The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
As you appear to have seen my good friend Y—, you have no doubt heard
from him most of the particulars connected with my recent change. I do,
indeed, most fully believe, that I am in the spot to which I have been
most evidently directed of the Lord; and in respect to outward comfort
and suitableness of employment, I suppose I should hardly find another
situation equally eligible; _but_, _after all_, _I cannot help regretting
the termination of my Mary le Port engagements_. Much kindness have I
received in various forms from my Madeley people—much also, and most
strongly expressed, from my temporary charge at Yardley; _but I never
seemed to live so fully in the hearts of any of my people as those_,
_from whom unavoidable circumstances have so recently separated me_. I
am persuaded, however, that all is right both for me and for them; and if
developing circumstances should not reveal this to the eye of sense, yet
that faith which brings its luminous atmosphere around the results of
cautious procedure and humble dependence will cheer the mind with its
present assurance, till it shall conduct us to that world where, without
the least shadow of a misgiving, we shall acknowledge that our guiding
and gracious Saviour “hath done all things well.” My outward path has
indeed, for some time past, been in many respects somewhat mysterious and
painfully perplexing; but such are frequently the movements even of those
who not only have the cloudy pillar to guide them, but who also are
careful to follow its guidance. And, even allowing that ourselves have
not thus followed with this undeviating step, still we have the privilege
of penitent return; and, from whatever point we may retrace our wandering
step, we see the same heavenly guidance before us, waiting to conduct us
onward in the unerring way.
I feel much obliged for your interesting allusion to Madeley procedures;
your dispensary, infant-school, and clerical meeting, have all of them,
not only the approval of my judgment, but of my heart. . . . And
therefore I do, in all respects, most sincerely rejoice that the kind and
gratifying permission of which you speak was ever given to me. My fear,
however, is, lest you should be doing too much, encouraged by that
_half_-untrue and sadly delusive maxim, “Better to wear away than to rust
away.” I would rather have you patronise that far more prudential
substitute suggested by the biographer of Leigh Richmond, “I labour less
that I may labour longer.”
I do indeed most sincerely rejoice with you in the blessed testimony
afforded to you by your endeared and dying sister, to the faithfulness of
our gracious and Omnipotent Redeemer. How few are the families where the
leavening influence of true religion has been more extensively or more
blessedly experienced!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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