(Same source once more)
(To Miss Rogers, later mrs Davies)
SPIRITUAL DECLENSIONS
Shrewsbury 16 February 1805
I was glad to receive a letter from you, though you complain of bad news. The world consists of a great mixture of things; we cannot therefore expect good news always; and praised be God, all is not bad which we hear. There is much room to fear that the bad tidings of many falls will be heard, because many have been received into the Church without evident signs and proofs that a gracious change ever took place in them. It is therefore to be feared that some event will soon shew them to the world in their true colours.
The children of God themselves have become very lethargic and unguarded, and have grieved and provoked the Lord greatly, therefore they are weak and unstable under temptations. When I consider the .lumbering state of the Church, I wonder that so few shameful falls occur. The infinite goodness of God hath preserved us hitherto, though we were very often deficient in the duty of watchfulness. No doubt it was for His name's sake He led us through many and great dangers, and He will guide us till death. I think, as you have mentioned, that the Lord permits some to fall into open sins, by way of punishment for trifling with secret sins. O that we may hate sin yet more, because it is sin and so odious. If we detest one sin because it is an offence against God, we hate every sin on the same ground; for all sins are alike in their nature against a holy God.
I often apprehend that at the present time the true fear of God is scarce amongst us. The fear of the Lord is a most valuable treasure in the Church: the dread of sin is in its very nature, and a renunciation of it is sure to follow it always. 'The fear of the Lord is clean.' Those that truly fear God, do not allow themselves the things that others are pleased to indulge in. 'But so did not I,' said Nehemiah, 'because of the fear of God.' (Chapter 5.15.) And the true Christian cannot live as the hypocrite, on account of God's fear in his heart. He fears grieving and offending Him, and bringing reproach on His name and cause here in the world. Besides, the man that truly fears the Lord not only takes care that his conduct is becoming before men, but also that his spirit should be in a suitable frame before God. He is not only anxious to fulfil outward duties, but also that his soul should act properly in them. The corruption of his heart distresses him more than all the infirmities of his life; for when his conduct is tolerably fair, the depravity of his soul is then the same; yea, it is with him wherever he goes; and there is no hope of full deliverance till death. This corruption grieves the Christian in two ways:
1 Its inclinations to sinful actions. It is true the merciful Lord keeps believers all their lives from falling into them; yet inclinations to them are a continual source of grief and uneasiness to Christians, and they cannot be perfectly happy and comfortable until their sinful inclinations are entirely destroyed. Praised be God for preventing our evil inclinations from breaking out into deeds, and thanks be to Him for implanting in us a nature and dispositions that are contrary to them! And indeed those holy inclinations which oppose corruption bear through the infinite mercy the sway now, and they shall have full possession of the soul presently. Thanked be the Lord, the morning is drawing near when we shall be free from all corruptions for ever, and come forth as conquerors into the mansions of bliss! Welcome, delightful morning!
2 The sinful attitude, frame, and disposition of our souls towards God is a constant cause of sorrow to us. Our sinful, narrow, or hard thoughts of God; a cold heart towards Him; inability of abiding in His fellowship, are very painful. O that we had more free and elevated thoughts of God, and more warm and tender affections towards Him! And O that our spirits would cleave more to Him in every condition, and would abide longer in communion with Him! O that we had more of His holy, lovely image on us in the world! We shall have it perfect before long.
The way to obtain these inestimable mercies is by communion and intercourse with the blessed Mediator. Saving virtues and effects come from Him to the poor soul that obtains a believing view of Him. If the woman that had the issue of blood was healed in her body by touching the hem of His garment, how much more shall a poor soul be saved and healed through embracing the Saviour by faith! O what influences go out of Him to such! There is an unfathomable ocean of all grace, virtue, and glory in Him. Even the angels of heaven never saw the utmost of them. Yea, saints and angels never can have an insight into the whole of these mysteries. Even a view of Christ has already turned death back. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. The sight of Him will at once make us perfectly whole. He can keep you from falling and present you faultless before the throne. To be faultless! O! infinite wonder! sinful dust faultless! Will it not be wonderful, dear sister, that such as we who are, as it were, oceans of corruption, should become altogether pure! Doubtless He that loved us and washed us should have the praise for ever.
I was glad to receive a letter from you, though you complain of bad news. The world consists of a great mixture of things; we cannot therefore expect good news always; and praised be God, all is not bad which we hear. There is much room to fear that the bad tidings of many falls will be heard, because many have been received into the Church without evident signs and proofs that a gracious change ever took place in them. It is therefore to be feared that some event will soon shew them to the world in their true colours.
The children of God themselves have become very lethargic and unguarded, and have grieved and provoked the Lord greatly, therefore they are weak and unstable under temptations. When I consider the .lumbering state of the Church, I wonder that so few shameful falls occur. The infinite goodness of God hath preserved us hitherto, though we were very often deficient in the duty of watchfulness. No doubt it was for His name's sake He led us through many and great dangers, and He will guide us till death. I think, as you have mentioned, that the Lord permits some to fall into open sins, by way of punishment for trifling with secret sins. O that we may hate sin yet more, because it is sin and so odious. If we detest one sin because it is an offence against God, we hate every sin on the same ground; for all sins are alike in their nature against a holy God.
I often apprehend that at the present time the true fear of God is scarce amongst us. The fear of the Lord is a most valuable treasure in the Church: the dread of sin is in its very nature, and a renunciation of it is sure to follow it always. 'The fear of the Lord is clean.' Those that truly fear God, do not allow themselves the things that others are pleased to indulge in. 'But so did not I,' said Nehemiah, 'because of the fear of God.' (Chapter 5.15.) And the true Christian cannot live as the hypocrite, on account of God's fear in his heart. He fears grieving and offending Him, and bringing reproach on His name and cause here in the world. Besides, the man that truly fears the Lord not only takes care that his conduct is becoming before men, but also that his spirit should be in a suitable frame before God. He is not only anxious to fulfil outward duties, but also that his soul should act properly in them. The corruption of his heart distresses him more than all the infirmities of his life; for when his conduct is tolerably fair, the depravity of his soul is then the same; yea, it is with him wherever he goes; and there is no hope of full deliverance till death. This corruption grieves the Christian in two ways:
1 Its inclinations to sinful actions. It is true the merciful Lord keeps believers all their lives from falling into them; yet inclinations to them are a continual source of grief and uneasiness to Christians, and they cannot be perfectly happy and comfortable until their sinful inclinations are entirely destroyed. Praised be God for preventing our evil inclinations from breaking out into deeds, and thanks be to Him for implanting in us a nature and dispositions that are contrary to them! And indeed those holy inclinations which oppose corruption bear through the infinite mercy the sway now, and they shall have full possession of the soul presently. Thanked be the Lord, the morning is drawing near when we shall be free from all corruptions for ever, and come forth as conquerors into the mansions of bliss! Welcome, delightful morning!
2 The sinful attitude, frame, and disposition of our souls towards God is a constant cause of sorrow to us. Our sinful, narrow, or hard thoughts of God; a cold heart towards Him; inability of abiding in His fellowship, are very painful. O that we had more free and elevated thoughts of God, and more warm and tender affections towards Him! And O that our spirits would cleave more to Him in every condition, and would abide longer in communion with Him! O that we had more of His holy, lovely image on us in the world! We shall have it perfect before long.
The way to obtain these inestimable mercies is by communion and intercourse with the blessed Mediator. Saving virtues and effects come from Him to the poor soul that obtains a believing view of Him. If the woman that had the issue of blood was healed in her body by touching the hem of His garment, how much more shall a poor soul be saved and healed through embracing the Saviour by faith! O what influences go out of Him to such! There is an unfathomable ocean of all grace, virtue, and glory in Him. Even the angels of heaven never saw the utmost of them. Yea, saints and angels never can have an insight into the whole of these mysteries. Even a view of Christ has already turned death back. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. The sight of Him will at once make us perfectly whole. He can keep you from falling and present you faultless before the throne. To be faultless! O! infinite wonder! sinful dust faultless! Will it not be wonderful, dear sister, that such as we who are, as it were, oceans of corruption, should become altogether pure! Doubtless He that loved us and washed us should have the praise for ever.
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