(_CONSOLATION IN HER HAVING GONE BEFORE--CHRIST THE BEST HUSBAND._)
REVEREND AND BELOVED IN THE LORD,--It may be that I have been too long
silent, but I hope that ye will not impute it to forgetfulness of you.
As I have heard of the death of your daughter with heaviness of mind
on your behalf, so am I much comforted that she hath evidenced to
yourself and other witnesses the hope of the resurrection of the dead.
As sown corn is not lost (for there is more hope of that which is sown
than of that which is eaten) (1 Cor. xv. 42, 43), so also is it in the
resurrection of the dead: the body "is sown in corruption, it is
raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in
glory." I hope that ye wait for the crop and harvest; "for if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with Him" (1 Thess. iv. 14). Then they are not
lost who are gathered into that congregation of the first-born, and
the general assembly of the saints. Though we cannot outrun nor
overtake them that are gone before, yet we shall quickly follow them;
and the difference is, that she hath the advantage of some months or
years of the crown before you and her mother. As we do not take it ill
if our children outrun us in the life of grace, why then are we sad if
they outstrip us in the attainment of the life of glory? It would seem
that there is more reason to grieve that children live behind us, than
that they are glorified and die before us. All the difference is in
some poor hungry accidents of time, less or more, sooner or later. So
the godly child, though young, died an hundred years old; and ye could
not now have bestowed her better, though the choice was Christ's, not
yours.
And I am sure, Sir, ye cannot now say that she is married against the
will of her parents. She might more readily, if alive, fall into the
hands of a worse husband; but can ye think that she could have fallen
into the hands of a better? And if Christ marry with your house, it is
your honour, not any cause of grief, that Jesus should portion any of
yours, ere she enjoy your portion. Is it not great love? The patrimony
is more than any other could give; as good a husband is impossible; to
say a better is blasphemy. The King and Prince of ages can keep them
better than ye can do. While she was alive, ye could entrust her to
Christ, and recommend her to His keeping; now, by an after-faith, ye
have resigned her unto Him in whose bosom do sleep all that are dead
in the Lord. Ye would have lent her to glorify the Lord upon earth,
and He hath borrowed her (with promise to restore her again) (1 Cor.
xv. 53; 1 Thess. iv. 15, 16) to be an organ of the immediate
glorifying of Himself in heaven. Sinless glorifying of God is better
than sinful glorifying of Him. And sure your prayers concerning her
are fulfilled. I shall desire, if the Lord shall be pleased the same
way to dispose of her mother, that ye have the same mind. Christ
cannot multiply injuries upon you. If the fountain be the love of God
(as I hope it is), ye are enriched with losses.
Ye knew all I can say better, before I was in Christ, than I can
express it. Grace be with you.
Yours, in Christ Jesus,