To Mrs. W——
A sacrifice contemplated — The surrender is made — The seal of consecration enstamped — Apprehends a state of holiness — Exults in the knowledge of the sanctification of body, soul, and spirit — Scruples removed — Christ all in all.
My Dear Mrs. W. I left you in my last
endeavoring to lay hold on the terms of the covenant, — fixed in purpose, — surrendering myself in the bonds of an everlasting obligation to God.
-I began to particularize. The thoughts and exercises of the morning occurred again with yet greater power. Can God be about to take from me this one dear object, for which life is principally desirable? thought I. Looking into the future, I said, “What a blank!” Never before had I realized, that the very fibres of my existence were so closely interwoven with his. My impression was, that the Lord was about to take my precious husband from me. The inquiry with me was, whether it were possible that my heavenly Father could require me to make the surrender, when he had authorized my love, by making it my duty to be of one heart and soul with him. But grace interposed; and from more mature consideration, I was led to regard it as extraordinary condescension in God thus to apprise me of his designs, by way of preparing my heart for the surrender. With Abraham I said,” I have lifted my hand
Obligations not apprehended. Set apart.
to the Lord.” In word, I had again and again made the sacrifice before, and said, “My husband and child I surrender to thee.” I had not been insincere, but I now saw that I had not in fact done that which, in word, had often been named. Far, indeed, had I been from reahzing the depth of obhgation which, in word, I had taken upon myself. Truth in the inward part I now in verity apprehended as God’s requirement. Grace triumphed. In full view of the nature of the sacrifice, I said,
“Take life or friends away.”
I could just as readily have said, “Take Ufe as I could have said, “Take friends;” for that which was just as dear, if not dearer, than life, had been required. And when I said, “Take him who is the supreme object of my earthly affections,” I, from that moment, felt that I was fully set apart for God, and began to say, “Every tie that has bound me to earth is severed.” I could now as easily have doubted of my existence as to have doubted that God was the supreme object of my affections. The language of my heart, and, as far as memory serves, the expressions of my lips, were, I live but to glorify thee. Let my spirit from henceforth ceaselessly return to the God that gave it. Let this body be actuated by the Spirit, as an instrument in thy hand for the performance of thy pleasure in all things. I am thine — wholly thine. Thou dost now reign in my heart
*I2 FAITH AND ITS EFFECTS.
Holiness. Sanctification, Purity.
unrivaled. Glory! Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever!
While thus glorying in being enabled to feel and know that I was now altogether the Lord’s, the question, accompanied with light, power, and unquestionable assurance, came to my mind, “What is this but the state of holiness which you have so long been seeking?” It was enough! I now felt that the seal of consecration had in verity been set. God, by the testimony of his Spirit, had proclaimed me wholly his! I said, and also felt, in such a peculiar sense as my spirit still most delightfully appreciates, “Henceforth I am not of earth; the prince of this world, though he may come, yet hath nothing in me. The Lord, my Redeemer, hath raised up a standard against him; / am set apart for ever for thy service,”*
While thus exulting, the voice of the Spirit again appealingly applied to my understanding, “Is not this sanctification?” I could no longer hesitate; reason as well as grace forbade; and I rejoiced in the assurance that I was wholly sanctified — throughout hodi/, soul, and spirit.
O with what triumph did my soul expatiate on the infinitude of the atonement! I saw its unbounded efficacy, as sufficient to cleanse a world of sinners, and present them faultless before the throne. I felt that I was enabled to plunge, and lose myself, in this ocean of purity — yes, h&TLgmge inadequate. Former Scruples.
“Plunged in the Godhead’s deepest sea,
And lost in love’s immensity.”
It was enough! My spirit returned consciously to its Source, and rested in the embrace of God. From my inmost soul I said, “Lord, it is enough!’* I pause at the exclamation; for I hesitate what language to use, or what expression to make of my views of the condescension of my covenant-keeping God, relative to this eventful period of my Christian history. Ah! I have no doubt but, even after inniunerable ages of eternity have past, the amazing condescension thus manifested for the estabhshment of one so fearful and unbelieving, will be by me exultingly rehearsed to a hstening multitude of rejoicing angels, and cause a renewed burst of holy triumph from the adoring throng.
Every shade of objection, or thought of scruple, was thus by Omnipotence himself rebuked, or rather utterly silenced. What I mean by scruples should be mentioned. It is this: — Though I have ever been a firm believer in the doctrine of Christian holiness, embracing the entire sanctification of body, soul, and spirit, as taught from the Scriptures by the apostolic Wesleys, and their cotemporaries; yet the terms made use of, in speaking of this attainment, were objectionable to my mind, in a manner which I cannot now take time to explain. Though from early life I had felt that I needed just the blessing comprehended, yet the
74 FAnil AND ITS EFFECTS.
Propriety of the Words Holiness, Sanctification.
terms made use of I seldom used. Now there seemed such a glorious propriety in the words “holiness,” “sanctification,” that I thought nothing less than infinite Wisdom could have devised words so infinitely proper.
What more reasonable, thought I, now that I have been enabled through grace to resolve on being wholly the Lord’s, than that he should set the seal which proclaims me his; and still further, now that I have set myself apart exclusively for his service, that he should take cognizance of the act, and by the seal of the Spirit ratify the engagement? So clear was the work, and so apart from anything like extravagance in feeling or otherwise, that though I had fixed my calculations on the performance of some great thing, such as an amazing struggle — a desperate venture of faith — I was now ready to exclaim,” How simple and rational! and how precisely as might have been expected as the result of such exercises. It is all here; I, through the Spirit’s influence, have given all for Christ, and now he hath revealed himself, and given himself to me, and become my all in all.
Your sister in Christ.
A Blissful Hour. A Holy Compact.