Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / April 15, 1870, edition 1 / Page 4
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r) 76 ZION’S LANDMARKS Luthkrvili.e, Ga., ] March 31st, 1870. / DkzVR Brother Bodeniiamer:— Tlu’ough a private letter, Sister D. Li. Hitchcock, of Eaton ton, Ga., has rc(piestc-d my views, through the liandmarks, on 2nd Kings 4 : 26, or this much of it, “Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband ? Is it well with the child? And she an- grafled word, and quenched not the Spirit,, made him a little chamber on the wall. Common visitors might share the common hall or chaml:>er of the house or heart, but a private, secret recess of soul was kept sacred to the Pro])het of God ; it was his little chamber. How sacred to us is the visitation and entertaiament of the Spirit? Tirae astd })13CC‘ are held anguish and despair. She remembers the little chamber of the man of God, and with silent unutterable sorrow, she thei’eenters and lays herdead u}>on the bed and shuts the dcx>r. So with us, when faith is absent, and has seem- ingly forsaken us in distress, and when our hoj>e is dead before as.— Noise and outburst of lamentation is not heard ; our grief is too deep for swered, it is well.” I therefore seiad | sacred and kept secret from unFiallow- words, for that dearer tlnui life has VOJJ’’ ! tliefollowing,sttbmittcd,ofcoui’se,! ed feet, and profane curiosity and 11 v'our better judgment. In the scriptures of the Old Testa ment, persons, generally of the same family, represent principle, eonstitu- tiug a Christian under the law of the New ; as Ishmaeland Isaac represent the old and new man, or the carnal and spiritual minds. In the subject before us, the Shnnammite woman, I t'h.ink, represents works, and ber lurdiand faith. The apostle in 1st Corinthians and 11th chapter,makes iurfuand and wife represent fsrth and works; responded to by tho raeta- pho-; of Boaz and Ruth in the Old ament expired ; our lost treasure is too sas ered,tu be paraded before lioman eyes; Her husband consented tc> I so we shut the door upon it, in the The marriage ceremony. from being meddled with by stran> gers. the little room, and their work ^yas considered by the Prophet “unto holiness,” (Rom. G: 22)and bcingjus- tifiedi by (faitli) her husband, she had peace-with God—liad nothing to ask of the king, but dwelt among her own people, or kijidred in heavenly prin ciples (12th) and was contented and patient. But the Loitl has said, such “shall neither be barren! nor unfruit ful.” 2nd Pet. 1 :8. So she embraced most hidden place of the soul, and even smile €»n those around, while our heart is rent and bleeding. Then she called unto her husband for help, for in tlie emergency she wished to hasten to the man of G&tl; she* wish ed to go by the sancilon and in the authority of her hnsband. He, still indifferent to her distress, rather e.x- pcsstulated, as it was neither nsw moon nor S^’^bbath ; bat she persisted ason—a figure of hope—the “promise i and said “it shall be well,” and went of the Spirit through fsith.” GaL 3 : j forsard in great haste to the man of 4. The germ of hfspe' was already r>i 1 ,.i e a figure of baptism or public ceremo-; then in weakness, but “the righteous- ny and jirofesslon of Christ, and ad-1 ness of God is revealed from faith to mi dance into a new state and relation ! fariiu” Rom. 1 : 17. And “&ith f'\>;H wliicli they arise, in tho likeness | wrought with works and by woi’ks of t;K' burial and resurrection to new- j was made |x,Tfect.” James 2 : 23.; to whom she alone soiaglit and caught no-soflife. “IMarnage is honorable,” | Faith begets the living hope, and “the | him by the feet, she liad no wants God. Gchazi met her and used the words of the subject; “Is it well with thee? is it well with thy luxsband ? is it well with the child ? And she answered It is weU,”’£md passed on anfi the offspring legitimate, because i iwAd. We honor Christ 'when we |)'jt Him on by public profession ; ncsh rests ill hope,” No doubt but; here. Gehsai essayed to tlirust her the woman dearly loved and prized I aside, but tlse man of God said “let this son, ais4 rejoiced in him, as- she j her alone for lier soul is vexed withiin a:>? not till then is our faith counted daily savr him wax stronger and | her.” She then freely poured out find affinity stronger. Rom. 5 : 3. But e\?cry living, nor can woncs W 'd', the Spirit and be recognized | branch that beareth fruit, ho-purget!i, a-> spiritual, because works we that it may bring forih more fruit. k)K)w, abstractly, are not spiritual, lioucvcr, according to thesri’ict letter John 15, :2, that he may perfeet that which is lacking. This. (3 : 10) in of the law, until joined to, asone with | some point of faith or practical godli- her complaint to him—“Did I desire a sou of thee ? said I not, do not de ceive me ?” I believe ftiere' are but few' Christians wdio enter the furnace- of trial, while heated sevc-u times hot ter than usual ; but whers- it is the portion of one to be tluis tried, they understandi this Shunammite here.— Faith is absent, Hope is> dead, they f.r'tr., even as the body or bride of | ness “for the furtherance and joy of Ciu'ist is by marriage, one with Him,! faith,” Phil. 3 ; 25, for the trial also mil hence is called by tlie seemingly | of faitli, James 1 : 3,Avhich trial is j'.n ,idoxieai phrase, a spiritual body,”j more precious than gold and the-end j have, remained quiet and bmetive un- iu ihe right of her spiritual Lord and | salvation, that it might be in God.,—■ i til the laslr breath is gone ; oh then !! .Husband. So faith is the spiritual | 1st Peter 1 : 21. To this end, the how we call unto faith ; how we go h.'ad and husband of work. .Hence: husband went to the harvest field and the figure of the Shunammite and her ; the child followed—when faith-leaves ]uii-.baud. j us^ hepe* is sure to follow—how deso- I’in'.'S Siiiinammite “vras a groat; late and wretched we are then. The w:>:nan” (18 verse) in the character of | furnace whereunto we are appointed good v/orks, having given all dilli-! is heating. Harvest time is a hot g;'-a,x' to add to the blessing (of flaith) | season, and the* burning rays fell up- 1;W' husband, virtue, knowledge, tem- | on the headef the child.. The father, P'.Yaucc, pationce, godiiinesi>aud broth-Aoomingly indifferent, goes not home riee may cssny to thrast ns aside from the feet of merer, he shall be rebuked by the God who is pitifal and of ten der mercy to a contrite and broken heart. And the more clesely will we- cling then to his feet and cry : “Deal with thy servants,” not ssecording to- justice, but “according to thy mercy,” “let thy tender mercies come unto me,” have mercy on the afflicted ; said I not unto thee, let me be not decelTed,arid if deceiv'ed to undeceive me; thou didst make me to hofx;, Psl. 22 : 19, and shall I taste of tlu'*, powers of the world to come, that I roay but ks?ow its preeiefusness, and then be banished forever. Where is now my hope? Job 17: 15, remov ed ; Job 19 : 10, jierisheci; Lam. 3 ; 18, yet iH thy mercy “there is hope of a tree if i t be cut down,” Job 14 : 7, and as the Lord God livcth, and Jesus a mediator and merciful Higix Priest, “I will not leave thee, but trust thee though thous slay me.” Then the man of God arose and' followed her—Gahazi vrent ibefore, but he could put neither Toice nor hear, ing in the child. Th.-s- imn of Gml could. The child sneezed s®ven timcs^ and opened his eyes ; and; he said to the wom-^in take up thy son. Slic- fell at his feet, and bowed down her self to tlie gro and, and took up her son. And thus by the seven attri butes of God,, he is bouncito hear tlse prayer that pleads for Jesus’ sake, to behold the righteous and open his ears to their prayers. 1st Peter 3 : 12.. “He fuifgettetli not theory of the humble-..” Psl. 9- 12- The “Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted.” Psl. 14-(>':12. And will gather iier that He-lias afflici- ■ sd, Mic. 4 6. The hu.rn.ble shall see this and be glad. Fs-l. 69 : 32, and shall,. Like the Shuinaimnite, fall at His feet, and be humbled to the ground and like Peter cry in with him, but sends him to his motli- er sick. Oh the poignant grief! Who e; !y Idudness and cliarity;; demoa- atmto.! by her kindneas to the-man of is a figure o-f the Holy I kno'ws it but those who have seen Tl’.i-s man wa.s in the habit i ami, felt their hope in God dwin«Iling, ofcTlhug at her house, whom siis- fading, dying? At noon, when the God, who Spirik g.Lidly received and entertained; slic- solicited or encouraged the c«- funiase^ is hottest, he dies. The mother now cutoto her greatest extremity of in haste on the wings of prayer, to God. We"‘Ess?et Gehazi, the laiv, o» the way, ami he enquires of us, as one with £uth. and hope, and as one with these,, remembering that our af flictions arc deseiwed of God, and that He in faithfulness, afflicts ns, PsaL 119 : 75, and that just and true are his w'ays. Rev. 15 : 3, that justice and judgment are-the habitations of His throne, and that He perverts not His tlu’one,Tob 8 : 3j,.aiKpthus _^sfgarding justice, we answer truthfully and con scientiously “It is well.” But law ip justice, is not the object sought, but God in mercy. And though jus- ■ joy- ‘Blessed he the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,, wiio according to his abundant mer cy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope.” I now leave- the subject^ hoping, my dear bereaved Sister may soon verify that the promises of tlie- Lord are exceeding great and pre cious. God will have mercy om the afflicted. Is. 49 :I3. Yuu.re iudove and fellowship, S: ANNA PHILLIPS. P. S'. Will all others who have re quested my views fhijough the- Landmarks have pati.eu.ee. If the Lord gives me stssength of bod^ and light, I will trrto coniiply.
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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April 15, 1870, edition 1
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