Here the apostle comforts them under their afflic- nurture of the holy Spirit has produced such a tion for their deceased brethren, exhorting them plentiful harvest of immortal bliss, was as a grain 'Not to sorrow as without hope;' and what is the hope by which he teaches them to support their spirits? Even this, 'That them which sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him.' In other words, and by a fair paraphrase surely, telling them that they are only taken from them for a season, and that they should receive them at their resurrection. If you can take off the force of these texts, my dear cousin, you will go a great way towards imperfect estimate either of our weakness or our shaking my opinion; if not, I think they must go a great way towards shaking yours. of mustard seed, small in itself, promising but little fruit, and producing less? To recollect the various attempts that were made upon it, by the word, the flesh, and the devil, and its various triumphs over all, by the assistance of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ? At present, whatever our convictions may be of the sinfulness and corruption of our nature, we can make but a very The reason why I did not send you my opinion of Pearsall was, because I had not then read him; I have read him since, and like him much, especially the latter part of him; but you have whetted my curiosity to see the last letter by tearing it out: unless you can give me a good reason why I should not see it, I shall inquire for the book the first time I go to Cambridge. Perhaps I may be partial to Hervey for the sake of his other writings; but I can not give Pearsall the preference to him, for 1 think him one of the most scriptural writers in the world. Yours, W. C. TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, April 18, 1766. HAVING gone as far as I thought needful to justify the opinion of our meeting and knowing each other hereafter, I find, upon reflection, that I have done but half my business, and that one of the questions you proposed, remains entirely unconsidered, viz. 'Whether the things of our present state will not be of too low and mean a nature to engage our thoughts, or make a part of our communications in heaven.' guilt. Then, no doubt, we shall understand the full value of the wonderful salvation wrought out for us: and it seems reasonable to suppose, that, in order to form a just idea of our redemption, we shall be able to form a just one of the danger we have escaped; when we know how weak and frail we were, surely we shall be more able to render due praise and honour to his strength who fought for us; when we know completely the hatefulness of sin in the sight of God, and how deeply we were tainted by it, we shall know how to value the blood by which we were cleansed as we ought. The twenty-four elders, in the fifth of the Revelations, give glory to God for their redemption out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. This surely implies a retrospect to their respective conditions upon earth, and that each remembered out of what particular kindred and nation he had been redeemed; and if so, then surely the minutest circumstance of their redemption did not escape their memory. They who triumph over the beast, in the fifteenth chapter, sing the song of Moses, the servant of God; and what was that song? A sublime record of Israel's deliverance, and the destruction of her enemies in the Red Sea, typical no doubt of the song which the redeemed in Sion shall sing to celebrate their own salvation, and the defeat of their spiritual enemies. The common and ordinary occurrences of life, This, again, implies a recollection of the dangers no doubt, and even the ties of kindred, and of all they had before encountered, and the supplies of temporal interests, will be entirely discarded from strength and ardour they had in every emergency amongst that happy society; and possibly even the received from the great deliverer out of all. These remembrance of them done away. But it does quotations do not indeed prove that their warfare not therefore follow that our spiritual concerns, upon earth includes a part of their converse with even in this life, will be forgotten; neither do I each other; but they prove that it is a theme not think that they can ever appear trifling to us in any the most distant period of eternity. God, as you say in reference to the scripture, will be all in all. But does not that expression mean, that being But you doubt whether there is any communiadmitted to so near an approach to our heavenly cation between the blessed at all; neither do I reFather and Redeemer, our whole nature, the soul collect any scripture that proves it, or that bears and all its faculties, will be employed in praising any relation to the subject. But reason seems to and adoring him? Doubtless however this will require it so peremptorily, that a society without be the case; and if so, will it not furnish out a social intercourse seems to be a solecism, and a glorious theme of thanksgiving, to recollect 'The contradiction in terms; and the inhabitants of rock whence we were hewn, and the hole of the those regions are called, you know, an innumerasit whence we were digged?' To recollect the ble company, and an assembly, which seems to ime when our faith, which under the tuition and convey the idea of society as clearly as the word unworthy to be heard even before the throne of God, and therefore it can not be unfit for reciprocal communication. over all our present connexions. For my own part, this life is such a momentary thing, and all its interests have so shrunk in my estimation, since by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ I became itself. Human testimony weighs but little in matters of this sort, but let it have all the weight it can: I know no greater names in divinity than Watts and Doddridge; they were both of this opinion, and I send you the words of the latter:-attentive to the things of another, that, like a 'Our companions in glory may probably assist us by their wise and good observations, when we come to make the providence of God, here upon earth, under the guidance and direction of our Lord Jesus Christ, the subject of our mutual converse.' worm in the bud of all my friendships and affections, this very thought would eat out the heart of them all, had I a thousand; and were their date to terminate with this life, I think I should have no inclination to cultivate and improve such a fugitive business. Yet friendship is necessary to Thus, my dear cousin, I have spread out my our happiness here; and built upon christian prinreasons before you for an opinion which, whether ciples, upon which only it can stand, is a thing admitted or denied, affects not the state or interest even of religious sanction-for what is that love of our soul. May our Creator, Redeemer, and which the Holy Spirit, speaking by St. John, so Sanctifier, conduct us into his own Jerusalem; much inculcates, but friendship? the only love where there shall be no night, neither any dark-which deserves the name; a love which can toil, ness at all; where we shall be free even from in- and watch, and deny itself, and go to death for its nocent error, and perfect in the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. brother. Worldly friendships are a poor weed compared with this: and even this union of spirit in the bond of peace would suffer, in my mind at least, could I think it were only coeval with our earthly mansions. It may possibly argue great weakness in me, in this instance, to stand so much in need of future hopes to support me in the discharge of present duty. But so it is-I am far, I know, very far from being perfect in christian love, or any other divine attainment, and am therefore unwilling to forego whatever may help me in my progress. It is reckoned, you know, a great achievement to silence an opponent in disputation; and your silence was of so long a continuance, that I might well begin to please myself with the apprehension You are so kind as to inquire after my health, of having accomplished so arduous a matter. To for which reason I must tell you, what otherwise be serious, however, I am not sorry that what I would not be worth mentioning, that I have lately have said concerning our knowledge of each other been just enough indisposed to convince me that in a future state has a little inclined you to the not only human life in general, but mine in partiaffirmative. For though the redeemed of the Lord cular, hangs by a slender thread. I am stout shall be sure of being as happy in that state as in- enough in appearance, yet a little illness demolishfinite power, employed by infinite goodness, can es me. I have had a severe shake, and the buildmake them; and therefore it may seem immaterial ing is not so firm as it was. But I bless God for whether we shall or shall not, recollect each other it with all my heart. If the inner man be but hereafter, yet our present happiness at least is a strengthened day by day, as, I hope, under the little interested in the question. A parent, a friend, renewing influences of the Holy Ghost it will be, a wife, must needs, I think, feel a little heartache, no matter how soon the outward is dissolved. He at the thought of an eternal separation from the who has in a manner raised me from the dead, in objects of her regard; and not to know them when a literal sense, has given me the grace, I trust, to she meets them in another life, or never to meet be ready at the shortest notice to surrender up to them at all, amounts, though not altogether, yet him that life which I have twice received from him. nearly to the same thing. Remember them I think Whether I live or die, I desire it may be to His she needs must. To hear that they are happy, glory, and it must be to my happiness.-I thank will indeed be no small addition to her own felicity; God that I have those amongst my kindred to but to see them so will surely be a greater. Thus whom I can write without reserve my sentiments at least it appears to our present human apprehen- upon this subject, as I do to you. A letter upon sion; consequently, therefore, to think that when any other subject is more insipid to me than ever we leave them, we lose them for ever, that we my task was when a schoolboy; and I say not this must remain eternally ignorant whether they, that in vain glory, God forbid! but to show you what were flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone, par- the Almighty, whose name I am unworthy to mentake with us of celestial glory, or are disinherited tion, has done for me, the chief of sinners. Once of their heavenly portion, must shed a dismal gloom he was a terror to me, and his service, Oh what a weariness it was! Now I can say I love him, and have something very like a filial one for her, and his holy name, and I am never so happy as when I her son and I are brothers. Blessed be the God speak of his mercies to me. of our salvation for such companions, and for such Yours, dear cousin, W. C. a life; above all, for a heart to like it. TO MRS. COWPER. I have had many anxious thoughts about taking orders, and I believe every new convert is apt to think himself called upon for that purpose; but i has pleased God, by means which there is no neeċi MY DEAR COUSIN, Huntingdon, Oct. 20, 1766. to particularize, to give me full satisfaction as to I AM very sorry for poor Charles's illness, and the propriety of declining it; indeed they who hope you will soon have cause to thank God have the least idea of what I have suffered from for his complete recovery. We have an epidemical the dread of public exhibitions, will readily excuse fever in this country likewise, which leaves behind my never attempting them hereafter. In the it a continual sighing, almost to suffocation; not meantime, if it please the Almighty, I may be an that I have seen any instance of it, for, blessed be God! our family have hitherto escaped it, but such was the account I heard of it this morning. instrument of turning many to the truth in a private way, and I hope that my endeavours in this way have not been entirely unsuccessful. Had I the zeal of Moses, I should want an Aaron to be my spokesman. Yours ever, my dear cousin, W. C. TO MRS. COWPER. I am obliged to you for the interest you take in my welfare, and for your inquiring so particularly after the manner in which my time passes here. As to amusements, I mean what the world calls such, we have none; the place indeed swarms with them, and cards and dancing are the professed business of almost all the gentle inhabitants of Huntingdon. We refuse to take part in them, or to be accessaries MY DEAR COUSIN, March 11, 1767. to this way of murdering our time, and by so doing To find those whom I love, clearly and strongly have acquired the name of Methodists. Having persuaded of evangelical truth, gives me a pleasure told you how we do not spend our time, I will next superior to any thing that this world can afford say how we do. We breakfast commonly between me. Judge then, whether your letter, in which eight and nine; till eleven, we read either the the body and substance of a saving faith is so eviScripture, or the sermons of some faithful preach-dently set forth, could meet with a lukewarm reer of those holy mysteries; at eleven we attend Di- ception at my hands, or be entertained with indifvine Service, which is performed here twice every ference! Would you know the true reason of my day; and from twelve to three we separate and long silence? Conscious that my religious prinamuse ourselves as we please. During that inter- ciples are generally excepted against, and that the val I either read in my own apartment, or walk, or conduct they produce, wherever they are heartily ride, or work in the garden. We seldom sit an maintained, is still more the object of disapprobahour after dinner, but if the weather permits ad- tion than those principles themselves; and rememjourn to the garden, where with Mrs. Unwin and bering that I had made both the one and the other her son I have generally the pleasure of religious known to you, without having any clear assurance conversation till tea-time. If it rains, or is too that our faith in Jesus was of the same stamp and windy for walking, we either converse within doors, character; I could not help thinking it possible that or sing some hymns of Martin's collection, and by you might disapprove both my sentiments and practhe help of Mrs. Unwin's harpsichord make up a tice; that you might think the one unsupported by tolerable concert, in which our hearts, I hope, are Scripture, and the other whimsical, and unnecesthe best and most musical performers. After tea sarily strict and rigorous, and consequently would we sally forth to walk in good earnest. Mrs. Un-be rather pleased with the suspension of a correswin is a good walker, and we have generally tra- pondence, which a different way of thinking upon velled about four miles before we see home again. so momentous a subject as that we wrote upon, was When the days are short, we make this excursion likely to render tedious and irksome to you. in the former part of the day, between church-time I have told you the truth from my heart; forgive and dinner. At night we read and converse, as me these injurious suspicions, and never imagine before, till supper, and commonly finish the evening that I shall hear from you upon this delightful either with hymns or a sermon, and last of all the theme without a real joy, or without prayer to God family are called to prayers. I need not tell you to prosper you in the way of his truth, his sanctithat such a life as this is consistent with the utmost fying and saving truth. The book you mention cheerfulness; accordingly we are all happy, and lies now upon my table. Marshal is an old acdwell together in unity as brethren. Mrs. Un- quaintance of mine: I have both read him and win has almost a maternal affection for me, and I heard him read with pleasure and edification. The doctrines he maintains are, under the influence of| I think Marshal one of the best writers, and the the spirit of Christ, the very life of my soul, and most spiritual expositor of Scripture, I ever read. the soul of all my happiness: that Jesus is a pre- I admire the strength of his argument, and the sent Saviour from the guilt of sin by his most pre- clearness of his reasonings, upon those parts of our cious blood, and from the power of it by his spirit; most holy religion which are generally least underthat, corrupt and wretched in ourselves, in him, stood, even by real christians, as masterpieces of and in him only, we are complete; that being the kind. His section upon the union of the soul united to Jesus by a lively faith, we have a solid with Christ is an instance of what I mean, in and eternal interest in his obedience and sufferings, which he has spoken of a most mysterious truth to justify us before the face of our heavenly Father; with admirable perspicuity, and with great good and that all this inestimable treasure, the earnest sense, making it all the while subservient to his of which is in grace, and its consummation in glo- main purport of proving holiness to be the fruit and ry, is given, freely given to us of God; in short, effect of faith. that he hath opened the kingdom of Heaven to all believers. These are the truths which, by the grace of God, shall ever be dearer to me than life itself; shall ever be placed next my heart, as the inference, than expressed it as I ought to have throne whercon the Saviour himself shall sit, to sway all its motions, and reduce that world of iniquity and rebellion to a state of filial and affectionate obedience to the will of the most Holy. These, my dear cousin, are the truths, to which by nature we are enemies-they debase the sinner,| and exalt the Saviour, to a degree which the pride of our hearts (till Almighty grace subdues them) is determined never to allow. May the Almighty reved his Son in our hearts continually more and mote, and teach us to increase in love towards him continually, for having given us the unspeakable riches of Christ! Yours faithfully, W. C. TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, I subjoin thus much upon that author, because, though you desired my opinion of him, I remember that in my last I rather left you to find it out by done. I never met with a man who understood TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, Huntingdon, April 3, 1767. You sent my friend Unwin home to us charmed with your kind reception of him, and with every thing he saw at the Park. Shall I once more give you a peep into my vile and deceitful heart? What motive do you think lay at the bottom of my conduct when I desired him to call upon you? I did not suspect at first that pride and vain glory had any share in it; but quickly after I had recommended the visit to him, I discovered in that fruitMarch 14, 1767. ful soil the very root of the matter. You know I I JUST add a line by way of Postscript to my am a stranger here; all such are suspected characlast, to apprise you of the arrival of a very dear ters, unless they bring their credentials with them. friend of mine at the Park on Friday next, the son To this moment, I believe, it is matter of speculaof Mr. Unwin, whom I have desired to call on tion in the place, whence I came, and to whom I you, in his way from London to Huntingdon. If belong. you knew him as well as I do, you would love him Though my friend, you may suppose, before I as much. But I leave the young man to speak for was admitted an inmate here, was satisfied that I himself, which he is very able to do. He is ready was not a mere vagabond, and has since that time possessed of an answer to every question you can received more convincing proofs of my sponsibility, possibly ask concerning me, and knows my whole yet I could not resist the opportunity of furnishing story from first to last. I give you this previous him with ocular demonstration of it, by introducing notice, because I know you are not fond of strange faces, and because I thought it would in some degree save him the pain of announcing himself. him to one of my most splendid connexions; that when he hears me called "That fellow Couper," which has happened heretofore, he may be able, I am become a great florist, and shrub doctor. upon unquestionable evidence, to assert my genIf the major can make up a small packet of seeds tlemanhood, and relieve me from the weight of that that will make a figure in a garden, where we opprobrious appellation. Oh pride! pride! it dehave little else besides jessamine and honey-suckle; ceives with the subtlety of a serpent, and seems to such a packet I mean as may be put in one's fob, walk erect, though it crawls upon the earth. How I will promise to take great care of them, as I will it twist and twine itself about, to get from ought to value natives of the Park. They must under the cross, which it is the glory of our Chrisnot be such however as require great skill in the tian calling to be able to bear with patience and tnanagement, for at present I have no skill to good will. They who can guess at the heart of a pare. stranger, and you especially, who are of a com DEAR JOE, TO JOSEPH HILL, ESQ. W. C. Huntingdon, July 16, 1767. YOUR wishes that the newspapers may have misinformed you are vain. Mr. Unwin is dead, and died in the manner there mentioned. At nine o'clock on Sunday morning he was in perfect health, and as likely to live twenty years as either of us, and before ten was stretched speechless and senseless upon a flock bed, in a poor cottage, where passionate temper, will be more ready, perhaps, to to assist us with his inquiries. It is probable we excuse me, in this instance, than I can be to ex- shall stay here till Michaelmas. cuse myself. But in good truth, it was abominable pride of heart, indignation, and vanity, and deserves no better name. How should such a creature be admitted into those pure and sinless mansions, where nothing shall enter that defileth, did not the blood of Christ, applied by the hand of faith, take away the guilt of sin, and leave no spot or stain benind it? Oh what continual need have I of an almighty, all-sufficient Saviour! I am glad you are acquainted so particularly with all the circumstances of my story, for I know that your secrecy and discretion may be trusted with any thing. A thread of mercy ran through all the intricate maze of those afflictive providences, (it being impossible to remove him) he died on so mysterious to myself at the time, and which Thursday evening. I heard his dying groans, must ever remain so to all, who will not see what the effect of great agony, for he was a strong man, was the great design of them; at the judgment- and much convulsed in his last moments. The seat of Christ the whole shall be laid open. How few short intervals of sense that were indulged him is the rod of iron changed into a sceptre of love! he spent in earnest prayer, and in expressions of a I thank you for the seeds: I have committed firm trust and confidence in the only Saviour. T some of each sort to the ground, whence they will that strong hold we must all resort at last, if w soon spring up like so many mementos to remind would have hope in our death: when every other me of my friends at the Park. W. C. refuge fails, we are glad to fly to the only shelter, to which we can repair to any purpose; and happy is it for us when, the false ground we have chosen for ourselves being broken under us, we find ourselves obliged to have recourse to the rock which can never be shaken; when this is our lot, we receive great and undeserved mercy. TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, Our society will not break up, but we shall THE newspaper has told you the truth. Poor Mr. Urwin being flung from his horse, as he was settle in some other place; where, is at present going to his church on Sunday morning, received uncertain.* DEAR JOE, Yours, W. C. TO JOSEPH HILL, ESQ. Olney, June 16, 1768. a dreadful fracture on the back part of the scull, under which he languished till Thursday evening, and then died. This awful dispensation has left an impression upon our spirits, which will not presently be worn off. He died in a poor cottage, to which he was carried immediately after his fall,| I THANK you for so full an answer to so empty about a mile from home; and his body could not an epistle. If Olney furnished any thing for your be brought to his house, till the spirit was gone to amusement, you should have it in return; but him who gave it. May it be a lesson to us to occurrences here are as scarce as cucumbers at watch, since we know not the day nor the hour Christmas. when our Lord cometh! I visited St. Alban's about a fortnight since in The effect of it upon my circumstances will person, and I visit it every day in thought. The only be a change of the place of my abode. For I recollection of what passed there, and the conseshall still, by God's leave, continue with Mrs. quences that followed it, fill my mind continuUnwin, whose behaviour to me has always been ally, and make the circumstances of a poor tranthat of a mother to a son. We know not yet sient half-spent life so insipid and unaffecting, where we shall settle, but we trust that the Lord, that I have no heart to think or write much about whom we seek, will go before us, and prepare a them. Whether the nation is worshipping Mr. rest for us. We have employed our friend Haweis, Wilkes or any other idol, is of little moment to Dr. Conyers of Helmsley in Yorkshire, and Mr., one who hopes and believes that he shall shortly Newton of Olney, to look out a place for us, but at present are entirely ignorant under which of the On the fourteenth of October following, the Society was three we shall settle, or whether under either. I settled in the town of Olney in Buckinghamshire, of which have written to my aunt Madan, to desire Martin the Rev. Mr. Newton was curate. |