Chapter I: HAVE entered into these details, conceiving that no communication can

be more interesting to a father than those which concern an endeared child; and happy shall I be if all my future communications be equally pleasing. Of this, however, I have but little expectations. Many and very painful fluctuations have I witnessed in my own children, and have heard of the children of others, and therefore my dear friend must not be surprised if my little charge should at times disappoint our expectations or our wishes. Oh what lovely, what heavenly blossoms have I sometimes delightfully discovered in my eldest little boy! He has seemed even ripening for glory, and that also so rapidly, that we have almost imagined that his stay would not be long among us. Tears of gratitude have stood in our eyes while we have seen the gracious evidences, or while we have been relating them to each other. In a few weeks, however, the blossoms and the fruit have almost totally disappeared, and have left us to sorrow in temporary disappointment, or to find comfort only in the cheering exhilaration of hope. Then, again, the winter has passed, and lovely spring has once more appeared. But it is all well; the harvest of none of our labours is to be expected here; it is in that blessed world above that we shall reap, provided that we faint not; and what greater stimulus can we need to keep urging us forward even in the midst of every species of discouragement?

William told me a few evenings ago that Mrs. Armstrong had received a letter from you, which kept her in doubt as to whether you would join her, or she you. I know so little of what would be for the best, that I would not attempt to influence you in one way or other. The greatest benefit which I can confer on my endeared friend is, to bring him and his concerns to One who loves him infinitely more than I can do, and whose infallible direction is promised in his holy word to the inquiring soul. It was the prayer of my kind friends, I am persuaded, which kept me in England when I had felt it my duty to take even most decided measures for leaving it. When they objected to my step, I almost invariably requested them to pray for providential hindrances, if my intentions were not in the divine order; and I told them, if I knew anything of myself, I should not attempt either to break through the hedge, or to overleap the wall. The kind Saviour heard their prayer, and I have never been so fully persuaded of anything as of this, that my being detained in England was completely of the Lord. Should my dear Armstrong be projecting that which is not in the will and order of his God, may the same merciful Saviour hedge up his way, and plant the piercing thorn at every step, to render his progress painful, and eventually to deter him! But should his removal be from God, then may all difficulties and impediments vanish completely from before him!

Mary joins me in kind love to yourself and Mr. Ditcher, and I remain,

My ever dear Friend,

Yours very affectionately,
G. MORTIMER.

TO THE REV. THOMAS MORTIMER.

Madeley, Dec. 22, 1820.

My dear Brother,

WE have named our little boy Herbert, after our old and mutual friend; and happy, indeed, should we think ourselves were he even in some small degree to resemble that saintly man. I give you his name, with the hope of its being inserted in your list of those whom you remember in your hours of intercession; and in the hope, likewise, that he will not be forgotten by your dear wife. He seems unusually well at present, better, we think, than any of our children have been at his age. The suddenness, however, both of the indisposition and removal of our little Basil, has made us consider the health and life of an infant as exceedingly uncertain in its tenure; and we hope we are enabled to leave him completely in the best of hands. You may perhaps have heard, through Eliza, of the removal of dear Mr. Purton: you know his worth, his strong attachment to myself, and the right hand he was to me in everything in which I could in any way use him, and, therefore, are prepared to suppose what a loss has been sustained by myself and others. I do not like funeral sermons in general, but I thought I ought to take up my cross on such an occasion, and endeavour to hold up his uncommon, unobtrusive, and retiring excellence to the view of others, and then, at the same time, pay my own tribute of friendship which I felt I myself owed to him.

In parochial matters, and in my ministerial concerns, we go on much as usual. Mr. Purton’s removal has put some extra burdens upon me, but they are not as yet too oppressive, and, if they should become so, the Lord, I doubt not, will give me some one who will share them with me. Attendance on church classes and expositions, nearly in _statu quo_; and this, considering the tendency in everything to deteriorate, I consider as rather encouraging than otherwise. Our good friends and fellow-helpers, the Methodists, however, seem to be more prosperous than ourselves. The chapel at the Green has just been considerably enlarged, and there is some talk of its being opened in church hours, morning as well as evening, and some rumours of sacraments and christenings are now and then reaching my ears. As to myself, I dare say nothing: I am rather disposed to think that the morning service would be a benefit to the parish in inducing many poor to attend, who, through shame or idleness, would not come so far as to the church; and, as they are my parishioners, I hope I should rejoice in their good, though this good should not be conveyed through myself. The sacrament and christenings, in the present state of Methodism, follow almost as a matter of course, and therefore I am equally silent on this subject. All these things were not the original intention of the founder; but were I a Methodist myself, I do not know but that I should consider them as expedient, and almost as necessary parts of present Methodism: why then should I feel on these accounts? They are doing a great work. I find them most important auxiliaries in my own parish, and do sincerely wish them all that prosperity which, for their works’ sake, they deserve. A few months ago, I began to pray for them, and have continued at stated times ever since; and though I never reckoned myself exceedingly stiff in my Churchmanship, I am certainly less so now than before. God permits, and, not only so, he most evidently owns and blesses; and why should we feel the spirit of Joshua, and pettishly, or enviously, or selfishly wish to forbid them?

TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG.

Madeley, Dec. 27, 1820.

My dear Friend,

* * * * * * * *