Anne Dutton
| I had never heard of this dear Sister-in-Christ until I moved to the United Kingdom. What a testimony this dear lady had and how strong she stood for the beautiful truths of the Word of God. Twice widowed, often ill, she was blessed to write some 30 literary works all with the prayer that they might give God glory! In addition to this, this lovely woman witnessed through letters she would write to individuals of low or high means; it mattered not to her what ones station was in life. Notably are her letters to John Wesley in which she testified of the truths of our Sovereign God and the uselessness of man's works. Through her letters she would also encourage her fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, not only within Great Britain, but also in the "New World" as well, writing to a number of black Christians enslaved who had been redeemed by the same Lord who had granted her repentance unto life, hoping to encourage them in the faith, maintaining many times in her correspondence that God is no respecter of persons. So, whilst it is indeed a bit like a one sided conversation when one reads what remains of her letters, they do testify of one of God's precious elect women, who was able to find a way even through her infirmities, to be an encouragement and witness for God's glory alone. The following are just a few of these letters. |
| REGARDING SPIRITUAL MATTERS GLAD FOR CRUMBS OF MERCY |
Dear Brother,
Never was a poor sinner more unworthy of favor from God or His people than myself. I deserve not a name and a place
among the children, but am as vile as a dog, and would be glad for crumbs of mercy that fall from the children's table. But
such is the free grace of God towards me, through the slain Lamb, that He deals with me as a child, a dear child, and
feasts me as a prince with Him according to the royalty, the dignity of His own infinite state. If salvation in all its parts
were not all of grace, it would not suit such a wretched, miserable sinner as I am. But oh, blessed be God, there is
salvation enough for me in Christ to be had of the freest grace—of grace in which there is no scantiness, but an immense
and eternal fullness to fill my needy soul, through all time and to eternity! And glad am I, under all my sins, miseries and
needs, to live under the reign of grace—of this grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
my Lord!
Never was a poor sinner more unworthy of favor from God or His people than myself. I deserve not a name and a place
among the children, but am as vile as a dog, and would be glad for crumbs of mercy that fall from the children's table. But
such is the free grace of God towards me, through the slain Lamb, that He deals with me as a child, a dear child, and
feasts me as a prince with Him according to the royalty, the dignity of His own infinite state. If salvation in all its parts
were not all of grace, it would not suit such a wretched, miserable sinner as I am. But oh, blessed be God, there is
salvation enough for me in Christ to be had of the freest grace—of grace in which there is no scantiness, but an immense
and eternal fullness to fill my needy soul, through all time and to eternity! And glad am I, under all my sins, miseries and
needs, to live under the reign of grace—of this grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
my Lord!
| O PROUD WORMS! |
Honored Sir,
It is well the Lord loves you, for His love is unchangeable and infinite, and in it you have Himself, who has all things, yes, is all things,
abundantly and eternally! Ten thousand changes may pass over you with respect to yourself, and the people and things you are
concerned with. And how miserable would you be if your happiness lay in these changing, failing, dying things? But blessed with the
Lord Jehovah for your portion, your bliss in Him is full, unchanging, and everlasting. Rejoice, brother, in your wondrous lot! Oh, how
goodly is your heritage! It is enough that the Lord is your portion! What can you more desire? Can you desire any good that is not to
be found in God? Can you desire any joy that He, even Himself alone, cannot afford you? Let your soul from henceforth embosom
itself in infinite fullness. Say to creature-vanities and vexations, "Get away! Do not disturb my repose in God. I have a sweet, soft, full
bosom to rest in, from which I will not be enticed, nor driven by you."
Oh, how blessed would we be amid all changes, if we always delighted ourselves in our unchangeable God! It is our going out of the
eternal I AM that occasions all our fears and griefs and heart-faintings. Our wretched hearts, deceived by the serpent, desire
something else besides God to make up a 'fancied happiness' for them. And thence, after this and that creature and thing they go.
And when 'catching at shadows' we find them no substance, and that pursuing them they flee from us—this gives us disquietude. And
oh, how well is it for us that every creature and thing concerning soul-rest says, "It is not in me!"
This, as being fore-appointed by the Lord our Lover, is by Him sanctified—to teach our silly hearts at times a little wisdom—to turn
the mouth of faith to the 'breasts of divine consolations'—to God in Christ, the full fountain, the inexhaustible ocean of solid, endless
bliss of all our life and joy!
And as our full and unchangeable God, in his great and glorious self, is our exceeding joy—and by 'creature-emptiness' and 'changes' is
pleased at times to bring us to his blissful bosom, so this also may be the matter of our rejoicing—that all our time-changes respecting
creatures and things are overruled by our eternal and unchangeable God, for his own endless praise, and for our everlasting salvation.
And if these great ends are, and shall be, the effects of all the changes which pass over us, why need we be much distressed by the
most grieving changes? Yes, why should we not rejoice in tribulation, amid a thousand losses and crosses, griefs and disappointments,
which attend us in this valley of tears? What ails our silly hearts to be so displeased or distressed, when things go not to our wish?
What would we have? "Oh," we say, "the Lord's glory, and our advantage in this and that." If this is our desire, this we have always,
even by the greatest crosses and disappointments we meet with. "Aye," replies our silly mind, "but I wanted the Lord's glory in this or
that which I desired."
And must not God, then, glorify Himself in that way which He likes best? O proud worms! Can we teach the only wise God wisdom?
Shall 'creature-darkness and ignorance' dictate to, dispute with, or reprove infinite understanding? Be astonished, O Heavens, at this!
What—can we, foolish, blind, weak creatures—govern the world, or anything in it, better than the almighty, all-wise Creator,
preserver, and disposer of all things? Shall we, who will not allow God His sovereign right of ruling His earth, and all the creatures and
things of His forming and appointing, without a rebellious sigh when our desires are crossed—be thought capable of wielding the
scepter of the world? Was ever such pride, such rebellion, as that is found in us, when we will not allow our Savior to glorify Himself,
and save us by such ways and things that He, in His infinite wisdom, sees best?
Adoring, let us bow down; and loving, let us bless the Lord for everything He gives, or withholds, or takes from us, if we would
behave as obedient children to the Lord our Father, as the God of love and peace, who, according to the exceeding riches of His
grace, has abounded towards us in all things in all wisdom and prudence. To whom be dominion and glory forever. Amen.
It is well the Lord loves you, for His love is unchangeable and infinite, and in it you have Himself, who has all things, yes, is all things,
abundantly and eternally! Ten thousand changes may pass over you with respect to yourself, and the people and things you are
concerned with. And how miserable would you be if your happiness lay in these changing, failing, dying things? But blessed with the
Lord Jehovah for your portion, your bliss in Him is full, unchanging, and everlasting. Rejoice, brother, in your wondrous lot! Oh, how
goodly is your heritage! It is enough that the Lord is your portion! What can you more desire? Can you desire any good that is not to
be found in God? Can you desire any joy that He, even Himself alone, cannot afford you? Let your soul from henceforth embosom
itself in infinite fullness. Say to creature-vanities and vexations, "Get away! Do not disturb my repose in God. I have a sweet, soft, full
bosom to rest in, from which I will not be enticed, nor driven by you."
Oh, how blessed would we be amid all changes, if we always delighted ourselves in our unchangeable God! It is our going out of the
eternal I AM that occasions all our fears and griefs and heart-faintings. Our wretched hearts, deceived by the serpent, desire
something else besides God to make up a 'fancied happiness' for them. And thence, after this and that creature and thing they go.
And when 'catching at shadows' we find them no substance, and that pursuing them they flee from us—this gives us disquietude. And
oh, how well is it for us that every creature and thing concerning soul-rest says, "It is not in me!"
This, as being fore-appointed by the Lord our Lover, is by Him sanctified—to teach our silly hearts at times a little wisdom—to turn
the mouth of faith to the 'breasts of divine consolations'—to God in Christ, the full fountain, the inexhaustible ocean of solid, endless
bliss of all our life and joy!
And as our full and unchangeable God, in his great and glorious self, is our exceeding joy—and by 'creature-emptiness' and 'changes' is
pleased at times to bring us to his blissful bosom, so this also may be the matter of our rejoicing—that all our time-changes respecting
creatures and things are overruled by our eternal and unchangeable God, for his own endless praise, and for our everlasting salvation.
And if these great ends are, and shall be, the effects of all the changes which pass over us, why need we be much distressed by the
most grieving changes? Yes, why should we not rejoice in tribulation, amid a thousand losses and crosses, griefs and disappointments,
which attend us in this valley of tears? What ails our silly hearts to be so displeased or distressed, when things go not to our wish?
What would we have? "Oh," we say, "the Lord's glory, and our advantage in this and that." If this is our desire, this we have always,
even by the greatest crosses and disappointments we meet with. "Aye," replies our silly mind, "but I wanted the Lord's glory in this or
that which I desired."
And must not God, then, glorify Himself in that way which He likes best? O proud worms! Can we teach the only wise God wisdom?
Shall 'creature-darkness and ignorance' dictate to, dispute with, or reprove infinite understanding? Be astonished, O Heavens, at this!
What—can we, foolish, blind, weak creatures—govern the world, or anything in it, better than the almighty, all-wise Creator,
preserver, and disposer of all things? Shall we, who will not allow God His sovereign right of ruling His earth, and all the creatures and
things of His forming and appointing, without a rebellious sigh when our desires are crossed—be thought capable of wielding the
scepter of the world? Was ever such pride, such rebellion, as that is found in us, when we will not allow our Savior to glorify Himself,
and save us by such ways and things that He, in His infinite wisdom, sees best?
Adoring, let us bow down; and loving, let us bless the Lord for everything He gives, or withholds, or takes from us, if we would
behave as obedient children to the Lord our Father, as the God of love and peace, who, according to the exceeding riches of His
grace, has abounded towards us in all things in all wisdom and prudence. To whom be dominion and glory forever. Amen.
