"In answer to your questions I fear I have tired you: but one thing I trust I have done, I have kept so clear of controverted points that your conscience will be on my side. "Last week we buried our little infant;* who is safely landed on the heavenly shore: and, though nature regrets, faith rejoices; and we are resigned. I am greatly afflicted to hear of poor Mr. Webster's death, because it will be so sharp a trial to my sister. May the Lord comfort and support her under it, and sanctify the dispensation to her! And may we all learn to consider our latter end, and to prepare for that time, when all our thoughts of this vain world shall perish! "I have some thoughts of moving from this place to Olney. It will not be a very important advantage in worldly things: but it will bring an additional care upon me of near two thousand souls. However, the Lord will provide....... "Believe me your very affectionate brother, As noticed in the Life, of my father,† his elder sister, Mrs. Webster, about this time lost her husband, after having been married only five years, and was left with two children, and the near prospect of a third; besides having other difficulties to struggle with. These circumstances gave occasion to the following letters. "DEAR SISTER, To Mrs, Webster, Boston. "Weston Underwood, September 28, 1779. "BELIEVE me, I do most sincerely pity and condole with you on account of your very great loss, of which I received intelligence the other night. Most heartily do I pray God to be your supporter and comforter under this severe stroke of his providence, which I hope, being sanctified by his concurring grace, will, in the upshot, work together for your good: for we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are the called according to his purpose. May the Lord grant to us to be thus called according to his purpose, and to give good evi dence of our love to him who first loved us; and enable us to exercise faith on his promise, that we may under every trying dispensation be prepared to say from our hearts, It is the Lord-the wise, righteous, holy, faithful, and merciful Lord, who can do nothing wrong-let him do what seemeth him good! I am sensible that it is much easier to give such counsel than to take it; and that, under the pressure of heavy affliction, the soul even of the humble and pious believer is apt to lose sight of God, and its hold on the promise, and to sink into despondency and murmuring thoughts. We are not commanded therefore not to grieve, but not to grieve as men without hope. Hence, with the most sympathizing feeling of the heavy burden which the Lord hath laid upon you, I would only drop a few hints on this occasion, earnestly beseeching the Lord to direct me to suitable words, that I may speak in season, and to make them instrumental to your consolation and benefit, by his Holy Spirit. “1. Then, may the Lord help you to call to mind, that, though man be born to trouble as the sparks fly upward, yet affliction springeth not out of the dust, but is all and every part of it the appointment of God; without whom not a sparrow falleth to the ground, and by whom even the hairs of our head are all numbered. This consideration should silence our complainings, teach us to submit to his sovereign pleasure; to be still and know that he is God, and to answer all our hard thoughts and objections with Paul's words, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? "Then, 2. may the Lord enable you to believe that he doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; but always acts consistently with his perfections; and is wise, and just, and good in his most mysterious dispensations; hath always good and sufficient reason for what he doth; and though, as sovereign, he doth not condescend to give account of his matters in particular, yet in general we know that in all he is intent on displaying the glory of his perfections, and promoting the salvation of his people. "Then, 3. it comes to be considered, what is the grand reason and cause why a just, holy, wise, and gracious God does so order it, that this life should be one continued series of disappointment, vanity, vexation, sorrows, and losses: that all our comforts are alloyed with sorrow, all our sweets mingled with bitterness. Sin is the cause of all. We are all sinners; have all, though not all alike, transgressed with continual transgressions the perfect law of God: and, because we are sinners, therefore we are sufferers: and he that hath sinned the least hath deserved the greatest of temporal afflictions, yea infinitely more. To them who live and die impenitent and unbelieving, these prove only the beginnings of sorrows: but to them who truly fear God they are changed in their nature, become chastisements and blessings. "Hence, 4. it comes in our way to consider the tendency of these afflictions. They teach us to humble ourselves as sinners in the sight of God, and to acknowledge that it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They teach us to say: I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him. Should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? This stirs us up to true repentance. Then they teach us experimentally that all is vanity and vexation of spirit: that the world, and its dearest and most reasonable comforts, can afford us nothing but bitterness, if we set our hearts upon it. They remind us that we want a better portion, more certain and durable; and this, weaning us from the love of the world, and disposing us to choose God for our portion, will turn all our affections and desires into another channel, and incline us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; to mind the one thing needful; and to labor for the meat that endureth unto everlasting life.Then, if sanctified to us, they teach us our need of better comforters than the world affords; and this endears to us the word of God, and its precious promises and cheering assurances; and makes us prize the throne of grace, where God is placed bowing down his ear to our prayers, and to which, through the atoning blood of Christ, and his prevailing intercession for sinners, we have boldness of access, may unburden our spirits, make known our requests, cast away our cares, pour out our sorrows, and confidently wait an answer of peace; assured that, like as a father pitieth his own children, so is the Lord merciful to them that fear him. -When afflictions have this effect, though grievous, they are very beneficial, and most of the saints in glory have cause to bless God that they were afflicted, adding, Before I was afflicted I went wrong. "I have much more to say, but must draw to a conclusion. I hope you will not despise the chastening of the Lord; and I pray that you may not faint now you are rebuked of him; for whom he loveth he chasteneth. Do not smother your heavy sorrows in your own breast; much less give way to murmuring or complaining words, or desponding thoughts: but carry these complaints and fears to a throne of grace; and, having renewed (as we all have need to do,) your repentance and prayers for pardon, commit your way unto the Lord; seek to him for consolation; search more and more into his precious word; and remember who hath said (Jeremiah xlix, 11,) Leave thy fatherless children with me, and let thy widows trust in -Death hath also made a breach in our family: but, bless God, the stroke has been very gentle to what your's has been. Our youngest boy is dead and happy. Assure yourself of our best love, and joint prayers for the recovery of your health, the return of comfort to your mind, and your best welfare. me. DEAR SISTER, "Yours affectionately, "THOMAS SCOTT." To Mrs. Webster, Boston. "Weston Underwood, December 15, 1779. "I Do not know whether I have not been guilty of a fault in not answering your last letter earlier, as assuredly I ought, at such a time as this must needs be with you, to do whatever little is in my power to promote your comfort and support under your troubles. However, though a variety of engagements, and too great a propensity to indulge indolence, have hitherto prevented my writing to you, yet I have not been forgetful of you, as the Lord knoweth, who I trust hath heard, and in his own time will answer, my prayers in your behalf: although I do not deny that there is something that I long and pray for, which I 'do not perceive that the Lord hath yet bestowed upon you. But, as you say, and I am bound to believe, that you do sincerely desire to serve the Lord, in that way (I trust you mean,) which in his holy word he hath revealed and appointed as alone acceptable; so I hope and believe that some time or other he will make known to you somewhat, as taught in the sacred scriptures, which you have not hitherto discovered: nor will I drop the assured persuasion that one day we shall be of one mind in most of those things wherein we now differ, as you observe. But, as I have no expectation that this will be brought about in the way of argumentation and dispute, which generally do too much ruffle the passions to leave the mind open to an impartial reception of the truth; and rather expecting that, under the guidance and secret teaching of the Holy Spirit, gradually opening your understanding to understand the scriptures, and discovering more and more what passes in your own heart, and what is revealed in the Bible, you will seem to discover it of yourself; so I would there leave the matter, only wishing and praying you to continue an attentive reading of the scriptures, and to frequent the throne of grace in prayer; and especially praying to be delivered from prejudice, error, and ignorance, to be enlightened. with the knowledge of the truth, and made acquainted with the unsearchable riches of Christ. As to the rest, I do not wish to interfere with you, but would leave the event to the Lord; only not forgetting to beseech him to remember you with the favor which he beareth to his chosen people, and to visit you with his salvation. "I wish a good deal for an opportunity of sending a parcel of the books which I have published, and which I suppose you have not seen.......I only beg you to read the book when you receive it without prejudice, remembering that in former days you had no contemptible opinion of the author's understanding; praying at the same time that the Father of lights, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, would be pleased to make it manifest to each of us, whether of the two, you or I, do mistake the meaning of his revealed word, that we may not perish in such deceivings. "I truly condole with you in the loss upon loss which you have sustained, in being bereaved of your very friendly uncle Jackson; for whom I myself have always had a very sincere esteem and affection, and doubt not you have had a very great loss in him. Death has lately been so busy in our family, that I feel surprised that I am still alive, and dare not either presume on length of life myself, or lean upon the bruised reeds of creature-comforts, such dying worms as we all are. And indeed, though naturally of a disposition sufficiently susceptible of all the tender affections, stroke upon stroke, one bereaving providence after another, together with the reflections thereby suggested concerning the vanity of the world, and the uncertainty and vexation attending all things here below, has tended exceedingly to prepare my mind for such things, |