THE privilege of a child is to carry every complaint to its parent, there I hope to carry yours. Burthens, offences, cares, and perplexing entanglements, are appointed as a task for faith to perform, and for the energy of the Spirit of prayer to discover itself in. It is the business of faith to carry matters to God, and the business of prayer to try what interest faith has in him; and when faith and prayer have tried the faithfulness of God and prevailed, then depend upon it God will try faith. Troubles are intended to keep grace in exercise, and the soul from settling upon its lees; and the whole of it is sure to terminate in the honour of God, and our good.
I believe God has laid upon thee a burthen sufficient to try thee, and in his behaviour you will read your former folly, and loathe it, and yourself on the account of it; but I have no doubt but you will grow under it, and find the Lord most precious when the outward cross lies the heaviest. That trouble is sure to be a friend that makes us pray, and we are sure to have the most profit by those troubles that imbitter earthly vanities to us. All trials are intended to drive us from the creature to God, and this wicked world is a hell where there is no God to be enjoyed by the sinner. Let me have communion with God, and I can bear every thing, but when this is lost, I can take no pleasure in neither wife nor child.
Happy, yea, eternally happy, is that soul that has got the God of Jacob for its refuge. It is but to receive a burthen from the creature, and carry it to the Creator, while he displays his tender care and fatherly love in taking it off. All is intended to carry on the sweet and heavenly intercourse, and to wean the soul from earthly enjoyments, and endear the God of Israel to the soul. God is jealous of his own glory, and jealous of his spouse's affections; this I can feel in my own soul, and I find a deal of tenderness toward the honour of God; for I can find my soul sensibly touched if any body comes and gives any honour to me, after I have delivered a discourse with some degree of comfort. I hope God will give thee patience to bear what may fall to thy share, and lead thee to see that there is a needs be for all these things. We shall have no more of them than are appointed in the eternal decree, and when this transient life is ended, we shall have something to look back upon and say, "He hath done all things well; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." Oh I how has my soul longed to be there. But I must wait mine appointed time till my change come. Dear Friend, adieu!
Thy willing servant and affectionate Pastor,
W. H.
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