ANWOTH, _July 21, 1630_.
XIII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT, _when exposed to reproach for her
principles_.
(_JESUS A PATTERN OF PATIENCE UNDER SUFFERING._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--I have been thinking, since my departure from
you, of the pride and malice of your adversaries; and ye may not
(since ye have had the Book of Psalms so often) take hardly with this;
for David's enemies snuffed at him, and through the pride of their
heart said, "The Lord will not require it" (Ps. x. 13). I beseech you,
therefore, in the bowels of Jesus, set before your eyes the patience
of your forerunner Jesus, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again;
when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who
judgeth righteously (1 Pet. ii. 23). And since your Lord and Redeemer
with patience received many a black stroke on His glorious back, and
many a buffet of the unbelieving world, and says of Himself, "I gave
My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the
hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting" (Isa. iv. 6); follow
Him, and think it not hard that you receive a blow with your Lord.
Take part with Jesus of His sufferings, and glory in the marks of
Christ. If this storm were over, you must prepare yourself for a new
wound; for, five thousand years ago, our Lord proclaimed deadly war
betwixt the Seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent. And marvel
not that one town cannot keep the children of God and the children of
the devil, for one belly could not keep Jacob and Esau (Gen. xxv. 22);
one house could not keep peaceably together Isaac, the son of the
promise, and Ishmael, the son of the handmaid (Gen. xxi. 10). Be you
upon Christ's side of it, and care not what flesh can do. Hold
yourself fast by your Saviour, howbeit you be buffeted, and those that
follow Him. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not be. "We are
troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not
in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not
destroyed" (2 Cor. iv. 8, 9). If you can possess your soul in
patience, their day is coming. Worthy and dear sister, know to carry
yourself in trouble; and when you are hated and reproached, the Lord
shows it to you--"All this is come upon us, yet have we not gotten
Thee, neither have we dealt falsely in Thy covenant" (Ps. xliv. 17).
"Unless Thy law had been my delight, I had perished in mine
affliction" (Ps. cxix. 92). Keep God's covenant in your trials. Hold
you by His blessed word, and sin not. Flee anger, wrath, grudging,
envying, fretting. Forgive an hundred pence to your fellow-servant,
because your Lord hath forgiven you ten thousand talents. For I assure
you by the Lord, your adversaries shall get no advantage against you,
except you sin and offend your Lord in your sufferings. But the way to
overcome is by patience, forgiving and praying for your enemies, in
doing whereof you heap coals upon their heads, and your Lord shall
open a door to you in your troubles. Wait upon Him, as the night watch
waiteth for the morning. He will not tarry. Go up to your watch-tower,
and come not down; but by prayer, and faith, and hope, wait on. When
the sea is full, it will ebb again; and so soon as the wicked are come
to the top of their pride, and are waxed high and mighty, then is
their change approaching. They that believe make not haste.
Remember Zion, forget her not, for her enemies are many; for the
nations are gathered together against her. "But they know not the
thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they His counsel: for He
shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise and thresh, O
daughter of Zion" (Micah iv. 12, 13). Behold, God hath gathered His
enemies together, as sheaves to the threshing. Let us stay and rest
upon these promises. Now again, I trust in our Lord you shall by faith
sustain yourself, and comfort yourself in your Lord, and be strong in
His power; for you are in the beaten and common way to heaven when you
are under our Lord's crosses. You have reason to rejoice in it, more
than in a crown of gold; and rejoice, and be glad to bear the
reproaches of Christ. I rest, recommending you and yours for ever to
the grace and mercy of God.
Yours in Christ,