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A LETTER

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A LETTER

6 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Aske’s Hospital, Dec. 28, 1788.

Dear Sister.

We often talk of you, and oftener think of you, hoping God is carrying on that good work in you, which, we trust, He has begun. You are secretly saying, O that it were begun! Is it not? What are the feelings of those who are the subjects of it? Are they not the following, and are not these feelings your’s? No child of God is a stranger to this, and the most eminent were eminent for this. Consider Job, Daniel, Isaiah, St. Paul. Those humble declarations which christians make respecting themselves before their fellow-creatures, as well as in the prescence of the Great God, are not what the world wishes them to be thought,—the cant of a party: much less what is sometimes insinuated,—indications of spiritual pride, covered with a mask of humility, but the natural produce of a mind taught of God.

You may think, to acknowledge the possession of this may imply the want of it. I trust, you cannot deny that you possess views respecting yourself in reference to God, far different from what you once possessed.

2nd. Do not such think highly of Jesus Christ? I am sure, throughout the Scriptures, THEY speak highly of Him, who, we know, were holy men, taught of, or moved by the Holy Ghost. Has this never been your sentiment? Whatever I repent of when I come to die, I shall never repent of this, that I have thought or spoken too highly of Jesus Christ?

3rd. Do not such desire heaven as their home? They do feel the uncertainty of this present life, and the vanity of all its best enjoyments. They credit the account given in the word of the reality and excellence of that “rest, which remaineth unto the people of God,” and earnestly desire and seek it. They adopt the language of the Psalmist, “O that I had wings like a dove, then would I flee away, and be at rest!” “As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

4th. Do not such simply depend on Christ, as the way? If “by the works of the law no flesh can be justified,” if “there is no other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we can be saved,” if all the children of God shall be taught by Him,—this follows. Need I remind you of St. Paul’s account of his experience, which he advances as a standard, whereby we may judge of our own, “Yet, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Does not your solemn surrender of your soul into His precious hands, under a persuasion that He alone is able to keep what you have committeed unto Him, witness your experience of this?

5th. Do not such thirst after holiness, and desire conformity to Christ, as well as interest in Him? How often has this been the prayer of your heart, “Blessed Jesus, conform me to Thyself, impress Thine own image on my depraved soul: I cannot be happy, except in proportion as I am holy. O sanctify me entirely. Write Thy laws on my heart, etc.”

6th. Do not such, I will only add, heartily acknowledge, that whatever there may be in them which is good, is the work of God; and the fruit of rich and souvereign grace! “Thou, Lord, hast wrought all our works in us,” is the acknowledgment of the church of old. Are not such the common and cordial confessions of true christians? Have you not often adopted them yourself? Are you not willing to adopt them now? Do you not, in effect, adopt them, whenever you bow your knees in secret before the throne of grace? If God had not loved me, until I loved Him; nor sought Him; never should I have loved, or sought Him at all! If, while others neglect Thee, O blessed Jesus, and sin with a high hand against Thee, I am seeking and desiring to serve Thee: or, while others build on the sandy foundation of their own works, I am looking simply unto Thee; I claim no merit, Thine and Thine alone be all the praise, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us!”

Those in whom these things are, need not suspect the existence of a good work, a work of grace in their souls. And we may be as confident of this very thing as St. Paul was, having the same ground of assurance, “that He Who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it to the day of Christ Jesus.” Various are the dispositions and propensities of the children of God; various, therefore, the treatment they need: of course various are God’s methods of treatment: it is, however, a right way, by which He leads them all to a city of habitation; and so they, one and all, must acknowledge, when they enter into it, “Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints!”

The conduct of Providence to you appear in some respects mysterious, and may actually be so. Remember, the only wise God, our Saviour, has determined the times before appointed, and fixed the bounds of our habitation. And He is, even when He hides Himself, “the God of Israel, the Saviour.” I pray God to lead you, more and more, to die to self in every sense, and to live on Christ and to Christ. And you will, in proportion, find “Christ in you the hope of glory,” being “filled with all joy and peace in believing;” even that “peace which passeth all understanding.” Look anywhere but to Him; and perplexity and sorrow are the immediate, and death the certain consequence of such mistaken conduct! I am your’s with sincere affection,

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 juli 1952

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's

A LETTER

Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 juli 1952

The Banner of Truth | 16 Pagina's