To Bishop and Mrs. H——
Separated friends — The day of my espousals — Judge W, and
Judge R Happiness without holiness — A forty years’ seeker
obtains the blessing in a few hours — An evening on the camp ground — Struggles of a minister for holiness; his confession — The morning; doubt; profession; the witness — A member of his flock — Conversation — FuU salvation in five minutes — Brother and sister B “This now salvation” — A youth — Proposition — Decision — Self-denial — Sweet peace.
Dear Brother and Sister H. You say, “Direct your next to Cincinnati.” How fast and how far you are receding from us! The thought is painful. At times I have almost wished that I did not love you so well; but in reality I am not sorry.
“Jesus, the comer-stone,
Did first our hearts unite;
And still he keeps our spirits one.
Who walk with him in white.”
Ten years ago, on the 26th of July, Jesus became the all-absorbing object of my heart’s adoration. September 28, 1827, was a memorable day. I am sure I shall thank the Lord throughout time and eternity that I ever saw it: but far, 0 how far more memorable, is the 26th of July, 1837, when Jesus became the Bridegroom of my soul, and condescended to enter into the bonds of an everlasting covenant with me!” Surely goodness and
A Child happy in Disobedience.
mercy have followed me all my days.” “The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage.” “Come and let us exalt the name of our God together.”
Sister H says she is staying with Judge
W, of D •: the mention of it reminded
me of Judge R, of M^ — , whose family I visited some time since. Judge R. was also a class-leader and a prominent member of the church at
M. He did not profess the enjoyment of the
blessing of holiness, One day, after I had been urging the subject with earnestness, he replied;
“0, sister P, I am happy.” For a moment
I felt hurt, and, looking imploringly upon him, said, “Why, brother R., imagine you had a child, to whom you had given a command, the observance of which was most important for his welfare and also for your honor as a parent. The child, though fully aware of your command, still goes on in disobedience. You remonstrate. He replies, * 0, I am happy.’ Would you not wish your child were not quite so happy?” I shall never forget his looks; they spoke of shame-facedness before his heavenly Father; he had not a word to say in reply. Soon afterward he received the blessing of holiness. I have once or twice mentioned this, of late, at meetings where the people seemed contented to enjoy happiness without holiness.
At the Eastham camp meeting, I heard an in-Law’s Call.” Speak of Holiness.’
teresting item in the experience of a minister who has enjoyed the blessing of holiness forty years past. Before receiving the blessing, he had often thought how much he wanted it. One day, on taking up “Law’s Call to a Holy Life,” his eye rested on these words: “Men are not holy, because they never really purpose to be holy.” He thought, “Surely here is my case. I have never really brought the matter to a point, with a fixed purpose to be holy.” He then made the resolve, and, if I remember right, in a few hours afterward was made a happy witness of full salvation.
I was at N camp meeting when I last
wrote you. The evening of that day was interestingly spent. I was in quite a large and crowded tent, where the exercises were of a general character. As most present seemed to be professors, it was suggested, “Speak of holiness,” I was not well, and an unusual prostration of body and mind had come over me, of which the enemy endeavored to take advantage, by causing an uncommon shrinking, perhaps I may say, of both flesh and spirit; but I thought of Mr. Wesley’s Scriptural admonition, “Casting aside that enthusiastic doctrine, that we are not to do good unless our hearts are free to it.” I promised the Lord, if he would help me to a word in season, that I would ever look back and say, “Is the hand of the Lord shortened?”
Struggles of a Minister. “God has humbled me.”
I spoke, and the power of the Lord was present. One, in an especial manner, was wrought upon, and cried out with a loud voice. When the people were called to the stand, this brother remained with several others, who seemed as though they could not leave the place. To my surprise, I found that the individual, who had been so signallybrought out, was the minister of the people with whom I had been worshiping. He continued to struggle during the services from the stand, most of the time on his knees, and obtained a little light just toward the close. He was then taken to another tent, where it was somewhat more retired; but his people followed him; Here he disclosed the secret of the matter.
Amid many sighs and tears, he said, as nearly as I can remember, “0, my people, God has humbled me before you. I have, as you know, now and then tried to preach holiness to you; conscious that I did not enjoy it myself, but fully purposed that you should not know it, I had hoped to get it in the privacy of my chamber. To-day I had serious thoughts of returning home, to plead with God in secret for it: but God would not let me do this; he has brought me out, and humhled me before you. I must, I will be holy.” While he was kneeling during the exercises from the stand, so unyielding had been the character of his unbelief, that I had, perhaps almost reprovdeserved it.” Love-feast.
ingly, said, “You are a minister, and as a leader of your flock you ought to be an example in faith, as well as in doctrine; and God doubtless means to bring you out as such.” Alluding to this before his people, he observed, “The sister said I was a minister. Ah! this was the worst of all; but I deserved it.” This was, I think, one of the most affecting scenes I ever witnessed, and it was made the means of awakening a deep and absorbing interest on the theme of holiness in the minds of his people.
I was obliged to leave the ground before the meeting closed, as I slept at a house a little distance from the encampment; On the morrow I returned at an early hourp as a love-feast was about being held. I had asked the Lord to direct my feet, and amid the multitude, at the entrance of a tent door, I met this minister, who, until the evening before, had been a stranger to me. I found him prepared to say that he Icnew he had laid all upon the altar, but was not sure that he was wholly sanctified.
“How would it have been,” said I, “with one in ancient time who had laid all upon the altar, in view of the divine declarations, * The altar sanctifieth the gift,’ * Whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy?’ A friend meets this offerer on his return from the hallowed altar, after having, according to the best of his ability, presented such sacrifices as” Is your Gift sanctified. The Confession.
the law required, and inquires, ‘Is your gift sanctified? or is your offering holy, acceptable?’ Imagine that the offerer had said, ‘My offering is laid upon the holy altar, I know; but that it is wholly sanctified, I dare not say.” How dare you say otherwise?’ replies the questioner. * If God hath said, “The altar sanctifieth the gift,” it surely is not left optional with yourself whether you will believe or not; it is presumptuous to doubt. You cannot dishonor God more than by doubting his word.’”
The brother at once saw that it would be a sin which would bring down the displeasure of God upon him, should he longer indulge a doubt, and resolved, on the authority of God’s word, to make confession with the mouth. He hastened to the stand. Love-feast exercises had already commenced. As soon as opportunity presented, he came out most clearly in the confession, that he was wholly sanctified, throughout body, soul, and spirit. Great peace, quietness, and assurance, took possession of his heart, and he bids fair to be a very zealous, clear-minded professor of the great salvation.
On the afternoon of the same day I asked a member of his flock, whether she was enjoying the blessing of holiness. The following conversation, as nearly as I can remember, ensued. She replied, “No.” “When do you think God will be willing to give it to you?”” He would be willing to give
A Seeker of Holiness questioned. The Venture.
it to me now, I think, if I were only willing to give up my unbelief.” “Do you think unbelief to be sinful?” “Yes.” “Do you expect to save yourself from this sin, or do you expect Christ to save you?” “O, Christ alone can save me.” “Do you believe that Christ is willing to save you now, from this and from all your sins, and that he will do it if you will only now trust him for present salvation?” With much fervor, she answered, “Yes.” “And will you now trust him to save you this moment from all sin? I do not ask what you will do to-morrow, or five minutes hence, for the future is in eternity, and at the expiration of that time you may be there also; all you want is present salvation, which can only be received by a present act on your part of entire reliance on Christ for it, and which will be continued just so long as this act of entire reliance on your part is persevered in. If you do not expect to save yourself in any degree, every moment you do not thus fully rely on Christ as a whole Saviour, you only make yourself more unworthy by the delay, for in not venturing wholly you grieve his Spirit.”
“01 will venture,” she said. “That is not it. Do you now venture? Does Christ now save you from all your sins?” She fell on her knees, and cried out, “I am saved! Christ saves me now! ‘My Redeemer from all sin, I will praise
thee, I will praise thee.’” I left her rejoicing with
Not Tears, but Faith. Hospitality.
a joy unspeakable and full of glory. I do not think more than five minutes were occupied in this conversation, and when I arrested the sister, I think she was concerned with some domestic arrangements in the tent. I mention this to say. How truly it is not according to the tears shed, nor the length of time spent in the pursuit, nor according to anything else, other than, “according to our faith it is done unto us!”
That evening God also gave me another signal
victory of faith. A dear brother and sister B,
who seemed to take pleasure in showing us every kindness in their power, (Ave had not our own tent on the ground,) were neither of them in the enjoyment of full salvation. It seemed as if my gracious Lord said, “Ask what thou wilt, and it shall be done unto thee.” Thou hast condescended to say, that “even a cup of cold water given to a disciple, in the name of a disciple, shall not lose its reward;” and now, I ask that this dear brother and sister may be abundantly rewarded, and let it be by their receiving the blessing of entire sanctification this night. It seemed too much, and human probabilities considered, intimations did not seem to favor my expectations, especially on the part of brother B — — ; but
“Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to that alone;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, It shall be done.”
This now Salvation.” Three saved.
I do not think more than half an hour intervened before God gave me the desire of my heart
relative to brother B. He laid hold while I
presented the simple way in which brother J,
of P, received the blessing while I was conversing with him in the cars, which you may perhaps remember. After I had repeated just how
brother J stepped over the bar of unbelief,
brother B cried out, “Jesus saves me now I”
Praise the Lord. 0, it seemed as if he could never cease talking about “this now salvation,” as he called it. A clearer or more joyful witness of full salvation through faith I scarcely remember to have seen. His wife also, with another dear friend, for whom I was much interested, and greatly longed for, entered into the rest of faith before the close of the interview.
And now, what a recital of doings I have given
my dear brother and sister H, and yet I have
scarcely commenced to say the many things of similar description I have witnessed within a few weeks past. I would stop, but there is one thing with which you will be so interested, that I am sure you would scarcely forgive me should I not add it to the list. Dear sister A is also rejoicing in possession f the peace of God. 0, I am sure you will say. Praise the Lord. The degree of quietness and assurance attained was brought about so noiselessly, and was also so cha-Worldliness. “If I were a Professor.” The Decision.
racteristic of herself, that I must give you a glance at this also.
In speaking of the conformity of professors to the world, a few weeks since, she expressed her regret that there should be so much of it, especially
in the church where she worshiped. *’ And A,
dear, why do you not set them an example on this point?” said I. “If I were a professor of religion, I should then feel it my duty to do so,” she replied. “If you think it would be your duty then, it is your duty now; and I do not believe, if such are your views, that you will ever get into the enjoyment of religion till you do.” “Well, it would be no cross for me,” she observed. “You had better try it,” said I. I had long believed that
A knew something of the transforming power
of religion on the heart, and that she only needed something to bring her out, by way of confession; but I little conjectured ihat this was to be the means. I had thought she possessed so much independence of mind, that the matter of dress was a small concern with her.
She said nothing more, and I remembered no more of it, until two or three weeks after, when, on observing her little gayeties laid aside, I inquired the cause. She repjpd,” When you mentioned the matter to me I thought it would be no cross, and resolved on trying it. But twice, on going out, I heard persons behind me remarking,
What a pity!” Sweet Peace.
‘What a fool she makes herself!” What a pity !* and things to that effect, and I have indeed fovind that it was a cross. But I have had sweet jpeacey Her decision, in other respects, is marked. Though we may not glory in the creature, yet it seems to
me that we may have another S, than whom
a more decided follower of the Saviour I never knew.
And now, do you not think it quite time for me to close? How little I thought of such a letter when I commenced writing. I qviestion whether
I shall let Dr. P- see it. Do you not think he
ought to chide both for your sake and mine? Yours, in the love and faith of the gospel.