The next great object which we are called to observe, is, the Decay of Sight—Those that look out of the windows, are darkened. I believe none has ever questioned but this means the eyes, and the infirmities of them in old age. One may be said to look out of a window, when he looks through the glass of the window, or when he looks through the open casement. Now a man could not look through a window, if it was not made of glass, or something of the kind, neither could he perceive any thing with his eye were not the parts thereof which the passage is made of, the very same substance. The parts of the eye through whose bodies the visible species must pass, that they may be discerned, are either the humours, or the tunicles; the humours are three, the watery, the chrystalline, and glossy humour, so Anatomists call them; and however they differ, yet they are all instrumental to vision. The tunicles or coats, through which the sight is made, are only two, though there are others which conduce to the sight, yet there are but two through which the beams of light pass; the first is as fine and curious as a Spider’s web, and being derived from the Brain and optic Nerve, it becomes a vestment for the humors, and is pellucid and transparent. The other is an hard and horny membrane, and encompasseth the whole body of the eye, without perforation, and on the back part, behind the sight of the eye is more obscure and dark, but on the fore part is far more plain and clear. Solomon observes these lookers out of the windows to become dark, that is, as age enfeebleth the eye the form and figure becomes more plane and depressed than it was before, and the chrystalline humor, which had a power of reducing itself, now becomes dry and altogether unfit for such an end, which must breed a confusion in the sight. As age comes on, and increaseth, it is well known the sight goeth away, the lookers out of the windows must be darkened. We have scarce any description in scripture of an old man and his infirmities, but the decrease of sight is mentioned, their eyes were dim, and they could not see.
I hope you will pardon this very short description of the eye, as it is a very large subject, and a vast deal may be said open it, which I reluctantly omit, lest I should swell this letter to a volume.—Thus my dear friend, our poor bodies in sickness and age, are compared to an old house, with its teams, pillars, and windows, terribly shattered; condemned by the Parish to come down. But I cannot let this letter pass without the promise of another. May your confidence increase, and abound more and more in this blessed truth, If this earthly house of our tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens—there may we meet.—Amen.
I remain ever yours in Jesus,
LETTER VIII.
TO MRS. D—.
Peckham, July 21, 1814.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
What an unspeakable blessing it is for you, that the Holy Ghost has enabled you to rejoice in hope of eternal glory, and put that expression in your mouth, as well as the hope and confidence in your heart, I know that if this earthly house of my tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building above, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens—this is in your hope, and a God of truth has declared your expectation shall not be cut off. The blessed Spirit is promised to all the Elect seed, as the earnest of that promised rest. While the glorious operations of that self-same Spirit, are designed to prepare us for that glorious inheritance. My dear Sister has, I trust, been long taught the sad state of man by nature, that though he was originally built for God to dwell in, and his image did reside in man a little while, yet an enemy came against this little City, besieged it, and raised awful bulwarks against it, gained the possession of the capital, and keeps it in peace, till the stronger than he, even the eternal Spirit comes on him, spoils him of his armour, makes him quit his territory, and gets full possession of his heart. Solomon well instructed in the operations of the Spirit, under the emblems of old age and its infirmities, points out this work in striking, figurative language. In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves. We are not at a loss to conjecture who those keepers are in the worst of senses, Satan having blinded the eyes of man, it is his work, to study how to keep them blind, keep them enemies, keep them in prejudice, keep them proud, and keep them in awful rebellion. This is the work of the devil, nor is he at a loss for means to carry on this work. Religious systems, and erroneous preachers, are the Devil’s under-strappers, by whom he carries on his infernal work. Hence the out-cry made against the truth, whenever and wherever it is preached; the endeavours to stop the progress of truth in the world, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine into the heart, and poor sinners be saved. These strong keepers of the house tremble at the approach of the light of the Gospel, and as soon as it comes in power they must submit, bow themselves, relinquish their claim, and turn out, knowing they come in by art, and with a view to deceive the house, that it might share the same fate as devils do. But viewing this subject experimentally, the Spirit coming to convince of sin, to apply the law to the conscience, and to shew us the works of the devil, at his coming these keepers tremble, but we do not find them gone, till the power of the Gospel is felt. Many have trembled at the curse of the Law; at the preaching of the Law as Felix did, when Paul reasoned of judgment, temperance, and righteousness. It is one thing for a criminal to tremble in his chains, and another for Satan to be overthrown. Satan will maintain his seat in the heart as long as he can, but God says, I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, until he comes, whose right it is; and I will give it him.—There is nothing Satan hates so much as light, when this comes into the mind he is discovered, his works hated, and the poor sinner votes against both him and his works, cries unto the Lord because of these oppressors, while his hope springs up in the Gospel news, that the Son of God was manifested in the flesh, that he might destroy the works of the devil, as the power of the word is felt, as grace reigns, so these keepers and strong ones bow, and like the soldiers at the sepulchre, the keepers thereof became as dead men. When the Angel of the covenant descends to open the prison doors, the poor prisoner comes forth as Peter did, from his prison, though the keepers stand at the door they are not able to retain the captive; hence the question, Shall not the prey be taken from the mighty? Shall not the lawful captive be delivered? Yes, blessed be God it is the mighty work of God the Spirit to cast down the strong holds of the devil, carnal enmity, pride, prejudice, and self-righteousness; when these are demolished, Satan has no hope of the damnation of such a soul; though the poor sinner himself cannot perhaps see his own part and lot in the salvation of the Gospel; he may still remain in bondage to the fears of death, the dread of hell; unbelief still prevails, doubts, fears, and sad despondency may still operate to keep the soul in misery, till the Holy Ghost favours it with an increase of faith, gives it strength enough to believe in his love, in his Person and in his glorious Work; then we enter into rest. This is done by believing the report of the Gospel, by believing such precious truths as these: He shall finish transgression—he shall make an end of sin. He shall magnify the law. Blotting out the handwriting contained in Ordinances, that was against us. Ye are complete in him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. I have loved thee, I have redeemed thee. I have blotted out as a cloud thy transgression, and as a thick cloud thy sins. He hath made to meet on him the iniquities of us all. The Lord is well pleased with his righteousness sake.
Now, my dear friend, I can assure you that I always feel peace and joy in believing these precious truths for myself; they are for such poor sinners as I have described; but faith to receive these precious things is the gift of God. And this work of God carries us above our strong fears and doubts, which are as much the corruptions of the human heart as our sins. This glorious conquest of the keepers and strong men is sometimes achieved by sensible tokens, clear deliverances, and open manifestations; it was not so with me, but it has been the happy experience of many who have had much legal bondage; not favored with a clear ministry of the word, and when God intends them either for much suffering or for public usefulness. I have often wished it my case, but I should be sorry to endure what many have, nor would I murmur that my heavenly Father has not drove me into such awful deeps.—This portion of scripture I get into very well; to you which believe he is precious; yea, he is preciousness itself: This I find true in my experience, and it is enough to convince me that the good work is begun, that the work is of God, and must terminate in an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Thus we see, feel, and admire the conquests of sovereign Grace; this brings us to God, this endears the Saviour, this inspires us with a lively hope, this turns our feet to God’s testimonies, opens the eyes to see the beauty of God’s word; the glories of the Saviour, and imbitters, yea, darkens all terrestial objects. The eyes by nature are full of evil, they are fixed on sinful objects, they are full of sin.—Hence we read of eyes full of adultery. We read of lofty eyes, and of an evil eye, the one signifies pride of self-righteousness, the other of a churlish, envious disposition. These eyes must become dark, dim, and least exercised as grace reigns. The lust of the eye is, and must be the grief of all who feel it; with this temptation Satan beset poor Eve; she saw the tree was good; she soon fell after this. Satan plied this to the Saviour, but in vain. He shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, in a moment of time. The eye is the inlet of sin; hence Job says, I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think on a maid. Job xxxi, verse 1. The power of almighty grace most effectually at times, affects the very sight of the believer, and makes him delight in looking into the Word of God, and employing even his very eyes as well as every other faculty, in the good ways of God; and as these are open to every thing that is good, they must be darkened to what is evil, neither the heart nor the eyes of a believer, as converted, are designedly set to evil; but when the one wanders and the other slides back from God, it is then the soul mourns,