Thus while you are in health of body, peace of mind, furnished with the Spirit’s influence as a Remembrancer—do call to mind, collect together and highly esteem these things, in meditation and prayer, and bless him for what he has done for you and in you. Turn down those pages in your Bible which you have found precious. Tell the dear people of God what Christ has done for you, that they may help you to praise him; for it is written, They shall come and declare the Work of God in Zion.—Nor would you lose any thing by it, should you keep a Diary of the Lord’s dealings with you; it would be blessed to read it over another day, especially in the days of evil. Hence the exhortation, Set thee up way marks: set thee up high heaps—for, being like poor Jacob, we want reminding of our vows, and of God’s goodness. Hence the command, Arise, go to Bethel, where thou anointedst the Pillar, and make thee an altar to God, who appeared for thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau. It is well to remember what God has done for us, it encourages us in prayer and sweet confidence another day, as may be seen in this good man’s History, Genesis xxxii, when pleading with God for his safety. He acknowledges past mercies, when he only possessed a staff twenty years before, and with it came over that very place where he then stood with two hands! He confesses his utter unworthiness, and pleads with God upon the ground of his promises he had applied to him in times pest. Presents his prayer, mixed with thanksgiving, and obtains an answer. To feel gratitude is a mercy for it well becomes the just to be thankful.
I’ll speak the honors of thy name,
With my last lab’ring breath;
And, speechless, clasp thee in my arms,
My joy in life and death.
This leads me to notice the reasons Why Solomon urges this point; because the evil days and years are coming on, in which you will truly say, I have no pleasure in them. And as you have a little pleasure at times, and have had a good deal of pleasure in the Bible, in the House of God, at the Table of the Lord, in company with the saints, in private retirement, in doing good to some, in pitying and in praying for others, and could understand something of this text, They meetest him that rejoicest in thee—those that remember thee in thy ways. In which things you have had pleasure, and could rejoice in these youthful days. But as some of these days are gone, and the rest may fly, let me advise you against such seasons as you will say, You have no pleasure in. But may the Lord water you every moment, and keep you night and day, to final salvation—maintain his own work, and bear testimony to your spirit, what is his work, and what is not. This you have prayed for many a time, and by terrible things in righteousness God is pleased often to answer us.
I remain your’s,
LETTER IV.
TO AMICUS.
DEAR FRIEND,
I HAVE been a little concerned of late about the term Prophet. You guess what is the cause: many eminent professors, who are better acquainted with the News-paper than the Bible, have been lately venting out a good deal of spite against the memory of a late Minister, in consequence of what they call his ambitious and strongly-conceited Epitaph—“A Prophet hath been among them.” Quite forgetting that all real, faithful ministers, are entitled to the same name. The passage is, in part, quoted from Ezekiel ii, 5. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they well forbear, for they are a rebellious house, yet shall know that a Prophet hath been among them. I believe this name is applied to gospel ministers, nearly twenty times in the New Testament. Many things of eternal importance do they prophecy; and one branch of their prophecy I am sure you will find true, viz. That through much tribulation, they must enter the kingdom.—Jacob called his sons together and said, I will tell you that which shall befal you in the latter days. And Solomon, the type of our most blessed Immanuel, acting in this character, gives intimation, of what we must experience, that are created anew in Christ Jesus, and predestinated to the possession and enjoyment of the good work of Jesus—the good work of the eternal Spirit, and the good work and enjoyment of the blessed in Heaven. These God has ordained we should walk in—these are the evidences of union to Jesus; and as these are our privileges, so we must indeed drink of the same Cup Jesus did, and be immersed in the same Baptism. This was what the Holy Spirit witnessed to Paul, that in every city where he came bonds and affliction should await him, and he must go through them. No doubt these will have a glorious tendency, for our Covenant God does nothing in vain. You have hitherto been much indulged; I have really envied you, but the change you now experience is only to shew you what need you have of the whole armour of God. You are but just come into the field of action, to combat with sin, Satan, errors, hypocrites, and erroneous men—to combat with many outward and inward foes, who now appear to your view.
But the dear Saviour will also appear very precious now, in other forms, to what you have ever felt of seen him. The Spirit will take every opportunity to reveal him just as you really need him. You will so learn Christ that you will be able to stand in these days of evil, which must come on the followers of the dear Saviour, and in which they must say they feel no pleasure. These evil days are set forth by Solomon under the following metaphors: The darkness of the sun, the moon, and stars, with a long, heavy, lowering sky. These things will be understood by the tried family of God; so that while you have the season of getting, or doing good, you must use that period for that use—hence such seasons are called an Hour—very short, but precisely fixed and determined by our covenant God. This season is called a Day that will soon go away, and the Night commence. This day is far spent with you, and a night is come on, in which you cannot work, but must wait—in which you cannot run, but must stand still, till the Lord sends you bright clouds, and a clear shining after rain. This season, in your experience, is called a Morning. How lovely and pleasant, while through the falling dew of God’s favor, your graces budded, and the softly-pleasing southern gales caused your spikenard to send forth a delightful perfume. But evil days must come; not such evil days as must befal those as have no interest in, or love to the Saviour, and which may never come on in this world. Hence they are said to receive their good things in this life, but the righteous evil things. What a mercy, my brother! in all that befals you there is no curse, no hatred in God to you, no unatoned guilt, no danger of hell, or of coming short of the desired haven; nor perhaps many fears or dread of these things: I hope they are gone out of your conscience long ago: not but you may be tempted about them for a time, but these shall be gone. Hence God promises, that on all hills which shall be digged with a mattock there shall not come thither the fears of briars and thorns; the real cause of these fears never shall come on you again. But the design of this Letter is simply to point out some of the evil days. Literally, Solomon refers to old age, with all the infinities that attend it. And this may be applied to the weakness of the human frame, the trouble, as well as to longevity of life; and hence the 71st Psalm, composed by David, and indited by the Spirit, which belongs to Christ. He, the adorable Messiah, prays, Cast me not off in the time of old age, which is explained in the next clause, when my strength faileth me; and is doubtless the meaning of the 18th verse. This may be seen in his agony in the garden, when he cried out, O my Father! if it be possible let this cup pass from me. Now likewise his prayer was answered, for there appeared an angel from heaven to him to strengthen him. Thus age is not always applied to length of years; a person through affliction of body, many cares, crosses and losses, may be old; that is, as weak in constitution as the most aged and infirm character. No doubt many bear up amazingly well under the infirmities of age; but it must be allowed these are evil days: that alone which can sweeten them, is a good hope through grace, the clear witness of the Spirit of God to the conscience, a lively precious faith in an everlasting covenant, in the blood of the Lamb, and in the faithfulness of that God who has graciously said, and even to old age and hoary hairs will I be with you. Justified in the Redeemer’s obedience, and kept firm in the truth. Solomon says, The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. Happy, thrice happy old man! just upon the threshold of that joy that awaits thee. Soon thy spiritual Joseph will send the waggons of his holy angels to conduct thee to himself, to behold all his glory.