Sermons & Devotionals by James Bourne

[To his daughter H.] London, 23 November 1839. My dear H., I trust you had a safe journey, and doubt not you have had a very kind reception from our friends at Hertford. I miss you in many ways, and you are often in my thoughts; especially in my prayers that the God of all grace may stand by you, an... Read More

[To one who manifested enmity.] Stoke Newington, 9 December 1839. Dear Friend, There is not a more subtle corruption than prejudice, the offspring of enmity, a true child of the devil, which often influences and greatly affects that corrupt part which is found in the hearts of the children of God, a... Read More

[To M. G.] Stoke Newington, 9 December 1839. My dear Friend, Your present affliction has entered deeply into my mind, and I can truly feel for you, and find much encouragement in my prayers in your behalf. It never was said to the seed of Jacob "Seek ye me in vain;" nor can I be persuaded that the c... Read More

[To M. and J. G.] Bayswater, 29 January 1840. My dear Friends, I cannot help sending you a few lines that perhaps would have been written before this, had I not been painfully ill for a fortnight. I entered this valley of humiliation with some feeling sense of my high privileges - "This is my comfor... Read More

[To M. and J. G.] London, 4 February 1840. My dear Friends, "If ye faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." The Lord has called you to the battle, and has in many ways told you that it is not yours, but his. While you have a breath to draw, spend it in prayer and confession to him. "A... Read More

[To M. and J. G.] London, 8 February 1810. My dear Friends, I am sorry to see you so cast down under your present trial. Surely you must be aware that the peculiar hand of God is in it all, and that it is for some express purpose as yet not known to you. But let me tell you the dispensation calls fo... Read More

Hertford, 6 March 1840. Dear Mrs. J. I am of necessity at a distance from you, yet I often lay to heart your case, and am greatly encouraged by it. God's faithfulness to his people is unfathomable; "his ways past finding out." O how great is his goodness towards them that fear him "There is no want ... Read More

Hertford, 13 March 1840. My dear H. I am just returned from Hitchin. Last night a Mrs. P. desired to meet us at a friend's house where several were collected. After some conversation they desired me to expound; and I took Psalm xxxiv., but felt fear and some suspicion because there appeared (as I th... Read More

[To his Wife.] Kidbrook, Aug. 11, 1821. My dear Wife, I was rather low on leaving London (partly owing to nervousness), and anxious to have some token for good before entering Kidbrook. I felt much earnestness, with godly fear, that I might not be found where I had no right to be, and I could not qu... Read More

[To - ] Hertford, 25 March 1840. Madam, It is now nearly seven years since you first came amongst the little despised flock in which you now rank yourself as one. In the first letter I received from you I thought I discovered much tenderness and humility, which led me to hope that the Lord had been ... Read More

[To Mrs, T.] Hertford, 28 March. 1840. My dear Cousin, Your welcome letter cane in a time I needed it, and I felt much encouraged by it. Your first chapter of Joshua has been a sweet portion to me, and though it fills my spirit with awe, yet it arms me with divine courage to meet what it may please ... Read More

[To the Rev. B. G.] London, 20 April 1840. My dear Friend, I have often reflected upon my visits to Hertfordshire - the fears with which I was surrounded within and without, and the many encouraging times I found in prayer, respecting the whole of them. My bodily health kept me low, which I found to... Read More

[To a daughter of Mr. Oakley.] London, 30 April 1840. Dear Madam, I cannot help sending you a few lines, but how to say it is in sympathy with you I scarcely know; because the very long and fearful trial that you have witnessed in your late father, has terminated so exceedingly sweetly as much rathe... Read More

London, 23 June 1840. My dear W. B. I am truly sorry I cannot get at you so much as I could wish. I feel much for your long captivity; but consider (as no doubt you do), This is the Lord's doing; and I trust it is to engage your attention to that "still small voice" which he utters upon your conscie... Read More

Fittleworth, Sussex, 20 July 1840. Dear Mr. Maddy, I was much struck with reading in Rom. iv. how Abraham was not disheartened at the thoughts of his own body being dead, but rather looked to the promise of God, and staggered not. That dead body is a figure of the dead works that dead professors bri... Read More

Fittleworth, 23 July 1810, Dear W. B. I am not able to find out your secret thoughts, but of this be assured, God is doing business with your soul; and you had need to pray for a watchful spirit, that you may know what to answer when he reproves. I would advise you only to make use of one word in yo... Read More

[To Mrs. T.] Fittleworth, 26 July 1840. Dear Cousin, Wherever I am I feel that "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life;" and everything that transpires has a tendency to work death. I have been all my life long too much widening this narrow way, and am even now convicted o... Read More

Fittleworth, 30 July 1840. Dear Mrs. Burrell, There is no situation in life that screens us from affliction. I used to think that poor --'s frequent visits to your father [Mr. Huntington] would be the means of his getting all the blessings, while I should be left in the dark, hopeless and helpless. ... Read More

Fittleworth, 30 July 1840. Dear W. B., Let me kindly ask you, Why are you so deadly silent? If the devil can bind you hand and foot, no doubt he will; but why believe him more than God's word? The Lord has put you into a desperate place, and you cannot get out of his hand; there is nothing left for ... Read More

[To his Wife ] 19 August, 1824. My dear Wife, I was exceedingly happy on Sunday morning in reading and meditation. I do not know when I found so much meekness and humility before God, and such godly sorrow and real grief of heart on account of sin. I was first much struck in reading Elisha Coles, wh... Read More