To Mrs. B., 1849.
My dear sister in our precious Lord Jesus,
Many, many times have I thought of you since you so tenderly leaned over my
sinking frame, almost thinking to see me no more in the flesh, unless it
were to pay the last kind attention to my sleeping dust. But, beloved, we
parted with a bright prospect beyond, and a sweet assurance that we should
meet again to never, never part! Since then I have gone near, indeed,
to the gates of the grave, and the shadows of death seemed closing thickly
around me; but there was no harm, dear sister. Jesus has been through death
and through the grave, and He has left them stingless, to those for whom He
died. "O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" Thanks
be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. May He
bless you, and give you many heart-burnings while He talks to you by the
way, and opens to you in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself,
which will make you for a season forget the things concerning yourself; and
while you are lost and Jesus found--you nothing and Jesus all--you will step
on lightly, even with a heavy load in the flesh.
I hope Mr. B— is anxiously seeking the Pearl of great
price. Perhaps his sun is near setting--and then comes a never-ending
eternity! Oh, that he may not enter it without the blood of Jesus; that is
the only way by which a poor sinner can enter into heaven itself. Coming
with that precious blood, the vilest shall not be shut out, for it "CLEANSES
from all sin." Secret sin, open sin, old sin, long-continued sin, sins
against light and knowledge, sins against judgment and mercy, known sin,
unknown sin—every kind and manner of sin which a poor trembling,
Spirit-convinced sinner feels--does this powerful blood take away.
To this, many now before the Throne, and many also on
earth, can bear honest witness, and I for one would lift up my feeble voice
to encourage every sin-burdened soul to put their whole confidence in that
blood of which I have felt the benefit. My sins were as scarlet, my guilt of
crimson dye—but blood of a richer hue which flowed out from the veins of my
precious Savior has made me white as snow, and I long for poor
fellow-sinners thus to be brought near to God, for "now in Christ Jesus (we)
who sometime were far off are made near by the blood of Christ."
I know not how Mr. B— is feeling, or where he is looking
for salvation—but I have much concern for his soul, and a desire that he may
"behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." One sight of
Him by faith would be as powerful to his soul as looking at the brazen
serpent was to the body of the bitten Israelites; for as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so has the Son of Man been lifted up, that
"whoever believes in him should not perish—but have everlasting life." So
Jesus says Himself, "Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." "All that the Father gives me shall come to me,
and him that comes to me I will never cast out." Oh that this precious
"shall come" may draw your earthly husband to your heavenly One; for they
shall come who are ready to perish, who have no eye to pity, no hand to save
or help them; who feel hopeless and helpless--they shall come. Oh that the
Lord may find him, then will my soul rejoice to know that he is one of those
lost sheep, whom the Good Shepherd came on purpose to seek and find.
Now, my dear sister in Jesus--may the God of love and
peace be with you; bruise Satan under your feet shortly; cause you to
triumph in Christ; and make you exceeding joyful in all your tribulations,
through the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit, whom
is given unto you.
Accept affectionate love in Jesus, from yours very
sincerely,
R. Bryan.