Grace and peace be multiplied to thee, through our only Mediator.
My faith for thee, and my hope of the Lord's appearing fur thee, was much encouraged by some few hints, which dropped from you yesterday. Heretofore I have sailed against wind and tide, nevertheless I could not give it quite up, but was often led out with renewed fervour and earnestness. Finding you continually to get worse and worse, and always informing me that no hope appeared, tried me sorely; but the constancy of your coming to my mind in prayer, and the energy God often gave me in the work, strengthened my faith as much as you staggered it: "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself," 2 Tim. ii. 13; and is there any thing too hard for the Lord?
Yesterday after I left you I shut myself up to search the scriptures, and to wait upon the Lord for a message, and in reading the prophet Isaiah I found I had by no means exceeded the Command and authority given to a servant in the gospel, for I found much more encouragement, and a positive order written by the prophet, to go further than I have gone with you; therefore take encouragement and hope to the end: "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force;" Satan would not lay so much about him, if the Holy Spirit did not molest him. God will avenge his own elect, who in soul cry clay and night unto him.
Sure I am that thou wilt acknowledge me to the end, as you have already acknowledged me in part. And you well know that I have always insisted upon it, that all must experience the furnace of affliction; that the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is; and that this clay of trial shall declare it, and you can now set to your seal that this is true; and thus you acknowledge me in part, and when Christ shines upon your soul, you will acknowledge me to the end. I am fully persuaded that God is purging you; "From all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you;" and then a new heart and a new spirit is to be given, that we may loathe ourselves in our own sight for our iniquity.
Taking away our filthy garments, purging us from the spirit of this world, and bowing our stubborn and rebellious wills to gospel submission, is the hardest work; it is but for the Sun of Righteousness to arise and shine, and all the rest is done; light and heat, righteousness and healing, or in other words understanding and love, pardon and justification, all attend the rays of the Lord's countenance at once. My poor dear brother, farewell, he passive, submit to his will, and humble thyself under his hand, and he will exalt thee in due time, so I conclude,
Your's most affectionately in Christ Jesus,
W. H., S. S.
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