Some time afterwards Miss Morton writes to Mr. Huntington as follows:—
My dear Father in Christ,
Since it has pleased God to convince me of the desperate evil of sin, the terrors of the law, and the horrors of a guilty conscience, which I laboured under for many months, it is with no small consolation I acquaint you of the essential and joyful change I still experience and enjoy in my soul.
From a deep sense of my lost state as an undone sinner, I have been brought to the foot of the Saviour’s cross, to receive through the merits of His atoning blood, both pardon and peace; and have found Him a prayer hearing and a prayer answering God. What sweet invitations do I read in His word, for the vilest of sinners to approach Him—having felt myself such, and, on the other hand, my need of a Saviour, “to me then is the word of this salvation sent.” He has granted me pardoning and quickening grace, so that by continually pleading His promises, praying fervently for an increase of faith, and begging of Him to remove unbelief, and dispel every doubt and fear (which I really believe He will grant in His own due time through His beloved son Christ Jesus) though I have often groaned all this out, without words to utter it, yet He well knew the state I was in, and took pity on me.
The horror, dejection and guilt, which I felt is removed while joy and peace is springing up in my heart. I feel a pardon and forgiveness of my sins, by the application of His atoning blood. I know He is exalted to give repentance to just such sinners as I am; and having experienced a heartfelt sorrow for sin, and the foolish vows that I made, I humbly trust, that a godly sorrow, which worketh repentance to salvation “that needeth not to be repented of,” is now given me. Blessed be God, I know mercy to be His darling attribute, to those who feel this need of mercy. Have I not a right then to claim Him as my Saviour? Surely I have, for the Spirit itself beareth witness with my spirit that I am His child. I find that I can approach a throne of grace with a humble boldness, a strong confidence, and a full persuasion that God is my Father in covenant. Methinks I find sweet access to Him; for I have had conspicuous answers to prayer lately, and have found a fervency in requesting those things he has since granted me. How delightful is prayer to the soul when God gives a Spirit of grace and supplication. Here all grievances are redressed, as you observe. When the heart is overwhelmed with affliction and distress, here is the bosom of a gracious Saviour to pour them into, who, being “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” tried and tempted like unto us, knowing our infirmities, and whereof we are made, can sympathise with us, when confidence in the creature will prove vain. When we are enabled, in times of trouble, to pour out our complaints before Him, how it eases the troubled mind, and we are encouraged to this, for He hath said, “He will be enquired of.” He commands us to persevere in wrestling hard with Him by fervent prayer, and He delights in answering prayer; for he “said not to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain.” Knowing him, therefore, to be faithful to His promise, may God incline our hearts to seek His face daily, and to come moment after moment for a fresh supply of His grace. May we feel more and more real spiritual poverty; for “the rich” he hath declared, “shall be sent empty away.”
When a dear Redeemer is thus all in all, what a heartfelt union there is between Christ and the soul, and sweet communion with Him, at a throne of grace! I have lately found Him the sweetest companion I ever conversed with in my life so that I wean daily from every other object. Truly happy is that soul that can lay His hand upon his conscience and say Jesus is precious to me! I know, as God-Man, He is all-sufficient to save me; and He has promised that He will cast out none that come unto Him; and blessed be His name He has made me willing in the day of His power to close in with him. O that I could love Him more! O that I could cleave closer to Him, live more dependent on Him, and glorify Him more in my life and conversation!
I confess, Sir, that I had awfully fallen, to the great dishonour of the Gospel, by turning Papist; but though I had heard the truth before, yet I never understood it clearly, nor did I ever feel the power of it, till God struck me under your ministry, and in a most singular manner stopped me in my mad career of returning to France, which very shortly would have taken place.
It really was by a thorny path that the Lord led me, but He has brought me forth by a right way, and I now know of a truth that I shall shortly arrive “to a city of habitation.” The Lord increase my faith. . . .
I did not think of sending you so long a letter, but I am in a sweet frame of mind at present, and happy in heart, I therefore let my pen glide on as you see—and now conclude: praying for a growth in grace, in knowledge, and in understanding, and a greater love to Jesus Christ: while I remain yours sincerely in Gospel affection.
ELIZABETH MORTON.