[♦] “appeared” replaced with “appears” per Errata
[♠] “could” replaced with “can” per Errata
Brethren, I speak with plainness and simplicity. When our Lord and Master was in the world, he was so far from desiring the riches, honours, or pleasures of it, that he was indeed the poorest and most despised among men; entirely spending all the days of his humiliation, in procuring our salvation. And ’tis he that tells us, Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. We therefore ought to be so many shining lights, by our hearty denial of all the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world; and by employing our lives entirely, in the assistance of our neighbours. But, if, on the contrary, we seek worldly things, then we depart from our glorious pattern; neither is there any thing that doth more effectually deprive us of the blessing of God upon our calling. For sure it is, the more we are concerned for honour, profit, or ease, the less shall we be concerned to promote the good of our neighbour. And as long as our minds are not wholly conformable to the mind of our great Shepherd, it is impossible he should be well pleased with us; for he trieth the hearts and reins. On the contrary, did we desire nothing in the world, we should not fear it.
*Did we duly consider, that there is a day before us, when we must give account to the great Bishop of our souls, whether, according to his example, we have had nothing else in our eye but the salvation of mankind; should we not apply ourselves to our duty with another kind of fervour than we have hitherto done? Should we not more effectually clear ourselves from all suspicion of either fearing or desiring any thing in this world? Should we not be more earnest to admonish every one in particular? Should we not wrestle more in our prayers for them? Should we not, as soon as any good desire appeared in any, more readily lend him our helping hand, that the spark of grace might be blown up into a flame? Should not our outward conversation be more holy, and consequently more edifying? Verily, my brethren, I fear we have reason to be ashamed, when we read what one saith, “A Christian ought to be so enkindled and all-flaming with divine love, and, both inwardly and outwardly, so conformable to God, that whenever any one came to him, he might hear nothing from him but God: and his heart and mind ought to be fixed on him by burning love, and so be ready in all things faithfully to obey his will, that such as visited him, though with cold and lukewarm hearts, might be heated, and set on fire by him: as we see cold and dead coals are kindled, when they are put to glowing ones.”
I have opened my mouth, my brethren, and addrest you with the simplicity of a child, and am very willing to appear mean in your eyes; only despise not the truth, which is not mine, but my Lord’s and Saviour’s. I am not ashamed to acknowledge, that I count not myself to have apprehended, or to be already perfect. But this I say, (my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, which also the righteous Judge will testify for me at the great day) that since I have found grace in the eyes of my Lord to perceive my own misery, and the narrow way to escape from it, all my thoughts and endeavours have been bent, in the faithfulness of my heart, to continue therein, to pursue it more eagerly day by day, and, as far as possible, to direct all men to it. I neither despise nor envy any of you that are of the same function with me. Nay, I know many among you to whom I think myself unworthy to do the meanest service. But I know many likewise, whose conversation is not at all conformable to the pattern Christ hath set us. And for these I heartily pray, that God would shew them the things that belong to their everlasting peace. Neither is my heart in the least incensed against them that most unjustly slander and reproach me: but I compassionate them, since we must all one day appear before the same judge. For my part, I cannot call black white; nor take him for a follower of Christ, and a pattern of his flock, in whom I find nothing of the mind that was in Christ.
If any thing hath been vouchsafed to me, it is this, (wherein I heartily rejoice) that I have been made, tho’ in a very low degree, partaker of the sufferings of Christ. And it is the greatest comfort to me, that the men of this world speak all manner of evil of me falsly, loading me with censures and accusations, the groundlessness whereof the Lord will discover at that day.
*Let us all, my brethren, think of this great day, and so even our accounts against it, that we may then appear with joy and confidence: let us cast away all care, but this only. Let us drop all unprofitable contest; and, with united hands, carry on the work of the Lord, being heartily glad to see his glory advanced, be it by ourselves or others. And I beseech God, from the bottom of my heart, to influence you all with a rich measure of his holy Spirit, to sanctify you to himself, and to pour his transcendent blessing upon all your planting and watering. The spirit of love and of truth keep all your hearts, and lead them into the fellowship of Jesus Christ, who alone is able to give that true peace, which the world cannot give.
August. Herm. Franck.
October 26, 1731.