Be Devoted to God

A selection from a letter by Daniel and Hannah Sutcliff, to their son John, who was studying at the Bristol Baptist Academy. Smallpox had killed a number of their friends and relatives. They were grateful that God had spared their son and wrote to exhort him to live his life to the glory of God. John Sutcliff later became the pastor of the Baptist church in Olney, a town made famous by the ministry of John Newton and William Cowper. John received this letter on March 7, 1773.

Dear Son, thy life has been spared through that and other disorders which calls for thankfulness and gratitude. O that it may be devoted to God, spent to His glory and the good of them where His providence may call thee to which end I would suggest a few things…

First, be humble, seek not great things for thyself… If thou have [John] Gillies’ history near thee read the life of [Richard] Blackerby and the extract from the life of David Brainerd.

2nd. Indulge yourself in the happiness of frequent contemplations upon and addresses to the Lord Jesus for light and assistance in all thy studies: consider that this Divine Redeemer’s presence is the life and light of thy soul.

The British Particular Baptists: 1638-1910, volume 3, edited by Michael A. G. Haykin, Particular Baptist Press, 2003, “John Sutcliff: 1752-1814,” by Michael A. G. Haykin, p. 22.

Under God All Depends on the Mother

A selection from a letter by Rev. Benjamin Morgan Palmer to his daughter Anna, who recently had given birth to a son. He wrote to comfort her for she has lost her first child, a daughter, at birth. He also wrote to challenge her to be a dedicated mother. The letter was written January 4, 1869.

This time it is a son! What a solemn responsibilities cluster around that word! This boy-babe is after a while to be a man. Can you tell what a vast intellect may be slumbering within that little head? Who knows but that the fate of an empire may be wrapped in the folds of his career? Those little hands may wield the destiny of this great Republic—and that tiny voice may sway the councils of a nation; who knows! That little heart, it may be a volcano of passions, to be belched forth in smoke and fire upon a devastated earth—or it may be the well-spring of a mighty stream of beneficence to refresh and fertilize the world. Which shall it be? Do not stagger, nor be affrighted, when I answer that under God all depends upon the mother.

A fearful trust is reposed in you, my daughter, in this boy’s birth; for of a truth, in time and in the great hereafter, he will be just what you shall make him. It is too late to shrink back in terror. He is yours; and the great God, who gave him to you, says, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages’ [Exodus 2:9]. Mark the terms of the contract, for therein lies the trust, and the comfort too. ‘Nurse it for me’—that is the trust; ‘and I will give thee thy wages’—this is the assurance. Both are bound together. If you nurse it for God, you shave have ample recompense…

The Life and Letters of Benjamin Morgan Palmer, by Thomas Cary Johnson, Banner of Truth, p. 383.

I Tremble Yet Rejoice

A portion of a letter by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, written to his parents after getting settled in school at Newmarket. He hadn’t been long converted and was joyous of knowing Christ but struggled spiritually because he didn’t want to bring disgrace on his Saviour. He was not yet 16 years old when he wrote this letter, January 30, 1850.

How sweet is prayer! I would be always engaged in it. How beautiful is the Bible! I never loved it so before; it seems to me as necessary food. I feel that I have not one particle of spiritual life in me but what the Spirit placed there. I feel that I cannot live if He depart; I tremble and fear lest I should grieve Him. I dread lest sloth or pride should overcome me, and I should dishonour the gospel by neglect of prayer, or the Scriptures, or by sinning against God. Truly, that will be a happy place where we shall get rid of sin and this depraved corrupt nature. When I look at the horrible pit and the hole from which I have been digged, I tremble lest I should fall into it, and yet rejoice that I am on the King’s highway.

The Letters of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, collected and collated by his son, Charles Spurgeon, first published in 1923, p. 13, now available electronically by Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Close Thinking Men, Not Deceived by Appearances

A portion of a letter from Joseph Kinghorn, pastor of St. Mary’s Baptist Church, Norwich, England, to his father and mother. He shared with them the profit he had received from two books that he had recently read. The letter was written May 1, 1798.

I have lately met with two singular books, viz., Jonathan Edward’s account of the revival of religion in New England in his time; and the life of Thos. Halyburton; and their accounts have the greater weight with me, because they were both very close thinking men, who were not to be deceived by appearances, but searched ideas to the very bottom.

May the grace they each described be felt by us, and by many more who yet are strangers to it! Then the world would be much happier than at present.

The Life and Works of Joseph Kinghorn, by Martin Hood Wilkin, reprinted by Particular Baptist Press, 1995, p. 285.