Hon. Colonel John Downes,
TO THE
HON. COLONEL JOHN DOWNES,
One of the Members of the Honourable House of Commons, etc., E. F. wishes
the true knowledge of God in Jesus Christ.
MOST HONOURED SIR,
ALTHOUGH I observe that new editions, accompanied with new additions, are sometimes published with new dedications; yet so long as the one who formerly owned the subject yet lives, and has the same affections towards it, I conceive there is no need for a new patron, but for a new epistle.
Be pleased then, most honoured sir, to let me tell you, that your eminent place somewhat induced me, both now and before, to choose you for its patron; but your endowments with grace invited me to it, God having bestowed upon you special spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ: for it has been declared to me, by those that knew you when you were but a youth, how Christ met with you then, and by sending his Spirit into your heart, first convinced you of sin, as was manifest by those conflicts which your soul then had both with Satan and itself, while you did not believe in Christ; secondly, of righteousness, as was manifest by the peace and comfort which you afterwards had by believing that Christ had gone to the Father, and appeared in his presence as your advocate and surety who had undertaken for you; thirdly, of judgment, as has been manifest ever since, in that you have been careful, with the true godly man in Psalm 112.5, to “guide your affairs with judgment,” in walking according to the mind of Christ.
I have not forgotten what desires you have expressed to know the true difference between the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace; and to be experientially acquainted with the doctrine of free grace, the mysteries of Christ, and the life of faith. Witness not only your highly approving of some topics from a sermon I once heard a godly minister preach, and repeated in your hearing, about the life of faith; but also your earnest request to me to write them out fairly, and send them to you in the country; indeed, witness your highly approving of this dialogue when I first acquainted you with its contents, encouraging me to expedite it to the press, and your kind acceptance, together with your cordial thanks for my love manifested in dedicating it to your honourable name.
Since then, worthy sir, it has pleased the Lord to enable me both to amend and enlarge it. I hope your affection will also be enlarged towards the matter contained in it, considering that it tends to clarify those forenamed truths, and through the blessing of God, it may be a means to root them more deeply in your heart. And truly, sir, I am confident that the more they grow and flourish in any man’s heart, the more all heart-corruptions will wither and decay. O sir, if the truths contained in this dialogue were only as much in my heart as they are in my head, I would be a happy man; for then I would be more free from pride, boastfulness, wrath, anger, self-love, and love of the world, than I am; and then I would have more humility, meekness, and love, both to God and man, than I have. Oh! Then I would be content with Christ alone, and live above all things in the world; — then I would experientially know both how to abound and how to want; — and then I would be fit for any condition: nothing could come amiss to me. Oh, that the Lord would be pleased to write them in our hearts by his blessed Spirit!
Most humbly beseeching you still to pardon my boldness, and grant to take it into your patronage and protection, I humbly take my leave of you, and remain your obliged servant to be commanded,
EDWARD FISHER.