His Second Letter

. . . . . . When we do as God bids us, and do the errands He sends us, we shall neither lack nor lose anything that is good for us. We speak much of faith, and hope, and patience, and commend them, but do not care to have occasion to make use of them ourselves. What cause have we to complain of our weakness and coming short of the glory of God, for which we were created, redeemed, and preserved! We must follow Christ in the way that He chooses, and not in the way that we choose for ourselves. Wearisome Sabbaths, and troublesome meetings are appointed; separations and confinements attend and abide us. What is the reason of all this? Are there not causes why? Yes, too many and too good; nay, too bad.

1. Have not our inward distractions and vanity of mind, in duties and solemn worship, brought about outward disturbances? Our distractions offend and grieve God, more than our enemies’ disturbances molest and perplex.

2. Did we mix faith with the word? And did we come with that awe, and seriousness, and reverence of spirit, as became the holy ordinances of the great God?

3. And have we not been too guilty of formality and hypocrisy in our profession and worship? And are not our enemies permitted to overthrow our forms and tables, and spoil the show and formality of our worship, and to call us a company of hypocrites and dissemblers?

4. Have [we] rejoiced in this day that the Lord hath made, and been glad in it, and celebrated the name of God and Christ, for redemption and the resurrection? Or has it not been to us as an ordinary day, another day, a common day, wherein little exulting or joy has been discovered? Nay, rather, has it not been a burden to us, and the performances of it tedious and troublesome? And is it not just, that now our persecutors should burden us, and load us, and weary us, in our service and worship, and make it very uncomfortable, unedifying, and unprofitable?

5. And, while we enjoyed days, and months, and years of plenty, peace, prosperity, and liberty, we had not a sense, sympathy, fellow-feeling of the miseries, distractions, distresses, and persecutions that were upon many in several places of the nations. And in other places, what banishment, confiscations, spoiling of goods, and insolences, have many precious souls undergone in these nations! And we never heard of them, or never inquired after them, or have not been affected with them, as became fellow-members or countrymen; and now our condition is become an object of pity to others. See Lamentations 4: 11, 12. Who would have thought that the late peaceable state of the city of Bristol would have been disturbed by so much desolating work?

6th, Nay,and lastly, Has our love one to another, among ourselves been so warm and sincere, esteeming one another, preferring one another, forbearing and forgiving one another, so as to shut out jealousies, prejudices, surmisings, whisperings, backbitings, and dissimulations? Then should we not have been exposed to the reproaches, speeches, railings, and unjust reflections of unreasonable and ungodly men; and not have come within the hearing of so much bad language, as we have found in our public meeting places, from those that hate us and persecute us.

You will say, this is all a sad story. Is there no comfortable side to be seen? Is there no hope? Yes, there is.

1st. There is hope that we will repent, and mourn over all our transgressions, and cry to God for mercy and pardon.

2ndly. There is hope that God will hear us, and pardon us, and accept of us.

3dly. There is hope that God will put an end to those troubles and let us enjoy peaceable meetings, and behold our teachers again.

4th. There is hope from the consideration of the good presence and gracious supports, we have had from our God: that degree of faithfulness and patience He has given us; that the gospel hath not lost but got much ground; and that the opposition, as it has been sinful and groundless, so has it been successless and fruitless.

5th. There is hope from the survey of the benefit and advantage which hath accrued to many in the nation, by encouraging them to stand and patiently suffer in the good ways of God, rather than decline and draw back. We are not made for ourselves, and to serve ourselves only, the more glory God get by us, the more honor He will put upon us, and magnify our salvation. And,

6th. There is hope, and great ground of comfort, in the view and foresight of the great good that is in the womb of this distress, and which will shortly appear. It is now a winter season; the snow is upon the ground; there will be a spring, the singing of birds will come. It is now a seedtime; the harvest will come. We are sowing for posterity; the generation coming on will have the good fruit of this present persecution. Many will be convinced by it, and many confirmed and edified. This cloud will quickly be blown over.

The more they were oppressed, the more they grew. When opportunities shall come to be peaceable, many will flock to them, as doves to the windows, that have either now been frightened, or otherwise would never have come to a meeting; but will then, either out of curiosity or conscience, come to see what is done there, and fall in love with that which they have seen so much opposed by the wicked, with so little ground and cause, and so faithfully and patiently stood by those whom they have causelessly reproached, slandered, and maligned. Comfort one another with these and such like words. And let him evermore be remembered by you, who studies nothing more that your good; and can rejoice in his present confinement, that the gospel and you may gain any advantage; and remains, wherever he remains,

Yours, for Christ’s sake,
From Newgate, Close prisoner.
                                                                                 Thomas Hardcastle