the
gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed. Instead of the Lord’s
controversy—a statement and defence of truth in its purity—many of our
Dissenting, Independent, and Baptist congregations, are entertained with
a dish or two of Fuller’s earth and Baxteriansand; their sermons in
general being eked out with a stir about the Antinomians, merely to help
out at a dead lift when they have nothing else to say. I speak this of
our modern Calvinists; but blessed be God we have still a few names in
our sardis that have not defiled their garments, and who are bold
champions for _all_ the truth, as it is in Christ; the Lord increase
their number in the churches of every denomination.—Amen.
Whatever were the objections I could possibly raise against the doctrine
of God’s sovereignty, I found in the Sacred Scriptures the line of
distinction drawn by the pen of eternal truth, between the two
heads—Christ and Adam; and between the two seeds—elect and non-elect; nor
could I, nor dare I contradict it,—the subject was plainly set before my
eyes, and all the carnal logic that men are masters of, can never blot
this fact from the word of God, let them turn and twist it how they
may—namely, that there is a people whom the Lord _never_ loved nor _ever_
will save. I will now remind you of this in a few Scriptures, and leave
them in the solemn and awful manner in which God has stated them.
“The Lord hath _made_ all things for himself, even the wicked _for_
the day of evil; and they shall call them the border of wickedness,
the _people_ against whom the Lord hath indignation for _ever_.—But
Esau have I hated; the _abhorred_ of the Lord shall fall into it;
their souls abhorred me and my soul also _abhorred_ them.—Reprobate
silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath _rejected_ them.—I
will profess unto you I _never_ knew you.—A stone of stumbling, a
rock of offence to both the houses of Israel for a gin and a snare,
and many among them _shall_ stumble and fall and be _broken_, and
_snared_ and _taken_.—Behold this child is set _for_ the fall of many
in Israel.—I thank thee, oh Father, that thou hast _hid_ these things
_from_ the wise and prudent.—Not _many_ rich are _called_.—But the
wicked _shall_ do wickedly, and _shall not_ understand.—To the one we
are a savour of death unto death.—Whosoever hath not, from him shall
be _taken_ that which he seemeth to have.—But ye believe not because
ye are _not_ of my sheep.—To them it is _not_ given, the world
_cannot_ receive, the natural man _cannot_ discern.—_No_ man _can_
come to me to me except the Father draw him.—For when he would have
inherited the blessing he was rejected.—For there are certain men
crept in unawares who were before of old _ordained_ to this
condemnation.—_I_ also will choose their delusions—And many false
prophets _shall_ arise and deceive many.—For it is a people of no
understanding; therefore he that made them will _not_ have mercy upon
them, and he that formed them will shew them _no_ favour.—They which
are the children of the flesh are _not_ the children of God.—But
because ye are not of the _world_, therefore the _world_ hateth you.
Behold ye despisers, and wonder and perish. I will work a work in
which you _shall in no wise believe_.—You shall _not_ believe, ye
shall seek me and shall _not_ find me.—And if the prophet be
deceived, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will destroy
him.—So then it is not of him that _willeth_, nor of him that
_runneth_.—For judgment I am come into this world that those which
see _might_ be made blind.—_Make_ the heart of this people gross, and
_make_ their ears heavy lest they see, hear, understand, convert and
be healed.—And for this cause _God shall_ send them strong delusions
that they _should_ believe a lie, that they _all may_ be damned who
believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.—Evil men
and seducers _shall_ wax worse and worse.—It shall be a bridle in the
jaws of the people, _causing_ them to err.—They perish for ever,
without _any_ regarding it.—Ye shall seek me, and _shall_ die in your
sins.—Many are called, but _few_ chosen.—He that is unjust, _let_ him
be unjust still; and he that is filthy, _let_ him be filthy
still.—But the miry places shall be _given_ to salt.—But these, as
natural brute beasts, _made_ to be taken and destroyed, and _shall_
utterly perish in their own corruptions.—This is the portion of a
wicked man from God, and the heritage _appointed_ unto him by God.—He
shall divide the _sheep_ from the goats—Whom he will he
_hardeneth_.—The Lord _bid_ Shimei to curse David, _moved_ David to
number the people, _stirred_ up Joseph’s brethren to sell him into
Egypt, _hardened_ the heart of Pharaoh, _sent_ a lying spirit to
deceive Ahab, _mingled_ a perverse spirit in the midst of Egypt.—I
make peace and _create_ evil.—If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them
that are lost, whose names are _not_ written in the book of life;
therefore will he give them up.—And Eli’s sons hearkened not unto the
Lord, because he _would_ destroy them.—It had been better for that
man if he had never been born.—One shall be taken and another left.”
These are a few of those Scriptures which are so highly offensive to the
Arminian pride of the human heart: I find them very offensive to my proud
heart. But the Lord is in his holy temple. Let the earth keep _silence_
before him, and do you give all diligence to make your calling and
election, sure.—Get some solid evidence of your predestination to eternal
life, so as to render it unquestionable, and your labour shall not be in
vain in the Lord. I cannot conclude this letter without sending you part
of a remarkable speech, delivered in parliament, Jan. 26, 1628, by
Francis Rouse, esq. a member of the House of Commons.
“We have of late entered into consideration of the petition of right,
and the violation of it, and upon good reasons; for it concerns our
goods, liberties and lives. But there is a right of an higher
nature—a right of religion, derived to us from the King of Kings,
confirmed to us by the kings of this kingdom, and enacted by laws in
this place: streaming down to us in the blood of the martyrs, and
witnessed from Heaven by miracles, even miraculous deliverances.—And
this right, in the name of this nation, I this day claim; and desire
that there may be a deep and serious consideration of the violations
of it.
“I desire, first, it may be considered what new paintings are laid on
the old face of the whore of Babylon, to make her more lovely, and to
draw more suiters to her.
“I desire that it may be considered, how the See of Rome doth eat
into our religion, and fret into the banks and walls of it; by which
banks and walls I mean the laws and statutes of this realm.
“I desire that we may consider the increase of Arminianism: an error
that maketh the grace of God lacquey it after the will of man; that
maketh the sheep to keep the shepherd; and makes mortal seed of the
immortal God. I desire that we may look into the very belly and
bowels of the Trojan horse, to see if there be not in it men ready to
open the gates to Romish tyranny and Spanish monarchy. For an
Arminian is the spawn of a Papist; and if there come the warmth of
court favour upon him, you shall see him turned into one of those
frogs that arise out of the bottomless pit.
“If ye mark it well, you shall see an Arminian reaching out his hand
to a Papist; a Papist to a Jesuit; a Jesuit gives one hand to the
Pope, and the other hand to the king of Spain. And these men (that
is the Arminians, then newly sprung up) having kindled fire in our
neighbour’s country, (that is in the Dutch provinces) have now
brought over some of it hither, to set on flame this kingdom also.”
Heu, pietes! Heu, prisca fides!
Alas, Religion! Alas antient faith!
I must also recommend to your diligent attention “Dr. Owen, on
Arminianism,”—“Dr. Gill’s cause of God and Truth,”—“Huntington’s Arminian
Skeleton, and Funeral of Arminianism,” with Mr. Toplady’s “More Work for
John Wesley.” Praying for a spirit of judgment (_Isaiah_ iv.) and
burning, that the filth, (_the Arminianism_) of the daughters of Zion may
be purged, according to his very precious promise. Many shall be
purified and made white, and tried: not forgetting the exhortation that
speaketh to you as to children. “Let thy garments be always white, and
thine head lack no ointment: let thy fountain be always blessed, and
rejoice with the _wife_ of thy youth (the _truth_ as it is in Christ);
let her be as the loving hind and the pleasant roe; let her breasts (of
consolation) satisfy thee at all times, and be thou always ravished with
her love; and why wilt thou my son be ravished with a strange woman,
(error) and embrace the bosom of a stranger, for the ways of man are
before the Lord, and he pondereth his _goings_.”—_Proverbs_ v. But the
Lord is faithful, which will establish you and keep you from evil.
Yours, truly, J. C.
LETTER XXIII.
“Howbeit when _He_, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you
into all truth.”
To —
We have a just right to record the deliverances which the Most High God
has wrought out for us. I have, in my humble degree, done so; and
although it may incur the displeasure of many, I could not avoid it. I
consider such acknowledgments a part of the glory due to God. Hence the
promise “I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” And I must
also acquaint you with a few more of these great deliverances which I
have experienced by his grace, in leading me from the paths of death to
the fountain of life. I can never be sufficiently thankful that he has
opened to me the law of the wise, that I might escape from the _snares_
of death, which I consider consist in opposition to God’s revealed
truths. In my last I informed you of deliverance from the shackles of
Arminianism; and in a former letter, from the dreadful heresy of denying
the godhead and personality both of the dear Redeemer and the Holy
Spirit. But though delivered, I was, and am frequently beset by the
enemies of the doctrine of the adorable Trinity in Unity. This has often
grieved me sorely, especially in seasons of weakness, when satan,
unbelief and carnal reason seemed to triumph in my mind. The glorious,
holy and sublime doctrine of the Trinity, in the essential Unity, is
clearly revealed in the word of God, and without attempting to
comprehend, it is enough for us to believe. After I had been much
perplexed in my mind, I bless God that he ever condescended to open the
subject satisfactorily, and as he was pleased to use means for this
purpose: the best I have ever seen, and the most conclusive, is the book
I have already mentioned, the excellent “Jones, on the Catholic Doctrine
of the Trinity,” and by his masterly comparisons of one Scripture with
another, he has clearly proved that point, by shewing that the Unity of
the Sacred Three is maintained in the sacred _names_, _attributes_ and
_acts_ of the Sacred Three.
_Isaiah_, xliv. 24. “I am the Lord that maketh all things, that
stretcheth forth the heavens _alone_, that spreadeth abroad the earth by
myself.”
_Psalm_, xxxiii. 6. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and
all the host of them by the _breath_ of his mouth—the _spirit_ of his
mouth.”
Therefore the Father, with the word and spirit, are the _alone_, Lord and
Creator of all things.
It has been proved, again and again, that the word _Lord_, when printed
in capital letters, always signifies Jehovah.
_Deut._ vi. 4. “The Lord our God is one Jehovah.”
_Jeremiah_, xxiii, 6. “This is the name whereby he shall be called,
Jehovah our righteousness; so is the Spirit also.”
_Ezekiel_, viii. 1, 3. “The Lord Jehovah put forth the form of an hand,
and took me up, and the Spirit lifted me up.”
Therefore the Father, Son and Spirit are the one Jehovah; they are
_three_ persons, yet have but _one name_ and _nature_.
_Matthew_, xv. 31. “The multitude glorified the God of Israel.”
_Luke_, xvi. 17. “The children of Israel shall return to the Lord their
God, and he shall go before them.”
2 _Samuel_, xxiii. 23. “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and the Rock
of Israel said unto me.”
Therefore the Trinity in Unity is the God of Israel.
_Deut._ vi. 16. “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
1 _Cor._ x. 9. “Neither let us tempt Christ.”
_Acts_, v. 9. “How is it that ye have agreed to tempt the Spirit of the
Lord?”
Here the whole Trinity is represented as tempted and visited.
The mind and will of God is the mind and will of a Trinity in Unity.
1 _Cor._ ii. 14. “Who hath known the _mind_ of God.”
_Ibid._ “We have the _mind_ of Christ.”
_Rom._ xxvii. “He that searcheth the hearty knoweth what is the _mind_
of the Spirit.”
1 _Thes._ iv. 3. “This is the will of God.”
_Acts_, xxii. 14. “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou
shouldest know his will.”
This is meant of Christ and of his will. _Acts_, ix. 15, 16.
2 _Peter_, xxi. “Prophecy came not in old times by the will of men, but
holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The power of God is the power of the Trinity in Unity.
_Eph._ iii. 7. “The grace of God given unto me by the effectual working
of his power.”
2 _Cor._ xii. 9. “That the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
_Rom._ xv. 19. “Signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God.”
TRUE.
“He that sent me is true.”
“These things saith he that is holy, he that is true.”
“It is the spirit that beareth witness, because the spirit is truth.”
HOLY.
“For thou only art holy.”
“But ye denied the Holy One.”
“Ye have an unction from the Holy one, the anointing.”
OMNIPRESENT.
“Do I not fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord.”
“The fulness of him (Christ) that filleth all in all.”
“Whither shall I go from thy Spirit; if to heaven, thou art there, or
hell, thou art there also.”
LIFE.
“Love the Lord thy God, for he is thy life.”
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear.”
“The spirit is life.”
“The Trinity in Unity, made all mankind.”
“The Lord he is God, he it is that hath made us.”
“By him (Christ) were all things made.”
“The Spirit of God hath made me.”
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
“God hath raised up the Lord, and shall raise us up by his _own power_.”
“Destroy this temple, and in three days _I will raise it up_.”
“Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”
LEADING.
“I am the Lord thy God, which _leadeth_ thee by the way.”
“He (Christ) calleth his own by name and _leadeth_ them out.”
“As many as are _led_ by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
SANCTIFICATION.
“Sanctified by God the Father.”
“He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one.”
“Being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
I might quote many more Scriptures to prove this very interesting
subject, and produce a thousand arguments, but if they hear not Moses and
the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the
dead: it is no small mercy to believe, and receive the truth in the love
of it, and to be fully persuaded in our own minds, of the truth, as it is
in Jesus. On the word of God’s truth I rest, without asking a thousand
carnal questions, remembering Him that hath said, “What is that to thee,
follow thou me.” The above Scriptures, thus arranged, with many more by
the above author, and Mr. Huntington’s book, “Contemplations on the God
of Israel,” which, in my humble opinion, exceeds all that that good man
wrote. These were the means of establishing my mind on this great
subject, and delivering my soul from a thousand perplexities, for which I
can never be too thankful.
Yours, J. C.
LETTER XXIV.
‘“But watch thou in all things.”
To —
I have often intimated to you the necessity of keeping a sort of diary,
and minuting down some of the Lord’s dealings with you: this has a
tendency to excite watchfulness, prayer, and gratitude. I do not mean
that you should minute down all, as that might appear ostentatious; and
forgetting all, as a mark of ingratitude. However, for those that have
time and ability for such a work, it must greatly add to their joy and
improvement in the divine life, and at the close of the year, to retrace
written memorandums of the Lord’s dealings, would greatly felicitate the
mind, and strike the soul with wonder. “Who is wise will observe these
things, and he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.” I will
transcribe the short memorandums of a few days, to stir you up to adopt
the same method, as it will reward you in the end.
Saturday.—Awoke this morning, dull, dejected, and unfit for study; very
little life in prayer, and even a degree of reluctance to pray. What a
mercy necessity compelled me to arise and go unto my Father! and after
some time sitting before the Lord, I felt a degree of spirituality. Some
precious subjects opened to my view, which I put into the hands of the
ever blessed Spirit, to bring to my mind when I should stand in need of
them. Closed the day in spiritual conversation and prayer with our
friends Mr. and Mrs. —.
Sunday.—Early this morning visited with these sweet words; “Oh, go your
way into his courts with thankfulness, and into his gates with praise; be
thankful to him, and speak good of his name.” Predicted I should have a
good day, and so it proved; but surely satan envied it, for at night my
feet had well nigh slipped. Closed the day very dejectedly. Alas! what
poor returns of love hath my Creator found, what cause of shame and
confusion for such ingratitude; oh, for more conformity to his blessed
image.
Monday.—Weak in body, low in mind, sadly harrassed. Many useless
visitors upon mere trivial affairs, with the wretched reflection upon a
debt owing to —. Could find no text to preach upon in the evening.
Fretful, peevish, and in much bondage. Yet oh! the patience and
forbearance of God! How sweetly supported, supplied and melted in the
house of God, in preaching on _John_ xvi. 27. Received the same evening
a present from a lady, which relieved my anxious mind and confounded my
unbelief. Closed the day in holy wonder and admiration at the grace and
providence of God.
Tuesday.—I almost grieve I let sleep close my eyes last night; my frame
is changed again; corruption sin and folly has interrupted me, disturbed
my mind, prevented communion with God in meditation, prayer and reading;
irregular passion let loose to vex me. Oh, that I could fly from myself!
In vain I wish a solitary life, a cave, or the place of the way-faring
man; I should carry the same nature with me there: I sink in despondency
about the renovation of this sinful nature; but, blessed be God for Jesus
Christ, in whom his people stand complete. A clear spiritual
apprehension of this warms my heart, and again carries me above all my
horrid feelings.
Beset with snares on every hand,
In life’s uncertain path I stand.
Wednesday.—Blest with a spirit of prayer, diligence in reading, and clear
light in the Word. Read a little of “Dr. Owen, on Communion with God,”
“Dr. Goodwin, on the Condition of the Creatures,” “Gospel Magazine,”
“Huntington’s Moral Law not Injured by the Everlasting Gospel.” &c.
“My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this.”
No exstacies or ravishing joys, but a solid satisfaction of soul, by the
knowledge and reception of truth. Very happy in preaching this evening,
on “Is thine heart right.”
Thursday.—Lost much time to day in needless visits and trifling company,
disputed with a Swedenborgian for three hours, about some of the grand
truths of the Word, but I saw no good effects in my opponent. I am
thankful I was kept cool and deliberate all the time. I dislike
disputes, and always very reluctantly enter the lists, but when compelled
I never keep back; the religion that is not worth contending _for_, is
not worth having. A good man once observed, _that_ was always a lost day
wherein he neither _got_ any good, nor _did_ any good; such days are
painful to reflect upon. I gained one thing to day—a grateful heart for
the knowledge of the truth.
Friday.—Received a gracious answer to prayer in the opening of a very
great subject in the Word of God; also an answer to prayer in a
providential way. Some time previous, a sweet portion was sent to my
soul; but the fulfilment of the promise evidences it to be of God’s
sending: thousands boast of promises applied, but it is the
_accomplishment_ proves them to be of God. He that hath received his
testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true. Comfortable in
preaching in the evening.
Sunday.—A good day to my soul. Felt much light and liberty in all my
subjects; the Lord gave me power of utterance. Preached in the morning
on that ambiguous portion, “Behold the man is become one of us.” Opposed
a prevailing error, concerning the oneness of absolute Deity and a
sinner. Shewed Adam was a type of Christ, in about twenty-four
particulars: applied the text to Christ as God-man; 2, to Adam, as
restored to God’s image; 3, to every believer as converted to God:
noticed the last part. Gave the opinion of commentators, and then what
views I had of it.
Afternoon.—The opening of the passion week. The eventful circumstances
of the last week of our Lord’s humiliation is always very affecting to my
mind. Preached on his riding to Jerusalem. In the evening, his weeping
over Jerusalem, entering into the temple, and return to Bethany. A
solemn day throughout.
Monday.—Met with many things to grieve me, but several peculiar
providences cheered my heart. Preached in the evening on the Saviour’s
cursing the fig-tree. Oh! what a mercy to be in Christ, and grafted into
the true tree of life, that we may bring forth fruit unto God.
Tuesday.—Visited several sick beds, and dear families who had been
visited by death, prayed with some, but sorely shut up with others; this
was painful indeed. Preached same evening on the poor widow and her two
mites; and what have I to cast into the fulness of Christ, but my soul
and my body; not to enrich, but to be enriched.
Wednesday.—Read Ambrose Christopher Vess, and other good writers.
Preached in the evening on the Saviour washing the disciples’ feet.
Alas! our daily errors and infirmities need washing away in the blood of
the Lamb, by the word of God, and the influence of the Spirit.
Thursday.—A particular solemn day. Viewed with sacred delight, the
thirty-three years of our Lord’s obedience to the law, for the
justification of his Church, and now I behold him hastening to the awful
entrance upon his direful sufferings and death, to put away sin.
Preached in the evening on “They shall shew you a large upper room,
furnished, there make ready.” Gave the sacrament between eight and nine
o’clock, to about 300 persons; all was solemn and impressive; I was
sweetly supported and a little melted. Oh, that it had been more so.
For canst thou, ungrateful man, his sorrows see,
Nor drop one tear for him who shed his blood for thee.
Good Friday.—Preached in the morning on _Ephesians_, i. I felt the power
of the subject, and nearly at times overwhelmed, but kept up under the
description of the Saviour’s sorrows; blessed also with a lively hope; he
died for me. Preached in the evening upon his burial, and predicted
resurrection, 41st _Psalm_. A solemn and blessed day.
Saturday.—Led to some precious portions of God’s word, though rather dead
in mind and tired in body. Same day buried a dear friend, conversed and
prayed with the family in the evening.
Easter Sunday morning.—Blessed with spirituality, though a little
indisposed in body. Preached on the Seven Resurrections, but enlarged on
our resurrection state in Christ, from _Romans_ vi.
Afternoon.—Preached on _Habakuk_, iii. 2. “Wilt thou not revive us
again.” In the evening, a funeral sermon for a beloved friend, whose
life was spiritual, and whose death was blessed; the text _John_ xi. “I
am the resurrection,” &c. But alas! how flat and insipid I felt, yet God
blessed the word.
I look back with gratitude on what the Lord has done for me, and rejoice
that amidst the many changes I experience in body, soul and
circumstances, in the Church and in the world, he is the same yesterday,
to day and for ever; in his love, in his purposes, in his covenant, in
his word, and in his faithfulness. Oh, could I know and love him more.
“For Lord I would be thine alone,
And wholly live in thee;
Take all that I possess below,
And give thyself to me.”
I only send you this as a short specimen of a few memorandums I wish you
to make and keep by you; you will often find the benefit of reviewing
them.—Hence the order, “Set thee up way-marks, make thee high heaps.”
These memorandums are as Gilead, an heap of witnesses, and ye are my
witnesses saith the Lord.
Yours, J. C.
LETTER XXV.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”
To —