To Mrs. H., June 2, 1850.
Many thanks for your precious letter, it is like Song of
Songs 1:12, "While the king is on his couch, my perfume releases its
fragrance."
"The time is short: it remains, that both they that have
wives (or husbands) be as though they had none."
"Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear;
forget also your own people, and your father's house; so shall the King
greatly desire your beauty: for he is your Lord--worship him."
"I am my beloved's, and his desire is towards me." Oh,
the wonder!
"He is the chief among ten thousand." "His mouth is most
sweet; yes, he is altogether lovely." "You, (O beloved,) are (infinitely)
fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into your lips." "As the
apple-tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons. I
sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my
taste."
It is marvelous, my dearest Amelia, that our beloved
spiritual Bridegroom should again draw near and ravish your heart with His
inexpressible love and loveliness at this especial time. Surely everything
is beautiful in its season, and these visits of love are peculiarly
beautiful now, sweetly intimating that your earthly bonds must be loosened
and your heavenly ones drawn closer, just seeming to say, "You shall be for
Me," "and you shall not be for another; so will I also be for you." The Lord
knows what are His own purposes concerning you—but He is not bestowing these
favors for naught. He will make us know that His spiritual gifts are neither
to play with nor for display—but for the edification of His household. It
may be as you think, that before long He will call you to active service;
but this will not be with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should
be of none effect—but in your own utter weakness, that the excellency of the
power may be manifestly of God, and not of the creature. May He be with you
and with your mouth, causing you to utter knowledge clearly, not fouling the
pure stream with anything of the flesh. Well may it be said, "Who is
sufficient for these things?" and joyfully may it be answered, "Our
sufficiency is of God."
I could not but write to you today, humbly adoring Him
who has made us one, not only in union—but in communion. Surely I rejoice in
your joy, and with you rejoice in the Lord our righteousness. The last
fortnight the Lord has been pleased to favor me with endearing communion. He
has come down on my soul like rain on the mown grass, and granted me such
glimpses of His all loveliness as have ravished my heart, and made the new
song of praise burst forth with fresh ardor from my enraptured soul. Oh, He
is so worthy, so worthy, that the highest, sweetest strains we reach
disappoint us, and we feel that we would praise Him but cannot!
The 12th chapter of Isaiah has been one of my melodies, and with joy indeed
have I drawn and drunk water "out of the wells of salvation." Bless the
Lord, O our souls. It is very marvelous; I feel it so; and, while longing
for more, I wonder I have so much; but He has blessed, and none can reverse
it. "There is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination
against Israel." He has brought us to dwell in that mountain where He has
"commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." "Because I live, you shall
live also." Not I—but Christ lives in me." What ease, what release it is
when Jesus is our all!
To Him I commend you in love. "Now unto Him who is able
to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Adieu.
In tender love ever yours in our best Beloved,
Ruth