Vol 16 - TO THE PARISHIONERS OF KILMACOLME.

TO THE PARISHIONERS OF KILMACOLME
Worthy and well-beloved in CHRIST JESUS our LORD,
GR ACE, mercy, and peace be to you! Your letters could not come to my hand in a greater throng of business than I am now pressed with; yet I cannot but answer both.
1. I would not have you fix upon me, as the man able by letters to answer' doubts of this kind, while there are, in your bounds, men of such great parts, most able for this work. I know the best are unable; yet it pleases the SPIRIT of JESUS to blow his sweet wind through a dry stick. that the empty reed may keep no glory to itself.
2. Know that the wind of this SPIRIT, has a time when it bloweth sharp, and presseth so strongly, that it would blow through an iron door: and this is commonly rather under suffering for CHRIST, than at any other time. Sick children get CHRIST'S pleasant things; because JESUS is most tender of the sufferer, for he was a sufferer himself. O, if I had but the leavings of a sufferer's table!—But I leave this to answer yours.
First, Ye write, that Go n's vows are lying on you, and security stealing on you who are weak.—I answer, 1. Nature is a sluggard, and loves not the labor of religion; therefore rest should not be taken, till we know the disease to be over: and the calms of faith, of victory over corruption, should be entertained in the place of security; so that, if I sleep, I would desire to sleep faith's sleep, in CHRIST'S bosom. 2. Know also, none that sleep sound can seriously complain of sleepiness. Sorrow for a slumbering soul is a token of some watchfulness of spirit. But this is soon turned into wantonness; therefore our waking must be watched over, else sleep will even grow, out of watching; and there is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch over sin. Full men will soon sleep, and sooner than hungry men. 3. For your weakness to keep off the security which stealeth upon you, I would say two things:-(l.) To want complaints of weakness, is for Heaven, and Angels that never sinned; not for Christians in CHRIST'S camp on earth. No man should rejoice at weakness and diseases; but I think we may have a sort of gladness at boils and sores, because, without them, CHRIST's fingers, as a slain LORD, should never have touched our skin. I dare not thank myself, but I dare thank GOD’s depths of wise providence, that I have an errand in me for CHRIST to come and visit me, and bring with him his bain. O how sweet is it for a sinner to put his weakness in CHRIST'S strengthening hand; and to father a sick soul upon such a Physician; and to lay weakness before him, to weep upon him, and to plead and pray! Weakness can speak and cry when we have not a tongue; (Ezekiel 16:6;) " And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee, when you wast in thy blood, Live." The Church could not speak one word to CHRIST then;-but blood and guiltiness spoke, and drew out of CHRIST pity, and a word of life and love.(2.) For weakness, we have it, - that we may employ CHRIST's strength because of our weakness. Weakness is to make us the strongest things; that is, when having no strength of our own, we are carried upon CHRIST'S shoulders. If our weakness swell up to the clouds, CHRIST'S strength will swell up to the sun, and above the heaven of heavens.
Secondly, Ye tell me, that there is need of counsel for strengthening new beginners. I can say little to that, who am not well begun myself; but I know, honest beginnings are nourished by Him, who never yet put out a poor man's dim candle, wrestling between light and darkness. I am sure, if new beginners would urge themselves upon CHRIST, and press their souls upon him, they could not come wrong to CHRIST.
Thirdly, Whereas ye complain of a dead ministry, re-member that the Bible among you is the contract of marriage; and the manner of CHRIST's conveying his love to your heart is not so absolutely dependent upon. even lively preaching, as that there is no conversion at all, no life of GOD, but that which is tied to a man's lips. Make CHRIST your Minister. He can woo a soul at a dike-side in the field. He needeth not us, although the flock be obliged to seek him in the shepherds' tents. Hunger of CHRIST'S making may thrive, even under stewards who mind not the feeding of the flock. O blessed soul, that can leap over man, and look above a pulpit to CHRIST, who can preach home, to the heart, although we were all dead and rotten.
Fourthly, So to complain of yourself, as to justify GOD, is right; providing ye justify his SPIRIT in yourself: but I advise you to speak good of CHRIST for his beauty and sweetness, and speak good of him for his grace to yourselves.
Fifthly, Light remaineth, ye say, but ye cannot attain to painfulness. While we are here, light is in the most part broader and longer than obedience. But if there be sorrow for coming short of performance, our honest sorrow and sincere aims, together with CHRIST'S intercession, pleading that Go]) would welcome that which we have, and forgive that which we have not, will not be in vain.
Sixthly, In CHRIST'S absence, there is (as ye write) a willingness to use means, but heaviness after the use of " them, because of the formal and slight performance. In CHRIST'S absence, I confess, the work lieth behind; but if ye mean absence of [abounding] comfort, I think that absence is CHRIST'S trying us, not simply our sin against him: But if ye mean, by absence of CHRIST, the with-drawing of his working grace, I see not how willingness to use means can be at all under such an absence. There-fore, be humbled for heaviness in that obedience, and thankful for willingness. I also recommend to you heaviness for formality, and for deadness in obedience: Be cast down, as much as ye will or can, for deadness; and challenge that slow and dull carcass of sin, that will neither lead nor drive in your spiritual obedience.
Seventhly, Ye hold, that CHRIST must either have hearty service, or no service at all. If ye mean, he will not halve a heart, or have feigned service, I grant you that. CHRIST must have honesty or nothing: But if ye mean that he will have no service at all, where the heart draweth back in any measure; I would not that were true, for my part of heaven, and all that I am worth in the world. If ye mind to walk to heaven without a cramp or a crook, I fear ye must go alone. He knows our dross and defects; and JESUS pitieth us, when weakness and deadness are our cross, and not our darling. Yet I judge it not unlawful, to seek renewed consolations: Provided, 1. That the heart be submissive, and content to leave the measure and timing of them to him:2: That they be sought to excite us to praise, and strengthen our assurance, and sharpen our desires after himself:3. That they be sought, not for our humors or the swelling of nature, but as an -earnest of heaven. And, I think, many attain to greater consolations after mortifications, than ever they had formerly. But I know our LORD walks here still by a sovereign latitude, and keepeth not the same way towards all his children. The rich grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all.
Yours in his sweet LORD JESUS,
S. R.