A Letter to the Rev. George Whitefield.
4th April, 1739.
DEAR SIR,—With pleasure I send another letter; I rejoice to find that you remember me. I am thankful that you have not renounced a correspondent made odious by so much ingratitude. You are pleased to ask how the Holy Ghost convinced me of self-righteousness, and drove me out of my false rests? Indeed, Sir, I cannot precisely tell; the light was not instantaneous, but gradual. It did not flash upon my soul, but arose like the dawning day. A little book wrote by Jenks upon Submission to the Righteousness of God was made serviceable to me. Your Journals, Dear Sir, and Sermons, especially that sweet Sermon upon “What think ye of Christ?” were a means of bringing me to a knowledge of the truth, and another excellent piece has been, and I hope will be as so much eye-salve to my dim and clouded understanding, I mean “Marshall’s Gospel Mystery of Sanctification.” These, blessed be He, who is a light to them that sit in darkness, have, in some degree, convinced me of my former errors.
I now begin to see, that I have been labouring in the fire, and wearying myself for very vanity, while I have attempted to establish my own righteousness. I trusted I knew not what, while I trusted in some imaginary good deeds of my own. These are no hiding place from the storm. They are a refuge of lies.
If I had the meekness of Moses, and the patience of Job, the zeal of Paul, and the love of John, I durst not advance the least plea to everlasting life on this footing. But as for my own beggarly performances, wretched righteousnesses—gracious, adorable Emmanuel, I am ashamed, I am grieved, that I should thrust them into the place of Thy divine, Thy inconceivably precious obedience! My schemes are altered. I now desire to work in my blessed Master’s service, not for, but from salvation. I believe that Jesus Christ the incarnate God is my Saviour, that He has done all I was bound to perform, and suffered all that I was condemned to sustain, and so has procured a full, final and everlasting salvation for a poor unworthy sinner. I would now fain serve Him, who has served me. I would glorify Him before men, who has justified me before God; I would study to please Him in righteousness and holiness all the days of my life. I seek this blessing not as a condition, but a part, a choice, and inestimable part, of that complete salvation, which Jesus has purchased for me. Now, if at any time I am fervent in devotion, seem to be in a gracious frame, or am enabled to abound in the works of the Lord, I endeavour to put no confidence in these bruised reeds, but to rest upon the Rock of Ages. Not in these, most blessed Jesus, but in the robes of Thy righteousness let me be found, when God shall call the heavens from above, and the earth, that He may judge His people. When on the other hand, I feel myself most deplorably dead and deficient, when I am apt to sigh, for my unprofitableness, and cry out with the prophet, “My leanness, my leanness!” I no longer comfort myself with saying, “Be of good cheer, soul, thy God only requires sincere obedience, and perhaps to-morrow may be better than this day, and more abundant in acts of holiness.” Jesus is now become my salvation, and this is my song in the house of my pilgrimage. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” Though imperfect in thyself, thou art complete in thy Head; though poor in thyself, thou hast unsearchable riches in thy divine Surety. The righteousness of thy obedience, O Lord Redeemer, is everlasting. O grant me an interest in this, and I shall live. If overtaken by sin, or overcome by temptation, I dare not as formerly call to mind my righteous deeds, and so think to commute with divine justice; or quit scores for my offences, by my duties. I do not, to ease my conscience, or be reconciled to God, promise stricter watchfulness, more alms, and renewed fastings. No, in such unhappy circumstances, turn, O my soul! neither to the right hand nor to the left, but fly instantly to Him whom God has set forth for a propitiation. Hide thyself in His wounded side, and be safe; wash in His streaming blood, and be clean.
If, on these, or in other points, I am otherwise minded than corresponds with the gospel of truth, cease not, Dear Sir, to pray, that God may reveal even this unto me.—I am one who dearly loves you.
J. H.