Page:Groves - Memoir of Anthony Norris Groves, 3rd edition.djvu/20

8 his whole Christian course, and made him a bright and shining light: they were men of the same mind; greatly united in spirit; and remarkable both for their devotedness to the Lord and for that catholicity of spirit, which made them desire union and intercourse with every part of the family of God. The character of their intercourse, and his own progress, at this time, may be judged of by extracts of letters, kindly supplied by Mrs. Caldecott, which throw much light on the state of Mr. Groves’s mind, during many years of his residence in Exeter, embracing that period specially dwelt on in this short sketch.

“Northernhay House, Exeter,

“April 26th, 1825.

“,

“All things here seem now quietly passing away; Heaven has still alleviations for its servants, and these we now experience. Our dear friend M. is coming into Heavetree to try the benefit of change of air. I should be full of apprehensions about him but for the persuasion that his name is written in the book of life, and then what can harm us if we be followers of that which is good? Oh my dear friend! this is a wicked and foolish world, and the only good thing that can be said of it since God has ceased to bless it is, that it is the thorny way by which His servants approach His presence. Against those reproachful epithets which I see you are destined to enjoy, because you bear the image and superscription of your risen Lord, I send you the following infallible antidote, to all who have eyes to see it and hearts to believe it: ‘If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.’ I pray God to write this consolation so deeply on your heart, that you may be enabled to rejoice in tribulation, when it rests on you for your Master’s honoured name. What a mercy it is to us, to have the world, with its honours, its pleasures and its hopes, crucified with Christ; how it takes away the edge from the enemy’s weapons; when he thinks to make a deadly thrust at us, he