To E. M. December, 1850.
My very dear,
I cannot but again inquire--Is it still
well with you? Has Israel's God proved faithful in your time of need? Have
you had 'strength as your day' and can you now say, "It is good for me that
I have been afflicted?" The cloud of affliction or trial often looks very
dark at first. "Men see not the bright light which is in the cloud,
but the wind passes and CLEANSES them." (Job 37:21.) The Holy Spirit by His
Divine exercising, comes with the affliction, and then is discovered some
light of instruction, and the dark cloud is found to be full of mercy, and
"breaks with blessings on our head." Earnestly do I hope this is the case
with yourself and your husband. I desire mercies of the God of heaven for
you my beloved, that when you come to the tribulated waters they may either
divide, that you may go over dryshod; or, if they overflow, that their
depths may only prove to you the deeps of God's mercy, faithfulness, and
love. May you feel the Rock firm beneath while the billows roll over your
head; and may you be brought up again with a new song of praise, even
"salvation is of the Lord."
Our God is a refuge for us. Our Rock will stand the
storm. Our Guide may be safely trusted, though we see neither sun nor stars
for many days. He sees us when we can see nothing but gloom, and cannot see
Him at all—when we have not one glimpse of the King in His beauty. He hears
us when we cannot hear Him--when He seems to answer us never a word; but
many an answer of peace is prepared, while the poor petitioner is long
allowed to go on pleading in sackcloth and ashes. (Dan. 9:3, 23.) Our God is
wonderful in His way of working; and, for myself, I must confess that He
generally deals very contrary to my expectations. Yet "He does all
things well." It is
"Sweet to lie passive in His hands,
And know no will but His."
I have proved my own strength to be complete weakness, my
own wisdom consummate folly, and my own righteousness filthy rags. What a
mercy, then, to be stripped of all, and have Christ for wisdom, Christ for
righteousness, Christ for strength, Christ for purity, Christ for power,
Christ for beauty, Christ for holiness, Christ for acceptance above, Christ
for our daily walk, Christ for our daily work, Christ for rest, Christ for
food, Christ for medicine; yes, to know nothing among men or before God--but
Jesus crucified and glorified!
But, say you, I cannot be so free with Christ, I dare not
claim Him for everything. Perhaps not, and we read that Ruth felt no claim
upon the mighty man of wealth when she fell at his feet to thank him for a
few handfuls of corn, (Ruth 2:10) and a morsel at meal-time. But there was
the secret of relationship behind, and she afterwards found a claim and made
it, nor did she do so in vain; for she obtained not only her hands full and
her veil full, but also the Lord of the Harvest Himself! I trust before long
you will be thus led on by the Spirit from gleaning ears of mercy and
pardon, to say, "Spread your skirt over me--for you are my near kinsman." He
will then acknowledge relationship, and give you that freedom of love which
may now appear almost presumptuous, though indeed it is not so. Where Christ
is thus revealed in the soul in His fullness, He is to be to us instead of
ourselves--and all besides. As Rutherford says, "Not myself but Christ, not
my ease but Christ, not my honor but Christ." Oh! blessed are those who can
deny themselves, and put Christ in the room of themselves. Ah, indeed! this
is the true starvation of the flesh, and the true strengthening of that
inner man--the life of which is Christ.
Well-beloved friend, if you have not yet full possession,
I hope you are Christ-hungry and Christ-thirsty; then I am sure you will not
die for lack--for such are blessed and shall be filled. Take encouragement.
May the Lord give it, and make your soul as a watered garden, for He shall
come down as the rain, as showers which water the earth.
All this is from one who has had an exchange of hearts
with Jesus, and therefore he is the never-tiring theme! That He should be my
constant subject needs no apology--but only that He is not more worthily
spoken of. Ah, indeed! of all words and comparisons, we may say—
"All are too base to speak His worth,
To set Immanuel's glories forth!"
To His loving heart and powerful arm I again commend you
for all your needs; and may you both receive of His fullness, and grace for
grace.
Yours affectionately,
Ruth.