Stadham, July 8. J. Owen.
TO CHARLES FLEETWOOD, ESQ.
Dear Sir, — The bearer has stayed long enough with us to save you the trouble of reading an account of me in my own scribbling : a longer stay I could not prevail with him for, though his company was a great refreshment to me. Both you and your whole family, in all their occasions and circumstances, are daily in my thoughts ; and when I am enabled to pray, I make mention of you all without ceasing. I find you and I are much in complaining. For my part I must say. And is there not a cause ? So mvich deadness, so much anspirituality, so much weakness in faith, coldness in love, instability in holy meditations, as I find in my- self, is cause sufficient of complaints. But is there not cause also of thanksgiving and joy in the Lord ? Are there not reasons for them ? When I begin to think of them, I am overwhelmed ; they are great, they are glorious, they are inexpres- sible. Shall I now invite you to this great duty of rejoicing more in the Lord ? Pray for me, that I may do so ; for the near approach of my dissolution calls for it earnestly. My heart has done with this world, even in the best and most desirable of its refreshments. If the joy of the Lord be not now strength unto it, it will fail. But I must have done. Unless God be pleased to affect some person or persons with a deep sense of our declining condition, of the temptations and dangers of the day, filling them with compassion for the souls of men, making them fervent in spirit in their work, it will go but ill with us. It may be these thoughts spring from causeless fears, — it may be none amongst us has an evil, a barren heart but myself: but bear with me in this my folly; I cannot lay down these thoughts until I die ; nor do I mention them at present as though I should
LIFE OF DR OWEN. CXIX
not esteem it a great mercy to have so able a supply as Mr C, but I am groaning after deliverance ; and being near the centre, do hope I feel the drawing of the love of Christ with more earnestness than formerly : but my naughty heart is back- ward in these compliances. My affectionate service to Sir John Hartopp, and his lady, and to the rest of your family, when God shall return them unto you, — I am, dear sir, yours most affectionately in everlasting bonds,
J. Owen.
TO THE REV. MR ROBERT ASTY OF NORWICH.
Dear Sir, — I received yours by Mr B., to whom I shall commit this return, and hope it will come safely to your hands ; for although I can acknowledge nothing of what you are pleased out of your love to ascribe unto me, yet I shall be always ready to give you my thoughts in the way of brotherly advice, whenever you shall stand in need of it : and at present, as things are circumstanced, I do not see how you can waive or decline the call of the church, either in conscience or reputation. For, to begin with the latter : should you do so upon the most Chris- tian and cogent grounds in your own apprehensions, yet wrong interpretations will be put upon it ; and so far as it is possible we ought to keep ourselves, not only " extra noxam," but " suspicionem " also. But the point of conscience is of more moment. All things concurring, — the providence of God in bringing you to that place, the judgment of the church on your gifts and grace for their edifica- tion and example, the joint consent of the body of the congregation in your call, with present circumstances of a singular opportunity for preaching the word, — I confess at this distance I see not how you can discharge that duty you owe to Jesus Christ (whose you are, and not your own, and must rejoice to be what he will have you to be, be it more or less) in refusing a compliance unto these mani- fest indications of his pleasure ; only, remember that you sit down and count what it will cost you, — which I know you will not be discouraged by ; for the daily exer- cise of grace and learning of wisdom should not be grievous unto us, though some of their occasions may be irksom.e. For the latter part of your letter, I know no difference between a pastor and a teacher but what follows their different gifts ; — the office is absolutely the same in both ; the power the same, the right to the administration of all ordinances every way the same : and at that great church at Boston, in New England, the teacher was always the principal person ; so was Mr Cotton and Mr Norton. Where gifts make a difference, there is a difference ; otherwise there is none. I pray God guide you in this great affair ; and I beg your prayers for myself in my weak, infirm condition. — I am your affectionate friend and brother, J. Owen.