(Continued from page 293.)
LETTER TO MR. HUNTINGTON.
Sir,
Your last favour, I received and am sorry to say it was by no means a word in season to my soul. The instant I read it through I felt my whole frame affected. However, before I put pen to paper in answer to it, my heart was lifted up in prayer to God for His direction.
I am prepossessed that this letter is written too much in your own spirit. My mind is at present very unfit for controversy. But, say you, it was your own seeking.
As to the covenant—I say but one thing more, which is—My ideas on that point are so changed, that were I a nun, with my present sentiments, I should be miserable of a truth. It has pleased God wonderfully to deliver me from that bondage. He who well knows the inward recesses of the heart is witness, that I truly desire, in whatever situation I am, to be resigned to His will.
I am particularly struck with your continual accusations of my perverting the Word of God. Pray then for me (as God knoweth I do for myself) that the veil of ignorance may be removed from my corrupt mind—that the eyes of my understanding may be thoroughly enlightened to comprehend the Word; not only to know but to feel the power of the truth as it is in Christ.
You desire to know how I am. Still distressed and much dejected; though I find a glimmering hope that God has a purpose of mercy towards me, from His singular and wonderful dealings with me. Could I but know that Christ would indeed receive me after my awful apostacy, and make void those vows, which are a continued grief to me, it might be some relief to my troubled conscience. “O Lord I am oppressed, undertake for me.”
O! Sir, you cannot be a judge of my present complicated trials, not only with respect to what I have just related, but also an intricate circumstance just laid in my way concerning my future situation in life. I have lately received an invitation to return to Russia, by one of the first ships in the Spring, to settle in a milder climate than I was before, and where I have reason to believe I should enjoy my health. Great temporal advantages are offered me; but I can truly say my heart desires them not, any further than, as a means shortly (God willing) of enabling me to retire, independent of the world, and to give myself up to the service of God; for what hope have I, should I be settled in London, of attaining the means of grace, more than in a foreign country? And much less time, I know from experience, of enjoying my own private meditations. Entreat the Lord’s direction on my behalf.
Happy is that man who is enabled to cast himself on the immediate care of God (Psalm xxxvii. 5). Surely this must be the best expedient in distracting troubles (Psalm xvi, 3). I can assure you my mind is now perplexed, fearing lest I should pervert or misinterpret the Scriptures. Nevertheless, this I must assert, I desire fervently that Christ may be all in all to my soul, and I be deadened to everything short of him.
Your obliged friend,
ELIZABETH MORTON.
PART OF LETTER IV. FROM MR. HUNTINGTON.
Madam,
… Whether I have written to you in a bad spirit or in a good one, it is clear to me that God has both owned it and honoured it, by the power that has attended it. I know that the “servant of God must not strive but to be gentle” (II Tim. ii 24) especially with wounded spirits, but, against errors and in defence of God’s truth, He must be “an iron pillar, and a brazen wall” (Jer. i. 18). It is common for such as you to cry out “Prophecy smooth things; prophecy deceits; My people,” says God, “love to have it so, and what will they do in the end thereof?” (Isaiah xxx. 10).
… The excellency and the power of religion is of God. It is He that “maketh sore, and bindeth up” (Job v. 18) and as he has used me to wound you, in all probability he will use me to heal you. When this is done, and you are “brought forth to the light” you will be better able to judge, whether it was done by my temper, or by the Lord’s Spirit.
Your going to Russia my soul hates, but as the devil is afraid of losing you, he thinks it is best policy to drive you out of the country, if he be permitted, that he may “keep possession of the palace, and his goods in peace,” which are much disturbed at present; and he thinks in imminent danger.
Your aiming at an independency is nothing but the wretched effects of distrust and unbelief; and is a wicked reflection cast on the tender care, kind providence and promised support of the Almighty. You shall have no better success in your voyage to Russia, to accumulate an independency, than Naomi had in going to Moab, to secure her property. “Woe to the rebellious children” (Isaiah xxx. 1-7). Stay thou in this country, thou wast obliged to flee here for health before, and take heed to thyself about a second flight, lest God say unto thee, as to the wicked Israelites of old, when they were chased both from their God and their country. “Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan Him; but weep sore for him that goeth away; for he shall return no more, nor see his native country” (Jer. xxii. 10).
If an independency had been best for thee, God would have given it thee: for “He maketh poor, and maketh rich. He bringeth low, and lifteth up” (I Sam. ii. 7) … Wait thou upon God until he “bind up thy broken spirit,” and then he will give thee the spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind” which will qualify thee better for that work than ever thou hast yet been … “Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psalm xxxvii. 3-5).
As to your present troubles, they are no more than what you must expect “They have no rest day nor night” (Rev. xiv. 11). If God saves thee he will “visit thy sin with the rod and thine iniquities with stripes,” therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor be weary of his correction. Shall a living man complain for the punishment of his sins? Bear the indignation of the Lord for thou hast sinned against him. Who knows but he may bring thee forth to the light, and show thee his righteousness? …
Indeed, Madam, I have dealt in the same plain way with you that God did with me . . .
Act from conviction, agreeable to your promises; and I shall watch God’s hand, and implore His aid. While God keeps you in suspense, or you “halt between two opinions,” I bid you adieu, but if truth sway you I am your ready serviter in the gospel of Christ, and for His sake.
W. HUNTINGTON.