To Mrs. H., 1849.
My own sweet Amelia,
Surely your words are pleasant words to my soul, because they flow in sweet
accordance with the pure law of liberty and love; which is, that "in all
things Christ shall have the pre-eminence," yes, that He shall be all, and
we nothing. Our Teacher must be one, the teaching is so in unison; and how
blessed, my dear Amelia, that flesh and blood has not revealed this unto
us—but our Father who is in heaven, whom it has pleased to reveal His Son in
us, and also to give Him unto us as our precious heavenly Bridegroom. The
glories of His person, and ravishments of His love are not for a carnal eye
or strange bosom—but only for her of whom He says, "But I would still choose
my dove, my perfect one." (Song 6:9)
My heart rejoices, that you are feeling the worth and
weight of souls for whom our precious Lord travailed in sweat and blood. It
may be your high privilege to be His instrument in awakening some from the
dreadful sleep of death in sin. My heart longs that this be done more than
words can tell, and also that living ones be aroused to a sense of their
high privileges in Christ Jesus--who is too little known and too little
sought after. Surely, my very dear Amelia, we, who through grace have a
glimpse of these glories and taste of this blessedness, should be right
earnest in telling the good tidings to those of the king's house within, (2
Kings 7:9-11) who yet believe not the joys of a present salvation. Though
they listen to us with jealousy, we have the witness in ourselves, and can
say honestly, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you." (1
John 1:3, 4) We would testify to man when the Lord calls us—but we
seek not testimony from man; it were an insult to the Divine majesty,
when we have already His testimony in our conscience.
Adieu, my very dear friend; the Lord keep you all His
own.
In His precious love which flowed out in richest blood, I
am your warmly-affectionate,
Ruth