CLXI.March, 1813.Dear Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ, I AM come at last according to my promise, which ought to have been fulfilled before: but, alas I have sometimes leisure upon my hands, but no heart to work; no oil in my cruse, no spring in my well, no overflowings in my cup. At other times the wind blows, the spices flow out, and the spring of divine life rises; when perhaps I want leisure. And sometimes the poor tabernacle is weary or infirm, when much study becomes a weariness to the flesh. Never right, dear Joseph, nor can be; something will ever be out of joint, off the hooks, unpinned, or displaced; something wanted, something missing, something deficient; until that blessed period arrives when we shall see him as he is, be changed into his likeness, bear his image, be clothed with his immortality, shine in his rays, swim in his pleasure, burn in his love, triumph in his victory, bask in his glory, and be filled with all his fulness; made perfect in one, see as we are seen, and know as we are known; then shall the high praises of God, be in our mouth, and eternal joy upon our head; and our sweet, unwearied, unmolested, uninterrupted, and unceasing employ, be celebrating the perfections of God and the Lamb for ever and ever! This, my dear brother, is the glory set before us, for which we must endure the cross and despise the shame. The great God and our Saviour, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, shall be revealed; his glory shall, cover the heavens, and the new earth shall be filled with his praise; he shall come to be admired in his saints, and to be had in honour of all that are about him; then will the marriage of the Lamb take place, and the long loved, long looked for, long espoused bridegroom appear, with all the angels following him; and the bride, made ready, go out to meet him, with all her train of virgins and companions following her; these shall be brought; "With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the King's palace," Psalm xlv. 14, 15. Then shall the wedding garment of an imputed righteousness adorn us, the Holy Spirit shall make us all glorious within, and the atoning blood of Christ purge us from every corruption, stain and wrinkle; pence shall adorn our feet, and life, righteousness, glory and honour, shall crown our heads. Thus will the Lord present us to himself a glorious church, and she shall reign with Christ a thousand years. After that he will present us to his Father, with a "Behold me, and the children which thou hast given me." Covet earnestly, in every prayer of thine, the best gifts: covet life and love, and the Spirit's witness in thy heart: covet that assurance with which he seals us up to the day of redemption: covet his adopting cry of" Abba, Father: "covet his consolations, his devotional sensations, and his enlarging operations; together with all his inward instructions, revivals, renewals, humbling meltings, and self-abasing influences, with which he favours poor helpless, worthless sinners; and then thou wilt see and feel for thyself that the kingdom of God stands in power, in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. These things swell the heart with heavenly glee, and the mouth with melody." They shall speak of his kingdom, and talk of his power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom." I am at present very weak and low in body; but blessed be my God, who favours unworthy, sinful me, with, heavenly rays, distant views, and budding hopes. Dear Joseph, adieu! W. H. S. S. |
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