The fourteenth letter of Mr. Hardcastle

To the congregation meeting in Broadmead, Bristol.

9th month, 12th day, 1675

Beloved Friends, - The consideration of your continual sufferings, and great constancy under them, does at once affect me with joy and trouble; but with more joy than trouble, because the Lord gets honor, the gospel advantage, and the Lord is preparing for you an exceeding great reward. Read Matthew 5: 10-12; James 1; 2-4; and I Peter 1: 5-9, and labor to believe these three texts.

I shall now proceed to another character of true faith, and ground it upon Ephesians vi. 16. It is a shield in time of danger, when the darts of the wicked are flying abroad.

I. There are the darts of Satan, the wicked one, which he throws unto the conscience, and which are fiery. Such are his temptations to blasphemy, strange thoughts of God, and dismal conclusions against a man’s self. And these are called fiery, because they are scorching, tormenting, and affrighting. Now this true faith quenches these, as it discovers God to the soul in his purity, majesty, power, justice; and in Jesus Christ, as a God that pardons iniquity, transgressions, and knows that we are but dust, and who has infinitely more bowels of compassion in him than all the men of the world.

II. Again, there are the darts of wicked men, which are the instruments of the wicked one. And these darts are bitter words, base reflections, vile reproaches, lying accusations, cruel mockings, cunning insinuations, violent spoil, &c. And these are called fiery, because there is such red-hot malice in them; because they are managed with such earnestness and violence; and because they are apt, if the saints do not watch, to provoke, and fret, and cause more inflammation of spirit. For so unreasonable and inhuman is their rage, that flesh and blood cannot, will not bear it, unless it be charmed and overruled. Now it is the work of faith to quench these darts, and keep them from setting all on fire, which it does effect,

       1. By persuading the soul that these things are permitted and limited by the Lord, and not a tongue nor hand could move if the Lord did not suffer it; and are purely under his check and government, and can proceed no further than he pleases. He is higher than the highest, and controls the fiercest persecutors as he pleases.

       2. That it is not a sign that God is well pleased with the wicked, or altogether displeased with his people; but is truly angry with what the ungodly do, and truly afflicted in his disciples afflictions and sufferings. He loves his people when they are among the pots: when under the stairs: when in the clefts of the rocks: when tossed, turmoiled, and tormented by the furious assaults of persecutors; and is much delighted and refreshed to behold their faith and patience, courage and constancy.

       3. Faith presents the soul with the view of the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus, the captain of our salvation, who was made perfect by sufferings; how he was mocked, buffeted, spit upon, crowned with thorns, led to judgment and prison, and put to a most shameful, painful, and cursed death. Oh! Says the believing soul, has my Savior suffered so much for me, and shall not I follow him, when he bids me? Oh, blessed reproach for his sake! What an honor has he put upon me, that I should be spoiled, and abused, and imprisoned for his cause! How glorious are these marks of the Lord Jesus! Has the Master need of my colt? (Matthew 21: 2,3,) he shall have it with all my heart. And blessed be his name, that counts me worthy of such a privilege. Oh, sweet and precious cross! Lovely Jesus! What glory did he leave for me, to take my sinful infirm nature upon him! He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, who thought it no robbery to be equal with God. And I, a poor vile wretch, that am made of the same could with the worms, and dust, and have a nature as vile as the vilest, and cannot say that I am worth a crumb of bread, or drop of water, - shall I think it hard to suffer a little loss, to bear a little reproach, to endure a little hardship? The consideration of Christ’s sufferings does wonderfully melt the heart of a true believer, into a rejoicing over his cross, and a readiness and resolution of mind to follow him, through thick and thin, against all opposition and contradiction of sinners; see Hebrews 12: 1-4, and so on to the end of the 13th verse.

       4. Faith sets before the soul the persecutors as a company of dying men, poor creatures that in a very few days will have their bodies in the grave, and their souls in everlasting flames, if the case is not altered with them; the vengeance of God hanging over their heads, ready to bury them in eternal torments every moment. Oh, poor wretches, miserable souls! Pity them, pity them. Their disturbing you will quickly be over, but the wrath of God will for evermore torment them.

       5. True faith gives the soul a clear view of the glory to come, reigning with Christ, that exceeding and eternal, weight of glory, for a few, light, momentary afflictions. The clouds are hastening away, sorrow and mourning fleeing apace, praise waiting for the Lord in Zion, the Lord Jesus at hand, to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward; for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Read over Hebrews 10: 30, to the and of the chapter. Comfort and encourage one another with these words, and pray for

Your fellow-sufferer and truly sympathizing brother,

                                                                                 Thomas Hardcastle