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LIFE AND CORRESPONDEN-(:E
OF
WITH


CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS,
COMPRISING
AN INTRODUCTION BY THOS. 0. SUMMERS.


gtAashikl,  gelm.:
PUBLISHED BY E. STEVENSON & F. A. OWEN, AGENTS,
FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
1855.




V,~P


Entered according to Act cf Con gress, in the year 1854. b~y
E. STEVENSON & F. A. OWEN, AGENTS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Middle District
of Tennessee.


STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON AND CO., PHILADELPHIA.
PRINTED BY A. A. STITT,
MNETHTODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, NASHVILLE.




CONTENTS.
PAGE
ITTnODnCTlO  BY Tiios. O. SUMMERS.............  5
AUTOBIORPAPHY OF MRS. ROGERS.................... 17
EXTRACTS  FROM  HER  JOURNALS........................ 102
SELECTIONS FROM HER CORRESPONDENCE............ 127
FUNERAL SERMON BY DR. COKE....................... 276
APPENDIX TO THE SERMON BY MR. ROGER......... 325
ELEGIAC  POEM................................   361
3




N-WI
I
I




" P


INTRODUCTION.
FEW works have acquired a greater popularity among Methodists than the Life of
HESTER ANN    ROGERS.   In scarcely any
other biography can be found so bright a pattern of holiness as this exhibits. In depth of
penitence, strength of faith, ardour ef hope,
fervour of love, intimate communion with God,
constancy of joy and peace, and zealous devotion to the cause of Christ, Mrs. Rogers
has had few equals in any age of the church.
So brilliant a specimen of the old school of
Methodism ought not to be lost from the
view of succeeding generations. No unprejudiced person can read the details of her
experience without feeling that, according to
the paradox, she had gained "perfection's
height, the depth of humble love." It is obvious that for a long series of years she
walked with God-maintaining an intimate
1*             5




6             INTRODUCTION.
and constant communion with the adorable
Trinity-her person and performances being
accepted in the Beloved.
Nevertheless, some persons seem to be
stumbled at certain passages which occur in
her writings, indicating, as they suppose, a
slight dash of enthusiasm in her experience.
They do not indeed think that any of these
points affect materially her religious character-perhaps not at all, only so far as her
example is concerned.
It is not, for instance, insinuated that her
regard for dreams operated unfavourably on
her own personal piety, as indeed there is
positive proof that it did not; nevertheless,
it is imagined that persons of weaker minds
from her example might be led to pay an undue regard to them, and the result might be
very pernicious.
We will not say that there is no force in
this suggestion; yet it must be observed that
good and great men of every age have considered dreams not unworthy of their regard.
Thousands, like Bishop Ken, have prayed
that God would "make their very dreams
devout."




INTRODUCTION.           7
Some dreams " come from a multitude of
business," being the continuation and the
sequence of our waking thoughts. If we admit that suggestions are made to our minds
by divine or diabolical agency when we are
awake, it requires no great stretch of faith
to believe that this may also take place when
we are asleep; and this not only as a miraculous phenomenon, like the divine communications of this sort mentioned in Scripture, but as belonging to the ordinary operations of the Spirit of God. So Elihu seems
to have thought:-" God speaketh once, yea
twice, yet man perceiveth it not.  In a
dream, in a vision of the night, when deep
sleep falleth upon man, in slumberings upon
the bed, then he openeth the ears of men,
and sealeth their instruction-that he may
withdraw man from   his purpose and hide
pride from man. He keepeth back his soul
from the pit, and his life from perishing by
the sword." We suppose none are authorized to say that no dreams of this sort take
place in the present age; and therefore no
one ought to be charged with weakness for
paying attention to such dreams as are marked




8            INTRODUCTION.
with logical consistency, and seem calculated
to answer the purpose of warning, or encouragement, or some other desirable end. In
an answer to a question concerning dreams,
propounded at Mr. Wesley's second Conference, it was wisely suggested that "they
should not be discouraged or encouraged;"
or as he elsewhere expresses it, " They are
of a doubtful, disputable nature-they might
be from God, and they might not; and are
therefore not simply to be relied on, any
more than simply to be condemned, but to
be tried by a further rule, to be brought to
the only certain test, the Law and the Testimony." This, which is nnquestionably the
proper course, Mrs. Rogers never failed to
pursue.
No one can suppose that sortilege was practised by Mrs. Rogers and her friends, in their
method of consulting the Scriptures. It
would be dangerous and highly reprehensible
to open the Bible at a venture, determined
to be controlled in any pending case by the
first passage that might strike the eye. It
would, moreover, be unwarrantable to conclude that when one is seeking direction in




-1 W


INTRODUCTION.            9
regard to any matter, the occurrence of a
particular passage to the mind is to be attributed to special divine inspiration. A principle of this sort may lead to enthusiasm and
fanaticism. We have heard of a man who
was not allowed by his master to attend a
reltfous meeting at night. Confined to the
house, the only way of escape being by a
window at a considerable height from the
ground, this passage occurred to his mind:
4" He shall give his angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways: they shall bear
thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy
foot against a stone:" applying the promise
to himself, he sprang from the window, but
the angels not being there to prevent the fracture of his bones, he was led to conclude that
his mode of interpreting Scripture was more
simple than safe.
We know that the Lord does guide his
people, and that too by his word as well as
his Spirit; and he may do this by sudden
and strong impressions upon the mind; but
we are not authorized to expect such interpositions, and we never should proceed upon
the ground of any of these suggestions, with



10           INTRODUCTION.
out the collateral and more authoritative indications of conscience, reason, and the
general tenor of the inspired oracles. We
have no ground to suppose that Mrs. Rogers
-notwithstanding the peculiar complexion
of a few passages in her life taken by themselves-ever deviated from this rule.
It is clear from the Scriptures that Christians should make every thing the subjectmatter of prayer-nothing being beneath the
notice of our heavenly Father.  It is also
certain that many temporal blessings may be
granted in answer to prayer, which otherwise would not be granted; and that whenever the impartation of temporal things is
not incompatible with the divine will, or with
the spiritual interests of the party concerned,
such things will be granted in answer to
prayer.  This does not authorize us to pray
for the performance of miracles-these displays of divine power were intended to authenticate the successive dispensations of
Heaven, and this being done and the record
made, there is no necessity for their perpetuation, and we have no reason to suppose that
any miracle has been wrought since the aros



'.;


INTRODUCTION.           11
wlic age, and we have no ground tc exKpect
that any others will be wrought until the end
of time. The prodigies of Papists, Mormons,
spirit-rappers, and other charlatans, are impostures so glaring that they are beneath contemrnt.
]; it is not for us to limit the Holy One
of Israel. He has, indeed, limited himself;
but we cannot always assign the bounds of
his wonder-working power. He can restore
vision to one whose optic nerves have been
destroyed-he can replace a limb that has
been amputated-he can raise the dead; but
we have no authority to expect that he will
do so; and we act absurdly if we pray for.the
performance of such miracles. This does
not, however, argue that it is useless to pray
that he will bless the remedial agents employed to restore our sick friends to health,
or to bring them out of temporal straits and
difficulties, or to prosper them in any of their
worldly enterprises: all these things we know
are frequently done by him, and no one can
prove that they are not sometimes done in
answer to prayer, when otherwise they would
not take place. This gives us a large mair




7m


12           INTRODUCTION.
gin in the premises, and we ought to avail
ourselves of it, according to the counsel of
the apostle: "In every thing, by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." We are
very sure that when the blessing for which
we pray is bestowed, it is bestowed t our
Heavenly Father-although it might be hazardous to affirm, in any particular case, that
had we not prayed for it, it would not have
been granted. For wise reasons, God has
not seen fit to allow us to connect the answer
with the petition with mathematical precision-as cause and effect, or means and end
-while in numerous instances he imparts
some spiritual blessing, or some other temporal blessing, instead of that for which we
prayed. We asked him to remove the " thorn
in the flesh," and it was not removed; but
the sincerity, faith, and fervour of our prayer
could not be disregarded by our heavenly
Father, and he consequently gave us " blessings more divine" and more suitable to our
circumstances than those for which we prayed.
We are always safe in asking for the bestowal
of all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, with




INTRODUCTION.            13
the assurance that they will be granted; and
for the bestowal of every temporal good, with
the same assurance that it will be granted,
if not contrary to the divine plans or prejudicial to our higher interests. Our obligations
to render thanksgiving for favours received,
will told in every case.
It is clear from the general tenor of Mrs.
Rogers's experience that she acted upon these
sound principles, albeit she speaks of certain
extraordinary interpositions of Providence
almost as if they were of a miraculous cast,
and of certain impressions concerning them
as if they were infallible presentiments.
Moreover, she was not without her disappointments in reference to objects earnestly
desired and confidently expected; and these
she well knew constituted an important part
of her probationary discipline, and a wise and
profitable use did she make of them.
Some persons stumble at a passage in her
autobiography in which she speaks of being
so desirous of dying as to refuse to take
medicine when she was sick. This, of course,
was highly' reprehensible; but it was just
after her conversion, when her mind was sin2




14           INTRODUCTION.
gularly immature in religious matters. For
example, she was so ignorant as to think that
if she were sanctified, she would have an infallible judgment, a perfect memory, with
freedom from temptation and bodily pain!
It is remarkable that the well-bred daughter
of a clergyman should entertain notiois so
erroneous; but as such was the case, we need
not wonder that, like some of the primitive
martyrs, she would rather kindle than extin0guish the flames that were to bear her soul
to God. She very soon, however, acquired
correct views on these subjects-qualified her
"'passionate longings for home"-and not
unfrequently expressed a willingness to wait
the Lord's leisure, patiently and joyfully,
though it might require her to "suffer out
her threescore years"-knowing, as Dr.
Donne quaintly expresses it, that "no man
dies innocently that dies by his own hand or
by his own haste."  Indeed, she manifested
commendable prudence in the care of her
health, in order that she might be able to
serve God and her generation according to
his will, so long as he might see fit to continue her on the earth.




IKTRODTJCTTON.          15
In the interesting Appendix to her Funeral
Sermon by Dr. Coke, Mr. Rogers says, that
besides innumerable Letters written by his
wife, she had left some three thousand quarto
pages, of valuable matter, written by her
own hand. From these manuscripts principally the materials of the present work have
been  compiled.  The present editor has
changed the order of the different portions
of the volume-corrected a great many errors-and appended the valuable Letters of
Mr. Wesley to Mrs. Rogers to those written
by her to him and to others. It is hoped
that these additions, alterations, and corrections will secure to this interesting and profitable biography a still wider circulation
than it has heretofore acquired.




0
i
I
I
r
I




LIFE OF MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS
I WAS born at Macclesfield, in Cheshire, January
31, 1756, of which place my father was minister
for many years; being a clergyman of the Church
of England. He was a man of strict morals, and,
as far as he was enlightened, of real piety. I
was trained up in the observance of all outward
duties, and in the fear of sins, which in these
modern times are too often deemed accomplishments. I was not suffered to name God but with
the deepest reverence; and once for telling a lie,
I was corrected in such a manner as I never forgot. We had constantly family prayer: the Sabbath was kept strictly sacred; and as far as outward morality, my parents lived irreproachably,
and in all social duties were regular and harmonious.
I was early drawn out to secret prayer: I believed God was the author of all good, of all happiness; aifd sin the cause of all misery and pain.
If therefore I wished for any thing I had not, I
2*               I1




18       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
asked God in secret to grant it to me. And in
any pain of body, or in any of my childish grief,
I fled to him for ease and comfort; and it would
be incredible to some, how often I have received
manifest answers to prayer, when not more than
four years old; and how my tender mind has been
comforted. I was deeply affected, and had very
serious thoughts of death for some time, and after
seeing the corpse of a little brother of mine, who
died of the small-pox when I was five years old,
I took great delight in the Bible, and could at
this time read any part either of the Old or New
Testament, always asking questions so as to obtain
understanding of what I read. My parents required that I should give an account, every Sabbath evening, of the sermons and lessons I heard
at church, and say my catechism to them, which
they explained to my understanding. They also
required that I should get off the collect for the
day, and repeat it with my other prayers every
night and morning. These collects I also often
repeated in secret, and with great sincerity before
the Lord. I never remember going to bed without
having said my prayers, except once: I was then
diverted by a girl who told me many childish
stories, and so took up my attention, that I forgot
to pray till I was in bed; and then being alone, I
recollected what I had done, and conscience greatly




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              19
accused me; so that I began to tremble lest Satan
should be permitted of God to take me away body
and soul, which I felt I deserved! I soon after
thought I saw him coming to the side of my bed;
when I shrieked out in such a manner as brought
my parents up stairs to see what was the matter.
This made a lasting impression, and I never after
dared to neglect commending myself to the protection of God before I slept. I was at this time
about six years old.
When about eight years of age, I heard my
father say he had a very remarkable dream, in
his recovery from a dangerous illness: that he
stood before the throne of God, and saw his glory.
But not being able to gaze upon it, fell on his
face in raptures of joy.
My mother asked if he could describe what he
saw, but he answered, No, it was impossible to
convey any idea of it, it seemed almost to deprive
him of being. She asked if any thing was spoken
to him, but he desired her to ask no more respecting it; nor would he ever tell her any more. I
have often thought he received some notice in that
dream of his approaching dissolution. A material
change was evident from that time in all his conduct
and tempers. Anger was ever before a besetting
sin, but I never remember to have seen him overcome by it after this. He was mtre vigilant in




20        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS
public and private duties, more humble and patient under little difficulties and trials, more
watchful over the morals of all around him, and
took more pains than ever to inform my infant
mind in all things which led to piety and virtue.
He warned me against reading novels and romances, would not suffer me to learn to dance,
nor to go on visits to play with those of my own
age. He said it was the ruin of youth to suppose
they were only to spend their time in diversions.
I believe I shall have reason to bless God forever
for several lessons he then gave me, and to all of
which I listened with great delight.
In February, 1765, when I was a few weeks
more than nine years old, he took his last sickness,
a malignant fever, in which he lay several weeks,
expressing through the whole of it an entire submission to the will of God, and an assurance of a
happy eternity. He sung psalms, repeated various
scriptures, and'praised God aloud; and was continually commending to his care his dear wife and
children. A few days before he died, he called
aloud for me; and when I came, he took my hand
in his very affectionately, and said, 'My dear
Hetty, you look dejected. You must not let
your spirits be cast down, God hath ever cared
for me, and he will take care of mine. He will
bless you, my dear, when I am gone. I hope you




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              21
will be a good child, and then you will be happy."
Then laying his hand on my head, he lifted his
eyes to heaven, and with a solemnity I shall never
forget, said-" Unto God's gracious mercy and
protection I commit thee: the Lord bless thee,
and keep thee: the Lord lift up the light of his
countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, and
make thee his child and faithful servant to thy
life's end!" I cannot find words to express what
were the feelings of my heart on this occasion.
Love for my valuable and affectionate parent,
grief to reflect I was now losing him, and gratitude that his dying lips had pronounced such a
blessing on my head, quite overpowered me. I
fell on my knees, gave vent to a flood of tears,
and continued to weep till my eyes were almost
swelled up. He died the tenth of April, 1765.
My grief for some time would not suffer me to
take recreations of any kind; but I would sit and
read to my mother, or weep with her. But, after
a season, I was invited to the houses of relations
and friends; and as I soon became a laughingstock among them for my seriousness and dislike
to their manners and their plays, I began to be
ashamed of being so particular. My mother was
also now prevailed on to let me learn to dance, in
order to raise my spirits and improve my carriage,
&c   This was a fatal stab to my seriousness and




22       MIRS. HIESTER ANN ROGERS.
divine impressions: it paved the way to lightness,
trifling, love of pleasure, and various evils. As I
soon made a proficiency, I delighted much in this
ensnaring folly.  My pride was fed by being admired, and began to make itself manifest with all
its fruits. I now aimed to excel my companions,
not in piety, but in fashionable dress, and could
not rest long together without being engaged in
parties of pleasure, and especially in this (what
the world calls) innocent amusement.   I also
obtained all the novels and romances I possibly
could, and spent some time every day in reading
them; though at first it was unknown to my
mother, who would not then suffer it. After this
I attended plays also. In short, I fell into all the
vain customs and pleasures of a delusive world, as
far as my situation in life would admit, and even
beyond the proper limits of that station God had
placed me in. Thus was my precious time misspent, and my foolish heart wandering far from
happiness and God; yea, urging on to endless
ruin. Yet in all this I was not left without keen
convictions, gentle drawings, and many shortlived good resolutions, especially till fifteen years
of age. God often wrought strongly upon my
mind, and that in various ways, of which I come
now to speak. But oh! how did I grieve and
resist the Holy Ghost! How justly might he




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.               23
have given me up; yea, and sealed me over to
eternal destruction.
At thirteen years old, namely, in the year
1769, the Bishop of Chester being to hold a confirmation at Macclesfield, I resolved to attend that
ordinance, though it was with many tears and
much trembling; for I believed till persons were
confirmed they were not alike accountable to God
for their own conduct. But when this solemn
renewal of the baptismal covenant was made in
their own persons, then whosoever did not keep
that covenant must perish everlastingly. I therefore endeavoured seriously to understand the import
of it, and was deeply convinced I was neither inwardly nor outwardly what it required.    The
knowledge of this wrought much sorrow, and I
formed strong resolutions to lead a new life. Yet
sin had so blinded my eyes, that I could not at
this time believe, or at least I would not, that
dancing, cards, or attending plays were sinful.
These, therefore, I did not even resolve against.
But I resolved against anger, pride, disobedience
to my parent; also the neglect of secret prayer
and church going; with all wanderings of heart
in those duties, and a variety of other evil tempers, &c., which I knew myself guilty of. Having
humbled myself before God, fasted and prayed,
and (as I vainly thought) fortified myself by these




24       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
resolutions, of keeping all God's commands in
future, I ventured to take upon me the solemn
vow. But such was my fear and trembling at the
time, that when I approached the altar I was near
fainting, and when returned to the pew, burst into
a flood of tears. This was on Whitsunday; and I
intended to receive the holy sacrament the Sunday
following. But before I came, I was conscious I
had already broken my solemn vows; and on the
reflection, my distress was great, and I had many
doubts whether partaking of the Lord's supper
would not be sealing my own damnation. However, one day as I was praying, it came into my
mind this holy sacrament is called a means of
grace; surely, then, it is just what so sinful, so
helpless a soul wants. I will go to it, then, as a
mean whereby to receive strength and grace to
conquer sin in future. In this view of that blessed
ordinance I found much comfort; and I am now
assured it was from the Lord, whom ignorantly I
was feeling after. I approached the Lord's table,
therefore, with renewed vows and renewed hopes;
but, alas! these also were as the " morning cloud
and as the early dew, which passeth away." For
several months I thus repented and sinned, resolved, and broke all my resolutions-sinned and
repented again. I dared not receive the Lord's
supper without resolving on a new life; neither




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.                25
dared I to stay from it; nor did I ever attend
without being wrought on by the Spirit of God.
The latter end of this year I had a malignant
fever, and believed I should die. I felt myself
totally unprepared to appear before a holy God,
and was in great distress; I earnestly entreated
him to spare me a little longer, and resolved I
would then spend a new life indeed.  A patient,
forbearing God of love listened to my request, and
did not cut the fig-tree down. One night during
this illness I dreamed my soul was departed out of
the body, and I, with three of my cousins,* (with
whom I had a close intimacy, and who I thought
had left the body also,) were waiting in dreadful
expectation of being summoned to the bar of God;
and we all believed our doom would be everlasting
darkness!   My sins all appeared as in array
against me, in the court of conscience, and my
mouth was stopped: I had no plea whatever, no
hope; for it seemed the justice of God must unavoidably sentence me to endless misery, which I
felt to be my real desert, and was bewailing my
* N. B. These three cousins were Robert Roe, whose
experience and death is related in the Arminian Magazine,
and two of his sisters, Mary and Frances. These are all
asleep in Jesus, and their happy spirits rejoicing before his
throne; though at the time of this dream they were utterly
unawakened.




26       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
own folly with bitter cries and lamentations.
Their employ I thought was the same —each for
ourselves, dreading "the worm that dieth not,
and the fire which never shall be quenched"when suddenly there appeared a cloud of uncommon brightness, and soon after a glorious angel
descended in the cloud, and stood before us, clothed
in white, with a majesty and beauty not to be described. We beheld his approach with trembling
awe, and almost an agony of despair, believing he
was sent to summon us to appear, and receive the
deserved but dreadful sentence, " Depart, ye accursed!" But, to our inconceivable surprise, he
smiled on us with heavenly sweetness, and said,
" The Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven all your
sins, and washed you in his own blood, and I am
come to bid you enter into the joy of your Lord,
and to conduct you into his blissful presence!"
Being now suddenly transported from depths of
misery into joy unspeakable, love beyond compare,
and extreme delight, I thought I sprung up,
clapped my hands, leaped for joy, and praised my
God in ecstasies unknown before, so that it awoke
me! Never did I feel any thing like what I felt
in this dream, sleeping or waking, before or after,
till the Lord did truly speak my sins forgiven.
This made a deep impression on my mind for some
time. For a month or two I was very serious and




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             27
circumspect, and read all the religious books I
could meet with. One of these I remember asserted, that we are all to be judged according to
our works: therefore, if our good works are more
than our evil ones, we are in a fair and sure way
for heaven when we die; but if our evil works
exceed our good, we may expect condemnation.
I thought I would impartially examine myself by
this rule, and see what hope I should have for my
own soul on these terms. I therefore made a
little day-book, in which I put down every good
and bad action with great sincerity, at the same
time praying to God to show me if I was in the
way to heaven or not. But then there were many
things (as before observed) which I did not account sinful; and again, many things I accounted
good actions, because entirely ignorant that an
impure motive, in the sight of that God who
searcheth the heart, renders our actions, however
splendid in the sight of men, abominable before
him. Every act of obedience to my elders or
superiors, I accounted a good action; as also every
prayer I offered, every ordinance I attended, every
time I spoke the truth, instead of denying a fault;
and in order to swell the number of my good
actions, I would sometimes refuse going to a play,
or to an entertainment, and read to my mother at
home. Nay, with this view I have fasted whole




28        MRS. HERTER ANN ROGERS.
days from morning till evening; but after all I
found my bad actions more than my good ones.
Yet I went on resolving to be better, and still
keeping the account, till being at a dance, I pulled
out my day-book with my pocket handkerchief,
and it was found, and made the jest of the company. I was then so ashamed, that I resolved to
follow this method no more.
I met with another book, which affirmed it was
impossible to conquer all sins at once; and if ever
we would obtain victory, it must be by overcoming first one and then another. Pride and anger
I felt to be my most besetting sins, and therefore
set myself against these in particular. But I was
foiled in every attempt, and it seemed, as the poet
says,
"The more I strove against its power,
I sinned and stumbled but the more."
So that this trial only made a more clear discovery
that pride was interwoven with my every thought,
and word, and action.  I was now quite discouraged, and thought it was all vain to strive for a
victory so impossible to gain! I then looked
round, and considered the conduct of others; and
when I saw them more trifling, more wicked than
myself, and some of them, who passed for amiable
characters, guilty of things which my soul shud



AUTOBIOGRAPHY.


29


dered at, I began to conclude I was very good,
compared with these; and surely all these would
not be doomed to hell and damnation!-that God
was merciful, Christ died for sinners, and therefore if I lived a tolerably moral life, he would pardon the rest, and accept me through the merits of
Christ in the hour of death; or at least, I had as
good a chance as others; and therefore would cast
away fear, and live like the rest of my moral neighbours. It was some time, however, before I had
so resisted the convictions of the Spirit of God, as
to remain at ease: he strove with me various ways,
till I was a little more than fifteen. But I so repeatedly grieved and quenched the motions of
that Holy Spirit, that I was then in some measure given up to my own foolish rebellious heart.
Dress, novels, plays, cards, assemblies, and balls
took up the most of my time, so that my mother
began to fear the consequences of my living so
much above my station in life. But I would not
now listen to her admonitions. I loved pleasures,
and after them I would go.
What increased my vanity and pride was, that
I was much beloved by my godmother, a lady of
very considerable fortune, and often spent most of
the summer months at Adlington with her; where
I was always treated as if she intended to bestow
3*




30       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
a handsome fortune on me.  She introduced me
into the company of those in high life, and enabled me, by large presents, to dress in a manner
suitable to such company. Oh how fatal in general
are such prospects to a young mind! Yet in all
this, I still wished to preserve a religious appearance. I still frequented church and sacraments,
still prayed night and morning, fasted sometimes,
and especially in Lent; and because I did these
things, esteemed myself a far better Christian than
my neighbours. Yea, so blind was I, that I had
a better opinion now of my own goodness than formerly, when I was far more earnest about salvation. What a proof that sin darkens the understanding!
In the summer of 1773, I was at Adlington
with my godmother above mentioned, when I
heard various accounts of a clergyman whom my
uncle Roe had recommended to be curate at Macclesfield, and who was said to be a Methodist.
This conveyed to my mind as unpleasing an idea
of him, as if he had been called a Romish priest;
being fully persuaded that to be a Methodist was
to be all that was vile under a mask of piety.
These prejudices were owing to the false stories
which from time to time I heard repeated to my
father, when about seven or eight years old; and




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              31
also many more which my mother heard after his
death, and to the present time: so that I believed
their teachers were the false prophets spoken of
in the Scripture: that they deceived the illiterate,
and were little better than common pickpockets:
that they filled some of their hearers with presumption, and drove others to despair: that with
respect to their doctrines, they enforced chiefly,
that whosoever embraced their tenets, which they
called faith, might live as they pleased, in all sin,
and be sure of salvation; and that all the world
besides must be damned without remedy: that
they had dark meetings, and pretended to cast out
devils, with many other things equally false and
absurd; but all of which I believed. I heard also,
that this new clergyman preached against all my
favourite diversions, such as going to plays, reading novels, attending balls, assemblies, card-tables,
&c. But I resolved he should not make a convert
of me; and that if I found him, on my return
home, such as was represented, I would not go
often to hear him.
When I came back to Macclesfield, the whole
town was in alarm. My uncle Roe, and my
cousins, seemed very fond of Mr. Simpson, and
told me he was a moq -excellent man; but that all
the rest of my relations were exasperated against




32       MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
him. I asked, Is it true, he preaches against
dancing? and said I was resolved to take the first
opportunity of conversing with him, being certain
I could easily prove such amusements were not
sinful. Being told what arguments he made use
of, I revolved them in my mind, fully determined
if I found upon reflection I could answer them, I
would. I first considered if any Scripture example could be brought. I remembered to have read
of Miriam's dancing; but it was to express her
pious joy to the Lord, and as an act of worship,
accompanied by a hymn of praise. David danced
also, but it was in like manner, and from like motives. Herod's daughter danced, but she was a
heathen, and the cause of beheading a servant of
God. Nothing therefore which I found in Scripture countenanced dancing in any measure.  I
then began to consider the objections urged against
it. One of these was, that it tends to levity and
trifling mirth, so it enervates the mind, dissipates
the thoughts, weakens, if not stifles, serious and
good impressions, and quite indisposes the mind
for prayer. I asked my own heart, Is not this a
truth? Conscience answered in the affirmative.
Mr. Simpson pleads further, What good is promoted hereby?   I would gladly have had it to
urge, it promotes health; but many instances of




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              33
those who had lost health, and even life, within
my own knowledge, through attending this very
diversion, would not permit this. Among others,
I had a recent proof in Miss H-, who by a
violent cold and surfeit got at an assembly, was
thrown into a galloping consumption, and in a few
months fled to an awful eternity. A-gain he pleads,
are you made better Christians, better husbands,
better children hereby? Better Christians I was
conscious none could be for having the mind dissipated and unfitted for prayer. Some husbands
I knew who were not made better, and some wives,
who, to support extravagant dress on such occasions, had greatly injured their families. For my
own part, I was conscious it had led me to dress
and to expenses not suited to my present situation
in life. These thoughts brought powerful convictions to my mind notwithstanding my desire to
resist them. I could not deny that truth in particular, that those who habitually attend such
pleasure, lose all relish for spiritual things: God
is shut out tf their thoughts and hearts: prayer,
if they use any, is full of wanderings, or, perhaps,
wholly neglected; and death put as far as possible
out of sight, lest the thought should spoil their
pleasures. I was conscious beyond a doubt, these
were the fruits this delusive pleasure had wrought




34       MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
in my own soul; and comparing my present state
of mind with what it was before I entered upon
this diversion, so mistakenly called innocent, I
found cause to be deeply ashamed. But then, if
this is really true, (said I to myself,) I ought not
to follow this amusement any longer. And can I
give it up?,My vile heart replied, I cannot, I
will not. The Spirit of God whispered, Will you
then indulge yourself in what you know to be sin?
Would you wish to be struck dead in the ballroom? My conflict was great, yet I was resolved
to run all hazards rather than give up this pleasure. Therefore I stifled these convictions with
all my might; and after this ran more eagerly into all pleasurable follies. 0 my patient, longsuffering God, tears of grateful love and praise
overflow mine eyes, when I consider my deep rebellion, and thy sparing mercy.
About this time I grew tired of novels, and
took great delight in reading history. I went
through several English and Roman histories,
Rollin's Ancient History, and Stackhouse's History of the Bible, intending to go through the
Universal History also. And now I believed myself far wiser than any person of my age. Upon
the whole, I believe I was at this time on the
pinnacle of destruction. And had a just and noly




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             35
God then cut the brittle thread of life, I know I
should have sunk into hell. But love had swifter
wings than death, and mercy to my rescue flew.
In October, 1773, a neighbour of my mother's
being very ill, and very poor, I went to visit her,
and found her, to my great surprise, joyfully triumphing over death, yea, longing to be gone.
This affected me much; for I felt I was in a quite
different state-that if death should approach me,
he would be a king of terrors. And I had no
hopes of happiness beyond the grave. About this
time, also, Mr. Simpson's sermons began to sink
more deeply into my heart. So great were my
obstinacy and folly, that I would come out of the
church weeping, and, with the next person I met,
would ridicule the sermon that affected me, lest I
should be thought or called a Methodist. I began,
however, in my serious moments, to resolve again
and again I would break off my sins by true repentance, and especially that I would dance no
more. Yet time after time I was prevailed on by
my carnal friends, and broke the promises I had
made to my God
January the first, 1774, I was deeply wrought
upon by a sermon preached on, "What shall it
profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?" And soon after, under another,
on the epistle to the church of Laodicea. Again,




36       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGE1RS
while Mr. Simpson preached on the new birth,
from John iii. 3, I saw, and felt as I had never
done before, that I must experience that divine
change, or perish. But I had still one great hinderance which I have not yet mentioned, namely,
a young person, for whom I had a sincere affection: he and two of his sisters, with whom I had
also formed a strict intimacy from the death of
my father, were my constant companions, and
were more seriously disposed than any of the rest.
However, I was sensible, if I renounced my pleasures, and became what God and my own conscience now required, I must, in the first place,
give him up, and that fully, or he would be the
means of drawing me back; for he was yet unawakened, though outwardly moral.
But I could not yet make this sacrifice. Therefore I continued to go to assemblies, though conscience bled; and often in the midst of the dance,
I felt as miserable as a creature could be, with a
sense of guilt, and fears of death and hell. Sometimes those words were applied, "It is hard for
thee to kick against the pricks." And,.indeed, so
I felt it. Yet I would not acknowledge my unhappiness to any, but carried it off with the appearance of gayety; and at the last assembly I
ever attended, never sat down the whole night;
but danced till four o'clock in the morning. Soon




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
after this, however, the Lord wrought a, much
deeper work upon my soul.
In April, 1774, on the Sunday before Easter,
Mr. Simpson preached from John vi. 44, "1No
man can come unto me, except the Father which
hath sent me draw him." Explaining the drawings of the Father, he related his own experience,
under the name of Eusebins, brought up in all
moral duties, an attendant on church and sacrament, and one who said many prayers, yet, when
twenty-two years old, was deeply convinced he
had never been a Christian-could then say feelingly, wbat he had often before repeated in words
only, "1The remembrance of my sins is grievous:
unto me: the burden of them is intolerable."
[All this sunk into my very soul: this was just
my case.] He mourned, and wept, and prayed!
And one day as he was in prayer, and had such a
view of his past sinfulness, and present guilt and
pollution, as almost deprived him. of all hope, tile
Lord suddenly removed his burden, and spoke
pardon and peace to his soul, so that he felt his
sins were all forgiven. Lord, said I, if this is
truth, (ana I cannot disbelieve it,) never let me
rest till I obtain a like blessing. He went on to
-observe the nature of this change, and the objections made in our day to this doctrine of the new
birth. One of these objections he dwelt upon,
4




8    IRS. IIESTER ANN ROGERS.
viz. "We are born again when baptized;" but
proved, if it were even so, we must still repent
anew, and be forgiven, since all have broken the
baptismal vow.  Then he appealed to each:
i' Have you renounced the devil and all his works,
the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, with
every sinful desire?" while I could only plead
guilty, guilty.  " Have you never taken the name
of God in vain? never profaned his Sabbaths?
never set up idols in your heart? If you havo
done these things, you have broken the first olur
commandments of God."   I pleaded guilty hero
also; for though with respect to the third, I could
not accuse myself of profanely swearing, or even
naming my Maker in conversation, as many do,
yet this prohibition also condemned me, in having
taken the name of God in vain into my polluted
lips in his house of worship, and appearing before
men engaged in devotion, while my heart was
wandering to the ends of the earth. As he passed
through the rest of the commandments, I could
still plead nothing but guilty. And when in the
application of his sermon he asked, "Now what
think you of the state of your souls before God?"
I felt myself indeed a lost, perishing, undone sinner: a rebel against repeated convictions and
drawings: a rebel against light and knowledge:
a condemned criminal by the law of God, who de



AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             39
served to be sentenced to eternal pain! I felt I
had broken my baptismal vow, my confirmation
vow, my sacramental vows, and had no title to
claim any mercy, any hope, any plea! I wept
aloud, so that all around me were amazed; nor
was I any longer ashamed to own the cause. I
went home, ran up stairs, and fell on my knees,
and made a solemn vow to renounce and forsake
all my sinful pleasures and trifling companions.
I slept not that wight, but arose early next
morning, and without telling my mother, took all
my finery, high-dressed caps, &c. &c., and ripped
them all up, so that I could wear them no more;
then cut my hair short, that it might not -be in
my own power to have it dressed, and in the most
Bolemn manner vowed never to dance again! I
could do nothing now but bewail my own sinfulness, and cry for mercy. I could not eat, or sleep,
or take any comfort. The curses throughout the
whole Bible seem pointed all at me, and I could
not claim a single promise. I saw my whole life
had been nothing but sin and rebellion against
my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; and I
feared it was now too late to seek mercy.
Thus I continued till Good Friday. My mother
thought I was losing my senses, and all my friends
endeavoured to comfort me in vain. After many
conflicts and strong fears, I ventured, however,




10        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
once more to approach the Lord's table, encouraged by these words, a'A broken and a contrite
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
As Mr. Simpson was reading that sentence in
the communion service, " If any man sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins,"
a ray of divine light and comfort was darted on
my soul, and I cried, Lord Jesus, let me feel thou
art the propitiation for my sins. I was enabled
to believe there was mercy for me, and I, even I,
should be saved! I felt love to God spring up
in my heart, and in a measure could rejoice in
Him, so that I would have given all the world to
have died that moment. But, alas, this was only
for a short season! In the evening one of my
cousins calling on me, who had been a witness to
my late distress, I told her of the comfort I had
received, and added, I am now not afraid to die.
She immediately exclaimed, it would be great presumption to say so, for even Mr. Simpson, whom
she believed the best man on earth, Said he deserved to go to hell.  My joy was damped immediately; and Satan telling me I had deceived
myself, I gave up my confidence, lost my peace,
and became again very unhappy.
It had been well for me if I had then known
the Methodists; but I had none to instruct me.




AUTOBIOGRAPnHY.             41
Yet my distress was not the same as before. I
had now a ray of hope in God, that he would
make me a new creature by grace; and those horrible and slavish fears of hell were removed. I
felt my nature all depraved, and my soul full of
wounds, and bruised by sin. Yea, and I abhorred
myself truly repenting before my God, and seeking him with my whole heart, in every means of
grace. I had never yet heard the Methodists; nor
had I lost all my prejudices against them; but a
neighbour, who had lately found peace with God,
advised me strongly to go, and assured me they
had been the means of great blessings to his soul.
I would not promise, but resolved to go privately,
so that neither the preacher nor any other person
should know of it till afterward. I soon after went
at five o'clock one morning, and got into a private
seat. Mr. Samuel Bardslcy preached from "' Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God.'
I thought every word was for me! He spoke to
my heart as if he had known all the secret workings there; and pointed all such sinners as I felt
myself to be, to Jesus crucified. I was much
comforted: my prejudices were now fully removed,
and I recked a full and clear conviction, " These
are the pdie of God, and show," in truth, " the
way of ation."
But now I had new difficulties to encounter: I
4*


I




42        MRS. TIESTER ANN ROGERS.
knew if I persisted in hearing the Methodists, I
must literally give up all. 31y mother had already
threatened, if ever she knew me to hear them, she
would disown me. Every friend and relation I
had in the world, I had reason to believe, would
do the same. I had no acquaintance then among
the Methodists to take me in, nor knew any refuge to fly to but my God. I used much prayer,
and entreated him to show me his will; when
those words were powerfully applied, " Did ever
any trust in the Lord and was confounded?" I
answered, No, Lord, and 1 will trust thee! But
Satan suggested, "Thou hast no right to trust
God: thou art not his child, but a sinner, a rebel!"
I fell on my knees, and cried, " Lord, I am a repenting sinner, and thou knowest I have laid down
my weapons of rebellion! If I perish, I will
perish at thy feet! Only show me thy will, and
here I am." It was then applied, " If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his. cross and follow me."  I cried, "Lord, I
will forsake all, and follow thee: I will joyfully
bear thy cross; only give me thyself!"  From
that time I resolved I would at all hazards attend
the preaching. I did so at all opportunities, and
it was a great comfort to me.
But when my mother heard of it, a fdgate of
persecution opened upon me! In this time of




AUTOBIOGRAPHIY.


43


need God raised me up a friend in my uncle Roe,
who prevented my mother turning me out of doors.
Yet what I suffered, sometimes through her tears
and entreaties, and at other times her severity, is
known only to God  But he strengthened a feeble
worm, and enabled me to endure all with meekness, as seeing him who is invisible. For eight
weeks, however, I was closely confined. My godmother came to talk with me, so did my mother's
brother, and my father's sister; also a clergyman,
and several others; but the Lord gave me a mouth
and wisdom to plead my own cause, with arguments from his word, so that they were in some
measure all put to silence. In August my mother
took me with her to Adlington, on our usual summer's visit, though now quite contrary to my
inclination; for I found it a great grief to be
separated from the means of grace, and from the
dear people of God. Yet I dared not refuse her
all obedience which I could render with a safe
conscience. And though I believe she hoped to
wean me from (what she called) my melancholy
and enthusiasm hereby, yet the Lord kept me
steadfast and immovable. The deep sense 1 had
of my own weakness and inability to resist evil,
or follow that which is good, and the great fears
I had of ever again grieving the Holy Spirit, lest
he should strive with me no more forever, con



44        MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
vinced me of the absolute need of using much and
constant prayer. I therefore left all company
many times in a day, to retire in secret. I refused
to conform in dress, or in any thing my conscience
disapproved; and when called upon, gave reasons
for my conduct as the Lord enabled me, but always
with meekness, and often with tears of self-abasement; so that in a little time, finding all their
efforts vain, they began to let me alone; only I
was made to understand I had now nothing to
expect from my godmother, as to temporal things.
This, however, weighed nothing with me, as all
my language was,
" None hut Christ to me be given,
None but Christ in earth or heaven."
In October we returned home, and I now reasoned with my mother, and entreated her not to
confine me any more, telling her in humility, and
yet plainness, I must seek salvation to my soul,
whatever is the consequence. And in order to obtain the end, I must use the means. I am therefore determined to leave you, and go to be a servant,
rather than be kept from the Methodists.  Yet if
you will consent to it, I should greatly prefer continning in your house, though it should be as your
servant: and I am willing to undertake all the
work of the house, if you will only suffer me to
attend preaching.  She listened to my proposals;




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             45
and, after consulting with her friends, consented
to comply on this last condition; for she and they
were agreed that I, who had never been accustomed
to hard labour, would soon be weary, and give it
up. But they knew not the power and goodness
of that God who had strengthened me in all my
tribulation.
November the first, I entered upon my new employments joyfully, undertaking my every labour
for His sake who bled for me on Calvary! and
began to feel at times much comfort, and reviving
hopes, that my redemption drew near, and the
happy hour when I should praise a pardoning God.
Mr. Wesley's Sermon on Justification was a great
encouragement to me, on those words, "To him
that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is imputed to him for
righteousness." This sermon I read many times
over with prayer, and could sometimes almost embrace the promises.
On Monday, November 10th, I had strong conflicts with Satan, who told me I had as good give
up all, for I should never obtain a pardon! I had
sinned beyond hope! I felt my heart very hard,
and he suggested, " This is a proof that God has
given thee up to hardness and impenitence. Where
is thy repentance and tears, and brokenness of
heart? If thou couldst repent, and weep, and




46       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
mourn, like others, there would be hope.  But
where is thy sorrow for sin? Thou canst not shed
a tear." I was so burdened and distressed that
day, that I could not go forward with my work,
and my mother reproached me.  But I besieged
the throne of grace with strong crying and supplications to Him that was able to save, and who
well knew the Spirit's groaning in my heart.
My cousin Charles Roe, then much devoted to
God, put into my hands a little pamphlet, entitled,
The Great Duty of believing on the Son of God.
Jesus was here set forth in all his loveliness of
free grace, toward a poor returning prodigal, as
every way suited to the sinner's wants, and allsufficient to save the vilest of the vile-as willing
now, even as willing as when he hung on Calvary,
bleeding and dying to save sinners, yea, his very
murderers! I was much encouraged in reading
this, and would gladly have spent the night in
prayer; but my mother (with whom I slept) would
not suffer it. I therefore went to bed, but could
not sleep, and at four in the morning rose again,
that I might wrestle with the Lord. I prayed, but
it seemed in vain. I walked to and fro, groaning
for mercy, then fell again on my knees; but the
heavens appeared as brass, and hope seemed almost
sunk into despair: when suddenly the Lord spake
that promise to my heart, " Believe on the Lord




AUTOBIO RAPITY.


47


Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." I revived,
and cried, " Lord, I know this is thy word, and I
can depend on it. But what is faith? 0 show
me how to believe: show me what is the gospel
faith, or I amn yet undone. I desire not deliverance
except in thy own way: I desire no happiness,
but thy favour. What shall I do? 0  teach me,
0 help me, or I am lost!" That word came with
divine evidence and sweetness to my heart, "C st
all thy care upon him, for he careth for thee."
I said, "Lord, dost thou care for me? and is this
faith, to cast all my care, even all my sins, (for I
have no other care,) upon thee?  May I?  Dost
thou bid me? a poor hell-deserving sinner-against
light, and conviction, and repeated vows-can such
love dwell in thee?  Is it not too easy a way?
May I, even I, be saved, if I only cast my soul on
Jesus? my burden of sin, my load of guilt, my
every crime?  What, saved from all this guiltsaved into the favour of God! the holy God! and
become his child, and that now, this noment! Oh
it is too great,-it cannot, surely it cannot be!"
(Oh what a struggle had Satan and unbelief with
my helpless, sinful soul!)  But the Lord applied,
"Fear not, only believe!" Satan suggested, Take
care! Suppose Jesus Christ should fail thee:
suppose he is not God! What if he was an impostor, as the Jews believe! Oh the agony that




48       MRS. IESTIER ANN ROGERS.
-   my soul felt at that moment! But I cried, "' If
this be so, I am undone without remedy! None
but such a Saviour as Jesus declares himself to be,
(God as well as man,) can save my guilty, polluted
soul. The blood of God-man alone can atone for
me! His power alone can change my rebel heart:
my disease is too deep for any other: I can only
perish, nothing can be worse; so there is no
hazard. If he is God, he is able, and he will save
me according to his promise, 'Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.' If he is God, he must be truth,
and cannot deceive me  And if not, a holy God
will be a consuming fire to the sinner! And there
is no Saviour, no way of salvation: I must endure
the desert of my sins: I must endure everlasting
burnings; and therefore here I will lie and perish
at his feet!"  Again it came, "Only believe."
Lord Jesus," said I, ' I will, I do believe: I now
venture my whole salvation upon thee as God! I
put my guilty soul into thy hands, thy blood is
sufficient! I cast my soul upon thee, for time
and eternity." Then did he appear to my salvation.
In that moment my fetters were broken, my bands
were loosed, and my soul set at liberty. The love
of God was shed abroad in my heart; and I rejoiced with joy unspeakable. Now, if I had possessed ten thousand souls, I could have ventured them




AUTOBIOGR.AIIIY.           49
all with my Jesus. I would have given them all
to him! I felt a thousand promises all my own —
more than a thousand scriptures to confirm my
evidence-such as, "lie that believeth shall be
saved:-Shall not perish:-Is not condemned:Hath everlasting life:-Is passed from death unto
life:-Shall never die:-There is no condemnation
to them that are in Christ Jesus:" &c. &c.-I
could now call Jesus Lord, by the Holy Ghost,
and the Father, my Father.  My sins were gone,
my soul was happy; and I longed to depart and
be with Jesus.  I was truly a new creature, and
seemed to be in a new world! I could do nothing
but love and praise my God; and could not refrain
continually repeating, Thou art my Father! 0 God,
thou art my God! while tears of joy ran down my
cheeks.
My mother was astonished at the change which
appeared in my countenance and whole deportment; and I soon told her the happy cause:that I, a poor sinner, had received forgiveness,
and could call God my Father and my Friend.
Now, said I, I am repaid a thousand times for all
I have suffered. One hour's experience of what
I now feel, is, itself rich amends for all! But I
see an eternity of bliss before! and added, O
that you knew what I feel. My words and flowing
tears made her weep; but she said little, being
5




50        MIPS. HrESTER ANN ROGERS.
all wonder.  With what joy and gratitude did I
now undergo the most servile of all my employments; yea, and it seemedi with double strength
of body, though I could neither eat nor sleep much
for many dliys and nights. The love of God shed
abroad in my heart was now my meat and drink;
and the thoughts of the amazing depths of groce
which had plucked me as a brand from the burning, quite overcame me!-nie, the most obstinate
offender, who had so long and so respeatedly resisterd, and grieved his Holy Spirit! This love of
my God and Savilur, s ) unmerited and free, overflowed my soul; nor had I for eight months any
interruption to my bliss.
"Not a cloud did arise, to darken the skies,
Or hide for a moment my Lord from my eyes."
Yet I had daily crosses to take up and endure;
but I rejoiced in being accounted worthy to bear
the cross for Him who died to purchase my peace.
The word of God was sweeter than honey, or the
honey-comb. I generally read it on my knees:
ever receiving light, strength, and comfort to my
hungry soul hereby.
About six months after this, my cousin Robert
Roe came from Manchester, to go to the college in
Oxford, being intended for a clergyman. The great
change in me was matter of much grief to him.
But what most astonished him was to find me,




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             51
instead of being melancholy and mopish, always
happy and rejoicing in God-resigned to sufferings
and labours, which he well knew I could not once
have submitted to. He saw my pride laid in the
dust, and my soul sunk into humility. In short, he
saw me the reverse of all I had been before; and
comparing my present conduct with the Scriptures,
he was constrained to owu the power of changing
grace-was convinced by the Spirit of God that I
was right, and of consequence, that he was not
what he ought to be, and what he must be if ever
he was saved. He soon became so unhappy that he
had no rest, and at last wrote to ine, entreating for
his soul's sake, I would answer him the following
questions: "How did you obtain the happiness
you speak of? Are you certain it is real and from
God, and not a delusion, or imagination only?
Dces it arise from  an express declaration fiom
God, or a consciousness of having performed your
duty? Is it some visible manifestation you enjoy,
or some hoped happiness?  I know I an a great
sinner! I am miserable beyond expression, and can
hardly hope for any thing but misery in time, or in
eternity? I would give up all the world to obtain the
favour of God you speak of, but I know not which
way to attain it. If you can lead me in the heavenly path, you will render me happy indeed. Oh!
pray for your unhappy friend, &c.  iR. R."




52        MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
These lines appearing the genuine language of
sincerity, I wrote immediately in answer a brief
relation of all the Lord's dealings with my soul,
inviting him to the same loving and all-sufficient
Saviour.  I advised him to hear the Methodists,
and go to class meeting: in which he found much
comfort, and advanced in grace daily, desiring and
seeking nothing but Jesus crucified.  And, on
October 17th, 1775, a few weeks only before he
went to Oxford, the Lord set his soul at liberty,
and he rejoiced in a clear sense of his pardoning
love. [The reader may find a more particular account of the life, trials, experience, and triumphant death of this Israelite indeed, in whom was
no Oguile, in, the Arminian Magazine for the years
1783 and 1784, vols. vi. vii.] But to return.
About seven months after I undertook to be
servant to my mother, she was seized with a fever,
and when just recovering, had a relapse which
threatened to be fatal: so that for near six weeks
I had to sit up with her every other night, till at
last my body began to fail. Indeed, it was no
wonder; for, besides all my labour and fatigue, I
used rigorous fasting. The doctor who attended
my mother was moved with compassion, and insisted I should no longer go on with what he
called sacrificing my life. He spoke to Mrs.
Legh, my godmother, who came next day in her




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              53
chariot to see my mother, and to see that a proper
servant, and all needful attendants, should be got
immediately.  I was now freed from my happy
toil, about eight months after I undertook it,
namely, in August, 1775.  But it was then nearly
too late: my health had received such a wound,
as it did not recover in many years.
My outward oppositions now began to abate,
and many of my enemies were at peace with me.
And now also the Lord began to reveal in my
heart that sin was not all destroyed; for though 1
had constant victory over it, yet I felt the remains
of an ger, pride, self-will, and unbelief often rising,
which occasioned a degree of heaviness and sorrow
At first I was much amazed to feel such things,
and often tempted to think I had lost a measure
of grace; yet when I looked to my Lord, or whenever I approached him in secret, he slied his precious love abroad, and bare witness also with my
spirit, that I was still his child. Yea, and at this
time I received many remarkable answers to prayery
many proofs of his undoubted love and goodness
to my soul; and I ever felt I would rather die
than offend him, so that I was a mystery to myself!
I resolved, however, to use more self-denial of all
kinds, and (whatever it cost me with respect to
health or life) more fasting and prayer; for I
hoped by these means to mortify and starve the
~        5'5




51        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
evil tempers and propensities of my nature, till
they should exist no more; and if my body expired in the combat, I thought I was certain of
endless life. I met with some also who told me
nothing but death would end this strife!-that
this is the Christian's warfare, which cannot end
but with the life of the body. After some time I
began to believe these miserable comforters, and
of consequence, longed for nothing so much as to
die: yea, I was impatient to be gone, that I might
be freed from sin; for I truly felt, and more so
every day,
"'Twas worse than death my God to love,
And not my God alone."
My body was reduced now to a very weak state,
and I was pronounced far gone in a consumption,
which I esteemed blessed tidings. I looked on
myself as one that had done with earth, and cried,
" 0 that I had wings like a dove, for then I would
flee away and be at rest." Yea, so desirous was I
to quit the vale of sin (as I called it) here below,
that I could not be prevailed on to take any thing
which I believed would tend to restore my health,
and therefore continued to decline very swiftly.*
In the latter end of December, I was brought so
weak that I could not walk about the room with* See Introduction.




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             55
out help, and soon after took my bed, seeming
apparently on the verge of eternity. One day,
after sitting up a little, I felt myself so weak that
I believed I should rise no more till my soul took
its flight to the bosom of Jesus.  My joy on this
occasion was inexpressible! I begged of the Lord
strength to go on my knees once more; and in
holy triumph committed body and soul to him for
eternity. I believed my work on earth quite
finished; and was filled with assurance that the
moment of death would be to me the beginning of
endless glory-a taste of which I then felt, a drop
out of the ocean, a beam darted from the unclouded Sun of righteousness, which quite penetrated and overwhelmed my soul, and left me in
speechless rapture at his feet! Yes, I have ever
believed that what I then felt was what those feel
and experience on leaving the body, who are really
dying in the Lord! But infinite Wisdom saw
good to lengthen out the thread of life; and I
have often believed it was in answer to the prayers
of his dear children.                     "
A few weeks after this I felt a degree of disappointment and sorrow on finding a measure of
returning strength: just like a mariner, who, got
within sight of a desired port, is beat back again
into a tempestuous ocean. One of my cousins,
coming to see me, recommended a strengthening




56        MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
medicine, which I was unwilling to use, and told
him I would rather die than live. He sharply
rebuked me for this, saying, you set up your own
will, while you pretend to submit to the will of
God, and by not taking proper medicines you are
a murderer! I wept and said, I think I am resigned. He asked, are you willing to live forty
years, if the Lord please? I found a shrinking
-at the thought, and felt I could not at that moment say I was willing. He left me, but his
words made a deep impression. I fell on my
knees as soon as left alone, and cried, Lord, perfectly subdue my will. That promise was applied
with much sweetness, "Ask what thou wilt, and
it. shalt be done unto thee." I felt assuredly my
Lord permitted me to ask life or death, and was
brought to a stand.  I felt a thousand fears suggested, that if I lived, I might lose what I now
enjoyed of the love of God, and perhaps be one
day a dishonour to his cause. But I said, Lord,
thy grace is ever sufficient: thou art as able to
keep me a thousand years as one day! Again, it
was suggested, if thou livest, it will be to suffer.
I cried, Lord, thou canst give me suffering grace,
and if by suffering I can in any wise glorify thee,
"Not as I will, but as thou wilt."  I know to die
now would be instant glory! But here I am: do
with me whatever thou wilt; thou knowest all




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              57
things, and seest at one glance, past, present, and
future.  One request only, therefore, will I make:
if thou knowest my life would glorify thee, I submit to thy will-willing to suffer, or to do! But,
if thou foreseest I should, in living, lose any measure of what thou hast bestowed, Lord, suffer me
not to live any longer.  Or, if hereafter, at any
time, thou seest a danger of my heart departing
from thee, 0 snatch me to thy bosom, and let me
not live a moment longer than I live wholly for
thee. And now, 0 Lord my God, I vow and
promise unto thee, I will henceforth entirely renounce my own will respecting life or death! I
leave it fully in thy hands and to thy pleasure, to
take me now, or to spare me twenty, thirty, yea,
forty years, or as long as thou seest my life will
bring glory to thee and profit to immortal souls;
relying on thy faithful promise given me this day,
that what "I ask shall be done," and accounting
it a solemn covenant betwixt me and thee! that
whensoever thou seest me about to be overcome
by trials, by temptations or snares, so that I shall
in heart or life depart from thee, or wound thy
cause, that then thou wilt put in thy sickle and
gather me home; yea, if even at that time I should
be so foolish as to desire life!-Amen and amen.
What I felt of heaven, of God, of love, at that
season, cannot be expressed. I had communion




58        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
with my Lord, as if face to face, and could henceforth choose nothing but his will.
From this day forth I speedily recovered
strength; and in a few weeks was enabled to attend some of the means of grace. The Lord was
pleased to make the preaching of Dr. Wright a
great blessing to me. He clearly explained the
nature of salvation from inbred sin: showed it to
be as freely promised in Scripture, and as fully
purchased by the blood of Jesus, as pardon.
Also, that though sanctification in believers is a
gradual work, yet the death of sin is instantaneous, and to be obtained by faith alone-just in
like manner as justification.  He recommended
Mr. Wesley's   Plain  Account, and    Farther
Thoughts on Christian Perfection; and Mr.
Fletcher's Polemical Essay, especially his Address
in the end of it, to imperfect believers. These
yet further opened my eyes respecting that great
salvation; and for reading them I shall praise
God to all eternity. I now was powerfully convinced, that whenever sin is totally destroyed, it
is done in a moment. From hence I could not
rest, but cried to the Lord night and day, to cast
out the strong man, and all his armour of unbelief
and sin-assured that the power of the living God,
and not death, must be the executioner! the blood
of Jesus the procuring cause; and faith the only




AUTOIT IO RAPtIY.           59
instrument.  I had a deeper sense of my impurity
than ever; and though by grace I was restrained
froml giving way outwardly, yet I felt such inward
impatience, pride, fretfulness, and in short, every
ill temper, that at times I could truly say, I was
weary and heavy laden.
I here transcribe a brief extract from my journal, kept at the time, as it will most clearly deseribe the language of my heart.
Thursday, January 18th, 1776, I was much
comforted by a manifest answer to prayer.  Afterward, reading three of Mr. Fletcher's Letters
to his Parishioners, was a great blessing. Yet in
the evening I found many wanderings, and much
deadness: I felt dissatisfied with myself, and all
around me, and knew not why. It might in some
measure be owing to the indisposition of my body,
but I fear it was.more owing to the evil of my
corrupt heart. Oh when shall I be holy?
Friday, 19.-I have been greatly tried inwardly
and outwardly, though I have had some refreshing visits of love; but I feel many evil tempers,
much self-will that would not be contradicted,
(though none saw it but the Lord;) peevishness,
pride, and unbelief greatly distressed me. iMy
cry was this evening,  Create in me a clean heart,
O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
And in private prayer I was blessed in a wonder




60        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
ful manner. I lay at the feet of my Lord, as clay
in the hands of the potter, only beseeching him
to stamp me with his lovely image.
Thursday, 25.-The Lord shows me more than
ever, I must be made holy before death; and this
day I can say, "As the hart panteth after the
water-brooks," so thirsteth my soul for the perfect
love of God. O may I never rest till I have received this blessing.  Lord, I have in this respect
been a trifler: I have been too easy, too lukewarm, while thy enemies have had a lurking
place in my heart! 0 forgive me, and help me
to be more in earnest.  Those words were applied,
while engaged in wrestling prayer, " All I have
is thine!"  And is not this salvation from sin
IIis gift? It is, and shall be mine.
"0 joyful sound of gospel grace,
Christ shall in me appear:
I, even I, shall see his face,
I shall be holy here."
Saturday, 27.-Mr. Wesley's Plain Account of
Christian Perfection was this day a greater blessing
than before: Oh howveryignorant, how stupid have
I been, respecting this great salvation; and even
yet I seem to know nothing.  Lord, teach me, and
save me fully. I find while pressing after entire
purity, my communion with God increases, and I
have more power to do his will.




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.


61


Friday, February 2.-I awoke several times in
the night, praying for sanctification. Oh the depth
of unbelief and of pride! And these seem only
the roots of many 4her evil branches. O my God,
I feel my heart as a den of thieves. I loathe my
self, but oh! I fall-a leper at thy feet. I believe
" the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin."
But when I would se to the fountain, I seem
all ignorance and helplessness. O Lord, teach and
strengthen me, for thy mercies' sake!
Saturday, 3.-I have had deep communion with
my God, and much power at a throne of grace.
I have a clear evidence of his pardoning love, and
want nothing but his whole image stamped on my
heart.
Thursday, 8.-I was greatly comforted this
morning in spreading open the word of God on my
knees, and praying for a conformity to it. I opened
on 1 Thess. v. 16-ult. I see what is there required
is the very salvation my soul needs. Oh how is it
summed up in that prayer of the apostle, "And
the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I
pray God your whole spirit, and soul and body, be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ." And would St. Paul pray for what
they could not obtain? Oh no! he believed that
they should be both sanctified and preserved blameless; for he says, " Faithful is he who hath called
6




62        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
you, who also will do it."  Amen, Lord! Let me,
thy worthless creature, prove this word for Jesus'
sake.
On the morning of February.22, I awoke poorly
in body, and felt a strange hardness on my heart,
and a great b;ckwardness to private prayer.  Satan
told me, if I prayed, it would be only solemn
mockery; for my body woi   so weigh down my
soul, that while my words ew up, my thoughts
would remain below, and I should obtain no blessing. But I cried, " Lord, help me," and fell instantly on my knees: for a few nimoments my ideas
were all distraction; but the mighty God spoke to
the troubled ocean, "Peace, be still!" and there
followed a great calm throughout my soul. My
intercourse was now opened with my Beloved, and
various promises presented to my believing view.
I thought, shall I now ask small blessings only of
my Gd? Lord, cried I, make this the moment
of my full salvation! Baptize me now with the
Holy Ghost, and the fire of pure love. Now
"make me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit
within me."  Now, enter thy temple, and cast out
sin forever. Now, cleanse the thoughts, desires,
and propensities of my heart, and l't me perfectly
love thee. But here Satan raised all his force of
temptations to oppose me, telling me, I had not
been long enough justified-I had more to suffer




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              63
first, &c. And my ideas not being yet clear in the
nature of this blessing, gave the en my an advie.tage.  For I thought when fully saved fiom sin,
I could suffer no more; feel no more pain; make
no more mistakes; my judgment and memory
would be perfect, and I should feel temptation nce
more! Therefore, this suggestion, that I had to
suffer much first, had the more plausibility.  B3ut
in that moment, I received light frem above, and
cried, " Lord, till my heart is renewed, I cannot.
suffer as I ought: give me perfect love, and I can
then bear all things!"  But, said Satan, if thiq
blessing were given, thou wouldst soon lose it agairl
in such and such trials which lie before thee: get
those trials past, and then come for this blessing.
But I cried, " Lord, I cannot stand those trials
without it.  0 purify my heart, that I may be ablo
to stand in the trying hour! If I face my subtle
enemies, while I have a traitor within, ever ready
to betray me into their hands, how shall I be able
to stand?"  But if that "strong man armed, be
cast out with all his armour," how much more
shall I be able to contend with my outward
enemies! Many other temptations were injected;
but I cried so much the more, " Lord, save me!'
And the Lord gave me that promise, " I will circumcise thy heart, and thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart," &c. I said, "Lord,




64       MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
thou art faithful, and this is thy word, I cast my
whole soul upon thy promise: make known thy
faithfulness, by performing it on my heart. Circumcise it now, fill it now with thy pure love:
sanctify every faculty of my soul: I offer all to
thee, I give thee all my powers; I take thee, Almighty Jesus, for my wisdom, my righteousness,
my sanctification."  Now "Cleanse me from all
my filthiness and from all my idols: take away the
heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh."  I
come empty to be filled: deny me not. It would
be for thy own glory to save me now; for how
much better could I serve thee! It is true, I have
no plea but thy mercy! the blood of Jesus, thy
promise, and my own great need. O save me fully,
by an act of free grace. Thou hast said, "He
that believeth shall be saved:" I now take thee at
j  thy word: I do by faith cast myself on thy promise.
I venture my soul on thy veracity: thou canst not
deny! Being purchased by thy blood, thy justice
is engaged: being promised without money and
without price, thy truth is bound: thus every attribute of my God secures it to me.
Ah! why did I ever doubt his willingness,
when he gave Jesus! gave him to " destroy the
works of the devil-to make an end of sin!"
The hinderance lay in me, not him. He desired
to make me holy, but unbelief hid it from my




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.               65
eyes-accursed sin! But, now, Lord, I do believe: this moment thou dost save. Yea, Lord,
my soul is delivered of her burden. I am emptied
of all: I am at thy feet, a helpless, worthless
worm; but I take hold of thee as my fulness!
Every thing that I want, thou art. Thou art
wisdom, strength, love, holiness: yes, and thou
art mine! I am conquered and subdued by love.
Thy love sinks me into nothing: it overflows my
soul. Oh, my Jesus, thou art all in all! In thee
I behold and feel all the fulness of the Godhead
mine. I am now one with God: the intercourse
is open: sin, inbred sin, no longer hinders the
close communion, and God is all my own!
Oh the depth of solid peace my soul now felt
but not so much rapturous joy as at justification.
It was
"The sacred awe, which dares notqmove,
And all the silent heaven of love!"
Yet when I rose from my knees, Satan once
more assaulted me with, " Thou art going to face
various trials, and a cooling world: thou wilt
soon lose this blessing."  But instantly that
scripture was given me, "He that keepeth Israel,
neither slumbereth nor sleepeth: the Lord himself is thy keeper! It is even he that shall preserve thy soul: the Lord shall preserve thy going
6-*




66       7MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
out and thy coming in, from this time forth and
for evermore."-" Lord," said I, " I feel my own
insufficiency: I can do nothing: I can resist nothing; but I commit the powers of my soul, the
avenues of my heart, to thy keeping."  Again he
graciously applied-" Blessed is she that believed;
for there shall be a performance of those things
which  were told her from  the Lord."   " My
God," said I, " it is enough! My soul does trust
thee, and I will praise thee."
I now walked in the unclouded light of his
countenance, "rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in every thing giving thanks."
I resolved, however, at first, I would not openly
declare what the Lord had wrought; but it was
seen in my countenance; and when asked respecting it, I (dulrst t t deny tl  w inders (, e ilAs love!
I soon founr that repeating his goodness, confirmed my own faith more and more. And so did
the Lord bless me in declaring it, (yea, and blessed
others also,) that I was constrained to witness to
all who feared him:
"His blood can make the foulest clean:
His blood avail'd for me."
I dared not to live above a moment at a time;
and that moment by faith in the Son of God. I
never felt till now the full meaning of those




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.             67
words: "In him we live, and move, and have our
being"-and again, "I will dwell in them, and
walk in them, and be their God: I will put my
laws into their minds, and write them in their
hearts." Glory be to my God, I felt it written
there: it was no longer I that lived, but Christ
that lived in me!.
"Yea, Christ was all and all to me;
And all my heart was love."
Friday, 23.-Glory, honour, and eternal praise
be to the God of love, for ever and ever! His
own arm hath brought salvation to my feeble,
helpless soul. I am now wholly his! I do love
the Lord my God with all my heart, and soul,
and strength. I am nothing, and Jesus is my
all. The enemy is often suggesting, "Thou wilt
soon lose the blessiag: thou canst not stand
long." But my heart answers, 1 will hang upon,
and trust my God, as long as I have any being;
and I know he will supply a feeble worm with
power! I have also opened on many sweet promises to-day. I find momentarily power now to
pray, and believe: yea, I believe by faith!
Saturday, 24.-Last night and this morning I
had deep communion with my God. I feel I am
indeed one with Christ, and Christ is one with
me: I dwell in Christ, and Christ in me. Oh




68        MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
blessed union with him my soul loveth! And
the more I feel of his great love, the more I sink
at his feet in humbling views of my own nothingness; and here it is, I would ever lie: this is my
own place: Jesus alone is exalted; and I, a poor
sinner, saved from sin!
Sunday, 25.-Glory be to God for the best
Sabbath I ever knew! MIy body was so very
weak and poorly, I could not go to preaching;
but the Lord was with me, and gave me fresh
discoveries of my own emptiness and poverty, and
of his abundant fulness. Those words were also
powerfully applied, " Now ye are clean through
the word which I have spoken unto you: abide
in me and I in you: as the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more
can ye, except ye abide in me."  I also feel that
gracious promise mine: " If ye abide in me, and
my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
and it shall be done unto you." Oh the condescension of God to a poor worm! What a grant
is this! My soul draws near and humbly asks,
"Enlarge my faith's capacity,
Wider and yet wider still.
Then with all that is in thee,
My sonl forever fill."
Thursday, 29.-I was so happy that I could




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              69
not sleep in the night. Oh what deep communion
did my soul enjoy with God! It was, indeed, a
foretaste of heaven itself. This morning I prayed
for a portion of Scripture to be impressed on my
heart, that should abide with, comfort and direct
me all the day, and I opened on, " Know ye not
that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost,
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own? For ye are bought with a price;
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's." Sweet portion! O
my blessed Lord, I rejoice that I am thy purchased property, and not my own; and to thee I
gladly yield, body, soul, and spirit.
March 5.-For some days it has been a season
of outward trials; but I have enjoyed fellowship
with God, and great inward comforts. I have
ever found, when he gives peculiar grace, he permits it to be tried; but I prove "'as my day is, so
is my strength."  Yes, glory to his name alone, I
am more than conqueror! and feel it the constant
language of my heart,
"No cross, no suffering I decline,
Only let all my heart b5 thine."
Sunday, 10.-Mr. Simpson preached from
"The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost." Oh the blessedness of this inward king




70        IRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
dom! With streaming eyes, and heart overflowing with love, I could claim this portion minemine in possession, and mine forever  0 Lord,
how shall I praise thee?
"Nothing else will I know, in my journey below,
But singing thy grace, to thy paradise go!"
Thursday, 28.-After a blessed season of communion with God, in secret prayer this morning,
I went with my mother to spend the day at Adlington. Every thing I saw there, in house or
garden, contributed to fill my happy soul with
praise. In such and such a spot, I would say to
myself, have I poured out my soul in deep distress unto the Lord, and in such a place he darted
a ray of comfort, and bid me go forward.  O my
Lord, what hast thou done for a worthless worm,
since these seasons of weeping penitence! Then
I sowed in tears, but now I reap in joy. " Oh
what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits?"  I have nothing.  My all is thine already.
A poor offering. But,
" Poor as it is, 'tis all my storeMore thou shouldst have, if I had more."
Some time after this, I called upon Sarah Oldham, and found her just arrived on the borders of
Canaan. It was animating to be near her! She
requested us to sing,




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              71
"Gladly would I flee awayLoose from earth, no longer stay," &c.
When we ceased, she cried, " Oh sweet! oh comfortable! I thank you."  I asked her, "Have
you any doubts or fears of landing safe!" She
said, "Oh no! not one doubt."  I asked her a
few other questions, which she answered to my
great satisfaction. Two days after this, clapping
her hands together in an ecstasy of joy, she took
her flight to glory! Her last words were, "My
Lord and my God."
On Monday, April the first, Mr. Wesley came
to Macclesfield, and I saw and conversed with
him for the first time. He behaved to me with
parental kindness, and greatly rejoiced in the
Lord's goodness to my soul-encouraged me to
hold fast, and to declare what the Lord had
wrought.  On Wednesday morning he set off for
Manchester.   He thinks me consumptive; but
welcome life, or welcome death, for Christ is mine.
Tuesday, June 4.-I find great weakness of
body, but much of the Divine presence, and resigned longings for immortality.  I 'was at five
o'clock preaching this morning, and there the
tLord shed his love abroad, and all day I have had
such a solemn nearness to him as I cannot describe.
I called on one who, in the arms of death, is rejoicing in redeeming love, her will perfectly
1*




72        MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
resigned, and her evidence clear for a glorious
eternity.  What a sight! 0 Jesus, this is THY
victory! 0 Satan, how art thou conquered!
Tuesday, July 6.-My weakness of body seems
to increase, and so does my union with Him my
soul loveth. I was so happy in the night, that I
had little sleep, and awoke several times, with
those words deeply impressed, " The temple of an
in-dwelling God." His love humbles me in the
dust: it seems as a mirror to discover my nothingness.  Sometimes my weakness of body seems
quite overpowered with the Lord's presence manifest to my soul; and I have thought I could bear
no more and live.  But then I eagerly cry, "Oh
give me more and let me die! I long to be freed
from earth; but I am resigned to live and suffer
here." I found the following lines, which I received with some others, very reviving:
"MY DEAR SISTER,-I fear I shall hardly see
you again till we meet in paradise. But if you
should gradually decay, if you be sensible of the
hour approaching when your spirit is to return to
God, I should be glad to have notice of it.  It is
a comfort: to die is not to be lost!
'To earth-born pain superior you shall rise
Through the wide waves of unopposing skies:
When surnmon'd hence, ascend heaven's high abode,
Converse with angels, and rejoice in God.'




AUTO:ICCGRAPHY.            7t
"Tell me, how far does the corruptible and decaying body press down the soul? Your disorder
naturally sinks the spirits, and occasions heaviness and dejection. Can you, notwithstanding
this, rejoice evermore? I shall be glad to know
if you experience something similar to what MIr
DIe Renty expresses in those strong words: 'T
bear about with me an experimental verity, and a
plenitude of the presence of the ever-blessed Trinity ' Do you commune with God in the night
season?  Does he bid you even in sleep go on?
And does he make your very dreams devout?
That he may fill you with all his fulness, is the
constant wish of," &c.
I praise my God, who enables me, in a degree,
to understand the above, and to answer those deep
questions in the affirmative.
Wednesday, September 11. This day I have
had much pain and weakness of body, but my
peace hath been as a river: O that my righteousness may be as the waves of the sea. My uncle
hath disowned my three cousins on account of
hearing the Methodists. My cousins R. and J.
are steadfast, and more happy in God than ever.
Poor C. has given up Christ for the world, and
is therefore restored to the favour of his earthly
parent. But oh, how will he appear when earth
and heaven shall flee away! Lord, make it a
7




74       M1RS. IESTER ANN O19GEi;S.
warning to me, that I maly watch and pray, and
implore momentary help.
Sunday, 22.-As I returned from preaching, I
called on Mary Etchels, who is in the last stage
of a dropsy, just ready to wing her way to eternal
glory.  She has been a backslider in heart foi
some years, but in her long affliction has returned
unto the Lord, with weeping, mourning, and supplication. Nor did she weep in vain: the Lord
hearkened, and spoke peace to her soul some weeks
since; and this day she told me she has received
the witness of being cleansed from all sin, so that
now she is full of love and joy. Her cry is, Oh
how I long to be with Jesus! Why are his
chariot-wheels so long in coming?  O  for patience till my Jesus comes! She got hold of my
hand after I had prayed with her, and said, Oh
what precious sights do I see! Such glory, such
glory, I cannot utter it!  Soon after her happy
spirit fled to her eternal rest.
Monday, Oct. 14.-In the night (for I could not
sleep) it was a convenient season between God and
my happy soul.  And I since find the bonds of
divine union more strong than ever. This has
been a blessed day! His work, his ways, his word,
are my delight.  I live by faith; and all hard
things are become easy. I can praise him in every
conflict; but I feel I could bear nothing, could do




AUTOBIOGRAPHIY.               75
nothing, without Jesus. All my dependence is
on Him, who supplies the momentary power I
want; and I can truly say,
With every coming hour I prove
His nature, and his name is love."
Tuesday, 15.-I am still kept in various trials.
This day, the following letter was as if sent of
God to strengthen me:" MY DEAR SISTER,-The trials which a gracious Providence sends, or permits, may be so
many means of growing in grace; and particularly
of increasing in faith, patience, and resignation.
And are they not all chosen for us by infinite
wisdom and goodness? So that we may well subscribe to those beautiful lines:
'With patient mind thy course of duty run:
God nothing does or suffers to be done
But thou wouldst do thyself, if thou couldst see
The end of all events as well as he.'
Every thing we can do for a parent, we ought:
that is, every thing we can do, without killing
ourselves; but this we have no right to do: our
lives are not at our own disposal. Remember this,
and do not carry a good principle too far. Do you
still find,
'Labour is rest, and pain is sweet,
When thou my God art here?'
I know pain or grief does not interrupt your happi



i6        MRS. HEST-ER ANN ROGERS.
ness; but does it not lessen it?  You often feel
sorrow for your friends: does that sorrow rather
quicken than depress your soul?  Does it sink
you deeper into God?  Go on in the strength of
the Lord.  Be careful for nothing. Live to-day.
So will you still be a comfort to yours affectionately."
Friday, Nov. 8.-My body is very weak; but
when my strength and ny heart fail, I feel God is
the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Reading a portion of Scripture with prayer, every
day, is, and has been, a great blessing to my soul.
Often have I found, through this means, direction
in difficulties, comfort in trials, and heavenly teachings in the way to glory. And the Scriptures I so
read are impressed with such divine unction on
the heart as makes it lasting food and nourishment to my soul.
Feb. 12, 1777.-Every day I experience more
fully that God is love, and his service perfect freedom. What solid bliss is it to be delivered from
all dependence on creatures, and to hang by faith
upon the immutable God! To know this God is
mine: to feel he dwelleth in my heart, ruleth my
will, my affections, my tempers, my desires: to
know he loveth me ten thousand times better than
I love him.  Oh it is unspeakable salvation!
Feb. 22.-One year this day I have been wholly




AUTOBIOG RAPIIY.            77
the Lord's; and he has kept sole possession of my
willing heart.  Yes, thou hast been my strength.
my refuge, my guide, and my merciful God: my
portion, my treasure, and my whole delight.  One
year I have loved thee with all my heart, and thou
hast reigned without a rival. And now, O my
Father, Saviour, Comforter, I give myself afresh
to thee.
Take my soul and body's powers,
Take my memory, mind, and will,
All my goods, and all my hours,
All I know, and all I feel:
Thine while I live, thrice happy I,
Happier still, if thine I die."
On Sept. 14, 1778, there was a very awful earthquake. The new church in Macclesfield (where I
then was) rocked like a cradle, and nearly threw
some of the people, then kneeling, on their faces.
And the noise, for a few moments, was like thunder.
The scene that ensued was truly an emblem of that
day "when all faces shall gather paleness; and
many shall cry to the rocks and mountains, Fall
on us," &c. Some believed that the church was
falling at the steeple end; and therefore flew in
crowds to the opposite doors, shrieking and crying
for mercy.   Some fainted, and were trampled
nearly to death, oth:l*Fruised much; and some
did not recover the fright.  Byt oh, unspeakable
grace! my soul was kept calm, for I feared not to  I
7.




78        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
die. That sc:ii pture was brought to my mind:
' Yt once more and I salke not the earth only,
but also heaven."  And I was enabled to exhort
those around to be still, and look unto the God of
grace for salvation, which they had too long neglected. Many were deeply awakened by this
awful providence; and never found rest afterward,
till they found it in the manifested love of a blessed
Redeemer.   And some who may date their conversion from that day, will, I believe, be eternal
monuments of grace.
Many are my symptoms of mortality; but God is
love, and bears my happy soul far above
" All sin, and temptation, and pain."
I long for his leave to depart and be with Christ,
but wait in humble resignation at his feet, till all
his will be done.
Though much indisposed, I went to church; and
there in partaking of the blessed sacrament, I had
such union and intercourse with the Holy Trinity,
as is unspeakable! blessed foretaste of drinking
the new wine in my Father's kingdom.     Yes,
these are the streams, but that is the fountain.
Friday, June 18, 1780. -I was closely tried for
a few days past, by near an, dear relatives; but in
God I have deeppeace ain can say, all his will is
welcome, all pain before his presence flies! Com



AUTOBIOGRAPHY.


79


pared with his love, how trifling is all I suffer!
Am I not a brand plucked from eternal burnings!
and the few moments of my existence here, are all
the moments of suffering I shall ever know! yea,
and these light afflictions, even as I pass through
them, are working out for me " a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
Monday, December 18.-I had a day of many
blessings in visiting the sick. I called at John
Barber's, and found his wife's mother dangerously
ill. This poor old Pharisee, now upwards of fourscore years old, would never listen to the calls of
converting grace, or be persuaded that she needed
to be born again. But now the Lord has laid his
hand upon her soul as well as her body.
Some time after I called again, and found she
had been incessantly crying for mercy. When I
now spoke with her, she cried out, The Lord will
save me; but oh pray! I did so; and then asking,
How do you now feel? she said, with uncommon
earnestness, I shall soon rejoice in him: he will
forgive my sins! Soon after she cried aloud, Lord,
I hope thou wilt soon forgive me! Lord, thou
art forgiving me! nay, Lord, thou hast forgiven
me! After this, she continued exceeding happy
for five days, and then exchanged mortality for
life!
Tuesday, 19. —I called upon that old saint, Tho.




80        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
mas Barber, who was seized the day before with a
malignant fever. I asked him, Is the Lord precious to your soul? HIe said, He is all love: I
shall soon be with him. It seems worth remarking
here, that this good old man had prayed and
agonized with God for many years, that his aged
wife might see his salvation; and also that she
might be first taken home. His request was granted in both these respects. A little before her
death, the Lord revealed his salvation to her heart;
and for some days she bore testimony of his love,
often repeating, "Thy rod and thy staff comfort
me." Just before she departed, having taken an
affectionate leave of her husband and children, she
cried aloud, "Now, Lord, thou art mine forever
and ever!"  When her breath was gone, her husband said, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes
have seen thy salvation."  And from that time
his body was perceived to fail.
Thursday, 21.-I found him very ill, but very
happy. Yet he told me, " I have been tempted
to fear patience will not hold out in all this pain,
for I feel as if every limb was tearing asunder
from my body; but r know God is all-sufficient."
I called again: he told me, " My pain h:as been
extreme, but I feel the presence of God continually; and I sensibly know, he is as near to me as




AUTOBIOGRA HY.            81
I am to myself. Whether I die at this itne or
recover, my will is wholly resigned; but I know
if he calls me now, I shall go to glory."  In the
afternoon his every breath was prayer or praise;
and all his attention manifestly taken up with
heavenly things. To the doctor he said, "It is
of more consequence that you should repent, than
that I should recover; for if I die I shall go to
God; but if you do not repent you will perish:
'You must be born again.'"
Saturday, 23.-His dissolution evidently drew
near. He was sometimes a little delirious; yet
of God and spiritual things he spoke clearly and
scripturally, and prayed without ceasing. In the
evening he broke out in the most solemn manner,
and repeated several times, " Christ is God! Christ
is God! God out of Christ is a consuming fre!"
On being asked how he did, he said, " I am going
to the heavenly Canaan, that promised land for
which I set out long ago." While the doctor spoke
to him of his body, he regarded not, but told him,
"I am not afraid to die." And then, with lifted
hands, prayed that all around him, and especially
his children, might follow him to glory. When I
asked him a little after this, do you now feel God
graciously near? he said, (looking with solemn
steadfastness in his countenance, as if he saw
something,) "His spiritual presence is here!" and




82        MRS. IIESTER ANN ROGERS.
bursting into a flood of tears, cried, " I am full of
God! His glory fills my soul!"  Another asked
him, Have you any doubts? He answered, "I
have not the least doubt upon my mind, but I
shall reign with him in glory!" Late that night
I called again, wishing to see him once more and
though delirious just before, when one said, Here
is Miss Roe, he hastily put out his hand and said,
"I May God bless you." This was his last address
to me; and he spake little afterward. At nine
the next morning, I found him speechless, and in
a dying state, but quite composed, and just as if
falling into a sweet sleep. Mr. Simpson came in,
and went to prayer by him; but he appeared insensible to all below. The power of God, however,
rested on all present in an abundant manner; and
-in about an hour afterward he expired without a
sigh or a groan.
Friday, 29.-Late this evening, my cousin Robert Roe arrived with the corpse of his brother
Samuel, who died at Leek, on his way home from
Bristol. There was great hope in the end of this
once gay young man.  My cousin William, and
Margaret, also arrived from Liverpool: 0 that
this solemn season may be sanctified to all his
weeping relatives and friends! and may those who
partook of the follies that employed his youthful
years take the awful warning, and seek that ac



AUTO'0BIOGRAPIHY.           bo
quaintance with Jesus in life, which he felt sc
much need of in his last hours.
March 27, 1781.-This day at my uncle Roe's;
I saw Mr. Rogers for the first time. He and Mr.
Bardsley are come over from Sheffield to see cousin Robert, who respects Mr. Rogers much, having
received good from his preaching at Leeds. We
had a blessed season in prayer together; and cousin Peggy Roe in particular, seemed stirred up and
comforted. Afterward we called on that dying
saint, David Pickford, who witnessed a good confession of the love of Jesus, which he has felt
experimentally for these thirty-six years; and
proves him yet faithful.  At night, Mr. Rogers
preached from " You that are troubled, rest with
us."  And at five o'clock next morning, Mr.
Bardsley enforced that blessed portion, "Fear not,
for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am
thy God," &c. I felt both peculiar seasons of
divine blessings; and though afterward tried at
home, it was a day of deep consolation.
April 20.-I was much comforted by hearing
of the happy death of Anne B., one I formerly
loved much, and dealt faithfully with. She lost
much of her spirituality, by a connection with a
carnal man, whom she married a year ago. But
theLordloved her, and sent a lingering affliction,
slew the body, but saved the soul!




84        MRS, HIESTER ANN ROGERS.
Friday, 27.-I have lately proved more kinidness and affection from my mother than for some
years. Oh, how good is the Lord! Surely with
him nothing shall be impossible.  My uncle Roe
is seized dangerously ill, and two physicians called
in.
Wednesday, May 2.-There is no hope of my
uncle's recovery. But he is reconciled to all his
children, and calls much upon God! and begs of
Mr. Simpson, and others, to pray for him. Yea,
though scarce able, gets upon his knees in bed, to
pray for himself.
Thursday, 3.-As I went to my uncle's this
morning, I met one of the maids, who told me he
is fled into a world of spirits! he lay all night
quite composed; but about ten this morning suddenly opened his eyes and fixed them, with seeming delight, on some object for several minutes:
soon after which, he silently breathed away the
immortal spirit! and, I have great hope, is escaped
to endless life. I spent the day chiefly with imy
cousins, and found it a solemn profitable season.
Poor cousin Joseph came a few hours after his
father's decease, having rode on horseback two
hundred miles in twenty-four hours.
Tuesday, 8.-In the dusk of the evening my
uncle's remains were carried in great pomp, by
his own carriage and horses, to the new church,




AUTOBIOGRAPIY.                5
and accompanied by coaches, torches, and a vast
concourse of people; but the horses, unaccustomed
to be adorned with such trappings as black cloth
escutcheons, they would hardly proceed. Ie was
interred by Mr. Simpson, in the vault he had so
lately prepared! Yes, this much feared, and
much loved man, is now committed to corruptiotr
and worms! it reminds me of Dr. Young's beau
tiful lines:
"An angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave,
Legions of angels can't confine me there'!"
Tuesday, July 3.-I called on Ann Shrigley,
who, when I last saw her, was crying for mercy
in deep distress; but is now filled with praise,
and on the verge of a glorious eternity.  On Friday last, having spoken sharply to her husband,
she was seized with agony of spirit, and cried
aloud, Now I am lost forever: I shall go to hell:
there is no mercy for me. But she wrestled in
prayer till she prevailed, and the Lord shed his
forgiving love abroad in an abundant manner, and
bore his witness with her heart that she was born
of God.  She now told me, I long to be gone. O
that all the world knew what I feel: they would
soon seek God and find him; for he would save
them all. O that blessed eternity! I am going
to that blessed eternity!  I said there we shall
8




86        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
meet to part no more.  She said no, never, never
part more! we shall be forever with our Lord.
O that blessed Saviour! what has he done for my
soul! If my bodily affliction was a thousand
times heavier than it is, his love would be above
all.  On Monday, 16th, I went with Mr. Simpson,
who administered to her the blessed memorials of
dying love; and we all found it a time of the presence and power cf God. She continued in the
same sweet frame of mind till her spirit fled " vway.
Wednesday.-Cousin F. R. called on me this
morning, and related her dream, which has made
a deep impression on her mind, and affected me
much. She thought her father's spirit appeared
to her, and a person who was with her in the
room where he died; and that he asked, in a
most solemn manner, " Are my family and children seeking salvation? I say, are all my children and family seeking the full assurance of salvation?"  He then disappeared; but quickly
camne again, as if he was in haste to give them
warning, lest any of them should defer it till too
late, and perish in their sins; and asked, IHave
all my family found the full assurance of salvation?" and added, with the utmost earnestness,
" Tell them, never, never, never to rest till they
find it! Do you hear me? Tell them never,
never to rest till they have found it!" I forbear




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              87
to mention a few more particulars in this awful
dream! those whom it chiefly concerns no doubt
remember them, as it was kept no secret. O
may it make lasting impressions on all! Some
did take warning-found that full assurancewitnessed a good confession to all their friends,
and are now safely lodged in Abraham's bosom:" Far from the world of grief and sin,
With God eternally shut in!"
After his father's death, my cousin Robert determined to fix in Macclesfield; and for that purpose built a good house, conveniently near the
new church-a lovely situation, and good air.
When this house was finished, at his earnest request, and by the desire of his aunt, Miss S., and
several more, my mother undertook to keep the
house. She rented the whole dwelling, and he
boarded with her. I mention this, because it appears a peculiar providence that placed me there,
to be with this child and servant of God in his
last moments. From the time of his father's death
to that of his own, he gave himself up to the work
of God, as fully as health would possibly permit.
He boldly and publicly preached the Gospel in
and near Macclesfield; and the Lord bore witness
to his word, by awakening, converting, and saving




88        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
souls. And I believe I may safely affirm, that
during that season, he never preached one sermon
in vain.  Sometimes two, three, or four, in one
night, were deeply awakened; and once seven;
and commonly three or four justified.  He was
also the instrument of many believing to full salvation.
Friday, August 9.-We removed to my cousin's
house, where I enjoyed, for the short season of his
life, many spiritual privileges. My mother also
had many opportunities she never would before
partake of, both in prayer and Christian conversation; for my cousin had constant prayer-meetings, bands, &c., under the roof, and endeavoured
to devote his whole time, talents, and substance to
God. But how mysterious are the ways of Providence! how quickly was he called from all this!
Tuesday, 20th, he caught a severe cold, which
terminated in his death.  Every help was procured, but to no effect.  His soul, which long
panted after holiness, was now deeply distressed
to feel the power of the all-cleansing blood, and the
witness of being saved from all sin. He called
on me many times a day to pray with him, and
was often greatly comforted; but nothing less
than full salvation would satisfy. Satan, at times,
took advantage of his distracted nerves, and suggested terrible fears, so that his conflicts at some




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.               89
seasons were great, at other times he was filled
with comfort; and during the whole of his affliction he never expressed the least murmuring or
impatience.
Tuesday, 27th, in attempting to walk two or
three times across the room, he fainted away, and
when recovered, said, " I beg as a particular favor,
cousin, that you will be with me as much as possible: don't leave me, and God will reward you."
I seldom did after this.
September 2.-I rose at five, and going into
his room, found him awake: he said, I feel peculiarly calm, composed, and resigned to the will of
God, but have had no sleep: tell me if you have
not been praying for me?  I answered yes: he
said, I thought so. Then he desired me to open
the New Testament, and read the verse that first
appeared. I did so, and it was this: " For ye
are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in dod:
when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with him in glory." He was
greatly comforted. From this time he hastened
toward his eternal home!
Monday, 9.-He settled all his temporal concerns, and then praised God for having done so,
and was very happy. But in the night he had
one more conflict with Satan. I prayed with him
above an hour: surely it was the most solemn
8*




90        MRS. IHESTER ANN ROGERS.
season I ever knew! The Lord heard and delivered. He fell into a sweet sleep, and awoke rejoicing, yea, triumphing in God. After this he
enjoyed the witness of entire sanctification, and proclaimed to all who came near him the love of his
God and Saviour, saying, Now I know by experience what I have preached to others is no cunningly devised fable. I feel now the blood of
Jesus cleanseth from all sin. I am now entirely
a new creature! I can love the Lord with all my
heart, and soul, and strength. The enemy tells
me, if I get better I shall soon lose this; but I
believe I shall not, for I know as long as I have
this hold of God, nothing will be able to overcome
me. In a day or two after he was often delirious,
yet still, in all intervals, was full of happiness,
love, patience, and resignation, though he suffered
much.
Thursday, 12.-He said, What a peace do I
now enjoy   I feel now, and for some days past,
what I never felt before. When I am at the
worst$ (and none but God knows what I suffer,)
my mind is peaceable and happy, and I have not
a murmuring or repining thought.  I can cast all
my care on God, as I never could before; and
even my helplessness does not discourage me, for
I find his grace sufficient.  But I see a great fulness yet before me.




AUTOBIOGRAPIY.              91
Friday, 13.-When he was got up to have his
bed made easy, he would not return to it (though
every breath seemed as if it would be his last,)
till he had given a short account of his whole experience from  his first setting out.  He went
through all his trials, persecutions, temptations,
&c. But now, said he, I reap the blessed fruit;
and I can say, neither my father's tears nor severity, neither hope of preferment nor fear of suffering, ever made me prevaricate or depart from
what I believed my duty to God. And now I
prove him faithful: he hath said, " Whosoever
forsaketh father, or mother, or brothers, or sisters,
or houses, or lands, for my sake and the Gospel's,
shall receive a hundred fold in this life; even
father and mother, houses and lands, &c., and, in
the world to come, everlasting life." This is literally fulfilled in me. I forsook all, and I was
restored to my father's favour. I have a house,
land, &c., in this life, and I am going to everlasting life! whereas, if I had basely complied with
my friends' desires, I should have possessed no
more in this life than I now do, and should have
been lying here with a guilty conscience, a frowning God, and full of horror, in the views of a
miserable eternity! 0 how good it is to give up
ail for God! Now I feel it, and I shall praise him
forever! 0 how pleasingly awful was this noble




92       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
testimony from a dying friend, when obliged to
gasp for breath between every sentence.  He continued for some time after this praising God, and
recommending all his relations and friends to his
protection, the particulars of which I omit here,
having already referred the reader to them in the
Magazine.
Saturday, 24.-He was quite deranged, yet
composed, and knew me to the last. At three
o'clock on Sunday morning death sweats came on,
and about half-past five he fled to his eternal paradise! All in the room sensibly felt the powerful
presence of God. Yea, it was as the gate of
heaven, while on our knees we watched the last
parting breath! Mr. Simpson preached a funeral
sermon in the new church on Sunday, the 29th,
and Mr. Rogers at the Methodist chapel. The
former from "These are they who came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb:" the
latter from ' Mark the perfect man, and behold
the upright, for the end of that man is peace." I
believe many will remember the blessed season to
their eternal good.
In the year following I had another awful scene
to pass through. Dear Mrs. Rogers, after the
birth of her little James, never recovered her
health fully. Mr. Rogers, being a good deal in




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              93
the country parts of the circuit, I was very much
with her, and our love for each other daily increased. At different times she opened her whole
heart to me on very tender points, for we were as
one soul.  For several weeks before her death,
she entreated me not to leave her, when I could
possibly help it. But as her experience and triumphant death are already published, I forbear to
enlarge respecting either.  0, my Lord, let my
latter end be like hers!
I come now briefly to observe, that after a wonderful chain of divine leadings and remarkable
providences, (too tedious to dwell upon here,) on
August 19, 1784, I was married to Mr. Rogers,
in whom the Lord gave me a helpmate for gloryjust such a partner as my weakness needed to
strengthen me. He hath made us one heart and
one soul, and for above eight years hath crowned
our union with his constant smile.         *
We spent a week or ten days after our marriage
with my mother, and then hastened to Dublin,
where Mr. Rogers was appointed to labour.  We
were gladly received, and the Lord gave us the
hearts of the people. Our hands being thus
strengthened of the Lord, we agreed solemnly to
devote ourselves and our all to him and his work.
And glory to his name, we saw a blessed revival:
'n three years the society increased from about five




94        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
hundred to eleven hundred and upwards; and we
had good cause to believe about four hundred were
converted to God.
In August, 1789, we came over from Dublin to
see my mother at Macclesfield.  Mr. Wesley and
several preachers with families also coming at the
same time to England, we took the whole ship. In
this passage we were in imminent danger by dashing on a rock called the West Mouse.  But prayer
was made, the Lord heard, and wonderfully delivered! We landed at Park Gate, and travelled
with Mr. Wesley to Macclesfield, where my mother
received us with great affection.  After the Manchester conference, we returned to Ireland, sailed
for Dublin, where we had left our little boy. We
spent about a week with our very affectionate
friends there, and then proceeded to Cork.
Here also the Lord revived a gracious work.
'Iis word prospered and prevailed, and we had
cause to rejoice, not only over a few individuals,
but several families, who were added to the fold
of God. We found three hundred and ninetyseven members in society, and left six hundred
and fifty. In the last year we had some close
trials through a few individuals; but our spiritual
mercies outbalanced them all. I do not know
that I ever enjoyed 'more of the Lord's heartfelt
presence than at Cork, excepting the time of a




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.


95


severe nervous fever, and then the cloud was only
for a few days, and that, I believe, was merely
owing to the body; for though in a week afterward all the feelings of nature were touched, I
felt nothing contrary to resignation, patience, or
love.
At the time I now speak of, my own recovery
was doubtful. Mr. Rogers (oppressed with grief
through my illness, and by his attention to me
night and day) was very ill. James had a worm
fever, the maid confined with sickness, and my
little John, six weeks old, dying in convulsions
for three days!-Surely, in this scene, the Lord
magnified his power in supporting my weakness,
and enabling me then to say, " Good is the will
of the Lord."  After this season, my consolations
were abundant; and my faith, love, and communion with God, much deepened.
I had here some encouraging letters from Mr.
Wesley. In the two last he mentioned his intention of removing us to London at the ensuing conference. I trembled at the thought of so important a charge; but committed it to God in much
prayer. And notwithstanding our various exercises of body and mind since we came to this city,
I am certain Divine love has mixed every cup,
and ordered all things well. To be with that
honoured and much loved servant of God, Mr.




96        MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
Wesley, for five months, and then to be witnesses
of his glorious exit, was a favour indeed. But
oh I how awful the scene!-how unspeakable the
loss! I peculiarly felt it, being then in a weak
state, not quite recovered from my lying-in.
The solemnity of the dying hour of that great
good man, I believe will be ever written on my
heart!  Well might Dr. Young say, " The
chamber where the good man meets his fate, is
privileged beyond the common walk of virtuous
life, quite on the verge of heaven i) A cloud of
the Divine presence rested on all! and while he
could hardly be said to be an inhabitant of earth,
being now speechless, and his eyes fixed, victory
and glory were written on his countenance, and
quivering, as it were, on his dying lips! 0 could
he then have spoken, methinks it would have been
nothing but victory! victory!-grace! grace!glory! glory! No language can paint what appeared in that face! The more we gazed upon
it, the more we saw of heaven unspeakable! Not
the least sign of pain, but a weight of bliss. Thus
he continued, only his breath growing weaker and
weaker, till, without a struggle or a groan, he left
the cumberous clay behind, and fled to eternal
life in the bosom of his faithful Lord.
When I look back on the trying scene we have
passed through since this awful event, and con



AUTOBTOGRAPHIY.
sider we are yet monuments of gra;ce a'.d.,Iavigr
power, I am   lost in wonder and in love. )Mr.
Rogers, in particular, has been tried as in the
fire, and exposed through his office, as a mark to.hoot at; yet, through infinite mercy, I believe
he will come out of it all more fully purified.  I
might here enlarge on particulars, but shall leave
the Lord's faithful servants, as well as the instruments of their sufferings, to Him who will plead
the cause of the innocent, an'd make " all things
work together for good to them that love God:"
praying, with our suffering Lord, for those who
now persecute him in his members, " Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do."
I shall now only observe, as it relates to my
own experience, that these trying exercises of my
dear partner have been keenly felt by me. And
my nervous system, weakened by that dangerous
fever at Cork, has also greatly suffered by these
things, which, like " wave upon wave, have followed each other!"  To this I ascribe it chiefly,
that a cloud of heaviness has, at some seasons,
hung   upon  my mind;    and   that Satan  has
taken occasion to suggest, in those times of animal
depression, various accusations of short-comings
in zeal, activity, and spiritual joy.  I do not mean
that I was ever left in darkness -No: since I
first consciously received a sense of favour with
9




98        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
God, I never lost it; but within two years last
past, I have not always had so clear a witness
of perfect love. At other times I have had that
witness fully and clear; and at all times could
say"None but Jesus will I know,
None but him do I desire,
Whom have I in heaven but thee?
Thou art all in all to me!"
But in nothing else than full salvation, and the
witness of it, could my soul ever rest. O no!
What is past experience without present enjoyment? I must feel, or I cannot be happy.
Sunday, Nov. 11, 1792.-This day it is eighteen
years since I recovered the knowledge of a reconciled God. O that I were in a deeper sense a
"mother ~in Israel."  My Lord has ever been
faithful to me! In all my persecutions he comforted me! In the alluring snares of youth, he
saved, he kept. It was by his grace I forsook alldenied myself ease, pleasure, friends;-and after
he had proved me, he gave me easier circumstances, and one of the best of earthly friends.
He has led on my ignorance, and strengthened
my weakness.   Through various scenes, and in
outward perplexities, how often have I received
immediate teaching from God! In travelling




AUTOBIOGRAPHY.              99
from. city to city, how have I been protected by
guardian love, and saved from fear and danger
on the watery deep. May I never forget the ten
thousand proofs of his love in Dublin, in Cork, in
London.   He hath given me favour in the eyes
of his children in every place, and helped me
feebly to serve them. He hath given me spiritual
children also, some of whom are lodged safe in
his bosom, and others in the way to glory. I
have had five lovely children in the flesh; and
besides these, my dear Joseph and Benjamin, left
with me in charge, and to whom I feel united in
all the tenderness of parental love; nor have they
ever been wanting in a due return. One, (a fine
boy,) my Lord hath taken to the abodes of bliss;
and for the rest he assures my heart,
"The children of thy faith in prayer,
Shall all to thee be given."
The witness of his perfect love ever shone upon
my soul, till for a season, in my nervous fever;
but that season past, it shone afresh, and continued
so to do; till at intervals in the two years past, I
have not so constantly enjoyed this. I have been
jealous over myself with a godly jealousy, lest
anxiety about a multiplicity of outward things has
too much stolen upon me, and lest at other times
I have suffered my mind to dwell too much on




10c0      MII?. II ESTrE  ANN ROIGRS.
disagreeables —lest I har  e been less active, less
zealous, less spiritual. Yet I dare not say I have
forfeited the blessing. But I cannot rest when
the witness is not clear.  I know much I have
felt hlis been temptation, and that Satan has accused when my God did not condemn.
Mlany also have been my seasons of deep consolation-of deep communion with my Godmany, and remarkable, my deliverances, land answers to prayer; and great my divine support in
every hour of trial.  At present I am sinking into
the arms of love, andl  I do feel I an all the Lord's.
Many things that have crucified my will of late
have been good for me.   I desire to be crucified
with Christ, and that he should live alone in me!
I feel he now does; but I long for a yet larger
measure of his mind, more of every grace, and
deeper communion with my God.     He does meet
me at the throne of grace, and all temptations respecting conflicts with Satan in death are vanished.
I know my Joshua will be with ine in Jordan, and
see me safe through.  Sometimes I have thought
I shall have to pass that river before it be long;
but that I leave to him.  I feel no desire of life,
but when I see my dear husband oppressed with
trials, and my living seems as if it would be a help
and comfort to him, or, when a silent, resigned
wish arises, to see my children grown, and par



AUTOBIOGRAPHY               101
takers of regenerating grace; but I am kept from
anxiety.
I feel grateful to my God, that I am placed
here, (at Spitalfields,) though but for a season,
where I can enjoy more retirement, and less of
busy life. My God is with me, and I trust he
will draw and unite more fully to himself, his
helpless, worthless creature! I have power with
him in prayer, and I know he will answer my enlarged requests, for myself, my other self, and our
offspring. We shall be his: I will be his alone.
This day I consecrated to him my soul and body's
powers, my life, my all. May his blessed Spirit
come and seal me his abode, ratify the covenant,
and with the Father and the Son, dwell forever
in my worthless heart. Amen. 0 my God, I
sign myself over to thee. This solemn hour,
"My soul and body I resign,
With joy I render thee
My all, no longer mine, but thine
To all eternity."
HESTER ANN ROGERS.
9*




EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS OF
MRS. ROGERS.
DIUBLIN, Nov. 7, 1786.-This day my soul
hath felt much of the power of God, and a sweet
solemnity, which I can but faintly describe. In
calling to visit a friend who is dangerously ill of
the pleurisy, I was led to bring her very near the
time when I shall bid adieu to all beneath the
sun. I saw it an awful thing to die; yet rejoiced
to feel the sting of death entirely gone; and a
witness, that if I was called like her to gasp for
another and another breath, and to offer up my
spirit, it would surely be into the arms of Jesus.
But how was the inmportance of improving my
present mercies impressed on my mind-the necessity of now employing every talent for God.
In a state like hers, I should be very unfit to call
upon God even for my own soul: much less would
it be in my power to persuade, warn, reprove, or
exhort others. My God has at present entrusted
102




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.        10;3
me with precious time and opportunities. 0 let
me improve, and not betray my trust-but only
for thy glory live, and to thy glory die.
In the evening my dear husband preached with
peculiar freedom from  All are yours."  In the
course of his sermon he went through " Paul, or
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death,"
&c., and in the last, instance observed, " We are
immortal till our work is done: till then, men
and devils combined cannot kill." He likewise
mentioned that memorable saying of King William, who, at the battle of the Boyne, when in
the most imminent danger, exclaimed, (to encourage his men,) " Every bullet hath its billet!"
-showing our life is the hand of God alonewhen, on a sudden, the congregation was all
alarmed by a man with a large loaded pistol being
seized at the door. I was in the gallery, and
therefore ignorant of what caused the uproar;
and my employment was to quiet the women, who
were all for rushing down stairs, many of them
ready to fall into fits: I had no fear whatever:
the sermon had been a blessing to my soul, and I
was kept in perfect peace. When I came into
the yard, and heard the particulars, I found this
villain came into the preaching house, and sat opposite the pulpit for half an hour, while Mr. R.
was preaching: then, on receiving a watchword




104       MRS HESTER ANN ROGERS.
from his comrades, went out. And our maid,
who at the same time came into the yard, unperceived in the dark, heard them plotting together,
and resolving to fire the pistol at Mr. Rogers, and
make off. Another friend, who was nearer than they
imagined, also heard them muttering and cursing,
one of them bidding him with the pistol, aim at
the cushion." In that moment the door-keeper,
and two other friends, desired them to quit the
yard, when this fellow rushed toward the door
with violence, and attempted to knock down brother Ransford with the butt end of his large pistol; but he avoided the blow, and only received
a slight hurt on the side of his head. The ruffian
was then seized by a number of our friends, and
taken to the watch-house. When examined, he
denied he had any pistol, and cursed Mr. Rogers,
and all the Methodists, bitterly. He was ordered
to Newgate, and there confined. The constable
came next morning, and told us, Sir Roger Smith,
justice of the peace, had examined the pistol, and
found it loaded with six leaden balls, which he
showed me-they were very ragged and sharpand a large charge of the best gunpowder.
All these things put together, I was now much
more affected than before, as it appeared plain
that a deep laid plot had been concerted, and
every reason to believe the intention was to have




EXTRACT;S FROM! JOURNALS.        105
shot my dear husbandc while he was preaching.
The xwonderful prevention filled me with awful
gratitude and humnble praise. While.Mr. R. and
several friends went to Newgate to interrogate the
ruffian, I spent a precious hour of intercourse with
my GCod. And in sweetly committing to him the
whole affair, I had some liberty to intercede for
the poor wretch, but more in praying for mly dear
partner, when tle Lord graciously applied these
woirlds-" Not a hair of' lhis head shall perish:
wherefore, in patincte possess yc your souls."  I
blessed him for the promise and the precept, and
was filled with divine consolation.
The night after this happened, Mr. Peacock
preached with great liberty, from, " Fear not them
which kill the body, and after that have no more
that they can do."  His word was a blessing to
me and many, especially his quoting that text:
' Touch  not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."   Two persons returnedl thanks
this evening: one for pardon, the other for beingl
renewed in love; both of them under the serlmon
last night.  Well may Satan rage at a work like
this, now going forward in this city.  As several
Roman Catholics have been lately awakened, and
dined to the socirty; and a very rich man, of
gatat note amiong tlh piiests, had become a constant hearer at our chapel, it is conjectured where




106       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
this horrid plot most likely originated.  And the
more clearly doth this appear from the number of
friends who visited this villain while in prison,
and by whose means his escape was effected before he was brought to a trial.
CORK, August 20, 1789.-I found that text
much blessed to me this morning, Isa. xl. 8,
" Who are those that fly as a cloud, and as (loves
to their windows?"  How   heavy is the dense
cloud-yet it hangs in air without any visible hand
to uphold it! Such am I, loaded with ten thousand infirmities, various temptations from Satan,
and calunmnies from malicious men, under which I
must sink, yea, and that even after my soul has
been attracted from the earth by the Son of righteousness, was it not that I am  held up like a
cloud in the air, by the mighty power of God. I
also feel as one of those silly, helpless doves, and
as such, I fly to hide in my Saviour's breast!There, my Lord, I would forever dwell.
"How blest are they who still abide,
Close shelter'd in thy bleeding side."
We had a good season at family prayer, after
which we went upon the water with some friends;
and sailing down to Cove, we went on board;f
Mr. Sholdham's new and beautiful yacht.
vessel is built, it seems, for pleasure, and he n




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.          107
tends to sail in it round the known world. Every
thing in it is elegant, even to extravagance: much
plate, superb furniture in the cabin, and a French
cook on board. But can this make the owner
happy?   Alas! no: it cannot be, unless his soul
were first adorned with Christ, and made meet for
God. In the evening, Mr. Rogers preached in
Cove, to a large company of attentive hearers, from
"Ye must be born again." The room was also
well filled the next evening, and the day after we
returned home in an open boat.  We had a high
wind and heavy showers of rain the whole passage,
and the tide meeting the wind when we came to
Lough Mahon, (a very dangerous place,) it was
rough indeed.  But the Lord sweetly prepared me
for it. That verse was so powerfully impressed on
my mind, that I could not forbear repeating it:
" O'er the raging billows sailing,
With my all-protecting GuideBy thy mercy never failing,
I shall all the storms outride!
Join'd to thee by closest union,
And to my companion dear:
By this happy, sweet communion,
Thou wilt banish every fear."
Just then came on a squall of wind, and the
swell so very high, that all the passengers shrieked
aloud, and some now cried to God for mercy!
Even the boatmen turned pale, and our friends




108      MRS. IESCTER ANN ROGERS.
clasped around us in a most affecting manner.
Yet, though I was sensible of our danger, my soul
was kept fiom fear  I recollected Peter on the
waves, and saiid, "Lord, what are these when in
the hollow of thy hand?   I commit my all to
thee! Preserve me from fear, and help me to
praise thee."  My soul was indeed filled with his
goodness. The boatmen, sensible of the danger,
turned out of the channel into shallow water, and
then the swell was not so great. But we were still
in j eopardy, expecting every moment to be stranded
in the mud; and if so, all must have perished, as
we were near a mile from shore. But the Lord
preserved us from all evil, and we landed safe in
Cork before night came on. O may I never forget his love to me this day! How fatal might
have been the consequences in my present situation, had fear been permitted to take place; instead
of which I was kept composed and happy, and returned in better health than when I went. "Praise
the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,
bless his holy name."
Extract of a letter, received January 14, 1789:
"The Rev. Mr. E. -      calUih to visit one of his
hearers, saw a young lady in the parlour who had
come for the use of the water on account of her
health.  Observing her unusually pensive, Mr.,-E.
took the liberty to inquire the reason. She an



EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.        109
swered, 'Sir, I will think no more of it: it was
only a dream, and I will not be so childish as to
be alarmed at a dream! But, sir, (said she,) I
will tell you my dream, and then I will think of
it no more.' She then repeated, as follows: 'I
dreamed I was at the ball, where I intended to go
to-night. Soon after I was in the room I was
taken very ill, and they gave me a smelling-bottle,
and then I was brought home into this room: I
was put into that elbow-chair, (pointing to it,)
and fainted and died! I then thought I was
carried to a place where there were angels and
holy people in abundance, singing hymns and
praises to God-that I found myself very unhappy
there, and desired to go from thence. My conductor said, if i did, I should never come there
again. He then violently whirled me, and I fell
down, down-through blackness, and flames, and
sulphur, the dread of which awoke me!'"
The minister endeavoured, by every possible
argument, to dissuade the young lady from going
to the ball that night, but in vain: she answered,
" I will go. I will not be so foolish as to mind a
dream!" She did go. And soon after she came
into the ball-room she was taken ill, and [as she
dreamed] a smelling-bottle was given her. She
was carried' home into the room, and put into that
10




110      1RS. IIESTER' ANN ROGERS.
very elbow-chair represented in the dream: she
fainted, and died!
Awful warning! an awful event  0 that it
may deeply penetrate the hearts of all who are
"lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."
She was warned by a dream; but such are now
warned by a reality, even her fate! She is gone,
gone into a world of spirits-into eternity. But
was she unhappy? Very unhappy in the presence
of a holy God and his holy worshippers! Oh how
does this correspond with that solemn declaration
from the lips of truth, " Without holiness no man
shall see the Lord." Oh how unmeet is one who
liveth in these delusive pleasures on earth for the
spiritual enjoyment of God in glory! which is the
inheritance and the bliss of the saints in light.
Reader, ask thy own heart! Couldst thou be more
happy than she in the eternal employ of those who
surround the throne, and sing the song of Moses
and the Lamb? Be assured thou couldst not,
except on earth thou hast learnt their song" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from
our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings
and priests unto God and his Father: to him be
glory and dominion forever and ever."-Thou
must be born aqfain.
What a striking contrast between the young
person alluded to above, and an intimate friend of




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.         111
mine in the city of Cork, who died near about that
time.  Her name was Mary Mahony.       When
very young, her carnal relations forced her to
marry a man for whom she had no affection. He
proved a very wicked and a bad husband; but the
God of wisdom and love, even out of his evil,
brought forth good. The trials she daily endured,
led her to seek rest and happiness in the Source of
bliss! Beginning frequently, though privately,
to hear the Methodists, her mind was drawn out
in strong desires after God. But her husband
often followed her, and dragged her out of the
preaching-house by the hair of her head. After
some time he left her entirely, and she saw him
no more. She joined our society about eight years
ago, and soon found peace with God, which she
never lost; and, about three years after, obtained
also a clear witness that her soul was cleansed
from all sin. In this salvation she walked irreprovably to the day of her death. And though at
some seasons she was buffeted with various temptations, yet she always emerged out of them more
fully purified. She was called outwardly to follow
her heavenly Lord in the way of the cross; but
she joyfully took it up, and bore it with the meekness of her lamb-like Saviour! Like him, her
language was, "Not as I will, but as thou wilt."
Her love to Jesus, and her zeal for the glory of




112      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
God, and for promoting the good of precious souls,
was very peculiar. This induced Mr. Rogers to
request her to take the charge of a class of young
women, over whom she watched faithfully and
diligently with tears, fastings, and much prayer.
In her last sickness, (thought to be a rheumatic
fever,) her agony of pain in every limb was extreme; but she told ine and others, " When these
hands and feet are tortured with pain-yea, such
anguish as is almost insupportable —I look to my
precious Saviour, and see by faith his dear hands
and feet pierced; and bleeding, and nailed to the
accursed tree for my sins! and the view of that
mangled.body and precious head torn with thorns,
and that precious blood streaming for my soul,
sweetens all my pain, and makes me willing to
bear all he pleases to inflict." After she had thus
suffered for nine days, and constantly witnessed to
all the goodness of God to her soul, she became
delirious. But a few hours before her departure,
the Lord restored her reason. She was, however,
speechless, till at last, after struggling some time
as in an agony to say something, she cried aloud,
Jesus is precious! Jesus is precious! and sweetly
fell asleep on the 10th of February, 1789, and in
the 25th year of her age.
October 24, 1790.-I heard Mr. Wesley preach
in Spitalfields chapel with great liberty, from Eph,




EXTRACTS FROMI JOURNALS.        113
vi. 11, "Put on the whole armour of God."  I
never heard the Christian armour so described
before. In the course of his sermon he introduced
an account of a French marshal, a very wicked
man, but a great warrior, who in the blaze of
battle lifted up his hand toward heaven, and swore
by his Maker he would never quit the field while
there was an Englishman alive in it! He was
harnessed with steel, but while pronouncing the
oath, with his arm extended, a musket ball entering the joints of the harness, shot him in the
armpit, and down he fell. Mr. Wesley showed,
in the beautiful contrast, that the Christian being
armed with the panoply of God, i. e., his whole
armour, no such part is left exposed, but the
whole soul is covered and defended against every
fiery dart of our common enemy, the devil.
I awoke very happy this morning, with these
sweet words"God, the Almighty God, is thine:
See him to thy help come down,
The excellence divine."
And oh! how was I blest while musing on that
precious scripture, "Now we see through a glass
darkly." It was, indeed, a blessed season to my
soul, especially for a few minutes, when I felt what
I cannot explain. Such a manifestation of God
as a Spirit, uniting himself to my spirit: sn.h a
10*




114       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
real enjoyment of God as love, as holiness, as hea.
ven, that fulness which thought cannot fathom!
And all this to me. My All in all! united inexplicably to my spirit, more than filling all my
powers with his effulgence, so that I was wrapt in
God. O my Lord, and shall I prove forever this
vision, this fruition of thy fulness? I know I
shall. Thou hast given my soul a taste, and thou
wilt give me the abiding reality when time is no
more. O thou thrice holy God of love, my soul
is lost! Wonder and love overpower me quite!
I am abased before thee, while I feel the sacred
blessing mine.
Nov. 4,1792.-My closet was truly a Bethel,
while my soul was engaged in prayer and holy meditation on those deep words, Col. iii, 3, 4, "Our
life is hid with Christ in God," &c. I was led to
inquire as follows: But how is my life hid? My
animal life being the breath of God, he continues
or withholds it at his pleasure. But who can tell
how he animates the clay body?.or how we continue in that state of animation? When he takes
away our breath, we die, and are turned again to
our dust. How is it that we now feel, hear, smell,
taste, and see? How is it that we think, judge,
fear, love, desire, and enjoy? To say we are made
capable of all these, is to say nothing. From what
arises that capability? The soul actuates the body;




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.         115
hut how? And who informs and actuates the soul?
All is hid with Christ in God. He is the source,
but we cannot search out his ways.
Our spiritual life is hid also. By nature we
are dead. From him we receive the first seed of
spiritual life, "Not of blood, (from our natural parents,) not by the will (or power) of man, but of
God." And how hid from the wisdom of a natural man, are all the workings of divine grace?
We are told he cannot know them. Nor can a
soul possessed of this spiritual life, impart what
he feels to another: it is that " new name which
none knoweth but he that receiveth it." What
a mystery: Christ in us! And what a mystery
also is that faith which justifies and saves, to a
carnal mind?
How frequently is this life so hid, that our actions, words, and motives, are mistaken by men?
And often is the saint condemned through this,
when approved of God! But soon will this hidden life be revealed in open day, when all shall see
and admire the unaffected integrity of him who was
despised and rejected by the wicked-mistaken even
by his friends, (and perhaps grieved sore through
such mistakes,) when his innocence shall shine forth
as the light; and his just dealing as the noon-day,
while many shall be amazed at his salvation, so far
beyond all they looked for on earth! Perhaps a




116       MRS. [HEISTER ANN ROGERS.
well painted hypocrite might be thought more
holy than the Israelite without guile! But then
Lli mask is no more! God will own his jewels,
and they shall shine in his presence forever. And
if sorrow or tears could possibly be in heaven,
surely those who have been (through mistake)
cause of grief to these on earth, will sorrow then,
and love them more, perhaps, on that account.
Again: much is hid from even the soul posessing this life.  The humility of the true saint,
arising from the sense of many infirmities which
he feels, hides his grace from  his own sight, so
that, at certain times, he is even discouraged while
Satan, the accuser, fails not to to magnify unto
him  various short-comings.  Iis extreme weakness, his failures in judgment, memory, or zeal.
His ignorance of many things; or soume constitutional infirmity, though not yielded to, may often
beset, and be a burden to his mind.  These, and
such like, may, for a time, damp the joy of one
whose "life is hid with Christ in God." But when
such feel their utter helplessness, the Sun of
righteousness shall break forth; and, by a worda single look of love, dissipate all the gloom, and
display his graces and himself, and fill with unknown peace!; htut when these come to pass
through the valley, there they shall find Jesus
their life indeed with whom they shall then appear




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.          117
in glory! Yes, yes, he will then be revealed to
their ravished views, when they shall fearless
" Pass the watery flood,
Hanging on the arm of God."
For he will stand in Jordan to see them  safe
through, and landed all in Canaan, where he will
display before them his bleeding wounds, their
only title to eternal bliss! And oh! what then
shall be revealed to the disembodied saint! Divine
amazement and glory all! But oh! to prove the
blissful reality mine! This, this is all; and while
my soul exults in the sweet assurance, I deeply
feel the importance of that question, "Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me?" and can tell my Lord,
as Peter did, "Thou knowest all things, thou
knowest that I love thee." Yes, with all my
heart.  I have communion with my God, as a
man with his friend. I feel an intimate union
with Jesus; and through him with the Father;
and such overflowing emanations from the Holy
Ghost, as I have rarely felt before. I think a
little more would burst the earthen prison, and set
my longing spirit free.
I have found it very profitable to read Horse
Solitarise, on the Name and Titles of Christ:
especially that of Jehovah Adonai. His remarks
are very sweet and spiritual, only his Calvinism
I pass over. Yet I can allow and join in all that




1 8       MRS. IITESTERT ANN ROGERS.
gives glory to Christ, and tends to humble the sinner, ascribing also, with him, my whole salvation
to grace unmerited and free. I believe, he who
hath loved me, died for all, that they who are dead
might henceforth live, " not unto themselves, but
unto him who died for them and rose again."'
Feb. 19, 1794.-Having heard much respecting public matters, and about an expected invasion, with all its consequences, I have been led
much to secret prayer, and feel I can say to my
God, " Naked came I into the world, and thou hast
cared for me, nurtured me in infancy, preserved
me in youth, provided for the wants, yea, even for
the comforts of my riper years, and now I am still
thiie, and I commit myself, my dear husband and
children, my all unto thee." I received for answer,
"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any
plague come near thy dwelling."  The day after
I had some subtle temptations from the enemy;
but the Lord assured my heart, he would not suffer me to be tempted above what I am able to bear.
Whenever I approach the Lord in secret, Satan
vanishes, and Jesus tells me, "All that I have is
thine." Yea, he truly leads me into green pastures,
and by the still waters of comfort!
" to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrin'd to be."




EXTRACTS FROM1 JOLRNALS.       119
My mind has been led of late to meditate on
the latter day glory; and the Lord's presence rested
upon me in a peculiar manner, while attending to
those beautiful ideas of Mr. Fletcher on the millennium, especially where he observes, "That as
now the world is overspread with iniquity, so shall
it then be with holiness: insomuch that a wicked
man shall then be as great a wonder upon earth as
a father in Christ is now! that the curse shall
be taken away from universal creation, vegetable,
animal, and elementary: the bodies of men no
longer subject to pain and weakness: no sorrow in
child-bearing, no temptation. The lion will then
be as inoffensive as the lamb; and the leopard lie
down with the kid: For they shall not hurt nor
destroy in all my holy mountain, (saith our God,)
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
THE DYING BED OF A SAINT AND SINNER CONTRASTED.
Dust we are, and unto dust we shall return.
A few more rolling years: a few more months or
weeks: nay, perhaps, a few more setting suns, or
fleeting moments, and we are gone. Gone, where?




120       MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
Oh! that awful, dreadful, blissful thought! Awful
to all, dreadful to the unholy, to sinners, and
blissful to the saints of God. See a man approaching to the verge of eternity: how are all his views
changed!-How trifling to such a one appears all
below the sun!  How important the things of
God, and the salvation of his never-dying soul?
Let us consider one ignorant of God    through
life, immersed in pleasure, lost in pride, careless,
secure, surrounded and beloved   by his carnal
friends, and possessed of a moderate share of
wealth-such a one in the bloom of life.  Some
fatal distemper seizes his brittle frame: he is
racked with torturing pain, surrounded by weeping
friends, whose help is all in vain: the physician
gives no hope of his recovery; and he perceives he
is ere long to launch into a boundless eternity!
What are his views in such a state? Such a scene
have my eyes beheld, and therefore with greater
certainty I may describe it.-" Wretched man
that I am, (methinks I still hear him cry,) where
are my pleasures now? What hath pride profited
me, or what good hath riches, with all my vaunting, done me?-These are passed away as a cloud,
and now, O horror, to think!
'Now leaving all I love below,
To God's tribunal I must go,
Must hear the Judge pronounce my fates
And fix my everlasting state.'




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.        121
But can I hope to dwell with God? Ah! no it
cannot be. He is holy, I am vile: he is just, and
will punish the guilty. He called, and I refused:
he stretched forth his hand, and I would not
regard; and now he laugheth at my calamity,
and shutteth his ear to my cry. Then I would
not, now I cannot pray: he often knocked at
the door of my heart, saying, by an inward
whisper, Thou art wrong: repent, and turn bo
God.   Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near.-Turn ye, turn
ye, why will ye die? But I would none of his
counsel, and turned away mine ear from his reproof. I refused the yoke of Jesus, despised his
ministers, and neglected that salvation which was
long offered to me by their means. But now I
feel the dire effects! Me miserable: which way
shall I flee infinite wrath and infinite despair
Oh eternity! eternity! eternity!-Fall, fall ye
rocks, and hide my guilty head: hide me from
Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the
wrath of the Lamb!-But oh! even this cannot
be: I must endure his indignation: I must suffer
the vengeance of eternal fire!  My damnation is
sealed! Who can dwell with devouring fire? Who
can endure everlasting burnings? Take warning,
O my careless friends! A gaping hell awaits me!
My soul is going!  Fiends are waiting to reli




122


MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.


ceive it: they encircle me round: Oh horror, and
eternity!"
The person described above, was afterward reprieved for a short season from the jaws of death;
but he did not manifest any genuine repentance;
and, in about six months after, died in raging
despair.
Let us next see the child of God! the heir of
glory, (pleasing contrast,) how different his prospect   He longs to reach his Father's house, and
kisses the kind rod of his afflicting hand.  The
welcome news that he shall soon be there, elevates
his soul with rapturous joy: he has a foretaste of
those pleasures which are at God's right hand for
evermore, and the language of his heart is,
"Haste, my Beloved, fetch my soul
Up to thy blest abode:
Fly, for my spirit longs to see
My Saviour and my God."
Yes, blessed Saviour, and this thou knowest, is
also the language of my heart, while I now bid
adieu to earth and all terrestial scenes.
Farewell, my dear beloved children, I leave
you, but your parents' God hath promised to care
for you. Choose him for your portion, and then
if we both leave you exposed to the waves of a
dangerous world, the faithfulness of an unchanging
Jehovah is engaged to pilot you safe into that




EXTRACTS FROMI JOURNALS.       123
haven where we shall meet you all again, being
bound up together in the bundle of life, with the
Lord our God.
Farewell, in particular, my ever dear husband.
How was our friendship ripened almost to the maturity of heaven. How tenderly and closely are
our hearts still knit together! Nor shall the
sweet union be dissolved by death; but being one
in Christ, we shall be one forever. Mourn not
that I go to him first. He saw it best for my
weakness: my feeble frame might not have supported your absence! A very little while, and
you will follow me; and oh, with what joy shall I
welcome your arrival on the eternal shore, and
conduct you to Him whom our souls love! Till
then adieu, my dearest companion in heaven's
road, whom God in the greatest mercy gave to me.
I leave with thee most grateful sensations for all
the kind tokens of affection which I have ever had
from thee. For all thy care, thy love, thy prayers,
I bless my God and thank thee. But I now go to
Jesus, who is yet infinitely dearer to me. With
him I leave thee, nor doubt his care, who hath
loved and given himself for thee. It is but a
short separation: our spirits shall soon reunite,
and then never, never know separation more!
Farewell to all my dear friends: weep not for
me, but love my God. O make your peace with




124      MRS HESTER ANN ROGERS.
him, and you shall follow me to glory.  He is
worthy of your hearts, and only he! 0 give
them wholly to him. I have not served my God
for nought: I have lived a heaven below in Jesus'
love, and now eternally shall praise the glories of
his grace! And you who know my God, 0 love
him more, and never leave him; so will he be to
you what he is now to me. Continue " steadfast
and unmovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord;" for, I can testify to his glory, "your
labour shall not be in vain." Be faithful unto
death, and he will give you a crown of life; which
I am now hastening to receive. " The chariots of
Israel, and the horsemen thereof," 2 Kings, ii. 12,
are all in waiting to carry me home!
"See the guardian angels nigh,
Wait to waft my soul on high!
See the golden gates display'd,
See the crown to grace my head!
See a flood of sacred light
Which shall yield no more to night:
Transitory world, farewell,
Jesus calls with him to dwell'"
He cries, "Arise, my love, my fair one, and
come away."    Amen, saith my willing, joyful
soul, " Even so, come, Lord Jesus."  My soul is
on the wing. Burst asunder ye bonds of clay
which hold me from my love: how welcome the




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.           12T
stroke that shall break d6wn these separating
walls, knock off my fetters, throw open my prison
doors, and set me at liberty.   This corruptible
body, this tottering house of clay, which now cannot sustain his weight of love, shall soon be made
a glorious body incorruptible"Shall the stars and sun outshine,
Shout among the sons of glory,
All immortal, all divine!"and able then to enjoy the full fruition of my
God.   Yes, I shall soon see him   as he is, not
through a glass darkly, but face to face. The
beatific sight
"Shall fill the heavenly courts with praise,
And wide diffuse the golden blaze
Of everlasting light."
" Waiting to receive my spirit,
Lo, my Saviour stands above,
Shows the purchase of his meritReaches out the crown of love."
Angels surround my bed to carry me away. I
come, I come, blest messengers of my God!
Haste and convey me to his loved embrace! My
faith already beholds the crucified Redeemer: methinks I see him  smile, while around him  stand
the heavenly host exulting! Oh glorious train of
blood-bought souls! What an innumerable company! And I shall join the choir11*




126       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
"Shall shout by turns the bursting joyAnd all eternity employ,
In songs around the throne."
How delightful the theme! It hath set my
soul on fire; yet I cannot express a thousandth
part of my ideas, or the prospect that lies before
me.   But I shall prove the unutterable bliss!
The inheritance is mine! A foretaste now I feel.
Nay, so am I filled with glory and with God, that
more I could not bear and live! 0 may I ever
feel the sacred flame, and through eternity pro.
claim the depth of Jesus' love! Amen and Amen
HESTER ANN ROGERS.




SELECTIONS FROM THE
CORRESPONDENCE OF MRS. ROGERS.
LETTER I.
(Written in the nineteenth year of her age, to a lady of considerable rank and fortune, who, being offended at her
turning Methodist, required an account of her conduct for
so doing.)
MACCCLESrIELD, Nov. 12, 1775.
DEAR AND HONOURED MADAM:-I beg leave
to return you my most sincere and humble thanks
for your kind letter and advice; and as you are
so kind to express a concern on my account, I
hope you will pardon the liberty, and allow me to
say what is my opinion and belief, and on what
alone I can build any hopes of heaven and happiness.
Man, as he came out of the hands of the Creator, was perfectly holy and happy. In him
shone all those amiable and lovely attributes of
the Deity: goodness, truth, justice, mercy, and
127




128       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
love. But, by disobeying the Divine command,
he entailed upon himself and his whole posterity
(for he acted as the parent or head of all mankind) the sure wages of sin, which is deathdeath temporal, spiritual, and eternal. The body
of man became that day mortal: his soul spiritually dead, and he was every moment liable to
death eternal.  The guilt of Adam, and the depravity of soul which he contracted by the fall,
immediately devolved upon his unhappy offspring.
And, we are told, when he begat a son, it was in
his OWN likeness, after T'IS image: so that now
man is born in sin, and under the wrath of God,
and if he die in that state, will stand exposed to
the sentence of eternal death.* And what can a
lost man do in this case! Atonement for himself
or offering meet, he hath none to bring; and to
pardon sinners without a satisfaction, would not
be what is commonly called mercy, but it would
be giving up the essential glories of the Godhead.
What must be done then? Why, God of his
free grace, and unlimited bounty, has provided
a ransom, an all-sufficient ransom, even his well
beloved Son  I He who is the brightness of his
Father's glory, and the express image of his person,
became man to die, that man might live.
* It is hardly necessary to say that this is an unguarded
way of stating the doctrine of original sin.  [EDITOR.




CORRESPONDENCE.            129
All that was necessary to be done to complete
our salvation, consisted chiefly in these three
things:-First, a perfect obedience to the Divine
law:-Secondly, an infinitely meritorious satisfaction to the law and government of God, for
the dishonour brought upon them by the sin of
man:-Thirdly, a restoration of the moral image
of God to the soul, which image was lost by the
fall of man. The first of these was completed by
the life of our Redeemer, the second by his death,
and the third is effected by tNl Holy Ghost. This
provision (ample provision) is made for the salvation of man, so that God can preserve untainted
his adorable perfections; or, as St. Paul declares,
he can now be just, and yet justify and save penitent, believing mian.
That Christ suffered in the place of sinners, is
expressed by St. Peter in these words, "Who,
his own self, bare our sins in his own body on the
tree."  Also, Isaiah saith, "Surely he hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows. He was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised
for our iniquities. All we like sheep have gone
astray: we have turned every one to his own way,
and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us
all." St. Paul saith, "He hath made him to be
sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him." And




130


MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.


again, in the third chapter of the Romans, he
saith, "There is none righteous, no, not one:
there is none that understandeth: there is none
that seeketh after God: they are all gone out of
the way: they are together become unprofitable:
there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Therefore, he adds, "By the deeds of the law
there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. But
now the righteousness which is without the law is
manifest, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets, even the righteousness of God, which
is by faith in Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all
them that believe; for there is no difference, for
all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God: being justified freely by his grace, through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for
the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God: to declare, I say, at this
time, his righteousness, that he might be just,
and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
With St. Paul, then, I would go on and ask*" Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By
what law? Of works?    Nay; but by the law of
faith. Therefore, we conclude, that a man is
justified by faith, without the deeds of the law.
For, to him that worketh is the reward not reck



CORRESPONDENCE.             131
oned of grace, but of debt; but to him that
worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also described the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they
whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord
will not impute sin. Abraham believed God, and
it was imputed to him for righteousness: Now it
was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall
be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up
Jesus our Lord from the dead: who was delivered
for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."  Now, from all these, and many more
texts of Holy Scripture which might be named, I
believe, and am sure, that works are not the meritorious cause of our salvation, yet I believe they
are absolutely necessary, and will follow as the
sure and inseparable fruits of a true faith. If
you will be kind enough to read the eleventh,
twelfth, and thirteenth articles of the Church of
England, they will further explain my meaning.
But there is a third thing also necessary to our
salvation, which is, that the image of God be restored to the soul. Now, this is done in regeneration  Our Saviour assures us, "; Except a man




132       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
And again, "Except ye be converted, and become
as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Nor, indeed, are we fit for it, till
renewed by the Spirit of God. For, were it possible to be admitted there, we could not enjoy the
pure and spiritual delight of the saints above.
Their joy consists in an entire freedom from all
sin and corruption; and in serving, adoring, praising the Father of all their mercies, the Son of his
love, and Spirit of holiness. And they are so far
from being weary of this, that they think eternity too short to utter all his praise! How irksome would be an eternity spent in this manner,
to a person who never had his affections spiritualized, and his will brought into a conformity to
the will of God!   This is a change which must
be wrought in this world; for there is no repentance in the grave: as death leaves us, judgment
will find us.  Then, " He that is unjust shall be
unjust still: he which is filthy sEall be filthy still:
he that is righteous shall be righteous still; and
he that is holy shall be holy still!"' The Holy
Ghost is the author of this conversion or new
birth; for no man hath quickened his own souL
It is He that must begin, carry on, and complete it.
Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his; and the fruits of this Spirit




CORRESPONDENCE.            138
are, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law; and they that are Christ's,
have crucified the flesh with its affections and
lusts. If any man be in Christ, he is a new, creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new." And Jesus Christ is
made of God unto us, "wisdom, righteousness,
santification, and redemption: that according as
it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord. God forbid that I should glory, save in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
This, dear madam, is what I believe, and this,
I think, is agreeable to the word of God, and to
the articles and homilies of the Church of England, and no schism of the Church of Christ
Forfeiting your love and friendship is a great trial;
but believe me, when I think of seeking salvation
in any other way, it seems as a sword piercing my
very heart! And seeing my dear mother so very
unhappy on my account, gives me more grief than
I can express; and the thought of my being detrimental to her in worldly things, and that my conduct should make you less her friend, seems
strange, and is to me very afflicting.  But I think
these things ought not to be urged too far, especially when the soul is concerned.
12




134       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
I am afraid I have tired your patience, so will
hasten to subscribe myself, honoured madam, your
most obliged and dutiful daughter,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER II.
To Mr. Robert Roe, when at College, about six months after
his conversion.
MACCLESFIELD, NOV. 13, 1776.
DEAR COUSIN,-As I find by your brother, you
have been reasoning with the enemy of your soul,
and thereby, in some measure, have distressed
your own mind; and as you request me to write,
I dare not refuse, for I know God can use the
weakest instruments to comfort his children, and
often does, that we may ascribe all glory to Him
alone. May He who comforteth those who are
cast down be your support.
As to your falling from God, I do not fear it;
and I am sure it is your happy privilege constantly
to rejoice in his love-that love which so clearly
spake your sins forgiven. Oppose that adversary
of your soul by faith: this shield (saith an
Apostle) "shall quench all the fiery darts of the




CORRESPONDENCE.             135
wicked."  Be resolute, and determine to conquer.
Jesus in our nature hath bruised the serpent's
head; and your union with your living IIead will
give you power to conquer, too. Fear not, saith
God, for I will help thee. By a simple, living
faith, cleave constantly to Jesus; and though
earth and hell combine, they shall not be able to
overcome or hurt you. Believe even against hope 1
and when things seem impossible to you, weak and
helpless as you are, remember they are possible
with God. Lay open to him your every care:
"His heart is made of tenderness:
His bowels melt with love."
He delighteth not to see his children mourning,
cast down, and oppressed, but kindly saith, " I
will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto
you;" and again, "I will send you the Spirit of
truth, that he may abide with you forever." The
privileges of a justified soul are very great; for,
"if a child, then an heir, an heir of God,"-of all
his promises. Praise God that you feel the necessity of heart holiness, and press after it, even
after " all the mind which was in Christ Jesus."
He is already your wisdom and righteousness, and
he will become your sanctification.  O  look for
it, seek it, expect it-expect it as you are, expect
it now. Behold, saith God, I stand at the door




136       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
and knock: open to your Beloved, and he will
come in and fill your happy soul.
Be diligent in your studies. It may be a cross,
but take it up for Christ's sake, and it will not
hurt your soul. Above all, continue in prayer:
often read the word of God upon your knees, and
his Spirit will explain it to your heart. With respect to your situation, or any temporal thing, be
not careful: live the present moment, and lay no
schemes for to-morrow: you may then be in eternity! " Instead of busying our minds," saith Mr.
Wesley, "with dwelling on the grievous part of
what is past or to come, we should remember that
the gospel does not permit us to dwell on any thing
but the presence and love of God who fills our
souls." However you may be tempted, resolve
you will not reason, except with the Lord, at the
throne of grace. Seek more union and communion with your God: you may attain much of this,
even before you are sanctified. But oh! never
rest till all your evil nature be destroyed, and
every root of bitterness plucked up-till you have
given your God all your loving heart. And remember with him, "Now is the accepted timenow is the day of salvation."  He cannot be more
willing or more powerful than he is to-day.
As to myself, I see no end to my Lord's goodness. I find every day an increase of love, joy,




CORRESPONDENCE.              l 7
peace, and union, close, intimate union with the
Great Three-One.
"All my treasure is above,
All my riches is his love."
I feel I am very unworthy, yet offering up myself and my services on that altar which sanctifieth the gift, my God accepts a worthless worm,
through his beloved Son. He who is higher than
the highest, stoops to dwell in my happy soul;
and I have communion with him as a man with
his friend. Sometimes in the night he so fills my
soul with his glorious presence, that I think it
will burst its prison, and wing away; and then,
oh then, where should I be? Surrounded with
angels, and conveyed by them   to my God —my
life, my treasure, and my crown! I can even
now scarce support the blissful thought. Oh what
a present heaven of love I feel!
"Oh what are all our sufferings here,
If, Lord, thou count us meet,
With that enraptured host t' appear,
And worship at thy feet."
It cannot be long ere we lay these bodies down
"Our conflicts here shall soon be past,
And you and I ascend at last
Triumphant with our Head!"
12*




138        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
"Rejoice in glorious hope: Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take his servants up to their eternal home:
We soon shall hear the archangel's voice
The trump of God shall sound, Rejoice!"
I remain your sincere friend in Jesus,
H. A. RoE.
LETTER III.
To Mr. Robert Roe.
MACCLESFIELD, Dec, 10, 1776.
MY DEAR COUSIN,-I am thankful if my letter
was any comfort to your mind: to God be all the
glory. I hope you are now enabled to rejoice,
and are filled with that peace which from believing
flows. I hope your heavenly intercourse is open,
and that day by day you open still wider the door
of your heart, that you may more and more be
filled with God.
"Ready are you to receive,
Readier is your God to give."
I trust your studies are now made a blessing,
and that in them you enjoy the presence of Jesus.
Let no little difficulties discourage us who serve so
good a Master-us who have in view a heaven of
glory! Jesus left that heaven-to suffer, bleed,




CORRESPONDENCE.             139
and die in our behalf.  0, then, let us take up
our every cross, and despising the shame, manfully suffer with him!  Love makes all things
easy:
"'Tis this that makes our cheerful feet
In swift obedience move:
'Tis this shall tune our joyful song
In those sweet realms above."
I long to be all dissolved in love; for "God is
love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in
God, and God in him."
I have had many trials, and some temptations
of late; but I am firmly persuaded, that while I
cleave simply to Jesus, nothing shall be able to
separate me from his love; no, nor to lessen the
divine flame which I feel continually burning in
any heart. Those precious words, " My grace is
sufficient for thee," shall stand firm as the pillars
of heaven; and when the enemy would tell me,
in such and such a trial thou wilt be entangled
and overcome, I tell him, my Lord hath promised
strength equal to my day, and all his darts are
instantly repelled.' Nor do I only conquer; but
after my enemy is put to flight, I have more love,
more peace, and nearer union with my God. Oh
the blessedness of intimate fellowship with himof possessing that testimony that we please him!
Surely it is a taste of heaven; and yet it is only




140       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
a drop out of the ocean —as a grain of sand comr
pared with the sands on the sea shore-only the
beginning of an eternity of glory.   O  for an
archangel's tongue to maglify our adorable Redeemer's name! We can but lisp his praises
here; but we shall join in nobler strains above, to
praise for evermore the Three in One:
"The heavenly principle aspires,
And swells my soul with strong desires,
To grasp the starry crown."
The Lord is carrying on a glorious work here.
Our love feast last week was a blessed season of
the outpouring of his Spirit: every one had reason to say, " This is none other than the house of
God, this is the gate of heaven." Several who
came there burdened and heavy laden, went away
rejoicing: three found a clear sense of pardon,
and two others were set at perfect liberty from the
remains of sin. The preachers all wept abundantly
tears of joy, so were they filled with God; and,
indeed, I believe there were few dry eyes. Mr.
Percival says, there is just such another pouring
out of the Spirit in Bolton: above thirty joined
the society there in ten days. I know this will
rejoice your heart. 0 let us pray much for a
guilty world! I believe this will be a glorious
year of the power of God. I do not cease to pray




CORRESPONDENCE.            141
for you, and remain your affectionate cousin and
friend,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER IV.
To Mrs. Salmon, of Nantwitch.
MACCLESFIELD, Nov. 15, 1777
MY DEAR SISTER,-I received your kind letter,
which filled my soul with praise on your account.
I rejoice to hear your name is enrolled with the
despised followers of a crucified Saviour. I believe I shall have reason to bless God to all eternity that I ever joined the Methodists. 0 may
my worthless name never be a dishonour to his
glorious cause and people! May you and I, dear
sister, never be separated from them but by death,
and all of us be united to the living Vine, and
bring forth plenteously the fruits of righteousness
to his glory and praise, " who hath called us out
of darkness into his marvellous light."
With divine assistance, I shall not cease to cry
unto God for Mr. Salmon and the little flock committed to his care. May they be such as shall be
eternally saved, and their number be increased
daily. May holiness unto the Lord be the motto
of every heart, and his praise dwell on every




142       MRS. IIESTER ANN ROGERS.
tongue.  It becometh well the just to be thankful; for who is a God like unto our God?  Oh
how great are his mercies! how innumerable his
benefits! We may exclaim with David, "They
are more in number than the hairs of our head;"
or with a later poet,
" His nature and his name is love."
O let our souls praise the Lord, and all that is
within us magnify his glorious name! Once we
were darkness, but now we are light: once we
were the slaves of sin and Satan, but now we are
set free, in the glorious liberty of the children of
God, and our lot is among the saints. Once we
were in our sins, and under condemnation, now
we are the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life. Once we were enemies to the eternal God,
by wicked works and tempers: now we are reconciled through the blood of his Son, and he is become our Father and our Friend.   Such grace,
such love as this, demands our praises. Others
may boast of riches and estates, their high birth
and parentage; but we will joy in the Lord, and
glory in the Rock of our salvation! We are
plucked as brands from the burning, and we will
praise our great Deliverer. Jesus is our Redeemer
and our Saviour, ourBeloved and ourFriend; and
we will give him our hearts, our lives, our all.




CORRESPONDENCE.             143
The poor unthinking multitude " see no form nor
comeliness in him, neither any beauty that they
should desire him," but we know and prove, that
he is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." He is the Friend that sticketh
closer than a brother-that sympathizes in our infirmities, and beareth our sorrows. He careth for
our necessities, and supplieth our wants.  He
strengtheneth our feeble hands, and feedeth our
hungry fainting souls with the manna of his
love: in him is all we want, and he is all our
own: yea, and he will be our satisfying portion
forever.  "Happy are the people that are in such
a case: yea, blessed are the people that have the
Lord for their God."
My health has been very indifferent for some
time; but, blessed be God, pain is sweet, and life
or death is gain: I desire nothing but to do and
suffer the will of my heavenly Father, and to in
crease in all the height of holiness, in all the depth
of humble love. I do lie at the feet of Jesus, and
find his love forever new. Lord, what am I, that
thou shouldest thus regard me!
" He calls a worm his friend!
He calls himself my God!
And he shall save me to the end
Through Jesus' blood."; I hope my dear sister proves, as sweetly as I




144       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
do, the great privilege of approaching a God of
love in secret prayer. These are precious seasons
to me: here we may disburden all our cares and
fears to him, who can and will save to the uttermost: by this we may renew our covenant with
the Great Three-One, day by day, and receive
from him fresh strength; and in this means may
delightfully converse with our Beloved-lay open
to him our hearts, and praise him who knows
every secret there., And how does he melt the
soul with his overwhelming grace, that thus
seeketh him! They are such ravishing moments
with me, that often I know not whether I am on
earth or in heaven:-Surely it is a taste of heavenly bliss! I do not' forget my dear sister and
friend, when I thus approach the gracious throne.
0 pray for me! Dear Mrs. Salmon, yours in divine bonds,
H. A. RoL
LETTER V.
Written at a time when she was supposed to be near death,
and addressed to a lady of her acquaintance.
MACCLESFIELD, Jan. 9, 1778.
FAREWELL, my friend! To the care of that




CORRESPONDENCE.


145


God of truth and love, who hath been so gracious
unto me, I commend you. Say you prove all
the riches of his grace in life, and lay down this
earthly tabernacle with the same joy and assurance of hope as I now do. " I have fought the
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith; and henceforth there is laid up for me,a crown, a never-fading crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give
me at that day."  I joyfully declare, it is by
grace alone I am saved:-Jesus is all in all, and
I am nothing without him.
I believe you will bear with a friend if she
leave the following dying cautions; and O may
the Spirit of holiness write them on your heart:Deny yourself wholly, take up your cross daily,
and follow  Christ fully.  Watch, fast, pray.
Avoid all occasions of temptation resolutely; but,
if at any time you are overcome, delay not to fall
at the feet of Christ that moment for pardon and
strength. The eyes of earth and heaven are upon
you: many wait for your halting: more, I trust,
wish you success in the name of the Lord: I am
sure I do, and therefore write without reserve.
Take care of your own understanding: do not
suffer yourself to think of it, but with deep abasement that you have made no better use of it. Do
not adorn your body now, if you wish to be found
13




146       IMRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.:dorned with Christ in the day of eternity. I sit
under the shadow of my Beloved.   While I write,
I feel him sustaining my soul. 0 Jesus, great is
thy goodness, great is thy mercy! I feel my insufficiency to speak of the goodness of my God:
it is more than I am able to express: I enjoy in
him all I want; but am daily more sensible how
little I am. 0 how his grace is magnified in a
poor worm! You also have tasted of his love:
may you follow him fully and steadfastly.  While
you do this, though storms should arise, and
winds blow, they will only settle and fix you more
fully on the Rock which cannot be moved. Believe simply and constantly, so shall you love
steadfastly and entirely: then shall the Lord
guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in
drought, and your soul shall be as a watered
garden, and as springs of water which fail not.
Farewell-I was going to say forever; but ah I
no.  I shall see you again: may it be where we
shall rejoice together, in that joy which cannot
be taken away from us: then shall we part no
more, but live forever in the presence of our Jesus.
There, only there, we shall fulfil his great design,
And in his praise with all our elder brethren join,
In hymns and songs which never end,
Our heavenly, everlasting Friend!
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE.             147
LETTER VI.
To Mr. Robert Roe.
MACCLESFIFLD, Feb. 12, 1778.
DEAR COUSIN,-Since I wrote you before, I
have been, to appearance, on the borders of eternity. My body was, indeed, brought very low;
but my soul was full of heavenly vigour, and
longing for immortality. 0 what heavenly transport filled my ravished breast, when I thought I
had done, forever done, with all below; and, as
I then thought, in a few days, or weeks at most, I
should leave my cumbrous clay, to bask in the
beams of uncreated beauty-should stand before
the slaughtered Lamb, and see the wonders reserved for me"Should fall at his feet,
The story repeat,
And the Lover of sinners adore,"when I should be lost in Father, Son, and Spiritoverwhelmed and implunged in the fathomless
abyss to all eternity. What I felt cannot be described: it was a real taste of joys immortal: it
was a drop of heaven let down. But, behold! I
am yet spared.  Infinite Wisdom  protracts my
stay a little longer, and I bow my soul in resignation at his feet. I am not my own, but his; and
O! may my language ever be, " Not as I will, but




148      ImRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
as thou wilt."  I find I need not drop the body
to enjoy the presence of my God: he dwells in
ny heart: —in him I live:-he surrounds, supports, sustains, me:-wrapped in his being, I
resound his praise! 0 the heartfelt communion
my soul enjoys with him-the intimate converse,
the sweet fellowship! My spirit is filled and yet
enlarged.  It often seems as if mortality could
bear no more; and yet my desires are insatiable.
I long to plunge deeper into God.
I rejoice to find, by your last letter, that you
are cleaving to your Lord, and happy in his precious love. 0 that every day and hour you
breathe, you may sink deeper into him:  All, all
you want is there. Let not your trials be any
discouragement: nay, " Rejoice and be exceeding
glad, for great is your reward in heaven."  Remember, every cross is a pledge of your crown,
and all your sufferings will add to your eternal
weight of glory. I hope you are all in earnest
for the precious pearl of perfect love: 0 look up
to a present and a faithful God! Ask, and you
shall receive: all things in ihim are now ready:
be not faithless, but believing. Hath he said,
" I will circumcise thy heart," and will he not do
it? Sooner shall heaven and earth pass away
than his promise fail, if you only embrace it by
believing  O claim  your privilege-the inheri



CORRESPONDENCE.            149
tance of the land of promise, the rest of holiness
purchased for you by blood! Go up and possess
it-fear not-come now, just as you are-empty.
to be filled-filthy, to be cleansed.
"Sink into the purple flood,
Rise to all the life of God."
Be assured I ever remember you at the throne
of grace, and remain your friend and sister in
Jesus,
II. A. ROE.
LETTER VII.
To Mr. Robert Roe.
MACCLESFIELD, March 10, 1778.
DEAR COUSIN,-I bless God that you learn
wisdom by the things that you have suffered; and
that you feel every temptation from Satan, as well
as your outward trials, does work together for your
good. So it shall ever be to all who love God, as
I am fully persuaded you do.
I have of late been exercised with various and
close trials, but not one too many; for all are
permitted by my God! He is my portion, and
reigneth in my heart alone. I have a happiness,
therefore, independent on any creature, or any
thing below the sun: God is all, and he is mine!
13 -



150        MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
"All my treasure is above,
All my riches is his love."
O preciGc  portion, invaluable treasure
" Joys that, never, never past,
Throutgh eternity shall last."
I think believers, in general, do not meditate
enough on their privileges, and the great things
God hath d( ne for them, and promised to themfrom what they are redeemed, and the fulness they
are called to possess. Let you and me now dwell
a little on i;he blessed theme: let us look to the
rock from whence we were hewn, that we may rejoice the more in what we now are. Were we not
once going on in the way to eternal ruin? dead in
trespasses and sins, yea, slaves to Satan, and led
by that grand adversary withersoever he would;
yea, sleeping secure on the very verge of destruction? 0 my friend, if God had theln cut the
thread of life, and sent us to reap what our sins
'eserved, wehad now been lifting up our eyes in
torments! But, stupendous love,"When justice bared the sword,
To cut the fig tree down,
The mercy of our Lord
Cried, Let it still alone."
Yes, he spared our rebel souls-he shed his blood
to ransom us from death-pleads our helpless
cause before the throne, and mercy to our rescue
flew.  We' were awakened by his Spirit to a sense




CORRESPONDENCE.            151
of our danger; and no sooner did we truly seek,
but he was found. Yes, we found redemption in
his blood, the forgiveness of our sins; and, from
being the bond slaves of hell, are become the
children of God; and now all the Father hath to
give is ours-ours by covenant through Jesus. He
hath the Holy Ghost to give as an abiding, indwelling Comforter: this blessing then is ours. All the
promises are our own:-"They are all yea and
amen in Christ Jesus." Jesus hath given himself
to us, and the Father is our God. Was it not the
word of our redeeming Lord, "I and my Father
will come and make our abode with you." And
again, " I will send you another Comforter, even
the Holy Ghost, who shall abide with you forever: he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
Here, then, are promises of the whole divine Trinity
dwelling in our hearts; and are not these promises
sealed with the blood of the covenant! But will
God, the eternal Trinity, dwell in an impure
heart?-O  no! but, by entering, he will cleanse
it. Every root of bitterness, every remaining sin,
and all the strong armour of unbelief, will flee before him. Can they stand his presence? No, no:
God is love, and where he dwelleth, nothing but
pure love can dwell.
"Thy presence, Lord, I cannot doubt,
Extirpates inbred sin."




152       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
O glory be to God, what a precious salvation is
here. And this is the privilege, the happy privilege of all who have embraced the Saviour. All
he hath promised, all he hath to give, is the believer's portion.  Faith believes the record true,
without staggering at the promise. The promise,
my dear friend, is for you. Receive it, then, and
let the humble language of your soul be-" Be it
unto me, according to thy word." O rely on the
word of a God that cannot lie, and receive him as
your sanctification, and as your indwelling, abiding
Comforter, your King, and your God. If you feel
the flame that is now kindled in my breast, you
will:-this will be the happy moment.   Speak,
thou eternal God, and let thy servant now be
clean.
I had been led unawares thus to speak, but I
believe it is by the Spirit of God; for, while I
write, I am indeed filled with divine and ravishing consolations! My soul feels all I have spoken.
Glory be to God, for I am most unworthy. I have
much greater depths of humble love to prove, and
my soul thirsts after them. 0 pray for me! Praise,
for me, the God I truly love, and believe me ever
your affectionate sister and friend,
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE.            153
LETTER    VIII.
To Mr. Robert Roe.
MACCLESFIELD, May 15, 1778.
DEAR COUSIN,-I am not much surprised that
you are assaulted with the temptations you mention
in your last; and though I feel for you, I have no
fears on your account. I know the Lord will make
your darkness light, your crooked paths straight,
and your soul shall see the salvation of God.
It is no marvel that the enemy of souls employs
his every artifice to destroy your peace. And will
he not the rather do this just at a critical season,
when your outward trials are great?  He sees you
pursuing the things, and espousing the glorious
cause which shall overturn his kingdom.  Marvel
not then at his rage against you.  It proves to me
that you will be an instrument in the hands of
God, of much good to precious souls; and that
this dire enemy foresees it liely to be so; and
therefore would retard, though he cannot hinder
or stop your progress. You say, " you cannot believe till these doubts are cleared up." Here is
another device of Satan. Your doubts cannot be
removed till you do believe. Faith only is able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one-only
believe, and you shall be saved from all your




154       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
doubts: meridian evidence shall put them all to
flight. Cast your soul, your fears, your unbelief,
your inbred sin, your all, at the feet of Christ;
and into the fountain of his blood, the depths of
his love. Be determined: Lord, thou shalt be
my teacher, wisdom, guide, counsellor-my atonement, my king, my portion,
"Helpless into thy -hands I fall;
Be thou my God, my All in all."
Yes, my dear friend, leave Christ to answer every
temptation that besets you. He hath said, " My
grace is sufficient for thee." This is enough: be
not faithless, but believing.
You ask, if I am not in a delusion respecting
my experience of perfect love?  Blessed be God,
I have not the shadow of doubt. Even Satan
himself finds these suggestions vain, and has left
them off. He would rather lead me to doubt, or
care for to-morrow; saying, such and such a thing
is at hand, and will overcome thee. Thou wilt
fall in some of thy trials; or when death comes,
thou wilt be under a cloud. But, through grace
divine, I am enabled to discern from whence these
suggestions come, and they never distress me for
a moment; for, by constant looking to Jesus, I
received fresh strength in every time of need. I
know I am now right, and I trust him for all that
is to come; and, though all weakness, ignorance,




CORRESPONDENCE.             i.5
helplessness, and unworthiness, yet I have the
testimony of my own conscience, and the witness
of God's Spirit, that I am wholly and unreservedly his-his in body, spirit, soul; nor does any
thing but love remain in my heart. But, were 1
in a delusion-0 happy delusion! it brings salvation-it brings heaven below! Nay, with what I
this moment feel, I could be happy in the greatest
of outward conflicts and distresses, for Christ is
in my heart! I dwell in God, and God in me —
I dwell in love, and love dwelleth in me —God is
love, and he is all I want. And is it possible we
should be ignorant whether we feel tempers contrary to love or no?-whether we rejoice always,
or are burdened and bowed down with sorrow?
-whether we have a praying, or a dead, lifeless
spirit?-whether we can praise God, and be resigned in all trials, or feel murmurings, fretfulness,
and impatience under them? Is it not easy to
know, if we feel anger at provocations, or whether
we feel our tempers mild, gentle, peaceable, and
easy to be entreated, or feel stubbornness, selfwill, and pride?-whether we have slavish fears,
or are possessed of that perfect love which casteth
out all fear that hath torment?
You ask how I obtained this great salvation?
I answer, just as I obtained the pardon of my sin
— by simple faith. No sooner did the pride and re



156


MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.


maining unbelief of my heart submit to be taught,
and to receive his precious, full salvation, as a free
gift of his grace, by faith alone, without any fitness
or worthiness, but I was instantly filled with such
humbling depths of love to God, and union with!im, with such discoveries of my own nothingness, as wholly swallowed up my soul in gratitude
and praise.  I knew the faithfulness of my God,
and ventured on the promise, in spite of reasoning
and unbelief and all the lying suggestions of
the enemy, and believed against hope, or whatever opposed, when I felt my soul sinking into
nothing, and Jesus became my all. I cried, this
iS what I wanted: I am emptied of self, and filled
with God: I am now where I ought to be, a worm
at Jesus' feet, saved by grace. But a thousand
suggestions were soon darted, such as, thou wilt
soon lose it: thou canst not stand-when thou art
tried thou wilt fall. I said, Lord, thou alone
eanst be my keeper-see thou to that-I have
given myself into thy hands, and I will hang upon
thee. Thou hast promised, " My grace is suffi-;ient for thee."  0 the preciousness of these
words! I shall praise God in eternity that they
are written in his book.  This and such other
promises have been proof for me against every opposition and trial I have met with, (which you
know are not few;) and by thus trusting the pro



CORRESPONDENCE.             157
mise and the Promiser, I have conquered; and,
glory be to God, through his strength I shall still
prevail. It is by hanging on Jesus, as an infant
on its mother's breast, I retain my peace, and
love, and joy-by watching, prayer and praise:
by pressing after deeper degrees of humble love,
communion with God and active holiness. Never
were the ways of God so sweet as now to my soul:
I love the narrowest path his Spirit and his word
point out; and all my delight is to do and suffer
his will. O may the same God of love fully reveal his great salvation in your heart, and be himself your rich portion forever, prays your affectionate cousin and friend,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER IX.
To Miss Bourn, of Newcastle, Staffordshire.
MACCLESFIELD, Aug. 20, 1778.
MY DEAR SISTER,-I was glad to receive yours
by Mr. Hall. It always gives me pleasure to hear
from you. In the bonds of divine love, my soul is
united to yours; and, from the contents of your letter, as well as the power I had in your behalf with
my God, I am assured that before long you will be a
happy witness that Jesus can and will, and does
14




158       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
destroy the last remains of sin in his children's
hearts in this life: yea, in every such heart who
does truly hunger and thirst after righteousness.
You do hunger and thirst: 0 that you could look
to him this moment as a precious Saviour! Is
he not so?  Do you not feel his loving presence?
Are you not his, the purchase of his blood, the
new made creature of his love, born of God, and
become his child?  Is not Jesus your Beloved and
your Friend? Can he then deny his own Spirit's
cry in your heart, and that, too, when all you ask
is, that he will destroy his own enemies in your
soul, and enable you to love him with all your
heart?  But, as to that temptation, if you receive
it now, you will soon lose it: is he not able and
willing, and faithful to keep, as he is to save?
Yes, glory to his holy name, I know he is. He
is the all-sufficient God, and, saith he, "My
strength is made perfect in weakness." Trust him,
then, poor, weak, and helpless soul.  "But it is
not long enough since you were justified." Does
God tell you so?  Has he set any limited time?
None that I know of, except the present.  He
saith, Now, 'to-day if you will hear my voice."
And again, " Now is the day of salvation."  And
again, "Come, for all things are now ready.' He
has commanded, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with




CORRESPONDENCE             109
all thy soul, and with all thy strength;" and he
hath promised, " I will circumcise thy heart, that
thou mayest do it." But does he ever say, Suffer
so much, or stay so long, and I will do it? Nay,
but he saith, " If any man thirst, let him come
unto me and drink. Ask and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full."
My dear Miss Bourn, there are some in this
town who have not been justified so long as you,
who have received, and do profess this blessing.
0 then, come once more, even as you came when
first reconciled to God, and cast your soul simply
on Jesus! Would he bleed for us when rebels,
and will he refuse to avenge us of our inbred
foe, when we are his beloved children? Surely
no: it cannot be.  I hope soon to see my dear
friend, and that she will be able to tell me she has
obtained this precious salvation.
Did you ever read Mr. Wesley's sermon on the
Scripture way of salvation? You would do well
to consider the conclusion of it attentively. " Hereby," says he, "you  may surely know whether
you are seeking to be sanctified by faith, o by
works.  If by works, you want something to be
done first, before you are sanctified.  You think,
I must first be, or do thus or thus. Then you are
seeking it by works unto this day. On the other
hand, if you seek it by faith, you may expect it




160       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
as you are; and if as you are, then expect it now.
Do you believe we are sanctified by faith? Be true
then to your principle, and look for this blessing
just as you are, neither better nor worse: as a poor
sinner that has nothing to pay, nothing to plead,
but Christ died. And if you look for it as you are,
expect it now: stay for nothing: why should you?
Christ is ready, and he is all you want." Let your
inmost soul cry out,
"Come in, come in, thou heavenly Guest,
Nor hence again remove:
Settle and fix my wavering soul,
With all thy weight of love."
Glory be to God, he carries on a glorious work
among us here.    Sinners are convinced, many
are justified; and lately, several backsliders are
restored. One poor soul, that has been long wandering from her God, was restored last night,
while a few of us were at prayer. I am, my dear
friend, yours in Jesus,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER     X.
To Miss Brown, of Newcastle, Staffordshire.
MACCLESFIELD, Nov. 15, 1778.
MY DEAR SISTER,-Your letter caused great
thanksgiving to God on your account: all glory




CORRESPONDENCE.            161
be to him who hath increased your desires after
holiness. Fear not, you will surely attain if you
follow on. That lovely Lamb that bked on Calvary, was slain for this —  to redeem us from all
iniquity." O look to him: behold the glory of
God! See the God of angels: 0 look at his precious bleeding side:Ais hands, his head, his feet!
Behold him gasping, groaning, dying, that you
might be made clean! Hear him cry, "It is
finished." How finished, if his blood cleanseth
not from all sin? -   Without holiness no man
shall see the Lord." But*glory to his name, whoever steps into that fountain, which is expressly
said to be for sin and for uncleanness, shall be
made perfectly whole. 0 let your faith venture
in! wash and be clean:" Sink into the purple flood,
Rise to (ill the life of God."
Open, my dear sister, open your willing, longing heart, and the King of glory will come in.
And then be assured, " all evil before his presence
shall fly." Sin cannot remain where Jesus fully
dwells; for he is holiness, and when he fills the
soul, he leaves no room for any other guest.
Whenever you can say, Jesus, thou art my all,
and I love my God the present moment, with all
my loving heart, you that moment possess the
blessing of sanctification, and never need to lose it
14*




162       Mt RSt. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
more. It is retained, as well as received, by simpli'
faith. We can have no stock of grace on hand,
but live moment by moment, hanging and depending on the adorable Jesus. In him there is a full
supply of all we want, or can want.
This, blessed be God, I prove, and that continually.  Every hour, every moment, brings me
fresh  delight in God.   He is an inexhaustible
fountain of love:"Insatiate to this spring I fly,
I drink, and yet am ever dry."
I cannot express thesweet union I feel with my
God at this moment.
"My Jesus to know, and feel his blood flow,.
'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below."
1 am much blest when I remember my dear
friend at the throne of grace; and often do I beseech my blessed Lord to
" Fill her with all the life of love,
In mystic union join
Her to thyself, and let her prove
The fellowship divine."
Jesus is unspeakably precious while I write:
may you catch the flame I feel:"And when your cup with love runs o'er,
0 may sin never enter more."
So prays, my dear sister, yours in divine bonds,
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE             163
LETTER XI.
To Miss R. before she received sanctification.
MACCLESFIELD, Nov. 21, 1778.
LAST Thursday evening I was pleasingly surprised by a letter from my dear Miss R., who, I
sometimes feared, had forgot all her purposes and
promises; and also all the blessings she so often
received when we met in our Lord's name. I was
glad to find my fears groundless; but much more
pleased and thankful was I to find, by the contents
of your last, that your precious soul was still labouring up the hill of holiness: go on and prosper.
Many are the trials we meet with in the way: yea,
our Lord hath foretold us, that in the world we
should have tribulation, but in him peace, which is
the seal of cancelled sin.
I hope you keep a sense, yea, a clear sense,
of pardon at the worst of times.  This is your
privilege, and I am thankful you discern such
beauty in holiness. 0 how sweet are those words:
-" Without holiness no man shalYsee the Lord.'
You have cause to praise God for the knowledge he
has given you of your nature's depravity. It is very
good and profitable to know our sinful tendencies.
0! my dear, be very watchful against little things,
and "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out




164        MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
of it are the issues of life" and death. Let God have
your first thoughts: let him be first in your affections, so shall your words and works please him; for,
"What are all our works to him,
Unless they spring from love."
Daily entreat him to take away all opposition
that remains in your will, to his providential order:
so shall you find rest in those circumstances, which
otherwise would give you much uneasiness. The
meditations of your heart leading to him, the affections of your soul cleaving to Jesus, your will
sinking into his will-here is the rest of the
saints! while all that is within you calls your
Jesus King. —     Whatever ye ask in my name,"
saith our adorable Redeemer, " you shall receive."
Ask, then, my dear friend, for a greater power of
faith; for, as you believe, so will you increase in
every grace of his Spirit; and your soul will more
and more centre in God, till you become one spirit
with him, who is the life of all living; yea, the
very essence of heaven itself!
"To his meritorious passion
All our happiness we owe:
Pardon, uttermost salvation,
Heaven above, and heaven below:
Grace and glory
From that open fountain flow."
To the bosom of our Almighty Jesus I commend you: 0 may his face always shine upon




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNALS.             165
you, and his blessed, loving Spirit fill your soul!
Pray much, and you shall attain all the salvation
you desire. I am yours in bonds of divine love,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XII.
To a Preacher of the Gospel, in answer to some inquiries
relative to the state of her soul.
MACCLESFIELD, Dec. 6, 1778.
DEAR SIR,-To tell you one thousandth part
of the preciousness of Jesus, is a task impossible
to men or angels. To my soul, he is truly the
altogether lovely-the one object in which all my
desires, expectations, and affections centre-the
Alpha and the Omega. To him my more than
all I owe, being snatched by his grace, a brand
from everlasting burnings! My surety he is, Iiy
life, my peace, my treasure, my husband, brother,
friend-my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification-my all in all, for time and for eternity.
Him, and him alone I desire: him, and him alone
I love.
"I have no sharer of my heart,
To rob my Saviour of a part,
And desecrate the whole:
His loveliness my soul has prepossess'd,
And left no room for any other guest."




166       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
Yet, O how is my heart expanded when I see
I have yet received but, as it were, a drop out of
the ocean! but a glimpse of hts precious fulness,
and an eternity of growing bliss lies yet before
me    This glorious prospect truly lays me where
I would forever lie, at his dear feet, the monument of his mercy. O that I could praise him as
I would! but language fails, and I long for that
day when I shall praise him in nobler strains
above.  Were he to give the summons now, and
call from earth away, O how gladly could I wing
my flight this hour! Loose from creature and
created good, I only wait the joyful word, Come
up hither!-Then would I exulting
" Clap the glad wing, and soar away,
And mingle with the blaze of day."
In that blessed kingdom, dear sir, I hope to
meet you, though, perhaps, on earth we may meet
no more. In the mean time may you be filled
with all the communicable fulness of Father, Son,
and Spirit, rejoicing herein with increasing joy,
and made very useful in your Lord's vineyard,
prays sincerely your real well-wisher for Christ's
sake,
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE.


167


LETTER XIII.
To Mr. Robert Roe.
CHESTER, Dec. 19, 1778.
DEAR COUSIN,-I am      glad to hear by your
sister, that you are restored to a measure of health;
and that the Lord, the faithful God, is still your
support: may he be so to the end of your pilgrimage. Lean every moment on your Beloved,
and attend continually to the lessons of his love.
I trust you have learned many sweet and important truths, in your late affliction, and are comifg
out of it as gold purified in the fire. You have
no cause to fear all the legions of your spiritual
enemies: tempt they may, and powerfully assault,
but cannot harm.  I am led to believe all the depressions of mind you sometimes feel, are in a
great measure owing to two things: First, not being deeply and clearly sensible what is temptation,
and what is sin: and, Secondly, accounting the
inseparable infirmities of the corruptible body to
be sin: such as, errors in judgment, failures of
memory, bodily weakness, or pain; and,at times,
through' various causes, a depression of animal
spirits. This last mistake may arise from another,
viz., looking upon elevating, transporting joy, as
inseparable from true grace. Now, I think you




16t        SIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
must allow, that, as free agents nothing but what
our will chooses in opposition to the will of God,
or, as Mr. Wesley expresses it, " nothing but a
wilful transgression of a known law is sin." Granting this, then, and though ten thousand sinful
objects, or desires, in all the pleasing forms that
Satan can invent, may be darted into our minds,
or displayed before the eyes of our imagination,
if our will and affections do not embrace or choose
them, but we resist and hate them, in this case
we do not sin, but conquer.
Secondly: when through various indispositions
ofrthe frail, tottering body, we feel a very small
degree of joy; nay, perhaps only a degree of hope
and confidence, and, at the same time, the enemy
endeavouring to lay the axe of his temptations at
the root of this, this, I say, is a time to take the
advice of God by his prophet, "Who is among
you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice
of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath
no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord,
and stay upon his God." This text proves that
joy is not inseparable from grace. It is not aooording to our joy, (for this is the fruit or effect
of faith,) but according to our faith he blesses and
saves, accepts and loves us. Our love to God, his
cause, his people, his precepts, all springing from
the root of faith, are so many acts of the soul,




CORRESPONDENCE.            169
which our blessed Lord and Miaster approves and
accepts through the Beloved; and are inseparable
evidences of oursonship.  But joys, comforts, and
communications of the Holy Ghost, are so many free
gifts bestowed upon us; because the Lord delights
in blessing, comforting, and dwelling in us, and
are so many pledges of his unmerited love.
Now, if the Lord permit bodily affliction, so that
the animal spirits cannot receive the communications, (I mean, cannot receive them without an
extraordinary exertion of his power and love,
which, indeed, we often see manifested in the dying hours of those who love God, and I myself
have often felt in sickness and close trials,) ought
we not, in such cases, to cast ourselves by faith on
him, lean on his bosom, and, without giving way
to reasoning, believe he will make every affliction
work for good?  Surely we ought to trust him at
all times-it is our privilege.  Do not mistake me:
I am not condemning a religion that may be felt:
I would only prove to you, that faith is the root
of joy, and not joy the root of faith; and that you
ought not to cast away your shield of faith, because you have not, for the present moment, much
joy. When we are beset with various trials, various temptations, and various suggestions: such
as, Thou wilt surely fall-such a temptation will
prove too hard for thee, &c., "My grace is suffi.
15




170       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
cient for thee," saith the Lord-he who knows
all your trials. Now, when by faith we embrace
and rely on this promise, knowing he who is faithful will perform his word, we are strengthened by
a sweet peace, and well-grounded confidence and
hope, that shall never make us ashamed. And,
while we continue to live by this faith, we more
than conquer, whether our joy be little or great.
This is our shield, and God is pleased by afflictions
to try and prove this faith, that it may burn the
brighter and be more conspicuous to all. Not
that he is displeased with us for any thing, nor as
a punishment; but, whom the Lord lovcth he
chasteneth.  I believe this is often your case;
and he calls upon you by his word, " not to cast
away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. And yet a little while, and he
that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
With respect to sanctification, I mean the instantaneous work, you have the word of a God"I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean, from all your filthiness, and from
all your idols, will I cleanse you." Here is a
full, free promise. Do you seek this salvation by
faith, or by works? If by faith, then you have
no need to tarry for worthiness or fitness, but come
now, just as you are.  You must embrace the
promise, believe it, hang upon it, rejoice in it as




CORRESPONDENCE.            171
your own, trusting God to perform it. Soon as
you cast your soul upon him by faith, he will seal
the blessing on your heart. May he reveal these
things to you by his Spirit, and fill you with
his fulness, prays your affectionate friend and
cousin,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XIV
To Mr. Robert Roe.
NANTWICH, April 20, 1779.
DEAR COUSIN,-You are quite mistaken-you
do not try my patience at all; but you are made
a means of humbling my soul before God, when
you think me capable of answering in a proper
manner the questions you ask; and yet, as far as
the Lord has taught me, I am willing to communicate. I believe your eye is single: you are a
child of God, and an heir of glory-a well-beloved
of the eternal Trinity. For you the Father gave
his only Son: Jesus the Saviour bled for you;
and the blessed Spirit hath applied the blood of
sprinkling to the pardon of your sins, and the
comfort of your soul in all your various trials. I
account it no strange thing that you should be




172      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
assaulted like your heavenly Master, with that
suggestion, "If thou be the Son of God,"surely you will not give way to reasoning, because
Satan accosts you as he did the incarnate God*
No: rather take comfort, for he that had no sin
was tempted in this very point, like as you are.
A hypocrite may boast he is never tempted-has
no doubts or fears-but a child of God (some rare
cases excepted) is seldom long together unassaulted
by our vigilant adversary, who takes every possible
method and opportunity to attack our confidence
in the Lord, and to work upon all that remains of
the carnal mind, or of unbelief; but he can olaly
tempt-he cannot force us to give way either to
sin or unbelief. Neither think it strange that you
are not inwardly as holy as you ought to be:
every child of God feels the same, till fully renewed in love by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Till then he has faith, but it is often mixed with
unbelief: he has love; but though he loves God
above all things, yet the love of self, and of creature comforts, often steals in. He has a blessed
measure of true humanity, and yet he is constrained to acknowledge frequently with tears,
" Cursed pride, that busy sin,
Spoils all that I perform."
His patience and resignation are not perfect: his
will is not fully subdued to God at all times, nor




CORRESPONDENCE.             173
his affections and desires wholly spiritual. The
Spirit of God does visit, but does not dwell:
does, at times, ravish the soul with delight, therebi wooing it to cast away unbelief, and open the
door to receive all the precious mind of Jesusall the stamp of love divine. Now when a soul is
obedient to the voice of God, when it does open
the door, and grasp the promises of holiness in the
hand of faith, he will come into that soul, and
plant his own nature there. Then, when perfected in love, faith becomes constant, and unmixed
with unbelief. Love takes full possession of the
soul, and humility, unmixed with pride, lays him
at the Saviour's feet.  His constant faith and
perfect love now bring forth perfect patience and
resignation.  His deep-rooted humility having
laid all self at the Saviour's feet, his will is now
quite subject, and all his language is,
"All's alike to me, so I
In my Lord may live and die."
But even this state is consistent with many ignorances, weaknesses, and infirmities-with many
temptations, trials, crosses, and bodily afflictions;
and, on account of these, our joy may at times be
small; yet our faith may be perfect, and our peace
undisturbed.  I believe our faith is often made
manifest by following God blindfold-if I may be
allowed the expression-I mean, when our igno15*




174      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
rance and blindness cannot account for his providential dispensations-when we are beset with
trials, and see no way to escape. In this case,
faith says, "It is the Lord, let him do what seeneth him good." Being confident of this one thing,
" What I know not now, I shall know hereafter:"
I will trust in my God, and not be afraid, for he
is my all.
I have not time, room, or expression, to tell a
thousandth part of the goodness of my God to my
soul. He is ever with me, and assures my heart,
"All that I have is thine."  All my desires are
satisfied in him-I live in him, and walk in him,
and he is my God. He is with me in sickness
and in health-at home and abroad-in public
and in private. In reading or writing I feel his
presence; and, 0! when I am bowed before his
throne, he lets down a heaven of communicated
bliss! Language fails when I speak of his love!
0 may my every breath speak his praise! I remain your unworthy friend, but happy sister,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XV.
To Miss Salmon.
MALPAS, June 16, 1779.
MY DEAR FRIEND,-HOW shall I praise my
God for his goodness, his infinite, his stupendous




CORRESPONDENCE.            175
love! 0 how he heapeth his benefits upon me,
and maketh every other blessing sweet, by the gift
of himself. Would any thing the world calls great
or good, be any thing to me without my God!
Ah! no, no: every thing most desirable is hateful
to my soul, wherein I cannot taste, or feel, or see
something of my blessed Lord; but, all glory be
to him, he is my all in all things. Help me to
love this only lovely, dearest object of my wishes.
Let him, my dear sister, be our Lord and King
forever. Yes, Lord, take our hearts:"Manage the wheels by thy command,
And govern every'spring."
How sweet is the yoke of Jesus! 0 how gentle, how tender, how compassionate his care! How
hath he borne you and me, as weak and helpless
lambs in his arms, carried us in his bosom, and
defended us from the fowler's snare! Eternal
Lord God, thou indwelling Trinity, whom truly
our hearts do love, accept the gratitude words
cannot speak: in silent adoration we adore thee,
overwhelmed at thy amazing grace! I cannot
utter, my dear friend, the sweet feelings of my
heart, or tell you how divine a union my spirit
feels with yours. O may you now, and henceforth, prove all that Jesus can bestow! How
much is that? Words cannot tell you; but yours
it is, through the merit of his blood!




176      MRS. IIESTER ANN ROGERS.
I intended to begin my letter with thanks for
your love and kindness to me at Chester; but I
was led to the precious Fountain of all comfort,
and when I had once begun his mercy's theme, I
could not break off. I bear, however, a grateful
sense of the affectionate regard you manifested;
and though to tell you so is all I can do, my Lord
will surely-reward. My love to dear Miss Bennet,
and all that family; and to all where you are. I
bear them all on my heart before God. I love
them all; and if they knew how Jesus loves them,
they would not keep back their hearts from him.
I got safe to this place, and am treated very kindly
by this loving family; but 0 how I feel for those
who love not God! My dear Miss B. is as open
and free as before. My soul cleaves to her, and I
have great hopes. Pray for her, and for your
ever affectionate,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XVI.
To Miss Loxdale.
NANTWICH, June 30, 1779.
DEAR SISTER,-My dear friend's letter was indeed a pleasure and a blessing to me; and my
Lord's great goodness to you is a fresh motive to




CORRESPONDENCE.           177
love and praise him. But fresh motives of this
kind are no new things to me: I am ever discovering instances of his goodness, that fill me
with wonder and astonishment, and cause me to
exclaim, with holy David, "Lord, what is man,
that thou art so mindful of him?" Great things,
indeed, my dear sister, hath the Lord done for you,
and for your unworthy friend; and yet, O stupendous grace! we have only received a drop out of
the ocean of his love: an endless prospect, and a
maze of bliss, lie yet before us!-opening beauties, and such lengths, and breadths, and depths,
and heights, as thought cannot fathom, or mind
of man conceive! It is, my friend, the fulness of
the Triune God, in which we may bathe, and
plunge, and sink, till lost and swallowed up in the
ever growing, overflowing ocean of delights. His
fulness-0 what is it!-shall we ever fathom it?
ever know a ten-thousandth part? Ah no! a tenthousandth part of that effulgence we could not
bear to know and live! Nay, and when disembodied through the revolving ages of eternity, I
am persuaded we shall only seem beginning to
know his fulness of love. What thoughts are
these! When I enter into them, as into a labyrinth,
they almost overcome my natural powers. O
how very little of his revealed glory can this
earthen vessel contain! but a time is hastening




178       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
on, (and I eagerly wait for its approach,) when, no
longer imprisoned in clay, our eyes shall be
strengthened to see him as he is-see him for ourselves, and bask for ever in his smiles. Yes, we
shall be with Jesus and behold his glory. He will
reveal to us, also, as much as we can bear of the
fulness of the Father's glory; and we shall be
with Father, Son, and Spirit, filled to all eternity!
But I have been led further than I intended: I
must return.
Permit me to ask, my dear friend, what are
your ideas, what is your opinion, or what your experience of inward, instantaneous sanctification,
whereby the root, the in-being of sin is destroyed?
I do not mean or allude to a state of angelic or
Adamic, but a Christian perfection-a destruction
of every temper contrary to love-a state consistent with many temptations of the devil, if our
hearts repel those temptations, and our will do not
embrace or yield to them; for that cannot be sin
in which our will has no part. Thus it was with
Jesus: "In him was no sin, yet he was tempted
in all points as we are:" before his pure eyes did
that enemy display all the kingdoms of the world,
and the glory of them:-to his spotless soul he
suggested disturbing doubts, and presumptuous
expectations; but in the Son of God they found




CORRESPONDENCE.             179
no place. Again: what I mean is a state consistent with a growth in grace; for Jesus, though always pure, " increased in wisdom and stature, and
in favour with God and man." Is not such a
state expressed and described in the thirteenth of
the first book of Corinthians? and is it not commanded in these gracious words, " Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing
give thanks?" Does not the apostle add, " This is the
will of God concerning you?"  And after praying, " Now the God of peace sanctify you wholly,"
does he not pray, that "your whole spirit, soul,
and body, (after they are so sanctified,) may be
preserved blameless to the second coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ?" Then follows the glorious
promise, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who
also will do it." And is not the same thing promised in the sweet passage you named? "I will
sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be
clean: from all filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you," &c. And again, did he not
"swear to our father Abraham, that he would
grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the
hands of our enemies, might serve him without
fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all
the days of our life." By the state I weakly attempt to describe, I mean that degree of humble




180       MIRns. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
love which excludes every temper contrary thereto;
and faith that excludes the remains of unbelief,
and every tormenting fear: " for he that feareth is
not made perfect in love." It is " fellowship with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ,"
through the Spirit, by whose abiding witness we
can say, " Abba, Father —my Lord and my God,'
with an unwavering tongue.
I know this precious Gospel salvation is even
derided by some, and exploded by many. Perhaps
you may have conversed with some of these; and
not have met with many who have dared to speak
for God in this respect.  Some of my expressions
may therefore appear odd or unusual; but compare
them with Scripture, and mention with freedom
any of them you wish me to explain. As I know
your situation, you will excuse the liberty I take
in advising you not to meddle with opinions:
these insensibly eat out of the soul the precious
life of God. Dispute not with any; or, if they
seek hurtful disputations, it is a good way to propose prayer. But it may be well, as much as may
be, to avoid the company of those who love vain
controversy. Endeavour after a calm, recollected
spirit-a heartfelt union with a holy God. Sweet
truth-God is love, and love is the Christian's all.
Love in us is his nature imparted: it is the fulfilling of the law, the perfict law of liberty. Whosoever




CORRESPONDENCE.             181
I loveth his brother," hath fulfilled the law to his
neighbour; and he who " loveth the Lord his God
with all his. heart, and soul, and mind, and
strength," hath fulfilled the law to him also. To
such "his commandments are not grievous," not
a task-a wearisome burden, but a delight: they
are ways of pleasantness-they are paths of peace.
And as we are under a law of love to God, so God
our God in Christ, is under a covenant of love, in
which is made over to us all he is and all he has
to give-his every attribute, his wisdom to guide
and teach, his power to protect, and help, and
strengthen, his faithfulness, his truth, his mercy
&c, all sealed over, and secured by covenant promises and covenant blood.
0, my dear sister, what a blessed portion is ours!
Let us determine to prove it all. We may, I trust
we shall, and together praise in endless day,.the
great Three One. I am ever yours in him,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XVII.
To Miss Loxdale.
MACCLESFIELD, Aug. 4, 1775.
I THANK you, my dear sister, for your last, and
would have written sooner, but a violent rheumatic
16




182       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
pain in my head preventel me. I clearly see in
your experience a deepening of the work of God.
He is preparing your heart for his perfect love:
he is emptying you of self, that you may be swallowed up in him: he is crucifying you to the world,
that you may live to him, and for him alone: he
discovers to you the beauties of holiness, that your
soul and all its powers may be captivated thereby,
and enlarged to ask and receive all his goodness
waits to give. It is no marvel that Satan shoots
his fiery darts, and employs his strongest batteries
to prevent this work of grace: he ever did, and
he ever will.  This precious salvation entirely
overturns his kingdom in the believer's heart: he
hath no more place, no more power: he finds no
inward evil now (in those thus saved) to close in
with his temptations.  His every dart is now repelled, quick-sighted love discovers all his snares,
and armed with the strength of Omnipotence, we
more than conquer!
The temptations you find, are the same I was
followed with, when the fountains of the great
deep of inbred corruption were discovered to my
view: yes, I experienced them all, and ten times
more.
Mr. Fletcher's Polemical Essay, especially in
his address to imperfect believers, seeking Christian perfection, was made a great blessing to me




CORRESPONDENCE.             183
This, with Mr. Wesley's Plain Account, answered
every objection, every doubt; and I earnestly recommend them   to your serious perusal.  Thest
will lead you to see we are sanctified, as well as
justified, by faith alone, and not for our merits
fitness, or deservings; but faith lays hold of the
blood of Christ, as the procuring cause of our
holiness, and which alone cleanseth from all sin.
This blood is all-sufficient:-as prevailing now
as ever it will be. What then does the believer
(hungering and thirsting after righteousness, or inward purity) wait for? The promise is, They
shall be filled.  Why delay? We may come just
as we are; and if so, we may come this moment.
It is said, Acts xxvi, 18, "We are sanctified by
faith in Jesus;" and the work in that verse is
plainly distinguished from justification, or the forgiveness of sins, both being there clearly promised.
If then it be by faith alone, it must be also instantaneous, in the same manner as our pardon was. Did
we not receive the one in a moment, by, and in the
act of believing? And why should we stumble at
coming the same way for the other? " By grace
are ye saved through faith," in all the different
degrees of that salvation which we can receive in
the body. If by grace, then it is no more of
works, and if not by works, we need wait for none:
-we may come just as we are, yea, just now.




184       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
May the Lord, while you read these lines, open
the windows of heaven, and fill your spirit with
his pure love. Do you thirst? Behold rivers of
living waters gushing out of your Redeemer's
wounds-water that will wash your inbred sin
away. Is not the Holy Ghost waiting to apply the
efficacious blood, and make you white as snow?Hovers he not over you?-knocks he not even
now at the door of your heart? 0 let your inmost
spirit cry,
"Come in, come in, thou heavenly Guest,
Nor hence again remove;
But sup with me, and let the feast
Be everlasting love."
Amen, Lord Jesus, answer the prayer of thy child.
Be it unto her as her soul desireth: fill her heart,
and fill it now. I feel for the trials of your present
situation, but the sweet love of Jesus shall bear
you above all. Take no thought for the morrow,
but momentarily live to God, and for God, and
nothing will be able to harm you. I am, my dear
friend, yours in the best of bonds,
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE.


185


LETTER XVIII.
To Mr. Robert Roe, upon the nature of faith, and in
what sense it is the act of man.
MACCLESFIELD, Aug. 12, 1779.
DEAR COUSIN,-I can still see all your doubts
and scruples in no other light than as temptations
and suggestions from an enemy, who is, and ever
will be, watching and endeavouring to break your
peace. And though I believe you will be brought
through them all to the haven of bliss, yet you
permit him to rob you of much comfort, which
you might enjoy; and he would rather employ you
in answering his lying suggestions, than that you
should be momentarily looking up to, and depending on Jesus for all you want. For my own part
if it were not to answer your queries, I should
never enter into the nice distinctions you do. I
have much more to learn myself, and am convinced many would solve your scruples much better than I can. Indeed, to speak properly, no one
cau do it-it is the work of God. Yet, I am ready
to impart what himself hath freely given. But, I
beseech you to read my letters with prayer, and
beg of God that he will attend every observation
with the light and blessing of his Spirit.
You say, "The work of justification is greatly
obscured by many, and you do not exclude me16*




186       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
that I tell you, sometimes it is by faith, sometimes
by works." So do St. Paul and St James, yet
they are strictly consistent with themselves and
each other. But I sometimes think you understand by works a meritorious condition: I never
mean any such thing. When I speak of the works
God requires in a seeker or believer, I only mean
a co-operation with, or using the grace given to us.
I believe God the Father loved all mankind in
their sins, freely and unconditionally, or he had
never given his only begotten Son. And it was
an unconditional promise, "The seed of the woman
shall bruise the serpent's head." God the Son
also loved us freely and unconditionally, when he
left his Father's glory, and became man-lived,
died, and rose again for us. I believe too, God
the Holy Ghost, unconditionally (with respect to
anything we can do) enlightens every man that
cometh into the world.  But then, these things
being done for us, by and through the free grace
of the Eternal Trinity, we are required to use the
light given.
If the Spirit of God convinceth of sin, which is
his work, we are required to forsake it; and there
is always power to do it communicated. This forsaking of sin is an act of man, and a condition;
for "put away the evil of your doings," saith God,
" from among you, and cease to do evil;" yet this




CORRESPONDENCE.             187
is not a meritorious work.  Again: if the Spirit
points the guilty, heavy-laden sinner to the Lamb
of God, shows the all-sufficiency of his atonement,
and that the promises are made to such lost sinners as he is, who are weary of the burden of sin,
that he has a right to come, because all are invited; and that "now is the accepted time" with
God, " and now is the day of salvation,"-that no
price, no worthiness, is required, but he may come
without money, and be forgiven freely-when
these things are revealed by God, which is his
work, then it is that we are commanded to act
faith. We are to believe the record true, embrace
it, rely upon it, and venture our guilty souls on
the promises made through a bleeding Saviour.
It is after this act of faith, not before it, God gives
the witness of the Spirit. Do you not understand
me? The witness, or the seal of the Spirit, is
God's gift, not our act, given to all who do act
faith on Jesus, and the promise made through
him. But it is not given till faith be acted. If
we, as penitents, had no power thus to act faith,
how would God be just in declaring, "He that
believeth not shall be damned?"
With respect to works after justification, can
any one retain his confidence in God without
them?-Has he any foundation in the Scripture
to do so? God absolutely requires that we should




188      lMIRS. IIESTER ANN ROGERS.
do, do, do, (as you say,) and be, be, be: not in a
meritorious sense, but as fruits of the law of love,
written in our hearts, acceptable and well-pleasing
through Jesus Christ, and with every injunction
he gives power to perform it. The power given
is of grace, and the use of that power is the act of
man.   Again: When the Lord, by his Spirit,
reveals our inbred sin, and points us to the allcleansing blood, and to the promises to circumcise
our heart, &c., it is his work wrought in us freely.
But, when this light is given, we are to embrace
the promises, and act faith upon them. God hath
said, "I will do it."  Let me ask, Do you believe he will do it in you? Hold fast that faith,
then, for the promise is sure: it cannot fail; and
God's time is now. Only believe. God at this
moment requires an act of faith in you. He holds
out the promise, and bids you believe. But you
will say, I do not feel the blessing. Poor Thomas I
Because thou hast not seen, thou wilt not believe.
"Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet
have believed l" But you ask, "What must I
believe?  I answer, that God is faithful-that he
can and will, in a moment, give you what now
you do not feel: nay, you will not feel it till after
you have believed. If I had given you an apple,
it would not be faith to believe I had given it;
but, if I had promised to give you one, and to




CORRESPONDENCE.           189
give it you instantly on your requesting it-if you
then believed my promise, and took me at my
word, though you did not see or handle the apple,
this would be your act of faith in mne. But how
much more immutable the promise of a God!
You cannot believe him in vain. Even suppose
(which is seldom the case) you thus act faith a
day or two, or longer, before you receive the witness, shall you be the worse for it? Nay, but
far better for having believed: this faith will
bring power into your soul, and you will sensibly
feel what you never felt before; and soon you will
prove the Spirit's inward testimony, that it is
done unto you according to your faith. But you
will say, "How is the work instantaneous, if I
must wait a day or two?" I answer, the work is
done the moment you believe, though the witness
of the Spirit (which is not your faith, but the
gift of God) be not fully given till afterward.
"He that believeth" (the promise saith) "shall
be saved "-from guilt, from inbred sin, and into
glory.
It appears to me you labour under another mistake. You expect in being saved from sin, to be
also delivered from temptation, short-comings,
weaknesses, and infirmities; but these are inseparable from humanity. We shall never have a
perfect body till the resurrection: of consequence,




190       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
shall be liable to a thousand infirmities. We
shall never have perfect knowledge in this life,
and shall therefore ever be liable to errors in judgment, &c. The perfect law of Adam would condemn these things; but we are under the covenant
of grace; or, in other words, under the law of
love to Christ, whose blood every moment pleads
for these things. May the God of peace and love
teach and guide you into his perfect will, prays
your affectionate cousin,
H. A. ROE
LETTER XIX.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
MACCLESFIELD, Oct. 15, 1779.
REV. SIR,-Since I received your last, I have
had a return of the pain in my side, an oppression of my lungs, and sometimes (which I never
had before) such a yellowness of my skin, that I
apprehended it would turn to the jaundice. After
eating and drinking, I was thrown into violent
heats, and afterward into cold fainting sweats.
Then I was either in great pain at my stomach,
or else so sleepy, that I could not keep my eyes




CORRESPONDENCE.            191
open fbr a considerable time. But, blessed be
God! I found it a sweet affliction; for never did
I find Christ so precious, my evidence so clear,
my will so unreservedly swallowed up in his, nor
the intercourse so truly opened betwixt him and
my believing soul. Hence I loved, and praised
him for every pain; and, had it been his adorable
will to have called me hence, how gladly should
I have obeyed the joyful summons, and hasted
to the presence of my Beloved, my Friend, my All!
But seeing he still spares me a little longer, to
embrace his will, and bless the merciful hand
which brought me down, and hath raised me up
again, I see an open field: a boundless prospect
of new delights lies open before me: I see and
feel that God hath engaged all his attributes in
my behalf; and in his strength I fear no cross, no
shame, no enemies; for my Leader, my Captain,
my King, is the Lord of hosts.  His glory is my
only aim, and my only happiness. O precious
thought! 0 bliss, not imaginary, but real! not
fading, but everlasting: not decreasing, but ever
growing! 0 vast abyss of unfathomable love!
And as this is my portion, so, dear sir, it is yours
also. We experience it now, and shall forever
know it. On these accounts, how easy is the
sight of faith! how delightful the labours of love!




192        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
and how welcome the cross we bear for Him, who
is our life, our strength, and our salvation!
Dear Mr. S. is still unable to go into his circuit, and I fear he will never be much better.
Cold bathing seems to do him most good; but he
is very ill, especially in the mornings. His grief
at not being able to travel is, I believe, a great
hinderance to his recovery.  My soul feels great
nearness to him; for I believe he is, in a peculiar
sense, beloved of God, and a faithful steward of
his grace.
I hope, sir, you will remember him at the
throne of grace, and that God may either restore
him to his former usefulness, or else help him to
be perfectly resigned to his adorable will; for you
know, dear sir, that to have a soul all on fire for
doing good, kept back and hindered by sickness,
weakness, or other bodily infirmity, must be a
great temptation to the contrary. But as there
are none so weak as myself, and, of consequence,
who stand more in need of Divine assistance, I
hope you will not cease to mention me in your
prayers. In so doing you will greatly oblige,
Rev. sir, your very unworthy, but most affectionate friend and servant,
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE.             19S
LETTER XX.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
DECEMBER 11, 1779.
REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I should not have been
silent thus long, had not my dearest Lord seen
good to afflict my body. I have lately been confined, and am just recovering from a sore throat.
It was not ulcerated, but attended with a fever.
Numbers in this town, or neighbourhood, have
been ill, and several have died, four in one family
within a month. I applied hartshorn to my
throat, and found benefit from it.  I am now, I
bless God, much better. I have reason to praise
him for every affliction; for all he permits does
work together for my good. I do love my Lord
with all my heart.
"All my capacious powers can wish,
In him doth richly meet;
Nor to my eyes is light so dear,
Or friendship half so sweet."
No, no, all the creation can boast is poor and
mean compared with him I love. In him I feel
a constant heaven, and my soul truly sits loose to
all besides. I have victory, through his grace,
over all things, inward and outward, that are contrary to his will. I have at times various temp



194       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
tations; but they find no place in me, nor at any
time distress or bring me into bondage.  I have
(glory be tc God) the inward testimony of his
Spirit, that I please him, and that he dwelleth in
me. My body and soul are both the Lord's; and
I earnestly desire that his whole will may be done
in me and by me. I am a sacrifice offered up
through Jesus, my adorable High Priest; and am
determined, through grace divine, ever to remain
so. I am a pilgrim in a strange country, and,all
my treasure is above.
I am travelling as fast as the wings of time
will bear me forward, to my celestial country;
though thorns, and snares, and gins, sometimes
beset my path; yet my feet are shod, my sndials
on, and I trample on them. Though the arrows
of the archer are flying, I have a shield that turns
aside the fiery darts. I have a shadow from the
heat, and a refuge from the storm. I live upon
the food of angels, and drink largely of the fountain of the water of life. His ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all his paths are perfect peace.
How great is the love wherewith he hath loved
me! 0 how large his grace to the most unworthy! "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that
is within me bless his holy name."  I have heard
from cousin J-    R, and his soul prospers:
blessed be God! I hope, dear sir, you ever do,




CORRESPONDENCE.            195
and ever will remember, at the throne of grace,
your most unworthy, but truly affectionate child
in a precious Jesus,
H. A ROE.
LETTER XXI.
To Mr. Robert Roe.
MACCLESFIELD, Jan. 14, 1780.
MY DEAR COUSIN, —I am    willing to answer
any question, or write in any manner that will
give your soul satisfaction-break any snare of
the enemy, or, in any way whatsoever, glorify
God; but I am often led to think you do not want
information in your judgment respecting these
things; and therefore that your aim is to see how
far I am, or am not, consistent with myself in my
different letters. Were many people to peruse
what I write to you, they would think it very presuming in me to argue points of doctrine, or experience with you, who are intended to be a
teacher in Israel; yet, you so draw me in, that I
dare not refuse. I rejoice to hear that your soul
is more happy in God than when you wrote before. O live near to him, and press forward, and




196      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
all is yours! I would again repeat, trample upon
all that is past, and come this moment to Jesus
by faith alone, for present, instantaneous, perfect
love.
"Ready are you to receive:
Ready is your God to give."
But I must hasten to consider your objections.
You ask, if I, "previous to justification, forsake
all sin, and have power to keep myself from evil,
by the grace I receive from the convincing Spirit
of God-what need of his free justifying or sanctifying grace? On the other hand, if I offend
(say you) in one point, not being faithful to the
grace of conviction, am I never afterward to be
accepted, even by the Gospel charter? How
agrees this (you go on to ask) with trampling, as
you often bid me, on my worthiness and unworthiness, and coming by faith alone?" I would
here put a few questions to you, and I beseech
you answer them to the Lord. Can your forsaking all sin now, (though it be pleasing to God,
and what he requires and commands,) cancel your
old sins, or obtain forgiveness for what is past?
Have you no need, then, of the free justifying
grace of God, to be received by faith alone? On
the other hand, if you resist the convincing Spirit
of God, and continue in sin, contrary to his strivings and drawings, will he continue his opera



CORRESPONDENCE.            197
tions, and, in spite of you, work that faith in you
which alone justifies the ungodly? Yet consistent with these things, you may, through the
power of temptation, and your evil, unregenerate
nature, have been overcome and given way, not
being faithful to the grace of light and conviction;
and yet, you may still come, hating the sin you
have committed, and burdened with your past unfaithfulness, trampling on your present worthiness
or unworthiness, come just as you are-a poor
prodigal, a condemned malefactor, to Jesus, and
receive freely, by faith alone, the mercy and the
pardon you no ways deserve.
Again, you are now a believer, but feel the remains of a carnal nature. It is your happy privilege, through the Spirit, to mortify the deeds of
the body, or the motions of the body of sin, that
still works in your members. This is pleasing
unto God, and what he requires, as fruits of that
faith, whereby he hath promised you shall be able
to quench every fiery dart of the devil. But,
supposing you do this without once being unfaithful to the grace of justification, (and also! very
few, if any, can truly plead they have been so,)
will this cleanse your heart from the root of inbred sin?   Ah, no! And have you no need
then of the free sanctifying grace of God, to be
received by faith alone? If, on the other hand,
17*




198       MRS. TESTER ANN ROGERS.
you are willingly, wilfully, or habitually unfaithful to grace given, are led captive, and overcome
by your inbred sin, or outward temptations: if
you resist the teachings of the Spirit of God, who
would point you to the all-cleansing blood, and do
not earnestly seek to go on to perfection, neither
desire holiness, will he come forcibly, and take
possession of your heart, and dwell there, whether
you will or no?   Yet, consistent with what I
have urged, though you may be deeply conscious
you have not been strictly faithful to justifying
grace; nay, through surprise, or temptation, you
have been vanquished, and foiled, and overcome
by inward corruption, yet, coming self-condemned
and humble in the dust to Jesus, will he refuse
freely to forgive, yea, (and if you earnestly desire
it, and come by faith alone to receive it,) to cleanse
you from all unrighteousness?
You ask, How am I to learn the difference between sin and temptation? I own there is some
difficulty here: I mean, in discerning between the
motions of inbred sin, while it yet remains, and
the temptations of Satan. Nothing but the Spirit
of God, by his inward teaching, can make it clear
to you. But this we know, whether our temptations are from our evil hearts when unrenewed, or
from the enemy, if our will stand firm for God,
and oppose all that would rise, or is offered contrary




CORRESPONDENCE.             199
to his will, he is so far from accounting us guilty
of sin, that he approves, and will reward the
victory.  But! rest not without inward purity,
and when your heart is cleansed from all sin, you
will see more fully the nature of temptation.
Pray let us know if you are likely soon to get
ordained; and if you are, whether you will accept
the curacy now offered you. I hope you had a
profitable time with Mr. Wesley. I had a precious season when he was here; and I think I
never saw him so full.of the Spirit of his Master,
-so full of God. May the Lord fill your earthen
vessel with all his fulness, and keep you till redemption's day, prays your affectionate cousin and
friend,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XXII.
To Miss Loxdale.
MACCLESFIELD, May 20, 1780.
MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, —How agreeable was
the reception of your affectionate letter; but I am
very sorry to find your health is so indifferent.
My dear friend, let me advise you to take all the
care you can of your body, for it is not your own,
but the Lord's. And I am fully convinced we




200        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
have no right to trifle with the precious talent of
health, which is given us to improve to the glory
of our God.
I every day experience fresh calls and fresh
motives to praise and love our adorable Lord. Nor
is my heart less moved at the gracious tenderness
of his dealings with my dear sister. 0 my love,
can you ever now distrust him   for any thing?
Surely such love hath destroyed unbelief forever:
-surely you can now put no limits to his power
and faithfulness-his grace his willingness to save.
0 praise him, and trust him forever.
Look for his perfect love,
Look for his dear people's rest;
Hope to sit down with him above,
And share the marriage feast."
Yes, there I trust we shall meet and rejoice together!-there we shall sing, without weariness
of body or soul, the wonders of his grace, and tell
to all the listening heavenly throng, how rich redeeming love hath saved and ransomed, kept and
preserved, delivered and strengthened, and at last
brought us save where the wicked cease from
troubling,-where the weary are at rest.
I rejoice that you are still pressing on to the
attainment of that holiness which God calls you
to.  Only come by simple faith, and you shall
soon experience that sweet rest,
" From self and sin set free."




CORRESPONDENCE.            201
I look upon this blessing as consisting, not so
much in overwhelming joy, as humbling love:
though joy, as an effect, will surely follow after.
With me it was thus: I sunk into my own nothingness, and was humbled in the dust. Emptied of
self and self-dependence, I submitted to be saved
by grace. My depth of weakness was laid open
to my view, but I cast myself on Jesus as my
strength: emptied of all, I plunged by a simple
act of faith, into his fulness of love, and found
him all my salvation, and all my desire. When
Satan suggested, Thou wilt soon lose what thou
hast attained, I told him, Let my Lord see to that:
"He that keepeth Israel, neither slumbereth nor
sleepeth." Jesus is mine, with all his strength
and fulness; and his grace is sufficient. I think,
my dear friend, if you expect thus to be laid at the
Saviour's feet, in humblest love and self-abasement, temptation that the blessing is something
greater than you will be able to bear, will vanish,
or at least, lose all its force; and, being thus humbled, thus united to Jesus, hang momentarily depending on him, and fear not but he will be your
keeper. Faith is the bond of union, and in your
union with him lies all your strength. He will
water you every moment: yea, he will dwell in you
as a well of water springing up into everlasting
life. He is himself all you want: he is holiness



202       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
he is heaven;-and he is yours! My soul longs
for you.
"0 may you gain perfection's height,
And into nothing fall!
Be less than nothing in your sight,
And Christ be all in all."
You will, you surely will! Nay, I have no
doubt but you will soon prove this; for the Lord
enlarges my heart in your behalf; and I trust your
next will convey the happy tidings.
The Lord is peculiarly gracious to your unworthy
friend, and condescends to bless my small labours
for him. In visiting the sick, I found a great increase of love to God, and the souls for whom Jesus
died. At some places, the neighbours coming in,
the power of the Lord has been very present; and
some of them, who before were asleep in sin, are
crying out, "What mustwe do to be saved?" and
so many fresh ones are sending to me daily, and
begging I will call upon them, that it seems as if
my employment would soon be too great for my
bodily strength; but if he calls me to the work,
he will give strength for it. My one desire is to
spend and be spent for him. Our present maid
has a deep concern upon her mind, and, I trust,
will not rest short of pardon. She who has left
us retains her peace, and walks uprightly. I cannot tell you the grateful feelings of my heart on




CORRESPONDENCE.            203
this account. I thank you for your kind intention
in the affair you mention-hope my God will
reward every token of your undeserved love to
your very unworthy, but sincere friend in him we
love,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XXIII.
To Miss Loxdale.
MACCLESFIELD, Nov. 2, 1780.
MY DEAR FRIEND,-I rejoice to find by the
contents of your last, that you are pressing on to
the attainment of that fulness which God calls you
to enjoy; and I trust you will soon experience that
blessed rest —from self and sin set free. The suggestion, that this blessing will be more than you
can bear, is apparently from an enemy:-Ah, no!
but it will enable you to bear all things. If you
expect to be overwhelmed with exceeding great joy
when you receive this, I think you are not expecting it in the way it is generally given. I look upon
joy as an effect, or a fruit, and not the blessing itself. With me it was thus: I was humbled and
self-emptied, and Jesus became my All in all! I
felt myself all weakness, (yea, as I never did before,) and he was all my strength:-Iall ignorance,




204       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
he my wisdom:-Iall nothingness, he all fulness:
-Iall helplessness, he omnipotence. I flew from
myself, and escaped to Jesus: he received me
graciously, freely, without money, without price,
without worthiness, or faithfulness, and became
all my salvation, and all my desire: humbled in
lowest abasement at his boundless condescension,
and filled with love, I felt that God was All and in
all to me.
If the enemy were to suggest, though you were
to feel this, you could not retain it, remember, you
receive the blessing that it may keep you. You
have only to hang momentarily dependent on Jesus, and he will be your keeper. Faith is the bond
of union, and in your union with him lies your
strength.  He will water you every moment: yea,
he will be in you as a well of water springing up
into everlasting life. Jesus himself is all you want:
-he is holiness-he is heaven-he is yours.   0
bring your polluted heart then, just as it is; and
he will take full possession! 0 come by simple
faith.
" Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to that alone:
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, 'It shall be done.'"
My state of health is better than it has been for
some years; but, glory be to God, not half so well




CORRESPONDENCE.             205
as my better part  O no!-so plentiful, so rich,
is my Redeemer's love, that thought cannot fathom
it: it seems but now beginning an eternity of bliss!
O how sweet the service of such a Master, such
a God!-how reasonable, how delightful all his
paths! what solid, present peace!-what antepasts
of heavenly joys, when we walk in communion
with him! If we have any sorrow, any abiding
doubts or fears, surely it is because we know not,
as fully as we may know, the nature of a God of
love. When we suffer him to reveal to us what he
is, the lovely discovery transforms us into his
image, and dispels every thought but love. Beholding him, we are changed into the same image,
from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord.
My thirsty soul earnestly longs to know him
more; but his love is unfathomable - yet every
day brings me fresh discoveries-  and I believe,
what we are capable of receiving, he will reveal to
all who love him.  Open then your heart:-permit him, and he will give you such ravishing views
of his beauty, as you never had before: —such
views as will dissolve your heart in humble love,
and fill your eyes with joyful tears. You will see
and own,
His every act pure blessing is,
His path unsullied light."
May what I now feel be commnunicated to your
18




206      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
spirit, and God be your eternal portion, prays your
affectionate sister and friend,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XXIV.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
JANUARY 6, 1782.
MY VERY DEAR AND HONOURED SIR,-I have
still good news to tell you. Glory be to God, he
is working graciously among us. Cousin Robert
has been the instrument of four persons believing
and receiving sanctification since I wrote last. One
of them is a class leader, and in all who now profess this salvation, the change is very evident:
they walk and follow after God as dear children,
who truly love him with all their hearts. On the
watch-night, a young woman, who experienced
this salvation some years ago, but had lost it, received it again, as Mr. L. was saying, "Come by
faith alone, if you have no worthiness, no fitness,
believe only, and love shall make all things new.
Delay not a moment: come now, and God will
now destroy your inbred sin," &c.
Mr. L.'s word is made a blessing to very many.
Several backsliders are restored, many convinced
of sin, some converted, and a number longing to




CORRESPONDENCE.             207
love God with an undivided heart, 0! how I love
thus to see the prosperity of Zion! I feel, indeed, a sweet assurance, through grace, that if all
around me were careless and lukewarm, my soul
would cleave to its only centre, with all its powers
and affections; but how much more does it animate
and enliven my spirit-how increase my joy-yea,
how does it strengthen my hands, to see my dear
brethren rejoicing and glorifying in the same precious salvation! and living as it becomes the redeemed of the Lord! There are persons, besides
those I have mentioned, who can say, they feel
nothing contrary to love, and are kept in perfect
peace, but dare not yet profess that they are
cleansed from all sin. I now meet two bands,
and blessed be God we do not meet in vain. My
soul dwells truly in a present heaven: the eternal
Trinity is my God and my All. Every power
and faculty is swallowed up in him.
"I nothing want beneath, above,
Happy in his perfect love."
I was surprised to hear that you had been at
Chester and Wrexham; but, I trust, if you did
not come to preach a funeral sermon for a friend,
you came to shake Satan's kingdom.
We had a precious love feast.  Some people tell
me I always have precious times, and therefore
judge others have so too; but I believe most that




208       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
were present are agreed in this, that we have had
no love feast like the last for many years. The
select band is very lively.  I have just been there,
since I began my letter, and find another soul has
received the witness of sanctification under Mr.
L. this morning. I know you will join me to
praise a God of love. Glory be to his holy name.
" Our days of praise shall ne'er be past,
While life, and thought, and being last,
Or immortality endures."
In a day or two after I wrote to you, the pain
in my face and head was suddenly removed in
answer to prayer, and I have hardly felt it since.
Till then I had no liberty to pray for its removal;
but hearing that my bands never met during my
confinement, and that several neglected to meet in
the select band, whom I persuaded to go before, I
said, " Lord, if thy unworthiest servant can be a
blessing to their precious souls, remove this affliction, it is enough; and I will praise thee;"
and the prayer was heard. In ten thousand instances I thus prove him a God that heareth and
answereth prayer. I am filled with his goodness:
I know not where to begin that praise that never
shall end. I remain, dear and ever honoured sir,
your unworthiest child in bonds of divine love,
H. A. ROE.




CORRESPONDENCE.            209
LETTER XXV.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
APRmI, 7, 1782.
REV. AND DEAR SIR,-Glory be to him, to
whom all glory is ever due. I find him an ocean
of love, without bottom or shore. He fills my
happy soul with humble joy unknown. I dwell
in his sacred presence: he dwells in my worthless
heart, and all wrapt up in him I am.
Your last sermon on the Monday morning was
made a peculiar blessing to very many precious
souls, who say, they are sure God directed you to
speak just as you did. Some others, indeed, say
you preached a new doctrine, which they never
heard before, except from cousin Robert Roe, respecting a present salvation; for they cannot believe a person can be justified or sanctified, unless
they have undergone a long preparation, &c. Nay,
they have even affirmed that he or myself desired
you to preach that sermon, and to mention the
person who was convicted, justified, and sanctified
in twelve hours.
Why should we wonder at these things? The
remains of the carnal mind in myself would once
have strongly opposed the simplicity of faith. But
0! how precious do I now prove the experience
18*




210       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
of those words, " I am  crucified with Christ,
nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himself for me."  How mistaken are
those who say, to speak much of living by faith,
or of coming to be justified or sanctified by faith
alone, is setting aside good works! For, can
there be a Gospel faith which does not work by
love? And does not love work all holy obedience?
Excuse me, dear sir, I have been led to say more
on this subject than I intended, my soul being
peculiarly blessed since I began to write. Indeed, I often find it so when I write to you. He
makes you in various ways an instrument of much
good to my soul. How unworthy am I of his innumerable mercies! Praise the Lord, 0 my soul,
and all that is within me praise his holy name.
A dear young woman, who received sanctification about three months ago, (who has been a follower of God for six years, and found his pardoning love at fourteen years old,) is now to all appearance on the borders of eternity; and no pen
can describe the holy triumph of her soul. It is a
blessing to be near her. On Tuesday last, as I
was repeating and enforcing some of the passages
in your last sermon, and a few parallel promises,
another young woman, who had been seeking the




CORRESPONDENCE.            211
blessing two years by works, was by faith brought
into full liberty, and still retains the clear witness
that she is cleansed from all sin. And while Mr.
S — offered a present salvation, a young woman
was justified. J ---  S-    writes word he has
reason to praise God for his journey to Macclesfield, and is determined to preach an instantaneous
present salvation from all sin. I trust your going
to Chester will strengthen his hands. I cannot
tell you how much I am filled with a spirit of
prayer for you, and a sweet assurance that God is
about to use you as a more peculiar instrument of
good than he has ever done. I look for an abundant outpouring of the Spirit. Whenever I hear
of souls being blessed, these words are applied,
"Ye shall see greater things than these,"  May
the fulness of the Triune God ever fill your happy
soul! and may you still help me to love him more,
prays your most unworthy, but ever affectionate,
H A. ROE.
LETTER XXVI.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
JUNE 15, 1782.
REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I have been very ill,
and my body brought very low since I saw you;




212       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
but those sweet words continually applied, caused
me to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory, viz., "According to my earnest expectation
and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed,
but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ
shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by
life or by death; for to me to live is Christ, and to
die is gain." Oh, my dear sir, I never dwelt so
much in God as I have done of late. My whole
soul has been swallowed up in communion with
the eternal Trinity, and peculiarly within this last
fortnight, with the Holy Spirit. I have been led
to pray in faith for a universal and pentecostal
outpouring of His divine fulness; and it surely
will descend.
Being lately on a visit to Nantwich, the dear
people there, who knew me formerly, flocked
around me with eagerness, and I held a prayer
meeting with twelve or fourteen of them, for
which I believe we shall praise God through
eternity. A poor backslider was restored, and all
present were filled with humble love and joy. I
left five or six earnestly crying for a clean heart,
and determined to meet among themselves, for all
the classes were broken up or torn by divisions.
When I came to Congleton on my return home, I
found a young man who lately withstood cousin
Robert Roe to his face, respecting sanctification




CORRESPONDENCE.             213
by faith, now rejoicing in it, and declaring it
boldly to all around. I spoke with several who
felt the need of holiness, and two of them are able
to testify "the blood of Jesus cleanseth them
from all sin."
In this place, those who enjoy Christian perfection have had much opposition from some of
their brethren. Four or five met constantly together to revile cousin Robert and all who profess
it. But one of them now ras been truly humbled
before God, and received it himself in the very
way he so much reviled, even by simple faith.
And another of them says in his class, and publicly to all, that, if he had continued to revile
them, he believes he should have been damned
for it; but he is now determined never to rest till
he receives it himself. Since you were with us,
six or seven have been justified, and four or five
sanctified. Cousin Robert preached at Keethlesum, about eight miles off, where one was justified and another sanctified. At Burslem he found
many thirsting for holiness, some enjoying it, and
others stirred up to seek it.
The children who professed sanctification when
you were here, stand steadfast and unreprovable,
though they have much opposition from those who
do not believe the doctrine. Indeed, I believe it
is a means of good to them, constraining them to




214       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
walk and cleave so much the nearer to God, that
he may give them wisdom and strength. For my
own part, I find every trial or affliction has this
blessed tendency; and as when a man is tossed in
the sea, every boisterous wave sinks him lower, so
when lost in the ocean of love, every severe trial,
temptation, or afflictive dispensation serves to
plunge me deeper into God. Still pray for me,
dear, sir, and believe me ever your affectionate,
though unworthy child,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XXVII.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
JULY 7, 1782.
MY DEAR AND HONOURED SIR,-Since my
last I have been very ill, and thought I was on
the borders of my heavenly country. O! with
what joy did I feel this feeble body fail! How
did my soul exult in the glorious prospect of eternity! My every faculty expanded, and all my
large desires eagerly gasping for immortality; for
the full and immediate fruition of my God. When
most afflicted with pain and violent heart sickness,




CORRESPONDENCE.            215
those words, my God, filled me with unutterable
delight. I felt all the force of those other words,
"Jesus comes with my distress,
And agony is heaven."
0 for a thousand tongues to praise him! 0
for a thousand lives to spend wholly for him!
Yes, ardently as I long to see him as he is, I could
be willing, if so poor a worm could bring glory to
his blessed name, to live a thousand years. Indeed, my dear sir, I love him with a love that
cannot be expressed, and yet I long to love him
more"Plunged in the Godhead's deepest sea,
And lost in his immensity."
I see more and more lately into the extent of
that promise, "What things soever ye desire
when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and
ye shall have them." I have proved it in a thousand instances, and never knew it to fail in one.
"' If ye ask any thing in my name," says Jesus,
"I will do it." What an open field, then, lies
before us! Blessed be God, the work still goes
forward, though all who profess holiness are
strongly opposed, and their names cast out as
evil. But we are enabled by grace to bear all
things, and endure all things in a spirit of love.
Cousin Robert, on entering his new house, had a
meeting there, and it was a time much to be re4




216       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
membered. One received sanctification, and many
were greatly established.
I have thoughts, if the Lord open a way, of
going into Yorkshire. I leave myself in the Lord's
hands, as I desire to spend and be spent for him
alone.  May He fill you with all his fulness; and
in a particular manner, when you meet in conference, may the unction from above fill yours and
every heart! May all go forth with strength renewed, and a plenitude of the Spirit be poured
out on all flesh! I am now and ever, dear sir,
your unworthy, but affectionate child,
H. A. ROE.
LETTER XXVIII.
To the Rev. Mr. Fletcher.
DUBLIN, Dec. 14, 1784.
* REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I believe it will not be
unacceptable to you to be informed how a God of
love is blessing his dear people in this city. You
have a peculiar right to expect this, because you
were made, through mercy, the instrument of
kindling a gracious flame in many hearts, and of
preparing others to receive the message of salvation-a present salvation, even from all sin. Had




CORRESPONDENCE.            2 1
not you and your dear partner been here before
us, it is probable we should not have been received
as we now are. But the sound of your Master's
feet was behind you, and a gracious savour was
left upon the minds of the people in general, so
that when we came, we found them eager to embrace the whole Gospel. I had the clearest assurance, before we left England, that our appointment for Dublin was of the Lord, and every day
brings me fresh proofs of it. It was also a kind
Providence which brought us here on the very
day that precious woman, Mrs. King (now Mrs.
Johnson) was married, and, in consequence of
which, went to reside at Lisburn. Had we arrived
before the society suffered so great a loss, my poor
services might not have been so acceptable; and
had it been later, the minds of the people might
have been grieved to excess. But the novelty of
strangers first engaged their attention, and the
word of the Lord then soon became a sin-killing
and soul-saving word: so that now every one's
3ares and fears terminate in a determination to
secure their own salvation.
Another great blessing is, Mr. Rogers and Mr,
Blair (his fellow-labourer) are united as the heart
of one man: Mrs. Blair, also, is a sister indeed
to me in spirit and real affection, so that we are a
family of love; and one small house serves us all.
19




218        51RS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
And not the preachers only, but the stewards,
leaders, and people, all utnite, and have only one
strife-how  they may best promote each other's
happiness and the cause of God. And glory,
glory, glory be ever ascribed to Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, it is promoted! Sinners are snatched
by grace as brands from the burning, and the
kingdom of God and his Christ is set up in many
believing hearts.
"Lo, the promise of a shower
Drops already from above;
But the Lord shall shortly pour
All the Spirit of his love."
In six weeks from the time of our first arrival,
many were awakened, and nine received a clear
sense of pardon: these returned public thanks,
which greatly encouraged the seekers, and raised
the expectation of all.  As it was manifestly a
time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
it was thought expedient at our love feast, October 10, to give notes of admission, on that occasion, to many who were not as yet members of
society, but appear desirous of salvation, so that
near seven hundred souls were present; and a
feast of love it was, such as I believe many will
praise God for to all eternity!   After several,
who spoke with great freedom and simplicity, a
poor penitent besought us with tears to pray for




CORRESPONDENCE.


219


her. The kindlings of love which had been felt
before now became a flame in every believing soul,
and when fallen on our knees, the power of God
descended of a truth: every corner of the house
was filled with cries of "God be merciful to me a
sinner," or "Praise the Lord, 0 my soul, who
hath forgiven all mine iniquities!" Not one remained unaffected; and we have since found that
seven were justified at that time, among whom
was one that got a note of admittance in the morning, and several who came only with a faint desire were deeply convinced of sin.  The next
night another was justified under the word, and a
second under the prayer, and a backslider healed;
and soon after, while Mr. R    explained and
enforced, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom  of heaven," dear sister
R-, whom I am persuaded you well remember-for you took great pains to encourage and
help her forward —even this poor, nervous, afflicted woman, who has been a seeker twenty-one
years, laid hold of the promise by faith, and received the " knowledge of salvation by the remission of her sins;" and notwithstanding she is
often greatly depressed by her bodily disorder,
she is still enabled to claim her interest in redeeming blood. A poor vile young man, who had in
dulged himself in all kinds of sin with greediness,




220        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
and, according to his own expression, "believed
no God more supreme than himself," strayed into
the chapel just as Mr. Rogers gave out the text,
"'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved:" he was that hour cut to the heart,
and is now earnestly seeking salvation, and has
received much comfort.  Under the same sermon
one was justified, and another backslider healed.
Since this, a man and his wife came to preaching together, who had been seekers seven years,
and their states nearly alike: they did not sit near
each other, but were both set at liberty under the
same sentence and in the same instant.  They
both ran to catch hold of Mr. R   as he came
from the pulpit, and there met each other, and
rejoiced together with exceeding great joy. The
man said he knew his wife was blest before they
thus met, as well as he knew that himself was.
Another person, who had been a backslider ten
years, first into Antinomian principles, and then into
gross, open sin, fell lately into deep despair, and
many times attempted to put an end to his life,
but was often prevented by an almost miraculous
providence.  Friday, Nov. 12, was the last time,
when he had placed a loaded pistol to his breast,
and intended to discharge it the next moment;
but these words came with power, '" Why will ye
die?"  He instantly fell on  his knees, and




CORRESPONDENCE.            221
dropped the pistol.  He came afterward to the
preachers, who endeavoured to encourage him;
and on the Tuesday following he was at our prayer
meeting, where an agonizing spirit'of prayer was
given: he obtained then a comfortable hope of
mercy, and at night, under Mr. Blair's preaching,
was set at libetty. This he told me the next
morning, with streaming eyes, and gratitude unspeakable.
Nov. 18, we had another love feast at Gravelwalk: it was a more wonderful season than even
the former. We know of nine that we have reason to believe were justified; and many lukewarm
professors were greatly stirred up. Two of these
found peace in the blood of Jesus the week after,
another on Sunday night last, who was a Papist,
and another last night. A Jew is also convinced
and converted; and from being, according to his
sect, a Pharisee, is now zealous in his love to
Jesus, though at the hazard of his life, for his
own mother and other relations have attempted to
murder him at different times.
One of sister Johnson's classes, and another,
since now raised, are committed to my care. In
the first of these are now thirty-eight members,
in the latter thirty-six; and within the last quarter, ten of these have received a sense of pardon,
and four others are enabled to love God with all
19*




222       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
their hearts. I have likewise undertook a class
of young girls, from about nine to fourteen years
of age. In a few weeks many of them began to
feel awakenings, and a few were deeply convinced
of sin. A month ago, one of these, ten years of
age, received a clear sense of pardon: she told her
companion of the same age, who prayed and wept,
and would not be comforted, till she obtained the
same blessing, which was in a few days. When
the rest heard this, they were greatly stirred up,
and the following Sabbath two more were as clearly
justified, one of eleven, the other thirteen years
of age. There is a great and visible change in all
these, and they speak clearly and experimentally.
Seven more are under conviction, and I doubt not
will soon be brought into liberty. In all, we have
certain accounts, since we came, of forty-six justified, eight sanctified, and one hundred added to
the society.
As to myself, I never was so truly happy in
every sense: happy in increasing union and communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, and sunk
into depths of humble love. I feel my unworthiness and nothingness indescribable; yet, stupendous grace! all the communicable fulness of a
Triune God is mine. I feel the equal love of the
undivided Deity. As I worship the Father, so I
worship the Son and the Holy Ghost-my God



CORRESPONDENCE.           223
my all in all. I am happy too, in one who is
truly a help to me both for soul and body, for
time and eternity, and who greatly encourages me
in all my labours: happy in my situation, among
a lively, affectionate people, who make it their
study how to manifest their love; nor have we
one jarring string among us. O may we ever be
kept humble at the Saviour's feet, and all our
blessings (as through grace they do) prove only a
scale to heavenly love. Please to remember us,
in the most affectionate manner, to dear Mrs.
Fletcher. We entreat an interest in both your
prayers. When I last asked this favour at Leeds,
I believe you granted it, and that your petitions
were answered. Once more, then, pray for us,
and believe me, dear sir, in Gospel love, your
willing servant,
H. A. ROGERS.
LETTER XXIX.
To Mr. Matthias Joyce.
DUBLIN, May 1, 1785.
DEAR BROTHER,-My soul greatly rejoices in
your joy. I do join with you in that song which




224       MR3. IESTER ANN: RG('E;RS.
shall never end, "Unto him that hath loved us,
and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be
glory forever and ever." 0 how precious is that
life of simple faith you describe and possess! Go
on, favoured servant of the Lord, and he will
show you greater things than these. I do not
mean there is any thing greater or higher than
love; but in this ocean, what heights, what
lengths, what depths! what immeasurable degrees,
even in that communion with a Triune God, which
it is our privilege to prove. I know you feel
something of what I mean, even of equal love of
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This we cannot
properly feel till freed from inbred sin. Where
sin remains, there cannot be that close union with
the Father I now speak of; but sin destroyed,
and we know the meaning of those words, " The
Father himself loveth you;" and again, ' I and
my Father will come, and make our abode with
you." Yea, the whole Deity flows in upon us.
Consider that blessed scripture, " Know ye not
that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost,
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye
are not your own? For ye are bought with a
price."  By whom?    By Jesus: therefore glorify God the Father-even the Triune God-Father, Son, and Spirit, with your bodies and your
spirits, which are his.




COPtIESPOND)ENCE.           225
"Drawn, and redeen'd and seal'd,
We'll praise the One and Three,
With Father, Son, and Spirit fill'd
To all eternity."
I hope the Lord will carry on a gracious work
in Drogheda. I am glad to hear you see so good
a beginning. I never heard of so universal a revival, as I am told by many is now spreading
through England, Ireland, and America; and
yet I think it is but the beginning of what the
Lord will shortly do. Let us not be weak in
faith, and we shall see showers of blessings. The
promise shall surely be accomplished; and, perhaps, hastened speedily by the universal cry of
God's dear children: "' The earth shall be filled
with knowledge of the glory of God, as the waters
cover the sea."
I doubt not but you have had a precious season
with Mr. Wesley.  I think I never saw him more
truly filled with his blessed Master's Spirit.  We
have heard of two souls convinced of sin, and
eight justified under him, while in Dublin; and,
blessed be God, two more, since he left us, can
praise a reconciled God, and one is set at perfect
liberty, besides three more of the chidren, who
have received remission of sins. I find, blessed
be God, my own soul is as a watered garden; and
I have access to a spring, whose waters fail not,




22 6      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS,
from which I ever drink fresh supplies.  0 what
wells of salvation!-what an unfathomable ocean
of love!
A trifling affliction of body has, I think, sunk
me deeper into Gol. Such heartfelt, solid peace,
such inward nearness to, and fellowship with him,
I have proved the last fortnight, as is better felt
than described. It has been much of
" That sacred awe which dares not move,
And all the silent heaven of love."
0 for an enlarged heart! O for ten thousand
tongues to praise my God! As it is said, "In
that day ye shall know that I am in the Father,
you in me, and I in you:" so it is-the blessed
day is come: I do know it: I do feel it. I know
what it is to dwell in the Father, through the Son,
and by the uniting power of the Holy Ghost, and
ever worship an undivided Deity. These words
have often been spoken to my heart, and I feel
them now applied: "All that I have is thine:"
yes, my Lord, and I possess a drop out of the
ocean. If I had much more at present, it would
lay me dead at thy feet; but all is mine in happy
reversion, and what my weakness can bear, thou
wilt impart.  O make thyself room, and more of
heaven bestow! Thou wilt, thou dost enlarge my
heart. I grasp the God I seek, the God I love,
the God I shall enjoy to all eternity! O what




CORRESPONDENCE.            227
a word is that! A Triune God my own to all
eternity! Yes, yes, he is. Wonder, 0 heavens!
Be astonished, 0 earth! Be humble, 0 my soul;
and help me to praise him, all ye hosts above! 0
that all the world knew the riches of Divine love!
0 that all believers would give him all their
heart!
My brother, let you and me covenant afresh
with God, to spread the savour of his grace with
all our most enlarged powers, especially his full
salvation, that rest from all sin, that rest of perfect love, received by simple faith, and by faith
alone. I think I never read any thing wherein
that blessing is more clearly described, than Mr.
Wesley's sermon in the March and April Magazines for this year, which I believe will do much
good; for, how many have been discouraged by
not knowing and considering that one point, "Sin
is a wilful transgression of a known law." If this
were the constant rule by which we judged of
what we feel, how many vain reasonings would
be answered-how    many subtle suggestions of
the enemy?     A  mistake through   ignorance,
or through an imperfect memory, together with
various hateful injections from an enemy: a dulness of spirit, occasioned by the body; or a flutter
of spirit, occasioned by surprise, &c., none of these,
I say, or all of them put together, would then ap



228       MRS. IIESTER ANN ROGE(RS.
pear a sufficient reason why a soul should east
away its confidence respecting what the Lord has
wrought.  Seeing these are consistent with pure
love, they are not wilful transgressions of a known
law.
May the Lord bless you in your soul and labours, still more abundantly, prays, dear brother,
your friend and sister in Jesus,
H. A. ROGERS.
LETTER XXX.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
NOVEMBER, 21, 1782.
MY DEAR AND HONOURED SIR,-I have been
much indisposed since I wrote last, but I think it
is not wholly my old disorders.  I believe since
my cousin's death my nerves have been much affected, because any thing sudden will occasion tremours, which I can no otherwise account for, at
the same time that my soul is in perfect peace
and solidly happy, as also many times there is a
dulness and stupidity, when at the same moment
I feel a direct witness that it proceeds not from
any abatement of the ardours of love divine.




CORRESIPONDE:CE.            229
Glory be to God, I feel this as a well of water
ever springing up afresh, and I know the work of
his grace takes still deeper root than ever in my
worthless heart; and though at times the enemy
suggests, if this nervous disorder takes hold of
me, as on my late dear cousin, I shall not rejoice
evermore, as I have done hitherto, yet I am enabled to answer him in the power of faith, " My
strength shall be equal to my day."  If he afflicts,
I have His word of promise, "IMy grace is sufficient for thee." Nor can I have one painful
fear: I know in whom I trust.
I was yesterday employed in visiting members
of the classes with Mr. R.-a business which has
been much neglected here of late, and which, I
trust, will be made a blessing to many.  I find it
profitable.  Mr. R. has suffered much through
the prejudices of some; but he is as gold purified
in the fire: it has been an unspeakable blessing.
It has cut off his intimacy with those, who would,
perhaps, have proved snares and hinderances to his
soul and his labours; and united him more closely
to the little flock, who are rich in faith, and heirs
of the kingdom.  I believe he has acted faithfully
to God, to souls, and to you.
The select band is now the most precious meeting in which I ever assembled. There are fortyeight members, all truly and happily walking in
20




230       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
the narrow path: thirty-five, I have no doubt,
enjoy perfect love. About six have enjoyed it
before, and are now seeking it afresh, and the
rest, who never enjoyed it, are thirsting for it
more than gold or silver.  We are all, too, united
in one spirit.  All in this little company are helpers of each other's joy.
I love Mrs. R. much: she is, indeed, one of the
excellent ones of the earth.  I feel much for you
respecting the affair at Birstal: may the Lord
strengthen your hands, and in doing so, defend his
own cause. Your warfare shall surely yet be glorious, though it be through briers, or thorns, or
scorpions. The Lord still reigneth, and will defend
his dear servants.  Surely he is purging his Zion,
and will remove the chaff, and leave himself a pure
and a peaceable iemnant, whose motto shall be,
"Holiness to the Lord."
The openness of my disposition has sometimes
brought me into inconveniences; but with you I
believe it will not, and therefore I speak freely.
I am very unapt to suspect any person of guile, but
experience tells me, all are not to be trusted. I
feel I need the continual unction of the Holy One
to teach me. 0 pray that this may be ever given
to your ever affectionate, unworthy child in a
precious Jesus,
H. A. ROGERS.




CORRESPONDENCE.            231
LETTER XXXI.
To the Rev. J. Wesley.
CORK, Jan. 24, 1788.
MY DEAR AND HONOURED SIR,-Never had
one, so every way undeserving, so much reason to
praise a God of love. Day after day-nay, every
hour I breathe, he loadeth me with his multiplied
mercies; yea, they are more in number than the
hairs of my head. If I did not love him with
all my consecrated powers, and momentarily offer
up my little all; if I were not resolved to embrace
every opportunity to spend and be spent in service
so divine, I should of all mortals be the most inexcusable; for O! his love to me is boundlessI prove it an ocean without a bottom or a shore.
The sweet communion I have with Father, Son,
and Spirit, is unspeakable! and whatsoever I ask
of God in faith, it is done. In God I live: in
him I move: by him I act and speak, and it is in
him alone I enjoy all my mercies.
Since I wrote last we have fresh cause for praise.
The Lord is doing wonders among us here. It
seems very likely, at present, we shall see as great
a work here as at Dublin.  At the visitation of
the classes this Christmas, we found the society
increased from three hundred and ninety-seven




232       MRS. HES1TER ANN ROG:EIS.
members (the number it contained laest conlfcrencee
to five hundred and four; and the number of
classes are increased from twenty-four to thirty;
and fifty-six souls have found peace with God since
September last.  The Christmas festival was a
most blessed season.  On Christmas morning, at
four o'clock, the preaching house, was well filled,
and God was truly present to bless-many were
awakened, and four justified at the watch-night on
New-Year's Eve.    Several also found pardon at
the love feast, and many witnessed a good confession; but the time of renewing our covenant exceeded all: fourteen souls were that day born of
God: some at their classes, and the rest at that
sweet solemn season of the covenant. The house
was truly shaken (I mean every soul therein) by
the power of God.     I believe  none present,
preachers or people, will ever forget it.  I trust I
never shall.  It was none other than the antechamber of glory to my soul-the house of Godthe gate of heaven.  0 how was I filled with his
presence! how did I bask in the beams of his
love! how was I made to feel his ilmmeasurable
fulness all my own, through covenant blood divine.
Several were perfected in love, and scverdl backsliders restored.  Since this, between thirty and
forty have joined the society; several of,whlom
date their deep  wvakenings from  the covenant




CORRESPONDENCE.            233
night.  Mr. Rogers saw it expedient on that occasion to give notes of admittance to some who
were halting between two opinions; and most of
them were then, and are now, determined to be
the Lord's.
My class being now divided, I met twenty on
a Tuesday, and eighteen on a Friday. My heart is
knit to these precious souls; and, blessed be God,
we never meet in vain. The Lord is pleased to
bless me in all my weak labours, and he knows I
ascribe to him all the good done, and all the glory.
I do lie at his feet, and am astonished at his condescending love to such a worm. Last Sunday
evening, thanksgiving notes were sent by four, for
a sense of pardon received last week and we hear
of two more, who received the same blessing that
day. Several of our dear fiiends, who know and
love the Lord, have entered into a solemn covenant
with him, and with each other, never to rest till
they experience perfect love. One of these has
since received the blessing, and seems in all things
a new creature indeed.
We have got another new place for preaching,
in a very convenient and populous part of this city.
Mr. R. preached there the first time, a fortnight
ago, and told the congregation he would meet in a
class as many as were determined to forsake their
sins, and seek the kingdom of God with all their
20:.




234       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGLERS
hearts. Fourteen offered themselves, and were admitted on trial; and since then, five more, so that
there is a new class meets there, of nineteen mlembers.  Great good is likely to be done, as most of
the hearers that attend are strangers, who, perhaps,
would never have heard elsewhere.    We have
now five preaching houses, at different parts and
proper distances; and I believe we shall see a
glorious harvest of precious souls. In all, since we
came, seventy-seven are enabled to rejoice in a reconciled God, and many more seem just ready to
step into the pool of redeeming mercy.
We hear good news respecting the work of God
in Dublin, and in other parts of the kingdom. 0
may the Lord ride on in the glorious and triumphant chariot of Gospel grace and salvation, till all
be subdued! My dear Mr. Rogers begs me to
send his duty and love to you, and joins me in
daily intercessions at a throne of grace, that you
may be filled with the fulness of every new covenant blessing. I am, my dear sir, your ever obliged
and truly affectionate, though unworthy friend and
servant,
H. A. ROGERS.




CORRESPONDENCE.              235
LETTER XXXII.
To one who had set out fair for the kingdom of heaven, but
at this time was grown languid and faint in spiritual
things, and likely to return to the spirit and customs of
the world.
CORK, Jan. 16, 1789.
MY DEAR FRIEND,-I have long desired, in
the bowels of love, to see your soul advance in
spiritual life; and having considered your state in
secret, and with solemn prayer before God, I
think duty calls me to try if, by freely and
fairly expostulating with you, I may, through
grace, be an instrument of stirring you up to seek
the Lord afresh, and in that manner which alone
will avail to your salvation; even so as experimentally to feel him your God, reconciled in
Christ Jesus. Short of this you cannot be happy
-you are not safe. An unpardonable sinner is
under all the curses of a broken law, especially
that sentence, "Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things written in the book of
the law, to do them:" which stands in full force
against that soul who has never taken refuge in
the one and only propitiation for sin, even Jesus
Christ the righteous; for no man can come unto
the Father but by him; neither is there salvation
in any other.  He himself assures us, "If ye die




236       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
in your sins, where I am ye cannot come," and
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God." Bear with one who loves you,
then, while I ask a few serious questions, as in
the presence of God, before whom we must shortly
both appear, and in whose sight all things are
naked and open.
Are you now as earnest in seeking the pardon
of all your sins as you were when, two years ago,
you came with deep penitential sorrow and floods
of tears to join the society of God's people? Oh
that you could answer me in the affirmative. You
well remember the language of your soul then was,
" The remembrance of my sins is grievous to me,
the burden of them is intolerable:-a wounded
spirit who can bear?" You saw yourself a barren
fig tree, a cumberer of the ground-a brand ready
for the burning; and that infinite justice must
have sentenced you to the pit from whence there
is no return, if unmerited mercy in your Divine
Advocate had not prayed, "Let it still alone."
Your cry was, with the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner," and with sinking Peter,
"Lord save, or I perish."  For a time you acted
agreeably to such convictions-promising was the
prospect, and fair the bud of. grace: the arms of
love were ready to receive you, and angels even
began to rejoice over a repenting sinner. But




CORRESPONDENCE.             237
ah! where are now those fervent desires-those
ardent breathings after God-those restless longings, which nothing but the knowledge of his love
could satisfy? Where is that restless spirit of
prayer, that love to every ordinance and means of
grace! How seldom was your seat in God's house
then empty? Where is fled that deep seriousness
which then ever sat on your countenance, and
accompanied all your conversation?-that deadness to worldly company, worldly concerns, and
the good will of worldly persons? In short, that
whole deportment, which loudly spoke to all, that
the language of your soul was,
"None but Christ to me be given,
None but Christ in earth or heaven."
My dear friend, I could weep over you while I
see the sad reverse! Alas! it is not with you
now as it was then: you seem to have lost that
blessed power, that weeping penitence, that happy
victory over all the charms a delusive world can
boast   Say, is it not the case?  Have you not
sunk back into careless ease and indifference, with
respect to heavenly things-a false peace, and
your spirit become light and trifling? You can
now converse on worldly subjects, even as others,
and join in their empty laughter; yea, and prefer
such company to the lovers of Jesus.  0 why is
this awful change?  Is God no longer a just and




ARS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
holy God to punish sin?  Is he no longer a God
of truth who hath said, C The soul that sinneth,
it shall die?"-"Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven?" Is Christ and salvation, pardon here and glory hereafter, no longer
desirable? If otherwise, why, then, are you neglecting and trifling with your most important concerns? Why are you returned to that which
cannot satisfy?  I tremble for you!    0 cry
mightily to God, and rest not till you are again
filled with that hungering and thirsting that cannot be satisfied but in an experimental knowledge
of Jesus crucified, and his nature written on your
heart.
As the first step to a recovery, let me beseech
you now lift up your soul to him who discerneth
in secret, and ask him, Lord, why is thy striving
Spirit departed, or just departing from me? Yea,
ask your own soul, Wherein did you resist and
grieve that Spirit? He convinced you, he that
would follow Christ so as to be saved by him, must
forsake and give up all. But were you faithful
and obedient to these teachings? Did you not,
after a little, begin to keep something back, and say,
is it not a little one?  Was there no creature delight, no beloved companion you had forsaken for
Christ's sake, which you have again yielded to,




CORRESPONDENCE.            239
and taken pleasure in?-pleasing yourself with
the hope that this Agag might be spared: whereas
the Spirit of Truth hath said, " The companion of
fools shall be destroyed:" and you are expressly
commanded, "Come ye out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord:" on this condition only, saith he,  I will receive you, and
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
While you obeyed the voice of God, you could
not go to balls, plays, or cards; for his Spirit
taught you, " She that liveth in pleasure is dead
while she liveth." But, have you not been prevailed upon?-or, if not, have you not, in what is
called little things, conformed to the world?-such
as fashionable adorning of the body, even in immodest as well as costly array? whereas, the command is plain and positive, and easy to be understood, " That women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety-not
with broidered hair, or gold, or costly array;" and
again, " Be not conformed to this world, but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind;"
that is, if ye would " prove the acceptable will of
God." Now, consider a moment, after (contrary
to checks of conscience) indulging yourself in any
of these things, could you pray as before? nay,
were even your desires after God and spiritual




240 ltMRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
things as lively and vigorous? Ah no! the Spirit
of God was grieved, and he moved not upon your
spirit: he left you to yourself, and you neglected
duty more and more, till now, I fear, you can at
times plead with the world you had forsaken,
against singularity, against shutting yourself up
from carnal company, and subjecting yourself to
the sneers and disdain of those who see no beauty
in Christ and salvation.  Alas! how changed!
how trifling did you once account the scoffs and
frowns of such: yea, not worth a thought, when
you first felt your state as a lost sinner: then you
would cry,
"Let earth and all its trifles go:
Give me, 0 Lord, thyself to know,
Give me thy precious love."
And are you happier now    Are you in a safer
state-more fit for heaven? It is true you may
have less fears of hell; but this is no good sign,
for you have more cause to fear. You were then
a ryepentizg sinner; and had you persevered to
seek, you would, before now, have been a child of
God, and an heir of glory. But you are now a
trifling sinner, and, 0 think a moment I what is
it you are trifling with?-with God that made
you-with Jesus, who shed his blood for youwith the Holy Ghost, who awakened, and hath
been long striving with you: you are trifling with




CORRESPONDENCE.            241
eternal happiness and eternal pain, and with your
own immortal soul. This is an important subject,
and demands your immediate attention: in a little
time it will be too late to reflect or repent. 0, then,
as you value eternal life, stop! O go not a step
further from your God; but return, with weeping
and supplication to the feet of him you have pierced
-him who yet prays for you, or you had been in
hell:-to him who is yet willing to wash you in his
own blood, and by the power of that Spirit you have
grieved, save you from all, even your most besetting sin. But delay not, or he may swear, " You
shall never enter into his rest." Speedily cut off the
right hand-pluck out the right eye-take up your
cross, and give up all. You cannot serve God
and mammon: you cannot be a friend of the world
and not be the enemy of God: you cannot indulge
the spirit of the world, without losing your own
soul. And be not deceived: if you follow the
fashions and vain customs thereof, you have the
spirit of it and love it more than God. " If as
the world you live, you as the world will die." God
fprbid this should be the case! 0 fly for refuge
to the hope set before you! and let me have joy
over you in time, and in the day of eternity.
I have, however, warned you; and, perhaps, it
may be your last warning, your last call, if you
should now neglect. God will not always strive!
21




242      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
He may, before you are aware, lay the axe at the
root of the tree, and cut it down. O that you
may henceforward bring forth the fruits he requires —first, the fruits of repentance, then the
genuine fruits of faith. Then shall I meet you
with joy, among the sheep at the right hand of
yonder dazzling throne!-when the Ancient of
days shall sit, and the books shall be openedwhen the righteous shall shine as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father, and be as pillars in his
house above, to go out no more! Amen, Lord
Jesus, prays yours in real affection,
H. A. ROGERS.
LETTER XXXIII.
To Mrs. Condy.
CORK, Oct. 11, 1789.
MY DEAR FRIEND ANP SISTER,-I believe you
are well able to answer your own questions. However, as you desire it, I will freely tell you mny
thoughts on what we call Christian perfection.
We do not mean hereby, the perfection of God,
of angels, of disembodied spirits, or of Adam
while innocent. But we mean that perfection of
which our natures are capable through the grace




CORRESPONDENCE.            243
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the second Adam. We
are under the law to Christ, viz., the law of love
-the law of liberty; or in other words, the covenant of grace. Whosoever loveth the Lord his
God with all his heart, and mind, and soul, and
strength, and his neighbour as himself, fulfilleth
this law. The lowest degree of this salvation is to
have all contrarieties to this love cast out of the
soul. We may be said thus to love him with a
pure heart, when proud self, and great I, are slain,
and we feel only humility: when anger, fretfulness, and impatience, are no more; but we ever
feel a meek and quiet spirit: when I will, and I
will not, is all brought into subjection to the will
of our heavenly Father; and our will is, that he
should reign over us: when he really does regulate and govern our passions, affections, and desires-inordinate desires, and inordinate creature
love being no more; and, lastly, unbelief (and
consequently all tormenting fear, and painful anxiety) is wholly cast out. But, after all this, it
remain that we go forward, that we grow in grace,
till we be not only emptied of sin, but filled with
all the fulness of God.
The moment any soul is justified, it is free from
the power or dominion of outward and of inward
sin; and may hold fast that blessed freedom to the
end. But supposing a person does this, such a




244       MR. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
one will feel a mixture of evil propensities, tempers, affections, and desires, which defilement is
so rooted in our nature, that none but Jehovah
Jesus can cast out " the strong man armed, and
spoil all his armour wherein he trusted." It is
true, we may mortify, resist and keep under those
evils; but Jesus alone can pluck up and destroy
every plant and root which his Father planted not.
We may gradually grow in grace and holiness, and
hereby increase in victoriously subjecting the enemy within; but Jesus alone can slay the man of
sin.
All salvation, too, is by faith alone as the instrument. If, then, we must be saved by faith,
it is in a moment, and the present moment, if not
our own fault; for, what wait we for, who are the
children and heirs of God? and therefore heirs of
the promises, which are all to us " yea and amen
in Christ Jesus." If we wait for more worthiness-to suffer more, to do more, to be more fit,
then we are seeking to be sanctified by these
things, viz. by works. But if we believe we can
only obtain the blessing:,y grace, through faith,
and this salvation is the free gift of God, then let
us be consistent with ourselves: let us expect it
by faith-expect it in a moment, and expect it
now-which are one and the same thing, and are
inseparable. To be dying, and to be dead, indeed,




CORRESPONDENCE.            245
unto sin, are two things. Be not you, my sister,
content with the former: " A man may be dying
for some time," says Mr. Wesley, "yet, properly
speaking, he does not die till the moment the soul
is separated from his body, and in that instant he
begins to live the life of eternity: in like manner,
a man may be dying unto sin for some time; yet
he is not ' dead indeed unto sin' till sin be separated from the soul, and in that instant he begins
to live the life of pure love." 0, be you " dead
indeed unto sin," and alive unto God, through
Jesus Christ your Lord!"
It is the blood of Jesus alone cleanseth from all
sin:-not penal sufferings, not mortifications of
any kind, not any thing we have, not grace already
received, not any thing we are, or can be; nor
death, nor purgatory; no, not the purgatory of
all our doings and sufferings, and strivings put
together; no, no-Christ is the procuring, meritorious cause of all our salvation.  He alone forgiveth sins, and he alone cleanseth from all unrighteousness. Faith is the only condition, and
it shares in the Omnipotence it dares to trust.
"All things are now ready," is the Gospel message; and Jesus saveth all them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.   "I will, be
thou clean," is his language to every seeking leprous soul!-to you, if not already cleansed.
21 -




246       MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
Joy in the Holy Ghost is a blessed fruit of this
salvation; but divine joy is not always rapturous:
we may be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, and
there is suffering love, as well as exulting love.
A person saved as above, may experience a degree
of heaviness or dullness for a season, through
bodily infirmities, close trials, or sundry temptations; but such a one cannot walk in darkness.
Likewise, many mistakes are consistent with this
state-I mean errors in judgment, and failures in
memory; yet the will stands firm for God, and
the intention is always single. Involuntary sins,
(as some call them,) or sins of ignorance, (except
the ignorance be wilful,) are not breaches of the
law of love-for these things we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,
who is our propitiation, and washes our holiest duties in his own blood:-to whom we will ever give
honour and glory. I am, my dear sister, yours
in the bonds of pure love,
H. A. ROGERS.




CORRESPONDENCE.            247
LETTER XXXIV.
To one lately emerged out of Arian darkness.
CORK, NOV. 5, 1789.
MY DEAR Miss D.,-I received the favour of
yours, and rejoice that you know in whom you
have believed, and that your face is now Zionward. Go on, my dear sister: it is a blessed
path: the goodly land is before-the land of sacred liberty, and glorious rest from all sin. Oh
that you may soon prove, by happy experience,
" perfect love casteth out all [slavish] fear!" and
that the deepest humiliation before God, on account of our ignorance, helplessness, and unworthiness, is not only consistent with, but inseparable
from, rejoicing evermore; for the ground of that
rejoicing is, that he who hath loved, and washed
me from my sins in his own blood, hath all the
honour and glory, and is all in all forever, while
I sink a poor woman at his feet-overwhelmed at
his free unmerited grace-grace that plucketh me
from the gulf beneath-reconciled a poor guilty
rebel to her God-changed the leopard's spots,
and made the Ethiop white. Thus, the more deep
our sense of unworthiness, the more precious is
Jesus, our interceding Advocate with the Father,
who, in his exalted human nature, ever liveth to




248       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS
intercede for us, until that day when he shall deliver up the kingdom (viz. his mediatorial office)
to God, even the Father, and the glorious Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall be all
in all forever.  0, the preciousness of such a
High Priest, such a Saviour, such a Counsellor,
such a King! 0 for more heartfelt union with
him-more of the power of his transforming love!
Blessed promise, " He that hungereth and thirsteth after righteousness, shall be filled."
You have heard, I doubt not, of precious Mr.
Fletcher's death, and how he proclaimed with his
latest breath-GOD IS LOVE! 0 that we may
be filled as he was with his heavenly Master's
Spirit. There was a witness of the power of grace!
a living and a dying witness that Jesus can save
to the uttermost. Let me exhort, my dear friend,
to come just as you are to the open fountain of his
precious blood; and how soon may you feel the
merit of Him you were once taught to despise,
made of God unto you not only wisdom and righteousness, but also sanctification and redemption.
You see how freely I write, as if I had known
you seven years. I hope you will follow my example in this, and let me know the particulars of
your spiritual state, that I may rejoice yet more
in your'joy. My love and my dear partner's attend you. "May He that liveth, and was dead,




CORRESPONDENCE.           249
who is the First and the Last-the bright and the
morning Star," be the portion of your happy soul,
prays your invariable friend,
H. A. ROGERS.
LETTER XXXV.
To Mr. Holy, of Sheffield.
CORK, March, 12. 1790.
DEAR SIR,-I have so long been silent, that I
am almost ashamed to write at all. I can only
say, I am more fully engaged than you can easily
imagine; and more so every day. As to farther
apologies, I really have not time to make them,
and must rely on your good nature to excuse me.
It gave me real pleasure to hear of the prosperity
of your soul. I cannot doubt, from the description you gave, but the Lord hath put you in possession of what you so long desired, and you can
now love him  with all your heart; or, in other
words, from moment to moment, with all your
present powers. What, with all your strivings,
you could not do before, viz., keep your mind
from sinful wanderings, and the rising of evil
tempers, fix your eye on things above-fix your




250        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
affections there-this you now find is done by the
power of God through faith. It is not you that
now live, but Christ liveth in you; and your tem.
pers, will, affections, passions, and desires, move
in the will of God, sweetly attracted and governed
by divine love. You feel you are helpless; but
Jesus is almighty, and faith makes all his omnipotence your own. You are tempted; but sin,
though offered with a pleasing bait, can find no
entrance; for lo! the Lord your keeper stands
omnipotently near, and till our will gives way we
have not sinned.   What some call involuntary
sins, or sins of ignorance, we know would be
breaches of that perfect law, adapted and suitable
to the perfect body and perfect soul of Adam while
innocent: his perfect knowledge gave him at one
glance to see how he ought to act in all things;
and if he acted contrary to this perfect knowledge,
he sinned. But we (even when sanctified) are
not perfect in knowledge, and therefore an all-wise
and gracious God hath put us under a law or covenant adapted to our capacity, and which our renewed natures are capable of, ever the law of
love-love to God and every soul of man. To
keep this law is Christian perfection. Love is the
fulfilling of the law: involuntary sins, therefore,
or sins of ignorance, are not sins in the Gospel
sense; but to him that believeth any thing to be




CORRESPONDENCE.            251
sin, though otherwise unessential, to him it is sin.
This you know; and while you keep the law of
liberty-the law of love, you feel your many
weaknesses and short comings are all atoned for
by the prevailing, ever-pleading blood of Jesus;
and in this sense it is we every moment need the
merit of his death.
I have had a touch of the fever and sore throat,
lately so very prevalent in this city; but how tenderly hath the Lord sweetened all my pain, by the
divine consolations of his love and constant presence: I think affliction was never so sweet before: he continually spoke to my heart, " All that
I have is thine," so that every moment I was
swallowed up in love and praise. My dear partner joins me in Christian love, and believe me,
dear sir, to be your sincere friend and sister in
Jesus,
H. A. ROGERS.
LETTER XXXVI.
To a Friend.
LONDON, Dec. 5,1792.
~MY DEAR SISTER, —As our blessed Lord has
again restored me to a little strength, I feel re



252       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
newed desires to devote it all to him. Wishing
to be. of some little use to the afflicted among his
dear saints, in the course of my visits yesterday
morning, I called upon Mrs. Jacques, (a poor woman, only three doors from our Spitalfields chapel,)
and I was thankful I did so. She gave me a
pleasing, affecting account of her husband, who
died a month ago. Hoping and praying it may
prove as great a blessing to your soul as it has
been to mine, I here relate the particulars.
They had been married five years. For two
years after their marriage they lived reputably;
when it pleased the Lord to afflict Mr. Jacques
with a palsy, so that he was unable to work; and
about eighteen months ago he had a second stroke,
which took away the use of one side entirely; and
he was then confined to his bed. A blood-vessel
was strained, or broke, which affected his throat,
and formed a lump there as big as the head of a
child.  This affliction reduced  him  to deep
poverty; but they were assisted by kind friends,
who also visited and prayed constantly with them.
While in health, Mr. Jacques had frequently
heard the Methodists, and was enlightened respecting the way of salvation; and during his
sickness, he earnestly sought the Lord; but his
evidence was never clear, till a little before his
death. His wife knew the Lord in her youth,




CORiESPONDENCE.           253
but was a backslider in heart from his loye; yet
she earnestly desired salvation for her dying husband; and would often say, " My dear, how is it
with your soul? Have you confidence in God?"
&c. He would answer, "I am     not happy: I
have no assurance."  She asked, " Do you think
he has power to save you?"  He said, "O  yes,
but I want to know he does save me!"  Several
friends prayed with him, and for him; yet the
cloud remained until the Monday evening before he
died. As one of our friends went into his room
that night, he cried out, " Lord, save thy poor,
helpless servant this night! 0 visit me with salvation under the-prayer of this thy servant: pardon my sins, and heal my guilty soul!" The
Lord heard; and before his friend rose up from
prayer, so delivered him, that he cried aloud,
" Now I am happy! Now I know Jesus has forgiven me all, and I shall be with him forever! I am
happy I I am happy!" Thus he went on for some
time. To his wife he said, " Trust the Lord, and be
resigned, and seek his forgiveness with all your
heart. Are you resigned?"  She said, " I cannot give you up."   "Not resigned!" said he,
with great concern, " you must be resigned, for I
shall be taken from you: I shall die this night,
therefore resign me quickly!"  After lying composed a little, he bid them pray. A person pre22




254       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS
sent did so; but he bid them pray again! They
asked, "Are you not happy?"     He said, "
yes, I am; but you have need yet to pray-the
time is very short!" They prayed again; but
he turned to his wife, and said, " Do you pray."
She said, "Lord, help me to pray."  And she
found power earnestly to entreat the Lord to finish
his work, and if any thing remained to be done,
speedily to make an end of sin. This satisfied
him; and he said, " That is right:-thank thee:
the Lord is here, and I shall soon be happy forever!"-further adding, " I have much to say to
thee, and the time is very short. Are you resighed?"  She said, "I hope I am."  " Well,"
said he, "that is right: then I shall soon go!
Trust God, and he will take care of thee." After
lying a little, with his eyes closed, he cried,
" Sing-sing-I am just going!"     They could
not sing for tears: he seemed displeased, and
cried, "Will none of you sing?"  They could
not answer him, and he said to his wife, " What!
will not you sing? You ought not to weep, but
to sing, when you see me going to God?" And
then he gave out, and sung with a loud voice,
"Salvation, 0 the joyful sound!
What pleasure to our ears!" &c.
After which he lay composed a little, then started
up, and said, " There is the Lord Jesus! Betsey




CORRESPONDENCE.            255
there is the Lord Jesus!" And to another he
said, "See! there he is!-The Lord Jesus!-I
am going!"-and immediately dropped, as it
were, asleep into his arms; for he spoke no more.
My soul was comforted by the above relation.
O what is all below compared with s death like
this! What are trials, which are but for a moment, when the joy which is set before us is so
exceeding abundant! The poor widow now desires to meet class with me, and I bid her come.
May she be joined to the Lord in bonds never to
be broken.  I am, my dear friend, yours in our
common Lord,                H.A. ROGERS.
LETTERS FROM THE REV. JOHN WESLEY
TO MRS. ROGERS.
LETTER I.
WHITEHAVEN, May 3, 1776.
WITH pleasure I sit down to write to my dear
Miss Roe, who has been much upon my mind since
I left Macclesfield. Once I saw my dear friend,
Miss Beresford: when I came again, she was in
Abraham's bosom. Once I have seen her living
picture, drawn by the same hand, and breathing




256      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
the same spirit, and I am afraid I shall hardly see
you again, until we meet in the garden of God.
But if you should gradually decay, if you be sensible of the hour approaching when your spirit is
to return to God; I should be glad to have notice
of it, wher4er I am, that if possible I might see
you once nore before you
Clap your glad wing and soar away,
And mingle with the blaze of day.
Perhaps in such a circumstance, I might be of
some little comfort to your dear mamma, who
would stand in much need of comfort; and it may
be, our blessed Master would enable me to teach
you at once, and learn of you, to die! In the mean
time, see that you neglect no probable means of restoring your health; and send me, from time to
time, a particular account of the state wherein you
are. Do you find your own will quite given up to
God, so that you have no repugnance to his will in
any thing? Do you find no strivings of pride? no
remains of vanity? no desire of praise, or fear of
dispraise? Do you enjoy an uninterrupted sense
of the loving presence of God? How far does
the corruptible and decaying body press down the
soul? Your disorder naturally sinks the spirits,
and occasions heaviness and dejection. Can you,
notwithstanding this, "rejoice evermore, and in
every thing give thanks?"  Certainly before the




CORRESPONDENCE.            257
root of sin is taken away, believers may live above
the power of it.  Yet what a difference between
the first love, and the pure love! You can explain this to Mr. Roe by your own experience.
Let him follow on, and how soon may he attain it!
I am glad you wrote to Miss Yates, and hope
you will write to Miss. As to health, they
are both nearly as you are; only Miss    is a
little strengthened by a late journey.  I never
conversed with her so much before. I can give
you her character in one line. She is "all praise,
all meekness, and all love." If it will not hurt
you, I desire you will write often to, my dear
Hetty,                 Yours, affectionately.
LETTER II.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, June 2, 1776.
iIY DEAR HETTY:-It is not uncommon for a
person to be thoroughly convinced of his duty to
call sinners to repentance, several years before he
has an opportunity of doing it. This has been
the case with several of our preachers. Probably
this may be the case with Mr. Roe: God may
show him now what he is to do hereafter. It
seems his present duty is to wait the openings of
Divine providence.
22'




258        MIRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
If I durst, I should earnestly desire that you
might continue with us a little longer. I could
almost say, it is hard that I should just see you
once and no more.    But it is a comfort, that to
die is not to be lost. Our union will be more full
and perfect hereafter.
Surely our disembodied souls shall join,
Surely my friendly shade shall mix with thine:
To earth-born pain superior, light shall rise
Through the wide waves of unopposing skies:
Together swift ascend heaven's high abode,
Converse with angels, and rejoice with God.
Tell me, my dear Hetty, do you experience something similar to what Mr. De Renty expresses in
those strong words: " I bear about with me an
experimental verity, and a plenitude of the presence of the ever blessed Trinity?" Do you commune with God in the night season? Does he bid
you even in sleep go on? And does he " make
your very dreams devout?"
That he may fill you with all his fulness is the
constant wish of, my dear Hetty,
Yours, affectionately.




CORRESPONDENCE.            259
LETTER III.
BRISTOL, September 16, 1776.
MY DEAR HETTY:-As I did not receive yours,
of August 28, before my return from Cornwall,
I was beginning to grow a little apprehensive lest
your love was declining; but you have sweetly
dispelled all my apprehensions of that sort, and I
take knowledge that you are still the same. The
happy change wrought in Miss P. R. and Miss B.,
may encourage you to snatch every opportunity
of speaking a word for a good Master.  Sometimes you see present fruit; but if not, your
labour is not lost, the seed may spring up after
many days. I hope, though your cousins are tried,
they will not be discouraged; then all these things
will "work together for good."  Probably, if they
stand firm, religion will, in a while, leaven the
whole family. But they will have need of much
patience, as well as much resolution. I am not
sorry that you have met with a little blame in the
affair, and I hope it was not undeserved. Happy
are they that suffer for well doing! I was almost
afraid that all men would speak well of you. Do
you feel no intermission of your happiness in
God? Do you never find any lowness of spirits?
Does time never hang heavy upon your hands?
How is your health? You see how inquisitive I




260       MIRS. IIESTER ANN ROU:Il:tS.
am, because every thing relating to you nearly
concerns me. I once thought I could not be well
acquainted with any one till many years had
elapsed; and yet I am as well acquainted with
you as if I had known you from your infancy.
You now are my comfort and joy! And I hope
to be far longer than this little span of life, my
dear Hetty,         Yours, in tender affection.
LETTER IV.
BRISTOL, October 6, 1776.
MY DEAR HETTY:-To-morrow I set out for
London, in and near which, if it pleases God to
continue my life, I shall remain till spring. The
trials which a gracious Providence sends may be
precious means of growing in grace, and particularly of increasing in faith, patience, and resignation; and are they not all chosen for us by infinite
wisdom and goodness? So that we may well subscribe to those beautiful lines," With patience mind thy course of duty run;
God nothing does, or suffers to be done,
But thou wouldst do thyself, if thou couldst see
The end of all events as well as he."
Every thing that we can do for a parent, we
ought to do; that is, every thing we can do without killing ourselves. But this we have no right




COR)(KESPONDENCE.          261
to do.  Our lives are not at our own disposal.
Remember that, my dear Hetty, and do not carry
a good principle too far. Do you still find,
Labour is rest, and pain is sweet,
Whe% thou, my God, art here?
I know pain or grief does not interrupt your happiness; but does it not lessen it? You often feel
sorrow for your friends: does that sorrow rather
quicken than depress your sot? Does it sink you
deeper into God? I cannot express the satisfaction
which I receive from your open and artless manner of writing; especially when 'you speak of the
union of spirit which you feel with, my dear Hetty,
Your ever affectionate.
LETTER V.
LONDON, February 11, 1777.
MY DEAR HETTY:-The papers of one who
lately went to God are fallen into my hands. I
will transcribe a few particulars.  His experience
is uncommon; and you may simply tell me how
far your experience does or does not agree with it.
But beware of hurting yourself upon the occasion:
beware of unprofitable reasonings.  God may
have wrought the same work in you, though not
in the same manner.   "Just after my uniting




262        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
with the Methodists, the Father was revealed to
me the first time; soon after the whole Trinity.
I beheld the distinct persons of the Godhead, and
worshipped one undivided Jehovah, and each person separately. After this I had equal intercourse
with the Son, and afterward with the Spirit, the
same as with the Father and the Son.        After
some years, my communion was with the Son only,
though at times with the Father, and not wholly
without the Spirit. Of late I have found the
same access to the Triune God.   When I approach
Jesus, the Father and the Spirit commune with
me.*
"Whatever I receive now, centres in taking
leave of earth, and hastening to another place.
I am  as one that is no more.   I stand and look
on what God has done-his calls, helps, mercies,
forbearances, deliverances from  sorrows, rescues
out of evils; and I adore and devote myself to
him with new ardour. If it be asked how, or
in what manner, I beheld the Triune God, it is
[* In a letter to Miss Loxdale, Mr. Wesley says, " I avoid,
I am afraid of, whatever is peculiar, either in the experience
or the language of any one. I desire nothing, I will accept
of nothing, but the common faith and common salvation;
and I want you, my dear sister, to be only just such a common Christian as Jenny Cooper was."  This sufficiently
shows what were Mr. Wesley's own views as to such "peculiar" and " uncommon" expressions as some of the abovd:]




CORRESPONDENCE.           263
above all description. He that has seen this light
of God, can no more describe it than he that has
not. In two of those divine interviews, the Father
spoke, while I was in an agoly of prayer for perfect conformity to himself: twice more when I
was in the depth of sorrow, and each time in
Scripture words. It may be asked, 'Was the appearance glorious?' It was all divine, it was glory.
I had no conception of it. It was God. The first
time, the glory of Him I saw reached even to me.
I was overwhelmed with it-body and soul were
penetrated through with the rays of the Deity."
Tell me, my dear maid, if you have ever experienced any thing like these things: but do not
puzzle yourself about them; only speak in simplicity. You cannot speak of these things to
many; but you may say any thing without reserve to, my dear Hetty,.
Yours, in tender affection.
LETTER VI.
LONDON, February 11, 1779.
MY DEAR HETTY:-It is a great mercy that,
jn the one hand, yoa have previous warning of
the trials that are at hand; and, on the other,
are not careful about them, but only prepared to




264      MRS. HESTER ANN> ROGERS.
encounter them. We know indeed that these, as
well as all things, are ordered by unerring wisdom;
and are given us exactly at the right time, and in
due number, weight, and measure.  And they
continue no longer than is best; for chance has
no share in the government of the world. The
Lord reigns and disposes all things, strongly and
sweetly, for the good of them that love him. I rejoice to hear that you have now less hindrance in
the way, and can oftener converse with his people.
Be sure to improve every one of those precious
opportunities of doing and receiving good.
I am often grieved to observe that, although on
His part " the gifts and callings of God are without repentance;" although he never repents of
any thing he has given us, but is willing to give
it always; yet so very few retain the same ardour
of affection which they,received either when they
were justified, or when they were (more fully)
sanctified. Certainly none need to lose any part
of their light or their love. It may increase more
and more. Of this you are a witness for God;
and so is our dear Miss -. You have not lost
any thing of what you have received: your love
has never grown cold since the moment God visited you with great salvation. And I hope also
you will ever retain the same affection for,
Yours, most tenderly.




CORRESPONDENCE.             265
LETTER    VII.
LIVERPOOL, April 10, 1781.
MY DEAR HETTY:-Many of our brethren and
sisters in London, during that great outpouring of
the Spirit, spoke of several new blessings which
they had attained.. But after all, they could find
nothing higher than pure love; on which the full
assuranee of hope generally attends.  This the
inspired writings always represent as the highest
point; only there are innumerable degrees of it.
The plerophory, or full assurance of faith, is
such a clear conviction of being now in the favour of God as excludes all doubt and fear concerning it. The full assurance of hope is such a
clear confidence in the person who possesses it,
that he shall enjoy the glory of God, as excludes
all doubt and fear concerning this. And this
confidence is totally different from an opinion that
"no saint shall fall from grace." It has, indeed,
no relation to it. Bold, presumptuous men often
substitute this base counterfeit in the room of
that precious confidence.  But it is observable,
the opinion remains just as strong while men are
sinning and serving the devil, as while they are
serving God, Holiness or unholiness does not
affect it in the least degree. Whereas, the giving
way to any thing unholy, either in heart or life,
23




266       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
immediately clouds the full assurance of hope;
which cannot subsist any longer than the heart
cleaves steadfastly to God.
I am persuaded the storm which met us in the
teeth, and drove us back to England, was not a
casual, but a providential thing: therefore I lay
aside the thought of seeing Ireland at present.
I am, my dear Hetty,
Always yours, in tender affection.
LETTER VIII.
LONDON, December 9, 1781.
MY DEAR HETTY:-We may easily account
for those notices which we frequently receive,
either sleeping or waking, upon the Scriptural
supposition that " He giveth His angels charge
over us, to keep us in all our ways." How easy
is it for them, who have at all times so ready an
access to our souls, to impart to us whatever may
be a means of increasing our holiness or our happiness! So that we may well say, with Bishop
Ken,"0 may thy angels, while we sleep,
Around our beds their vigils keep,
Their love angelical instill,
Stop every avenue of ill!"




CORRESPONDENCE.           267
Without needing to use any other arguments, you
have a clear proof, in your own experience, that
our blessed Lord is both able and willing to give
us always what he gives once; and there is no
necessity of ever losing what we receive in the
moment of justification or sanctification. But it
is his will that all the light and love which we
then receive, should increase more and more unto
the perfect day.
If you are employed to assist children that are
brought to the birth, that groan either for the
first or the pure love, happy are you! But this
is not all your work. No, my Hetty, you are
likewise to watch over the new-born babes. Although they have love, they have not yet either
much light or much strength, so that they never
had more need of your assistance, that they may
neither be turned out of the way, nor hindered in
running the race that is set before them.
I should not have been willing that Miss Bosanquet should have been joined to any other person
than Mr. Fletcher; but I trust she may be as useful with him as she was before.
I fear our dear — will not stay long with us.
I have no answer to my last letter, and Mrs.
Downes writes that she is far from well. Yet God
is able to raise her up. As to Peggy Roe, I have
little hope of her life: but she seemed, when I




268       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
saw her, to be quite simple of heart, desiring nothing more but God.   My dear Hetty, adieu!
Remember in all your prayers,
Yours, most affectionately.
LETTER IX.
LONDON, January 7, 1782.
MY DEAR HETTY:-In the success of Mr.
Leech's preaching, we have one proof of a thousand, that the blessing of God always attends the
publishing of full salvation as attainable now, by
simple faith. You should always have in readiness that little tract, "The Plain Account of
Christian  Perfection."  There is nothing that
would so effectually stop the mouths of those who
call this "a new doctrine." All who thus object
are really (though they suspect nothing less) seeking sanctification by works. If it be by works,
then certainly these will need time, in order to the
doing of these works. But if it is by faith, it is
plain, a moment is as a thousand years. Then
God says, (in the spiritual, as in the outward
world,) Let there be light, and there is light.
I am in great hopes, as J. S. got his own soul
much quickened in Macclesfield, he will now be a
blessing to many at Chester. A few witnesses of.




CORRESPONDENCE.           269
pure love remain there still; but several are gone
to Abraham's bosom.   Encourage those in M.
who enjoy it, to speak explicitly what they do
experience; and to go on, till they know all that
"love of God that passeth knowledge."
Give all the help you can, my dear Hetty, to
them, and to      Yours, most affectionately.
LETTER X.
DARLINGTON, June 25, 1782.
MY DEAR HETTY:-It is certain there has
been, for these forty years, such an outpouring of
the Spirit, and such an increase of vital religion,
as has not been in England for many centuries;
and it does not appear that the work of God at
all decays. In many places there is a considerable increase of it; so that we have reason to hope
that the time is at hand when the kingdom of
God shall come with power, and all the people of
this poor heathen land shall know him, from the
least to the greatest.
I am glad you had so good an opportunity of
talking with Mr. S. Surely, if prayer was
made for him, so useful an instrument as he was
would not be suffered to lose all his usefulness. I
23 -



270       IRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
wish you could make such little excursions oftener,
as you always find your labour is not in vain.
This afternoon I was agreeably surprised by a
letter from our dear Miss. It seems as if
God in answer to many prayers, has lent her to
us a little longer.  "He bringeth down to the
grave, and bringeth up again. Wise are all his
ways!"
Take particular care, my dear Hetty, of the
children: they are glorious monuments of Divine
grace, and I think you have a particular affection
for them, and a gift to profit them. I always
am, my dear friend,
Yours, most affectionately.
LETTER XI.
BRISTOL, October 1, 1782.
MY DEAR HETTY:-I received yours two days
after date, and read it yesterday to Miss Stockdale,
and poor Peggy Roe, who is still strangely detained
in life. But she is permitted to stay in the body
a little longer, that she may be more ready for
the Bridegroom.
You did exceedingly well to send me so clrcumstantial an account of Robert Roe's last illness and
happy death. It may incite many to run the race




CORRESPONDENCE.            271
that is set before them with more courage and
patience.
The removal of so useful an instrument as your
late cousin, in the midst, or rather in the dawn,
of his usefulness, (especially while the harvest is
so great, and the faithful labourers so few,) is an
instance of the Divine economy which leaves our
reason behind: our little narrow minds cannot
comprehend it. We can only wonder and adore.
How is your health? I sometimes fear, lest you
also (as those I tenderly love generally have been)
should be snatched away. But let us live to-day.
I always am             Affectionately yours.
LETTER XII.
BRISTOL, March 15, 1783.
MY DEAR HETTY:-I shall not be able to
visit Macclesfield quite so soon as usual this year;
for the preaching houses at Hinckley and Nottingham are to be opened, which I take in my way.
I expect to be at Nottingham on the 1st of April;
but how long I shall stay there, I cannot yet determine. Thence I shall probably come, by Derby,
to Macclesfield.
I intended to have written a good deal more,
but I am hardly able. For a few days, I have




272      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
had just such a fever as I had a few years ago in
Ireland. But all is well. I am in no pain, but
the wheel of life seems scarcely able to move; yet
I made shift to preach this morning to a crowded
audience, and hope to say something to them
this afternoon. I love that word, " And Ishmael
died in the presence of all his brethren." Still
pray for, my dear Hetty,
Yours, most affectionately.
LETTER XIII.
LONDON, October 12, 1787.
MY DEAR HETTY:-I do not doubt but your
calling at Dublin would be an acceptable time,
especially as R. H. was there.
After we left you at Manchester, we pushed on,
and, in all haste, set out for the Isle of Jersey.
But a storm drove us into Yarmouth, in the Isle
of Wight. There Dr. Coke and I preached in
the market-place by turns, two evenings and two
mornings. A second storm drove us to the Isle
of Purbeck, just where the Indiaman was lost.
There I had an opportunity of preaching to a little society, which I had not seen for thirteen years.
We hoped to reach Guernsey the next evening,
but could get no farther than the Isle of Alder



CORRESPONDENCE.           273
ney. I preached on the beach. in the morning,
and the next afternoon came safe to Guernsey.
Here is an open door: high and low, rich and
poor, receive'the word gladly; so that I could not
regret being detained by contrary winds several
days longer than we intended. The same thing
befel us in the Isle of Jersey, where also there
was an open door; even the governor, and the
chief of the people, being quite civil and friendly.
Jane Bisson I saw every day. She is nineteen
years old, about the size of Miss -, and has
a peculiar mixture of seriousness, sprightliness,
and sweetness, both in her looks and behaviour.
Wherever we were, she was the servant of all.
I think she exceeds Madam Guion in deep communion with God.
I hope you will see a revival in Cork also. See
that you take particular care of the tender lambs,
not forgetting poor P. L. Peace be with all your
spirits! I am, with kind love to James Rogers,
my dear Hetty,    Yours, most affectionately.
LETTER XIV.
MAY 28, 1788.
MY DEAR HETTY:-My not hearing from you
for so long a time would have given me concern,




274       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
but I knew it was not from want of affection. I
am glad to hear you prosper in your soul: rest in
nothing you. have attained; but press on till you
are filled with all the fullness of God. In this
day of God's power, I hope many of the backsliders in Cork will be brought back: there are
great numbers of them in and about the city, and
many are of the genteeler sort. It seems you
have a particular mission to these: perhaps they
will hear none but you. I hope you have already
found out Mrs. Forbes, (Captain Forbes's wife,)
and that now she is more than almost persuaded
to be a Christian. The pearl on my eye is but just
discernible, and dulls the sight a little, but not
much: as it grows no worse, I do not much regard it.
Mr. Smyth's society, I verily believe, will do us
no harm: and every one may speak of me as he
will. I am just flying away as a shadow. It
more than makes me amends, that James and you
still love and pray for, my dear Hetty,
Your most affectionate.




CORRESPONDENCE.           275
LETTER XV.
FEBRUARY 9, 1789.
MY DEAR HETTY:-I am glad to hear that
you do not grow weary or faint in your mind; that
you are rather increasing in the way of holiness.
Go on in the name of the Lord, and in the power
of'his might, doing the will of God from the
heart.
It was a providence indeed, the flood did not
begin in the night, rather than in the day. So it
is that judgment is usually mixed with mercy, that
sinners may be awakened and not destroyed. I
liked well to lodge at brother Laffan's when I was
in Cork last: but certainly I shall like much better to lodge with brother Rogers and you. I shall
be more at home with you, than I could be any
where else in Cork. I still find (blessed be God)
a gradual increase of strength, and my sight is
rather better than worse. If my life and health
be continued, I shall endeavour to reach Dublin
about the end of March; and Cork, before the
end of June. Peace be with your spirits! I am,
my dear Hetty,    Yours, most affectionately.




276       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
FUNERAL SERMON FOR MRS. ROGERS
BY THE REV. THOS. COKE, LL.D.
" It is appointed unto men once to die." Heb. ix. 27.
IF the remains of our departed sister, in memory of whom the present discourse is delivered,
were now before your eyes, with all the pomp and
splendour of modern funerals, it is not improbable
there are some whose minds would be affected
with a solemn but superstitious awe which the
preacher has neither the power nor inclination to
raise. He is conscious that those who had the
privilege of being acquainted with our respected
sister, need nothing more than the recollection of
that amiable woman, under the blessing of God,
to infuse into them that spirit of true solemnity
which alone becomes the Christian on these occasions.  But yet, that which rises above every
other consideration, is the momentous truth held
out to us in my text, that great statute law of
Heaven, "It is appointed unto men once to die."
For the due improvement of this weighty subject, we shall, under the blessing of the Most
High,




FUNERAL SERMON.             277
First, Give an explanation of the text.
Secondly,, Consider the grand point held forth
to our view,-the certainty of death.
Thirdly, Lay down some considerations against
the fear of death, for the use and comfort of believers.
Fourthly, draw some inferences from the foregoing heads of my discourse: And,
Lastly, Present you with an epitome of the
experience, death, and character of our deceased
friend, Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers.
I. We are to explain the text.
1st. The proposition is indefinite, therefore
universal, i all must die." It is not confined to
any sex or description. The whole race is included. But yet there have been, and still shall
be, exceptions to the general rule.  1. Enoch,
that holy man, who walked with God three hundred years, and then " was not, for God took him.
By faith he was translated" into heaven.  When
he had, for so long a time, borne, by example
and prophecy, his faithful testimony against the
sins of a wicked world, just mature for destruction, his merciful Redeemer, the God of Israel,
with whose smile and intimacy he had been divinely honoured for centuries, took him into his
everlasting arms, and fitted him at once for consummate glory. 2. Elijah, the great and highly
24




278       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
honoured prophet, who had power to open and
shut the heavens, and to call down celestial fire,
when he had finished his suffering life in the
midst of a crooked, adulterous, idolatrous people,
his friend and his God took him, soul and body
together, in a chariot of fire, to the heaven of
heavens.  These are the exceptions we have had
already.
And, in respect to futurity, "we shall not all
sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for
the trumpet shall sound," and instantly all the
faithful who are then alive, shall put on incorruption and immortality, and shall afterward enter
into their Master's joy, without suffering the
usual lot of mortality.
The above excepted, we must all pass through
the valley of the shadow of death, and return to
the dust from whence we came. And truly, my
brethren, I know not whether I should not prefer, if the choice were given me, to tread the
steps my Saviour trod before me, and to pass after
him through the door of death, than to be at once
translated to the realms of bliss.  He has sanctified the grave by lying in it; and every path in
which we follow the Lambisstrowed with blessings
to the faithful. He will take care of our sacred
dust: every thing which is essential to humanity




FUNERAL SERMON.            279
will he preserve in the hollow of his hand till he
completely mould it by almighty power, and give
it a lustre to which the sun shall appear as darkness.                 *
2dly. All must die once, but all shall not die
the second death. There is the comfort of the
believer. That divine and ineffable union which
subsists between God and the Christian's soul,
shall preserve the consecrated body, which here
below is the temple of the Holy Ghost. As the
whole humanity of Christ was united to his Godhead, even when his soul and body were separated; so the soul and body of the faithful are
united to Christ, even when they are separated
by death; for we are the "bone of his bone, and
the flesh of his flesh." When death shall untie
those secret and sweet bands, those vital knots
which fasten soul and body together, then shall
the sanctified and immortal spirit burst through
its tenement of clay, and take possession of its
everlasting home. On such "the second death
hath no power." To them death is only a sleep,
a happy passage out of the prison of the body
into a state of perfect freedom-out of an earthly
house, where the better part groans, "into a
building of God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens." But,
3dly. We must all undergo the first death.




280       MRS. ItESTER ANN ROGERS.
This is the irrevocable decree of Heaven: not
from the necessity of nature, but as the punishment of sin. Man was made immortal: sin alone
brought death into tbe world, and all our wo.
"By sin," says St. Paul, " death entered into the
world."  And shall we nourish and indulge our
great enemy?   Shall we harbour, yea, shall we
serve the murderer  of Christ?  Shall we not    *
exert ourselves to the utmost against the greatest
foe of God and man?   Shall a little temporary
joy or profit induce us to sacrifice everlasting happiness, and to embrace everlasting burnings?May the awful decree, " It is appointed unto man
once to die," have such an influence on our minds,
and be so accompanied by the operations of grace
upon our hearts, that we may always be enabled
to say with holy triumph, " O death, where is thy
sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory? Thanks
be to God, who giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ."
II. But we now proceed to consider the second
point,-the unavoidableness and   certainty of
death.
It needs no proof. Every thing else on this
side of the grave, is attended with probability or
possibility only:-this alone with certainty. If
it be inquired, will such a child be rich or poor,
be learned or ignorant, be honourable or contempt.




FUNERAL SERMON.             281
ible? the answer is, perhaps it may, perhaps not.
But if it be inquired shall he die? the answer
contains no perhaps: it is simply, he certainly
shall.
I shall therefore only consider the present head
in a way of application.  For it is the heart
alone which wants to be awakened on the present
subject.  Such is the sottishness of men in general, that they will not duly consider the transitoriness of all sublunary things, the mortality of
our bodies, and the infinitely momentous concerns
of eternity. Let us, therefore, examine into the
grand reasons of this stupidity of man.   We
shall find it, perhaps, to proceed from the following particulars:1st. Immense multitudes are so immerged in
the pleasures, honours, or riches of this world,
that every thought of the certainty or approach
of death is drowned therein. As soon as an idea
on the important subject springs up in the mind,
it sinks and is lost in the innumerable ideas
which continually crowd in concerning the things
of time and sense: it is devoured by the worldly
thoughts which are incessantly buzzing in the
souls of carnal men. One is eagerly pursuing
things of time, and so abhorrent of reflection, that,
with a variety of invented delights, he imps the
wings of time to make them fly the faster; and
24*




282      miRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
is never contented but when the senses are gratified.-Another is eat up by ambition: he forgets
he is mortal; and power, and titles, and worldly
honours are the only food of his soul. A third,
like the fool in the parable, trusts in his riches.
He says to his soul, " Soul, thou hast goods laid
up for many years: eat, drink, and be merry:"
whereas he might as well lay a plaster to his clothes
to heal the wounds of his body, as imagine it can
bring happiness into his soul through any thing
which the honours, riches, or pleasures of this
world can possibly afford him. If he will believe
the Spirit of God, the sum total of them all is,
" Vanity of vanities, all is vanity and vexation of
spirit." If vanity can satisfy you, if vexation
of spirit can give you content, if you can gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles, then go and
doat upon the creatures.
2dly. Men in general are continually viewing
death as at a distance; and thereby entirely lose
sight of the awful certainty and unavoidableness
of it. When they are young, the heat of blood,
the incessant flow of the animal spirits, a vicious
education, and the constant company of the dissipated and unawakened, drive away every thought
of death, as if the solemn moment were at the
utmost distance from them. Those who are grown
up to manhood, and are strong and healthy, think




FUNERAL SERMON.            283
it quite sufficient to provide for death when sickness gives the summons. Those who are sickly
and diseased, buoy up themselves in their false
confidence by their hopes of recovery; and even
the aged (strange as it seems!) regard their few
remaining days as if they were years. Such is
the state of the unregenerate; such the dreadful
consequence of a heart hardened to divine things
by original and actual sin! What if God were to
summon you away, sinners, in an hour or a moment! how dreadful would be the alarm! And
should we not be every moment prepared, by living in the favour God, and in the light of his
countenance; for who can assure himself for a moment to come? For aught you know, the film, the
bubble, which holds your lives, is now breaking!
0, did we but seriously consider by what small pins
this frame of man is tacked together, it would appear to us a miracle that we live for a single hour.
3dly. The apprehensions, the terrors arising
in the minds of the unregenerate from reflection
upon death, keep them from any due considerations on the certainty and unavoidableness of it.
The agonies of death, the senseless corpse, the
gnawing worm, the stench of rottenness, and all
the other attendants of that grim king of terrors,
form far too miserable a subject for the jovial
world or the dissipated throng to reflect upon for




284      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS,
a moment.    But, though the consideration of
these things is very unwelcome, yea, very dismal
to the minds of sinners, yet there is far worse
behind; and that is the sin which deserves death,
and the hell which follows it. To be forever shut
up in utter darkness, to be the sport of devils,
as far as devils can sport themselves with any
thing, to be banished forever from the source of
happiness, to have the soul eternally tormented
by the worm which dieth not, and the immortalized
body by a fire suited to its ever dying, but never
annihilated substance,-these subjects afford ideas
which, if thoroughly attended to, and applied by
the grace of God, would soon stir up the soul
to enter into that state of favour with the Lord
which would make dissolution a privilege, and
death a kind messenger without a sting, to open
the gate to everlasting joys.
III. But this leads me to the third head of
my discourse, namely, to lay down some considerations against the fear of death, for the use and
comfort of believers.
1st. If the soul be immortal, if it were created
and redeemed for the eternal enjoyment of God,
and consequently enter after death on an infinitely
better life than this, the believer may certainly be
well contented, yea, glad to die. The glorious
view, which faith opens to the spiritual eye, far




FUNERAL SERMON.             285
overbalances all the frightful objects with which
death is surrounded. The scenes of pure perennial
bliss, where saints eternally bask themselves in the
bright beams of the countenance of their God, and
bathe themselves in the rivers of pleasures which
flow at his right hand forevermore, are sufficient,
though only viewed in prospect, to elevate the soul
above every terrifying thought which can possibly
assail it. An old heathen philosopher, Tullius
Cicero in his dream of Scipio, beautifully observes,
"If I were now disengaged from my cumbrous
body, and on the wing for Elysium, [the place where
the ancient Romans supposed the virtuous would
dwell after death,] and some superior being should
meet me in my flight, and make me an offer of returning and reanimating my body, I should without
hesitation reject his offer: so much rather would I
go to Elysium, to reside with Socrates and Plato,
and all the ancient worthies, and spend my time
in conversing with them." But could a heathen
thus triumph in the thcught of enjoying his j xor
miserable paradise, and prefer it even to life, h0cw
much more may a Chriftian triumph in the exuting thought, that he shall spend an eternity with
the wisest, the holiest, the happiest beings that
ever came out of the -:?ative hand of God: yea,
that he shall spend an eternity with Jesus, the
Mediator of the new  covenant. the joy of his




286       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
heart, and the delight of his eyes: where he shall
fix his ever-waking eyes on the infinite beauty of
his adorable Lord; yea, if it were possible, would
think eternity itself too short for the beholding
and admiring such transcendent excellences, and
for the solemnizing those heavenly espousals between Christ and his most beloved spouse, when
all the powers of heaven shall triumph for joy,
and a concert of seraphim forever sing the wedding song.
2dly. The whole life of a Christian is founded
on a hope which cannot be accomplished but by
dying. How exceedingly mistaken must he be,
who fears that which alone can gratify his highest
wishes, and is the great end of all his pursuits.
What does the Christian chiefly hope for? Is it
not the full enjoyment of his God in the realms
of bliss? Is it not the restoration of his whole
nature to the full image of God, in which it was
at first created; and the recovery of that paradise,
which he has lost by the fall-a paradise, the glories of which shall bc inconceivably heightened
by the union of the divine amn human natures in
the person of the second Adam, the Son of God?
Is it not to live forever with his adorable and
most beloved Saviour, to be with him where He is
and to behold the glory wL'ch the Father ha!
ei,7o  him?  Is it not to sit with Christ on hi




F'CNERAL SERMON.             287
throne, according to his most gracious promise
even as Christ sits with his Father on the throne?
Is it not to join the redeemed and the innumerable
hosts of angels, in singing continually alleluiahs,
salvation, and glory and honour, and power, to
God and the Lamb?     In short, is it not to see
God face to face, to enjoy the beatific vision, tc
experience an inconceivably closer union and coTimunion with God, than we possibly can during
the present scene of things; to be forever blest
in the close embraces of the sovereign Good?
But can we be possessors of these mighty joys
without passing through the valley of death?
And shall a Christian be afraid of that which
alone can enable him to realize the glorious hope,
which is the very support of his life?  Should
it not rather be the language of his soul, "I desire
to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is
far better."
3dly. Death is no more than a quiet sleep.
Thus it is frequently represented in the oracles of
Xod. " Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.*
iany that sleep in the dust shall awake.t  Our
riend Lazareth sleepeth.4 Stephen fell asleep.~
would not have you be ignorant, brethren, con* Deut. xxxi. 16, and 2 Sam. vii. 12.  t Dan. xii. 2.
t John xi. 11.                  g Acts vii. 60.




s ti      MRS. HEBT'IR ANN B. GERS.
eerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not
even as others, which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them
also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with
*him   For we which are alive and remain unto
LCs coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them
wvhich are asleep.* Some are fallen asleep. They:re fallen  asleep in Christ.t  The fathers fell
a5seep."I  The inspired writers seem  to delight
in the metaphor when applied to the death of the
faithful; and what can be more expressive? The
weary labourer lays himself down to sleep till the
morning, and the Christian takes his sleep in the
grave till the morning of the resurrection, only
with this essential difference: the common sleep
of nature deprives us of the natural light, but the
sleep of death brings the believer to the vision of
the true, and otherwise inaccessible light.  Why,
then, should the Christian be afraid of death?
Surely, he may take the serpent into his bosom;
for he has not only lost his sting, but is reconciled
to the believer, and become one of his party.
Therefore says Saint Paul, " Whether life or death,
all is yours:" and again, "To me, to live is Christ,
and to die is gain." And well may the Christian
* 1 Thess. iv. 13, 14, 15.    t 1Cor. xv. 6, 18
t 2 Pet. iii. 4.




FUNEiRAL SERMON.           289
rejoice in death, and welcome the pleasing messenger; for it is the hand of death which draws
the curtain, and lets him in to see God face to
face in heaven, that palace of inestimable pleasure
and delight, where the strongest beams of glory
shall beat fully upon our faces, and we shall be
made strong enough to bear them. Neither does
death do any real injury to our bodies, since they
shall be new moulded at the resurrection: when
"this mortal shall put on immortality, and this
corruptible put on incorruption:" when these dull
lumps shall become as impalpable as the angelic
nature, subtle as a ray of light, bright as the sun,
nimble as lightning.-Who is there that is truly
armed with this helmet of salvation, this hope of
heaven, who would for a moment desire to have
the law of death reversed? Surely a holy soul
may frequently be breathing forth desires (though
with due resignation) after the kind office of death,
to deliver it into so great and incomprehensible a
glory.
IV. I now proceed, in the fourth place, to draw
some inferences from what has been advanced.
1st. If death be so certain and unavoidable,
and it be "appointed unto men once to die," what
exquisite folly is it to sufer our affections to
cleave to any thing here below! How painful
must the parting be when we are drawn from our
25




290      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
dearest idols, from our chief joy! —How different
is the concluding scene of the pious and the unregenerate!  Angels are waiting to receive the
former, and to accompany them to their beloved
Bridegroom, their adorable Lord: whilst devils
are ready to seize upon the latter, and to bring
them to their place of torment.  Some of the
voluptuous heathens were accustomed to bring in
the resemblance of an anatomy to their feasts, in
order to remind their guests of their favourite
motto, " Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we
die:" let us indulge ourselves in every pleasure
of sense, since annihilation daily approaches, and
we shall then sink into an eternal sleep. How
much better is the advice of the apostle: "But
this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth,
that both they that have wives be as though they
had none; and they that weep, as though they wept
not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced
not; and they that buy, as though they possessed
not; and they that use this world, as not abusing
it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."*
Why should any thing this world can allure us
with, be of any price in a wise man's esteem?
Both they and we perish in the using: they are


* 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, 31.




FUN'ERAL SERMION.            291
dying comforts, and we must die who enjoy them
And, therefore,
2dly. As we must all shortly die, let us labour
to be always in readiness and preparation for the
awful hour. On this head of my discourse I shall
only lay down a few short directions, and then
proceed to the more immediate subject of our
meeting.
1. Wean your hearts from the love of the
world. Death must and will pluck you from it.
Why, then, should you toil, and waste your lives
on so precarious, so transitory an object? Every
thing below is fading; but your precious souls
are immortal. Be not, therefore, unequally yoked:
join not your ever-living souls to dying comforts:
this would be a tyranny worse than that which
was exercised by those of old, who tied living
bodies to dead carcasses.  When you take your
eternal farewell of all sublunary enjoyments, what
lingering looks will you cast on those dear nothings,
those miserable follies, which you clasped round
your heart, unless Almighty grace has wrenched
your affections from them: whilst the soul which
is crucified to the world, and the world to it,which sits loose to every thing below, spreads its
wings and takes its glad flight to realms where
bliss and love immortal reign.  Soon will the films
fall off firoL the eyes Gf worldlings. VWhen they




292      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
stand before the awful bar of God, with what astonishment will they behold the men whom they
once despised, shining as the stars of the firmament at the right hand of the Judge! " They
shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be
amazed at the strangeness of the salvation of the
righteous, so far beyond all which they looked
for; and repenting and groaning for anguish of
spirit, they shall say within themselves, These
were they whom we had sometimes in derision,
and a proverb of reproach. We fools accounted
their lives madness; and their end to be without
honour. Now are they numbered among the
children of God, and their lot is among the saints!"
And then will the final separation take place:
those who were here dead to the world, and walked
with God, shall ascend up to the marriage supper
of the Lamb, and be ever with their Lord, while
the others sink down into the place prepared for
the devil and his angels.
2. Would you be prepared for death, then delay
not your conversion (if you be unregenerate) for
another day. Get an interest in Christ as soon
as possible. By earnest prayer and active faith,
press into the liberty of the children of God. Remember him who has said, " Many shall seek to
enter in, and shall not be able."  It is not an
empty wish or languishing endeavour which will




FUNERAL SERMON.            293
serve the turn.  He that is but almost a Christian
shall but almost be saved. You must " strive to
enter in at the strait gate.'  To those who thus
knock, it shall certainly be opened. God delights
to bless the earnestly seeking soul.
3. Live every day as if it were your last, and
the next were allotted for eternity. It may be
so; and when we consider the importance of
eternal things, of the everlasting happiness of the
blessed, and the everlasting misery of the impenitent, it should lead us to leave nothing to the
hazard,-for there is no end of procrastination.
There will be the same tempting devil, and the
same treacherous heart to-morrow as to-day, only
made more treacherous by delay. Therefore, "now
is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
Now, while it is called to-day, harden not your
hearts." Do you think you can be happy too
soon? Or do you think that God will accept of
the dregs of your life, when you have given the
strength of it to vanity, folly, and the devil?
Begin, therefore, to live to God every day and
every hour.
4. You who are believers, be constant in the
exercise of a holy life. Let your fellowship be
with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. Labour to walk in the light, as God is in the light,
and the blood of Christ Jesus his Son shall cleanse
25 -



294        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
you from  all sin.  Walk as heirs of heaven, led
and moved by the Spirit of Christ in you.   Live
habitually by faith in the Son of God, who loved
you, and gave himself for you.   Be much in the
exercise of the presence of God; and he will
more and more smile upon you, and more and
more reveal himself to you. You shall be strong
in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and
shall overcome the wicked one: yea, you shall be
more than conquerors, through him that hath loved
you.
5. Lastly, Take care to preserve an abiding
witness of the favour of God.  Watch unto prayer
for this. There is nothing else will support you
in the dying hour; there is nothing else will
make you comfortable through life. To retain a
clear sense of your interest in Jesus Christ, a constant assurance of the love of God-O this will
turn the waste wilderness of the world into a little
paradise: it will enable you to triumph with the
poet:"Should [Providence] command me to the farthest verge
Of the green earth, to distant barb'rous climes,
'Tis naught to me:
Since God is ever present, ever felt,
In the void waste as in the city full;
And where he vital breathes there must be joy."
Above all, at the hour of death, what can sup.




FUNERAL SERMON.             295
port us but this mighty blessing; and it wil support the believer. For whom will it not comfort
to think that death will change his bottle into a
spring? Though here our water sometimes fails
us, yet, in heaven, where we are going, we shall
bathe ourselves in an infinite ocean of delights,
lying at the breasts of an infinite fountain of life
and sweetness.  Whoever has such an assurance,
cannot but welcome death, embracing it not only
with contentment, but delight; and while the soul
is struggling and striving to unclasp itself, and to
get loose from the body, it cannot but say, with
holy longings and pantings, " Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly."
V. I proceed, in the fifth and last place, to present you with an epitome of the experience, death,
and character of our deceased friend, Mrs. Hester
Ann Rogers.
She was born at Macclesfield, in Cheshire, on
the 31st of January, 1756-of which place her
father was minister for many years.   She was
trained up in the observance of all outward duties,
and in the fear of those sins, which, in these
modern times, are too often deemed accomplishments. She was followed by divine impressions
from her childhood, and was early-drawn out to
secret prayer. From four years old, she never remembered going to bed without saying her prayers,




296       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
except once.  When she wanted any thing, or
was in pain or grief, she fled to God in secret;
and it would be incredible to some, how often she
received manifest answers to prayer in that early
period of her life.
' In the ninth year of her age, her pious father
dying, her mother was prevailed on to let her learn
to dance, in order to raise her spirits and improve
her carriage.-This was a fatal stab to her divine
impressions: it paved the way to lightness, trifling,
love of pleasure, and various evils. As she soon
made a proficiency, she delighted much in this
ensnaring folly. Yet in all this she was not left
without keen convictions, gentle drawings, and
many short-lived good resolutions.
When she arrived at the age of fourteen, the
Lord visited her with affliction: during this illness she had an alarming dream, which, together
with the danger attending her disorder, made a
deep impression on her mind for some time.  But
alas! her health and strength were no sooner
restored, than (being solicited by her companions
in gay life) she again returned to her former follies, such as balls, plays, dress, assemblies, &c.,
the love of which continued to grow upon her
more and iore, for upwards of two years, and
nearly engrossed the whole of her time.
After this she was deeply wrought upon by a




FUNERAL SERMON.            297
sermon which the Rev. Mr. Simpson, of Macclesfield, preached on, " What shall it profit a man,
if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul;"
and soon after felt further convictions under
another which he preached upon the new birth,
from John iii, 3. She now saw and felt as she had
never done before, that she must experience that
divine change or perish.
In April, 1774, on the Sunday before Easter,
Mr. Simpson preached from John vi. 44, "No
man can come unto me, except the Father, which
hath sent me, draw him." Under this sermon
she felt herself indeed a lost, perishing sinner, a
rebel against repeated convictions, and a condemned criminal by the law of God, who deserved
to be sentenced to eternal pain! She felt she
had broken her baptismal vow, her sacramental
vows, and had no title to any mercy or any hope!
She wept aloud, so that all around her were
amazed; nor was she any longer ashamed to own
the cause. She went home, ran up stairs, and
fell on her knees, and made a solemn vow to renounce and forsake all her sinful pleasures and
trifling companions.
She could not eat or sleep, or take any comfort.  The curses throughout the whole Bible
seemed pointed all at her, and she could not claim
a single promise. Thus she continued till Good




298      MRS. IIE;T; AN    ROGERS.
Friday. After many conflicts she ventured once
more to approach the Lord's table.  As the minister was reading that sentence in the communion
service, " If any man sin, we have an Advocate,"
&c., a ray of divine light was darted into her soul,
and she was enabled to believe there was mercy
for her: she felt a degree of love to God spring
up in her heart, and in a measure could rejoice in
him. But alas I this was only for a short season!
She had never yet heard the Methodists, nor had
she lost all her prejudices against them; but a
neighbour who had lately found peace with God,
advised her strongly to hear them: she resolved
to go privately and went accordingly at five o'clock
one morning.  The text was, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." She thought
every word the preacher said was for her: he
spoke to her heart, as if he had known all the
secret.workings there.  She was much comforted,
her prejudices were now fully removed, and she
received a full and clear conviction, "these are
the people of God."
She met with a little pamphlet, entitled, " The
great duty of believing on the Son of God." She
was much encouraged on reading this; and would
gladly have spent the night in prayer; but her
mother (with whom she slept) would not suffer it.
She therefore went to bed, but could not sleep;




FUNERAL SERMON.            299
and at four in the morning rose again, that she
might wrestle with the Lord. She prayed, but it
seemed in vain! the heavens appeared as brass;
and hope seemed almost sunk into despair! When
suddenly the Lord spake that promise to her
heart: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
thou shalt be saved."  She revived, and cried,: Lord, I know this is thy word, and I can depend
upon it." Again it came, "Only believe." "Lord
Jesus," said she, "I will, I do believe: I now
venture my whole salvation upon thee as God!
I put my guilty soul into thy hands: thy blood is
sufficient 1 I cast my soul upon thee for time and
eternity." Then did he appear to her salvation:
in that moment her bands were loosed: her soul
was set at liberty; and the love of God so shed
abroad in her heart, that she rejoiced with joy unspeakable; and for eight months she experienced
no interruption to her bliss.
But now the Lord began to reveal in her heart,
that sin was not all destroyed; for though she
had constant victory over it, yet she felt the remains of anger, pride, self-will, and unbelief often
rising, which occasioned a degree of heaviness
and sorrow. At first she was much amazed to
feel such things.
About this time the Lord was pleased to make
the preaching of Mr. Duncan Wright a great




I00      MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
blessing to her. He clearly explained the nature
of salvation from inbred sin; and showed it to be
as freely promised in Scripture, and as fully purchased by the blood of Jesus, as pardon. Henceforth she could not rest, but cried to the Lord
night and day, to cast out the strong man, and all
his armour of unbelief and sin.
On the morning of February, 22, 1776, when
at prayer, her intercourse was open with her Beloved, and various promises were presented to her
view. She thought, shall I now ask small blessings
only of my God? Lord, make this the moment
of my full salvation! Baptize me now with the
Holy Ghost, and the fire of pure love. Now,
cleanse the thoughts of my heart, let me perfectly
love thee."
Thus she continued agonizing till the Lord applied that promise, " I will circumcise thy heart,
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart." She said, "Lord, thou art faithful,
and this is thy word: I cast my whole soul upon
thy promise. Now, Lord, I do believe, this moment thou dost save. Yea, Lord, my soul is delivered of her burden. I am emptied of all, I
am at thy feet, a helpless, worthless worm; but I
take hold of thee as my fulness! Every thing
that I want, thou art. Thou art wisdom, strength,
love, holiness: yea, and thou art mine! Love




FUNERAL SERMON.            oU
sinks me into nothing: it overflows my soul. O
my Jesus, thou art all in all. In thee I behold
and feel all the fulness of the Godhead mine!
I am now one with God:-the intercourse is
open:-sin, inbred sin, no longer hinders the
close communion, and God is all my own!"
She now walked in the unclouded light of his
countenance; and yet she did not feel so much
rapturous joy as,he had been led to expect; but
was rather, as it were, overwhelmed with that
" Sacc d awe, which dares not move,
And all the silent heaven of love."
She resolved at first not to declare openly what
the Lord had wrought; but it was seen in her
countenance: and when asked respecting it, she
durst not deny the wonders of his love! and she
soon found that repeating his goodness confirmed
her own faith more and more.
From this time we may clearly preceive the increase of her joy in God and her deep communion
with him, from her private diary, where she writes
as follows:
" On Trinity Sunday, June, 1776, I met in the
select society at six in the morning, and it was a
blessed season to my soul.
" Mr. Wright dwelt a little on the equal love
of each person in the adorable Trinity, in a manner which I found truly profitable: afterward he
26




302      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
preached from Ephes. ii. 18, "Through him we
both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."
He showed the distinct relative offices of Father,
Son, and Spirit, in man's salvation, and that the
love of the Father was ever equal; as also that
of the Son, and that of the Holy Ghost: that all
the designs of the Son were the designs of the
Father also, and of the Holy Ghost.  He also
spoke much of the near union and communion
with God, which believers might enjoy, especially
those perfected in love. My soul was led into
depths unspeakable, and saw such a fulness of
God ready for me to plunge into, that what I
now felt seemed only as a drop compared with the
ocean! As I came into the chapel yard, I felt
peculiar union with the adorable Jesus, in all his
offices of redeeming love; and that verse of a
hymn was so powerfttlly sweet as I had never felt
it before:' The opening heavens around me shine,
With beams of sacred bliss;
While Jesus shows his mercy mine,
And whispers I am his.'
"I was deeply penetrated with his presence,
and stood as if unable to move, and was insensible to all around me. While thus lost in communion with my Saviour, he spoke those words
to my heart, —' All that I have is thine! I am




FUNERAL SERMON.             303
Jesus, in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily-I am thine! —My Spirit is thine!My Father is thine!-They love thee, as I love
thee-the whole Deity is thine!-All God is and
all he has, is thine!-He even now overshadows
thee!-He now covers thee with a cloud of his
presence.' All this was so realized to my soul,
in a manner I cannot explain, that I sunk down
motionless, being unable to sustain the weight of
his glorious presence and fulness of love. At the
altar this was renewed to me, but not in so large
a measure.  I believe, indeed, if this had continued as I felt it before, but for one hour, mortality must have been dissolved, and the soul dislodged from its tenement of clay.
" Friday, 21.-I prove, through   boundless
mercy and free grace, an increasing intercourse
and communion with my God every day. I live
and move in him alone!-Wherever I go, whatever I do, I feel the presence of the great Three
One. — Yea, he dwelleth with me, and shall be
in me.' This is his promise to my soul. I feel I
am under his loving eye, and the continual guidance
of his Spirit.  I do, indeed, dwell in God, and
God in me! O love unsearchable to such a
worm?'I loathe myself when God I see,
And into nothing fall!'




304     IMRS. HESTER A:NN ROGERS.
" Sunday, 23.-In meeting with the select society again, I had unspeakable communion with the
blessed Trinity! I had the same at the preaching
also. Mr. Percival's text was, '0 God, thou art
my God.' A sense of the Divine presence almost
overcame my body. All the day I have been filled with a solemn weight of love, and swallowed
up in God the eternal Father, Saviour, Comforter.
At church, while that anthem was sung, 'I know
that my Redeemer liveth,' &c., I was so overwhelmed with the power of God, and had such a
foretaste of his glory, I thought I should have
died! O the depths of his indulgent, condescending love! He knows my trials, and the need I
have of such consolations to strengthen and support my weakness. I live by faith-this is my
soul's strong anchor, which lays hold on omnipotence, and receives a momentary supply for every
want.  My God is always near-he is my one object, the centre and end of all my desires. He
is my all in all."
After a wonderful chain of divine leadings and
remarkable providences, on August 19, 1784, she
was married to Mr. Rogers, in whom the Lord
gave her a helpmate for glory; just such a plartner
as she needed to strengthen her. tHe made them of
one heart and one soul-; and for above ten years
crowned their union with his constant smile.




FUNERAL SERMON.            305
Soon after their marriage they went to Dublin,
where Mr. Rogers was appointed to labour. In
that city they were gladly received, and the Lord
gave them the hearts of the people. They saw a
blessed revival of the work of God; and in three
years the number in the society was increased
more than double. From thence they removed
to Cork, where also the Lord graciously revived
his work. His word greatly prospered and prevailed; and many in that city still remember with
gratitude the happy seasons which they enjoyed
together.  And it appears from what our dear
friend wrote of herself when there, that she never
before was more happy in her own soul, nor enjoyed
deeper communion with her God than during her
stay in that city. After spending three years in
Cork, they removed to London; and for two years
resided in Mr. Wesley's house at the new chapel;
where they also had the happiness of seeing the
work of God prosper: many souls were brought
into Christian liberty; and in two years not less.than five hundred were added to the society, in the
city and suburbs. Here, indeed, it might be said,
" The walls of Jerusalem were built in troublesome times." The awful event of Mr. Wesley's
death, which happened during the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers at the City Road, rendered
26*




306      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
their situation exceeclingly critical and trying, as
many of you well know.
In August, 1792, the Conference stationed Mr.
Rogers here, (at Spitalfields,) in order to put this
chapel and the adjoining dwelling house into a
state of good repair, in which labour of love he
was truly indefatigable: you now reap the benefit,
and are thankful that you can here retire, and
worship God in peace. Notwithstanding the work
necessary to be done upon the premises was
great, yet, before the end of October, Mrs. Rogers
and the children were comfortably placed in their
new habitation; and a few days afterward she
wrote in her diary as follows:
" I feel grateful to my God that I am placed here,
though but for a season; where I can enjoy more
of retirement, and less of busy life.  My God is
with me, and I trust he will draw and unite more
fully to himself his helpless creature! I have
power with him in prayer, and I know he will
answer my enlarged requests, for myself, my other
self, and our offspring.  I long for a yet largermeasure of the mind of Christ; more of every
grace, and a deeper communion with my God.
All temptations respecting conflicts with Satan in.
death are vanished. I know my Joshua will be
with me in Jordan, and see me safe through!
Sometimes I have thought I shall have to pass




FUNERAL SERMnON.            307
that river before it be long; but that I leave to
him. I feel no desires of life, but when I see
my dear husband oppressed with trials, and my
living seems as if it would be a help and comfort
to him; or, when a silent wish arises, to see my
children grown, and partakers of regenerating
grace', but I am kept from anxiety."
During her state of pregnancy, she had much
bodily affliction, and was reduced very low.  The
state of her soul will best appear from her own
words; as also the narrow   escape from  death
which she then had, at the time of her delivery.
"January 1, 1793.-I had not much sleep,
yet I arose refreshed, and resolved to live for God
alone.  I feel him mine; and that I am offered
to him without reserve. I know various bodily
oppressions, natural to my present state, hinder
my rejoicing as much in him as at other times;
but my trust is fixed on his almighty love! and I
feel I cannot trust in vain.  He is my strong
helper; and my painful feelings do work for my
good, for they lead me to cast my helplessness
upon his fulness, and to-seek my all from him
alone.  Yes, and I trust to prove the utmost of
these sweet lines:
' I shall suffer and fulfil
All my Father's gracious will:
Be in all alike resign'd
Jesus' is a patient mind.'




308      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
" On April the 20th, I suffered much in labour
pains, and at night saw it needful to send for the
doctor. He came, and hoped I should soon be
delivered; but at midnight my pains left me. I
was tolerably easy all the next day; and enabled
in patience to wait the Lord's leisure. I slept
better that night than I had done for some weeks,
and was greatly refreshed. In the morning lingering labour came on again; and the pain was so
excruciating and constant, (though unavailable,)
that I thought I must have expired! Having
continued in this state about six hours, my labour
came on with uncommon violence and rapidity,
so that in a few minutes I was mercifully delivered
of a lovely girl. But! it was nature's agony
indeed! For a little time gratitude unspeakable
overflowed my heart, and body and soul experienced
a heaven.-But this was soon passed, and I was
thrown back upon the verge of eternity.  Mr.
Jones laboured to save me till the sweat ran down
his temples for three hours; and for twelve hours
I was between life and death! I felt, however, no
fears of dying; and all within was peace. When
capable of thought, I could view a blessed eternity
with delight. I recovered very slowly, and at
times suffered much; but the Lord continued to
comfort my soul; and though few thought I
should be restored, yet I believed I should. My




FUNERAL SERMON.


309


dear husband suffered much on my account, and
I believe his tenderness greatly contributed to my
recovery.
" The Leeds Conference drawing near, my dear
partner left me on July 21, and in the night after,
my Hester was seized with a malignant fever.
The weather was uncommonly hot; and what my
fatigue and weakness were, my God only knows!
But he held me up that I did not sink; and my
soul was happy in his love. In this time of affliction I had peculiar intercourse with God in
prayer, both with the family and in secret; and
I received manifest answers. On the seventh day
the fever came to a crisis-my child was quite
delirious, and very ill indeed; but I felt fully resigned to the will of God respecting her life or
death? About nine in the evening, her piercing
cries through agonizing pain in her head, were
very pitiable; and I entreated the Lord, in the
prayer of faith, to give her ease.  He heard-he
answered! The pain was instantaneously removed,
and she fell into a slumber; but it soon appeared
to be the sleep of death  1 Her feet, legs and
hands were cold, her nails blue, and she was motionless till a little past four in the morning.
Just then: a blister which I had put on her back
began to rise, and signs of life appeared: by degrees warnmth returned to her arms, hands, and




310       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
feet, then motion, and lastly speech. After this,
a mighty change appeared: her fever was gone,
and the next day she sat up some hours, and continued to recover in a most wonderful manner.
What cannot the Lord do?    Upon the whole,
when I look back, I can only wonder and adore!
repeating with the poet,
I stand and admire thy outstretch'd arm,
Having walk'd through the fire, and suffered no harm.
" Out of weakness surely I have been made
strong, both as it respects body and soul.-What
a feeble frame! Yet, how am I strengthened of
the Lord, to bear fatigue, loss of rest, and painful
sensations! How helpless and unworthy; yet
comforted in my God-strengthened to do his will,
to offer up my child, and with entire resignation
to say, 'It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth
him good!' How sweet also my prospects into a
glorious eternity! and when weakest, no gloomy
fears of entering those abodes;-but the blessed
testimony, that where Jesus is, (' My Lord and
my God!') there shall his servant be, and shall
see his face-'his Godhead withouta veil, wrapped up in Father, Son, and Spirit, forevermore."'
Upon leaving London, she writes as follows:"Sunday, Sept. 1.-I heard Mr. Rogers at the
new chapel in the morning, and had a blessed season.  He also preached at Spitalfields in the




FUNERAL SERMON.             311
evening, from, 'Finally, brethren, farewell.' The
singers at both places took leave by hymns adapted
for the purpose, very sweet and affecting.  A
mixture of love and friendly grief, together with
deep gratitude to God, filled my soul. Lord, remember this dear people with tenfold blessings!
on the two following days the simple-hearted affection, shown by very many of God's dear children,
affected me much. I saw my dear and only brother on Tuesday evening. I felt much at parting.
I think we shall not meet again on earth. After
this, I called upon our valuable friends, Tooth,
Whitfield, Jones, and several others; and then
hastened to meet my dear husband at our kind
friend's Mr. Senols, where we supped. O thou
God of Love, preserve these until we meet them
all again, where pain and parting are no more!
On Wednesday we dined at Mr. Ball's, and then
hastened in a coach, with our children, to Mr. T.
Shakspeares', in Smithfield. It was Bartholomew's
fair; and such a scene, or rather manifold scenes
of folly, my eyes never beheld, as were exhibited
where once dying martyrs for Jesus offered up
their latest breath! With difficulty, but, thank
God, with safety, we got through. I found my
body very weak, and expected to faint; but I had
not been long in the coach before I was better.
Through much mercy we arrived next day at Bir



312       MRS. iESTER ANN ROGERS.
mingham, where our friends received us kindly.
On the ensuing Sabbath Mr. Rogers preached
from 'I determined not to know any thing among
you, save Jesus christ, and him crucified.' The
word was with power, and my soul was greatly
comfolrted."
It was thought a change of air and situation
would le useful to our dear friend, and have been
a    m I;os, under Godof strengthening her delicate
constitution; but an obstinate windy complaint,
with which she was attacked near three years before her dissolution, baffled all human skill, and
repelled the force of every medicine, and never left
her till the day of her death.  During the last
three or four months of her life, out of various
other things, the following are extracted:"Since I came to Birmingham   the Lord has
been very present with me: I have indeed been
fed with the hidden manna of his love! I have
been peculiarly drawn out in prayer for the conversion of souls; and notwithstanding the enemy has
laboured by various means to hinder this, yet the
Lord hath given me to rejoice also herein. I
feel ^ Xy -nl animated to praise my great Source
of bliss: may all I have, and all I am, be his
devoted sacrifice forever, I feel it good to live
by faith: it brings deep peace and present power.
I never can watch so well as when I thus momen



FUNERAL SERMON.           313
tarily believe. I have of late felt very poorly in
body; and have had a degree of dulness hanging
on my spirit; but I fly to the Lord-I wrestle
with him for its removal: and I ever find he is a
present God when I call upon him. And 0, how
he opens his heaven of love afresh in my soul, by
giving me unspeakable views of what my Jesus
suffered in the body for me! and the love and
sympathy he still feels to every suffering member.
I have felt of late a deepening of the graces of
faith, resignation, and entire dependence on my
God. And 0, how good is the Lord, that he
should thus prepare me for what he knew would
touch me in the tenderest part!
"After a very restless night, my dear Patty
broke out very full of the small pox; and for a fortnight I had much exercise for faith and patience.
But this was very little to what I felt on the return of my dearest husband from Barr, where (on
May 19, 1793) he had a kind of apoplectic fit.
He fell down as sudden as if he had been shotand still continues very unwell.  Yet in secret
prayer, the Lord assured me he should not die,
but live! 0, what should I do at a time like this,
if I had not a constant intercourse with my God?
But blessed be his dear name, I have access to him.
He is indeed my refuge and strength, a very pre27




314       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
sent help in trouble; and fills my soul with strong
consolation.
"July 15, 1794.-For some time I have felt a
desire, if the Lord saw good, to accompany my
dear husband to the Bristol Conference. It would
be a gratification to see the dear children; but
much more do I desire to go on account of my
dear partner's health, who has not yet recovered
his late awful attack. I was in suspense, however,
until this day, whether I could go or not; but
now I see an opening in providence; and although
there is a hazard with respect to myself in taking
such a journey in my present state, yet the Lord
assures me he will preserve my going out and my
coming in; and greatly comforts my soul. On
Tuesday, 22, we set off at four in the morning,
with Mr. Pawson, and as many more of the
preachers as the coach could contain. We had a
comfortable journey. I felt the Lord truly with
me, and my body was in a wonderful manner
strengthened; so that I was astonished to feel no
more fatigued when, about ten o'clock, we arrived
at our kind friend's, Mr. Hartland.  We had
also a refreshing sleep, and arose, both of us, in
better health than when we left home. May I
deeply feel my many mercies as so many various
pledges of my Father's love! We found our three
sweet boys, thank God, all in health, and over



FUNERAL SERMON.             315
joyed at seeing us. Joseph is making swift progress in the printing business, and likely to make
an excellent workman. Benjamin is approved by
his master, beloved by his school-fellows, and,
above all, I trust he truly fears God.  My James
is very childish, (he is but eight years old,) yet I
think I see in him the dawnings of a noble spirit,
which, if governed by grace, will one day give us
comfort in him also, and make him a blessing to
thousands.
"After different scenes of manifold consolations
during the time of conference, on August 10, we
arose before three o'clock in the morning, and set
off at four, on our journey home. Our friends
were very affectionate, and our dear children also
got up to see us set off, and we left them all well,
though sorrowful to part. I claimed my Lord's
promise to preserve me in coming in, as in going
out; and I proved him faithful.  He did wonderfully strengthen my poor body, and sustain my
soul with his heartfelt presence. We arrived safe
in our habitation by nine in the evening, and
found the three children we had left, all well.
And though I felt inexpressibly weary, yet, to be
brought safe in so critical a situation, (not two
months from   the time of my expected cofinement,) filled my soul with unspeakable gratitude."
During. the few remaining weeks of her life,




316      MRS. IESTER ANN ROGERS.
she continued to breathe the following sweet language of a saint truly ripe for God:"Monday, Sept. 1. —I had a good day: my
intercourse with heaven is truly open, and my
soul stayed upon my God. Tuesday, 2, was a
blessed day of nerness to God. His word was
precious food;, and I found my heart enlarged in
praise and love. Wednesday, 3, was also a day
of inward comfort, though of bodily weakness.
I had a precious time in meeting my class. And
although the poor sinners were baiting a bull by
the window, I believe all, as well as myself, so
felt the Divine presence, as not to be disturbed
by the rabble. Thursday, 4, I had much cramp
and little sleep in the night, which in some degree
has weakened the animal frame; but I feel peace
i n my God. Friday, 5.-I believe in answer to
prayer, I had refreshing sleep, and was better in
body this day, and my soul comforted in my God."
Thus she goes on from day to day, expressing the
same unshaken confidence and comfort in her God,
even until she could write and speak no more!
The last words she was able to write in her journal are these:-" My body is very poorly, and
has been so most of the week. O! what a clog
to the spirit! Yet I am kept in a praying, depending, resigned frame, determined to trust my
God with my all."




FUNERAL SERMOW.             31
On the 10th of October, 1794, the expected
time of her travail being corme she was in great
pain most of the day, and about eight o'clock in
the evening she was delivered of a fine boy. She
was not a little disturbed by her inveterate windy
disorder during her labour, but after her delivery
she seemed much relieved.  She lay composed for
more than half an hour, with heaven in her countenance, praising God for his great inercy, and
expressing her gratitude to all around her. She
took Mr. Rogers by the hand, and said, " My
dear, the Lord has been very kind to us: 0, he is
good, indeed he is good! But I'll tell you more
by and by."  She thanked the doctor,,and told
himn she would remember his kindness and attention another day, and expressed her entire satisfaction in all he had done. But, alas! in a few
minutes after this, her terrible complaint returned
with redoubled violence, and instantly threw her
whole frame into a state of agitation not to be
described.  A medicine just then arrived from
the doctor, which she took; but all in vain. After
a severe struggle for about fifteen minutes, bathed
all over with a clammy, cold sweat, she laid her
head on her husband's bosom, and said, "I am
going."  Mr. Rogers, recovering a little from the
dreadful feelings he had experienced, found a desire to propose a question or two to his dear wife,
27*




318       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
relative to the state of her soul, not for his own
satisfaction, for (as he observed to me) he could as
soon call in question the truth of revelation, and
of all religious experience from the beginning, as
doubt of her eternal happiness; but he did this
that God might be glorified, as in her life, so by
her death.   In the presence of many of her
friends who were standing by he said to her, "My
dearest creature, is Jesus precious?" She replied,
" Yes, O yes, yes."   He added, "My dearest
love, I know Jesus Christ has long been your all
in all, can you now tell us he is so?" She replied, " I can-he is-yes-but I am not able to
speak."   He again said, "0, my dearest, it is
enough."   She then attempted to lift up her face
to his, and kissed him with her quivering lips
and latest breath. About ten o'clock (two hours
after her delivery) she gently fell asleep in Jesus,
in the thirty-ninth year of her age, leaving her
inanimate clay in her dearest husband's arms,
and seven children to lament their unspeakable
loss.
Thus lived, and thus died one of the best of
women. Almost every thing that is good may be
said of her, if she be viewed as a daughter, a wife,
a mother, a friend, a private Christian, or as a public person; particularly as a leader of classes and
bands, in the Methodist society. Almighty grace,




FUNERAL SERMON.             319
to which alone be ascribed all the glory, got to
itself indeed a victory in this amiable woman.
Her filial duty is hardly to be exceeded. Whilst
she indulged herself in those pleasures which the
world calls innocent, but which the children of
God in all ages have known to be inconsistent
with vital religion, she enjoyed the smiles of her
mother, and of a flattering world. But no sooner
did she become a confessor of Christ, but the
clouds of persecution lowered, and afterward fell
down upon her with great severity. Her mother
not only confined her for a considerable time, but
at last gave her the alternative of leaving her
house, or of becoming her proper servant. She
preferred the latter; and, though brought up in
the most delicate manner, and of a very respectable family, she submitted to the degradation, and
for several months went through all the most menial offices with a patience and meekness not to be
shaken. Her mother finding her incorrigibly pious
and steady to her God, (enthusiastic as her mother
would have termed it,) for the sake of her own
honour, raised her again from the ashes to the
state of a child. But all this time Miss Roe discovered nothing but the height of filial affection;
and continued so to do in every instance till her
mother's death.
Her conjugal affection was equally great and




320


IMRS. HEST:ER ANN ROGERS.


steady; and indeed (as mnay be observed from what
has been already said) MIr. Rogers stood in need
of such a helpmeet for him.   When he was stationed in London as the assistant preacher, his
steady attachment to the Methodist discipline
raised up many powerful and bitter enemies against
him.   His sufferings were inexpressible, and his
constitution very much impaired thereby; though
at the same time it must be observed, that a unanimous vote of thanks was granted him by the
Methodist Conference, for his exertions and his
immovable patience and fortitude in defence of
Methodism.   Mrs. Rogers was, to my knowledge,
during those three years of severe trial, his support indeed.  More true conjugal love could not,
I think, be manifested by a wife to her husband,
than was by her, both at that time, and, I verily
believe, upon all occasions.  It seems probable,
that she had received some secret intimations of
her death, before she was taken in labour, which
appears to be proved by a copy of verses which
were found among some of her choice papers a
little after her death. Those glowing effusions,
which may be expected to flow from the heart of a
most affectionate wife, are so evidently displayed
in these lines, that I transcribe the whole:
"My hour is come, and angels round me wait,
To take me to their glorious happy state:




FUNERAL SERMON.


321


Where, free from sickness, death, and every pain,
I shall with God in endless pleasures reign.
"Transporting thought! Thou dearest man, adieu!
I feel no sorrow but in leaving you:
0 thou, my comfort, thought, and only care,
In these last words thy kindness Ill declare.
In truth, in constancy, in faithful love,
Few could you equal, none superior prove:
Compell'd by frequent sickness to complain,
You strove to lessen and t' assuage my pain.
"A tender care you never fail'd to show,
A constant sharer in my present wo.
"More I would say, my gratitude to own,
But breath forsakes me, and my pulse is gone:
Adieu, dear man!            0 spare
This flood of grief, and of thy health take care.
"My blessing to my babes: thou wilt be kind
JTo the dear infants whom I leave behind:
Train them to virtue, piety and truth,
And form their manners early in their youth.
"Farewell to all who now on me attend,
The faithful servant, and the weeping friend:
The time is short till we shall meet again,
With Christ, to share the glories of his reign."
Her maternal care and affection shone equally
bright. Though she devoted much of her time to
religious duties in public and private, yet nothing
seemed to be left undone which could make her
children comfortable and happy. She even pre.




322       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
vented all their wants; and was equally, nay, if
it were possible, more, attentive to Mr. Rogers's
children by his former wife than to her own. To
the whole of them she delighted to give " precept
upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line,
line upon line, here a little and there a little!"
watering the whole of her labours upon them with
many tears, and daily fervent prayers.
As a friend, she was faithful, and immovable in
her attachments: nothing but her friends forsaking God, could induce her to abate her love for
them.  She was formed for society, and possessed
the most delicate feelings which could arise from
the social principle. And when some of her dearest
intimates treated her with neglect, on account of
some disputes in the connection which they had
nothing to do with, she could still weep, and love,
and pray for them, not as unworthy of her friendship, or of the favour of God, but as led away
from her by misinformation and error of understanding, and perhaps also by some deviations from
the perfect love of God.
But her forte, her greatest excellence, consisted
in the enjoyment of her God. A very considerable part of her life evidenced, that salvation from
sin, and salvation from sufferings, are very different things.  Her firm patience under deep afflictions has been rarely, if ever, exceeded.  Her




FUNERAL SERMON.             323
conduct in the hour of nature's sorrow, in every
instance, astonished all who were near her; and
her sufferings on those occasions were very exquisite. Her animal spirits were astonishingly good
at all times. She hardly ever in her life was in
what is generally termed low spirits. She was
ever cheerful, never light; and always ready to
lift up the hands of her husband, and her friends,
and to encourage their hearts.  She enjoyed for
many years that glorious blessing, which St. John
in the fourth chapter of his first epistle speaks of,
as his own experience and that of many of whom
he was writing-that " perfect love of God, which
casteth out all fear that hath torment." In short,
she walked with God, she lived in the blaze of
gospel day, and Christ was her all in all.
And as a public person she was useful in a high
degree. She never, indeed, assumed the authority
of teaching in the church; but she visited the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and delighted to pour out her soul in prayer for them.
Very many dying persons entered into the liberty
of God's children, under her prayers and exhortations; for she possessed a peculiar gift in bringing
a present salvation home to the soul. The profit
received in Macclesfield from her holy conversation, for years before she married, induced pious
and mourning souls to visit her; and a very con



824       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
siderable part of her time was daily spent in answering cases of conscience, spreading forth the
loveliness and excellences of Christ to penitents,
and in building up believers in their most holy
faith. She then was a leader of classes and bands,
and a mother in Israel to the young believers intrusted to her care.  After her marriage she still
became more extensively useful.  Mr. Rogers, on
his entering into a circuit, would only give a few
to her care, desiring her to complete the class out
of the world; and soon, by her conversation and
prayers, and attention to every soul within her
reach, would the number spring up to thirty or
forty; and then her almost cruel husband, in this
respect, for the glory of God, would transplant all
the believers to other classes, and keep her thus
continually working at the mine. In the city of
Dublin only, Mr. Rogers himself confesses, some
hundreds of those whom he received into society,
were brought to Christ, or were awakened, by her
gentle, but incessant labours of love. In Cork
also, and in London, a similar success attended her
pious exertions. Thus did the Lord mould this
blessed woman into his image, as the potter does his
clay, and use her for his glory, as the ready writer
does his pen, until she had served him in her generation, and he said unto her, It is enough, come rp
higher.  Go, AND DO THOU LIKEWISE



APPENDIX TO THE FUNERAL SERMON FOR
MRS. ROGERS.
BY HER HIUSBAND.
As this tremendous stroke of Divine Providence #
has wounded me in the tenderest nerve, I hope any
irregularity of thought, or impropriety of expression,
however censurable on other occasions, will be par
doned by the candid reader in the present instance
-especially as he will perceive, in the preceding
sermon, that mine is more than a common loss.
The valuable pamphlet lately published by my
dear companion, which contains a clear account
of her experience from her childhood, supersedes
many remarkable occurrences which should otherwise have followed in this supplement; and, as
that little performance either is or may be, in the
possession of any fri@  who desires it, I am unwilling to say the same things, which are ranged
there in a better manner than I feel adequate to,
under my present circumstances. If what follows
is made useful to any of my friends, the return I
desire is a constant interest in their sympathetic
prayers, that I may be supported under my irre28             325




326       SIRS. IIESTER ANN ROGE1'S.
parable loss, and enabled to conduct myself in all
things, during this most awful, trying scene, not
like a stoic, but as a Christian.
In my dear companion, I have certainly lost
one of the best helpmates man was ever united to.
Her feeling sympathy and faithful love were,
I believe, seldom  equalled and never exceeded!
With hers, my soul still feels, as it were, entwined,
and interwoven.  She was (under God) the centre
and constant spring of all my domestic happiness.
In her I have not only lost one of the most valuable and faithful wives; but my dear children at
the same time are bereft of a most tender and
affectionate parent, who always had their interest
and happiness at heart.
But, what iS incomparably more afflictive still
to me, I have lost, in her, my best help in spiritual things. She always gave me uncommon assistance in my labours, and greatly soothed all my
cares and anxieties for the church's weal or wo.
She was ever my coiorteri   the time of sorrow.
The evenness of her temp   nd the cheerfulness
of her disposition, both in sickness and in health,
were wonderful! I never saw, for one moment,
any thing like gloom in her countenance; neither
lo I remember one trifling word ever to drop from
her lips; but, on the contrary, she was always
ready for spiritual conversation; and no company




I
APIPENDIX TO t 'NI:Ri L SERMON.    327
pained her mind equal to that where religious subjects were tupleasing or impracticable.  Witness
her own words soon after our arrival in Dublin:
" Mrs.-    invited us to dinner, where we met
with much gay company. Dr. - took up the
attention of the whole, with his trifling, ridiculous
conversation, so that it was a very unprofitable
season; and I cried to the Lord in my spirit, that we
might have no more such visits as these!"-And;
thank God, we had no more such while we continued in that city; but, on the contrary, ouI
visits in general, were serious, spiritual, and profit.
able, so that some time afterward she remarks:
^      "We dined with Mr. S-, and IMr. Henry
crook was with us. HIe apjfEto be a nan of
deep piety, and the conversat    as profiable.
Blessed be God, all our visits since the first, have
been more to his glory.  My soul feels mud
nearness to the people, and a sweet assurance we
shall be blessed qong them, and made a blessing
-0, for a heart-reviving shower of grace, and
pentecostal blessings!  The Lord I know sent us
here, and surely it is for the good of souls.-My
God let this be promoted, and thou shalt have the
endless praise!"
Such was our union of soul and sentiment, that
the secrets of our hearts were always open to each
other.  And it was no small consolation to me,




q
328      MRS. HESTER A;i' ROGERS.
that I had one upon earth c3 dear to God, who
both knew and approved of all tble motives from
which I acted in public, as well as in private life.
Hence it was, that from a conviction of her dlty
to God, she was ever ready to resist the unkindc
ness of my opponents, and warn me against 'he
craftiness of pretended friends; and her penetration herein was astonishing; so that I do not remember I ever relied upon her judgment, or acted
by her advice, but I found it good.
As to her literary abilities, they were rather
out of the common way.     She had a critical
knowledge of the English tongue! and her application to reading from her infancy made her capa-p
ble of conversi  nn almost any subject, whethe
of an histori'  hilosophical, or theological nature.
With respect to the labours of her pen, she was
of all I ever knew among her sex, the most assiduous. Writing seemed to bedpr peculiar talent;
and she took great delight therein, even from her
childhood.  And yet, she never on that account,
or, indeed, on any other, once neglected any part of
her domestic duty. She might be truly said to
husband her time in order to improve this talent.
While I was absent an hour one morning breakfasting with a friend,-(and although she was prevented by sickness from accompanying me,) upon my




APPENDIX 1.C FUNERAL SERaON.           329R
return she with her usual smile, presented mise with
the following acrostic upon our marriage union: —
':J esus, the source supreme of our delight,
A nd soul of all our joys, of all our might,
M sde us of twain inseparably one,
Il 7er to love as he hath loved his own:
S o may we love-as Jesus loves his bride,
A nd nothing shall his love from her divide:
N othing made twain the souls whom God hath joined;
D eath only leaves mortality behind.
H eaven shall complete our union here begun,
E ndless as vast eternal circles run.
S ay, shall not then thy spirit join with mine,
T o praise the wonders of the plan divine?
E ach vie with other, which shall swiftest move,
^..t eady to strike afresh our harps above,
A nd bless the Saviour, through whose love we love!
N o hand but thine, dear.Jesus, mark'd the road,
N o wisdom, love, or power, but that of God.
IR esolved to bless-He to each other gave,
0 h, that through life-His utmost power to save,
G race upon grace, our happy souls may prove,
E nwrapp'd, implunged, and swallow'd up in love:
R eady to clap the wing-His call obey,
S oar up together-Love in endless day!"
My dear partner never considered herself a poet,? and rarely   attempted   any thing of the kind;
nevertheless, these lines will show she was not
entirely without this talent also.
Some of her letters with a few other productions
in prose, have appeared in print; but these are
28 -



330       nRS. IESTER ANN ROGErS.
very small compared with ihe numerous manup       scripts she has left.  Be.ides the vast quantity
of letters which she wrote to her pious correspondents, she kept a diary of her life, from the time
of her conversion to God, (which was in the
seventeenth year of her age,) till within a few
days of her death. So that I am favoured wi.h;
I believe, not less than three thousand quarto pages,
all written by her own hand; and every page
clearly discovers that, for the space of more than
twenty years, she enjoyed constant fellowship and
w communion with a Triune God; and that she
never forsook her first love, nor lost a sense of the
Divine favour, from the day of her conversion to
the hour of her death! None but those who live
in the same spirit can properly conceive the degree
of intimacy which subsisted between her and her
God. That the reader may be excited to press
after the same enjoyment, I will here give him a
small specimen of the almost uninterrupted language of her heart and pen.
" I was so happy in the night, that I had very
little sleep, and I awoke with these words, 'The
temple of an indwelling God!' My soul sunk
into depths of nothingness, and enjoys closer
anion with him this day than ever before. Every
moment I feel such a weight of love, as almost
overpowers the faculties of nature! I know I




APPENDIX 1'0 FUNERAL SERLMON.     831
could bear no more and live; but I often feel
ready to cry, O, give me more and let me die!-I
long to be freed from the earth! But help me,
Lord, to wait resigned, willing to suffer or do for
thac. I need not lay this body down to feel thy
pr- snce! Thou dwellest in my heart, and shalt
foio7cr dwell! Thou art my present heaven, my
soul's eternal all.
"I went to bed last night so full of the love of
God, I could not sleep for several hours; but
continued in secret intercourse with my Saviour.
At preaching this morning I was so overcome
with the love and presence and exceeding glory
of my Triune God, that I sunk down unable to
support it! I was long before I could stand or
speak! All this day I have been lost in depth
of love unutterable.  At the love-feast I was
again overwhelmed with his immediate presence!
All around me is God!
'Within his circling arms I lie,
Beset on every side!'"
Some time after this she writes,
"As I came from meeting, I was so overpowered
by the presence of God, that, had not a friend
supported me, I could not have walked home! I
was lost in the depths of love, and admitted, as it
were, into the immediate presence of my Lord's
glory! Yet I cannot explain it, for I saw no
I




382 y z    IMRS. IE IatE JTl 'uGLS
manner of similitude; and was humbled into thr
dust before him! It is often impressed on my
mind, the Lord is preparing me for some close
trial. My whole soul cries out, Thy will be don,;Only let thy grace be sufficient for me.
'Unsustain'd by thee, I fall;
Send the help for which I call:
Weaker than a bruised reed,
Help I every moment need!'
"Yes,-but,
'I all thy power shall prove:Thy nature and thy name is love.'
"Blessed be God, I feel this day an increase
of holy nearness to him, and fellowship with him.
At the prayer-meeting my body was quite overcome for half an hour together, so did my Lord
unfold his fulness of love to my ravished soul. I
seemed as in the presence of his glory, confounded
and overwhelmed with a sense of his purity and
his justice, his grace and love, and.was constrained
to lie at his feet, in speechless adoration, and
humblest praise; while my body was covered with
a cold sweat, and all around thought I was dying!
Well mightest thou say, 0 most adorable Jehovah,
'No man can see my face and live!' For, when
thou displayest only one faint ray, one glimpse of
thy glorious presence, this frail tabernacle is ready
to crumble into dust before thee!-But, O, I shall
e..




APPENDIX To i'UNERAL SERMON.      333
one day be capable of beholding thee, faice tc
face! These eyes shall see thy glory! and gaze
for ever in ecstatic bliss! Now, this corruptible
clay cannot support itself under the weight of thy
love; but then it shall have put on incorruption,
and be able to enjoy the full and eternal fruition
of thy glory.
"' Mr. P. preached from, 'The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.'
Before he had spoken ten minutes, I was filled with
the Triune God, and sunk motionless under an exceeding great weight of love! My outward senses
were locked up; but my spirit seemed surrounded
with glory inexpressible! I beheld Jesus, and
was, as it were, overshadowed, and weighed down
by the presence and exceeding glory of the whole
Deity: I knew not where I was, or whether in the
body! But all was unutterable bliss and glory.
After I came to myself, I continued full of the
divine presence, and a weight of love, such as
enfeebled my whole frame. For many days and
nights I could eat little, and had seldom more
than an hour's sleep in twenty-four.
" Afterward, I passed through scenes of close
trial, (for which the Lord had thus been graciously
preparing me,) and, for a season, had not those
peculiar manifestations; but his grace was suffi



334       MIRS. HES'TER ANN ROGERS.
cient, and he brought me through waves, and
clouds, and storms unhurt! To him be glory for
ever and ever."
As the quotations in the preceding sermon are
chiefly taken from my companion's later manuscripts, I have transcribed these from what she
wrote at an earlier period, which, when compared
together, show, that as she begun so she finished
her happy course!   And although (as she observes) her ecstatic joy was sometimes checked by
various trials, yet the same ground for rejoicing
continued: viz. faith, and a pure conscience. And,
besides the testimony of her own papers, I am witness that many times I have seen her as happy
in God as she could well be, and exist below, so
that I have been even afraid it would prove too
much for the earthen vessel to bear!
She had a singular taste for reading, from her
youth. In her unawakened state, her delight was
in the perusal of entertaining novels and romances; and when a well-written history fell in
her way, she thought little of reading three or
four hundred octavo pages in a day, till she got
through it; which she did with this advantage,
that she generally made the substance of it her
own. But since her acquaintance with vital religion, Rollin's Ancient History was her chief
favourite, as she said she found most of God in




APPENDIX TO FUNELRAL SERMON.      335
it; and because it clearly illustrated the prophecies, and confirmed the truth of revelation.
But, of late years, (though she still read different authors at convenient opportunities,) the
Bible was her chief study, and in it she took uncommon delight.  Our usual rule was, to read one
chapter every morning as a part of family worship; but for some time before the Lord took my
dearest partner, we agreed to read three: one out of
the Old Testament in the morning, one out of the
Gospel at noon, and one. at night out of the Acts
or some of the Epistles. And, besides these, when
unable to attend upon the public ministry of the
word, she would call the servant to read by her,
when even sickness and pain forbade her doing it
herself.  And, at intervals, when her strength
would allow it, she often made remarks, and drew
practical inferences as they went on.
In our course of reading to the family one
morning, about three weeks before the time of her
delivery, when we came to these words, in Gen.
xxxv. 17-20, I perceived a silent tear stealing
down her cheek. The passage referred to reads
thus: " And it came to pass when she was in hard
labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not:
thou shalt have this son also. And it came to
pass as her soul was departing (for she died) that
she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called




336      AIRpS. HET-HTvRi:. A';N i1OCGERS.
him Benjamin.   Anld llaciel died, and was buried
in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And
Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day."  Some time
after this, in my absence, she desired the maid to
read to her again the same chapter, which considerably affected her. Yet I could not then learn that
she had the least presentiment of her death, any
more than what is common to women in similar
circumstances. But indeed it was a subject which
neither of us could bear to enter into the spirit of.
And, therefore, if at any time it was impressed
upon our minds, we endeavoured to put it away.
When alone, she often read the Bible kneeling:
on which occasion, we frequently find her breaking forth in language of this sort: " Reading the
word of God in private this day was an unspeakable blessing. 0, how precious are the promises
What a depth in these words: ' For all the promises
of God in him are yea, and in him, amen, unto
the glory of God.' Yes, my soul, they are so to
thee! The Father delights to fulfil and the Spirit
to seal them on my heart. 0, that dear invaluable
truth!
'Ready art thou to receive:
Readier is thy God to give.'
" The Lord poured his love abundantly into my
soul while worshipping before him; and I was ena.




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERM.ON.      337
lDed to renew my covenant, to be wlholly and forever his! 0, how precious are his ways to my
soul, suited to my weakness, worthy of a God! I
am nothing! He is all. I momentarily live upon
his smiles, and dwell under the shadow of his
wings: I desire nothing but to please him, to grow
in inward conformity'to his will, and sink deeper
into humble love-to let the light of what his
grace hath bestowed shine on all around, and to
live and die proclaiming, God is love."
I think myself bound, in justice to her amiable
character, here to remark, that notwithstanding
the tenderness of her affection for me, and the
great sensibility of her feelings at my leaving her,
(which I had often done when she was sick, and
in pain,) yet she never, to my knowledge, once attempted to prevent me from going on my Lord's
errand.  No: she knew the importance of the
message too well to do that. As to her own usefulness in the church of God, it will best appear
when the light of eternity discovers it: in IMaeclesfield, Dublin, Cork, and London, her name will
be precious to her numerous and kind fiends, (and
especially to the children of her faith and prayers,)
while memory lasts; and, I believe, numbers of
these will bless God in an eternal world, that they
ever saw her face. Perhaps some may be found
even in Birmingham, where she closed her useful,
29




338       MRS. TIESTERP ANN ROGERS.
happy life, to whom  the name of Mrs. Rogers
will long be precious
And yet, notwithstanding her extraordinary
zeal for God and the salvation of souls, her good
sense, joined with that Christian modesty ever
becoming her sex, taught her as to the manner
how to proceed in saving souls from death.  The
sphere in which she moved was, to visit the sick;
to teach her own sex in private; and to pray,
whenever providentially called upon, whether in
public or private.  And to her might be applied
that scripture: " Whosoever hath, (or uses what
he hath,) to him shall be given, and he shall have
more abundantly." The divine unction attending
her prayer, added to the manner in which she
pleaded with God for instantaneous blessings, was
very extraordinary, and generally felt by all present. A conviction from God, that she ought to
use this talent, constrained her even to hold
meetings in her neighbours' houses for the purpose of praying with the distressed in soul, and
with as many more as chose to attend.
During our stay in Dublin, she met weekly three
women's classes, consisting of about thirty members each, in all ninety, to whom she was called to
speak individually, besides the many occasional
conversations she had with others about the state
of their souls. At Cork she met two large classes,




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.         339
mostly new members, to whom she had been useful, and was indeed the chief instrument in bringing them into the society, as was also the case
with very many of those she met in Dublin.
In London, although called to the charge of Mr.
Wesley's family in addition to her own, she at
once filled the place of housekeeper at the City
Road, (in which station she acquitted herself with
honour for two years,) and at the same time, had
the charge of two large classes. Her third and
last year in London was not less profitable to her
friends, many of them followed her to Spitalfields,
where several new members were added to her
classes; and I believe most of those who attended
that means of grace with her, both in that and
other places, found it good for their souls.  While
speaking to, and praying with them, many, very
many, have been enabled to witness a clear sense of
God's forgiving love; and others at the same time
have obtained salvation from inbred sin-a doctrine this, of which she had the clearest views,
and to its validity, her own conduct bore a constant
testimony.
"Through all her words the soul within,
The honest, artless soul was seen,
Ingenuous, pure, and free:
Candour and love were sweetly join'd
With easy nobleness of mind,
And true simplicity."




340       MIRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
And although shle clearly perceived the need
of a gradual work, daily exhorting believers to
grow in grace, yet she saw it her duty to bid
those who felt the burden of indwelling sin look
for the total destruction of it in one Imomentever pressing them to believe for the blessingto believe now-insisting, " If thou canst believe,
all things are possible to him that believeth."
And the Lord set his seal to the truths she enforced. Many through her means were instantaneously delivered from the remains of a carnal
mind, so as to "rejoice evermore, pray without
ceasing, and in every thing give thanks."
As great a matter as the attaining this blessing
may appear, it is a yet greater thing to hold it
fast.  And as the following circumstance had a
mlust blessed effect on the mind of my dear companion when she was comparatively a babe in this
grace, greatly tending to establish her therein, I
will, for the sake of others, transcribe the following account just as she wrote it at the time. And
but few events did.I ever hear her mention with
greater pleasure than it.
"Leeds, Aug. 24, 1781.-That dear man of
God, 3Mr. Fletcher, came with Miss Bosanquet,
(now AMrs. Fletcher,) to dine at Mr. Smith's in
Park-Row, and also to meet the select society.
After dinner I took an opportunity to beg he




APPENDIX TO FUNElAL SERMON.       341
would explain an expression he once used to Miss
Loxdale in a letter, viz. 'That on all wvho are renewed in love, God bestows the gift of prophecy.'
He called for the Bible: then read, and sweetly
explained the second chapter of the Acts, observing: To prophesy in the sense he meant, was to
magnify God with the new heart of love and the
new tongue of praise, as they did, who on the day
of pentecost were filled with the Holy Ghost
And he insisted that believers are now called to
make the same confession: seeing, we may all
prove the same baptismal fire, showing, that the
day of pentecost was only the opening of the dispensation of the Holy Ghost, the great promise of
the Father! and that the latter-day glory, which
he believed was near at hand, should far exceed
the first effusion of the Spirit.  And, therefore,
seeing they then bore witness to the grace of our
Lord, so should we; and, like them, spread the
flame of love.  Then, after singing a hymn, he
cried-0, to be filled with the Holy Ghost: I
want to be filled.  0 my friends, let us wrestle
for a more abundant outpouring of the Spirit. To
me he said, Come, my sisters, will you covenant
with me this day, to pray for the fulness of the
Spirit?  Will you be a witness for Jesus?-I answered, with flowing tears, 'In the strength of
Jesus, I will.' He cried, Glory, glory, glory be
29*




342      MRS. iESTER ANN POGERS.
to God: Lord, strengthen thy handmaid to keep
this covenant, even unto death.  He then said,
M3y dear brethren and sisters, God is here: I feel
him in this place; but I would hide my face in the
dust, because I have been ashamed to declare what
he hath done for me. For many years I have
grieved his Spirit; but I am deeply humbled;
and he has again restored my soul. Last Wednesday evening he spoke to me by these words,
'Reckon yourselves therefore to be dead indeed
unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ
our Lord.' I obeyed the voice of God: I now
obey it, and I tell you all, to the praise of his love,
'I am free from sin!' Yes, I rejoice to declare it,
and to bear witness to the glory of his grace, that
I am dead unto sin, and alive unto God through
Jesus Christ, who is my Lord and King. I received this blessing four or five times before; but
I lost it by not observing the order of God, who
has told us, ' With the heart man believeth unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.' But the enemy offered his
bait under various colours to keep me from a public declaration of what my Lord had wrought.
"When I first received this grace, Satan bid
me waiit a whtie, till I saw more of the fruits: I
resolved to do so, but I soon began to doubt of the
witness,.which, before, I had felt in my heart;




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.       343
and was in a little time sensible I had lost both.
A second time, after receiving this salvation, (with
shame I confess it,) I was kept from being a witness for my Lord, by the suggestion, 'Thou art a
public character: the eyes of all are upon thee;
and if, as before, by any means thou lose the blessing, it will be a dishonour to the doctrine of heart
holiness,' &c. I held my peace, and again forfeited
the gift of God! At another time I was prevailed
upon to hide it by reasoning, How few, even of
the children of God, will receive this testimony,
many of them supposing every transgression of the
Adamic law is sin; and, therefore, if I profess myself to be free from sin, all these will give my
profession the lie: because I am not free, in their
sense: I am not free from ignorance, mistakes,
and various infirmities: I will, therefore, enjoy
what God has wrought in me, but I will not say,
I am perfect in love. Alas! I soon found again,
'He that hideth his Lord's talent, and improveth
it not, from that unprofitable servant shall be taken
away even that he hath.'
" Now, my brethren, you see my folly! I have
confessed it in your presence, and now I resolve,
before you all, to confess my Master: I will confess him to all the world; and I declare unto you,
in the presence of God, the holy Trinity, I am
iow 'dead indeed unto sin.' I do not say, 'I am




844       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
crucified with Christ;' because some of our wellmeaning brethren say, By this can only be meant
a gradual dying; but I profess unto you, I am
dead unto sin, and alive unto God! And remember all this is 'through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
He is my Prophet, Priest, and King: my indwelling holiness: my all in all  I wait for the fulfilment of that prayer, 'That they all may be one:
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us; and that they be one, even
as we are one.' 0, for that pure baptismal flame!
0, for the fulness of the dispensation of the Holy
Ghost: pray, pray-pray for this: this shall make
us all of one heart and of one soul: pray for gifts,
for the gift of utterance; and confess your royal
Master. A man without gifts is like the king in
disguise: he appears as a subject only. You are
kings and priests unto God. Put on, therefore,
your robes, and wear on your garments, 'Holiness
to the Lord.'
"A few days after this, I heard Mr. Fletcher
f preach from the same subject, which greatly encouraged and strengthened me. Inviting all who? felt their need of full redemption, to believe now
for this great salvation, he observed, 'As when
you reckon with your creditor, or with your host;
and, as when you have paid all, you reckon yourselves free, so now reckon with God. Jesus hath




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.       345
paid all: and he hath paid for thee-hath purchased thy pardon and holiness.  Therefore, it is
now God's command, "Reckon thyself dead unto
sin;" and thou art alive unto God from this hour!
0, begin, begin to reckon now: fear not, belicve,
believe, believe; and continue to believe every
moment, so shalt thou continue free; for it is retained as it is received, by faith alone. And whosoever thou art that perseveringly believest, it will
be as a fire in thy bosom, and constrain thee to confess with thy mouth the Lord and King Jesus;
and in spreading the sacred flame of love, thou
shalt still be saved to the uttermost.'
"He also dwelt largely on those words, Where
sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' He
asked, how did sin abound? Had it not overspread
your whole soul? Were not all your passions,
tempers, propensities, and affections, inordinate
and evil? Did not pride, anger, self-will, and unbelief, all reign in you? And when the Spirit of
God strove with you, did you not repel all his convictions, and put him far from you? Well, my
brethren, 'Ye were thee the servants of sin, and
were free from righteousness; but now being made
free from sin, ye become servants to God;' and
holiness shall overspread your whole soul, so that
all your tempers and passions shall be henceforth
regulated and governed by Him who now sitteth




346       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
upon the throne of your heart, making all tns-^
new.  They shall therefore all be holy.-And as
you once resisted the Holy Spirit, so now you shall
have power as easily to resist all the subtle frauds
or fierce attacks of Satan: yea, his suggestions to
evil shall be like a ball thrown against a wall of
brass. It shall rebound back again; and you shall
know what that meaneth, 'The prince of this world
cometh, and hath nothing in me.'
"He then, with lifted hands cried 'Who will
thus be saved? Who will believe the report.
You are only in an improper sense called believers
who reject this! Who is a believer? One that
believes a few things which his God has spoken?
Nay, but one that believes all that ever proceeded
even out of his mouth. Here, then, is the word
of the Lord: 'As sin abounded, grace shall much
more abound!' As no good thing was in you by
nature, so now no evil thing shall remain. Do
you believe this? or are you a half believer only?
Come, Jesus is offered to thee as a perfect Saviour:
take him, and he will make thee a perfect saint.
0, ye half believers, will ye still plead for the
murderers of your Lord?      Which of these will
you hide as a serpent in your bosom? Shall it be
anger, pride, self-will, or accursed unbelief? 0, be
no longer befooled: bring these enemies to thy
Lord, and let him slay them.




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.       347
"Some days after this, being in Mr. Fletcher's
company, he took me by my hand, and said, 'Glory
be to God, for you, my sister, still bear a noble
testimony for your Lord. Do you repent your confession of his salvation?' I answered, 'Blessed
be God, I do not.' At going away, he again took
me by the hand, saying, with eyes and heart lifted
up, 'Bless her, Heavenly Power V' It seemed as
if an instant answer was given, and a beam of
glory let down! I was filled with deep humility
and love; yea, my whole soul overflowed with unutterable sweetness."
As my beloved companion enjoyed that purity
of heart mentioned by our Lord in Matt. v. 8, so
did she see God in all things.  She greatly delighted in secret retirement and private intercourse
with him. She had strong confidence in a particular providence presiding over all that respected
her; and as she believed that "the very hairs of
our head are numbered, and that a sparrow cannot
fall to the ground without our heavenly Father,"
so was she led to ask of God various things which
many professors of religion seldom think of praying for. And it is remarkable how many are the
instances which she has recorded as direct answers to her prayers. I will here transcribe two
or three.
" June 29, 1782.-This day the Lord instanta



348       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
neously removed a rapid mortification in my dear
mother's leg, in answer to prayer. The doctor
having given his opinion that in a few hours it
would ba fatal, I flew to my Almighty refuge, and
felt I had power with God, through faith in that
promise: The prayer of faith shall save the sick.'
And, when in half an hour I looked again at the
wound, all the bad symptoms were gone; and the
same doctor, standing astonished, said, no danger
now appeared. I could not forbear weeping aloud
for joy and gratitude, praising the God of my
life."
"Nov. 29, 1785.-A lady of genteel appearance, whom I had not seen before, requested to
speak with me. I found she had come secretly to
hear preaching for some months, and was under
deep awakenings. Her husband is a man of fortune, but a professed infidel-believes in neither
God, devil, heaven, nor hell-mocks at the Scriptures, especially the New Testament; and will
neither attend any place of public worship himself, nor suffer her to do so. And what added to
her affliction, his bad state of health determined
him to go to live in France. She cried, 'What
will become of me there? No means of grace:
no friend to fly to: in a country of idolaters
abroad, and infidels at home: my sinful heart and
the temptations of Satan to struggle with: I shall




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.       349
lose all my good desires, and my poor soul will be
ruined!'
" I asked, Is there no way to prevent this?'
She answered, 'No.' I said, 'But the Lord can prevent it; and if not for his glory, he will.' 'Ha!'
said she, 'I fear nothing can prevent it: the carriage is preparing, and the time is fixed.' I replied, ' Only put the whole into the Lord's hand,
and you are safe. Trust in God, and make it a
matter of prayer; and if the journey be not for
your good, though it come to the last hour he will
prevent it. Nay, if you should even set out, he
can, by a thousand means, turn you back, and he
will. Did he not suffer the three Hebrew children
to be cast into the furnace? Yet the fire had no
power to consume. Daniel was cast into the den;
but the God you are called to trust shut the lions'
jaws. St. John was put into the caldron of boiling oil; yet he received no harm. This God, who
is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, will
prevent this journey if you trust in him; or he
will make it a blessing to your soul.' I then went
to prayer, and at parting bid her pray much for
her husband, and believe all things are possible
with God.
"Some time after she called on me, and told
me she had taken my advice and prayed for her
husband, who, a few nights ago, had a remarkable
30




30 5     MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
dream, which much affected and astonished him.
IHe thought he was giving orders to his coachmaker about his new carriage, and more especially
about one of the wheels, when the man turned
about and said, in a very solemn manner, ' Sir,
you need not trouble yourself about that wheel,
for the Lord Jesus Christ has the whole mnanagement of it.' He was filled with surprise, and
awoke.   I again commended her to God in
p  prayer, and she returned home not a little comforted.
" A few days afterward, a note was sent to request public thanks to Almighty God for his power
v' and love manifested in behalf of a person whose
name is unknown.. The messenger, calling on me
at the same time, said, ' Thank God, this journey
is prevented at last!' I asked, 'But how was this
brought to pass?' She said, 'Only two days ago,
all was fixed for the journey; and on this day they
were to set off. But the Lord afflicted the physician who advised them to go. And Mr. -,
finding himself very poorly, called in another doctor, who assured him he could not undergo the
journey, and that France is not a proper place for
his constitution, and therefore all thoughts of going
are at an end.'
"0 how my soul was filled with wonder, love,
and praise! Who that considers the aboe, wiUll
l                                   * ^;; i




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SER3MON.      351
not see omnipotence, love, and faithfulness, exerted
in answer to prayer? Who would not wish for
such a friend? Who would not love, serve, and
confide in such a God? Who would not own,
'He heareth prayer, and to him should all flesh
come!' And how wonderful is such a dream of
the Lord Jesus Christ by a man of such principles I Surely it was all of God, and to him alone
is due all the glory."
"' March 5, 1790.-In private, I had peculiar
liberty in praying for my dear husband, that he   4
might experience all the depth of Jesus' love more
abundantly than ever, and be the happy means of
leading me also into further degrees of inward
salvation-that our union might ever tend to a yet
closer union with our God, and all our outward
mercies lead to this.  While I prayed, I felt assured my Lord wawell pleased, and would send
an answer to my largest desires. Next morning
Mr. Rogers awoke very happy, having had a precious view of the deep things of God: he dreamed
that he felt the clear witness of sanctification, and
his soul seemed full of gratitude and love. In
taking a ride out together, and laying open our
whole hearts to each other, as we frequently did, I
found my soul unspeakably happy, while we resolved
to be more spiritual, more devoted to God, and more
zealous in saving souls, than ever. This was made
Y p




352      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
a great blessing to me; and doubly so, as I believe
it an answer to my Jrayer."
The last instance I shall cite took place only a
little before her death.  "June 10, 1794.-I had
a peculiar season in wrestling prayer with my God
this night, on account of my dear little Tary. The
great weakness of her limbs for three months past,
and her seeming total inability to walk, has caused
much pain to my dear husband as well as myself.
It appears to lme I had used every possible means
in vain. But this night I had power to cry unto
my God, and tell him, 'Thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and forever: thou art my God.' Thou
hast said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble, and
I will hear thee.' Thou hast healed cripples, made
the lame to walk, yea, raised even the dead, in answer to praying faith! Lord, hear me now: stoop
to my request: let the child's feet and ankle bones
receive strength, give power to walk, and let me
soon know thou hast heard my prayer. And I had
power to believe it should be done; and my soul
was filled with the Divine presence.  Thursday,
the 12th.-I already see an answer to my prayer
in the child. She is greatly strengthened in her
limbs. How good, how faithful, how condescending is the Lord! We may-I may, like Abraham,
like ntoses, like Elijah, ask and obtain."
Such were the habits of intimacy which my




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.        35S
dear partner enjoyed with her beloved S'viour,
that even when her outward senses were locked up
by sleep, he would frequently speak to her heart;
and in dreams and visions of the night, appeared
to strengthen her in times of trial-warn her of
danger, or prepare her for trouble before it came.
One instance out of many I will here mention. It
happened about four years after our marriage, and
was attended with much comfort to her mind ever
after, when she recurred to it.
" Having been exercised with an uncommon
sense of various short-comings and daily infirmities for some days past, I awoke this morning, lost,
overwhelmed, and swallowed up in love, joy, and
praise, occasioned by the following dream.  I
thought I was in an elegant house, and was desired
by one to go into that room, (pointing the way,)
and I should see the late Mrs. Rogers.  I wondered, but obeyed: I thought I entered the room,
which was hung all round with clean white linen;
and upon a bed I saw the beautiful corpse of my
dear departed sister and friend! I looked, and
loved the precious remains, when, to my great astonishment, her eyes opened! She smiled on me,
and raised herself up. I exclaimed, in a rapture
of joyful surprise, ' Is it possible? Has the Lord
permitted you to revive, so as to speak to me?'
She replied, with unutterable sweetness, ' All things3
30O




354      MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
my dear, are possible with God. He has permit.
ted it for your comfort.' '0,' said I, 'what would
I have often given, to converse one hour with you,
since you were taken?' She said, 'There was no
need, my dear, God has been with you.' I answered, 'Yes, he has; but 0, tell me, have I acted
my part aright in your place? Does God, in this,
approve of me?' She smiled again, and said, ' He
does; and in all things he is well pleased; and
he will yet strengthen and bless you to the end!
He loves you, and he will save you in every time
of trouble, especially in your approaching trial.
You have nothing to fear; for you will be happy
in life, in death, and forever. You are dear to
God; and it is to comfort you he permits me to
appear and tell you this.'
" This was but a few weeks before my Hester
was born. And what I felt was unutterable indeed: love unspeakable and ravishing delight filled
my whole soul; I was quite overpowered: I thought
in imy dream she said much more; but this is all
I can distinctly recollect. And it so overcame me
with transport, that I awoke; but my body was
bathed in sweat, and my soul, as in the dream,
filled with God, with heaven, and with unspeakable bliss, so that I could not refrain awaking my
dear husband to tell him; and I could sleep no
more, but continued praising God until the morn



APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.        355
ing. The more I considered his condescending
goodness herein, the more I am lost in love, selfabasement, and speechless gratitude."
This dream was made a great blessing to us
both; and it is attended with no small consolation
to me, especially under my present circumstances,
to conceive that the inhabitants of heaven know
well the transactions of earth! And (to waive the
almost innumerable and well-authenticated instances of recent date) that they do so is beyond a
doubt; or, how could they be said to "rejoice
over every sinner that repenteth?" And when
Moses and Elijah conversed with our Lord, it was
on the bitter cup he was to drink in Jerusalem:
of consequence, they remembered that place, as
well as those prophecies which were to be fulfilled
upon that occasion.  And if the pious poor retain
so lively a sensation in the other world, of the
favours conferred on them in this, as to wait for
the arrival of their kind benefactors, in order to
"receive them into everlasting habitations," Luke
xvi. 11, what kind offices may we not expect from
those who, for many years, were our faithful companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus?
"Are they not all (as well as the angels) ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who
shall be heirs of salvation?" And what angel
(except the Angel of the Covenant, who took upon




356 3     M-. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
him our nature, and was touched with the feeling
of our infirmities) is so well qualified for this office
and guardianship as they? And it is even probable a part of their heaven consists in the pleasure of attending those who are yet probationers
in this world of wo, especially when they see us
attentive to the will of Him that sent them.
Hard as it was to part, my dear companion
would have found it harder still, but for the same
persuasion which constantly rested with her, as
appears from her own words, saying, "I feel myself very poorly in body, and several symptoms
threaten my dissolution. But my soul is kept in
perfect peace: I know, For me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain.' It seems as if the Lord had
been of late preparing me for himself. And yPt,
when I think of leaving the dearest of earthly
comforts, it is like rending of self from self; of
nature from nature; and of flesh from the bone
Nevertheless, when I reflect the separation is only
for a moment, compared with eternity, and that
death itself cannot disunite our spirits, it greatly
helps me to say, Lord, not as I will, but as thou
wilt."
It seems easy to learn from this and other
touches in the preceding pages, that, be our attainments in piety what they will, they have not
the least tendency to dissolve the endearing ties of




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SEMIIlOT.         357
natural affection: on the contrary, that religion,
by refining, tends to increase, both the fervour and
constancy of our love. But what are all other
ties, of which the human heart is capable, compared with that holy and spiritual union, ever subsisting between those whom God, in every sense
hath made one?
I am conscious, the tenderest of maternal ties
possessed the heart of my dear companion; yet
these, whea it came to the point, were dissolved
with comparative ease! as were, also, all her other
friendly attachments-with one only exception,
of mysef.
"Not even in death, her friendship dies!
Wi,h grateful pity and surprise
1 ask, how can it be?
Loosen'd from all she leaves behind,
Yet still-she cleaves to ME.
"On me she rests her dying head,
And catching, grasps a broken reed,
But will not let me part:
Till Jesus visits her again,
By nobler love dissolves the chain,
And frees her struggling heart."
God alone can tell you what I felt in that dread
moment: when her Ldrd gave the signal for dismission and I was called to return the last parting
kiss! For some time I could only breathe, as it
were, in silent accents, "O0, my God, let my latter




358        MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
end be like hers: come, 0, come quickly, and
prepare me to follow her. It is still the language
of my bleeding heart," 0, let me on her image dwell,
The soul-transporting spectacle,
On whom even angels gaze:
A pious saint matured for God,
And shaking off her earthly clod,
To see his open face.
"I see the generous friend sincere,
Her voice still vibrates in my ear,
The voice of truth and love;
It calls me to put off my clay,
And bids me soar with her away
To fairer worlds above."
Well, thank God, a moment cannot always last,
And
" He who set my partner free,
Shall quickly send for you and me!"
Only let us take care that.our loins are girt, and
our lights burning as bright as hers, when our
Lord cometh, and all shall be well! All who
knew my valuable companion, will allow that these
pages contain but a small part of what might be
said upon so every way am'iable a character. But
there is a day coming when her real value shall be
made manifest.
The honour of being united to such a woman




APPENDIX TO FUNERAL SERMON.         359
fills my soul with unfeigned gratitude before God!
And although at present I am left to feel my loss,
I am supported from above in a manner that exceeds all description.  The heartfelt presence of
God, which, from the time he took my all of
earthly treasure, I have not wanted, for one moment, more than compensates for the absence of
all created good, if I can suppose her absent, who,
under God, was the centre of all earthly treasure
to me. And now, unto Him who had a prior
right, I freely resign this all, because his right is
infinitely superior to mine.  In the act of offering
a sacrifice so pleasing to my God, I feel that our
union in him is of eternal duration; and that as
sure as my beloved partner now sleeps in Jesus,
even so surely will God bring her with him, and
present her to me again: "For the Lord Jesus
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God; and then we shall be caught up
together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air;
and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Thus
comforted, and knowing the time is short, I shall
here take leave of my beloved wife, leaving her to
rest in his arms, where,
Supremely bless'd with perfect peace,
She loves me now without excess,
Or passionate alloy:




360     MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.


Serene she waits my spirit's flight,
To range with her the plains of light,
And climb the mount of joy.
Reposed in those Elysian seats,
Where JONATHAN his DAVID meets,
Our souls shall soon embrace:
The utmost power of friendship prove,
Commenced on earth, matured above,
In ecstasies of praise.
How shall we sing and triumph there,
Our dangers and escapes compare,
Our days of flesh and wo:
How comprehend the plan divine
And sweetly in his praises join,
Through whom we meet below:
Through whom in paradise we meet,
Great Author of our joy complete,
The Jesus we proclaim:
While all the saints stand listening round,
And all the realms of bliss resound
Salvation to the Lamb.
The Lamb has brought us through the fire I
The Lamb shall raise our raptures higher,
When all from earth are driven:
Our glorious Head shall cleave the skies,
And bid his church triumphant rise
From PARADISE to HEAVEN.
JAMEs RoGoaR
Birmingham, March 29, 1795.


a




ELEGIAC POEMS.
THOUGHTS ON A FUTURE STATE,
OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS
BY A YOUNG LADY WHO MET IN HER CLASS.
AIR-built and baseless all, are earth's delights,
And grief intrudes into their noblest heights:
To changes subject, and to ills a prey,
They bud and wither in a winter's day;
And like the unfriendly plant of sense too quick,
Bloom at a distance, but when touch'd grow sick:
What calls on man to look beyond this sphere,
Since he's immortal, and all is mortal here!
If endless life, and lasting summers wait,
To crown us when we leave this wint'ry state,
How should each change instruct us to be wise,
And tell us we are natives of the skies!
But, sure of bliss, (if aught deserves the name,)
Fair friendship's pleasures must the title claim!
Her joys are mighty, but they often fail,
For while in mortal robes, e'en she is frail,
Ah yes, Celestia friendship's tears must flow,
While memory lasts, or we thy absence know:
31               361




362       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
Full oft we trace the happy moments fled,
When we to noblest joys by thee were led;
And whilst we talk'd of heaven, and learn'd the way,
Mercy divine let in a beam of day,
Till faith and hope exulting soar'd on high,
And each affection centred in the sky:
We long'd to clap th' immortal wing, and praise
In louder songs, the Source of boundless grace,
Where no dull sense, or intermediate cloud,
Can ever the Redeemer's presence shroud,
But love unbounded, and ecstatic joy,
Burst forth in endless songs without annoy.
But scenes elapsed I'll leave, while I presume,
With daring thought, to penetrate the gloom
That hides immortal things from mortal view,
And humbly thy enraptured flight pursue
To worlds of bliss, complete fruition's height,
Perfect existence, and immediate sight.
0, had we seen thee when the veil withdrew,
And thy freed spirit from its prison flew!
What floods of glory burst upon thy sight,
What songs melodious rung the ether bright,
As heavenly spirits led thee through the'sky,
'Midst blazing suns, and rolling worlds on high,
While joyful friends throng'd thick the heavenly way,
And hail'd thee to the bright abodes of day:
Then joining in their songs of triumph high,
The loud hosannas echo'd through the sky.




ELEGIAC POEMS.             363
And now what mighty joys thy powers surprise,
Stretch'd out from mortal to immortal size:
Surrounded, fill'd, absorb'd in Godhead's sea,
And wrapp'd in visions of the Deity,
Yet not o'erwhelm'd, bewilder'd, or confused,
Thy nature so with the divine infused,
So fitted to thy'state, so pure and high,
That heaven's profound suit thy capacity.
Thy glow-worm knowledge here by faith begun,
In open vision bursts into a sun:
Through organs weak no longer dribbled in,  0
Nor labours purblind reason scrapes to win;
But senses large, congenial with the skies,
'Wake to new life, and into action rise,
By intuition now, all ear, all sight,
Perception all, and piercing as the light,
Thou need'st no medium to convey delight,
With open face thou view'st the eternal Three,
In union join'd, a glorious Trinity!
And at the view increasing raptures flow,
While proving "'tis eternal life to know."*
Thou view'st unveil'd the attributes divine,
Which in unrivall'd beauty round thee shine,
Adoring the transcending harmony,
Which joins them all in man's redemption free.
Alike by thee his government's survey'd,
Where'er his all-creative power 's display'd,
* John xvii. 3.




364       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
Allow'd his circling providence to trace
From heaven's first order to the reptile race:
Here wonders now create sublime delight,
And holy praise breaks forth at every sight.
Nor less his grace thy searching mind employs,
Since "angels o'er a penitent rejoice:"*
Here they discover mercy's richest store,
And endless cause to wonder and adore.
Now thou well know'st the secret works of grace,
Which first attracted thee to seek his face,
From hence pursuing all the steps divine,
Which through thy life in ceaseless mercies shine:
The end discovering of each grief and pain,
Why they were sent, and what the endless gain:
Alike survey'd in every hidden snare,
Escap'd by thee through providential care:
A thousand blessings now to thee are known,
O'er which on earth a pierceless veil was thrown.
What funds of pleasure must such views supply,
And themes for praise throughout eternity!
Creation's works are open to thy sight,
From lifeless matter to the seraph bright:
What wonders in the world of spirits shine,
Expressive of their origin divine!
Here beings high and things inanimate,
Which still retain their pure primeval state,
* Luke xv. 10.




ELEGIAC POEMS.


365          I
't


Are understood by thee, whose piercing eye
Can into being's inmost essence pry;
And if revisiting this nether sphere,
How differently each object must appear!
No longer can the surface bound thy sight,
But nature's secret springs are brought to light;
And God appears diffused throughout the whole,
The source of life,-creation's living soul.
Is such thy knowledge of thy glorious Lord?
Then sure thy love in measure must accord:
Possessing now the end thy soul pursued,
In near fruition of its perfect good:
No more (as here) frail nature sinks opprest,
When with peculiar revelation blest;
Then words were lost in love's immense abyss,
And silence best express'd th' unutter'd bliss.
(What proof that love is heaven's commencement here,
Since mortal language sinks beneath its sphere.
Praise aims in vain to set its glories forth,
And only songs celestial gave it birth:)
But now at large uncircumscribed and free,
Thy vast affections feed on Deity:
Ecstatic love in holy rapture flows,
Increasing ever as thy knowledge grows
In full enjoyment and immediate sight,
Of him whose beauties are thy sole delight,
Thy praise unwearied, must forever flow,
And pleasures no embarrassment can know:
31*




366       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
Renew'd by having his continual smile,
No doubt intruding thy delights to spoil,
But large returns forever flow to thee,
Of mutual love and sweet complacency.
And joy (love's first offspring) lives to prove,
And celebrate the jubilee above:
Immediate draughts receiving from the throne,
While thy loved Saviour makes his joy thy own'
Thou sharest in all his glorious victories,
Exulting o'er its vanquish'd enemies,
Ascribing endless glories to his name,
And ever crying, "Worthy is the Lamb
Who wash'd our robes and conquer'd all our foes,
And now on us eternal life bestows."
And fresh discoveries of unfathom'd love
Will through eternity thy joys improve.
Are such the glories of thy perfect state?
Then thy employments must alike be great;
(For spirit is to action ever bent,
And torpid rest is not its element.)
Art thou engaged in acts to us unknown
Of solemn worship 'fore the eternal throne,
Which all thy mighty faculties employ,
And give full scope to wonder, love, and joy?
Or sent to this terrene on errands kind,
Perhaps to soothe thy partner's fainting mind,
When deep-felt grief's impetuous tempests blow,
Or secret tears from silent anguish flow




ELEGIAC POEMS.            367
Then to administer the cordial sweet,
And lead his views to yon celestial seat,
Where kindred souls in sweet enjoyment meet?
Or dost thou come a guardian angel bright
O'er the dear objects of thy late delight,
Averting danger, and instilling truth
In soft instructions to their tender youth?
Or dost thou visit those with kind solace
Who were thy pupils in the school of grace?
0, have I ever felt thy friendly power
Conducting me through dark temptation's hour,
And taken, when unconscious of thy aid,
The cup of comfort by thy hand convey'd?
Reviving thought! it wipes the tear of wo,
Since friendship lives more perfect than below.
Nor less 'tis likely that thy guardian hand
Supports thy friends along thy shadowy land,
When life is hov'ring on the shortening breath,
And its warm current gently cools in death:
Then bearing the triumphant soul away,
Thou aid'st its anthems in the courts of day,
And mixing with the brilliant hosts above,
Recount'st the wonders of redeeming love:
While list'ning angels hear with sweet surprise,
And gusts of hallelujahs ring the skies.
Now fellowship is perfect and complete,  [meet,
Where thought communes with thought, and notions
And swift as lightning distant souls can reach,
With clear expression far surpassing speech:




368       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
Thus fitted for sublime society,
With beings of consummate purity,
Thou hold'st high converse with angelic choirs,
Cherub, and seraph, and with human sires,
With all the glorious hosts around the throne,
Perhaps with beings yet to us unknown,
Gather'd from num'rous worlds remote from ours,
And form'd with various faculties and powers:
While all the victories of grace declare,
And countless acts of providential care:
Then joining in melodious strains of praise,
To mercy's Centre, and the Source of grace,
Each happy soul takes in large draughts of joy,
And unconceived delights thy powers employ.
Say, does some spirit (perhaps thy infant son,*
For sure by thee he's still beloved and known,)
Direct thy flight along the ethereal way,
Where suns unnumber'd burn, and comets stray,
To some new workmanship of power divine,
Where beings in Adamic glory shine,
And uncursed nature all harmonious glows,
And shining fair its Maker's glory shows.
Here wonders rise on wonders to thy view,
In objects fair, immaculate and new:
And seem with thee in concert sweet to join,
In one delightful hymn of praise divine.
* Who died in the year 1789, at the age of six weeks.




ELEGIAC POEMS.             369
Are such as these thy blest employs on high?
While God is all in all, and ever nigh;
For wide-extended space is full of him,
Nor aught thy ever-waking sight can dim:
Hence, though engaged at nature's utmost bound,
Thy heaven-thy God, must still thy soul surround.
But cease, my vent'rous thought, too apt to fly
To things for thy capacity too high:
Since ear hath never heard, nor eye beheld,
Th' immortal glories of the upper world,
And all is bold chimera at the best,
In darkness form'd, and wrapt in errors, rest
Nor thought can paint, nor language give them birth,
And faint descriptions but degrade their worth
Hence I'm constrain'd the subject to dismiss,
Till made with her a fellow-heir of bliss.
May 15, 1795.




AN ELEGY ON THE


DEATH OF MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
BY AGNES BULMER,
A Lady who enjoyed the Privilege of her Maternal Instrut
tions in the way to Glory.
SAY, shall the muse, in plaintive weeping strains,
A dear departed pious friend lament!
Or join the host on yonder glorious plains,
To greet, with triumph, the victorious saint?
A conquering warrior, who return'd from fight,
Has gloriously her every foe subdued,
And now reposes in the plains of light,
And triumphs in the presence of her God.
Can we, who sojourn in the vale of life,
(Who still each anxious, painful trial, know,)
Desire to lengthen out the mortal strife,
Of one so fully meet from earth to go?
Can we the breathings of her spirit trace,
Behold the ardour of her panting soul;
Her steadfast care to run th' appointed race,
Her longing to attain the heavenly goal:
Her deep communion with the God of love,
To feel whose presence was her soul's delight:
Her life of faith concealed with Christ above,
Now changed into the beatific sight:
370




ELEGIAC POEMS.


371


Say, can we view, and wish to stop her flight,
Even for a moment to the world recall?
0, that her glory on our souls may light,
On us some portion of her spirit fall!
No, surely, here we'll bid our tears farewell,
And triumph with the saint to glory gone;
With her the praise of our Redeemer tellAbove, below, the triumph is but one.
Ah, no! 'tis not the dead demands our tears,
But for ourselves, alas! our sorrows flow:
We joy in her escape from grief and fears,
To where the tree of life and pleasures grow.
But by a double tie she claim'd our love,
And lo, at once, we mourn a friend and guide!
Oft has she led our soul to things above,
And sweetly pointed to the Crucified.
Deeply experienced, Satan's wiles she knew,
And bid us of his dang'rous baits beware;
Set forth the Saviour's love forever new,
Watching our souls with constant tender care.
Full well she knew the goodness of her Lord,
And wish'd that all with her his love might feel:
For this his mercy she to all declared
Witiumble gratitude and pious zeal.
To youth, or age, her kind advice she gave,
Alike by youth or age beloved, revered,




372       MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS.
To all adapted, all their souls to save,
Some roused by threat'ning, some by comfort
cheer'd.
Yet while she labour'd thus, with pious zeal,
She ne'er despised the social calls of life,
But with a conscientious care fulfill'd
The duties of a parent, child, and wife.
Thus while on earth her Master's work she wrought,
And now her Lord has said, "Enough is done,
Thy arms lay down-the fight of faith is fought,
The prize of everlasting glory's won."
Thrice happy saint 1 No more our tears shall flow,
No more our selfish hearts thy loss shall mourn;
Be this our aim, like thee our God to know,
That with like joy we may to heaven return.
And thou, dear partner of her joys and cares,
What consolation can a friend impart,
(A. child of your united faith and prayers,)
'To ease the sorrows of a wounded heart?
Short is the time of man's appointed space,
Soon will this transitory life be gone:
Then shall your soul its dearer part embrace,
And stand with her before yon glorious throne!
Even now, by faith, your soul with hers shall join,
And learn the strains of the seraphic throng,
Till all renew'd in purity divine,
You sing in heaven the never ceasing songl
THE END.