Part 4 (1/2)
Shall I, to soothe the unholy throng, Soften thy truths and smooth my tongue, To gain earth's gilded toys, or flee The cross endured, my G.o.d, by thee?
What then is he whose scorn I dread.
Whose wrath or hate makes me afraid?
A man? an heir of death? a slave To sin? a bubble on the wave?
Yea, let men rage, since thou wilt spread Thy shadowing wings around my head: Since in all pain thy tender love Will still my sure refreshment prove.
Still shall the love of Christ restrain To seek the wand'ring souls of men, With cries, entreaties, tears to save, And s.n.a.t.c.h them from the yawning grave.
For this let men revile my name,-- No cross I shun, I fear no shame: All hail reproach, and welcome pain; Only thy terrors, Lord, restrain.'
”I trust, sir, that you see what a glorious high calling yours is, and that you are one of those who walk humbly with G.o.d, that you may be taught of him in all things. Persons in your place are messengers of the most high G.o.d. Is it too much to say, they should live like the angels in all holiness, and be filled with love and zeal for men's souls? They are amba.s.sadors, in Christ's stead, to persuade sinners to be reconciled to G.o.d. So that your calling is above that of angels: for they are _afterwards_ to minister to the heirs of salvation; but the sinner must be _first_ reconciled to G.o.d. And you are called on from day to day to intercede with man as his friend, that you may win souls to Christ. Christ is ascended up on high, to intercede with his Father for guilty sinners, and to plead for them the merits of his death. So that Christ and his faithful ministers, through the operation of the blessed Spirit, are co-workers together.
Yet without him we can do nothing: our strength is his strength, and his is all the glory from first to last.
”It is my heart's prayer and desire, sir, that you may, by a living faith, cleave close to that blessed, exalted Lamb of G.o.d, who died to redeem us from sin--that you may have a sweet communion with Father, Son, and Spirit--that you may sink deep in humble love, and rise high in the life of G.o.d. Thus will you have such discoveries of the beauties of Christ and his eternal glory as will fill your heart with true delight.
”If I am not deceived, I wish myself to enjoy his gracious favour, more than all the treasures which earth can afford. I would in comparison look upon them with holy disdain, and as not worth an anxious thought, that they may not have power on my heart to draw or attract it from G.o.d, who is worthy of my highest esteem, and of all my affections. It should be our endeavour to set him always before us, that in all things we may act as in his immediate presence; that we may be filled with that holy fear, so that we may not dare wilfully to sin against him. We should earnestly entreat the Lord to mortify the power and working of sin and unbelief within us, by making Christ appear more and more precious in our eyes, and more dear to our hearts.
”It fills my heart with thankful recollections, while I attempt in this weak manner to speak of G.o.d's love to man. When I reflect on my past sins and his past mercies, I am a.s.sured, that if I had all the gifts of wise men and angels, I could never sufficiently describe my own inward sense of his undeserved love towards me. We can better enjoy these glorious apprehensions in our hearts than explain them to others. But, oh, how unworthy of them are we all! Consciousness of my own corruptions keeps me often low; yet faith and desire will easily mount on high, beseeching G.o.d that he would, according to the apostle's prayer, fill me with all his communicable fulness, in the gifts and graces of his Spirit; that I may walk well-pleasing before him, in all holy conversation, perfecting holiness in his fear.
”If I err in boldness, sir, pray pardon me, and in your next letter confirm my hope that you will be my counsellor and guide.
”I can only recompense your kindness to me by my prayers, that your own intercourse with G.o.d may be abundantly blessed to you and yours. I consider the Saviour saying to you, as he did to Peter, 'Lovest thou me?' And may your heartfelt experience be compelled to reply, 'Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that I love thee' supremely! May he have evident marks of it in all your outward actions of love and humanity in feeding his flock, and in the inward fervour and affection of all your consecrated powers: that you may be zealously engaged in pulling down the strongholds of sin and Satan, and building up his Church; sowing the seeds of righteousness, and praying G.o.d to give the increase: that you may not labour for him in vain, but may see the trees bud and blossom, and bring forth fruit abundantly, to the praise and glory of your heavenly Master. In order to give you encouragement, he says, whosoever 'converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death;' and that will increase the brightness of your crown in glory. This hath Christ merited for his faithful ministers.
”I hope, sir, you will receive grace to be sincere in reproving sin, wherever you see it. You will find divine a.s.sistance, and all fear and shame taken from you. Great peace will be given to you, and wisdom, strength, and courage, according to your work. You will be as Paul; having much learning, you can speak to men in all stations in life, by G.o.d's a.s.sistance. The fear of offending them will never prevent you, when you consider the glory of G.o.d; and man's immortal soul is of more value than his present favour and esteem. In particular, you are in an office wherein you can visit _all_ the sick.
Man's extremity is often G.o.d's opportunity. In this way you may prove an instrument in his hand to do his work. Although he _can_ work without means, yet his usual way is by means; and I trust you are a chosen vessel unto him, to prove his name and declare his truth to all men.
”Visiting the sick is a strict command, and a duty for every Christian. None can tell what good may be done. I wish it was never neglected, as it too often is. Many think that if they attend in the church, the minister to preach, and the people to hear, their duty is done. But more is required than this. May the Lord stir up the gift that is in his people and ministers, that they may have compa.s.sion on their fellow-sinners,--that they may never think it too late, but remember that while there is life there is hope!” Once more I pray, sir, pardon and excuse all my errors in judgment, and the ignorance that this is penned in; and may G.o.d bless you in all things, and particularly your friends.h.i.+p to me and my parents. What a comfort is family religion! I do not doubt but this is your desire, as it is mine, to say,--
'I and my house will serve the Lord, But first obedient to his word I must myself appear; By actions, words, and tempers show That I my heavenly Master know, And serve with heart sincere.
I must the fair example set; From those that on my pleasure wait The stumbling-block remove; Their duty by my life explain, And still in all my works maintain The dignity of love.
Easy to be entreated, mild, Quickly appeased and reconciled, A follower of my G.o.d: A saint indeed I long to be, And lead my faithful family In the celestial road.
Lord, if thou dost the wish infuse, A vessel fitted for thy use Into thy hands receive: Work in me both to will and do, And show them how believers true And real Christians live.
With all sufficient grace supply, And then I'll come to testify The wonders of thy name, Which saves from sin, the world, and h.e.l.l: Its power may every sinner feel, And every tongue proclaim!
Cleansed by the blood of Christ from sin, I seek my relatives to win, And preach their sins forgiven; Children, and wife, and servants seize, And through the paths of pleasantness Conduct them all to heaven.'
”Living so much in a solitary way, books are my companions; and poetry which speaks of the love of G.o.d and the mercies of Christ is very sweet to my mind. This must be my excuse for troubling you to read verses which others have written. I have intended, if my declining state of health permit, to go to --- for a few days. I say this lest you should call in expectation of seeing me during any part of next week. But my dear father and mother, for whose precious souls I am very anxious, will reap the benefit of your visit at all events.
”From your humble and unworthy servant,
”E--- W---.”
Having read it, I said to the father of my highly valued correspondent,--
”I thank you for being the bearer of this letter. Your daughter is a kind friend and faithful counsellor to me, as well as to you. Tell her how highly I esteem her friends.h.i.+p, and that I feel truly obliged for the many excellent sentiments which she has here expressed. Give her my blessing, and a.s.sure her that the oftener she writes the more thankful I shall be.”