To Miss M., February 21, 1851.
My dear afflicted friend,
I am sorry to hear that you are too ill to write. The Lord has indeed spread
His net over you, and laid affliction upon you. He has added grief to your
sorrow, and broken you with breach upon breach, until you feel but as a
wreck, and as one "ready to perish." But "they shall come, who were ready to
perish." However lame, however lost, they "shall come;" however vile and
base, however far off by wicked works, and further still by unbelief, they
"shall come." Nothing shall hinder the accomplishment of the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God; for "whom He did foreknow, those He also
did predestinate;" and "whom He did predestinate, those He also called; and
whom He called, those He also justified; and whom He justified, those He
also glorified." It is all done in God's account, and nothing in earth or
hell can undo it. What has been done above on the sinner's account, shall be
done below in the sinner's experience. Effectual calling, irresistible
power, omnipotent grace, combine to accomplish the "shall come." They "shall
come" to Mount Sinai, and amidst the thunders of the righteous law learn
their own unrighteousness, by nature and practice. They "shall come" to
judgment here, be made to plead guilty, feel condemned in heart and
conscience; and wait with fear and trembling, expecting execution, until the
great trumpet is blown. The jubilee sound tells of release; it chiefly
affects those in debt, distress, and difficulties. Then, to their own
astonishment, those prisoners which were ready to perish "shall come" out of
a strait place--into a large place; from just condemnation--to free pardon
for all offences, past, present, and to come. They "shall come" to be washed
in the fountain of blood; they "shall come" from wearing sackcloth and
ashes, to be covered with the robe of righteousness, and clothed with the
garments of salvation; they "shall come" from the spirit of heaviness to
have the garment of praise, the ring of love, the crown of loving-kindness
and tender mercy; they "shall come" from the mount of terrors to the mount
of peace, and to all the blessings and blessed company there, of which you
may read in Heb. 12:22-24. They "shall come" there by faith, while dwellers
in mortality. And, moreover, when their wilderness days are ended, they
"shall come" to Mount Zion above; and the Shepherd will rejoice over the
sheep which was lost; and the sheep will tell, to the Shepherd's praise, how
it wandered as far as it could, how it destroyed itself, how it was "ready
to perish," how it was so lost and so helpless, that when it desired to
return it could not; and then how the Shepherd found it, and through floods
of guilt, mountains of fears, and hosts of foes, had brought it safe home to
glory. Oh, then will not they all again sing Hallelujah! worthy is the Lamb
which was slain! And the much sinning and much forgiven one, will strive to
be loudest in the song.
"Ah," say you, "what has this to do with me? I am more
fit for the depths of hell than the heights of heaven!" Why, it has to do
with you, my beloved; it is strong consolation that your vile sin, stubborn
will, proud spirit, desperate unbelief, and cruel, powerful foe shall
not prevail against God. His "shall come" will be stronger than all
these; and I do solidly believe this "shall come" includes you, and
that you "shall come," and are coming, as it is written, "They shall
come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them." Are you not
weeping over your sins? Are you not supplicating pardon for them, and power
against them? And do you not often feel as if none were like you, none could
know how bad you are, and none help you but the crucified Savior? And do you
not mourn for a sight of Him crucified for you? It is said, "They shall look
upon Him whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for Him." Surely this
"shall come" will bring you to that sacred place, even the cross, where,
gazing by faith upon the wondrous Sufferer, your burden will fall off into
His sepulcher, never to appear before God again, for "their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more." Who is a pardoning God like unto You?
"A just God, and a Savior." Your hard case, my beloved friend, does not go
beyond His "uttermost," to which He is able to save. What you are, cannot
help your salvation; what you are, shall not hinder it. All is of free grace
from first to last! Help is laid upon One that is mighty, whose own arm
brought salvation, who trod the wine-press alone, and of the people there
were none with Him. He finished the transgression, made an end of sin, and
brought in everlasting righteousness. He is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone who believes.
Wander no longer, then, upon the dark mountains of your
own doings—but lift up your eyes unto the hills of salvation, from whence
comes your help. Your help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and
earth--and who says, "Come now, and let us reason together: Though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool." "I will pardon them whom I reserve." Surely you are
a reserved one, and a preserved one too, that you may be a pardoned one. The
indwelling of sin will be felt, and the plague of sin mourned—but the curse
and condemnation are forever removed from them whom He reserves; for "the
iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the
sins of Judah, and they shall not be found." For "who shall lay anything to
the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies; who is he that condemns?
It is Christ who died, yes rather, who is risen again, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." So that "if any man
sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and
He is the propitiation for our sins."
Oh that it would please the Holy Spirit to pour this
spiced wine, this strong consolation into your trembling soul; that out of
weakness you may be made strong, may wax valiant in the fight, and by faith
turn to flight those armies of the aliens, which so proudly threaten you
with destruction! "Now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all
those who are sanctified." He "is able to keep you from falling, and to
present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy."
To Him be glory, both now and ever, Amen.
I trust you have been restored to some degree of calmness
concerning your heavy loss. The Lord's "judgments are a great deep;" we must
not attempt to fathom them. "His ways are past finding out;" we must not
expect to trace them. Quiet submission befits sinful worms. The Lord give it
you, and all your trials will be much lightened. "The cup which my Father
has given me, shall I not drink it?"
The Lord "guide you by His counsel, and afterwards
receive you to glory."
So desires, with kindest love and sympathy, your
affectionate friend,
Ruth