Boston, Sept. 23, 1740.
My dear Brother A——,
I Thank you for your letter: May the Lord enable me to send you an answer of peace. Sinless perfection, I think, is unattainable in this life. Shew me a man that could ever justly say, “I am perfect.” It is enough if we can say so, when we bow down our heads and give up the ghost. Indwelling sin remains till death, even in the regenerate, as the article of the church expresses it.—There is no man that liveth and sinneth not in thought, word, and deed: However, to affirm such a thing as perfection, and to deny final perseverance, what an absurdity is this? To be incapable of sinning, and capable of being finally damned, is a contradiction in terms. From such doctrine may I ever turn away! Labour, dear Mr. A. to be holy, even as God is holy; but do not look for complete perfection here below. What is this, but in effect to vacate the righteousness of Christ? I hear many amongst you who begun in the spirit, are now ending in the flesh. Christ hath freely justified them, i. e. entitled them to all his merits, and yet they must do so and so to keep themselves in a justified state. Alas, this is sorry divinity; I have not so learned Christ. No, his gifts and callings are without repentance. Whom he loves, he loves to the end. Work I will, but not to keep myself in a justified state. My Lord hath secured that; but I will work to shew my gratitude for his putting me into a justified state. O that all would study the covenant of grace. Dear Mr. A. I feel that I love you, and I find myself carried out to write in this manner. My Lord blesses me with all spiritual blessings; he causes me to rejoice in his salvation. I pray him to carry on his work in London, and to keep his church from errors; but there must be a sifting as well as a gathering time. It is meet that such offences should come. All shall work together for good to those who are called after God’s purpose: They shall finally be saved. This much comforts, dear Brother A——,
Your affectionate brother in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCXX.
To H. H. in Wales.
Boston, Sept. 24, 1740.
AND is dear Brother H. H. yet alive in body and soul? Blessed be God, who causes those that wait on him to renew their strength. I rejoice in your success: May you mount with wings like eagles, walk and not be weary, run and not be faint! You shall not be taken or hurt, till the appointed hour is come. I hope your conversation was blessed to dear Mr. W. O that the Lord may batter down his free-will, and compel him to own his sovereignty and everlasting love! Some of F—— Lane society, I fear, are running into sad errors; but this happens for our trial, especially mine. Those that before, I suppose, would have plucked out their eyes for me, now I suspect, I shall see very shy, and avoiding me. This is my comfort, the Lord is a never-failing friend; his truth will make its way in spite of all carnal reasoning. O pray for me that I may have the spirit of judgment and a sound mind. My coming to England will try my fidelity to my Master: Nothing but his strength can enable me to hear all contradictions with meekness, and to preach with love his everlasting truths. O that all would study the covenant of grace! The more I look into it, the more is my soul delighted. Dear Brother H. adieu. My dear friend J. S. sits by and cordially salutes you. I hope you have received my letters. I expect to hear from you by dear Brother S. God is working powerfully in America. He fills me with his presence, and causes me to go on my way rejoicing. Grace! grace! I greet all most affectionately, and am, dear Brother H.