Winchester Row.
Dear Friend,You have forgot your promise of writing to me, but I suppose Satan tells you silence best becomes the miserable. However I would not be of the devil's privy council, nor keep the secrets of his infernal cabinet; depend on it he never will prophesy any good of you, therefore listen to none of his temptations, for he knows nothing of God's purpose concerning your final state. He is the enemy both of God and man, a murderer, and aims at nothing but the increase of his own broken kingdom, and can never be divided against himself. Remember, Christ, and him alone, hath made satisfaction to injured Justice, by putting away sin, by the sacrifice of himself, and hath made peace by the blood of his cross for us; there is no other satisfaction to be made, that work is finished: and by his spotless obedience to the law he hath fulfilled all righteousness in our name, Son of man, in our nature, "He was made flesh;" thus a righteousness wrought out for us, and by the gospel brought nigh to us. The gospel knows of no other righteousness than this, nor is any other ever to be wrought out for our justification before God.
If thou art patching this spotless robe with thy old cloth, they will never agree, the rent will only be made worse, and so you will feel it. The law itself forbids a garment of linen and woollen together. You seem to me to be a friend to the devil, for instead of resisting you rather invite him; and instead of fighting yon start aside, cast away your bow, give up all confidence, refuse all comfort, and in effect say, take me, devil. I know a choice man of God, who in his distress of soul, desired God to damn him, that he might know the worst of his state; what is this but praying against God's decree, and desiring to meet the devil half way? I know a woman who, in an hour of temptation, had listened to Satan till she was quite sick of it, cried out and said, I will never believe I shall be damned till I am in hell; she fought more like a man than a woman, but you fight more like a child than a man. The Lord knew that we all were transgressors from the womb, and are bent to backslide; but he has promised to heal our backslidings and love us freely.
The Lord has set his long forbearing mercy against our propensity to offend, his slowness to anger against our hourly follies, his riches against our deep poverty, and his abounding grace against our abounding iniquity; therefore be of good comfort, arise' 'be will yet call thee, only believe and thou shalt be made whole. You will not find Christ to cast you off easy, he knows our weaknesses, and has been tempted in all points like unto us, yet without sin, and is able to succour them who are tempted; therefore, "Cast not away your confidence, which hath a recompense of reward." "Be of good cheer, arise, he calleth thee." "Only believe, and thou shalt be made whole."
Tell your sister I have inquired after her place of servitude, and am informed it is a very good one, which I am very glad to hear of. Tell her to beg of Christ to take possession of her heart, he will have no less; that he desires for his habitation; and when he takes possession of that he will keep all others out. He yields up the contrite heart to none; here he sways his sceptre, and grace reigns over sin; here he writes his laws, and erects his kingdom for ever; here he gives his keys and sets his seal; all his springs are here. Blessed is that heart that is governed by such a sovereign, and for ever blessed be that King who deigns to dwell in such a palace. Fare thee well, all grace be with thee, while I remain,
Thine in the Lord,
W. HUNTINGTON.
This has been begun almost three weeks ago, but time failed.
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