L.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.
(_CHRIST COMING AS CAPTAIN OF SALVATION--HIS CHURCH'S CONFLICT
AND COVENANT--THE JEWS--LAST DAYS APOSTASY_.)
WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR SISTER,--I know your heart is cast down for the
desolation like to come upon this kirk and the appearance that an
hireling shall be thrust in upon Christ's flock in that town; but send
a heavy heart up to Christ, it shall be welcome. Those who are with
the beast and the dragon, must make war with the Lamb; "but the Lamb
shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and
they who are with Him are called and chosen, and faithful" (Rev. xvii.
14). Our ten days shall have an end; all the former things shall be
forgotten when we shall be up before the throne. Christ hath been ever
thus in the world; He hath always the defender's part, and hath been
still in the camp, fighting the Church's battles. The enemies of the
Son of God will be fed with their own flesh, and shall drink their own
blood; and therefore, their part of it shall at last be found hard
enough: so that we may look forward and pity them. Until the number of
the elect be fulfilled, Christ's garments must be rolled in blood. He
cometh from Edom, from the slaughter of His enemies, "clothed with
dyed garments, glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of
His strength." Who is this (saith he) that appears in this glorious
posture? Our great He! that He who is mighty to save, whose glory
shineth while He sprinkleth the blood of His adversaries, and staineth
all His raiment. The glory of His righteous revenges shineth forth in
these stains (Isa. lxiii. 1). But seeing our world is not here-away,
we poor children, far from home, must steal through many waters,
weeping as we go, and withal believing that we do the Lord's
faithfulness no wrong, seeing He hath said, "I, even I, am He that
comforteth you: who art thou, that shouldest be afraid of a man that
shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass?" (Isa.
li. 12). "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the
flames kindle upon thee" (Isa. xliii. 2).
There is a cloud gathering and a storm coming. This land shall be
turned upside down; and if ever the Lord spake to me (think on it),
Christ's bride will be glad of a hole to hide her head in, and the
dragon may so prevail as to chase the woman and her man-child over
sea. But there shall be a gleaning, two or three berries left in the
top of the olive-tree, of whom God shall say, "Destroy them not, for
there is a blessing in them." Thereafter there shall be a fair
sun-blink on Christ's old spouse, and a clear sky, and she shall sing
as in the days of her youth. The Antichrist and the great red dragon
will lop Christ's branches, and bring His vine to a low stump, under
the feet of those who carry the mark of the beast; but the Plant of
Renown, the Man whose name is the Branch, will bud forth again and
blossom as the rose, and there shall be fair white flourishes again,
with most pleasant fruits, upon that tree of life. A fair season may
He have! Grace, grace be upon that blessed and beautiful tree! under
whose shadow we shall sit, and His fruit shall be sweet to our taste.
But Christ shall woo His handful in the fire, and choose His own in
the furnace of affliction. But be it so; He dow not, He will not slay
His children. Love will not let Him make a full end. The covenant will
cause Him hold His hand. Fear not, then, saith the First and the Last,
He who was dead and is alive. We see not Christ sharpening and
furbishing His sword for His enemies; and therefore our faithless
hearts say, as Zion did, "The Lord hath forsaken me." But God
reproveth her, and saith, "Well, well, Zion, is that well said? Think
again on it, you are in the wrong to Me. Can a woman forget her
sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her
womb? Yea, she may; yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have
engraven thee upon the palms of My hands" (Isa. xlix. 15, 16). You
break your heart and grow heavy, and forget that Christ hath your name
engraven on the palms of His hand in great letters. In the name of the
Son of God, believe that buried Scotland, dead and buried with her
dear Bridegroom, shall rise the third day again, and there shall be a
new growth after the old timber is cut down.
I recommend you, and your burdens and heavy heart, to the supporting
of His grace and good-will who dwelt in the Bush, to Him who was
separated from His brethren. Try your husband afar off, to see if he
can be induced to think upon going to America.
O to see the sight, next to Christ's Coming in the clouds, the most
joyful! our elder brethren the Jews and Christ fall upon one another's
necks and kiss each other! They have been long asunder; they will be
kind to one another when they meet. O day! O longed-for and lovely
day-dawn! O sweet Jesus, let me see that sight which will be as life
from the dead, Thee and Thy ancient people in mutual embraces.[140]
[140] In the Preface to his "Peaceable Plea," he expresses the same
yearnings towards the Jews. And also in "Trial of Faith," sermon xiii.
Desire your daughter to close with Christ upon terms of suffering for
Him; for the cross is an old mealing and plot of ground that lyeth to
Christ's house. Our dear Chief had aye that rent lying to His
inheritance. But tell her the day is near the dawning, the sky is
riving; our Beloved will be on us, ere ever we be aware. The
Antichrist, and death and hell, and Christ's enemies and ours, will be
bound and cast into the bottomless pit. The Lord Jesus be with your
spirit.
Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus,