Imatges de pàgina
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is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath; it is the way of life; and in the path thereof there is no death. The curse and wrath of God attend every other way but this. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Because they seek not union with the true vine, nor have they any regard to the branches in it, therefore their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards, Job xxiv. 18. And now, what is this highway and a way? The highway is Christ and faith in him: "I am the way; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." This is the highway. And the way, which is to be called, The way of holiness, is, following Christ in the regeneration; for such shall sit down with him on his throne.

Thus, Philomela, I have led thee in the way which, in a state of nature, I knew not, and in a path which, to all unregenerate men, is not known, nor can be, till God make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. Upon all other paths but this hypocrites as well as saints may walk. But no lion nor lions whelps, no fierce lion nor ravenous beast, no unclean creature, no apostate, no heretic or hypocrite, have I ever met with or found upon this path: the way of regeneration is untrodden and unfrequented by all these. I could wish thee to make a few high heaps, and to set up a few landmarks, to be of use in future times. But nothing of this

sort can be attended to at present; for at Wisdom's gates and doors not only her heavenly voice is heard and felt, but all manner of fruits, new and old, are laid up at these gates for his best beloved, Song vii. 13. Hence the pleasantness of the ways, the ravishing voice, and delicious fruit, take up all the attention; so that all advice upon this head is in vain. Therefore sing on, Philomela; for to add to the melody of thy heart, and to afford some fresh matter for the song, is the cause of my sending these to the chief singer on my stringed instruments, Hab. iii. 19.

The Desert.

NOCTUA AURITA.

LETTER XIV.

To NOCTUA AURITA, in the Desert.

YOUR having informed me that the bee came to your hive with wax on its legs, and honey in its bag, encouraged me to come again to you. Precious was your last to me! delicious fare! for really it has been so refreshing to my soul, that I can feed upon nothing else: therefore have com

passion on me, and go on still to help me; and you will certainly experience the wise man's "There is that scattereth,

words to be true, viz. and yet increaseth."

Consider that this week

there is no going up to Bethel. Our watchman is removed into a corner, so that we can neither see him nor hear him. The Lord bless the interview, and grant that he may soon return, and come to us in all the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ. I have read again and again your last letters, and found a second benefit. I believe, while I remain upon this earth, that I shall never have done with them. Some of the mysteries I had the key to before they came, or I never could have found out the riddle. Sweetly was my soul led into the experience and enjoyment of those blessed truths; which did so humble and meeken my soul, that it crucified me afresh to this sinful world; so that I am not fit to live in it. I seem quite insensible to every thing in it, and hardly at times know what I am about, or where I am. This has given me some light into those words of our blessed Saviour, in his prayer to the Father before he entered upon his sufferings. Praying for his disciples, he says, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." I cannot but think that you have been lately a sabbathday's journey into some part of the promised land, and have reached as far as the brooks of Eshcol; for what you have sent to me seems to be some of the first ripe fruits, a most precious cluster. It

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could not be carried by one; but it hath been laid on a staff, and born betwixt two. It was one of the choicest of all blessings; no less than an earnest of the whole inheritance. O that I was

but with you, to tell you what I enjoy now, while the King's herald is with you! But this is impossible. Wives and mothers must be keepers at home. But the heaven-born soul cannot be confined. Though absent in body, yet am I present in spirit; and, had I the wings of a dove, nothing under heaven should hinder my flight, for once, into the Desert.

I know now, by blessed experience, that nothing but a sense of the dying love of Jesus can humble a proud heart, and soften the stubborn spirit of a sinner, so as to bring him to the Lord's feet; and I am a living witness that this will do it. This will subdue the most hardened, rebellious, and desperate wretch that ever breathed on this earth; and this will be my wonder and admiration to all eternity. O that I was but above, that I might praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God! How do I long to join with the hundred and forty and four thousand in their song to him that hath loved us, and redeemed us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Surely my voice will be the loudest among them.

My soul thanks you for what I have received this week from you. I have had a banquet indeed. May a full reward be given you by your Father,

and my Father, your God and my God! A sweet. shelter indeed my soul has found from the windy storm and tempest. I find it as the shadow of a great rock in this weary land. My soul has still in remembrance the wormwood and the gall, which were bitter enough to my soul. But all is past; and nothing of vindictive wrath shall my soul know henceforth and for ever. What asto

nishing love was it for the Lord to pass by such a rebel as I was, and to say unto me, when I was in my blood, Live. Yea, he has spread his skirt over me; and in that blessed robe shall I appear before him in the great day, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; and, though black as the tents of Kedar, fair as the curtains of Solomon. As you observe, could we always live on the mount, without any interruption; but, alas ! down from the mount we must come. But I am, like Peter, for detaining the Lord, and building a tabernacle, that I may abide with him till he shall take me to the upper and better house.

What the Lord is preparing me for, I know not; and what my path will be next, I am in the dark about. You intimate that he is preparing me for the field of action. May I be taught to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ! The world, the flesh, and the devil, are against me, I know; but this I know likewise, that I can do all things through Christ strengthening me. However, at present I seem as if I had no enemies; for the Lord has made the corruptions

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