December 28, 1762
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!
He is born among us, grows up as we do; a child, a youth, a man — true and very man. But, O the rapturous thought! he is Jehovah. Think, O think what that blessed woman felt when she broke out into this sweet hymn — My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour. There’s my honor — not that he is my son, but that he is God, my Saviour. He took my nature, that I might take his: he lived for me, that by his obedience I might be made righteous: he suffered my punishment, that I might never suffer it: he bore my curse, to redeem me from the curse of the law: he was forsaken of God his father, that I might never be forsaken: he died to give me life: he rose again, to take possession of life for me: he ascended in our nature, and is glorified in it. What he has, I shall have: his honors, his crown and dignity, his fullness of joy and bliss — all, all are mine: what he is, what he was, is for me: for he is God, my Saviour. Happy, thrice happy Mary, virgin mother! Yea, happy, thrice happy, too.
Mrs. Is not the new-born king your
king? Is not the child Jesus your God? He is, he is; you cannot deny it. O come, then, my dear friend, let us praise his precious name, and let us magnify his love together. Soon, yet a very little while, and we shall be with him; we shall be like him. O what a thought is that, LIKE HIM! Yes, when we come where he is, the glory of that sun of righteousness will shine upon us, yea, will shine into us; and he will make us what he is. We shall then be happy partakers of all that was with delight in the breast of Jehovah from eternity; all will be fulfilled. The Father’s richest love, the most exalted grace of the Spirit, will flow, through the infinitely blessed Immanuel, into all his glorified members. This is the accomplishment of the everlasting covenant. In this the eternal Three will take eternal delight. Jehovah will rest in his love. And through that God-man will the Godhead have full, perfect, and everlasting glory, honor, worship, blessing, and praise, from the full choir. You will sing aloud, in as high a key as any one of them all. Complain now you may, and of yourself you ought; but then it will be all praise
—all wonder — that you should be chosen, elect of God, partaker of his covenant-love, this distinguishing grace will make you a happy, willing debtor to Immanuel for ever and ever.
Thus, looking backward or forward, I see all the purposes and works of God bearing respect to this wonderful person. He was set up from everlasting as the Alpha, and he will be to everlasting the Omega; for in all things he must have the pre-eminence. He has it above. O that we may ascribe more of it to him below: and you will, if you can pierce with the eagle eye of faith within the veil. There you will behold Immanuel enthroned, and all the host of Heaven worshiping at his feet, admiring and adoring, because sharing in, his Divine excellencies. The beauty of this sight makes an eternal heaven. Then, if your faith has any ears to hear, listen. O what melody do they make! — what notes do these golden harps strike! — what voices accompany them! — what a harmony! The words I understand — they are singing, Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever. But their manner of singing is peculiar to the place. The air can form no such sounds: they can be only in the element of heaven. When your faith comes down from this high flight — and it is not capable of being long there — then look around you; and whatever object your eyes first fix upon, if they be spiritually exercised, you will see some ray of our Immanuel’s glory. The book of nature is the outward record of his fame. Some of his great achievements are engraved in every part of the creation. The sun, moon, and stars, the earth with all its productions, in full concert join the choir above, and in perfect unison sound forth the glory of our Immanuel. And suppose I direct your eye to an object which I know you do not like to look at — YOURSELF. Even there I can find — O that you may — as great a proof of the Redeemer’s glory as anywhere else upon earth: for, wiat are you? Are you not a poor, miserable, helpless sinner? His crown depends upon his saving such. What do you feel within you? — tell all your complaints. These just fit you to live upon the Saviour’s fullness. Look at your outward estate; tell me that part of it which does not display the Saviour’s glory. What does fortune say, and health, and friends 1 (I put myself in) — let me be their mouth: — We are all the gifts of Jesus’ rich love — love him for bestowing us upon you; and the more you have, love him more. And, mind, you cannot, you never will, love him too much. Try — put forth all your strength — he will still be above your affection, the best, the utmost of it. I wish you much of his company this Christmas — many a sweet visit from him. When you are very familiar, put a word in for me. O how I long to be more intimate with him. But he is kind, indeed; exceedingly kind. Dearest, dearest Jesus! May he never leave you without some token of his love! Paper fails — Farewell.
W. R.