Eighteenth letter from the pastor

To my beloved friends, the members and auditors of the congregation meeting in Broadmead, Bristol.

Beloved Friends, - Our next step for the discovery of true faith we take in Hebrews xi, 9, 10, 13. Faith enables a man to look upon himself as a sojourner, stranger, and pilgrim upon earth; as one that is absent from home; as a traveler towards his own country. The operations, and exercises, and actings of faith are such as these:-

I. True faith looks upon heaven and the future state of glory, as the promised inheritance, - a land of promise. It cannot properly be said of any of the things of this world, that they are promised things; that is, for the enjoyment and satisfaction. They are the gifts of God, but not the objects of hope, because not the subjects of promise. I grant there is a promise that all these things shall be added to them that first seek the kingdom of God; but that text answers itself. The kingdom of God is that which is primarily promised, and principally to be sought after. Other things are consequential and cautionary; secondary helps, make use of as lesser means; baits, not business. A little of them helps a traveler on his journey more comfortably, but a great deal proves his burden and his hindrance. Heaven is the great deed of settlement; the earth is but the loose money to bear the charges, - the staff to walk to the kingdom. A formal professor lives in this world as at home, as in his center. He breathes no higher; it is his element. He tends no further; it is his situation. He may talk of a future state- a remaining rest, but he does not desire to change his station. He thinks it is good being here, and he knows not that it would be so well with him in another place. His faith about another world is confused, indistinct, dark, traditional, and a thing at a distance; too good for him, more spiritual than he can bear, and something too near the presence of God to be endured. Whereas a true believer, as Hebrews 11: 1, has a clear prospect of happiness; believes it stedfastly; hopes for it earnestly; waits for it patiently; longs for nothing more than to be freed from sin, and to be in the immediate fruition and enjoyment of the sweet, satisfying, soul-ravishing presence of God.

II. True faith keeps the soul much in serious, distinct thoughts of its passage into another world; about which points are considered:-

       1. The nearness of it. A believer dies daily. He lives every day as his last. I may die before evening, or before morning; my breath is in my nostrils.

       2. The speediness of it. The thread of life is soon cut. The last breath is soon sighed out; see Job 14: 10-12, 20.

       3. The unavoidableness of it. Death is not to be prolonged. Wherever a man is, whatever he is doing, whatever he leaves undone, what posture so ever he is in, there can be no delay; not a minute’s stay: no, not if it would save a soul, Job 7: 21. A thousand worlds will not purchase a day or a night; Job 14: 5.

       4. The irrecoverableness of it; Job 14: 7-9, 14, 19. There is no coming back to mend anything that was amiss, or to perfect anything that was wanting; no device in the grave, Ecclesiastes 9: 10.

       5. The sudden and wonderful change it makes. Thoughts and designs of a worldly nature, all perish; converse ceases; friends, and relations, and familiar acquaintance (are) seen no more; no knowledge, or intimation of whatever passes; Job 14: 21.

       6. The privilege of it. It is the door into glory; the way to be with Christ, which is far better; the sting, which is sin, being taken away, it being disarmed of its terror by Christ; the fear of it removed, which keeps hypocrites and unsound professors all their lifetime subject to bondage; Hebrews 2: 14, 15; I Corinthians 15: 55-57.

       7. About the pain of it; the consideration of which is alleviated and much removed,

       First, by recollecting the scripture phrase about it. It is a sleep; a giving up the ghost; a commending the spirit into the hands of the Lord; a going into the harbor. The Lord is in a more special manner present; his consolations inexpressible. None so full of joy as dying saints. Angels (are) ready to wait upon the soul, and carry it safe into heaven, through the prince of the air’s country

       Secondly, by reflecting upon the great deliverance and salvation which the soul, and body too, will be made partaker of. No more sinning, nor weeping, nor sorrowing, nor fearing, nor fretting, nor vexing, nor wearisome pains, uneasy burdens, irksome postures, disturbing sights, distracting cares, troublesome removes, perplexing changes, unsatisfactory converse, insatiable concupiscence, nor successive and unavoidable disappointments and disquietments

       Thirdly, pain is prevented by a conscientious managing of the conversation, with relation to eternity. If all I act and do in my lifetime have a good aspect upon eternity, it will make death easy, and strangely weaken and enervate its pain, as well as it sting; it will make a man die easy, and well too.

III. True faith, by helping a believer to look upon himself as a stranger, does mightily strengthen him to a grateful contentedness with his present good and conveniences; as, also, to a cheerful enduring of present affronts, injuries, grievances, and afflictions. A little kindness goes far with a stranger. A small matter will serve a passenger; II Kings 4: 9, 10. Much uneasiness and unkindness may be easily borne by a wayfaring man, that turns aside to tarry but for a night; that is, not far from home, and knows he shall be welcomed with the best entertainment when he comes at home; I John 3: 1, 2; John 15: 18-21; and 16: 20-22. These words were spoken by our Savior to his disciples, as matter and ground of very great comfort and consolation. But a counterfeit believer is never satisfied with what he has. His accommodations do not please him. He would have them finer, and larger, and longer. His inconveniences are such as cause much murmuring, fretting, and discontent in his spirit. He wishes his days were not so few, but that they were freer from trouble than they are. He does not desire the change of his place, and state, and condition, but that it might be mended, and repaired, and some additions made to it. Whereas faith’s motto is “I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ,” II Corinthians 5: 5.

That Christ may be with you unto death, in death, and after death, is the prayer of yours,

                                                                                 Thomas Hardcastle