things are possible? There is nothing too hard for an omnipotent arm.-We must not limit the Holy One of Israel. Have we not seen by the eye of faith, crediting the word of God, the three children walking through the fiery furnace unburnt, unhurt? Oh, what a mystery! And have we not in the course of our observation seen some of the LORD's most precious ones cast into a furnace of affliction? And have they been burnt? No! the flames have not been permitted to kindle upon them. How have they come out? Purified and refined. They have suffered loss and pain, but it has only been the dross; for never surely have they shone so bright in the sight of God and man, as in some of those darkest moments. And this is the blessed experience of her whom I am now addressing. Oh! thank the LORD for almost working a miracle, in that he has in any degree reconciled your mind to his late wonderful visitation of af fliction; and this, which at one time seemed as insurmountable to you as it now does to me, will, I trust, be a mean of strengthening your faith against all the insinuations of carnal reason, and lead you to trust unreservedly in the LORD for all the future. May we be so instructed by this dispensation, that when anticipating evil, we may not be suffered to say, Well, I could never bear such and such a trial-I should sink under it-my eyes, my heart could never endure it.' This is carnal reasoning indeed. But I have felt it, and make no doubt but you know what I mean more than by hearsay. I am truly concerned to hear of your indisposition. Ere this reach Ere this reach you, I hope, by the mercy of the LORD, it will be removed; and that he will yet, if it be his heavenly will, grant you à healthful body and a prosperous soul, to the comfort of yourself and the great advantage of your beloved offspring. L I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kindness in writing to me, though I am grieved that by so doing I should have been the means of adding one pain to the afflicted.-Forgive me the same. Believe the truth of what I have written, and what I say, when I subscribe myself Your affectionate, And for your sake afflicted, M. C. LETTER VIII. July 13, 1798. I do indeed thank you, my dear, for your unexpected, kind remembrance of me. I never had any claim upon you in this respect; but surely less now than ever. Oh, how sincerely does my spirit rejoice with yours, when I read the wonderful dealings of GOD with you! It affects me deeply; but it fills me with such inward consolation as I cannot express. It establishes my faith in the promises of GOD, and is to me a fresh display of his omnipotence. I know you so well, and have been such an eye-witness to the strength of your natural love and affection, that I am constrained again to cry out, "What hath GOD wrought! "who ever trusted in him and was confound"ed?" Oh, may we never more limit the Holy One of Israel, but always entertain the most exalted ideas of his goodness, believing that nothing is too hard for him. May we be "strong in faith, giving glory to God, " and stagger not at the promise of GOD 66 through unbelief." To those in the afflicted state of my dear the most suitable promises are made: and he hath indeed fulfilled with his hand the declaration of his word; for in a wonderful manner, within our own observation, hath he supported those who have been bereaved like you-bereaved indeed! I had a painful pleasure this week, reading in the magazine the memoirs of him I dearly esteemed. He is indeed precious in my remembrance-No one that I have ever lost so much so. But of this enough. Oh, forgive the intrusion-I would not give you a moment's pain. The LORD knows my heart; I have a sympathetick feeling with you that I never experienced before to an equal degree. can never It appears to me not less than the working of a miracle, in that you are so wonderfully supported. Surely, my dear despond in the prospect of any future trial. He that hath already done more than you could have believed, is able also to effect that which may now seem more than possible. One to whom he has shown such great things cannot surely expect too much from him. With kindest love to all your dear family, |