MORAY STREET,
PULTENEYTOWN,
WICK, 22nd September, 1885.
DEAR FRIEND,—I am glad that you wrote me. I am sorry to hear that your dear wife is so poorly in health, both in soul and body. The Holy One is chastening her for the good of her precious soul. You say that she is afraid that she is not one of those whom the Lord has appointed to show mercy to. That is Satan’s voice, but Satan is not one of Christ’s counsellors. I understand that she is heavily distressed in body and mind, but let her remember, “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Read to her the third chapter of the Lamentations of Jeremiah; begin at the 17th verse and read on, but more especially verses 31-33. Satan will be tempting her and buffeting her that she is too great a sinner for Christ to pardon. Let her remember that the blood of Christ is infinite in virtue and efficacy. Her sins are no cause that she should despair of mercy, because the greater sinner she sees herself to be, the more need she has of Jesus Christ, and of His grace to save her, and the greater sinner, the more glory Christ will have in saving her. Let her try and submit and be subject to His holy will.
It is likely she will be saying that she has not faith, but let her remember that Jesus Christ is the author of faith, and that it is the Holy Spirit who begets faith in the heart and soul. Patient submission to His holy will in the meantime is her best exercise. Psalm lxi. 5, 6. Read the fifth chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Read also the twelfth chapter to the Hebrews, and show to her that passage of scripture, Romans 6th chapter and 23rd verse (“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”). This passage came to me this morning directly for herself. Oh, let her be patient. I trust the Holy One is on His way to give her deliverance. “And he thy judgment shall bring forth like noontide of the day.” Humility, humility, is what you require; to be humble, to see yourself to be nothing, that Jesus Christ may be your all and in all. O to see ourselves vile, sinful sinners, so as the Holy Spirit will have work in renewing and sanctifying us.
I believe you will be complaining that there are so few godly people about you, but Christ will do His own work, independently of all the godly people in the world. When Jesus begins His work, He will carry it on and finish it in His own way and time.
Now, I will be looking for a letter from you this week.—Your friend,
HENRY BAIN.
- This letter was written to a friend in Helmsdale by an old godly man, Mr. Henry Bain, who died in Wick upwards of 20 years ago.