"Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his
nostrils. Of what account is he?" Isaiah 2:22
To Miss M., January 19, 1856.
My beloved friend,
I am ashamed of my long silence. I think of you and grieve that your mind is
still tried and perplexed by the inconsistencies of others, as I learned
from your last pensive note. But, perhaps, before now that cloud has been
dispersed. I earnestly hope that it is so, for, indeed, my beloved friend,
there is so much crookedness, even in the living family, that we need to
remember constantly the words of the Lord which head this page, and which
were made powerful to my own soul a few days since. But how slow we are to
obey this divine injunction. Even in this sense we may well say, "My soul
cleaves to the dust," while we should pray for grace to cease from
creatures, neither confiding in them too much for comfort, nor too much
expecting to find all consistency within. Frail and imperfect are the best,
and this is nothing new, for one of old says, "The most upright is sharper
than a thorn hedge," and another, "I have seen an end of all perfection."
Oh! that your tried, tempest-tossed heart may be led to
find refuge in the perfect One--the Friend who loves at all times, and
sticks closer than a brother, for this precious "neighbor who is near, is
better than a brother who is afar off." A brother may look on our wound and
pass by on the other side—but this good Samaritan attends to our case from
whatever cause be our sorrow, and whatever the hand that may have wounded.
His oil and wine heal, and His sweet words soothe the troubled heart, for He
has got the tongue of the learned, and knows how to speak a word in season
to him that is weary. He is merciful, and He can have compassion on the
ignorant. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, so that He is anointed to
preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, and bring
deliverance to the captives, and to open the prison to those who are bound,
to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Did I tell you how much I had been profited sometime
since by Mark 1:18? The Spirit showed me how many things are as "nets" to
entangle us, and to keep us back from following Jesus, and also in how many
ways we may be using "nets" to catch some desire of our carnal hearts; but
then how blessed when brought to that, "straightway they forsook their nets
and followed him." You know, dear friend, that too much poring over the
inconsistencies of others may become as a "net" to catch our own feet, and
hinder us from looking to Jesus. A friend of mine was once grievously
annoyed by what was God-dishonoring in another person. It fretted him much,
though he had no power to prevent it; but at length he heard the Shepherd's
voice, saying, "What is that to you? follow me," which broke the snare.
It is vain to dwell upon that which hinders our own souls and helps no one.
How is your health now, and how is the health of your
soul? Have you been brought to the venture of faith, even as one dear to me
lately said in the view of the all-sufficient Savior, "I felt that I could
venture the whole weight of my soul upon Him, though vilest of the vile I
felt I was." This was my maid, who has been with us eleven years, and the
Lord has just sweetly sealed her for His own, which has made me rejoice with
exceeding great joy, for I have long been watching for her soul. Oh, my dear
friend, may the blessed Spirit bring you to this.
All your weight of sins, sorrows, and cares the
Burden-Bearer can sustain. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for
you." And it is no honor to Him to be carrying it yourself; it must sink you
into gloom and dejection. A minister once said, "The Lord tells us to carry
our cross and cast our care—but we try to cast our cross and carry our
care." I felt much self-conviction from the remark—but must say with the
Psalmist, "Nevertheless, he being full of compassion, forgave their
iniquity, and destroyed them not." S
o that, notwithstanding my willfulness and sin in many
ways, I am still "the living, the living" to praise Him, as I desire to do
this day, and to encourage you to put your trust under the shadow of His
wings, for there is healing there. (Mal. 4:2) Do excuse this sad scrawl, I
hope you will write soon, if able; and, warmly wishing you every covenant
favor, I remain, with much love in our precious Jesus, your affectionate
friend,
Ruth.
"The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who
are bowed down." Psalms 145:14