To Mr. P——
Difficulties in the distance — Humihty and decision — Divine protection — Daniel — Workers together with God — Witness of the Spirit — Distinction between faith and sight — Abraham; his patient faith — The wavering one.
Dear Sir, — On looking at difficulties in the distance, how oft have travelers in the heavenly way exclaimed, “Who shall roll us away the stone?” when, on coming up to the dreaded point, they have found the stone already removed, and a risen Saldour ready to meet them with his comforting smile. Thus, my dear brother P., you found it relative to the long-dreaded difficulty, which was matter of such serious forebodings in your last.
“The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” You, dear brother, are being led by the Spirit low into the valley of humility, and doubtless this is only permitted, that God may in due time exalt you. His word is pledged, that if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine. You, my brother, have decided at every sacrifice to know, in order that you may do, the whole will of God. Through the energies of the Holy Spirit, “which have been momentarily imparted, through the intercessions of Christ, you have, day and night, sleeping or waking, been sustained in the absorbing desire to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
A Miracle. Satan restrained. Daniel.
To be thus kept amid so many opposing influences, is of itself a miracle. Imagine that the decree should pass the throne of Heaven, that you for five minutes should be left to the will of your enemies. An entire destitution of every gracious intention, or desire, would in a moment succeed. Desolation of body, mind, and estate, exceeding the desolations of Job, would be the immediate consequence. Limits, as you will remember, were, by the fiat of the Almighty, set to the power of Satan, when Job endured the trial of his faith. But for the present and continuous intercessions of your Saviour, inconceivable power would at once be given to Satan over body, mind, and estate. Yes, brother, you are “kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation;” and every moment you are thus kept, you may exultingly sing,
“I ‘m a miracle of grace ‘.”
How do you suppose Daniel felt when he stood among the lions? He well knew that if his God had not sent his angel to shut the mouths of the devourers, his doom had been inevitable. Do you not think he ever afterward regarded himself as a peculiar monument of the saving grace of God? But he was not in reality more so than you are; for the roaring lion, who seeketh whom he may devour, is ever prowling about your path, and every moment you are preserved, it is by the miraculous intervention of divine power.
God at Work. Faith and Sight.
Your letter was encouraging to my faith in your behalf. Yes, my brother, it is God that worketh in you. Even now, while you are reading this communication, our God, who hath said, “I am the Lord which doth sanctify you,” is carrying on the sanctifying process in your heart. “But when shall I be enabled to testify, that I have the direct witness of the Spirit, that I am wholly sanctified? This I believe to be my privilege.” Yes, brother, this I also believe to be your privilege, and this I am sure you will have the moment you unwaveringly rely on the promises of your faithful God; for the Spirit bears testimony to the tmth of the word, when with perfect confidence we rest upon it. It is true, that you may not have any sensible manifestation, by way of assuring you of the acceptance of your offering, as the immediate consequence of your faith. To the degree manifestations addressed to the senses are given, the necessity of faith is precluded; but it is written, The just shall live by faith,’’^ not by sight.
When the father of the faithfid saw the heavenly fire descend, and with his natural eyes was beholding the consuming process, as the flame steadily ascended heavenward, was faith in any way necessaiy, by way of assuring him of the acceptance of his offering? Sui’ely not; for open vision precluded that necessity. But this sensible
Abraham’s Patient Faith.
assurance would not have been given, had not a continuous act of steady faith preceded it. Had he, after laying his offering upon the altar, removed it again from that hallowed shrine; had he, forgetful that he had need of patience, yielded to weariness, from watching the consecrated offering, and then beg-an to indulge in questioning why the Lord should so long delay the expected token of acceptance; and then, turning his mind off from the faithfulness of God, indulged in various conjectures, expressive of unsteady faith; would Abraham, amid these waverings, have received anything from the hand of the Lord? Surely the appellation of the “father of the faithful” had not been given him; for in reference to the wavering one, our God hath said, “Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord,”
0 that my dear brother P may be an example to believers, m faith and purity, as well as in doctrine! Yours truly.
P. S. — ^I perceive that I have not fully answered your letter. Your numerous inquiries demand much more time than I can command at present; but I will write from time to time, as circumstances may permit.
Promises Misapplied. Not willing to be holy.