c. late 1743

Printed Version

My Dear Sister,

         Last Monday I receiv’d a Box from London, with six of your Letter-Books, &c. Blessed be the rich Fountain of Free-Grace, I have the Heart given me to rejoice in, and be thankful for all the Gifts and Graces, as also for every Drop that ever flow’d on any of our miserable Race, from that sacred Spring. May you live long to set forth with your Pen as publick as possible, the Glory of that Grace: And I know as my Master will constrain you, you won’t forget me – that I may, with the rest sent out, be enabled to lisp out the Praises of the Dear Redeemer – Was my Tongue employ’d in praising Him, and admiring the Mysteries of Love and Grace in Him, and in setting forth the unfathomable Abyss of Iniquity in us, [30] and the Streams of Evil that continually flow like a Fountain out of the Mystery of Iniquity in us, you know I should but still begin: But, alas! I see I do but begin to see that I don’t see, as it were, either of these as yet – I am sure I think and conceive as a Child; and therefore bear with me in speaking as a Child. But I am daily more convinced by Experience in seeing the careless Walk of many that say they know JESUS; and seeing but little Sign of Growth, nor of any deep Concern for the same; and observing also the unconceivable Evils that arise thence, viz. Hardening the Ungodly in their Prejudice against the Ways of God, &c. (which must move a loving new Heart) and dishonour the Name and Ways and Truths of God, and weakening  the Hands of the Ministers of God, and fills the Mouths of the Enemies with Arguments against the Truth, &c. – I say I hereby am more convinced of the Necessity of insisting on all Divine [31] Tempers, and universal Holiness, as inseparable Fruits of the good Tree, which can bear no other. And though there be another Root, which produces other Fruit, yet it should be well seen how Faith and Repentance are exercised, as to this – Want of this, I fear, has been one great Means to bring so many dear Souls into the Spiritual Slumber, and Indolence, and Indifference about the Cause of God, that they seem to be plunged in. – How terrible is it, to see one talking of knowing JESUS CHRIST, and perhaps these many Years too; and yet with the Image of the World, and the old Adam from Head to Foot; vain and trifling, or light and conceited, and void of that Divine Wisdom, Love and Tenderness, and Suitableness to the Company they are in, which shou’d bespeak them to be led by a better Guide than their own Spirits – ’Tis shocking to see more Readiness to do good Offices, in such as pretend to no Orthodoxy [32] in Matters of Faith, than in such as have all Knowledge. – O dear Sister! spare not these, and the Holy Spirit will help you. How justly may it be said to most, If CHRIST is all in all to you, how comes it about that you are so concern’d for your own Name and Riches? If HE is all yours, how does not that Faith that so receives Him, make you to be all His, you and yours, and all you have and are? If He breathed his first and last Breath for you, how comes it about that so much of you Time and Money and Talk are spent on the Lust of the Eye, the Lust of the Flesh, and the Pride of Life? If we are Children of God, where is his Image – Can HE beget Children unlike Himself? Can the Root be holy, and the Branches not be so! What! Redeemed of JESUS! and bear Fruit to Nature, and Self, and the Spirit of the World! What Contradictions are these! And if it be said, That which I would, that do I not, by reason of the Evil – (the Body of Sin) present, where is the Mourning and Heart-breaking! How so light and [33] easy! Where’s the striving by Faith in the Redeemer’s Blood? Where is the Victory? What! always conquer’d! always remain a Babe! always asleep!

         These are Signs indeed of a Dead Soul. Always will our Conversation be on Earth, instead of Heaven. – I humbly think (though there is a Body of Sin in us, and too often prevails to our great Shame and Grief, yet) we shou’d insist upon it, that The good Tree cannot bear evil Fruit, and the Bond-woman and her Children must be cast out. Sin must be subdu’d and brought under Dominion, that JESUS may reign, and have the Use of all the Talents – We shou’d insist upon it, that that Faith that seems to apply Christ, and adhere to him, and venture on, and see him bearing our Sins, and does not purify the Heart of Self-love, Bigottry, and the Love of the World, &c. and does not grow, and produce all Divine Tempers and Universal Pity to Mankind, and true genuine Love to all Saints undissembledly, is no Faith, [34] but Delusion and an Imagination of our own forming in our outward Man. – That Acquaintance with God which can bear us to be conformed to the Customs of the World in our Dress, and spend much Money in costly Furniture, or to lay up Treasure on Earth, can be but a speculative and dead Knowledge. – As we have been like our first Father, earthly, devilish, and sensual, we must bear the Image of the HEAVENLY; and shew to all that we really belong to God, and are like God; and so prove ourselves to be His Children by having the same Truth, Faithfulness, Tenderness, Pity and Mercy that so shines in God, in us – ’Till then we don’t adorn the Gospel.

         Tho’ I am hereby cut myself, yet a Necessity is laid upon me to send you these Hints; not as if I had anything in particular in my View; but seeing that a monstrous Sight it is to see one call himself a Child of God, and yet live in the Devil’s Tempers, Angers, and Fretfulness, [35] nay, Fraud and Avarice; and void of Bowels of Mercy, Love, and Compassion – and are rather stiffnecked and stubborn. And as our Lord has entrusted you with a Talent of Writing for Him, that this (if the Spirit strikes in with it on your Soul) may have a Share in your Heart-Prayers; and if He pleases, in the Papers; and if it were in my Power, none shou’d be more ready to spread such Papers abroad, to try (if possible through Grace) to have Christians consistent with themselves in Principle and Practice – All to wipe off the Reproach of our dear Religion, that our Tempers, Love, Meekness, Deadness to the World, &c. may prove to all that will see, that we are Christians indeed. This is the sole Aim of,

                     Dear Dear Sister,

                                 Yours for ever in the Lamb,

                                             Howell Harris.

Manuscript Version

4 June 1743

Dr Dr Sistr Dutton

         Last Monday I rec’d a Box from London with 6 of yr Letter Books of 1s 6d & 12 of yr 1d Lettrs & a Letter of 9s 11 – it came to London soon aftr my Departure & for want of Conveyancing &c lay there. I shall make ye Return of yr Money as soon as opportunity suits – I have a Heart given me (Blessed be ye Rich Fountn of free Grace!) to Rejoyce in & be Thankful for all yr Gifts & Grace as for every Drop that ever flowed on any of our poor miserable Race from that sacred spring & may you live long with many more to set forth with yr Pen as publick as possible the glory of that Grace & I know as my Mastr will constrain you you would forget a poor weak ignorant uncomely vile proud & sinful young stripling that he may with ye Rest sent out be enabled [at] least to lisp out ye Praises of ye dear Redeemer – was my tongue for ever employ’d in praisg Him & admirg ye mysteries of Love & Grace in Him & in settg forth the unfathomable abyss of Iniquity in ^us & of ye streams of Evil^ that continually flow like a Fountain out of ye Mystery of Iniquity in me you know I shd but still begin – but alas I see I do but begin to see that I dont see as it were either of these yet – I am sure I think & conceive as a child & therefore bear with me in speaking as a Child. But I am daily more convinced by Experience in seeing the careless walk of many that say they know Jesus & seeing but little signs of growth neither, nor of any deep concern ^for ye same^ & observing also ye inconceivable Evils that arise hence hardeng ye ungodly in their Prejudices agt ye ways of God which much move a loving new Heart & dishonourg ye name ways & Truths of God & weakening the Hands of ye Minr of God & fillg ye mouths of Enemies wth argumts agt ye Truth – I say I hereby am more convinced of ye necessity of insisting on all Divine Tempers & Universal Holiness as ye inseparable fruit of ye good Tree – which can bear no other & tho’ there be another Root that produces another fruit yet it shd be well seen how Faith & Repentance are exercis'd as to this – want of this I fear has been one great means to bring so many dr Souls to that spirl Slumber & indolence & indifference abot ye Cause of God that they seem to be plung’d in – how terrible is it to see one talking of knowing Jesus Christ & perhaps these many years & yet with ye Image of ye world & ye old Adam from head to foot – vain & trifling & light or conceited & void of that Divine Wisdom Love Tenderness & Suitableness to ye Company they are in which shd bespeak them to be led by a bettr guide than their own spirits – how justly may it be sd to most – if Christ is all in all to you how comes it abt that you are so concern’d for yr self & name & Riches? – if he is all yrs how does not that Faith that to recover Him make you to be all His – you & yours & all you have & are? – If He breathd this first & last Breath for you how comes it about that so much of yr Time & money & talk is spent on ye Lust of ye eye & ye flesh & ye Pride of Life? – If we are Children of God whose is His Image? Can He beget Children unlike Himself? can ye root be Holy & ye Branches not be so? ^What?^ redeem’d of Jesus & bearg fruit to nature & self & ye spirit of ye world! What contradictions are these! & if it be sd that which I wd that do I not by reason of ye Evil – ye Body of Sin – present – where ^then^ is ye mourng & heart-breaking? How so light & easy! Where’s ye strivg by faith in ye Redeemrs Blood? where is ye Victory? What always conquer’d! always remain a Babe! always asleep, always will our conversation [be] on Earth instead of Heaven. These ^are bad signs indeed of a dead Soul.^

I humbly think though there is a terrible Body of Sin in us, and too oftn prevails to our great Shame and Grief, yet we shd insist upon it, that ye good Tree canst bear evil fruit & ye Bondwomn & her Children must be cast out. Sin must be subdu’d & brought undr Dominn that Jesus may reign & have ye use of all our Talents – we shd insist upon it that that Faith that seems to apply Christ and adhere to Him & venture on Him and see Him bearg our Sins & does not purify our Hearts of Self love Bigotry & ye Love of ye World &c – & does not grow & produce all Divine Tempers [&] Universal Pity to Mankind & true genuine Love to all Saints undissembledly, is no Faith but Delusion & Imagination of our own formg in our outwd Man – that acquaintance with God that can bear us to live in a Conformity to ye customs of ye World in our Dress and to spend much Money in costly Furniture or to lay up Treasures on Earth can be but a speculative & dead Knowledge – as we have been like our first Father Earthly Devilish & Sensual (& to our cost too much of that we feel still) but we must bear ye Image of ye Heavenly & shew to all that we really belong to God & are like God & to His Children by having ye same Truth faithfulness tenderness pity and mercy that so shines in God, in us & till then we don’t adorn the Gospel.

         Tho’ I am hereby cut myself, yet a Necessity is put upon me to send these Hints to you not as if I had anything in particulr in my view but seeing wt a monstrous Sight it is to see one call himself a Child of God & yet live in the Devil’s Tempers, Angers, and Fretfulness, nay, Fraud & Avarice; & void of Bowels of Mercy & Love & and Compassion rather stiffnecked and stubborn. And as our Ld has entrusted you wh a Talent for Him in Writg, that this if the Spirit strikes in it wh it on yr Soul may have a Share in yr Heart  & Prayrs & if He pleases in yr Papers & if it were in my Pow’r none shd be more ready to spread such Papers abroad to try if possible thro’ Grace to have Xtians consistnt wth themselves in Principle & Practice, all of [?] & to wipe off ye Reproach of our dr Religion that in Tempers, Love, Meekness, Zeal, faithfulness in all Truth – fulfillg all [?] Duties – Animosity & Deadness to the World may prove to all that will see that we are Xtians indeed. This is the sole aim of Dr Dr Sister,

                                  Yrs for ever in the dr Lamb,

                                              Howell Harris –