Anne Dutton, Great Gransden, to a young Gentleman [unnamed and with an unknown location], 15 October 1742.

Oct. 15. 1742.

My dearly beloved Brother in Christ,

         Glad was I of the Line you sent me, which signify’d your Desire to hear from me. Much have [9] I wanted to know whether you receiv’d my last Letter; and also how your Soul prospereth. Verily I have not forgot you; but as you did not write to me, I knew not where to direct, nor how to convey a Letter to you. And now my Time allow’d me to write, is very short, and I am unacquainted with your present Frame. But in the general, I find you want Good. Let me therefore say unto you, as Eliphaz to Job, Acquaint now thyself with Him, (with God in Christ) and be at Peace: thereby God shall come unto thee. Oh thou tender Lamb of Christ’s Fold! thy Shepherd’s Heart is concern’d for thee, His Bowels yearn towards thee; and in boundless Compassion, with everlasting Kindness will he gather thee by the Strength of his Arm, and carry thee safe in his Bosom, thro’ a Land of Pits and Snares, and fiery flying Serpents, unto the Land of Rest; where Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away, and everlasting Rest be upon thy Head! Thy Weakness, Sickness, and Diseases, shall never [10] turn away the Heart of thy tender Shepherd from thee: But having loved thee with a Free, Infinite Love; his Love towards thee, will draw out the Compassions of his Soul, so much the more to help, relieve, and save thee to the uttermost. The Whole (says he) need not a Physician; but those that are sick. Oh, Jesus Christ has a special Regard to his sick Children; and takes a peculiar Delight in healing their Souls, and binding up their Wounds! If Christ lose one of his Sheep, if one of them be driven from his Fold and expos’d to imminent Danger; such are his infinite Bowels towards it, that he doth as it were leave the ninety and nine, and goeth after that which is lost until he find it. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his Shoulder, and bringeth it home rejoicing. Oh my Brother, if such were your Case, that there was no Pity for you in any of the Creatures; you have Tenderness enough in Christ’s Heart, a boundless, endless Store, of Love, Grace and Mercy, to relieve [11] and solace you in your greatest Miseries! Come, try the Compassions of JESUS! The Godhead is in Him! His Bowels are infinite! His Mercies are tender Mercies; that are easily touch’d with the Feeling of your Miseries! Tender, to sympathize with you in them, to relieve you under them, and to save you from them! Oh, Christ hath a tender Heart, and a tender Hand to bind up wounded Spirits! Your Miseries can be but finite; but the Compassions of Christ are infinite! They know neither Bound, Change, nor End! But spread themselves in glorious Triumph over all!

         Oh come, cast your Soul, put your Trust under the Shadow of his Wings, until all your Calamities may be overpast! He will not frown you away: but open his Arms, his Bosom, and let you into all his Grace! And lo, The Father himself loveth you! It will please the Father well, to see you come unto Him by Jesus Christ! He delighteth in Mercy, in exercising Loving Kindness to the most [12] Miserable and Unworthy! The Father’s Love is Great, Free, Unchangeable and Eternal! And thro’ the Crucify’d, Risen, and Ascended Saviour, He will display his Mercy, Love and Grace, in his exceeding Riches, unto Ages without End! God’s Design in Saving Sinners by Jesus Christ, is to magnify his Mercy, to glorify his grace, to commend his Love, and set it off in all its native Glories before all intelligent Beings! And therefore where Sin has abounded, Grace doth much more abound. Oh the Infinite Fulness of Grace! the Glory of this much more. Grace triumphs over Sins, over Miseries, over Wants innumerable; in the Salvation of Sinners unto Life eternal! It fills Valleys, covers Mountains, and like a mighty Deluge, prevails in its infinite Strength, and spreads its immense Glories over All!

It rises, see, it drowns the Hills!

                 ’T has neither Shore nor bound:

Now if we search to find our Sins,

                 They can no more be found! [13]

         Oh the infinite All-prevailings of Free, rich, Reigning Grace! Eternity will be little enough to proclaim its Wonders, and sing its Praises! Oh submit to this Grace, rejoice in this Grace, adore and praise this Grace, in Heart, Lip and Life, until Time’s Praises are swallowed up in blest Eternity’s louder Hallelujahs! Unto the Love and Care of our Great Shepherd I commit you. Pray for (my dear Brother)

         Yours most Tenderly in JESUS,

                                             ---- -------. [Anne Dutton].

P.S. I intreat you to write speedily, to acquaint me with your state, and where to direct.

Text: “The Copy of a Letter from a Friend in the Country, to a young Gentleman, who desired some Advice for the Good of his Soul,” in The Weekly History: or, An Account of the Most Remarkable Particulars relating to the Present Progress of the Gospel, ed. John Lewis (London: Printed and Sold by John Lewis, in Bartholomew-Close, near West-Smithfield, 1742), Vol. II, no. 2, pp. 8-13.