To Miss C., September 25, 1857.
Dearest Anne,
I must greet you once more in the name of Jesus. I hope you are
recovering, and are having all afflictions sweetened by the love of the
"Man of sorrows," who was so well acquainted with grief. I have felt some
sweetness in praying for your brother. May the Lord manifest Himself to
his soul. If he is a blood-bought jewel, he shall not be missing in the
day of account. The great salvation is not of merit but of mercy; so none
need despair because of crimson sins--the rich blood of my precious Savior
makes them white as snow. This I can well witness, for none could be
worse.
What a glorious company will there be on the Mount Zion
above, of blood-washed sinners--once so black, then so white; once so far
off, then so near; once so full of fear and trembling, then so safe
forever and ever. How shall we praise the worthy Lamb who brought us there
at the cost of His own heart's blood! Oh, that poor doubting souls had
more conception of the virtue and efficacy of that blood which has
cleansed and will cleanse millions and millions of black sinners,
and make them fit company for God and the Lamb. How it would encourage
them to come to that fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, which is
free to every longing soul who is crying, "Wash me, Savior, or I die!"
Would that I had more conceptions of the freeness and
fullness of the finished salvation, and that this contracted heart were
enlarged to apprehend more of the love of the Savior to poor needy
sinners. What an amazing object our Father has given us to behold by
faith, even His crucified Son, who was the brightness of His glory and the
express image of His person. Yet for poor sinners was His visage marred
more than any man's. His food and drink was to do the will and work of His
Father; yet "it pleased the Lord to bruise Him," and thus marred, and
bruised, and crucified, He says to bruised reeds, "Look unto Me, and be
saved!"—unto Me, bleeding, agonizing, made a curse for your sin. Look unto
Me on the Cross, to be healed of your diseases, and forgiven your
iniquity; none ever looked in vain.
Oh that our eyes and hearts may be fixed here; then
shall we be constrained to sing and give thanks. "Unto you, therefore,
which believe, He is precious." (1 Pet. 2:7) Not which have
believed—but in the present tense. Oh, to live believing by the power of
the blessed Spirit, who takes of the things of Christ and shows them to
the soul, drawing it out towards this adorable Man, who is more precious
than the gold of Ophir. Soon will clouds and veils be done away, and we
shall see Him as He is with open face!
Believe me, yours very affectionately,
Ruth
"When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once
more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy
Temple." Jonah 2:7