PREFACE. THE first of the following letters is so well adapted an introduction to the rest, that to trouble the reader with a long preface would be quite needless and impertinent. I will therefore detain him from entering upon the delightful and instructive relation which the following sheets present him with, little longer than while I assure him, that the narrative is quite genuine, and that the following letters were written to me at my request. Some verbal relations of the facts awakened my curiosity to see a more connected account of them, which the author very obligingly consented to, having at that time no intention of its being made pub, lic. But the repeated solicitations of friends have at last prevailed: and indeed the publication is the more needful, as several imperfect copies have been handed about, and there has been cause to think some surreptitious edition might steal through the press into the hands of the public. I have therefore, with consent of the author, now sent these Letters abroad in their original form. They were written in haste, as letters of friendship, to gratify my curiosity; but the style, as well as the narrative itself, is so plain and easy, that corrections were thought needless. I can only add my best wishes, that the great truths they contain may prove as edifying as the facts are striking and entertaining, Aldwinckle, Aug. 1764. T. HAWEIS. INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. LETTER I. Reverend and Dear Sir, I MAKE no doubt but you have at times had pleasing reflections upon that promise made to the Israelites, Deut. viii. 2. They were then in the wilderness, surrounded with difficulties, which were greatly aggravated by their own distrust and perverseness: they had experienced a variety of dispensations, the design of which they could not as yet understand; they frequently lost sight of God's gracious purposes in their favour, and were much discouraged by reason of the way. To compose and animate their minds, Moses here suggests to them, that there was a future happy time drawing near, when their journey and warfare should be finished; that they should soon be put in possession of the promised land, and have rest from all their fears and troubles: and then it would give them pleasure to look back upon what they now found so uneasy to bear:-"Thou shalt remember all the way by which "the Lord thy God led thee through this wilderness.” But the importance and comfort of these words is still greater, if we consider them in a spiritual sense, as addressed to all who are passing through the wilderness of this world to a heavenly Canaan; who by faith in the promises and power of God, are seeking an eternal rest in that kingdom which cannot be sha Let. 6. Of the practical Influence of Faith 7. On the Propriety of a Ministerial Address to the Uncon verted 8. On the inward Witness to the ground and reality of Faith....... ...... 9. On the Doctrines of Election and final Perseverance. 10. Grace in the Blade, Mark, iv. 28......... 11. Grace in the Ear, Mark, iv. 28. 12. The full Corn in the Ear, Mark, iv. 28. ... 13. On hearing Sermons....... 14. On Temptation ..... 15. A Plan of a compendious Christian Library 16. On the Inefficacy of our Knowledge 17. On a Believer's Frames 18. Thoughts on the Exercise of social Prayer 19. On Controversy Page 142 148 ... 155 ...... 162 25. On Faith, and the Communion of Saints 26. On the Increase of Gospel-Illumination . 284 .. 290 27. On Union with Christ ... 292 .... 294 .... 20. On Conformity to the World 21. I was once Blind, but now I See......... 22. On the Advantages of a State of Poverty.. 23. On Simplicity and Godly Sincerity....... 24. On Communion with God ....... 28. Of the Lord's promised Guidance 29: On the earnest Expectation of the Creature, waiting for the Manifestation of the Sons of God, Rom. viii. 19, 20, 21. 30. On the right Use of the Law 35. On Things lovely, and of good Report 36. To a gay Friend on his Recovery from Illness 326 { 332 339 346 353 37. On Christian Experience ... 357 38. Religion necessary to the Enjoyment of Life 39. A Word in Season |