To Mrs. H., 1857.
My own dear Amelia,
It was sweet to meet in His name, whose love is our bond of union, and who
is Himself the sweetness of our communion. How stately have been His steps
towards each of us! how has He drawn us away from all others, to reveal
Himself more fully and gloriously! But, oh, that He should have looked upon
so vile a one as myself with love and favor! Oh, that He should have brought
me "under the rod, into the bond of the new covenant;" this is a marvel in
my eyes! How well do the provisions of that new covenant suit my
soul: "I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my
fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me." Blessed
Redeemer, let me ever be set as a seal upon Your arm, as a seal upon Your
heart, for love is strong as death, and jealousy is cruel as the grave; and
be daily sealed anew in my warmest love, that our delights may be ever new
and mutual.
I must now thank you for the precious epistle so full of
heavenly teaching. You have indeed repaid my long silence with a rich
outpouring, which must have cost much time; but I believe as it is
refreshing and instructive in reading, so it would be also in writing, and
that you would prove the Lord's service perfect freedom. His reward is with
Him whether in doing or suffering, according to His will. With me you have
no doubt proved that it is better to labor and endure in His will, than to
rest in our own, and thus I doubt not your long epistle was more enriching
than exhausting. I rejoice in its Divine lessons, hoping to ponder them in
my heart.
That the Lord sent you living truth through me, to
nourish His own life in you, is a favor of which I am most unworthy: "Not
unto us, not unto us—but unto Your name, give glory." Where there is a pot
of oil in the house, (2 Kings 4:2-4) it will be poured out into empty
vessels at the command of our great prophet—but, like the poor widow's
cruse, there shall be no wasting by such using. (1 Kings 17:16)
I rejoice that you have been having communion with our
Beloved, and feeding on the Tree of Life; nothing else can nourish the inner
man or satisfy living faith. This is the true bread, of which if a man eats,
he shall live forever. "He who comes to me shall never hunger; and he who
believes on me shall never thirst." I love to mark the present tense of
Scripture which teaches the continuousness of a life of faith—it is not
said, He that has come, and has believed—but comes, believes, etc., and even
to the end "the just shall live by faith."
Farewell, my beloved one—every blessing be with you, and
the Lord lead you in a plain path because of your enemies.
With tender love, your ever-affectionate,
Ruth