c. 1724

Anne Dutton, Northampton, to an unidentified friend, c. 1724. 

Beloved Brother,

         I am willing to let you know, that the Lord has brought me to his Foot. I trust, as an Answer of our Prayers. He has loosen’d me from the Creature, and made me cleave closer to himself, as the Eternal Fountain, and Well-Spring of all my Consolation. He has made me willing to be deny’d, what I earnestly sought for: If by this He might be the more glorified. I am made willling to be deny’d that one Thing my Soul sought after; which was, the Delights of the divine Presence in Ordinances, and to wait for that Solace, till my Father takes me into the full Enjoyment of himself; if by this He will gain any Glory. So that I can now say, Here I am, let him do with me as seemeth good unto him. The Blessed Spirit has presented the Glory of God as such as lovely Thing; that in this Case, he has drew away my Soul after it: And not only made me to submit, but even to love that He should be glorified, and rejoyce in it: Esteeming it far better that God should be glorified, in his Greatness, Sovereignty, Power, and Wisdom, than that I should barely be satisfied. And yet, satisfied I am: For if I never have what I hoped for; yet, if God will get any [57] Glory to himself, by drawing out my Desires, and then crossing them, I esteem it well worth the Exercise. And now my Soul is even as a weaned Child, that is weaned from the Milk, and drawn from the Breasts: And I am willing that the Lord should glorify himself, which Way He pleases.

         The Lord has sometimes made me willing to want a Mercy; and then has bestowed it: Willing to bear Affliction; and then has wrought Deliverance. And if my Beloved should yet say, by his Spirit, and in his Providence, Arise, my Love, my fair one, and come away: I should leap at his Voice, and confess that it is every Way like the God of all grace; and as such, desire He might have the Glory. But I bow to his royal Pleasure. Believing my Interest in my Father’s Heart, I am at his Dispose: Rejoycing in that He will be glorified, however he deals with me. I desire you may glorify him on my Behalf.

         And now, dear Brother, that you and yours may be enriched with the Blessings of the upper and the nether Springs, made to shine in Holiness here, and in Glory at Christ’s Appearing: Is the earnest Desire of,

                                 Yours in Him,

A.    D.

Text: A.  D. [Anne Dutton]. A Brief Account of the Gracious Dealings of God, with a poor, sinful, unworthy Creature, relating to some particular Experiences of the Lord’s goodness, in bringing out several little Tracts, to the Furtherance and Joy of Faith. With an Appendix, and a Letter prefix’d on the Lawfulnes of a Woman’s appearing in Print. Parts I, II, and III. London: Printed by J. Hart, in Popping’s Court, Fleet-street; and sold by J. Lewis, in Pater-noster-row, near Cheapside. 1750.  Part II, pp. 56-57.