Sermons & Devotionals by James Bourne

[To M. B.] Chelmsford, Sept. 1831. Dear Cousin, My letters must appear very melancholy to my friends, my spirit seems so full of fears lest the Lord should execute upon me those judgments which are threatened upon his people that depart in heart from him. It has not been till of late years that I la... Read More

[To Mr. Nunn. ] Woodham Mortimer, October 1831. Dear. Friend, Although I had solicited your company I could not feel disappointed when you fixed not to go, for as soon as we parted many difficulties arose in my mind, and I felt I must go alone; but though greatly cast down, I said, Lord, wilt THOU g... Read More

[To Mrs. Burrell,] Woodham Mortimer, 9 October 1834. Dear Friend, You have been often upon my mind during the past summer, and I cannot help including you with myself and many more amongst us, as in the number of that "poor and afflicted people" which the Lord will leave in Zion. The Lord, as a Sove... Read More

[To Richard Dore.] Woodham Mortimer, Oct. 1834. Dear Friend, As you and I are prevented having much personal intercourse on account of your deafness, I take this means of repeating what we have often considered before, with a full belief of the truth of it, that it is through much tribulation we mus... Read More

[To M. B] Woodham Mortimer, Oct. 1884 Dear Cousin, I was exceedingly glad to perceive that the spirit of your letter throughout was the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan. That which appears to us to be the destruction of our souls is the Spirit of God enlightening us to see the danger we are ... Read More

[To the Rev. W. J. Brook ] London, 1808. Dear Sir, I fear it can be no entertainment to you to hear how I go on, but I feel disposed to write, and may God enable me to do it in godly sincerity. My health is better, but I move very heavily on. I cannot get to hear the Word, being kept in such bondage... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 22 November 1834. Dear Friend, I am grieved to hear that you have been again attacked. In one of my former letters I ventured to caution you that if there should be an apparent cessation of arms, you must not sleep, nor put off your armour. I am sure that if the Lord has ... Read More

[To M. A. H.] London, 25 November 1834. Dear Friend, I was sorry to find you were so cast down as not to be able to come amongst us last night. If you had come you would have found that it was no strange thing which had happened to you. You with the rest of us have been building with hay and stubble... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 9 December 1834. Dear Sir, I was not taken by surprise when your sister called this morning to tell me the issue of your late trial, which I look upon as only the threshold of another. Therefore you must still remember that "Elias was a man subject to like passions" with ... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 17 January 1835. Dear Friend, I think it is a great mercy that you should be (as you say you are) ashamed, and afraid, and cast down. It is always so where the Lord is disciplining a man to bear tidings for him. You will find Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, all perfectly u... Read More

[To C. G.] London, Jan. 1835. My dear Friend, How greatly am I made to stand in awe, while in spirit I am made to look on the wondrous work the Lord is carrying on amongst you! You, and your sister too, will now believe "He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men;" and you with us are no... Read More

[To M. J. and C. G.] London, 24 February 1835. Dear Friends in the Lord, I have had many anxious thoughts concerning you all, and many petitions have been put up in your behalf. Though now often visited with encouraging hopes, perhaps you do not find that clear coming forth which you expected. It is... Read More

[To M. G.] London, 1835. Dear Madam, "Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine" [Psalm xxxiii. 18, 19]. When I read these words my mind was looking straight towards you; since which ti... Read More

[To M., J., and C. G.] London, 21 March 1835. My dear Friends, You excite me to write a second time to explain some things in which you have a little misunderstood me. Trembling at God's word is set forth as a good token of the Spirit's work, but your rejoicing must not be in man's acknowledging you... Read More

[To M. J., and C. G.] London, 26 April 1835. My dear Friends, I have lately heard of you, and can truly feel for you under the difficulties you are surrounded with; yet I see nowhere in God's word that you can obtain the prize without them. Human contrivances and human prudence have destroyed thousa... Read More

[To C. G.] London, 1 June 1835. My dear Friend, I was much pleased with the sober manner in which you answered my last letter, and am greatly encouraged to believe the Lord will maintain your lot, and discover to you more and more the desperate deceitfulness of the heart, especially in being convict... Read More

[To the Rev. W. J. Brook.] - 1809. Dear Sir, I thank you much for your kind letter. I believe God is doing me good, and in this he is pleased to say he delights. Though we cry hard under his chastening hand, the rod will not be spared. This quietly waiting for God is a hard lesson, and flesh and blo... Read More

[To J. G.] London, 3 June 1835. My dear Friend, Although I have already written to your sister, yet on the receipt of yours I cannot help sending you word how much I am comforted with your simple account, which displays the mercy of God to you in the utmost extremity. You have not much joy, and have... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 8 June 1835. My dear Friend, I received your tidings, and wish to add, the Lord's ways are in the deep, and it is our mercy in all things to look well to the words of our Lord, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." I hope you will be able to remain at your post t... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 14 June 1835. My dear Friend, I am by no means disheartened by the difficulties you daily encounter. It is no small thing to bear tidings between the living and the dead; nor do I see how you could find a suitable word to broken-hearted sinners, but by the perplexities yo... Read More