pressing their concern; but she said, "I thank you "for your pity; but all is very well, and I hope I "have not one bone in my body but is willing to be " broken, if such be the Lord's will." What may be the issue of this fall as to yourself, I know not. It is a greater thing to heal a broken heart than a broken bone. So long as I hear that you are alive, I shall probably feel a wish that you may live a little longer. I shall therefore commend you to him to whom belong the issues from death, being assured that you are immortal till the appointed number of your sufferings and services shall be completed; but if your fall should prove a means of hastening your removal to the church triumphant, then, however I and your many friends may regret our own loss, we ought to rejoice in your gain. As this may possibly be the event, though I am willing to hope other. wise, I take a sort of leave of you, begging that while you do remain on this side Jordan, you will pray for me and mine, that we may have grace to follow you while we live, and to follow you when we die, to that heavenly home, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest. Oh, madam, what a prospect awaits you! Oh what has Jesus bought for me, Ah, that robe, that crown, those songs! surely it is unspeakably better to depart and to be with Jesus. If he calls you, I must and will consent to let you go; but I shall miss you. If he is pleased to raise you up, I shall rejoice to see you again. Mrs. Njoins me in best love, and in our respects to Mrs. B I am, dear Madam, Your very affectionate and obliged servant. LETTER III. MY DEAR MADAM, February 25, 1785. ACCORDING to strict propriety, I should address myself to Mrs. B, having an obliging letter of hers to acknowledge. But the account Mr. C lately gave me of your health, determines me to beg her excuse, and to write to you, not knowing how long you may be within the reach of the post. I cannot flatter myself that you will continue a great while in this poor world, or that I can reasonably expect to see you again. The comfort is, that though Christian friendship be very pleasing, and Christian conference be very profitable when rightly managed, yet we are not necessary to each other. We are absolutely dependent upon the Lord, but not necessarily dependent upon any creatures. They smile upon us when he bids them, they do us good when he sends them, but they cannot benefit us without him; and, on the other hand, he can well supply their absence or inability, and do every thing for us without them. Though I seldom saw you when you were in London, yet it gave me pleasure to think I might expect to see you now and then. When you are gone to heaven this pleasure will fail,-I shall see you no more here; I shall miss you; but in a little while I hope we shall meet again Vol. II. H there. But where is heaven? Is it at an immense distance beyond the fixed stars? Have our ideas of space any thing to do with it? Is not heaven often upon earth in proportion as the presence of God is felt? Was not the apostle caught up thither, though he knew not whether he was in the body or not, and consequently was not sure that he had changed his place? Is there not joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth? Perhaps the redeemed of the Lord, as well as his angels, are nearer to us than we are aware. Perhaps they see us though we see not them. Perhaps nothing but this veil of flesh and blood prevents us from seeing them likewise. However, on our part the barrier is impenetrable ! O the wonders that will break in upon our mind, when death shall open this barrier to us! What shall we then see? It is sufficient for us at present to know that we shall see Jesus. We shall see him as he is, and we shall be like him. The circumstances of the heavenly state, if I may so speak, are hidden from us; but this which constitutes the essence of it, we can form some faint apprehension of, from our present experience. All that deserves the name of happiness here, consists of such conceptions of Jesus, and such measures of conformity to him, as are attainable while in a mortal and defiled nature. But we see him only as in a glass, darkly and in part, but when that which is perfect arrives, that which is in part shall be done away. We shall be all eye, all ear, all activity, in the communications of his love, and the celebration of his praise. Here we are almost upon a level with worms; there we shall rise to an equality with angels. In some respects our privilege will be superior to theirs. Angels cannot sing the song of the redeemed, nor claim so near a relation to Him that sitteth upon the throne. Are not these things worth dying for? I congratu late you, madam; you have almost finished your course; and he who has enabled you to keep the faith, and to fight the good fight, will shortly give you the conqueror's crown, prepared for you, and for all who love his appearing. They are many crowns, and yet one. The blessings of the other world are not like the wealth of this world, which is diminished in proportion to the numbers among whom it is divided. There each one shall possess the whole; as here we enjoy the light of the sun, though millions enjoy it with us, as fully as we could if there were none upon earth but ourselves to see it. You will likewise soon be removed from all evil. You are going where pain, and sickness, and sorrow, and temptation, and sin, have no place. Where your eyes and your heart will be no more grieved with the wickedness of the world, where no one will ask you with a taunt, What is thy beloved more than another beloved ? In a word, where death shall be swallowed up in life, and where the miserable effects of our fall from God, shall be no more perceived, than we can perceive a stone that is sunk in the midst of the mighty ocean. I do not ask nor expect you to write an answer. I see you too weak, to wish to impose such a task upon you. I only beg that while you stay below, you will remember me and mine in prayer. Mrs. N sends her affectionate remembrance with mine. Believe me to be, Your sincere friend, and obliged servant. |