LETTER XXII.
Valley of Achor, March 1st, 1818.
Miss Harris.
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND.
Mr. K. requested I would drop you a few lines. I beg your acceptance of such as I may write at this time, in very painful circumstances. Believe me, my friend, I most sensibly feel the hand of God; my poor heart it broken, my sighs are many, and my heart it faint. But I call to mind past times, when I certainly have known, tasted, and felt the precious truth I once preached, and then I thank God and take courage. The Lord has designed from all eternity, to bring his children home to his eternal bliss; but then he has, also, appointed all the means to lead to that one grand end. This was, perhaps, shewn to pious Jacob, in a vision of a ladder, which he afterwards called the house of God, and the gate of Heaven. Christ is all these; he is the way, he is the house, he is the gate: and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to lead his people up to him, as the way of life.
This is the way God has taught me, and the way only where I find any solid peace in a world of cares, sin, and death. These are the seven steps up the ladder, up the way of life; and the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he shall direct his way, and I am sure he always directs to the dear Redeemer. May you feel inwardly directed to him, and in the word, and by a faithful ministry outwardly directed also. But it is not enough to be directed there, we must be led by a divine hand, power must be put forth, for the kingdom is not in word, but in power. Nor am I satisfied with any person’s ministry, except I feel that power—any man with truth floating in his head, may send me to Jesus; but I want the power to attend that direction, to bring me to him, knowing, that as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. A soul, when formed anew, quickened and illuminated, is led to Christ by God the Father, who owns and receives the soul. Nor is there any coming in reality, but as we are led. You may see this in our first parents; Eve was a part of Adam, and we are a part of Christ, the fruit of his sufferings and death. For except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth fruit. The Lord having formed Eve, brought her to Adam, and he declared the union between her and him. He loved her, received her, and she was dear to him. I leave you to make all other reflections upon this subject, and trust the blessed spirit will lead you to see and enjoy it in your own soul. I am truly happy the Lord has impressed your mind with his spirit, while in youth—’tis most blessed to know the adorable Trinity, as our new Creators, in this time of our life. Altho’ we have got to bear the burden and heat of the day yet it is a mercy to be hired early in the morning, it is all of grace, from first to last, nor will one chosen vessel in glory, have any greater share of God’s smiles, or be nearer the throne than another, though called as early as Jeremiah and John the Baptist, or late as the Thief on the Cross. You will have much to struggle with, many days of darkness and grief, but the blessed spirit will turn all into good for you, by taking every opportunity of glorifying Christ, in his salvation and offices; and the deeper your knowledge of Jesus, the richer will be your soul in heavenly things. The more you are brought into an acquaintance with the God-Man Mediator, the sweeter will be your communion and fellowship, till it arrives to real earnests and foretastes of glory. But all the principal difficulty will consist in being led to understand how to live a life of faith, out of self, upon the Son of God—it is for want of the clear knowledge of this, I am in my present trouble; this may astonish you, but God knoweth I lie not—a future day may explain that to the Church. I understand the Lord has blessed you with an affectionate heart towards your dear Mother, and he will reward it. I have often envied the felicity of those who have a kind mother to care for, watch over, pity, and help them; but Ah! poor me was left by parents, cruel and unkind, to perish, till I was found an helpless infant. For me no tender mother has yielded her fostering care, but
Left on the world’s bleak waste, forlorn,
In sin conceiv’d, to sorrow born:
No guide the dreary waste to tread,
Above, no friendly shelter spread.
But the Lord had some kind, and I hope gracious design, in preserving me till now, though my distress has often made me blame, like Job, the kind hand that took me up when an out-cast. I am still the child of woe, the hand of God and man appears against me in providence, and my distress of mind is great—my dear friends deprived of my public labors, and exposed to the shafts of cruel calumny. My dear family without a fond mother, and now deprived of a father they dearly loved, and whose paternal embraces they eagerly prized: but now
No Children run to lisp their Sire’s return,
Or climb his knees, the envied kiss to share—
Excuse me, tears will not let me proceed. May the dear Saviour bless you. We live in a dying world; a few more rising and setting suns will settle all. May we aim to know, to win, and to be found in Christ: clothed with his righteousness, pardoned with his blood, purified by his spirit, filled with his love, and for ever delighted with his glory.