and calm the storms that are raised within it. You do well to read good books that are proper for your help, but rather the shortest and plainest, than the more tedious and voluminous, that sometimes entangle a perplexed mind yet more, by grasping many more questions, and answers, and arguments, than is needful: But, above all, still cleave to the incomparable spring of light and divine comfort, the Holy Scriptures, even in despite of all doubts concerning them; and when you find your thoughts in disorder, and at a loss, entertain no dispute with them, by any means, at that time, but rather divert from them to short prayer, or to other thoughts, and sometimes to well chosen company, or the best you can have where you are; and at some other time, when you find yourself in a calmer and serener temper, and upon the vantage ground of a little more confidence in God, then you may resume your reasons against unbelief, yet so as to beware of casting yourself into new disturbance; for when your mind is in a sober temper, there is nothing so suitable to its strongest reason, nothing so wise and noble, as religión; and believe it is so rational, that, as now I am framed, I am afraid that my belief proceeds too much from reason, and is not so divine and spiritual as I would have it; only when I find (as in some measure through the grace of God I do) that it hath some real virtue and influence upon my affections and track of life, I hope there is somewhat of a higher tincture in it; but, in point of reason, I am well assured, that all that I have heard from the wittiest atheists and libertines in the world, is nothing but bold revery and madness, and their whole discourse a heap of folly and ridiculous nonsense: for, what probable account can they give of the wonderful frame of the visible. world, without the supposition of an eternal and infinite power, and wisdom and goodness, that formed it and themselves, and all things in it? And what can they think of the many thousands of martyrs in the first age of Christianity, that endured not simple death, but all the inventions of the most exquisite tortures, for their belief of that most holy faith; which, if the miracles that confirmed it had not persuaded them to, they themselves had been thought the most prodigious miracles of madness in all the world? It is not want of reason on the side of religion that makes fools disbelieve it, but the interest of their brutish lusts and dissolute lives makes them wish it were not true; and there is the vast difference betwixt you and them; they would gladly believe less than they do, and you would also gladly believe more than they do: They are sometimes pained and tormented with apprehensions, that the doctrine of religion is or may be true; and you are perplexed with suggestions to doubt of it, which are to you as unwilling and unwelcome, as these apprehensions of its truth are to them. Believe it, Madam, these different thoughts of yours are not yours, but his that inserts them, and throws them, as fiery darts, into your mind; and they shall assuredly be laid to his charge, and not to yours. Think you, that infinite goodness is ready to take advantage of his poor creatures, and to reject and condeinn those, that, against all the assaults made upon them, desire to keep their heart for him, and to acknowledge him, and to love him, and live to him. He made us, and knows our mould, and, as a father, pities his children, and pities them that fear him for he is their father, and the tenderest and kindest of all fathers; and, as a father pities his child when it is sick, and in the rage and revery of a fever, though it even utter reproachful words against himself, shall not our dearest Father both forgive and pity those thoughts in any child of his, that arise not from any wilful hatred of him, but are kindled in hell within them? And no temptation hath befallen you in this, but that which has been incident to men, and to the best of men; and their heavenly Father hath not only forgiven them, but in due time hath given them an happy issue out of them, and so he will assuredly do to you; in the mean ; time, when these assaults come thickest and violentest upon you, throw yourself down at his footstool, and say, "O! God, Father of mercies, save mne from this hell within me. I acknowledge, I adore, I bless thee, whose throne is in heaven, with thy blessed Son and crucified Jesus, and thy Holy Spirit, and also, though thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee: But I cannot think thou canst hate and reject a poor soul that desires to love thee, and cleave to thee, so long as I can hold by the skirts of thy garment, until thou violently shake me off, which I am confident thou would not do, because thou art love and goodness itself, and thy mercies endure for ever." Thus, or in what other frame your soul shall be carried to vent itself into his bosom, be assured, your words, yea, your silent sighs and breathings, shall not be lost, but shall have a most powerful voice, and ascend into his ear, and shall return to you with messages of peace and love, in due time, and, in the mean time, with secret supports, that you faint not, nor sink in these deeps that threaten to swallow you up. But I have wearied you, instead of refreshing you. I will add no more, but that the poor prayers of one of the unworthiest caitiffs in the world, such as they be, shall not be wanting on your behalf, and he begs a share in yours; for neither you nor any in the world, needs that charity more than he does. Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. LETTER to the Heritors of the Parish of STRATON. Worthy Gentlemen and Friends, BEING informed that it is my duty to present a person fit for the charge of the ministry now vacant with you, I have thought of one, whose integrity and piety I am so fully persuaded of, that I dare confidently recommend him to you as one who, if the hand of God do bind that work upon him amongst you, is likely, through the blessing of the same hand, to be very serviceable to the building up of your souls heavenwards, but is as far from suffering himself to be obtruded, as I am for obtruding any upon you: so that unless you invite him to preach, and after hearing of him, declare your consent and desire towards his embracing of the call, you may be secure from the trouble of hearing any further concerning him, either from himself or me; and if you please to let me know your mind, your reasonable satisfaction shall be to my utmost power endeavoured by, Your affectionate Friend, The person's name is Mr. James Aird; he was minister at Ingram in Northumberland, and is lately removed from thence, and is now at Edinburgh. If you write to him, direct it to be delivered to Hugh Paterson, writer in Edinburgh, near the Cross, on the north side of the street, This, if you please, may be communicated to such of the inhabitants of the parish as you shall think fit. This and the two following Letters were wrote to the Rev. Mr. James Aird, Minister at Torry. Dear Friend, I DID receive your letter, which I would have known to be yours, though it had no other sign but the piety and affectionate kindness expressed in it. I will offer you no apology (nor I hope I need not) for not writing since that; yea, I will confess, that if the surprising and unexpected occasion of the bearer had not drawn it from me, I should hardly for a long time to come have done what I am now doing; and yet still love you, more than they do one an other that interchange letters, even of kindness, as often as the gazettes come forth, and as long as they are too. And now I have begun, I would end just here; for I have nothing to say, nothing of affairs (to be sure) private nor public; and to strike up to discourses of devotion, alas! what is there to be said, but what you sufficiently know, and daily read, and daily think, and, I am confident, daily endeavour to do? And I am beaten back, if I had a great mind to speak of such things, by the sense of so great deficiency in doing those things, that the most ignorant among Christians cannot choose but know. Instead of all fine notions, I fly to Κύειε ἐλέησον, Χειςτὲ ἐλέησον. I think them the great heroes and excellent persons of the world that attain to high degrees of pure contemplation and divine love; but next to those, them, that, in aspiring to that, and falling short of it, fall down into deep humility and self-contempt, and a real desire to be despised and trampled on by all the world. And I believe, that they that sink lowest into that depth, stand nearest to advancement to those other heights for the great King, who is the fountain of that honour, hath given us this character of himself, that he resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Farewell, my dear friend, and be so charitable as sometimes, in your addresses upwards, to remember a poor caitiff, who no day forgets you.. 13th December 1676. R. L. Dear Friend, I TRUST you enjoy that same calmn of mind, touching your present concernment, that I do on your be-` half. I dare not promise to see you at Edinburgh at this time, but it is possible I may. I know you will endeavour to set yourself on as strong a guard as you can, against the assaults you may meet with there from divers well meaning persons, but of weak understandings and strong passions; and will maintain the liberty of your own mind both firmly and meekly. Our business is the study of sincerity and pure intention; and then, certainly, our blessed guide will |