Letters on the Most Important Subjects

The following Letters, it is presumed, need no confirmation of their authenticity, nor any recommendation of their invaluable contents, to those who knew and esteemed their late excellent Author. The manner and style, almost peculiar to himself, of making Christ the All in All, in the glory of his person, the efficacy of his blood and righteousness, and the fullness of his salvation, proclaim aloud that these were written by no other than Mr. Romaine: they prove also, to a demonstration, that Jesus was his darling theme, in his closet as well as his pulpit, in his private correspondence as in his public discourses; nor, indeed, was this holy man of God ever in his element, but when he was making mention of his Divine Master’s name and righteousness only, of which it might be literally said he knew no end.

The Editor pledges himself to the public that these letters are faithfully printed from the originals in the handwriting of their venerable Author; and he flatters himself he is bringing glory to his adorable Lord, as well as rendering an essential service to the Church, by preserving iv PREFACE.

this invaluable treasure from oblivion, which God in his providence hath thus put into his hands, he trusts, for this very purpose, and is not to be found in any other publication. Nor will his prayers be wanting, that every reader of this precious collection may, by the Divine blessing, reap the greatest benefit from its perusal, and have cause to glorify the Great Head of the Church, who had so abundantly blessed this incomparable minister’s labors in his life, for accompanying with the unction of the Spirit these his posthumous letters, by which, though dead, he yet speaketh.

Finally, he humbly hopes that, as the deceased blessed Author of these epistles had treated the religious world frequently with various other Treatises and Sermons, the novelty of this little work, sanctioned too by its own intrinsic excellence, will still render it doubly acceptable to the Church of God; especially as everything is omitted of a personal nature, respecting the friend to whom these letters were immediately addressed; and what is here published is presumed to be of equal concern to every other individual believer.

For their service, therefore, and with this view, is this mite humbly cast into the Lord’s treasury, by a willing, though unworthy, servant of Christ.

THE EDITOR.

My dear Friend: — I do not forget you nor your last favor. Till memory fail me, I hope, in a grateful mind, to retain a sweet sense of your kindness to me. Blessed be his name! I have a desire put into my heart by my heavenly lover to spread his fame and glory as far as my tongue can reach; and for what else do I take up my pen but to make mention of him, even of Hm only? the favorite theme of his redeemed on earth — the triumph of the same redeemed, when they come to Sion with everlasting joy upon their heads and in their hearts. My meditation of him is now sweet; in one single point of view I am beholding him, and in that he is glorious. O that the faithful witness of him may give you to feel what I have felt of his incarnate love! May the Spirit glorify in your soul that greatest, that standing miracle of Jehovah’s everlasting grace, by letting you know, that for you a child was born, for you a son was given, even Immanuel himself — God with us, and God for us. I will try to lead you, by the light of revelation, into some of the wonders of this transaction, as they have been manifested with life and power unto my own heart.

The Scripture is a full description of the purposes of the Divine will from eternity to eternity. Therein we find a council held, before all worlds, between the Holy Trinity, and the decrees of this council confirmed by the covenant and oath of each of the Divine persons. This was the great contrivance of Heaven, and it lay in the bosom of Jehovah with infinite delight. He viewed it as the richest display of all his Divine perfections, in which, and for which, his glory would be admired and enjoyed by his creatures for ever and for ever. Immanuel was the centre of this covenant — his becoming surety for his people — taking flesh for them — living and dying, that the Divine honors of the holiness, and truth, and justice of the Godhead might shine forth in full-robed glory, for showing mercy to poor sinners. — This was, this is, this will be the eternal subject of praise. Hear how the Father triumphs in the Son of his love — Behold my servant, whom I uphold — mine elect, iti whom my soul delighteth. And again, with a voice from heaven, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. All the councils, decrees, and works of Jehovah terminate, yea begin and end, in this blessed Immanuel; and therefore, when the angels were created, the purpose of Jehovah’s taking flesh was manifested to them; and proclamation was made — Let all the angels of God worship him. Pride arose in the heart of Lucifer and his companions: their will opposed the will of the eternal Three in this matter, for which they were cast out of heaven, and have opposed Christ and his people ever since.

Then this world was created for the carrying into execution the purposes of the everlasting covenant. Man, the object of the Deity’s delight, as made in the image of God — part of two worlds — a body of earth, an immortal spirit — by the one connected to matter and sense, by the other to God, the Father of spirits. The enemy of Jesus attacked Eve, and beguiled her through his subtlety. Adam was not deceived, but fell by listening to his material and sensual part. He preferred his wife to God, and so lost his image, knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.

Upon this the revelation of the covenant was made, and the incarnation of Jehovah was made known as the ground of faith and hope, and of return again to God in the way of love and gratitude. As clear as words can speak, and signs declare, the promised seed of the w Oman was to attack Satan, and was to bruise his head, where the poison lies, and thereby to deliver his people. For this purpose the Father sent him into the world, that he might deliver us from the power of darkness, and translate us into the kingdom of his dear Son. I believe, from the evidence of Scripture, that Adam, and all believers downwards, had as clear a view of the incarnation of Jehovah, and of the reasons for his taking flesh, as you and I have; and, with as warm hearts as we can, have they rejoiced in the God of their salvation. Hear one of them, how he stands amazed at this miracle of mercy, — But will God, indeed, dwell with men on the earth? And mind the pious breathings of his holy father — how he longed for Christmas! 0 that the salvation was come unto Israel out of Sion! 0 that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity! Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. That he would COME, was the ground of hope to all believers in every age; and there were many of them waiting when he came, who blessed God for letting them see with their eyes his great salvation. At the fixed moment, when the fullness of time was come, there was a chosen vessel most graciously fitted and humbled for this miraculous conception. She was highly favored, high in grace, meek, and lowly in heart; and of her, by the power of the Holy Ghost, was that holy child conceived; of her, the virgin mother, was he born — a babe, helpless as we are. Here is Love! O what a miracle — God incarnate! And yet like us in all things — an infant. Be astonished, ye heavens! and adore, thou earth! this miracle of miracles!

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