Fifteenth letter of Mr. Hardcastle

To the members and auditors of the congregation meeting in Broadmead, Bristol

Dearly Beloved Friends, - I am through the Lord’s good providence treating with you about faith. The next step I take I am much induced it should be on that ground, Galatians 2: 20; Hebrews 10: 38, “The just shall live by his faith.”

It is a very troublesome, distracting, distressing, and perplexed life that we live. Is there not a cause why? We live by sense and reason, by sight and foresight, and make little use of faith; see I Peter 1: 5-9. Faith sees somewhat to rejoice in, when all things appear dark and dismal to sense. The less of happiness and comfort any man places in these outward things, the more happy is he. He lives in danger of being broken every day, who has most of his treasure in a worldly bottom. It will be your interest and wisdom to make a speedy removal of all your outward concerns, into the care and keeping of Jesus Christ by faith; lodge your souls in Christ’s complete righteousness, and all your outward concerns in the all-wise providence of your heavenly Father, and then you will live happily, when you thus come to live upon your faith.

I profess to you, my sense of things, and the circumstances we are under, put me out of my accustomed method. I do plainly tell you, that a great many of Job’s messengers are upon the way, coming fast, one after another; and scarce a day will pass over your heads, wherein you will not hear of some saddening news or other, either at home or abroad, public or private, relational or personal, about saints or sinners, from men’s injustices or God’s just displeasure, respecting the souls or bodies of men, disappointments or losses, deaths of one kind or another; but if we can by faith get above the world, then we shall be able to frown at her smiles, and smile at her frowns; to endure her crosses, and despise her flatteries.

Can you believe at last that the world does not love you? Men hate you irreconcilably and mortally. Consider well our Savior’s last words, and among the rest, John 15: 18-21. You cannot possible be safe but by trusting God purely, and living upon him solely. We have sickly souls, sickly churches, and a sickly state; sin lies at the bottom of all. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin; and this blood is applied by a lively faith. But is there no good news? Pray tell us something that may be good tidings to us. There is a great deal that is very good and very true, but you give not that regard to it which you ought.

First. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came unto the world to save sinners. You know where to read this news. He who is saved from sin cannot be hurt by anything else. God is his father, who is so good, he will do him no harm; and so just, he will do him no wrong.

Secondly. It is good news, that a sincere desire is accepted with God where there cannot be a suitable and specious performance. The best do but little for God, the weakest can desire much; he gives God the best he has, and heartily wishes it were infinitely better, need not fear evil tidings. The widow’s two mites are remarked in scripture, because she gave her all, above the sums of the wealthy, who gave out of their abundance, and yet kept abundance. The poor woman in the gospel, talking within herself, is taken notice of by our Savior for our encouragement to earnest, fervent wishes, breathings, and longs after Christ, and more enjoyment of him. Your devices may be as large as the ocean, when your doings may be but as a drop.

Thirdly. It is glad tidings when you read, Philippians 1: 6. When Jesus Christ has once taken a soul into his covenant and love, he will never reject it or cast it off. And there is a double ground of it, for he is,

       1. Omniscient, and knows what will be, and how we shall prove, which because men cannot, therefore they change their minds many times.

       2. The power of his pardon is great, and he can pass by transgressions. He can make mountains plain before him; but weakness in men causes changeableness in them.

Fourthly. It is welcome news that nothing that calls out can hurt a believer. All things work together for his good; that which we think worst is best, and the worse the better.

Fifthly. Lastly, that the Lord will save his people with a notwithstanding – How is this?

       1. Notwithstanding their own unworthiness, imperfections, backslidings, and unfitness for mercies.

       2. Notwithstanding their fears, faintings, despondencies, unbelief, and positive conclusions against themselves; their hopes, and the return of mercy.

       3. Notwithstanding all the improbabilities, and growing oppositions and obstructions that seem to lie in the way of their peach and deliverance.

       4. Notwithstanding the power, prevalency, expectations, interests, and insultings of their enemies.

       5. Notwithstanding many tokens and testimonies of his own displeasure and indignation against them, and a kind of resolution not to show mercy to them any more. See Hosea 2: 4-7; see also verses 14, 15, 23 of the same chapter; Judges 10: 11-17. I must conclude with this; - Peter was afraid and he began to sink; our fears are the great cause of our sinkings. But when he began to sink, Christ came to his relief and saved; He will make you to cry out, but he will not suffer you to perish. The Lord increase your faith. Pray for

Your friend, that loves you at all times,

                                                                                 Thomas Hardcastle

                                                                                 9th month 20th day, 1675