CCCV.--_For the Right Honourable Lady, my_ LADY KENMURE.
(_SINS OF THE TIMES--PRACTICAL ATHEISM._)
MADAM,--I am a little moved at your infirmity of body and health; I
hope it is to you a real warning. "And if in this life only we had
hope, we should be of all men the most miserable." Sure the huge[434]
generations of the seekers of the face of Jacob's God must be in a
life above the things that are now much taking with us; such as, to
see the sun, to enjoy this life in health, and some good worldly
accommodations too. And if we be making that[435] sure, it is our
wisdom. The times would make any that love the Lord sick and faint, to
consider how iniquity aboundeth, and how dull we are in observing sins
in ourselves, and how quick-sighted to find them out in others, and
what bondage we are in. And yet very often, when we complain of times,
we are secretly slandering the Lord's work and wise government of the
world, and raising a hard report of Him. "He is good, and doeth good,"
and all His ways are equal.
[434] Must even here be in possession of a life far superior to the
things that at present attract us. "_Huge_" may mean "vast as to
number" (Isa. xlviii. 19), and also, great in other respects.
[435] If we are making this living above the world sure.
Madam, I have been holding out to some others (oh, if I could to
myself!) some more of this, to read and study God well, and make the
serious thoughts of a Godhead, and a Godhead in Christ, the work, and
the only work, all the day. Oh, we are little with God! and do all
without God! We sleep and wake without Him; we eat, we speak, we
journey, we go about worldly business and our calling without God!
and, considering what deadness is upon the hearts of many, it were
good that some did not pray without God, and preach and praise, and
read and confer of God without God! It is universally complained of,
that there is a strange deadness upon the land, and on the hearts of
His people. Oh, if we could help it! But He that watereth every moment
His garden of red wine must help it. I believe that He will burn the
briers and the thorns that come against Him.
I desire to remember your Ladyship to God; but little can I do that
way. His everlasting goodness will be with you.
Yours, in the Lord Jesus,