Sermons & Devotionals by James Bourne

[To Mr. M.] London, 14 June 1835. Dear unknown Friend, I am glad to see your letter to Mr. G., and that it has pleased God to give you some discernment between the dead professing church, and the true church of God. I cannot but hope the Spirit of God has made you to feel the inefficiency of the one... Read More

[To a Friend) London, 24 June 1835. My dear Friend, I must acquaint you that I too have a path of tribulation and am often greatly at a loss to see my signs. [Psa. lxxiv. 9.] All the difficulties and darkness that you and the rest of the friends at Hertford complain of, I am surrounded with, and som... Read More

[To C. G.] London, 28 June 1835. My dear Friend, I would remind you of a dangerous point which our insidious enemy will gain, if the Lord prevent not by watchfulness and prayer - that is, "As thy servant was busy here and there," the essential point was neglected [1 Kings xx. 40]. What with the anxi... Read More

[To M, and J. G.] London, 4 Judy 1835. My dear Friends, Your first letter gives me an account of many things, and especially that my friend is not aware of the real lost condition of a poor creature that God takes in hand. It is true that in experience you know nothing as yet of the judgments of God... Read More

[To the Rev. W. Maddy.] Bushey, 12 July 1835. Dear Friend, You were brought strongly upon my mind in reading the following words; "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves" [2 Tim. ii. 24, 25]. I ... Read More

[To Mr. Nunn.] Bushey, 24 July 1835. My dear Friend, Yesterday a person belonging to this house read some of my letters, and told me that he thought I had had some teaching, but could not find out to what sect I belonged. He could see, he said, that I had a great deal of constitutional melancholy, w... Read More

[To Mrs. T.] Bushey, 2 August 1835. Dear Friend, I am truly sorry to hear of your being put into the furnace again, and also that our friend did not send me any particulars respecting your exercises under it. For my part, I am always sore broken at the sight of the rod, and very commonly think at th... Read More

[To Mr. Burrell, afterwards Minister of the Gospel.] - 1809. My dear Friend, The feeblest and weakest of all creatures desires to speak a little of the wonderful lovingkindness of God, so visibly shown in my behalf, and so sweetly felt in my heart. I seem more and more comforted under these tumults,... Read More

[To the Rev. W. Maddy.] Bushey, 10 August 1835. My dear Friend, I have been under various exercises lately, and not the less so since our afflicted friend Mr. Nunn came down here. How can a poor creature like myself be profitable to one who is on the borders of eternity (as he appears to be), and ha... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] Bushey, 19 August 1835. My dear Friend, Many things have combined to prevent my writing to you before this. I was sorry I should be from home when you were in London. Your difficulties are often presented before me, either at the beginning or at the end of prayer. May the Lord re... Read More

[To M. O.] Bushey, 23 August 1835. Dear Friend, I was much comforted to hear that the Lord had dealt so tenderly with you, in this your time of extremity. Sin will always be a source of fear and dismay, and as we approach the border of eternity and perceive our naked souls at the bar of God, no wond... Read More

[To M. O.] Bushey, 15 September 1835. Dear Friend, You are now brought to such a condition as to make full proof of the power and efficacy of God's grace. What would you do now if forsaken of him? Instead of which, you often find "Love is strong as death;" and it is no small comfort to consider that... Read More

[To M. G.] Bushey, 17 September 1835. Dear Friend, Your letter to your brother is now before me, and I am astonished and pleased with its contents, especially the three different scriptures which you name, as having been spoken by the Lord upon your heart, and the mariner of their repetition; which ... Read More

[To one who said there was no hope.] London, 7 October 1835. Dear Friend, I know of nothing so disheartening, though very common, as for young professors to take the seat of judgment and finally decide what the Lord means to do; and then to hold their notions so fast as to think it must be as they j... Read More

[To C. G.] London, 11 October 1835. Dear Friend, I cannot help remarking how slowly and steadily the work of God (in general) goes on, in opposition to that haste which is seen in the flesh. Our time is always ready, and we think we discover many things, especially when the natural passions are exci... Read More

[To Mr. W. Abbott, of Mayfield, Sussex.] London, 21 October 1835. Dear Friend in the Lord and in the path of tribulation, How unsearchable are the ways of the Lord! Job says, he "doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say... Read More

[To Mr. T. 0.] London, 30 October 1835. My dear Friend in the common path of tribulation, My heart was much broken when I heard the few words you spoke; and when you read that part of the word of God, it plainly showed me where you were. The judgments of God are a great deep. "He is the Rock, his wo... Read More

[To Mrs. B.] London, November 1835. Madam, How universal is the profession of religion, and how general and frivolous is that universal profession! It appears chiefly to consist of - I think so and so - My, sentiments are these, and I don't agree in this or that - without the least regard to such wo... Read More

London, 25 October 1837. To the little hill of Zion, at Pulverbach, M. and J. G., Mrs. Oakley, Sukey Harley, E. P., with all others whose names are written in the book of Life. There is no end of cautions and admonitions in the word of God, and it denotes sad darkness and confusion of mind not to la... Read More

[To the Rev. Watkin Maddy.] London, Jan. 10, 1833. Dear Sir, I begin to fear lest you should prove yourself ignorant of Satan's devices. The worst of snares are usually laid in the most insidious places. I have heard of a Mr. B--, who seemed armed with all the zeal of an Apostle, and feared not the ... Read More