[109] To whom I have given, and dare venture to give.
XVII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT, _when in distress as to prospects of the
Church_.
(_ARMINIANISM--CALL TO PRAYER--NO HELP BUT IN CHRIST._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--My dearest love in Christ remembered to you.
Know that I am in great heaviness for the pitiful case of our Lord's
kirk. I hear the cause why Dr. Burton[110] is committed to prison is
his writing and preaching against the Arminians. I therefore entreat
the aid of your prayers for myself, and the Lord's captives of hope,
and for Zion. The Lord hath let and daily lets me see clearly, how
deep furrows Arminianism and the followers of it draw upon the back of
God's Israel (but our Lord cut the cords of the wicked!). "Zion said,
The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me" (Isa. xlix.
14). "Zion weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are upon her
cheeks; amongst all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her
friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her
enemies" (Lam. i. 2). "Our silver is become dross, our wine mixed with
water" (Isa. i. 22). "How is the gold become dim! how is the most
fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the
top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine
gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands
of the potter!" (Lam. ix. 1, 2). It is time now for the Lord's secret
ones, who favour the dust of Zion, to cry, "How long, Lord?" and to go
up to their watch-tower, and to stay there, and not to come down until
the vision speak; for it shall speak (Hab. ii. 3). In the mean time,
the just shall live by faith. Let us wait on and not weary. I have not
a thread to hang upon and rest, but this one, "Can a woman forget her
sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her
womb? Yea, she may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have
graven thee upon the palms of My hands; Thy walls are continually
before Me" (Isa. xlix. 15, 16). For all outward helps do fail; it is
time therefore for us to hang ourselves, as our Lord's vessels, upon
the nail that is fastened in a sure place. We would make stakes of our
own fastening, but they will break. Our Lord will have Zion on His own
nail. Edom is busy within us, and Babel without us, against the
handful of Jacob's seed. It were best that we were upon Christ's side
of it, for His enemies will get _the stalks to keep_, as the proverb
is. Our greatest difficulty will be to win upon the rock now, when the
wind and waves of persecution are so lofty and proud. Let sweet Jesus
take us by the hand. Neither must we think that it will be otherwise;
for it is told to the souls under the altar, "That their
fellow-servants must be killed as they were" (Rev. vi. 11). Surely, it
cannot be long to the day. Nay, hear Him say, "Behold, I come, My dear
bride; think not long. I shall be at you at once. I hear you, and am
coming." Amen; even so come, Lord Jesus, come quickly; for the
prisoners of hope are looking out at the prison windows, to see if
they can behold the King's ambassador coming with the King's warrant
and the keys. I write not to you by guess now, because I have a
warrant to say unto you, the garments of Christ's spouse must be once
again dyed in blood, as long ago her husband's were. But our Father
sees His bleeding Son. What I write unto you, show it to I. G. Grace,
grace, grace and mercy be with you, your husband, and children.
Yours in the Lord,