_To Mr. G―――― C――――._
_On board the Savannah for Georgia, Dec. 11, 1740._ _Dear Brother C――――_,
YOUR late letters, especially that which you sent me by way of _Charles-Town_, made me smile.――I was glad to find that you had not so far thrown off all outward things, as to resolve not to write to any one; and I thought I knew the frame of your heart, as though I was within you. My dear, dear _George C――――_, I love you tenderly in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST, and therefore would not have you be deceived. Alas, why do you pervert this text of scripture, “Be still, and know that I am the LORD,” as if it was designed to keep a christian from striving, or meant a _stillness of body_, or waiting upon GOD only in silence? The expression is taken out of the 46th Psalm, where GOD’s fury against the heathen is described in the most lively colours; and then lest his people should complain of the severity of his dispensations, GOD commands them to be _still_, “not to murmur or repine, knowing that he was the LORD, and might do what seemed him good.” Thus _Tate_ and _Brady_ in their translations explain it, and this is the true and genuine meaning of that sentence. It hath no reference to stillness in prayer, or stillness of body. Dear brother, I speak to you plainly, because I love you. I think I know what it is to wait upon the LORD in silence, and to feel the spirit of GOD making intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered. Often have I been at such times filled as it were with the fulness of GOD, and I do now daily carry on a communion with the most high GOD and the ever-blessed JESUS. But all this I fear is contrary to the _false stillness_, you and some others seem to have fallen into. I was just in the same case some years ago at _Oxford_, when I declined writing, reading, and such like exercises, because I would be _still_. The LORD convinced me; I pray he may also convince you of this delusion. Dear _George_, consider how contrary your maxim is to our Saviour’s. You say, “_Be still._” He says, “_Strive._” As in an agony, “Strive that you may enter in at the strait gate.” Indeed, my dear man, I pity you, knowing you have but a weak judgment, though a well-meaning heart. You once thought that you was born again; then, you found it was only an elapse of the Holy Ghost. You used to say, you wished you could believe from experience in the doctrine of election; now, you find as yet no evidence within yourself that you are a real christian. You take too much refuge, I fear, in the doctrine of _universal redemption_. It is the finest doctrine in the world to cause a soul to be falsely still, and to say _Peace, Peace_, when there is no peace. You seem to insist upon sinless perfection, and to think a man hath no real salvation till he literally cannot commit sin. From whose experience do you write this? Not from your _own_, dear _George_; for I much question, if ever your heart was truly broken or had a saving closure with CHRIST. You seem to mention _Peter Bochler_ as an instance; but alas, though he has been washed in the blood of the Lamb, so as to be justified from all his sins, yet like me his feet want washing still, and will, till he bows down his head and gives up the ghost. I have conversed with him intimately. Take heed, brother, of having any thing too much in admiration, or of thinking you must necessarily find CHRIST at such and such a place. You have been at _M――――_. I believe you have seen many dear children of GOD; but have you returned home with CHRIST in your heart? Your letters do not speak much improvement in the school of CHRIST. If GOD loves you, he will let you see the vanity of your present imaginations, and bring you to see that salvation is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of GOD that sheweth mercy. Dear _George_, be not given to change; be not too fond of new things. “To the law and to the testimony,” and see what CHRIST and his apostles have spoken. I speak this out of love, and not in reference to myself. If GOD blesses another ministry to your soul, I rejoice, yea and will rejoice. But if I see you fall into errors, do not be angry if I tell you the truth. If you are, I will notwithstanding love and pray for you. That errors are crept in among you, I think is too plain: but I suspend my judgment till the Spring, when, GOD willing, I hope to be in _London_. In the mean while pray for me, that I may with joy bear to be deserted by those, who once were blessed and awakened by my ministry, and to whom I am a spiritual father, though they may have many instructors. Dear _George_, may the LORD be with you. He only knows how dear you are to my heart. It is near midnight; but it was much upon my heart to write you this letter. That GOD may sanctify it to your edification and comfort, is the hearty prayer of
Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,