Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / March 1, 1869, edition 1 / Page 4
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g*^aaiHf4fc^gsaaffisaasfigwf I A pi-,: ZION’S LANDMARKS I 1 LUTlIEllVILLt, Ga., January 20th, 1869. Mrs. Maiitiia M. Hassell— Dear Sister :—When I concluded my last letter to you, I did so with much reluctance : the subject was delight ful and glowed with so much brillian cy, beauty and glory, flowing from the sacred cross of Christ upon sin ners ; clothing poor, helpless and needy; and so plainly beautifying llie meek with salvation, that I be held the sinner—so low and degrad ed in himself—-exalted and ^crowned with God’s own glory in the person (,f Jesus Christ; and grace as a reigning king holding out the sceptre of love and jieace ; and my soul ex panded ivith jo}'-, as my pen moved witli the ease and rapidity of a ready writer to delineate a sinner thus bless ed, beautified, and admitted to the loyal presence and audience of the great God, through the atoning sac rifice of Christ, to plead by permis- -by invitation, by right, and the saving of the soul, that Jesus is the Christ—the Son of God—but overcome the -world: and not only finish a course, but also rrin a whole race with joy; but alas! the pros.- pect has changed. I see the provi sions of grace treasured in Christ as full and free as ever. I hear the testimony of God declaring it for sinners as plain as ever. I hear the kind invitation to knock, to ask, &c.. 51011- with success, the blessings of a Fath er—nay, almost to demand them in the name and right of Jesus Christ: and what was more, I felt myself to be embraced, and to ask, and expect those blessings with much assurance, while it seemed really strange to me that I h.‘u^^ so often and so stubbornly • doubted this sw'cct and blessed access to the Father through faith in Christ: vvhen faith itself was based upon what I so readily found in myself— conviction for sin and belief of the truth and certain other evidences confirmed by the unerring word of God—things, then, so clear and im posing that I was prepared to say, “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all my days, and I shall dw’cll in the house of the Lord for ever.” And I most sensibly felt that the predominating desire of my soul was to “say to them that are of ^ fearful heart, be strong, fear not, be hold your God will come with ven geance, even God with a recompense ; he will come and save you,” even from the allurements' of the -world, from the snares of the flesh and the temptations of Satan, so effectually through the power of faith, that I tvas loth to leave the subject of a Chris tian walking in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless; but consoled myself with the determination to take up where I left off, and show the cer- t-iin triumphs of a living, acting faith in Christ, that could not only believe to but find not the door, I find not the access. 1 know that I am a sinner, but I have lost toy shield—the only weapon that can guard and guide to the door, and the only ticket of sure and safe initiation into the smiling presence and protection of my God; without this, I cannot wrire, or do anything to edification ; Oh faith that overcomes the world—receives the smile of justice and the crown of mer cy as it, on easy wings, enters the holy place of heaven and sips the crystal fount of eternal life and love, in the name of Jesus Christ at God’ right hand! I would give every earthly consideration for thee to-day. Your letter of November found me in this mood, and I do assure you some of its expressions was as water to the thirsty—as wine to the weak. I im agined that I felt like some lone sen tinel on post, while the night is long, cold and bleak, and I am weary, hungry and faint, 1 faintly hear the din and strife of war around. I see a courier or a straggling soldier now and then, but there comes no detail of relief—no order for a change of place, my signal of distress but guides the foe who guards the front ing line; seldom have I heard a word of clieer and encourgement from a passing comrade, and I think, surely I have mistaken the word of command and do not fill the post assigned me, and thereby receive the continual fire of the foe and perhaps the censure of my friends; and thus afraid to stay and more afraid to go, I stand on doubtful post, and Avish for light. But, my dear Sister, your letter has giv'en me strength and comfort, for no matter how hard the life and lot of a soldier is, if he is victorious in arms, he regards no more the hard ships undergone. And was I not ^ victorious VA'hen my quiver “richly I ladened with the blessed testimony of I gospel grace, and full of consolation to the Aveak and humble followers of vationand produces belief in Jesus Christ ; the stronger Ave believe, the weaker groAvs his arm. To be faithless, is for the enemy -to be so far successful. To groAV in strength and learn to use the shield on one arm Avhile Ave fio-ht C Avith the other, ensures our lives, and proves us good and skillful soldiers. rioAA’.Ave (naturally) detest a straggler —a deserter, and more th all , ciiLi more tnan all a traitor. IIoav aa’o love the true soldier to his country, what power they Avield over us—I still feel the invio;- orating influence of your epistle of love and encouragement, and I have thought surely I have not fought, in vain, I have not been striving as one that beateth the air, for it is a victory in my feelings to comfort, or strength en one, just one of God’s Aveary soldiers. But, beloved Sister, I feel not the power of faith, I then felt; my time at present is dark, fearful and doubt ful. Of all difficulties, I think of at present, to doubt is the greatest. If I vras certain I was a Christian, and that I obeyed implicitly the Avill of God concerning me ; I feel that there is no poAver on earth that could deter, hinder, or frighten me : tribulations, trials, distresses of every kind Avould be a source of rejoicing, if I Imeiv I suffered for Christ's sake. Oh Avhat a privilege !—Avhat a blessed privilege this Avould be ! I have often asked fIifj-''Seif “dtd'you ever do or suffer any thing, purely for Christ’s sake?” I can’t find an instances for certain. I Jesus” Avas spent not in vain ? My Avork Avas to comfort and tostrensth- have often taken into consideration, my Avholc life as aprofe,ssod believer, and asked the question, “are you truly a child of God ?” And the blessedness that I once spoke of, and evidences that once seemed strong as death, dAvindle to the vdsionary ap pearance of an idle dream. For the last fcAV Aveoks, a passage of scrip ture in Jude concerning the arch angel contending and disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, has often passed forcibly through my mind, and has given me some comfort and relief, as I have tried to solve the question in regard to myself. Is not this contention and disputation within me, the same? Am I dead to the law and alive to Christ ? Is that dead wherein I Avas held ? If so I am no longer bound. the very grave of the Iuav ? Oh that I could, implicitly trusting the Avord of God, and entirely delivered from my self—looking aAvay from Avorks, sa,y in faith to this tempter, ‘•'•The Lord rebuke thee," then 1 might say “By this I knoAV that thou favorest me, because mine eneiu}' doth not tri umph over me.” But am 1 truly dead to the hiAV, and alive to Christ? If not, Avhy is it that I so forcibly feel the seventh chapter of the Bomans, Avhen I*aul speaks in refference to tin- law, and to his OAvn contentious. 1 can Avitness the sentiments' fully in the latter part of that chapter; and if I Avas dead to Christ how could T feel his spiritual inspiration? lioAv could I strive ? Hoav could 1 contend or dispute, and hoAv could I be at all concerned? Hoav could I say with DaA’id, “0 Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten mo in thy hot displeasure, for thine arroA\s. stick fast in me ; there is no sound ness in my flesh because of thine an ger, neither is there any rest in my bones because of mv sin; I have roar- ed by reason of the disquietness of my heart; I am ready to halt and my sorroAv is continually before me— all my desire is before theC' thirsteth for If Paul and David and others Avere dead to the laiv and alive to Christ,, and still had to cuntqnd, may I not hope also, even in my contentions ? Dear Sister, I feel streng-fchened and more comforted by the slight investi- my soul God—the living God. gation of the lives of Avh'om Ave knoAv had passed from death unto life. I be lieve 1 have done the very thing I for bade you to do—taking the testimony of an enemy—surely false Avitnesses risen up against me. Teach me oii Lord thy ways, and lead me iwjjlain, paths, because of mine enemies. I feel disposed to speak further of those contentions—of this continual Avarfare—Jesus is our great Leader—■ Ave knoAV that He was in this contin ual Avarfare while in the flesh, and we profess to be followers of him. He has said that he Avho Avould be His disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow him, and that he that suffers Avith him shall also reign -with him. Shall Ave forget or disre gard the Avay he led ? Paul said “be ye folloAvers of me even as I am of en. There canbe no deadlier aim at our arch eneravthan the testimony of our %/ God concerning grace that brings sal- And why not be satisfied to contend j Christ.” Can we read the history of and dispute, knoAving that if I am not ‘ Paul and fully imbibe the truth of dead to the laAV, and it to me, there | this assertion—‘•‘•even as I am of Avould be no occasion for contention;' Christ ?" Were all his wars without Avhy not be satisfied to contend for my, life by the faith of Christ, in- and fears within embraced ? Were all his spiritual contendings ? “Be ye stead of.searching to and to followers of me CA'en as I am *of i w..
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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March 1, 1869, edition 1
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