Your Little Child Was Born for Eternity

A letter from John Elias to a relative, the Rev. W. Roberts, who had lost an infant girl in death. The parents were naturally grieving and Rev. Elias offered sympathy and encouragement to them under such distressing circumstances. I can well imagine how this letter must have been read many times over in their days of sorrow. The letter was written July 12, 1838.

I hope you both shall have much strength from above to bear under the trial that is so painful to flesh and blood. To be enabled to view the secret movements of the good and wise providence of God towards us, would afford great calmness and ease of mind. He does all things right, they cannot be better; and he can bring us to see that, and to reconcile us to his proceedings, though so disagreeable to our natural feelings.

To lose dear infants, and to commit them to the dust, is most poignant bitterness. But some meet with more distressing circumstances in the conduct of those that are spared! Your little child was born for eternity; it is her dwelling, her home. The Lord has been pleased to remove her there, according to his eternal counsel, sooner than you expected. Who can say how great was his goodness in this act? She was taken out of the reach of many temptations, and out of many evils and sorrow.

You have no need to be uncomfortable as to the state of the child; your heavenly Father took her to himself. It was very distressing to you and her mother to behold her affliction; it was becoming to mourn and to sympathize; but now, she being dead, arise and wash away your tears, and worship God (2 Samuel 12:20). May the Lord give you help in the time of need, may he support and comfort you!

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, published by the Banner of Truth in 1973, pp. 219-220.

Who Is Sufficient for These Things?

A selection from a letter by John Elias to Rev. Ebenezer Richard, a friend in the ministry of the Gospel. Like most of his letters, Elias wrote to encourage others. He addressed the wonder of God using weak men for the great work of the ministry, and not only encouraged a brother, but surely cheered himself. The letter was written September 16, 1808.

Dear Brother, I wish you much of the Lord’s gracious presence in the great work of the ministry everywhere. I perceive much of my own corruption and unfitness for the Lord’s work. I find my spirit rather far from him and too unconcerned for man’s salvation. I am constrained to exclaim, by considering the magnitude of the work, ‘Who is sufficient for these things?’ But as the Lord hath been pleased to take such humble instruments into his hands, and to put the Gospel treasure in earthen vessels ‘that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us,’ there is no reason to be discouraged on account of our great infirmities and unsuitableness. But we should endeavour to surrender ourselves to him; and though weakness itself, yet that weakness, in his hands, shall be ‘stronger than men.’

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, published by the Banner of Truth in 1973, p. 314.

Public Prayer a Holy Work

A selection from a letter by John Elias to his son about praying in public. The younger Elias requested spiritual counsel from his father for he had been asked to lead in public prayer. His father cautioned him to be watchful and exemplary. He believed that leading in prayer in the assembly of the Lord’s people a task not to be entered into lightly. The letter was written October 18, 1821.

Moreover, consider well carefully what is your own motive in such a great undertaking, especially when you feel some desires and propensity for it. Be very careful that you have no end in view for such a holy work, but to glorify the Lord. Besides, be assured that if you engage in such a public part of the service of God, it will be necessary for you to be more watchful and circumspect in all your conduct and conversation, such as becometh the Gospel of Christ; the more public we may be engaged in his service, the greater will be the dishonor we shall bring upon his cause if we should be inconsistent. If any one takes the place and work of an elder, he should have the spirit and conduct of such a person.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, published by the Banner of Truth in 1973, pp. 208-09.

Christian Navigation

A selection from a letter by the Welsh pastor, John Elias, to his son John, who had been struggling spiritually. His father wrote him about Satan’s devices and temptations. He encouraged him to look to Christ, the Captain of our faith, for help. The letter was written March 18, 1820.

It is not well for mariners to gaze in a dreadful storm, on the swelling billows, thinking that every wave they see will plunge them to the deep, and put an end to them. It is far better to be alive, as they are in such cases, and doing their duty with the helm and sails, and to lift up their hearts in prayer unto God, who governs the wind and the waves, and expect to arrive soon at the much-desired-for haven.

As to the warfare of the Christian, none are destroyed that look unto their Captain, depend on him, and follow him. And there is no shipwreck in the Christian navigation, when they sail according to the directions of the Pilot; he not only can, but actually does, in great kindness, govern and rule the sea.

You say that ‘in your fears, you do not love Christ, but rather despair;’ cry unto God then for help to love him better. Do not trouble your mind respecting the profession you have made of him, however poor, but rather pray that you may be faithful to him till death.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1973, p. 207.

True Religion and Emotions

A selection from a letter by the Welsh pastor, John Elias, to his son John who was away at school. He reminded him that a change of heart in conversion is not the same as an emotional experience. The letter was written December 8, 1819.

True religion does not consist in emotions. The passions of many are much excited under sermons, without a change of heart! Others may be changed; their hearts broken, conscience tender, sin hated, self loathed, but perhaps without many tears. There is a great difference in the natural temper of people, which accounts for the difference in their feelings under the Word preached. I confess that if people are easily moved under natural causes, but unmoveable and unaffected under sermons, it is a very bad sign. But the thing we should aim at in hearing the Word, is to see more of the greatness and majesty of God, the purity of the law, evil of sin, our miserable state by nature, the preciousness and excellency of Christ, the privilege of giving ourselves to him to be saved in his own way, and to serve him all the days of our life; and the feelings may be affected by those circumstances as God may see proper.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1973, p. 70.

Master Your Temper

A portion of a letter by the Welsh pastor, John Elias, to his son John who was away at school. Edward Morgan said of Elias, “How few professors and ministers pay so much attention to the spiritual interest of their children as Elias did!” Elias’s son was sixteen years of age when this letter was written in 1819.

Take great care of thy temper; learn to be master of it now in thy youthful days; yea, if some laugh at thee, or despise thee, or offend thee, receive it mildly, and take care that thou dost not suffer thy self to be under the dominion of an angry, surly, and revengeful temper. It is not manly, much less Christian-like – nay, it is Satan-like. Therefore, my dear son, beware of this temper; it is a disgrace to the human nature; it is a great defect in the moral character of man, to say that he is of a rash, angry, and revengeful temper.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1973, p. 204.

Pleasure in Reading the Bible

A selection of a letter by Rev. John Elias, written to his daughter, Phoebe. He always encouraged her in the things of the Lord in his letters. This letter was written on August 8, 1834:

I am moreover glad that you have pleasure in reading the Bible. It is the tree that sweetens, under God’s blessing, the bitter waters of Marah. The consolation had in the Scriptures, is far superior to any other; there is a well of joy that never fails like others. Strive to look up to Christ by perusing the Bible, in hearing sermons, and in prayer; and run, as the chief of sinners, to him.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, the Banner of Truth Trust, 1773, p. 201.

Gracious Visitations to Our Souls

A portion of a letter by the Welsh pastor, John Elias, to his sister Phoebe, with the hope that the revival fires that were stirring in the country were stirring in her heart. The letter was written February 10, 1832:

Oh may we long more earnestly and ardently for the gracious visitations of the Lord to our country and neighbourhoods, but especially to our own souls. I hope, my dear Phoebe, that you my dear child, are not destitute of these delightful visits of heaven these days. May the Lord speak to your precious soul as you read his holy Word, and as you hear the preaching of the Gospel; and may you draw near to him as a Father, through the blood of Christ; yea, may you come boldly to the throne of grace, to receive grace and mercy to help you in the time of need: help in need as wanted, according to circumstances and necessities, and in time, that is quite enough; no more is required.

It is most profitable to take every trial and burden unto the Lord, to set before him all your complaints, and to cast all your care upon him, for he careth in a very kind and tender manner for us. We may safely entrust him with the concerns of our bodies and souls, our temporal and eternal interests. He is very kind and pitiful, and ready to hear different cases of distress; able to bear all our burdens, to relieve all our wants, and wise to lead us through the intricate wilderness, and guide us safely to the end of the journey.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1973, p. 200.

The Decay of Discipline in the Church

From a letter written by the Welsh pastor, John Elias, to Rev. Robert Jones, March 9, 1801:

Our churches stand in great need of divine support and help. The world as such is as well as can be expected; but the church is not so! I fear from the present approach of the church to the world, that we come nearer to the world than they do to us! I fear that much of that arises from the decay of discipline; and I think that much of that decay proceeds from not watching and ruling our own spirits. We weaken ourselves exceedingly by improper indulgences, and consequently we cannot rebuke them in others, as they are in us as well.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1973, pp. 260-61.

It Is Good That I Have Been Afflicted

From a letter written by the Welsh pastor, John Elias, to Thomas Owen, a prisoner in France, November, 1807:

I hope you do acknowledge the Lord’s hand in your affliction, and that you submit yourself under it, that you may be exalted in due time. I pray and hope that it may be for your good, and that you will come out of the furnace of affliction as gold purified in the fire: and then you will have to say as the Psalmist, ‘It is good for me that I have been afflicted; before that, I went astray, but now I have kept thy word.’ It is true you went astray before this heavy trial; it is much better to be in a temporal prison in a foreign land, than to be in a backsliding state, and in captivity to lusts and Satan.

John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1844, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1973, pp. 223-24.