To Mrs. W——
The adversary foiled — Unbroken quiet — Tempted in a dream-Sweet repose — Encouragement given during sleep — Peace, the heritage of the believer.
To MY Dear Mrs. “W. With my natural propensity to reason, it was suggested that it would require a miracle of grace to sustain me in this state of salvation. The example of those who were apparently possessed of much more spiritual firmness, and yet had failed in retaining it, was presented to weaken my faith; especially the experience of the sainted Fletcher, who, at three or four different periods, let go his confidence, was presented to induce despair. But the adversary was foiled. In the strength of Omnipotence I was enabled to count the cost of living a life of faith, and firmly did I resolve rather to die than to doubt. I gained beyond calculation, by the determination that I would not reason with the enemy; assured if I ventured even to parley, as in the case of the first transgression, his suggestions would soon assume the appearance of plausibility.
0 can I ever, my dear sister W, cease to
retain in lively remembrance this eventful evening! I began it, intending to devote it in prayerful waiting before God. I was prevented from continuing long, by some friends calling in; but the deep quiet of my spirit was not in the least dis-Manifestation expected,
turbed by the visitors. After they had retired, I spoke of the sweet rest upon which my soul had entered to my dear sister Sarah, and then went to my chamber.
Previous to retiring to sleep, my reflections ran thus: — As I have not been favored with extraordinary emotion, such as I have heard many express, may I not expect something especially confirming during the night? I had been enjoying sweet and hallowing communion with God during the night season for some time previous to this, and now, thought I, may I not expect some extraordinary manifestation during these hours of repose? Whether this should be given, or otherwise, I felt that I was resting consciously in the arms of everlasting love; and the breathings of my passive spirit were. Lord, it is enough! thou art my soul- satisfying portion! The assurance had been imparted, that just the portion of ecstasy best fitted to enable me to glorify God would be given. Already unutterable peace, fresh from the throne, was flowing into my soul, and thus I resigned myself to repose.
But I was made painfully aware that I was not yet out of the reach of the enemy, even while asleep. After the above reflections, imagine my surpnse on awaking in a frightful dream. Yes, Satan himself, transformed into an angel of light, was permitted to assault me. But the wrath of tXITU AND ITS EFFECTS.
Frightful Dream.
our enemy may be made to praise the Lord. Thus it was now. I think the narration calculated to be useful, and, therefore, will give it in part.
I imagined myself standing in the back parlor. All the circumstances of the evening, embracing the precious experience I had gained, were still vividly before me. Presently I was aroused by a loud knock at the door. Knowing that all about the house had, by the lateness of the hour, been quieted, and all the inlets secured, I was assured that something was wrong: but remembering that X was already in the power of the intruder, and resistance in vain, I, with firmness, said, “Come in;” when, lo! a personage, altogether unlike any I had before conceived of, entered. Added to a countenance fiendish in the extreme, was a costume of the Highland order, with a covering of thin white, and black underneath; the black, in many places, projecting below the white. He harshly demanded, “Is the doctor in?” “He is in the front parlor, on the sofa,” I replied. As he passed me, I ran and screamed for assistance, and was awakened by the effort. Quick as thought the suggestion came, “Where is the expected manifestation? Is not this enough to call in question the exercises of the evening?” I remembered how sweet had been my communion for several preceding nights, and now to be thus assaulted by the fiend of darkness was, for a moment,
Trial. Victory. An Angel.
a trial. But, blessed be the Lord my strength, I was kept by the Angel of the covenant from yielding to the temptation. Yet there was so much seeming reality in the assault, that my nervous system suffered, much the same as though it had been an actual occurrence; but it was thus far only that the adversary was permitted to exert his power. The tranquillity of my spirit was not disturbed. All was a silent heaven of love. Soon I again sunk sweetly to repose, as under the shadow of the Almighty.
In about an hour and a half after this I was again aroused by these words: “Behold, I, an angel, beseech you that ye walk worthy the vocation wherewith ye are called.” An angel? an angel? inquired I, as if conscious of its not being the exact phraseology of Scripture. With the exclamation I again awoke, filled with glory and with God, sweetly assured that God had sent his angel to strengthen me. I arose, and returned thanks to God. Soon after this, my beloved husband came in, who had been absent on professional business since quite early the preceding evening, and was, therefore, unapprised of the glorious assurance of hope I had received.
I told him how the Lord had blessed me. Of the assault from Satan, and how the Lord had just sent his angel to strengthen me. He seemed overjoyed, and regarded the condescension of God
The Hosts of the Lord. Their Presence.
as SO surprisingly gloriotis, that I wondered at him, for I felt it was only what might have been expected. Through the power of the Spirit I had first endured temptation, and then that a ministering spirit should be permitted to visit a fellow-heir of glory, appeared altogether natiu-al; for my mind had become so spiritualized, that I seemed to apprehend, in most happy realization, that 1 had, through the blood of sprinkling, come not only to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, but even “unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.”
Again my sheet admonishes me that I must close; but I shall take an early opportunity to tell you how I have since been borne onward by the might of the Spirit. I find a firm, abiding peace, the heritage of the believer after having entered the rest of perfect love. I daily feel that God requires I should be holy, in order that I may be more useful, and, consequently, more happy. I am ever enabled to endure, as seeing the Invisible. Having entered through the blood of the everlasting covenant into the holiest, I realize daily that I cast anchor deeper within the veil.
Yours, in the blessing of perfect love.
Temptation. Resolve. Effects.