To Mrs. W——
The bliss of dwelling in God — Blessings are received for the good of others — Confession contemplated — What had beenahinderance for years — Hearty submission to the order of God.
To MY Sister in the Lord, Mrs. W. I could
almost wish that the barrier preventing thought from mingling identically with thought, might for this once be passed. It is thus only permission might be gained to lay open to you fully the deep exercises of that devoted hour to which I referred in my last. 0 that blissful hour! when the spirit, redeemed by the blood of the covenant, was permitted to pass through the veil of outward things, and return to its Source, vnih all its tide of affections. Nothing but the veil of mortality, which now seemed almost drawn aside, appeared to prevent the enraptured, blood-washed spirit, coming into the full blaze of the presence of the eternal Trinity.
Such was my sense of dwelling in God, and being surrounded by his presence and glory, that it seemed as if my spirit mingled in worship with the heavenly company. The exercises through which I passed I regarded as nothing less than a holy compact, entered into between the Triune God and the spirit which came forth from him; and as such have I ever since felt the power and weight of the engagement.
Cost counted. Confession. Inquiry.
Not as the least of the privileges of this period do I regard that of being permitted to count the cost so fully. I foresaw, that, if I would perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, I must not lean to my own understanding, or exercise independently my own will. Also, that the blessing I had received was not imparted for my own enjoyment exclusively; but that, in accordance with the requirement of Him, who, by the offering up of himself, made this great salvation possible for me, I had been constituted a witness of it, for the good of others.
I was convinced that for years I had been hindered from rising in holiness, by a neglect to comply with the order of God, implied in the passage, “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation;” and though the deep quiet of my soul seemed to present a natural obstacle to anything like personal pubhcity, yet I was inspired with the resolve that, through grace, Satan should never again triumph over me in this matter.
The requisition seemed to be (whether temptation, or otherwise, time must deteraiine) to the acknowledgment of what God had done for me, before hundreds and thousands. “Can you, will you, do it?” was the inquiry proposed. “Yes, Lord Jesus, even before an assembled universe, if this be thy will,” was the response of my now
How Holiness may be lost. Symmetrical Holiness.
perfectly subdued heart. Now, though I well know that this blessing is the gift of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; yet I fully believe, if I had not yielded to these convictions relative to confession, I could not have retained it.
I then felt, and time continues to confirm the comiction, that if I should cease to comply with the terms implied in being set apart for God, as a vessel dedicated to holy service, it would be at the forfeiture of sanctification itself. Yet need I state conclusions so evidently inferable from such premises? Here the distinct idea of symmetrical holiness first impressed me.
By symmetrical holiness I mean that result of entire devotion to God, which is achieved in the perfect consistency and agreement between the various elements of the character possessing it. Never in heartfelt reahzation did I before so apprehend the great goodness of God in issuing to polluted mortals the command, “Be ye holy,” and for such a reason, “For I the Lord your God am holy.” O, well may angels desire to look into such a scheme! Yours, in the fellowship of the gospel.
A Finn Resolve. Eventful Evening.