Romaine's letters to his family
Letter 1My dear Sister,
I always loved you as my sister; now I love you much more than ever. I trust in God that you will soon stand related to me by a more close and dearer bond than nature can tie. Only go on, and you will be happy. God has begun His work; let Him finish it. All my prayers shall be offered for your speedy experience of His pardoning love. And until you taste of it, let me entreat you to be earnest in the careful use of all the means of grace. Be much in prayer, and in reading and meditating on the Word of God. But then take care that you do not build your salvation on these duties. You are not to imagine that anything you can do is able to justify you in the sight of God. Your justification is a free act of God's grace, without works.
William Romaine
Letter 2
My dear Sister,
I saw Mr. R. last Sunday, who gave me a very pleasing account of your growth in grace. It was said formerly that the distinguishing love of God chose two from a city, and one from a family. But now what reason do we have to magnify and exalt the love of our God, who has been so exceedingly gracious to our family! I trust He has greater blessings for us all, even in this life, than we have yet received. Only wait upon Him and be found in those ways where He meets His people—and He will carry you on safely and sweetly to the end of your journey. It is but a little way and a short time, and we shall be at our eternal home! We ought every moment to be pressing forward. May God keep you from being weary or faint in your mind!
You will have afflictions and troubles along the way, and so have all God's children. You have them because you need them. You could not grow in grace without them. How could you take up your cross and deny yourself daily—if you did not have daily troubles?
It is the exercise of faith to bear them, and to believe that God deals them out by number, weight, and measure. You have not one pain more than you stand in need of!
And further, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." If we do but attain to this glory, it signifies very little by what way we come to the attainment of it.
Think on these things, and through the blessing of God, they may help to make you see and feel that the way of suffering is the royal way to the kingdom.
I hope God will finish His work in mother before she goes hence. I trust we shall meet once more in this world; and I doubt not that we shall meet where we shall part no more.
I send enclosed a little piece of Mr. Mason's writings. I hope God will bless it at this time, as it comes seasonably, and particularly to my sister M., who will, I expect, be able to read it with profit about the time it reaches you.
Why do you want so much to have texts and pieces of sermons? Have you not the Bible? One word of Scripture, is worth a whole volume of man's writings! Read and pray much, and God will do more for you than all His ministers can. I commend you to God and to the riches of His grace, praying Him to do for you exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think.
I remain, your loving brother,
William Romaine
Letter 3
My dear sister,
I have been very sick for a long time, but thank God that I find sickness better for me than health. And I am sure, when the Lord sees best, I shall be restored to my former state of health. The main thing is to be secure of our eternal health; of that I have no doubt.
Blessed be God for His unspeakable gift! I do not believe that one tittle of the Word can be broken, but that to the uttermost it shall be fulfilled even to me. This gives a relish to everything God sends because whatever comes from Him, comes always sanctified, and generally sweetened. What the enemy attempts against our peace, God overrules to the establishing of it; and his temptations against our graces are made to strengthen them. This is my experience; I hope it is yours.
Rejoice in having an Almighty Friend. Be comforted in Him. What signifies all that Satan or the world or our own hearts can do against His power? We are His redeemed children. That is enough. He will keep us. He will strengthen us. He will justify us. He will sanctify and glorify us. Yes, He will do all this for even such as we are.
Oh, let us then fear nothing but displeasing Him; and while this holy fear is in our hearts, we shall go on safely and sweetly homeward. There may we meet, even in our Father's Kingdom, and inherit all that Jesus purchased for us!
My best respects and duty and prayers attend my dear mother. I have not the least uneasy thought about her. She has God's promise. This she shall find. May the Lord keep you and all friends.
William Romaine
Letter 4
Dear Sister,
Your letter gave me greater joy than I can express. I hope all will soon be well with your soul. You may examine yourself by these following rules, and I hope God will give His blessing to them:
First, look back and see from where your conviction of sin arose. The Scripture says true conviction must come from the Holy Spirit. "And when He has come," says Christ, "He will convince the world of sin." It is His business and His office; and when He acts in it, conviction has these properties different from the conviction of natural conscience.
Conviction of sin respects not so much acts of sin, as the sin of our nature: that entire pollution and depravity of the faculties of soul and body, which render us by nature children of wrath.
Again, spiritual conviction of sin is DEEP; it goes to the bottom of the heart and lays open all the lurking places of sin.
Further, it is LASTING; it continues its hatred and opposition to all sin, until it is not only seen in the heart, but also driven out of it.
Secondly, if after examining your conviction of sin by these rules, and you find it right, and peace and joy begin to arise in your conscience—if it is the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, it will make you continue to hate sin and everything sinful.
It will leave you more in love with God than it found you. You will love prayer more, and will have a freedom and liberty in it which you did not have before. You will love God's Word more and will understand more of it, being enabled, by His grace, to find instruction in it, suitable to all your spiritual needs.
My meaning in all this is, if the conviction of the Spirit has brought you to Jesus Christ, you will know it by its fruits. You will find yourself growing in grace, and more in earnest about the salvation of your soul.
Thirdly, examine your growth in grace by this rule: We remember the sin which did so easily beset us; look at that and see whether you hate it entirely, and whether you have entirely got the mastery over it. God has promised that you shall have grace to help in time of need. Apply to God for the fulfilling of this promise and be more concerned about this grace, which you always want in time of need, than about sensible comforts—because in the one you may be deceived, but in the other you cannot.
My dear sister, you have chosen the better part. The kingdom of
Heaven is worth millions of worlds! May God enable you to seek, until you attain it.
My prayers attend you. Remember me to my sister _____. My duty to my dear mother. Adieu.
William Romaine
Letter 5
Grace be with you, my dear sister, and with my dearest mother. Thanks for your kind letter. I am glad to observe the spirit of it. While Christ is dear and precious to you, all will be well. Lay Him as the foundation and build all upon Him; then foundation and building will never, never fall.
Oh, my dear sister, you cannot make too much of Him. Faith, resting on Him, finds a free, full, eternal pardon for all sin; and faith living upon Him, finds power over sin, deliverance from temptations and enemies; and by and by, sin shall be no more, but only Heaven and glory, the purchase of the Savior's blood.
The believer's motto is, "Christ all, I nothing." For he cannot live upon Christ, unless he feels his need of Him. More needs, more faith. As they increase, so must faith, that the believer may get a supply, and the Savior may get the glory.
May that precious Savior, eternally, infinitely precious, be your keeper! May you love Him more than I do! May you live more upon Him than I! May my dear mother get established in Him! May Jesus keep you! May Jesus bless you! My dear sister, yours in Him,
William Romaine
Letter 6
My dear Sister,
You tell me good news indeed, which makes my heart glad and thankful. Oh, what reason have I to bless the good and gracious Lord, who is still infinitely loving to me and mine! He has brought me once more to St. Dunstan's, and through many miracles of mercy which I have experienced both in my body and soul for these last six months. Now I can sit down, and looking back, adore and bless His rich grace; in all things and for all things, I can give Him thanks. Nothing have I to mention all the day long, but mercy upon mercy; great measure, pressed down, and running over. Every moment brings some increase of mercies to body or soul and leads me to magnify the goodness of my dearest Lord. He has shown Himself, by numberless acts of grace, so entirely my Friend, that He has enabled me to trust all my mercies in His hands. He knows what is best for me, and I am sure He will give it. Thus He is glorified, and I am happy.
You have heard of my being a pastoral candidate for a church in the city. My friends put me up, and I have scarcely a thought about it. I only desire that Christ's will may be done. If He wills to employ me in a larger field than I have at present, "Here am I, Lord, send me." If He would have me to stay and work where I am, I am content. Be with me, Lord, then I shall be and do whatever You please. Thus I have cast all my care for this and all other things upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for me.
You will suppose, then, that I am happy; and so I am—very, very happy. I have got the Pearl of Great Price; let them who will, take the field. For one end and purpose only do I now live. I see in this Pearl of Great Price, the infinitely rich Jesus, far more wisdom, righteousness, holiness, strength, and blessedness than I have yet attained; and I hunger and thirst for more, still more. I know it is all mine, and therefore I keep pressing forward.
In what method and on what motives I do this, I will tell you:
1. As to myself—I find that to this moment I never go to Christ for anything until I feel the need of it, so that the more needs I have, the more I make use of Him. For this reason I am not afraid to discover what is in myself, be it what it will, because it does not drive me from Christ, but leads me to Him. By this means self is kept down, and Christ is exalted.
2. As to Christ—I grow in the knowledge of Him by finding more every day, that without Him I can do nothing. Hereby my faith is increased, and I live in a more settled dependence upon Him. My hopes are enlarged and laid up with Him within the veil, which is the death of worldly hopes and fears. And my love to Him abounds from daily experience of His rich love to my soul, which crucifies and kills creature love.
For these two things I am pressing forward, desiring to be more emptied of self, and to live more out of self—that I may be filled more with Christ, and live more upon His fullness. I am sure that this is the way to be both holy and happy.
Now at Christmas, I would wish to feel in myself what a lost and eternally miserable creature I would have been without Christ. Here lies the ground of dependence on Him and thankfulness to Him. That believer will spend the best Christmas, who is most experimentally acquainted with his own ruined nature, and thereby knows what a mercy it is that God would take our nature, to save us from all the sins and miseries of it; and being thus saved, what will He be doing all the Christmas, but praising and blessing that dear Jesus, to whom he is infinitely, and will be eternally indebted.
May nothing but praise come from your lips and mine, and my dear mother's. May she know that Jesus was born for her, and be glad now in His salvation. I am yours in everlasting bonds,
William Romaine
Letter 7
Lambeth, September 29, 1764
My dear sister must not accuse me of neglect. I have been about my Master's business, preaching at Bradford, at Powsey, etc.; and being now returned to London to preach three times tomorrow, I could not help giving you an account of my matters, and of my dear Jesus' great goodness to me. He has traveled with me and truly been with me. Oh, what have I experienced of His love since I left you! He has not only let me taste that He is precious, but He has also made me live upon His grace. He lets
me have nothing but love—free, rich love; and my very medicine is given by and tastes of His love, and always works greater love in me to Him—so that Jesus has become exceedingly dear to me.
His cross endears Him, as well as His crown. Indeed, His cross is full of diamonds within, as His daughter (that is, every true believer) is all glorious within.
But why do I speak thus to you? Is not precious Emmanuel lovely in your eyes? Yes, I know He is, and I speak of Him to you to encourage you still to go on, expecting to receive every day of His fullness, more than you received yesterday. Do not stop; do not think you have attained all He has to give, but keep pressing on. Still there is more wisdom—you know but in part.
Still there still more growth in knowledge of Christ's righteousness—it is infinite and everlasting.
Still there more holiness in Jesus' fullness than anyone living has yet received, because not one on earth loves Him as they do in Heaven.
Still more strength, because every day is to bring us more sensible of our weakness, that we may be strengthened more by Him, and that His strength may be perfected in our weakness.
May the Lord give you His mind and Spirit, that you may be growing up into Him in all things. You have great reason to bless the Lord Christ for His goodness to you in the north; but He has a dear people, and a numerous one too, in the west, and growing. It will be a vast multitude when they all get together; and that puts me in mind of my dear mother, who, I am sure, will not be missing when the Lord counts His jewels.
I am, for His sake, yours most affectionately,
William Romaine
Letter 8
Lambeth, November 6, 1765
My dear sister, whom I love in the Lord, peace be with you. Although I have nothing particular to communicate, yet I could not help writing on the old subject, which will never be exhausted. While there are angels to sing and saints to shout aloud for joy, they will be telling of the love of Jesus to all ages. How great is His goodness! How great is His beauty! Matchless both, as I for one can witness.
I am loaded with His benefits. If I should begin to number them, they are more than I am able to express. To my body, my substance, my children, my soul—all, all is mercy! And mercy that endures forever. May the God of all mercy secure to Himself, from me, all the glory that is His due.
You ask about Blackfriars; the cause stands still. It was to have been heard the first day of this term, but the lawyers were not ready. When it will come on now, I cannot tell.
But I can tell much of Jesus' goodness to me. He does not let all this waiting time be lost. He is teaching me to make up all my happiness in Himself, and is kindly cutting off one and another view of rest short of Him, who is our only rest.
Because I am a very dull scholar and the Master is meek and lowly, He therefore bears with me and takes a great deal of pains to instruct me in my lessons.
I think this is one great end and aim in all His dealings with His dear people—He would have them to trust Him, to live on Him, and to love Him always.
But how can He do this so effectually, as by bringing them off from trusting to, living on, and loving other things? He would take these out of the heart, in order to make room for Himself. He is a jealous God. He will not sit on the same throne with idols! If there is one idol still in the heart, it must come down. The more we cleave to it, He will put forth the more of His strength to divorce us from it.
While He is in much mercy doing this, the foolish heart thinks Christ is hurting it and intending it evil—when He means nothing but good, and is taking the best means to bestow good. He is removing the shadow—to make way for the substance. He is deadening the soul to sensual enjoyments—that it may be thereby more alive to God, and fitter for closer communion with Him.
Graciously is He teaching me these blessed lessons. What He takes from me, I gain most by. For I am an immense, yes, an eternal gainer, when He fills up with Himself the lack of that which He takes away. Whatever brings me this blessing, I can welcome it.
Welcome every cross which brings me nearer to my Jesus, and makes me live in stricter fellowship with Him. And then I can say, and feel it too, "Farewell, fine world! Farewell all your fine things! Farewell forever!" when they would keep me one moment from the enjoyment of my greatest good, and from the love of my best and eternal Friend, my Jesus.
May sweet Jesus bless you in body and soul and substance. Give me, your most affectionate brother, an interest in your prayers,
William Romaine
Letter 9
Brighthelmstone, October 8, 1765
My dear sister,
I have been waiting for an opportunity to write to you, and it is now come. You love to hear, and I love to write about our common Friend—that matchless, loving, lovely Jesus, a subject one is never tired of; the more we dwell on it, the sweeter it grows. The longer we enjoy its sweetness, the more of Heaven will come down to us, until we get up into Heaven itself! To see Jesus in Heaven, and to enjoy Him—is the bliss of Heaven. Thanks be to Him, He is the joy of your heart and mine. Although we know Him and rejoice in Him, yet we know but little of what is to be known of Him. For He is an infinite subject, and we can but know Him in part—but let us press on to know more. As we grow more humble and teachable, He will show us more of His own excellence.
Pray earnestly for more deep heart-humility. What He hides from the worldly wise, He reveals unto babes, unto those who are humble, childlike and simple. May the Lord make us more so daily, that we may know Him aright; and then we shall always see our salvation from sin and Hell, and our title to Heaven and glory, in Him.
We cannot know Him truly without believing in Him. May we understand more of . . .
His power and almighty arm as God-man;
His errand into the world to save sinners;
His love of His bleeding heart to save them;
and what an innumerable company He has plucked out of Hell's mouth and raised up to His Heaven.The more we know of these things—the more we can trust Him.
He says to all sinners, "Come to Me, and I will save you." Oh, what grace is in these lips—that you and I have heard His voice and have come, and are saved. We do believe, Lord—increase our faith!
Let us pray much for it because as our faith in Him increases, so will our love to Him. I cannot believe He has finished salvation's work for me, and daily experience miracles of His love, without loving Him in return; and as His tender mercies increase, I would love Him more and more. Oh, for more love to this best and dearest of Friends! I am sure your heart says, "Amen."
Now the way to have His love both growing and increasing, so as to abound in us—is to be continually making use of Him. He has all good in Him—and He has it for you and me. He has the fullness of a fountain in Him, to communicate it. Of this fullness He would have us to make free use. He invites us, commands us, to come with strong faith and much love, that by receiving from Him great grace, He may get much glory from us, while we get much happiness from Him.
His generous offer is, "Come with boldness—all that I have is for you."
Faith replies, "I come, sweet Jesus, at Your bidding, every moment, for everything, for both grace and glory. I am content to receive all at Your hands, and to be indebted to You for all, and that forever and ever."
While you live thus, my dear sister, in constant fellowship with your Savior—He will give you continual reason to love Him and to bless Him. He will so treat you, so comfort you, so strengthen you; He will make you in Him so holy and so happy, that every day He will enable you to trust Him more and to love Him better. Thus you will come to enjoy more of Him; you will delight more in His company; you will get greater intimacy with Him, and will walk in close communion with Him, which is Heaven upon earth.
This growing fellowship with Him will increase the joys of your present salvation. So that, when doubt of His love, sense of indwelling sin, earth or Hell, would tempt you from Jesus—He will speak in His Word, and will speak to your heart by His Spirit: "I am yours; fear not! I will guide you with My counsel, and after that, will receive you into glory!"
You will believe steadfastly what He says, and will thereby resist and overcome the temptation. He will keep you; and you shall hold out unto the end, and shall know it too, and praise Him for persevering grace.
He will bless you in death; and the happiest time you ever knew will be when He lays your body in a sweet sleep; and your spirit, with open face, shall see Jesus in the highest glory! To be with Him forever is the highest bliss. To this, I trust, He will bring you and me—that we may praise the riches of His grace, and get more in His debt forever and ever.
He is now teaching us this heavenly employment. You can, and I can, take the crown of all our graces and throw it at His feet. Soon, very soon, we shall do the same with the crown of glory. Oh, what a thought is that! The good Lord is preparing my mother to do the same. I heartily pray for her establishment in the faith, and am, with my wife's duty and love, your faithful friend and affectionate brother in our precious, most precious, eternally precious Jesus,
William Romaine
Letter 10
Lambeth, March 3, 1764
Grace and peace be with my dear sister, and with my mother. I thank you for your note by the penny post. Our God is good. Oh, He is good indeed to us. Not a family perhaps in England is so blessed of the Lord as we are. Why us, why us? Grace, grace has done it. Grace, grace must have the praise forever.
The time is at hand. The Lord has spoken,"Those who wait upon Me shall never be ashamed." My mother is waiting. She trusts the Lord, but has not the comfort of believing. She shall not be ashamed. God will appear for her, and she shall rejoice in His salvation. I believe it, as much as if I now heard her in the triumph of faith.
My little book is almost printed off. Please send me word how to send them, and what number. My dear sister, pray for it. Let it be a book of many prayers. May it be a means of increasing faith in the hearts of all who shall read it.
God be thanked I am turned out of my little chapel. Rejoice with me, that I am counted worthy to suffer shame for His dear, dear, dearest of all names, Jesus. I do love Him more for this mark of His love. 'Tis worth more than a thousand a year. I find that to lose all for Christ, is vast gain. Who would not part with farthings for diamonds? Oh, I cannot tell you—words fail, how He has made up this loss to me, and how He has won my very heart by it, and endeared Himself beyond measure to me!
Let me entreat you to press on. Look at nothing but the way of duty. Go on in that, and all things will work together for your good. Believe me, it is so. I find He makes all things, even what the flesh hates most, do good. Fear nothing but sin! Let the world rail and persecute; it matters not. You are safe in Jesus' love, and happy. I am rich. My heart too is open. I desire nobody may lack, while my purse is full.
My wife is well, and the children. We join in duty to my dear mother, and in love to yourself. I am, in the closest bonds of brotherly love, yours, for that dear Lamb's sake,
William Romaine
Letter 11
1765
My dear Sister,
Having two or three minutes to spare, I could not avoid informing you of the Lord's great goodness to me and mine. Indeed, it is marvelous. How many blessings have I which numbers cannot tally? And how many have I, in not desiring what I lack? Whichever way I turn myself, blessings meet me, and yet I know not why I am so highly favored, unless it be that God may be highly honored. For none can be more unworthy, and therefore, from none can grace get so much glory.
My election is not ended about Blackfriars. My mind is at peace. Thanks be to the dear, ever dear Jesus. It is my one desire to please Him, but how or where is not my business. He must see to that.
All of His flock is infinitely precious; and none of them shall perish for lack of knowledge. If He wants me to feed His sheep at Blackfriars, I shall go. If He does not, I trust I shall not go from Him. Forbid it, Lord! And if His presence does but go with me wherever I am, then I shall be there doing His will. So be it, sweet Jesus!
Your last account of mother was very reviving to me. I hope I shall see her once more on this earth (I have no doubt of seeing her in Heaven) and rejoice with her in the goodness of the Lord to her soul. When it will be I cannot tell. But, God willing, nothing shall hinder my calling upon you sometime this summer.
Yours,
William Romaine
Letter 12
My dear Sister,
I thank you for your kind letter, and for your care of the enclosed. It was the last sheet of my sermons. I used to think I would never live to finish them; and yet God has lengthened my life, and this part of my work is done.
These are some of my last thoughts of what I now think about religion—the thoughts which support me in the near views of death and judgment. I am wholly now for magnifying the grace and love of our dear Redeemer. He deserves more of me than I shall pay Him to all eternity! And therefore I would desire with Paul, to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I desire to know Him as crucified for me, and to feel the power and efficacy of His oblation on the cross, crucifying sin in me. To know this is enough. Nothing more need be known. All besides is vanity and will be vexation of spirit.
Believe me, my dear sister, I have tried all that can be tried outside of Him—and it is all now grief to my heart. I not only renounce it, but also renounce it with sorrow. My precious Savior is all in all—what more can we desire? For, "It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell." May you and I dwell where all fullness is!
I would have written sooner, but Mr. Grimshaw promised to send you a letter as soon as possible after we parted. Blessed be God, I bore my journey well. When I arrived home, I found my family well. As to myself, I am neither well nor ill; but it is best to be as God would have us to be. May His will be done!
I hope my dear mother will soon be with Him whom her soul longs after. I do not doubt it. He has promised, and He cannot break His Word. "He fills the hungry with good things."
My love to my sisters. I will send you some sermons soon. Pray for your brother. In the strong bonds of Jesus,
William Romaine
Letter 13
Lambeth, April 23
Grace and peace be to my dear sister—from that ever, ever blessed Jesus. Glory be to Him. What wonders He is now doing in the earth! What miracles of love! Can there be greater miracle than that you and I, such poor sinners, should have daily reason to praise and to bless Him, and that we should have so many reasons to believe He will let us praise and bless Him to all eternity? Oh, sister, is not this astonishing goodness? Dead in sin and liable to the second death—from hence He has raised us to a state of grace, and before long will raise us to a state of glory. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.
He who is so infinitely kind to His individual children, is the very same to His church; for that is only a congregation of individual people. What seems to hurt some of them, is for the good of all. For the government of all is upon His shoulders, and He looks to the least, as well as to the greatest of His matters. Not a hair falls, and much less a minister, without His appointment.
I dare not therefore think one hard thought of His taking dear Mr. Grimshaw to Himself. His work was done. The Lord took him to rest; and, as to His people, they will be well looked after. Their Shepherd will see to it that they lack nothing. "But where," say you, "shall they go now, to find green pastures and the waters of comfort?" Why, let them go to the Great Shepherd and Guardian of their souls. He Himself will feed them, as Psalm 23.
"But He does it by means"; that is true, and is not He the Lord of means? Cannot He find out means, when we are at a loss—if we look up with faith to Him? I truly believe that Mr. Grimshaw's death will be as useful as his life, and that his work has not yet come to its height in Yorkshire. No, it will spread farther and deeper still. Ministers' removals, yes, the most useful of us, shall tend to spread it. For all things work together, under God, for His glory and His people's good.
The more I think and preach about the infinitely rich Jesus and His love, the greater still does He appear. My heart grows warmer to Him. His cause grows more amiable, and nothing gives me pain but that I do so little for Him and speak so poorly of Him, and that this lazy body is so quickly tired in His work. But I would do better, and shall too, by and by. Yes, that is my comfort. I shall not always live at this poor rate. When I see Him, I shall be like Him. Farewell then to sin and sorrow. Temptations, farewell. Corruption is no more. Oh, blessed time! Lord Jesus Christ, fit you and me for the sight and enjoyment of Himself!
William Romaine
Letter 14
Grace and peace be to my dear sister. I can thank the God of all grace for what He has already done for mother; and I have no doubt but that He who has begun the good work, will perfect it in her. She shall have peace, not because I say so, but God. He has promised it to her. She is seeking—she shall find. Trusting to His Word, which cannot be broken, I am as easy about her as if I saw her in Heaven. Which of us shall be there first, I know not; but I am waiting, not knowing when my Lord will come. On Him I rest to carry me through life, through death; believing that when He calls me hence, I shall see Him face to face, to my eternal joy. And in His presence I shall find my dear mother, and you; yes, you, my sister! Only hold fast the faith, and soon you will win the crown.
The devil has a vast spite against you. He begins to despair of drawing you from Christ, and then his malice puts him upon plaguing you. He will make your way as troublesome as he can. One of his grand engines against believers is error. If he can get the judgment wrong, he hopes thereby to prejudice the will, and so gain upon the heart. Thus he has always been undermining the church. Oh, beware of this temptation.
He commonly introduces it thus: "You are in Christ, and you are a believer, but you lack light in such a doctrine." He allows the doctrine, but draws a false inference from it, under a pretense of illustrating the doctrine. Would you, my dear sister, not be ignorant of his devices? Pray to be humble. Much humility is better than much knowledge. Many knowing people have been lost, but none truly humble.
The Lord Jesus keep you and make you, in Him, complete and happy. I am at Brighthelmstone in Sussex, and shall not be gone until November. The Lord has been wonderfully with us here, and many souls are awakened. Some walking and rejoicing in the Lord, and vast congregations. I am, with great truth, your loving brother,
William Romaine
Letter 15
My dear Sister to whom I wish an increase of grace,
I could delay no longer to thank you for your kind present, which came safely, and for your kinder letter. Your good wishes and prayers are the best present—let me still share in them. I never wanted them more. My affair at Blackfriars is not settled; and I have strong applications to go to America, to a church in the city of Philadelphia. The Lord must determine. I would not have one wish against His will. Being bought with an infinite price, all that I have and all that I am should be at His service. He has a clear right to all. "Take it, Lord. Let it be Yours forever!"
But I shall not be in any hurry. Waiting is good—on the Lord. I will tarry His leisure, and look at His providences.
My friends, in general, are for my staying in London; and so am I in my own mind. But I dare not choose, until my choice is made plain to me. Perhaps the Lord may fix me at Blackfriars, and then the matter will be ended at once.
My hearty prayers are for my dear mother, that this year may be the happiest she ever saw. May she find Christ in it. He has sought her out and found her; but she has not, in comfortable enjoyment, found Him. That I wish and pray for, not doubting of
the outcome, because I have His Word: "Seek and you shall find," says He. His Word is infallible. May she soon experience it in the joy of His salvation!
William Romaine
Letter 16
Lambeth, January 7, 1766
My dear Sister,
Although I am greatly hurried, yet I could not help informing you that this day my cause about Blackfriars was finally determined, and in my favor. I have retired and been alone this afternoon to abase myself. This is to me an amazing event. That such a one as myself should be made a pastor; one who is plagued to death with his own heart, to make him a watchman over others! What is the Lord doing? With the most utter abhorrence of myself, and of my being unfit to be minister of a great parish in the midst of this great city—I have been forced to leave it to the Lord. I have heard in my heart a voice say, "Whom shall I send?" And I have been compelled to say, "Here I am; send me."
Trusting then, sweet Jesus, to Your grace and power, depending upon Your arm and blessing—out I go, not only unfit, but also averse to the work. It is Yours, Lord, to work in me both to will and to do.
I believe that you love me; indeed, I do not doubt of it; and therefore I give you this notice, to pray your Master and my Master, to fit me for this new work. He knows my heart; I never had one desire for this new work, but that I might have more room to glorify my Jesus. I would not look at anything but at His glory, and at my humility. Will you entreat Him, then, thus to set forth His glory? Beg of Him to help me to exalt Him, and to keep me down.
Your affectionate brother,
William Romaine
Letter 17
My dear Sister,
I have longed for a little time to write you a few lines, to thank you for your last letter and for your kind remembrance of me at the throne of grace. Please continue that favor to me. And when the King smiles upon you, and you have freedom to approach and have access with confidence into His royal presence—then make request for your brother. He knows, for He sent me upon my present work.
I find myself as unfit for it as a dog that cannot bark—and therefore for grace, for gifts, for success, I am forced to depend upon Him. Most gladly would I live as a minister, in the same way that I live as a Christian: "by faith in the Son of God," trusting in Him to do all for me. There is my own safety.
As a sinner, I have no confidence in anything, but the finished salvation—the blood and righteousness of the Lamb of God. This being a sure foundation for a sinner to rest upon, and having myself found how sure it is—I can therefore write freely, and mightily encourage all that hear, be they who they will, to venture upon this foundation which God has laid, leaving the success (but oh, that it may be abundant!) to Him from whom alone it comes.
Being safely built upon this foundation, I find continual matter of rejoicing. Whichever way I look, comfort presents itself. To be saved from what I was once, and brought to what I am now; the God of all consolation is now my God, His Son is my Savior, His Spirit is my leader to Heaven, His promises are mine—all, all mine, now enjoyed by faith; forever, in full possession!
What divine comforts are these! With these I would encourage the miserable to come to Jesus; that, having trusted themselves with Him, He might have the glory of making them happy. Oh, that I may prevail!
"I need this grace every moment." I call, and He in whom all fullness dwells says to me, "I will water you every moment." I believe it—I experience it. Grace has made me willing to live out of myself—upon the fullness of Jesus. In Him I have what I need; yes, from Him I gain by my lacks. I grow richer by my poverty, and happier by my misery. Whatever it is that brings me to live more upon His grace, is the means of my getting more grace, and thereby proves to me a real blessing. As I have freely received this grace, so I freely make the publication of it with all its benefits. I can tell my people, and boldly, that we are saved by grace, kept by grace, comforted by grace, and sanctified by grace.
And although this is the doctrine against which the wicked one, the wicked world, and above all, the self-righteous world fight with all their might—yet I am not discouraged, because Jesus is my strength. On Him I depend for counsel to set about the work, for success in it, for a blessing upon it. If opposition arises (and it cannot but be that he who is born after the flesh will persecute him that is born of the Spirit), to my almighty King I fly, and on His promised help I trust.
Oppose what will, Jesus is on the throne. All power in Heaven and earth is His. By faith, strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, I have seen the most formidable opposition fall before me. Therefore, let us go on, walking straightforward to Jesus, whatever may stand to stop us in the way.
If war arises—hot, fierce, and long battles; many enemies, mighty and strong; all the hosts of earth and Hell—then Jesus is my victory. He arms me for the battle with the whole armor of God; clad in which He teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. He strengthens the heart to hold out in long battles. He reveals plots and wiles of subtle foes. He gives courage to meet the roaring lion. He brings the soldier off conqueror day by day, and more than conqueror at last, His enemies all eternally vanquished. He then sits down upon a throne crowned with everlasting glory and honor. It is blessed, fighting through Jesus our Captain. Oh, what will it be to reign with Jesus our King!
It is Heaven upon earth to enjoy Him—and there is Heaven in everything which brings me to more enjoyment of Him. This the apostle had in his eye, and he had a great deal of it in his heart, when he called upon his Ephesians to grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ.
Remember that all things, while we live by faith, shall make us grow up into Christ more closely and intimately—finding you need Him daily more and more, for life and godliness, for body and soul, for time and eternity; so that, without Him you can do nothing. The abiding sense of this will keep you in your right place, as a poor helpless creature, hanging on the arm, and living on the bounty of the infinitely rich Jesus!
This is the believer's growth. He grows more up into Christ. Taught by the Spirit of Jesus, he sees and feels his lack of every good; and he is made to see and feel this continually, that he may not live upon self, upon any creature, upon worldly happiness; but that, finding his need of Jesus every moment, he may be receiving every moment grace upon grace out of Jesus' fullness.
Oh, for more of the teaching of that Spirit, to humble us and to glorify Jesus! Oh, for more fellowship with Him in His fullness of grace! Heaven is nothing more than fellowship with Him in His fullness of glory!
May dear mother know Him thus! I cease not to remember her at His throne. Her case is safe. I only wish her more happy in believing it. All here are well, and desire to be remembered to you, with your truly affectionate brother,
William Romaine
Letter 18
1766
My dear Sister,
Grace be with you. I begin to think it long since I heard from Hartlepool; but supposing you make nothing of the note which I sent from Helmsley, I must therefore write first, which I gladly do, embracing this and all occasions to tell of Jesus' love. His mercies have followed me all the days of my life—most free and undeserved—to body and soul. Surely a greater monument of His grace does not exist. He brought me home safely, keeps me in health, gives me enough and to spare of this world's goods; and I taste the love of the Giver in His every gift. What more could I wish? Why truly, nothing in this world.
But if I am thus indebted for temporal blessings, then where shall I begin to set forth His infinite grace in spiritual blessings? I am that foul brand plucked by almighty love out of the burning! I might have been in Hell forty, yes, fifty years ago, and in it forever. Oh, what patience was there in the Lamb! But He was resolved to have all the glory; and indeed He richly deserves it—both for saving me out of Hell and for giving Himself to me to be a Savior; and for giving His Spirit to bring me to know myself and to know Him, whom to know is life eternal.
All the angels and all the saints, could not tell how great His love already experienced is to me. How far short must I myself fall? I am content that He should have the crown. It well befits the head of King Jesus. I pay Him willing homage, and am glad to take a free pardon, a perfect title to Heaven, at His royal hands. Indebted to Him for Heaven, makes the thoughts of it sweet. I would not be out of His debt if I could. Are you not glad (I know you are) that to me Jesus has been so exceedingly kind in all things? Yes, to myself, my family and relations—what grace has been shown! How much are we bound to acknowledge His bounty! Oh, let us with our lips and lives show forth His praise!
In a precious, ever precious Savior,
William Romaine
Letter 19
Lambeth, 1767
My dear Sister,
I was in hope that you would have disposed of my charity before this, and would have let me know to whom I am to pay the money. May the good Lord secure to Himself all the glory of this, and of every act of kindness to His afflicted members.
I am praying for dear mother that this may be the grand year of her life when she will say, "Bless the Lord, oh, my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name, for He has forgiven all my sins. He Himself has become my salvation!" Oh, what a journey would I have to Hartlepool, if I was to come and hear this voice of joy and thanksgiving! Well, I do not doubt of it. All is now safe. All will be comfortable when the Lord pleases. Let Him do what seems good to Him. A happy, happy year to her and to you!
Through mercy, I am going on very well. I want nothing but more capacity to praise and to enjoy Jesus. He is very near to me, and He makes Himself very dear. He still smiles on our meetings, and is in the midst of us. Blackfriars is owned by Him. Oh, for more of His presence to fill the ordinances with life and power!
Pray for us, my dear sister, and you will not lose anything by our having much of Christ with us. We will pray for you in return. To Him I commend you, whose love is truly Heaven, even upon earth. May you never lack it until you enjoy all its fullness, together with your loving brother,
William Romaine
Letter 20
Blackfriars, November 19, 1768
My dear Sister,
You tell me good news of poor sinners converted, and of believers settled and established in their most holy faith. My heart rejoices to hear of any increase of Jesus' glory. He is the Prince of the kings of the earth, to whom all blessing is due. Yes, He is above all blessing and praise, and that forevermore because He humbled Himself; God was made man. Oh, astonishing humiliation! He went lower: He humbled Himself to become obedient—obedient unto death—even the death of the cross. Therefore He is highly exalted. King of kings—crowned—many crowns upon His head!
Oh, how I triumph in my inmost soul in His love! He loved me. I pay Him homage. All within me blesses His holy name. He is my King—my royal Savior—I pay Him my allegiance with heart and hand. Not that He may be mine—but because He is mine. Therefore I would walk before Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.
My kind love to Mr. Heslup—may he exalt Jesus. He cannot set Him too high. He cannot think of Him so high as He is—as high as He deserves. The higher He is exalted, the more will everything, sin especially, bow before Him.
Please remember me to our sisters, their husbands, and to their families. I desire and beg for an interest in your prayers, and am, with my duty to my dear mother and prayers for her, your affectionate friend and brother,
William Romaine
Letter 21
November 7, 1769
My dear Sister,
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you. May you be growing and increasing in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and have a sweet and abiding sense of it in your heart, enjoying daily more of that peace of God, which is Heaven begun on earth. I pray you not to rest or stop in any of your attainments. Keep going on. Be pressing forward. Faith should grow. We read of going from faith to faith, from one degree to another. There should be a progress both in the knowledge of your saving interest in Jesus, and in the enjoyment of the good things in which you are interested. If faith must grow, then hope must grow also; for hope is the daughter of faith. By faith we trust the Word of God; by hope we wait, until we receive the promises in His Word. Hope is never disappointed, nor does it ever make ashamed. It gets many a pledge and brings in sweet foretastes of the things hoped for.
A true believer therefore never says, "I have enough." No, no; his hunger and thirst increase by tastes and crumbs of glory. What falls from his Lord's table whets his appetite for the marriage supper of the Lamb. So the apostle prays for the believing Romans, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the Holy Spirit." Now in proportion as faith and hope grow—so does love. We love God because we believe He first loved us—and this love increases as faith gives a more substantial presence to the things hoped for. Love is now in its infancy—the greatest love upon earth is but one ray of the morning dawn, compared to the shining of the perfect day.
Oh, my dear sister, never think you have attained perfect love until you get into a perfect Heaven. Be still going on, growing in grace and in the knowledge and love of God your Savior. There is room enough for this, both on Jesus' part and on yours also. He can give more. You can receive more. And, as faith enlarges your vessel, you will hold more. As hope increases, you will enjoy more. And this I pray heartily, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all sensible feeling, that you may walk in love, until faith and hope leave you in full possession of the love of God in life everlasting!
I write thus because I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. I am afraid you would stop along the way. Many do. They set out well, but fall asleep and dream of being in Heaven, while their warfare is carrying on upon earth. They imagine to themselves to be in a triumphant state, while they are in a militant state while on earth. A sad delusion! Because it tempts them to rest when they should be fighting, and to sit still when they should be pressing forward.
Are you a believer? Yes. Well then, the gospel says, "Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things which are ahead." How long must I do this? Until you have laid hold of eternal life in Heaven. Faith should be growing; hope should be increasing, and love should be abounding unto death. Or, as the apostle has it (1 Thessalonians 1:3): faith should be at its work, love at its labor, hope at its patience, waiting on patiently until we have finished our course with joy. I pray God you may be thus employed when death calls you to judgment.
Remember me with all duty to dear mother. I bless God for His great grace to her, and doubt not that He hears prayer for its continuance. My love to Mr. Heslup, and let him read the former part of the letter and study it. I would have him not grown up—but growing up into Christ Jesus in all things.
I have been trying to spread the fame of our precious Jesus in various parts of England—a journey of nearly 800 miles. I rejoice with you in the spreading of the gospel in your parts. It is the Lord's doing, and it should be marvelous in our eyes.
You must not forget me in your prayers. I need them much. At present I am in a great difficulty. My lecturer is gone, and I am forced to do the duty myself—for fear that false prophet should get in. I did not seek it; but I hope the Lord, now that He has called me to it, will give me will and power, and if it pleases Him, success.
Ask your friends to pray for me. My wife traveled with me. We found the children well. I have nothing to tell of but mercies. May the Giver add one to them all: even a heart to praise and to bless His goodness. Amen. I am, with great truth, your loving brother,
William Romaine
Letter 22
My dear Sister,
"It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him." So says faith; so should you and I say. My thoughts upon this occasion have not been improved as I could wish, through great bodily pain and illness. But such reflections as these have greatly tended to quiet my mind and to produce a willing submission:
First, my mother's true conversion to the Lord. She knew in whom she had believed, and she was in Christ. Christ was her gain, both in life and death. Glory be to Him for this great grace.
Secondly, she died in faith. Oh, what a mercy to finish all well! What are we desiring for ourselves as Christians, but the same mercy, that we may hold out to the end and finish our course with joy?
Therefore thirdly, we are not to mourn as those who have no hope. Our dearest friend is with her Lord, with whom we expect to be soon. We have only parted a moment, that we may meet forever. It looks to me, in my near view of death, only like my taking leave of my dear mother, to go yearly to London. I shall go to her—blessed, truly blessed prospect! And I do not wish her to come back to me.
Because fourthly, I do indeed find that the Lord supplies the lack of all creature-comforts with His own comforting presence. When He takes them away, it is only to make more room for Himself in the heart. A sweet exchange!
We live upon the fountain, when the streams are dried up. He dries them up to make us come nearer to the fountain, and that the absence of temporal mercies might be supplied with a sweet enjoyment and communion with God Himself.
She had lived to a blessed time—even speaking after the manner of men—she died in a good old age, full of years—and was gathered to her people, to whom I am going. Now it is my turn. I know of nothing in this poor world, worth living for one day. We are now travelers to our heavenly home—and what traveler does not wish to be at rest? We are now absent from our Lord, and long to be in glory.
What soldier, after a hard war, does not long for home?
What man in love does not wish the moments to fly swiftly, to bring on his wedding day?
Oh, for that blessed consummation which will last forever and ever, to all eternity!
I shall love you, my dear sister, as long as I live, for your attention to dear mother. My eyes overflow with tears while I am thinking of your goodness to her. May the good Lord repay your kindness a thousandfold. My kind love to our sisters and their husbands.
William Romaine
Letter 23
Blackfriars, September 6, 1771
Grace be with you and your husband. I know we are in a dying world. I see it and feel it. It is my heart's desire to live under the constant impression of this truth: there is but a step between me and death; but a step between me and the full enjoyment of what I have now by faith.
It is not that I do not love you—God knows my love to you is double. You are twice my sister, born and new-born. And I truly esteem you, both in the flesh and in the Spirit. But I could not come and tell you this face to face, but I shall come, God willing, and tell you, and the reasons too, that you may be satisfied. Only wait patiently and see how good the Lord will be to us in this, and in all other things that we wait upon Him for. It is my fixed purpose to visit you as early as I can in the spring, but the great Disposer of all our purposes has us in His hands. Our will must bow to His sovereign will; and in submission to it, we always speak of tomorrow, not knowing what a day may bring forth.
I can very well supply my absence at the church. There is no lack of preaching; we have enough of that, and too much in the preacher's strength. We need prayer greatly—a dependence on the almighty Head to bless preaching to His people. This seems to be lacking both in preachers and hearers. I can do something toward the supply of this lack and am trying at it. Oh, that fervent effectual prayer was but ascending more and more often to the throne of grace, we would have more showers of blessings coming down. I beg not to be forgotten by you at any time before the throne of grace. May I never forget you nor yours. Errors and heresies are rampant. May God keep you.
I beg of Mr. Heslup to be much at his Bible; he reads other books too much. I am sure that Holy Spirit is the best writer, and I find Him the best expositor upon His own writings. Tell Mr. Heslup so. I repent of years wasted in fruitless study and have, just as my studies are over, realized my error. I wish he may improve by my mistakes and now in earnest resolve to be a Bible student and a Bible Christian.
Farewell, my dear sister. May all the rich covenant mercies of our Jesus be yours. I am, for His sake, very sincerely, your loving brother,
William Romaine
P.S. My wife joins in every Christian wish. The children are well.
Letter 24
Blackfriars, October 27, 1771
My dear Sister,
You are often remembered, and prayer is made for you at the throne of grace.
I have been upon the King's business, traveling from place to place, to exalt and honor Him, for nearly three months. He has been pleased to bring me safely home for the winter, and I sit down the first opportunity to thank you for all your kindness to me at Hartlepool. I did not doubt of your love, but my visit this year confirmed me in it. Your whole behavior convinced me that I was a welcome guest, and has kept a warm desire upon my mind to see you again. Thankful am I for what I met with of the same kind, both at Newcastle and Sunderland, especially at the latter, as I was never so highly honored before, as to be allowed to speak for my glorious Jesus.
Although things were not so pleasing at Yarum, yet I forgive from my very heart Mr. O's treatment of me. People will quarrel, and I would hinder them if I could; but quarrel I will not, no, not with anyone.
Thanks be to the Prince of peace, He has taught me better things. I know Him as God-man; I believe in His work—it is the greatest work of God—a complete, an eternal salvation. Oh, marvelous grace, I enjoy it. While others dispute about it, I am possessing it! They busy themselves about shadows, and I am rejoicing in the substance.
Would to God Mr. O. had the same fellowship with Jesus. Poor man! He would not talk of himself before the Lord God, and plead his own doings—he would not urge this plea: "Lord, my works last July were very meritorious, for I stood and tried to stop all I could from going to Yarum church to hear that heretic Romaine, who was going to teach them that they were to be saved wholly and solely for what You had done and suffered; and all glory as well as all grace along the way, was to be had entirely out of Your fullness." But enough of this. I forgive him—and may Christ forgive him.
My motto has long been, "Cease from man." All my experience leads me to trust man less, and God more. My Bible is my study, and the Holy Spirit my Commentator. I am done with names—great authorities and living popes—for we have an English pope, in opposition to whom, I am a Protestant. I protest against the merit of works, and all its long train of errors; but I will not dispute with any pope. I will rather pray for him, as I do. May God open his eyes and turn him from darkness to light, from blind popery into gospel liberty!
My love to Mr. Heslup. I fear for him, lest these times should take him off from Christ, and get him into disputing. Desire Him, from me, to read his Bible more, and not busy himself about opinions of men. What has he or I to do with Mr. Wesley? Let him go on in his way, and let us go on in ours. But let us be as diligent as he—our lives as exemplary—our good works as many. And let us beat him in Christian love. If he reviles us, let us pray for him. If he is dogmatic, let us be meek and lowly. I cannot give any account for my writing about him, for I do not desire to have anything to do with him; but it came upon my mind, and I let it stand.
I would rejoice to hear from you. We are all well.
I am, yours very heartily,
William Romaine
Letter 25
November 9, 1771
My dear Sister,
I beg the favor of you, upon the receipt of this, to give me some account of our sisters and their husbands and families, and also how you get on at Hartlepool. You must not think me indifferent to the cause and interest of God anywhere; but surely not among our own relations, and least of all among relations hitherto so kind and obliging to me. I send you my written sermons when I cannot come to preach in person, but I am waiting in hope when I shall confirm my doctrine by word of mouth and find a proper time to bear my testimony again to the divine glory of the person of Jesus, and to His absolutely perfect salvation. Be assured, my dear sister, it is complete, lacking nothing.
We can bring nothing to Him but our sin—and we receive all mercy and grace from Him. We have, from His fullness—a radical change of state, of tempers, of life. He is the author of all our good thoughts, words, and works. If these have any merit, it must be put to His account and not to ours; for He works all for us, and all in us. And He will, and must have all the glory too. Oh, that you may be willing to give it to Him! That is true holy humility.
You cannot think what grace He gives to those who are willing to return to Him all His glory. Strive for a growing sense of your own unworthiness; and the lower and viler you are in your own eyes, the more will He be honored for His grace; and therefore He will give you more, for He gives grace to the humble.
Nothing stops the current of His blessings so much as pride. He resists the proud; He is at war with them. A sad war! A proud sinner fighting against a holy God. Who do you think will conquer? And how low will the proud be laid? Oh, beware of all high thoughts of yourself and your doings. Take heed of admiring your own greatness or goodness. Self-delight is a very pleasing sin, but more odious to a jealous God than the gross sins of the flesh.
I see that those who fall in love with themselves do not think with me about my heavenly Lover. I am sure that the more we love Him, the less we shall admire ourselves. The Pharisee, full of self-delight, remained in his guilt. The poor publican, who loathed himself, went home justified. So must we go to Heaven, pleading all the way, and pleading there too, mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and nothing else.
You will say, "What is all this to me?" Why, truly, sister, you need it. There is no perfect humility but in Heaven. Until we get there, we should be learning, and every day seeking for more grace to humble us—learning from our Master to be meek and lowly. May God make you and me better scholars, and Mr. Heslup; for he wants much to keep him down. My kind love to all friends. Do not fail me in writing the first post. I commend you to Jesus' care and love, being truly yours in Him,
William Romaine
Letter 26
December 22, 1772
My dear Sister,
Although I have not heard from you for some time, yet I cannot help wishing you every Christmas blessing. And what these are, how many, how great—none can tell. It is the great mystery of godliness: God manifest in the flesh—God born for us in the flesh—born in us by the Spirit. Then we keep our Christmas, when we are newborn, the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. This new birth of Christ formed in us and dwelling in our hearts by faith, appears, as our birth into this world does.
The new-born babe enters the world with crying. Just so those who have received the Spirit of adoption cry, "Abba, Father!" They are the brethren of Christ, one with Him; and His Father is their Father. Oh, inestimable privilege! What a blessing to believe it! What blessings come from enjoying it! However many they be, I wish them yours.
When the infant is born, it cries for food. In like manner, believers, as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. In Christ their souls live, as their bodies do in this world. On Him also they live, and by feeding on His Word and mixing prayer and praise with it, they grow up into Him in all things—doing nothing, either temporal or spiritual, but by the faith of the Son of God. Forever blessed are those who keep such a Christmas—who can call Christ their Brother, His Father their Father, by the indwelling Spirit, and who can evidence this to themselves and others by a conduct directed to the glory of God.
Thus would I live; thus may you live! In Christ and on Christ and to Christ. If we receive much from Him, let us not rob Him of His honor. If we do much for Him, we have nothing to boast of; for He works in us both to will and to do.
I am for good works as much as any, but I would do them to a right end and upon a right motive; and after all having done the best that can be done, I would not lay the weight of the least tittle of my salvation—no, not one atom of it, upon them. It all rests on Christ—He is my only foundation, and He is my topstone. And all the building, laid on Him, grows up into a holy temple in the Lord. He has done all for me; He does all in me; He does all by me. To Him be all the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Times are very hard, but the best things are the cheapest. You may have Christ, and Heaven, and forgiveness of sin for nothing! And the more freely you receive, the more freely you will honor Him with His gifts. So I feel it.
Remember me to your poor; I beg their prayers, for I need them much. My kind love to Mr. Heslup. I wish Christ and he were better acquainted. I am sure that the more he knows of Christ, the more he will love Him and His Word and ways, because of Christ Himself revealed in them.
Farewell, my dear sister, and I charge you not to forget, in your daily prayers, your true friend and brother,
William Romaine
Letter 27
June 26, 1773
My dear Sister,
I am obliged to you for your last favor. You would have received my acknowledgment sooner, but I was waiting to see how my way would be directed this summer. I have waited so long that I am quite ashamed to be silent any longer, and therefore take my pen to tell you that there is at present nothing determined about my travels. I hope to be where the Lord pleases, and to be found doing His work. Then all will be well wherever I am.
My thoughts often run about poor Hartlepool. I believe the Lord has a people among you, and I wish that He may honor Mr. Heslup by making him useful to gather them together, and to build them up in their most holy faith. My prayers are not lacking for him and them; particularly I desire the Prince of peace to keep him from a disputing spirit. I do not know that he is given to it, but I know many who are, whose principles, as well as tempers, incline them to be of a self-righteous, and therefore of a censorious and wrangling spirit. I have suffered more from such than from all the world beside. Bid Mr. Heslup take warning from me. I advise him to avoid controversy as he would the plague.
And if he would be kept entirely, I will tell him how I am kept. The doctrines which others are disputing about, I am living upon. They have ceased to be matters of controversy with me. I have brought them into experience. By which means, I not only am certain of their truth, but also receive from it great profit. Doubting and disputing are at an end; for what room can there be to question any doctrine, while it is really practical and brings in a great revenue? Thus a man gets to be settled. Others quarrel about the shell; he feeds upon the kernel, and often feasts upon it!
My wife is in good health. We all desire to be kindly remembered to you and to Mr. Heslup. Your loving brother,
William Romaine
Letter 28
May 24, 1777
My dear Sister,
As to the particulars about house and land, I write nothing. I hope to see you in June, as I promised, and see nothing at present to stop me. If I keep my word, will not God? And what is faith but taking Him at His Word? What is all religion but trusting to His faithfulness? Is not this the highest service of the heart; and if it is real there, the service also of the life? For the obedience of faith is the obedience of the whole man. What honor does this put upon God?
His wisdom in contriving such a salvation,
His love in revealing it,
His power in working it out,
His promises of giving it freely, and His fulfilling them perfectly.These and all His attributes are glorified in believing; for then we set our seal that God is true. We are of one mind with Him, of one will with Him; and if we can trust simply what He says—yes, trust when difficulties are in the way of His fulfilling His Word—then we show that our faith is strong. But if we can trust against seeming impossibilities, and against hope believe in hope—then we prove ourselves the children of believing Abraham.
I can assure you, Sister, that my highest lesson is this, and I learn it slowly. I want to honor God in His Word, by believing against sense. Sometimes it is well with me, but presently I stagger. Yet I aim at stronger standing in faith daily. Pray for me. My love to Mr. Heslup. I have no advice to give him until I see him; only I wish he may not move until the cloud moves. Mr. M. breakfasted with me today; he is still misinformed and lives at a very low rate in believing.
William Romaine
Letter 29
August 5, 1769
My dear Mother,
This is the first letter that I have had time to write since I left Hartlepool; and as you have a right to my daily remembrance, I begin my correspondence where it is first due. My journey was very pleasant, not hot nor dusty. All quiet and happy within. The Lord's countenance shining in an unclouded sky. Mercies upon mercies, heaped up and running over. It seems as if I was singled out to be a witness for my God, that His saving mercies are above all His works. I arrived safe and visited my house, and found fresh matter of praise and thanksgiving. All glory be to free grace!
When I look back to Hartlepool and review the dealings of a precious Jesus with you and with yours, my debt increases. And when I consider His goodness to Hartlepool sinners and Bishoprick sinners—how many of them He has called from darkness to light—oh, what a tribute of praise ought we to be continually paying to the Savior! And if we particularly consider our relations, one by one, whom it has pleased our good God to work upon by His Holy Spirit, we should call upon all within us to bless His holy name, and all without us to join in showing forth His praise.
This, for my own part, I would most gladly do, having seen so much in my last journey, both of His presence with me, and of His grace working by me, that I am ready to join all that are praising our good God, and to crown our royal Lord and Savior, the free giver of all blessings both in earth and in Heaven.
I have had a good time at the Assizes, and preached to a vast congregation. The seed was sown, but the great Sower is the Son of man Himself. Unless He rains and shines upon the Word, man's ploughing and harrowing and sowing will come to nothing. I would therefore preach, as well as live, in a constant dependence upon the blessing of Jesus.
After mentioning the loving-kindness of the Lord, we should remember our need of it still, and how we are to receive the supply of our continual needs. We have a prayer-hearing God. He has answered all our petitions for you, whereby He has encouraged us to come again without doubt or wavering. This I hope to do for you, my dear mother, as long as you or I are within the reach of prayer. He has let you live to a good age. You know Him; you believe in Him as your Jesus. He is your Lord and your God. It is our part and duty to beg of Him that you may be every day growing in grace and in the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus; and that, whenever He shall be pleased to take you to Himself, you may witness a good confession, and confirm the truth by your death, as you do by your life.
I beg my love to Mr. and Mrs. Heslup. Tell them that I never had so pleasant a journey in all my life, so many gracious providences, and so many outward mercies, besides the peace in my own soul—encouragements not to neglect coming another summer. Oh that, whenever I do come, it may be to the praise of the glory of rich free grace; and if I stay longer than I used to do, which all appearances seem to favor—may the good Lord overrule a longer stay for greater good.
And as I hope there are several in Hartlepool who have nearness to the throne of grace, I desire you would, one by one, ask them to make use of their visits to the throne of grace for me. If you see my brother Parker and wife, or Callender and wife, beg the same favor of them. I ask it of none but those who are already in my debt, and who ought to get out of it as fast as they can.
I am, with my duty to you and my love and respect to all friends, your affectionate son and most obedient servant,
William Romaine
Letter 30
July 26, 1793
My good Brother,
I was very glad to see your testimony at last concerning our sister, and thank you for it. She was the Lord's; she lived to Him and on Him, and she is with Him—where I hope you and I shall soon be—with Him and like Him forevermore! Until that happy day, you are called upon to be a public witness for Him. May you preach Him in His glorious fullness, and may the Holy Spirit come down from Heaven upon your preaching, that Northumberland sinners may hear and live. Do your best. Exalt Him with all your might in your pulpit and in your living.
I am an old preacher, and have seen enough of His glory to be ashamed of myself. I reprobate all my services; and if I were to begin again, I would try to shoot higher. Blessings on Him! He is above all blessing and praise. Perhaps, before I see you, I may see Him face to face, when He will enable me, without one selfish thought, to give Him all the glory.
To Him I commend you. May He supply our sister's place. You will miss her more every day. Your lesson is to pray Him to fill up her absence with His presence. Pray for it. So does,
William Romaine