A Christmas Letter

Dec. 28th, 1762

My dear Friend,

I do not forget you nor your last letter. Till memory fails me, I hope in a grateful mind to retain a sweet sense of your kindness to me. Blessed be His name! I have a desire put into my heart by my heavenly lover to spread His fame and glory as far as my tongue can reach. And for what else do I take up my pen but to make mention of Him, even of Him only? the favorite theme of His redeemed on earth — the triumph of the same redeemed, when they come to Zion with everlasting joy upon their heads and in their hearts. My meditation of Him is now sweet: in one single point of view I am beholding Him, and in that He is all glorious. O that the faithful witness for him may give you to feel what I have felt of His incarnate love! May the Spirit glorify in your soul that greatest, that standing miracle of Jehovah’s everlasting grace, by letting you know, that, for you a child was born, for you a son was given, even Immanuel himself — God with us, and God for us. I will try to lead you, by the light of revelation, into some of the wonders of this transaction, as they have been manifested with life and power to my own heart.

The scripture is a full description of the purposes of the divine will from eternity to enternity. Therein we find a council held, before all worlds, between the Holy Trinity, and the decrees of this council, confirmed by the covenant and oath of each of the divine persons. This was the great contrivance of heaven, and it lay in the bosom of Jehovah with infinite delight. He viewed it as the richest display of all his divine perfections, in which, and for which, His glory would be admired and enjoyed by His creatures for ever and ever.

Immanuel was the center of this covenant — His becoming surety for his people — taking flesh for them — living and dying, that the divine honours of the holiness, and truth, and justice of the Godhead might shine forth in full-orbed glory, for shewing mercy to poor sinners — This was, this is, this will be the eternal subject of praise. Hear how the Father triumphs in the Son of his love — “Behold my servant, whom I uphold — mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.” And again, with a voice from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” All the counsels, decrees, and works of Jehovah terminate, yes begin and end, in this blessed Immanuel; and therefore, when the angels were created, the purpose of Jehovah’s taking flesh was manifested to them; and proclamation was made, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Pride arose in the heart of Lucifer and his companions; their will opposed the will of the eternal Three in this matter, for which they were cast out of heaven, and have opposed Christ and His people ever since.

Then this world was created to carry into execution the purposes of the everlasting covenant. Man, the object of the Deity’s delight, as made in the image of God — part of two worlds — a body of earth and an immortal spirit — by the one connected to matter and sense, by the other to God, the father of spirits. The enemy of Jesus attacked Eve, and beguiled her hrough his subtlety. Adam was not deceived, but fell by listening to his material and sensual part. He preferred his wife to God, and so lost his image, knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.

Upon this the revelation of the covenant was made, and the incarnation of Jehovah was made known, as the ground of faith and hope, and of return again to God in the way of love and gratitude. As clear as words can speak, and signs declare, the promised seed of the woman was to attack Satan, and was to bruise his head, where his poison lies, and thereby to deliver his people. For this purpose the Father sent him into the world, that he might deliver us from the power of darkness, and translate us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

I believe, from the evidence of scripture, that Adam, and all believers downwards, had as clear a view of the incarnation of Jehovah, and of the reasons for his taking flesh, as you and I have; and with as warm hearts as we can, have they rejoiced in the God of their salvation. Hear one of them, how he stands amazed at this miracle of mercy — “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?” And mind the pious breathings of his holy Father — how he longed for His birth! “0 that the salvation was come unto Israel out of Zion! 0 that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity! Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.”

That he would come, was the ground of hope to all believers in every age; and there were many of them waiting when he came, who blessed God for letting them see with their eyes his great salvation. At the fixed moment, when the fulness of time was come, there was a chosen vessel most graciously fitted and humbled for this miraculous conception. She was highly favored, high in grace, meek, and lowly in heart; and of her, by the power of the Holy Ghost, was that holy child conceived — of her, the virgin mother, was He born — a babe, helpless as we are. Here is Love! O what a miracle — God incarnate! And yet like us in all things — an infant. Be astonished, ye heavens! and adore, thou earth! this miracle of miracles!

He is born among us, grows up as we do; a child, a youth, a man — true and very man. But, O the rapturous thought, He is Jehovah! Think, O think what that blessed woman felt when she broke out into this sweet hymn, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” There is my honour, not that he is my son, but that He is God, my Saviour. He took my nature, that I might take his: He lived for me, that by his obedience I might be made righteous; He suffered my punishment, that I might never suffer it; He bore my curse, to redeem me from the curse of the law; He was forsaken of God his Father, that I might never be forsaken. He died to give me life; He rose again, to take possession of life for me; He ascended in our nature, and is glorified in it. What He has, I shall have: His honours, His crown and dignity, His fulness of joy and bliss — all, all are mine. What he is, what he was, is for me; for he is God, my Saviour. Happy, thrice happy, Mary, virgin mother! Yea, happy, thrice happy too, my friend. Is not the new born King your King? Is not the child Jesus your God? He is, He is; you cannot deny it. O come then, my dear friend, let us praise his precious name, and let us magnify his love together. Soon, yet a very little while, and we shall be with him; we shall be like him. Yes, when we come where he is, the glory of that sun of righteousness will shine upon us, yea, will shine into us, and he will make us what he is. We shall then be happy partakers of all that was with delight in the breast of Jehovah from eternity; all will be fulfilled. The Father’s richest love, the most exalted grace of the Spirit, will flow, through the infinitely blessed Immanuel, into all his glorified members. This is the accomplishment of the everlasting covenant. In this the eternal three will take eternal delight. Jehovah will rest in his love. And through that God-man will the Godhead have full, perfect, and everlasting glory, honour, worship, blessing, and praise. You will sing aloud, in as high a key as any one of them all. Complain you may, and of yourself you ought; but then it will be all praise — all wonder — that you should be chosen, elect of God, partaker of his covenant-love. This distinguishing grace will make you a happy, willing debtor to Immanuel, for ever and ever.

Thus, looking backward or forward, I see all the purposes and works of God bearing respect to this wonderful person. He was set up from everlasting as that Alpha, and He will be to everlasting the Omega; for in all things He must have the preeminence. He has it above. O that we may ascribe more of it to Him below: and you will, if you can pierce with the eagle eye of faith within the vail. There you will behold Immanuel enthroned, and all the host of heaven worshipping at his feet, admiring and adoring, because sharing in, his divine excellencies. The beauty of this sight makes an eternal heaven. Then, if your faith has any ears to hear, listen. O what melody do they make! — what notes do these golden harps strike!—what voices accompany them! — what a harmony! The words I understand— they are singing salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever. But their manner of singing is peculiar to the place. The air can form so such sounds: they can be only in the element of heaven.

When your faith comes down from this high flight, and it is not capable of being long there, then look around you; and whatever object your eyes first fix upon, if they are spiritually exercised, you will see some ray of our Immanuel’s glory. The book of nature is the outward record of his fame. Some of his great achievements are engraved in every part of the creation. — The sun, moon, stars, and earth, in full concert join the choir above, and in perfect unison sound forth the glory of our Immanuel.

And suppose I direct your eye to an object which I know you do not like to look at —YOURSELF, even there I can find as great a proof of the Redeemer’s glory as any where else upon earth: for, what are you? Are you not a poor, miserable, helpless sinner? His crown depends upon his saving such. What do you feel within you? — tell all your complaints. These just fit you to live upon the Saviour’s fulness. Look at your outward estate: tell me that part of it which does not display the Saviour’s glory. We are all the gifts of Jesus’ rich love — love him for bestowing much upon you; and the more you have, love him more. And mind, you can not, you never will, love him too much. Try—put forth all your strength — he will still be above your affection, the best, the utmost of it. I wish you much of his company this Christmas — many a sweet visit from him. O how I long to be more intimate with him. But he is kind, indeed; exceedingly kind. Dearest, dearest Jesus! — May he never leave you without some token of his love! Farewell!

A Letter by William Romaine

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