Letters and conversational remarks

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fcf PRINCETON, N. J.

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LETTER I. London, November 13, 1789

I AM sorry Dr. M**** should occasion trouble to himself or others. Whatever judgment may be formed of his book, the truth which he opposes will stand firm. It is the very rock on which the church is built, against which, neither force, nor policy, nor sophistry can prevail. I see not how your judicatories can avoid noticing it, unless they give up your public doctrinal standards as untenable. At the same time, I fear that judicial censure will add to his zeal in a bad cause, and likewise add to his fame, and make his book more inquired after. Unless he can be convinced, he will never think himself confuted. And heart conviction is the work of the Lord alone.

The plausible and temperate manner in which he writes, makes his book, in my opinion, more dangerous than all the volumes which Dr. Priestleyhas published. However, as you observe, the great Head of the church will take care of his own cause, and of his own people. Such things have been from the beginning. There must be heresies. But they who know the Saviour's name, will put their trust in him, when his opposers have done their utmost to prevent it.

May the peace and blessing of the Lord be With you, and with all who love him in sincerity. I am

Your affectionate friend and servant, J. N-

LETTER Ef.

London, February 3, 1"92-

YOUR letter received this morning finds me much engaged, but I am willing to send you a speedy answer, though it must be a short one.

Messrs.**** and **** are both excellent men, and well known to me, though I am not in the habit of correspondence with them. I have no doubt but the account you have seen respecting the revival at Bala is true as to present appearances, and will, doubtless, rejoice all who know the worth of souls, or have the Redeemer's glory at heart.

The account is already in print ; I saw it iu some Magazine ; and therefore you can give no offence by reprinting it. I know nothing more of it than from the letter you have read.

I would be thankful if Mr. **** can fish with a net. I would be thankful likewise for myself ; for though I am but an angler, I have reason to hope that I catch one now and then. I am

Your sincere friend and servant,

J. N.

LETTER III. London, February 22, 1792

I PRINTED the Ebenezers that I might offer a copy to my friends, and as a friend I enclosed one to you. If any of my friends in Scotland think them worth the reprinting, and will be at the expense, (which would not be very great) so that they may be freely and entirely given azuay, I have no objection.

The revival at Bala demands thankfulness - The Lord, according to his sovereign pleasure, now and then vouchsafes such seasons of refreshment as draw the attention of many. But hitherto they have usually been local and temporary . I remember one in Scotland, almost fifty years ago. The most extensive, I think, took place in

America about the same time, and was first observed under Dr. Edwards's ministry at Northampton. There is generally much good done in such seasons of power — but we must not expect that every appearance will answer our wishes. There are many more blossoms upon a tree in spring, than there will be apples in autumn. Yet we are glad to see blossoms, because we know, that if there are no blossoms there can be no fruit.

When such sudden and general awakenings take place among people who were ignorant and unacquainted with scripture, they are more or less attended with blemishes and misguided zeal. The enemy is watchful to sow tares among the wheat. Thus it has always been. It was so in the apostles' day. Offences arise, and they who wish to find something, at which they may stumble and cavil, by the righteous judgment of God, have what they wish for. But they who love the Lord, and have a regard for precious souls, will rejoice in the good that is really done ; and can account for the occasional mixtures, from the present state of human nature.

That the good work at Bala may flourish, and extend to London and Edinburgh (if the Lord please) is my sincere prayer, as I doubt not it is yours. I am

Your affectionate,

J. N.

If Mr. comes in your way, I beg you to

tell him I am both sorry and ashamed I have not written to him. But for some time past, I have been taken up with unavoidables more than usual. Every day brings a something which must be attended to, and I am forced to defer what may be delayed without detriment, to a season of more leisure.

LETTER IV. London, June 2, 1792

I HAVE been hurt by two or three letters directed to Dr. Newton. I beg you to inform my friends in Scotland as they come in your way, that after a little time, if any letters come to me, addressed to Dr. Newton, I shall be obliged to send them back unopened. I know no such person, I never shall, I never will, by the grace of God.

Do not think I am displeased with you, or any of my kind friends, who mean me kindness and honour by such an address. I only beg for my peace sake that it may not be repeated.

I have been informed that a college in Ame* rica, I think in New-Jersey, has given me the honourary degree of Doctor. So far as this niark of their favour indicates a regard to the gospel truths which I profess, I am much pleased with it. But as to the title itself, I renounce it heartily ; nor would I willingly be known by it, if all the universities in Europe conferred it upon me. My youthful years were spent in Africa, and I ought to take my degrees (if I take any) from thence. Shall such a compound of misery and mischief as I then was, be called Doctor I Surely not.

I thank you for the pamphlets. I have not had time to read them all ; but I doubt not I shall like them all, — but that which I have read, " The Dialogue between the Devil and a Socinian," I cannot say I approve either the manner or the spirit of it. I am hurt when gospel truths are put into the devil's mouth — nor do I think we are warranted to consign over Socinian ministers so coolly to his powers. I suppose a ready penman at Damascus might have written a smart dialogue between the devil and Saul of Tarsus. But Saul became Paul ; grace has long and strong arms ; and I think it more becoming a christian, to be unwilling to give any one up, while living. In brief, I cannot think that dialogue likely to do much good ; and if it was only designed to hold up an opponent to ridicule and contempt, it might as well have been spared. It is my mercy 1 am not a Socinian ; for had I been left to myself, I might have been among the foremost. It becomes me to be thankful ; and to

.7 pity and pray for those who know not what they do. May the Lord open their eyes — then they will soon be of our mind.

I shall be abroad (if the Lord please) four or five weeks from the 8th instant.

May the Lord bless and guide you, and your affectionate servant,

J. N,

LETTER V. London, Oct. 3, 1792

A WINTER'S task, which I have set myself, will oblige me to make my letters as short as I can, and to indulge myself in no correspondence bat what is necessary. It seems, however, if not quite necessary, at least proper, to thank you for yours of the 20th September, and would join you in thanking the Lord for his goodness in giving you a safe and comfortable return home. We enjoy a thousand mercies in common with many who neither pray to him nor praise him ; but to know that they come from him in answer to prayer, and as earnests of future and better blessings, gives them an additional relish of which, worldlings can have no conception.

In this world we have an appointed station and calling, in which our religious profession requires us to be accurate and faithful — But how to be fervent in spirit and serving the Lord, while we are not slothful in business, is a lesson which only He can teach us. It is necessary to be diligent, but it is not necessary' to be rich. The event must be left in his hand ; our aim should be to promote his glory, which may be answered either way, whether we have what the World calls great success, or not. If you have a servant or a journeyman who is an honest man, and understands your business, he will be as active and industrious in it as yourself. But then he is not responsible, and when his work is done, he sleeps at night without care. The care of the issue is your part, and whether you gain or lose, you will not blame your servant, who has faithfully done his duty according to your direction.

Now if you consider yourself, as it were a servant or journeyman, so to speak, of the Lord, you will manage your concerns with ease and comfort. The business is not yours but his : you are to employ your talents to the best of your judgment, and then to cast all the care upon him. You need not be anxious, for he will overrule all for the best. Whether he gives you but just food and raiment, (which they who seek his kingdom in the first place, and use his appointed means are seldom without,) or whether he allots you an abundance, either shall answer your professed end : his glory will be equally answered. In the former case you will have enough, because it is what he sees sufficient for you. In the latter case, what you have more than enough is not your own, but is still to be employed for him. But too many think things do not go well, unless they can amass wealth. They stretch every nerve to be rich, and thereby pierce themselves with perplexities and sorrows. 1 Tim. vi. 6—10.

I have no insight into the prophecies unfulfilled, nor is my mind turned for that study. I would direct the whole of my little strength to the points mentioned, Acts xxvi. 18. What you quote from Mr. Willison* is remarkable, other writers have had the same thought. Who first started it, or whether it has been borrowed one from another, I know not. How far it is the meaning of the passage, time will shew. This I know, that the Lord reigns. I believe he is on his way to fulfil his word.

In the mean time, I wish with you that we were more sensible of our present privileges, and more thankful for them. And that the Lord's people, instead of amusing themselves with politics, may be stirred up to serve their country by prayer. If they sigh and mourn for the abominations in the midst of us, and stand in the breach

* Mr. "Willison, in a book published more than fifty years ago, considers Rev. xi 13, as referring to some great revolution that should take place in France.

to avert deserved judgments, our peace and liberty may be yet prolonged. I think the calamities of France should remind us of Luke xiii. 1 — 5.

With my prayers and best wishes for your prosperity and welfare in the best sense, I remain, dear Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, J. N.

LETTER VI. London, Januarys, 1793

I HAVE no skill on the subject of Scotch patronages. I suppose they are what is called legal, or they could not take place. But some things deemed right in law there will be, which are not quite consistent with equity. I believe there are as few in our nation as in any. I wish to be more thankful for the peace and liberty we do enjoy. The crooked things I would leave to him, who only can make them straight. You seem yourself to think this evil is overruled for good, by stirring up the people, and spreading the gospel. If this be preached in simplicity, and honoured by a meek, inoffensive behaviour in those who profess it — it does not much signify, whether they meet in a church, a chapel, or a barn.

The times are gloomy : but the Lord reignethu To him I would refer every thing in public or in private life. There is discontent in some hearts,, and in some places : but I ought to be discontented with myself, that I am not filled with wonder and praise that things are so much better with us than we deserve.

If I was to add another article to our Litany, it might run thus : — " From poison and politics, good Lord deliver me." I think a political spirit as hurtful to the life of God in the soul as poison is to the bodily frame.

I am sorry that I forgot your order for six sets of the Messiah, but I will speak for them as soon as I can. A new edition of Omicron, and of Mrs. A***'s experience are both in the press, and would have been published before now, but that the printers are full of political business, and the intervention of what are called the holidays, and which with many are more emphatically idle days, and sinning days, has been some hindrance. I must write briefly, being much engaged. With nay sincere prayer for your welfare,

I am yours, &c.

LETTER VII. London, January 21

MANY things in the misguided zeal of the year 1780 surprised me, but none more than that it

IS should so generally lead the good people of Scotland to think so highly of the man, who, to answer his own ends, put himself at the head of a religions party.

I am glad you agree with me, that it is well both for ministers and private christians to have as little to do with politics as possible. Your idea of a pit in the path pleases me. I am afraid it is a pit that will swallow up the life and spirit, if not the very form of the religion of many professors. The Lord reigneth, and every issue will be directed by infinite wisdom and goodness, without our interference. And can we wish them under better management ? It is true he usually works by instruments, but there are some services which are not good enough for his own children. He can employ such men as compose the bulk of the French convention, as labourers and scourgers. Sennacherib with his blasphemies, executed his will no less than Hezekiah by his prayers. And he could do no more — he was thrown aside like an old broom, when the dirty work for which he was commissioned was performed. And there will always be dead sufficient to bury the dead.

I have told you why I cannot afford to write long letters. The Lord bless and guide you. Amen. I am

Yours sincerelv, J. N

LETTER VIII. London, March 22, 1"9J

I WILL now thank you for yours of the 4th ; but I am not responsible for your dream. I certainly was not with you on the night you mentioned ; and if I had, I should not have made the speech you heard from my representative. What the Lord might justly do, I know not; but at present my thoughts are not so gloomy. The gospel is with us, yea increasing among us, and I trust there is a goodly number, who are mourning over their own sins, and the sins cf the nation, and are standing in the breach by prayer. For their sakes I hope mercy will still be afforded. I rely more upon their prayers, than upon all our fleets and armies. I thought I saw a wonderful interposition of providence in our favour about the beginning of December. Since that time I have been in tolerable spirits.

The christian politicians are to be pitied, and I have time for no more than pity. May the Lord bless you. I am sincerely yours,

J. N.

N. B. Now in the press, and will be published (I hope) before August, Letters to a Wife, in 2 vols. 12mo. by the Author of Cardiphonia. — Pray for a blessing on this publication.

LETTER IX. LoKBOYj May 18, 1"93

I HAVE hardly time to acknowledge your letter, but know not when I shall have more. As you desire it I will send you my thoughts very briefly.

So far as popery may concern the civil state of the nations, I apprehend no great danger from it. Infidelity and scepticism seem to me the spreading popery at present. The spirit and strength of popery seem quite broken, and the pope himself I think is little more regarded by the bulk of the Roman church, than by the Protestants. The heavy penal laws, formerly in force, however politically necessary, do not appear to me consistent either with the letter or spirit of the new testament.

In a religious view I cannot see why a papist has not as good a right to worship God according to his conscience, though erroneous, to educate his children, &c. as I have myself. I am no friend to persecution or restraint in matters of conscience.

The stir made in 1T80, at a time when protestants were gaining more liberty in popish countries, I thought was a reproach to our national character, both as Britons and protestants. And I was not surprised at the event, by which

I thought the Lord poured contempt upon it. I hope we shall never see such a time again, upon such a pretext.

I cannot see that an unprincipled or wicked protestant is a whit better than a bigoted papist. Yet these, of all sorts, are tolerated.

The spirit of the times is quite altered since fires were lighted in Smithfield ; and, humanlyspeaking, I think it morally impossible for things to revert into that channel.

Therefore whatever liberty the papists may obtain by law, that of sitting in parliament chiefly excepted, will give me no pain.

Perhaps if I had lived in Scotland, the opinion of many wise and good men might have outweighed my private judgment, and given it a different bias. The Jews, while a separate people and under a theocracy, had a peculiar rule, the application of which to christian societies, I think has been productive of much mischief and misery ; and quite unsupported, as I judge, by any precept or precedent in the new testament.

I have only time to add my best wishes. The Lord bless you, and bless us all with his precious peace, and that philanthropy which his example teaches. I am

Your sincere friend and servant.

J. N.

LETTER X. London, August i, irS3

I PURPOSE, if the Lord please, to leave London the 8th instant, for a few weeks. I go into Hampshire, but letters sent in the usual way will follow me, wherever I may be. I would first thank you for your last agreeable letter with the account of **** and ****, and the copy of his letter, which is a very good one indeed.

Mr. G r informed me himself of his happy

relief. I have not written to him since, but I sent him my congratulations in one I wrote to Mr. Black.

I believe the Letters to a Wife by the Author of Cardifihonia, printed for J. Johnson, will be published in a few days, perhaps within a fortnight. I beg you to pray for the Lord's blessing upon them. Both Ebenezer, and the last copy of verses which I sent you, will be in an appendix. But if you choose to print any of the latter, I have no objection, provided, like the former, they may not be sold.

A lady of my acquaintance here, who I believe

was much more distressed than Mr. G r, has

been relieved. She was in a state of despair for eight years, all which time she was never out of bed, but to have it made. She lay, till by dis = it ease, she had lost the use of her legs, and could stand no more than an infant. She is now cheerful and comfortable, and can walk from her house to my church (the distance is near a mile.) So true it is, that our Lord is able to save unto the

uttermost. Mr. 's case is singular, and so,

in a different way, is mine. We are proofs, not easily set aside, that grace reigns.

Dr. Robertson had great talents, and a great name in the world, but I doubt not but he saw at last, he might have been more useful as a minister, than as a historian. It is a poor thing to gain the applause of men. One page of John Bunyan is of more real value than many volumes of high estimation in the judgment of those wh« know not the worth of the soul.

I commend you to the Lord — and remain Your affectionate friend, &c.

J. N\

LETTER XL

Southampton, September 2, 1*95,

I THANK you for providing lor me in my retirement. Your anecdotes are both entertaining and instructive. Your letter followed me hither. Like you I highly relish the country ; but I am better off in point of ordinances and christian conference than you were when on the 3 * banks of the Tweed. The preaching of the gospel is indeed a great privilege, which cannot be safely neglected while in our power, and will not, so long as we possess our spiritual senses. But if sickness, or clear providential calls of absence, detain us from it, we are not so absolutelydependent upon it, but that we may do well without it. Perhaps none of David's psalms breathe a more sublime and spiritual strain of devotion, than those which he wrote in the wilderness : such were the 42d, 63d, and perhaps the 84th. The occasion of his writing the 51st happened at Jerusalem, when he was at the fountain-head of public means. And I think my heart was never more warm and fixed, than during my two last voyages to Africa, though I was engaged in a traffic, which / now see was unlawful and abominable. The word of grace, and the throne of grace, are the two principal means, which can supply the want of all others, when not to be had : but without attending to these, the rest can yield but little solid benefit. I have met with happy, lively believers, who have had no opportunity for hearing the gospel ; and I have met with others, who, like Pharaoh's lean kine, devour a great deal, but do not appear to thrive.

I think, if I was a lawgiver, I would not make •robbery a capital crime ; and therefore I should be unwilling to prosecute for it. Many of our penal

It laws, by being too severe, become too remiss, offenders are so often pardoned, that others are encouraged to offend, in hopes that the prescribed punishment will not be inflicted. The law of God requires murderers to be put to death, and I think there are other crimes, which by their effects might be fatal, that may be forbidden under the same penalty ; such as house-breaking in the night — setting houses on fire, in a street or town — perjury in criminal causes— and perhaps I might add, the stealing of a child, which may be of dreadful consequence both to the child and to the parents, and yet I believe does not expose to worse punishment than the stealing of a dog, But as I have no hand in making laws, nor influence with the legislature, I must be content to take things as I find them. I only give you my sentiments because you desire me. There is a verse in Dr. Watts's little book for children, which offers a good pattern to me who am in my 69th year; —

" I'll not willingly offend,

" Nor be easily offended,

" What's amiss (in myself) I'll try to mend,

" And endure what can't be mended."

These principles I would adopt in my politics, I am thankful that the French were checked in their mad design of fraternizing and plundering all the nations far and near. But had I the rule ef affairs, when I had cooped them up within their own boundaries, I would have left them to fight it out among themselves. But we are sinners also, and therefore what the Lord has permitted to take place, must be, and what he has appointed to follow, must come. My heart aches for the final issue. But as he reigns over all, he can, and he will, make all work for the glory of his name, and in the mean time, he knows how to support, or to protect his own people. " The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him." May we be found as those in Ezek. ix. 4. and his invisible mark will secure us from real harm.

I have not properly more leisure when abroad, than when at home. For besides the time taken up in moving from place to place, and in seeing and being seen, by old and new friends, I have generally a double quantity of letters to answer. But I am willing to shew that I value your correspondence.

I am with dear friends, in a retirement about two miles from Southampton. I believe the situation is not less pleasant than what you have seen in Kent. I preach three or four times a week in my friend's house, to 100 or more people.

I have a letter from Dr. Robbins of Plymouth in Massachusetts, whose name I never heard of before. I wish I could show it you. He gives an account of a sudden revival of religion iu this place, much like that you had from Bala. It began since Christmas last, at a time when every thing seemed dead or declining around him. He has been minister there upwards of thirty years. He writes like a good old soldier. Thus, in different places, the wall of Zion is building up in these troublous times. The Lord has not forsaken the earth, bad as it is.

In London we have abundance of the gospel, and perhaps it never was more clearly and practically preached. But we may lament with you the want of more accompanying power. However, good is done, and perhaps we are as much favoured, in this respect, at St. Mary's, as in most places, and we have the blessing of peace and unanimity — and I can see several persons in the assembly, who I believe would have been judged eminent christians had they lived iu the apostles' days.

I pray the Lord to bless you in all things, and hope we shall have a share in your prayers. I hope to be at home in about three weeks, if nothing unforeseen should require my return sooner. I am

Your affectionate friend and servant, J. N.

LETTER XII. Londos, October 19, 1793

I SHOULD have informed you sooner of the price of the books, had I not called on Mr. J***, and found him just then writing to you. Indeed I am much in your debt for your amusing and instructive communications. I must not say, " have patience with me and I will pay you all." I am nearly an insolvent in correspondence, and fear I shall hardly pay you a composition of two shillings in the pound. Nor do I consider this as any part of payment. I send it to introduce to you Mr. F***, who brought me a letter of introduction from Mr. B***. From the short acquaintance I have had with him, I judge you will like him. I oannot doubt your readiness to do him any good offices in your power — at first for my sake, and afterwards for his own.

We came home safe and well from our late agreeable tour on the 27th ultimo, and found all safe and well at home. I must defer an accaunt of the goodness and mercy which followed us all the days and hours we were abroad, as two gentlemen are come in to breakfast, and perhaps there may be two more by the time I can subscribe myself,

Your affectionate and obliged, t

LETTER XIII. London, December IT, 1793

IF I do not thank you immediately, I shall perhaps have to double my apology. The truth is, that before I can write one letter, I receive two, some of which must be answered directly. So that I am likely always to be sadly behind hand ; and my promptness and agility in despatching business does not increase with my years. I believe I have now more than fifty unanswered by me ; so that if I am more tardy than I could wish in paying what I owe to you, I must beg you to accept the will for the deed.

You thank me for sending Mr. A*** and Mr. F***, and I thank you for the kindness you shewed them at my recommendation. I did not doubt but they would recommend themselves when once introduced. I take the liberty to constitute you my agent at Edinburgh, and shall not scruple to make you more remittances in this way, when in my power. I hope I shall send you none but what will be worth your acceptance. I likewise solicit your agency in return, and shall gladly receive all whom you recommend. My love to Mr. S*** ; I shall be glad to see him again : but he must tell me his name, for I have already lost the idea of his person. I see many people, and my head is more than 68 years old.