Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

to me, for a long time past, to hear of your decided attachment to the cause of God; and it is my earnest prayer that the life of God, which his grace has commenced, may flourish more, till it issues, as it infallibly will, in the fruit of eternal life. Go on, my dear Sir, in the course you have begun; dare to be singularly good, and to follow Jesus "out of the camp, bearing his reproach," a reproach that will be found" 'greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt." You are already the joy of good men, and a shining shining hope of the church; and it is impossible to calculate the eminent advantage you may be of to the interests of religion, in the sphere where Providence has placed you.

Your admonitions I take in good part. I am not without a consciousness of my not having exerted my small abilities to the extent I ought in the cause of religion; but I find strange and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, arising in part from a certain fastidiousness of taste, which renders me dissatisfied, and even disgusted, with all my performances. My extreme ill state of health must also be taken into the account. I am seldom free from pain, which is often very severe.

*

I remain, my dear Sir,

Yours most affectionately,

ROBERT HALL.

XXXI.

TO JOSEPH GUTTERIDGE, ESQ. DENMARK HILL,

CAMBERWELL.

My dear Sir,

Leicester, September 16, 1811.

I have not relinquished my intention of publishing the substance of the sermon delivered at Prescott-street; though I think it will be most proper to print it in the form of a charge, in which it was first delivered. You may rest satisfied I shall not omit making mention of the occasion on which it was preached at Prescott-street, and embracing the opportunity of recommending, as far as lies in my power, the new institution to the attention and patronage of the religious public. The reason of the sermon not appearing sooner, has been, principally, an almost uninterrupted struggle of painful discouragement, arising from its appearing so contemptible under my hand.* The truth is, I am tormented with the desire of writing better than I can; and, as this is an obstacle not easily overcome, I am afraid it will never be in my power to write much.

* The sermon here referred to is that on the Discouragements and Supports of the Christian Minister.-ED.

[graphic]

XXXII.

FROM MR. GUTTERIDGE TO MR. HALL.

PROPOSING THAT HE SHOULD PREACH A SERIES OF LECTURES IN LONDON.

Dear Sir,

I am now about to address you on the subject of our conversation when last at Denmark Hill. I then suggested to you the wishes of many friends, that you would consent to visit London the following spring, and make arrangements for spending a longer time with us. Several persons have been inquiring if there were a probability of such an event being realised; but I did not wish to trouble you farther on the subject till it became needful to do so.

My idea has been, that if you would spend six weeks at least with us, a course of lectures might be established, to be preached by you, that, under a divine blessing, without which all our efforts are vain, might be productive of much good at the present season. A course of lectures, say you ;on what subject? I reply, on any subjects that have a tendency to counteract the impiety and irreligion of the world in which we live: and surely you will admit this is latitude sufficient. I am aware that some objections will arise in your own mind. You will perhaps indignantly ask, 'Does he think I will go to London to preach for money?' You may rely upon it, I have too much regard for you to wish you to do any thing that might even

be interpreted to your discredit. But is it dishonourable in a man, who has a family that have claims upon him, to do that which may promote their comfort? Is the fair and honourable exercise of talent to be deprived of a suitable remuneration? Is not "the labourer worthy of his hire?" And although he who is called to preach the gospel is not to be actuated by motives of " filthy lucre," yet he is nowhere called to despise the cup of blessings that Providence may put into his hands, "who giveth us all things richly to enjoy." All this I am saying, upon a presumption that your friends will cheerfully raise a subscription, of which you will know nothing, save the contents.

I should propose to obtain places of worship well adapted for evening lectures; probably one in the city, and one on the other side Temple Bar; and that on the Lord's-day evening, and also one evening in the week, you might alternately preach there. This plan would leave your sabbath mornings at liberty to oblige particular friends, or to supply destitute congregations; and in this respect, I would propose to fix you to Prescott-street, if I dare. The time that appears to me most suited for the purpose would be the beginning of April ; and then you would be in Town, through the missionary meetings. There is also, in the beginning of May, a most important service to be performed for the " Orphan School;" the only school, among protestant dissenters, where the children are maintained as well as educated, and which has been

[graphic]

upon the decline, but is now, we hope, reviving. I should rejoice to see you become the advocate of so extensive and valuable an object; and, if you fall in with my design, you will, I hope, undertake it. hope Mrs. Hall and the children will come with you: you have friends who will be glad to take them in; but if you would prefer a lodging, we can, I doubt not, manage that to your satisfaction. Thus have I given you the outlines of a plan which is subject to any alterations you may propose. Let me beg you to take it into your serious consideration, and to send me soon a favourable answer.

I am, dear Sir, affectionately yours,
JOSEPH GUTTERIDGE.

XXXIII.

TO JOSEPH GUTTERIDGE, ESQ.

IN REPLY TO THE PRECEDING.

My dear Sir,

Leicester, Feb. 29, 1812.

I have taken into my most serious consideration the proposition laid before me in your last letter, and have sought the advice of those friends whose opinion I judged most fit to be relied upon. Some of them are decided in favour of my compliance, others leave the matter in suspense. My people at Leicester have given their cheerful consent, on a supposition of its appearing to me to be the path of duty. Upon making it frequent matter of prayer, I am inclined to think it may be my duty to fall in with the ideas entertained by you and

« AnteriorContinuar »