Looking to Christ in Affliction

Dearly Beloved, grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied:

In calling to remembrance former days, I now have to join you in singing to the praise of our dear covenant God one of Zion’s songs: “Hitherto hath the Lord helped me.” You have waded through deep waters since I saw you, and I have not been without my trials; therefore, give me your hand, brother. “Say ye unto the righteous, it is and shall be well.” How blessed to live with this feeling persuasion, beneath a sense of pardoning mercy at the foot of the cross! My thanks to you, and to the Lord for so instructing you, for your kind remembrances at a throne of grace. Nothing short of Christ Himself, the enjoyment of His love, is so desirable as an interest in His children’s prayers. Communion with Cod and among His saints is better than life itself, and is all the heaven my soul is looking for above. The lines you quote are beautiful. The worth of heart-felt prayer, known by blessed experience, inspires the soul to a diligent attendance at the altar. It is Satan’s policy to keep us from the Lord, for in so doing he doubles our distress. The world, flesh, and unbelief form no small hindrances. The heart is deceitful; but, blessed be God, He is faithful.

What a mercy that salvation is of grace! This is my place at His gracious feet, and is my song and boast in this the house of my pilgrimage below. Here centers my hope, a precious Christ being “The chief Corner-stone”; as it is written, “Blessed are they who hope in His mercy.” My dear brother, I have nothing else to hope in, neither do I want anything else, saving a revelation of that mercy as flowing from and through Christ into my heart. Knowledge without application will never do a soul good; but, meeting together in the heart, they are the health and strength of God’s anointed ones. Here thousands flounder and perish, having the form but not the power. But who has made us to differ! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift, for His discriminating grace.

You are looking from the furnace for the appearance of our Savior, Christ the Lord. Unto you He shall appear the second time, without sin unto salvation. Sin is the cause of all distress. It hides my Savior’s smiles, and often bars me from my love, the Christ of God, the needy sinner’s Friend. Therefore to be free from it, and to be with Jesus too, how sweet the thought! The Lord comfort our hearts with this blessed hope, until death is swallowed up in victory, and life in a glorious immortality.

My soul is sometimes overwhelmed with the anticipation of that joyful event, the coming of Christ on the glorious morn, without sin unto my salvation, and is ready to leap out of this tenement of clay, to meet Him in the air. What are a few months’ or years’ afflictions and trials here below, when compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us? My brother, in your best moments rejoice with me, and in your worst consider. Strength has been equal to our day hitherto. Paul and his crew got safe to land; so shall we. Christ is our Pilot; His Word is our compass; His heart, His covenant love and mercy the ark wherein we, His jewels, are locked secure; His cross our standard; His arm our strength; His righteousness our livery; His blood and His flesh our meat and drink; His love our banner; His promises our armory; His side our refuge; and the whispers of His Spirit within the pledge, the full assurance of a complete victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave, and of a triumphant entrance into the haven of eternal rest, there to be forever with the Lord.

Oh, the blessedness of being Christians! The world knows nothing of their conflicts, neither, as you justly observe, does a stranger intermeddle with their joys. Fightings from without and fears from within; afflictions often, as in your case, my brother, in mind, body, and estate; trials, losses, crosses, temptations, and persecutions are more or less the lot of every new-born heir of glory. But hear what Paul says: “To make up the afflictions of Christ” (of Christ, mark that!) “in my body”; so that Christ does not only sympathize with us in our sufferings, but our afflictions are His; that is, He feels as keenly for us as though He really bore them in His own body. Under this consideration it is written: “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.” This honor is conferred on all the saints, that they who suffer with Him shall also reign with Him.

All hail, my brother! Lift up your head, for your redemption draws nigh.

The blessing of the God of Israel rest upon you and your household, and upon all who love our dear Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.

Through mercy, our friends whom you name, with myself, are much as usual. Accept our united love.

Cannot you make it convenient to come over once more? We should be very glad to see you. Please do accept of the enclosed books. What you don’t want will do for your friends who love the truth, if they should think they are worth reading.

With Christian respects,

I remain,

Yours affectionately in the Lord,

G.T. Congreve

Bedworth, August 1, 1832.

G.T. Congreve, a friend of j.C. Philpot, was a druggist and office-bearer in a church at Bedworth. Reprinted from The Gospel Standard.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen