*C**0* LETTER S. LETTER CCCLXXXVI. [From Mrs. Mary Jones, to the Rev. J. Welley.] Rev. Sir, Bath, June 7, 1774. I Can fay, the Lord's mercies are new unto me, not only every morning, but every moment. He is a friend that flicketh closer than a brother. O that I could praise him! You afk, "What are the temptations you have been delivered from ?" Awhile ago, it was strongly impreft upon me, "That now I had no need of ordinances: in particular, not of Band or Class: that these were only the shadow, the outward form; and that I was to feed on Christ, who is the substance:" this was a close temptation. At the fame time I was much afflicted in body; and had many trials with my relations after the flesh, and some with my fpiritual friends. These I then thought were the only means to purify my foul, and make me fit for eternity. Yet I was not suffered to keep from my Clafs or Band: but I was fo bound up, that sometimes I could hardly speak a word. I then faw it was a temptation, and intreated the Lord to give me patience, till it was his will to deliver me. As to the purifying of my foul, I mentioned to one whom I thought well able to inftruct me, that I believed, this could only be done by sufferings. He told me, It was furely fo: and foon after, wrote to me from Bristol, faying, "O my dear fifter, how am I burdened? Mr. W. has totally denied! that we are to be sanctified by sufferings! He fays, it is by Faith alone, and that it begins from the first moment we believe." VOL. IX. H Here Here the great mountain fell in a moment, yea, in the twinkling of an eye. I saw things in quite another light: I faw Faith was the hand that received every bleffing from God. I faw it was Faith alone that must make me perfect and entire, lacking nothing: and that Sanctification did indeed begin the first moment I believed in Chrift. And I saw, that though my fecond deliverance was as inftantaneous as the firft, yet it was as much by Faith, and could only be continued by the fame means. Then I faw and felt, that Faith alone could make the things I was now paffing through of use to my foul; and that they would do nothing for me any farther than they were received by Faith, with patience and refignation. O how was I ftript and laid low, and the cry of my foul, was, "Lord, increase my faith!" Since then I truft in God; not in pain or affliction. I do fimply depend on Jefus; ever looking for his appearing, and continually praying, that he will fit me for eternity. me. Many more have been the temptations Satan has laid for my feet: especially one to which moft young people lie open. But I feel, greater is He that is in me, than all that are against And he is faithful who has promifed, that in every temptation he will make a way to escape. He makes me feel, "Bleffed is the man that endureth temptation: when he has been tried, he fhall receive the reward." My present state is, lying at Jefu's feet, finging, "I nothing have; I nothing am." All my treasure is in Him; and therefore poffeffing him, I poffefs all things: while a hope full of immortality, makes every thing more abundantly fweet. I am, Rev. Sir, Your moft unworthy Servant, MARY JONES. LETTER LETTER Rev. Sir, YOUR CCCLXXXVII. [From the fame, to the fame.] Bath, August 6, 1774 laft affectionate Letter more than ever convinced me of your care and tender regard for me. May the Lord reward you feven-fold for all your labour of love toward me! And may he write gratitude on my heart, for all the bleffings and mercies he daily confers upon me! I was enabled to follow your advice, and to fly as from the face of a ferpent. I could not have been, had I accepted the offer, in a better fituation for doing good than I am now. Nor could I have had more advantages, for the improvement of my own foul. Indeed my present situation is attended with much danger and many trials. But He is faithful: as my day, fo is my strength: fo he has promised; and fo I have found it. I had many reasonings, "It was a thing lawful in itself: it would take me out of many fnares. Many more holy than me had entered into that state, and were not hurt by it. How do you know but it may be the will of God, and intended by him for your good?" But I was not fuffered to liften to the voice of the charmer. I laid it before the Lord, and he foon convinced me, that it was a mere temptation. Then was I determined to quit his* company at once, and give him up to God. I did fo. Praise the Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me praise his holy name! The prefent cry of my foul is, "Lord, hide me!" And he does indeed hide me in his prefence. Though in the midst of outward hurry and diffipation, I feel that folemn, retired folitude, that I could not find in the most unfrequented defert, were I deftitute of his favour and presence. O Sir, I want a heart full of gratitude to fo good a God, and fo kind a Benefactor. How do I daily groan under mountains • The company of him who had made his addreffes to her. of mercies, and an unthankful heart! O Lord, teach me to praise thee! I feel a continual power to caft myfelf as a helpless finner at his feet. And he does not caft me out: the fountain is open, and Jefus is ready to fave. When weary and faint, he is my life and ftrength: though foolish and poor, he is my riches and wisdom. Having him I poffefs all things. I defire nothing out of Him: nor would I for ten thousand worlds, accept of any thing without his permission: he is an unerring Counfellor. I "leave to his fovereign fway to chufe and to command." My defire is, to lie in his hands as clay, that he may do with me what feemeth him good. Let me glorify Him both in life and in death, and then all is well. I trust you will continue to remember at the throne of grace the weakeft of all your followers, MARY JONES, POETRY. The MESSI A H. A SACRED ECLOGUE, written in imitation of Virgil's Pollio. E nymphs of Solyma! begin the fong, YE To heavenly themes fublimer ftrains belong. Rapt into future times the bard begun, The The ethereal Spirit o'er its leaves fhall move, Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, Swift fly the years, and rise the expected morn! He from thick films fhall purge the visual ray, No |