The Letters of Ruth Bryan, 1805-1860


The Lord refreshing His people with the river of His pleasures

To Mrs. H., June 2, 1850.

Many thanks for your precious letter, it is like Song of Songs 1:12, "While the king is on his couch, my perfume releases its fragrance."

"The time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives (or husbands) be as though they had none."

"Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father's house; so shall the King greatly desire your beauty: for he is your Lord--worship him."

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is towards me." Oh, the wonder!

"He is the chief among ten thousand." "His mouth is most sweet; yes, he is altogether lovely." "You, (O beloved,) are (infinitely) fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into your lips." "As the apple-tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste."

It is marvelous, my dearest Amelia, that our beloved spiritual Bridegroom should again draw near and ravish your heart with His inexpressible love and loveliness at this especial time. Surely everything is beautiful in its season, and these visits of love are peculiarly beautiful now, sweetly intimating that your earthly bonds must be loosened and your heavenly ones drawn closer, just seeming to say, "You shall be for Me," "and you shall not be for another; so will I also be for you." The Lord knows what are His own purposes concerning you—but He is not bestowing these favors for naught. He will make us know that His spiritual gifts are neither to play with nor for display—but for the edification of His household. It may be as you think, that before long He will call you to active service; but this will not be with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be of none effect—but in your own utter weakness, that the excellency of the power may be manifestly of God, and not of the creature. May He be with you and with your mouth, causing you to utter knowledge clearly, not fouling the pure stream with anything of the flesh. Well may it be said, "Who is sufficient for these things?" and joyfully may it be answered, "Our sufficiency is of God."

I could not but write to you today, humbly adoring Him who has made us one, not only in union—but in communion. Surely I rejoice in your joy, and with you rejoice in the Lord our righteousness. The last fortnight the Lord has been pleased to favor me with endearing communion. He has come down on my soul like rain on the mown grass, and granted me such glimpses of His all loveliness as have ravished my heart, and made the new song of praise burst forth with fresh ardor from my enraptured soul. Oh, He is so worthy, so worthy, that the highest, sweetest strains we reach disappoint us, and we feel that we would praise Him but cannot! The 12th chapter of Isaiah has been one of my melodies, and with joy indeed have I drawn and drunk water "out of the wells of salvation." Bless the Lord, O our souls. It is very marvelous; I feel it so; and, while longing for more, I wonder I have so much; but He has blessed, and none can reverse it. "There is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel." He has brought us to dwell in that mountain where He has "commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." "Because I live, you shall live also." Not I—but Christ lives in me." What ease, what release it is when Jesus is our all!

To Him I commend you in love. "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Adieu.

In tender love ever yours in our best Beloved,
Ruth




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