To Mrs. D——
EstabUshinggrace — God’s worthies — Few excel — Instability — Unlike God — Let your yea be yea, and your nay nay — The seal of the Spirit — Our Father’s testament — Spiritual ambition — Ann Cutler.
0 IT is indeed a good thing, my sister, that the heart be established in grace. If God himself hath pronounced it a good thing, surely it must be pre-eminently good. How confirming it is to the pious heart to look upon one who, year after year, pursues the even tenor of his way with undaunted step! God has his worthies, even in the present day, and the eye of my mind is just now resting ‘Of whom the World is not worthy.”
with inexpressible delight on some of those of whom the world is not worthy. I have beheld them while the fires of tribulation have burned hotly around them, and yet>
“Like Moses’ bush,
They flourish unconsumed in fire.”
And again have I beheld them; and the world, the flesh, and Satan, in close array, would fain have triumphed over them, but thus far have they overcome by the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb, and, still strong in faith, they endure as seeing Him who is invisible. It is not wise to say, “The former days were better than these.”
But yet in view of the extensive provisions of grace, taken in connection with the inspiring fact, that “God is no respecter of persons,” how small the number of those who excel!
The King’s highway: how narrow is the road, How few there be that find it: yet the abode Of God — the Christian’s home — hes at its end, And none can reach the goal but they who bend With purpose all unyielding — steady, true. And step undaunted, though all hell pursue.
Instability is an evil of far greater magnitude than is generally apprehended. It is composed of elements which are wholly unlike what God loves. As well might an attempt be made to unite Christ and Belial, as to unite an unstable soul enduringly to “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.”
Instability. Immutability of God.
For the honor of the cause of God, I have greatly desu-ed that the evil of instability might be looked upon with the abhorrence which it merits. To the degree a thing is unlike God, it must be hateful in his sight. With the immutable Jehovah there is neither variableness nor shadow of turning. Yet, alas! how unhke God are many who profess to have received his nature! Their career is but a continual exhibition of variableness and turning. On one occasion you may find them flaming with ardor in the cause of Christ, and seemingly dead to the vanities of earth, and again, perhaps, in a few short months, they are found spiritless and worldly. And many there are of a higher grade of experience, who sadly mistake the mark here. How often, in view of the firm foundation laid for their faith, have they said before God, “I will believe!” “I do believe!” But when called to endure the trial of their faith, they are variable, and turn away from the believer’s only resting place, forgetful that their yea should be yea, and thir nay nay, with God. Ever do such find that “whatsoever is more than this cometh of evil’^ “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel,” was said of one in ancient time, and alas for the cause of holiness, that the experience of so many should illustrate the melancholy prediction!
I wonder why the sealing of the Spirit is not oftener an object of special faith and entreaty?
2V2 FAITH AND ITS EFFECTS.
The Spirit’s Seat Our Inheritance.
The Scriptures present it as the privilege of the believer: “After that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” Eph. i, 3. And again, as though those addressed had already received the seal, it is said, “Grieve not the Spirit, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Paul surely had received it, or he had not said, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I adore the God of my salvation, by whose grace I was moved to plead for the sealing of the Holy Spirit, The Bible presented it as my privilege, and this was enough to inspire my faith in pleading for it. N’ever did I more consciously realize that the Spirit itself maketh intercession, than when groaning before God for this establishing grace. It was the Holy Spirit that placed it distinctly before my mind, as a privilege included in the believer’s inheritance.
The believer’s inheritance! How glorious! How wonderful the privileges purchased by the sufferings and death of the Son of God! all of which are now made over to every child of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. When an earthly parent leaves his last will and testament, setting forth in specific terms the inheritance bequeathed, how
The Heir opening the Will. Ann Cutler.
minutely does each inheritor examine the document in order to ascertain the extent and vahdity of his claims! If fearful that his own judgment may be defective, he eagerly inquires of those who are skilled in law, until assured that all the privileges granted by virtue of his father’s will are fully apprehended. Why are not the children of our heavenly Father more ambitious to secure their rights? Truly, the children of this world are wiser m their generation than the children of light. It was said of Ann Cutler, a worthy of Wesley’s time, that it was her daily practice to search the Scriptures with earnest prayer, in order to ascertain just what it was her privilege to expect, and after being assured of the will of God concerning her, she made it a point never to rest until the promised blessing was hers. What an inspiring example! May the Lord help us to do likewise.
Yours, &c.
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God’s Appointments. Unhappy Change.