CHAPTER XXIII. 1852. Letter on Missions to R. S. Natural Affections strengthened by Grace Letter to a Friend on the Death of his Mother-Letters to Friends in Europe: to R. S., the Ministry: to a Young Convert: to a Prisoner. To R. S. "January 1st, 1852. "It is rather late to offer you, my dear cousin, the salutations of the Christmas and New Year season, but they will not be the less welcome because I have kept them in my heart so long. * * * "I am thankful, very thankful, my dear orphan cousin, that human sympathy is not your dependence, but that you go through the wilderness, 'leaning upon the Beloved.' It is of comparatively little importance whether you pursue the sheltered path of domestic life, or the rugged steps of missionary enterprise, if all your weight shall rest upon the powerful arm, and your pilgrimage be cheered by sweet, blessed companionship. "Your measure of communion with our Redeemer will always be the measure of your happiness, and if His bidding remove you from your country and your friends, what more can you require than the assurance, 'My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest'? "My dear cousin, pray for grace to 'endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.' The battle will soon be over; and you will not feel that you have fought too valiantly. Much is said of the sacrifices of missionary life, and they who make them can understand the deep meaning of words and glances which are to be exchanged no more on earth. Our Father has endowed our nature with strong sensibilities, and those who love Him best are not least capable of social affinities. Their hearts are more tender and more true to all legitimate affections, whilst they alone have been attracted by the (481) stronger and more holy fellowship of Christian love. It is, therefore, true that the Christian exile has a double portion of sorrow, but the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.' "Saturday. I received your letter last evening, whilst I was engaged in pencilling my own epistle, but deferred its entire perusal until this morning. "You refer to a subject which to me is of deepest interest — the importance of rigid self-discipline from the earliest youth. We can tune our notes of sorrow and self-reproach upon the same key, dear R., but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' "I listened, some time since, to two printed sermons from the text, The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;' and was pleased with the sentiment, that if we meet a man remarkable for self-command, and spiritual hardihood, we may feel assured that this victory has not been achieved without many a secret struggle with himself, and many an earnest resistance of opposing circumstances. I do not quote this sentiment verbatim, but you will see its force. I do not like the mode of discussing this subject which employs so many eulogiums upon the self-exalting powers of our nature. Spasmodic and unsuccessful will be our efforts until we shall have been taught that our spiritual and intellectual being requires the application of regenerating grace, that our blessed Saviour must be, as Archbishop Leighton tells us, 'both the principle and the pattern of our holiness.'' * * There is a sentiment in the foregoing letter well worthy of attention, one of the not unfrequent remarks indicative of the writer's insight into the human heart. "Those who love God are not least capable of social affinities. Their hearts are more tender, and more true to all legitimate affections, whilst they alone have been attracted by the more holy fellowship of Christian love. It is, therefore, true that the Christian exile has a double portion of sorrow.” So far is hallowed resignation from being akin to stoical indifference or obtuse insensibility, that none are so tenderly alive to the guiltless affections of our nature as the genuine disciples of Jesus. The tendency of sin is to narrow selfengrossment. The idolizing of a creature and immoderate grief are but fruits of inordinate selfishness. While the soul, taught by the Holy Spirit, returns a readier, purer and more disinterested response to all the demands of social ties and relative affections. It has access to new and sufficient sources of consolation, but it does not therefore the less keenly feel. The worldling loves family and friends; but he loves self better. The Christian, too, unfeignedly loves those who are bound to him by the near and sacred connections of life; but while he loves them much, he loves Christ more. The one cannot bear the thought of losing a beloved object, or laments his bereavement in sullen despair. The other so mourns as to be comforted of God. He can say, sincerely and joyfully, "The will of the Lord be done." Yet though the one be inconsolable, and the other cheerfully submissive, the latter has felt the sharpest pang and realized the greatest grief. Miss Allibone was herself a beautiful example of the union of exquisite susceptibility, affection and sympathy, with unqualified resignation and uninterrupted peace. Grace strengthens, ennobles and purifies those generous and kindly feelings which sin blunts, debases and corrupts. To Dr. N. "January 2d, 1852. "I thank you for having so kindly complied with my request that you would tell me more of your beloved mother, to whom the Lord has given grace and glory. What a privilege to be her son,that she is still your mother, for the Christian uses not the imperfect tense when he speaks of friends who have gone to Heaven: his spiritual ties are never severed. 'One family we dwell in Him, One Church above, beneath; Though now divided by the stream, 484 LOVE AND DEATH IN THE SAME WORLD. [1852. "With what joy will your venerated parent welcome you to the celestial Home, in which you will never again exchange parting salutations! Very intense was the natural and spiritual affection which united you here, and most hallowed are your recollections of the intercourse you enjoyed; but how much more blessed and holy the fellowship of glorified spirits! "I always loved to elicit your carnest expressions of filial love and reverence, and often thought how deep would be my sympathy if your mother should pass away from earth before our summons should be given; for there is no other bereavement that touches so many chords of a heart, one of whose richest possessions is my own dear mother's s memory. "We are told, it is a fearful thing that love and death may dwell in the same world,' and it would be so if it were not true that 'Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' * * * "The ancient elm and deeply-rooted oak are more interesting than the more youthful trees of the forest, but their summit is not so high nor their branches so widely spread as the Tree of Righteousness, long 'planted by rivers of water,' whose leaf does not wither,' and whose refreshing shade invites the weary pilgrim to rest under her branches. Surely your mother was a stately tree, and she is now transplanted into the Garden of the Lord, but she has left rich fruit behind her. "I hope you have entirely recovered from the indisposition from which you have suffered, and that many spiritual blessings for you and your parishioners are in the treasury of grace. You remember the anecdote you told me -'Give him what he asks; he knows I am a great king.' * * * Notes. "Jan. 13th, 1852.- In a letter to, Mr. Clay says: 'Present my warm regards to your sister, and tell her, as the probability is that neither of us is long for this world, I hope, when we go hence, we shall meet in one far better.' 'Oh, what is honor now to dear Mr. Clay!' Susan said while dwelling upon his situation. "I proposed, this afternoon, to dismiss the Saturday school on account of disturbing her. Oh, never, never!' she replied. 'Do you think Henry Martyn would have sent away a whole company of children because he was sick, if Mr. Corrie was teaching them?' "Feb. 13th.-Desired that W. might be as a lily of the valley in the garden of Christ, and as the lily grows best in moist places, that he might be watered with the dews of the Holy Spirit. I read to her, 'In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, through the riches of His grace.' 'I am so glad of that!' she exclaimed; 'what should I do if it were not so?' "April 2d. She was much interested in who seems destitute of earthly comforts. She desired that we might see in every desolate person a messenger of the Lord Jesus." From her Diary. "May 20th, Ascension-day. I do not think I have ever before enjoyed the morning of this day so much. Oh, my blessed Saviour! I rejoice that Thou art mine, and mine forever! "Dear Dr. B. came to us with a message of love on Saturday, and remained until Monday morning. He administered the Communion to me on Sunday afternoon. "These aged Christians are witnesses to the truth that the more we learn of holy things the more we realize our deep unworthiness, and the more simple becomes our reliance upon 'the Lord our righteousness.' They shall bring forth fruit in old age." "Ascension-day. Notes. She remarked, 'I wish it could be said of Christians now, 'Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?' ' Commenting on the parable of the Prodigal Son, she spoke of passages in Jer. xxxi. as similar to it, and thought if a human being had so spoken we might have feared that the pic |