Sermons & Devotionals by James Bourne

[To Mrs. T.] Hertford, 16 September 1838. Dear Cousin, My visit here is attended with continued self-abasement. I am kept in a very low place, but dare not say the Lord forgets me. He is a very present help, and my morning readings are comforting to me, and attended by many who are not expected. Mrs... Read More

London, 9 October 1838. Dear Mrs. Oakley, You have been much upon my mind since I saw you, and I desire to be a fellow-helper of your joy, and to hear that the Lord comforts you in all your afflictions. It has pleased God to put a worm to every gourd that you have planted, so that all things in this... Read More

London, October 1838. Dear Mrs. Morris, It gave me pleasure to see you occasionally at my family worship while I was with you at Pulverbach; and also to perceive that you had for many years more or less felt the necessity of a spiritual work upon the heart. I believe I had a witness in your conscien... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 26 November 1838. My dear Friend, There seems a necessity laid upon me to reply to your letter forth with. In my trouble I sympathized with Mrs. G., and thought more of her than anybody. I then felt the anguish of soul she felt; and I also felt the turning point, where th... Read More

[To M. and J. G.] London, 30 November 1838. My dear Friends, When first I heard of my daughter's illness I was alarmed and sank in spirit; and when I arrived at home and saw how matters were, I felt the affliction would not be either small or of short continuance. I continued sinking in spirit some ... Read More

[To Mr. M.] London, 11 January 1839. My dear Friend, I have been under many changes since I took leave of you in the street; but though I have passed through fire and water, the Lord has made me taste of the happiness found in the wealthy place. These extremities bring us to a strict scrutiny, and i... Read More

[To a Friend.] London, 1821. Dear Friend, Whatever may be your thoughts, where you are to settle and how to manage your business, they ought to rim in this channel - "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." While I make business first, I f... Read More

London, 11 January 1839. Dear Mrs. Tims, I often think of the manner of my leaving your kind and hospitable residence, and ought to be ashamed that I have found no time to thank you before this. My exercises have been multiplied and changed into so many shapes and forms that I have scarcely had cour... Read More

[To W. B.] London, 17 April 1839. My dear young Friend, I cannot forget you, and the way in which we first became acquainted at Pulverbach. I am anxious to tell you of the unsettled state of my mind when first the Lord began to work upon me. I could give no reason why it should be so, nor settle mys... Read More

London, May 1839. Dear Mrs. Oakley, How true it is that through Christ alone we are more than conquerors! You well know (by watching what goes on within) the power of our grand adversary; how he attacks our hopes, and seeks to sap the very foundation. He often almost makes us believe that the Lord h... Read More

[To J. G.] London, 7 July 1839. My dear Friend, I have long wished to write to you, but I have been so cast down that I have not been able to do anything to purpose. My fears and despondency have prevented my intercourse with others, and I knew not how I should show my face again. But the Lord, who ... Read More

[To Mr. Nunn.] Stapleton, Shropshire, 21 July 1839. My dear Friend, We had, by the Messing of God, a favourable journey. Our friends were ready to receive us, and glad of our arrival. Poor Mr. Oakley (in whose house we lodge) is in a most distressing state; his faculties are very weak, but not so ba... Read More

[To Mrs T.] Stapleton, 1 August 1839. Dear Cousin, I cannot help beginning at once with a visit I had from Mrs. Oakley. She was too full to wait till I might go into her room. She had been upstairs to see Mr. Oakley, and found him in a very meek and peaceful spirit. He said, 'Where is it in the Test... Read More

[To Mr. James Abbott.] Stapleton, 1 August 1839. Dear companion in the path of tribulation, Since I have lately from time to time heard of your conflicts, you have been much in my heart and affections. I have scarcely found any that have been so long and so deeply involved in those despairing feelin... Read More

[To the Rev. W. Maddy.) Stapleton, 9 August 1839. My dear Friend, I must thank you most sincerely for your kind intelligence from time to time. I have been exceedingly comforted with my letters from London, and hope you will be able to get out of the bondage which has so long held you. I feel the bi... Read More

[To Mrs. T.] Stapleton, 18 August 1839. My dear Cousin, I now feel the great importance of having to instruct others, because my own ignorance is so great. My difficulty in prevailing in prayer also keeps me from presumption. I am not without hope, but dare not ask for great things; every day convin... Read More

[To Mr. Nunn.] Stapleton, September 1839. My dear Friend, I find many things combine to exercise my mind here, and it is no small difficulty to keep a continual sense of God's presence with me. Perhaps God is pleased to make use of these as a means of bringing me to himself, for with all my vain att... Read More

[To Mr. Nunn.] Hampstead, 1823. Dear Friend, I am truly sensible of the kindness God has put into your heart towards me. I have found much fellow-feeling in your sufferings, and also in a measure have been made partaker of those comforts that you have had. If the Lord shall enable me I will tell you... Read More

London, 2 November 1839. Dear Mrs. Oakley, I cannot help calling to mind the manner in which I first became acquainted with you, and how afterwards myself and family resided in your house. I was exercised often in much prayer that the Lord would direct me that I might not speak after the wisdom of t... Read More

London, 22 November 1839. Dear Mrs. F., I have been anxiously watching the various changes that I have heard have passed upon your mind since your first attack in this illness. God does nothing by chance, nor in vain; but he often deals in very peculiar tenderness with some, and I think with none mo... Read More