The twentieth letter of Mr. Hardcastle

These for my beloved friends, the members and auditors of the congregation, yet (notwithstanding evil men’s malice) through the Lord’s goodness, meeting in Broadmead.

11th month 8th day 1675-6

Beloved Friends, - For the next place, we come to consider the obedience of faith, which is mentioned Romans 16: 26, and exemplified in Abraham, Genesis 12: 1-4, with Hebrews 11: 8. Faith obeys the command, and believes the promise. This commends the apostle’s faith, that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, and that he conferred not with flesh and blood, Galatians 1: 16. Where God has a word to command, faith hath an ear to hear, a heart to be willing, and feet ready to go on his errand. Now flesh and blood, which are carnal reason, questions, disputes, and delays, instead of obeying, raise objections about safety, success, and rational consequences. Human reason and gospel reason are many times quite contrary to one another. Gospel reason is gospel command; obedience to it is warranted by the authority of God, supported and encouraged, 1st: By the name and attributes; 2ndly: By the promises; and, 3rdly: By the experience of God. Whereas human prudence sails by the compass of worldly interest, credit, safety, profit, &c, and subjects itself to human power. A counterfeit faith and carnal reason still go hand in hand; you shall seldom see them divided. A true faith, 1st: Has the word for its warrant; 2ndly: Heaven for its reward; 3rdly: The power of God for its charges. And therefore no darkness nor difficulty can stand in its way; but with Abraham, 1st: It will go, though it know not whither; and 2ndly: Though it know that the fiery furnace, and the lion’s den, lies in the way. The providence of God,

       1st, Does blast the foresight and reasonings of the hypocrite, because they made void his faith; and,

       2ndly, He disappoints the rational expectation of danger in the true believer’s way, because his faith acted beyond his reason.

If, firstly, religion and worship were a human constitution, and, secondly, that there was no expectation of any other recompense or penalty but what human power could bestow or inflict, then it would be the most rational thing, the most prudent course, to square our practice therein according to men’s dictates; and not, by any non-conformity to their rules, run the hazard either of losing what we have got, or of not getting more by our compliance and conformity.

       1st. But if gospel worship depend purely upon divine revelation; and,

       2ndly. Conscience be solely under God’s direction and disposal, who can only (1) Reach it; (2) Rule it; and (3) Believe it:-

       If, 3rdly, The rewards and punishments be to be looked for from him alone, and

       4thly, Those too of that nature which does not consist in present and visible things, but in something future and invisible: and

       5thly, Those such as men can neither procure for us, or keep from us:- and

       Lastly, If the principles from which, the ends for which, the spirit by which we act, and the power through which, be all of them divine and supernatural:-

Then I conclude that it is highly rational, and extremely suitable and agreeable, that we keep the path of duty, according to the direction of gospel-enlightened, consciences; depending upon the faithfulness, and power, and wisdom of God, in all simplicity, purity, self-denial, humility, courage, and constancy, and take no notice of, nor have any solicitous and anxious consideration and hesitation –

       1. About the inventions, impositions, commandments, reproaches, and persecutions of wicked and unreasonable men.

       2. The wisdom and policy of flesh and blood.

       3. The persuasions of friends and relations.

       4. The insinuating arguments of saints and professors.

       5. Or the supposed inconveniences of holding on in a plain and public way of gospel worship. See Matthew 5: 10, 12, 16: 21-23; Galatians 1: 13-17; Acts 21: 11-14.

If any scruple of conscience arises, presently let us ask ourselves in all sincerity and uprightness,

       1. Which way will most honor God, and advance his name?

       2. By which means will the adversary be most convinced and weakened; or hardened and encouraged?

       3. Which will tend most to the edifying, confirming, and strengthening the saints? Philippians 4: 8; 1 Corinthians 10: 23, 24; I Peter 3: 13-17; Colossians 4: 5; Matthew 10: 17-20. Compare the whole verses together. Beware of their fear, not of their fury.

       4. What will be most for the credit and honor of the gospel to the saints abroad, where the report shall come?

       5. Which course would I take if I were presently to give up my account to God?

       6. What should I do, if the cross and suffering were not in the way?

       7. Whether is it gospel to shun a plain way, merely for the avoiding of the cross, of what nature soever it be? See Matthew 16: 24-26, 11: 6. If peace be alleged, I answer:-

             (1) No peace to be accepted, though as much as in us lies it is to be followed, no reconciliation between the two seeds.

             (2) We must look after truth and holiness, as well as peace.

             (3) Our Savior says, Matthew v. 9 compared with 10th, that he was not come to send peace on earth, but a sword; no intentionally, but accidentally; through men’s corruptions, that are not able to bear the light of the gospel, which discovers their works of darkness. Take but the candle of the word out of their eyes and then they will be quiet, and you shall have peace; but our Lord and Master who is the peace-maker, and is all for peace, does yet allow no such thing, but will have a war rather than such a peace.

             (4) War with sin, bearing up a testimony against sinners, keeps our peace with God.

             (5) In doubtful cases it is the rule of prudence to choose the safer side, and suspect that part which interest, and flesh and blood, sides with. If I go this way, I may sin; but if I go the other way, I am sure I do not sin. Better fall forward than backward.

             (6) God never took it unkindly, that any one leaned too much upon him in the plain way of duty; but delights to have an opportunity of discovering great power and gracious providences.

             (7) God does not allow us to part with an inch of his ground, though we might gain the peaceful possession of all the rest. All looking on an enemy that is attended with less looking up to him, and a (less) firm believing his power and promises of succor and deliverance, by his own ways and means, is greatly displeasing to him, and commonly attended with signal tokens of his vengeance, if there be not repentance. It would be well for us if we can say, as Hebrews 10: 39, we are not of them that draw back to loss. In all drawing back there is considerable loss. The first ground is – 1. The plainest. 2. The safest. 3. That kept most easily. 4. It is most effectual against antichrist.

That our way be still made more plain, by the word and command of God; more pleasant, through our faith in the promises; and our obedience more ready and resolved, through the supplies of the Spirit of grace, is the fervent supplication of

                                                                     Your unworthy servant, for Jesus’ sake,

                                                                                 Thomas Hardcastle