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Achton his Book
April 7.1802

PASTORAL LETTERS.

Samuel Pemblett's

Book.

Ashton

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PASTORAL LETTERS.

Bath, Oct. 30th, 1765.

To those who love the Lord Jefus Chrift in, and about Madeley: Peace be multiplied to you from God the Father, and from our Lord Jefus Chrift, through the operations of the Holy Ghoft. Amen.

BY Y the help of divine provi dence, and the affiftance of your prayers, I came fafe here. I was, and am ftill, a good deal weighed down under the fenfe of my own infufficiency to preach the unfearchable riches of Chrift to poor, dying fouls.

This place is the feat of Satan's gaudy throne: the Lord hath, nevertheless, a few names here, who are not ashamed of him, and of whom he is not afhamed, both among the poor and among the rich. There are not many of the laft, though bleffed be God for any one: it is a great miracle if one camel paffes through the eye of a needle, or, in other words, if one rich perfon enters into the kingdom of heaven. I thank God, none of you are rich in the things of this world. You are freed from a double fnare, even from Dives's portion in this life. May you know the happiness attending your ftate. It is a mercy to be driven

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to the throne of grace, even by bodily want, and to live in dependance on divine mercy for a morfel of bread.

I have been fowing the feed the Lord hath given me both in Bath and Bristol, and I hope your prayers have not been loft upon me as a minifter; for though I have not been enabled to discharge my office, as I would, the Lord hath yet, in fome measure, ftood by me, and over-ruled my foolish nefs and helplefinefs. I am much fupported by the thought that you bear me on your hearts, and when you come to the throne of grace to afk a bleffing for me in the name of Jefus, the Lord doth in no wife caft you out.

In regard to the state of my foul, I find, blessed be God, that as my day is, fo is my ftrength to travel on, either through good or bad report. My abfence from you anfwers two good ends to me:-I feel more my infufficiency, and the need of being daily ordained by Christ to preach his gofpel; and I fhall value the more my privileges among you, please God I return fafely to you. I had yesterday a moft advantageous offer made me of going, free coft, to vifit my mother, brothers, and fifters in the flesh, whom I have not feen for eighteen years; but I find my relations in the fpirit are nearer and dearer to me, than my rela tions in the flesh. I have, therefore, rejected the kind offer, that I may return among you, and be comforted by the mutual faith both of you and

me.

I hope, dear brethren, you improve much under the miniftry of that faithful fervant of God, Mr. Brown, whom Providence bleffes you with. Make hafte to gather the honey of knowledge and

grace

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