by Rev. Hugh Martin D.D.
Maryton
Montrose,
12th May, 1880
My Dear Friend, — I long to hear from you. Have I never an affliction that you seem to wish to be apart from me in your sorrow; I, from whom, what is it can you tell, that the Lord hath not taken? What would become of such as I am, were it not that the “will of God” is to be seen coming forth in and through the sufferings of Christ to “sanctify, or set apart and make godly” the lonely ones for Himself, and to bring them more and more into experimental conformity with Him who had to say, “I am become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother’s children.” Therefore, though we be afflicted it is for your sakes, as Paul says; or whether we be comforted it is also for your sakes, for our hope of you is steadfast, yes, steadfast as the everlasting hills, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolations.
I do not know when I have suffered more in sympathy with a bereaved one than with you, not only at the first, but since I got your message, that you lacked the faith that would follow the forerunner within the veil. But, my dear friend, the glory within the veil does not need your faith of it in order that its tides of blessing may keep pouring in upon the spirits of the just made perfect. We are sometimes apt to mistake between faith and imagination, and to think that if we have not lively views of heavenly things we have not faith. But faith is not a view. At least it is not a view of a scene, it is a crediting and honouring of God on the ground of His own Word, and He has Himself told us by the mouth of the apostle what is the place and the work of faith both as regards Divine truth and human destiny when it is said that salvation “is of faith, that it might be by grace.” That text is like a delicate and beautiful balance — its two scales being grace and faith — “it is of faith that it may be by grace,” and you cannot touch the one scale without affecting the other also. Now, in self-jealousy you doubt concerning the one scale — your faith — but do you doubt concerning the other — God’s grace? Do you not believe that in and through Christ grace reigneth, grace aboundeth; yea, that Christ is grace and gives grace, and is given by grace? You do believe that. Then let that scale alone, and let us examine the other — your faith. Both God and you are agreed that salvation is by grace, but that in order to your actually obtaining it, it must be of faith. The grace is certain and undoubted, certain on God’s part and undoubted on yours. But the faith must exist also, in order to your salvation. But have you not just said that you believe that salvation is by grace, and is that not faith? If you believe in grace, is not that faith? If you accept of grace, is not that faith? If you welcome grace, is not that faith? If you submit to grace, is not that faith? What are you puzzling at? The only need-be for faith is, that it may be by grace. Are you to make a god of your faith, as if it were the source of salvation, whereas it is only the empty space into which grace pours a free, full, and finished salvation. Therefore, look up to God, and confess your unbelief, your ignorance, and your folly, and tell Him that you must be indebted to Him not only for salvation from sin, but for salvation from unbelief, and from error too. Is not that as good faith as there is need for? And tell Him also that you are resolved to stick to His own terms, that salvation is by grace; and since He has said that it is to be by grace your believing His Word makes it yours by faith.
Now, I have given you a few sentences, which may the Lord be pleased to bless, for your help and comfort.
Hoping to hear from you soon. — Your true friend,
Hugh Martin