Seventh letter of Mr. Hardcastle

25th of the seventh month, 1675.

These for my dear friends, the members and auditors of the congregation, meeting in Broadmead, Bristol.

Beloved Friends, Do you not sit admiring the powerful grace of almighty God? And are not you ready to say, as they said once of Christ, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? What a God have we, that can thus, all on a sudden, still the enemy and the avenger! It puts me in mind of that, When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dreamed, &c. [Ps. 126: 1] This looks to us, in some sense, like the turning again of captivity. Though we are yet in captivity, our taskmasters are not all alike cruel. The dogs have not laid aside their canine disposition, only the Lord thinks fit to muzzle them for the present; we have outlived the rage of our adversaries. The living, the living shall praise thee, O Lord, as we desire to do this day: the fathers to the children shall make known the truth; behold, for in the midst of an after peace we have had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to our souls delivered us from the pit of destruction. [Isa. 38: 17, 19] The Lord was ready to save us, therefore we will sing our songs, to the stringed instruments, all the days of our lives, in the house of the Lord. See 2 Tim. 4: 17. It is said, in Dan. 7: 25, of one of the kings of the fourth kingdom, that He shall speak great words again the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change times and laws, &c.; see verses 25-27.

Beloved, you and your neighbor congregations in this city have drawn the eyes of the whole nation after you, and have made them turn aside to see the great sight, that the bush should be in the fire so long together, and yet not burnt. See Zeph 3: 12 to the end. That a poor, peaceable, and impotent people, should be preserved in faith, patience, constancy, and courage, notwithstanding the continued combination and conspiracies, the constant and cruel onsets, assaults, and endeavors, with the executions of power, policy, rage and malice, envy and hatred: what shall we say? The Lord has spoken, and Himself has done it. [Isa. 38: 15] To Him alone, the Only Wise, the Almighty, the faithful and good God, be praise and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.

But, I think, I hear some ready to object, and raise scruples, and ask some questions. I shall endeavor to obviate [them], and make answers in the following particulars, which are offered to your considerations: -

1. Do not expect yet a final end of your troubles, nor a total immunity from them. See Judges 3: 1-4. The Canaanites are yet in the land, and will be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides. It is with us as you will see, Ezra 9: 7-9; and as it is said of them in Daniel [9: 34, 45], when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help; but it is said of the enemy, yet shall he come to his end, and none shall help him.

2. Know this. It is our duty and interest to take notice of, and bless God for, the beginnings of mercy and favor, even when the face of mercy does begin to look toward us; when the day does, but begin to dawn, though the sun be not yet in sight. The method that the Lord takes in bestowing His mercies is gradual, and we have more reason to be afraid, lest we should not have hearts to improve our present privileges, than that we should not so soon enjoy our wanted opportunities.

3. Expect yet greater troubles and trials than any you have met with. These are but the footmen that you have been running with; these are but the little fingers of antichrist. There is this comfort in it, that you, having drunk so large a draught of the first of the cup, may escape the dregs, and it may not come to your turn to drink deeper. You have had a double draught of imprisonment; without doubt it is seasonable and wholesome, and that we shall see in due time. It may be a preventing antidote against the snares, dregs, poison, and infection of antichrist. However you may escape hereafter, yet I am sure my advice is good, and we are in preparedness for the greatest trials and sufferings; and that is the way to escape them.

4. Bless God for the provision he makes you, and daily supplies He gives you of heavenly food for your souls. Have you ever wanted a morsel when you were hungry, and a sweet one too? But the full soul loathes the honeycomb. Are you not made partakers of the gifts that tend to encourage, comfort, and strengthen you? I could wish my poor small papers might help a little too.

5. Treasure up your experiences of the Lord’s goodness, and power, and faithfulness, that they may be useful if you should hereafter meet the like temptations. The people of Israel of old had very bad memories, see Judges 8: 34, and Ps 78: 42 and 106: 7. It would not be strange if the stories of persecution, of informers, disturbances, prelate imprisonment, &c., should grow out of date in Bristol, and be forgotten. Greater afflictions and deliverances that ours have been forgotten by a professing people; Lam. 3: 18, 37.

6. Learn this lesson: ever hereafter to fear men less, and trust God more. The more we venture upon Him, the better He is. We have ventured upon six months’ cross in His way, and for the open profession of His gospel, and it proved well; and we have ventured another in the same cause, and I doubt not but it will prove better; and that we shall see, when we come to the winding up of the bottom. But we must follow the Lord patiently and believingly; he that believeth makes not haste, and patience must have its perfect work.

7. And, lastly, Let these winding, turning, mixed, and amazing dispensations, make you tremble, and keep you humble. What reverence, and holy fear, and dread ought to be on our spirits, in the consideration of these things, and how should we lay them up in our hearts! Security, wantonness, wrangling, murmuring, distrust, and pride, should now all be gone from us. Why? Because we have to do with a God that can soon change our states, and make our conditions better or worse. See Job 9: 10-15. My soul [flesh] trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments. [Ps 119: 120] This is the way to have rest in the day of trouble, according to Habakkuk [3: 16]

I shall conclude with commending that comfortable place to your serious perusal, Ps 94: 12 to the end. Let these things dwell in the bottom of the imaginations of your hearts continually, and forget not me in your prayers, who am your poor, yet comforted prisoner, for Jesus’ and the gospel’s sake,
                                                                                 T. Hardcastle.