Gleanings from the Inner
Life of Ruth Bryan
"Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty."—Isaiah 33:17
DIARY
1822. Early religious
impressions—Mourning over a hard heart—Halting between two opinions—Illness
of her father
1823. Prayer for sanctified
affliction—Father's death
1829. Self-acquaintance—Commencement of spiritual warfare—Earnest
longings after a living faith—Hope springing up
1830. First Lord's Table—Doubts and uncertainty—Waiting for a sense
of pardon—Becomes a Sunday-school teacher
1831. Anxiety about family prayer—Self-mortification hard to bear
1832. Begins the year with an Ebenezer—Visit to Normanton—Cholera
at Nottingham
1833. Declining health—Much spiritual darkness and trying
Providences—Last illness and death of her uncle
1834. Journey to Birmingham—Looking into self—Consequent
depression—Glimpses of the grace of Jesus
1835. Bearing the cross—Deep heart-exercise—Temptation to
infidelity
1836. Fervent wrestlings—Distinction
between root and fruit
1837. The Scriptures precious—Helps by the way—Lukewarmness lamented
1838. A profitable conversation—After perplexities—A blessed
"assurance of faith" given—Sin a burden—Rejoicing—Symptoms of a fatal
disease—The world a snare—Felt helplessness
1839. A close walk with God—Bodily weakness—Fresh manifestations
and love visits from Jesus—Foretasting glory—Deep sense of sin—The Savior
her hiding-place—Living in Christ—The flesh subdued—Fasting and feasting
1840. Renewed dedication of body, soul, and spirit to the
Lord—Remembrance of past mercies—Shortcoming—Searchings of heart—Victory
through the blood of the Cross
1841. Soul discipline—Diving teaching—Under a cloud—Felt distance
from her Lord—Pressing after a life of faith—Restored to communion—Much
tried respecting the publication of her letters
1842. Large requests—Perfect freedom—The Proverbs of Solomon full
of Christ—Groaning under felt corruptions, yet glorying in the
Lord—Financial straits
1843. Earnests of the inheritance—Her watchword, "More of
Christ"—His Person unfolded by the Spirit, through the Word—Sorrow and
joy—Self-loathing—The fight of faith—The chastening of love—Kissing the
rod—Spiritual arithmetic
1844. Risen with Christ—Blessed views, by faith, of a glorious
Christ—Feeding upon the Word—Poor and needy—Leaning upon the Beloved—Jesus
her daily Sabbath—Still panting after further revelations of His glory
1845. Eternal union with Jesus—Fiery darts of the wicked one—The
Precious name of Jesus—Lesson from a spider's web—Temporal mercies lent by
the Lord—Fresh anointings from the Holy One—Singing of mercy and judgment
1846. The illness of her mother—Anxieties and pleadings on her
behalf—New discoveries of the beauty of Jesus—Serving Him without fear—Grace
abounding—Her mother's death—A sparrow alone—The Lord also her Comforter
1847. Not alone—Visit to the grave—Communion with glorified
saints—Pressing cares—Walks by faith—Timely deliverance—Visits the House of
Refuge
1848. Peculiar straits—Looking unto Jesus—Longing for the
salvation of souls—A cry from the depths—Feasting at the King's table—The
triumph of faith—Prayer and fasting, with thanksgiving—A great
answer—Emboldened to wait upon the Lord—Singing His praise
1849. The Lord's faithfulness—Temporal and spiritual help
bestowed—A visit to Ockbrook—Great weakness of body—Beams of the coming
glory—Rejoicing in the great salvation—Laboring in the vineyard—A public
fast—Continued trial in temporal matters, yet cleaving to the Lord and to
His promises
1850. Christ her all in all—Favored with access to the throne of
grace—Blessed fellowship with Jesus—Matlock blessings—Teachings of the
Spirit—The spread of Popery
1851. A day of darkness—A "time of refreshing" from the presence
of the Lord—Fatigue and sharp conflict—Great Malvern—Journeying
mercies—Increasing sufferings, but new songs—A happy Christmas Day
1852. Rumor of a French invasion—Trusting in the
Lord—Heart-wanderings—A peculiar trial—Meditations on the Word—A day of
humiliation—Friday evening meetings—Prayer to know God's will in little
things
1853. Seeking brighter evidences—Sensible comforts
diminished—Faint, yet pursuing—Sojourn in Edinburgh—Feasting in Famine
1854. Yearning over the soul of a sick friend—Good Friday a
hallowed season—The mystery of the blessed Trinity unfolded—Lessons from the
Scriptures—Thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest—A time of war—Fellowship
with Christ in His sufferings
1855. Thoughts upon death—A day of national fast and
humiliation—Much exercised about seeking further medical advice—Passion
week—A time of Jubilee—Sips from the fountain—A glorious view of a suffering
Christ—Resurrection blessedness—Justification by faith—Christmas-eve
1856. A time of temptation—The Bible a wonderful book—Perplexing
letters spread before the King—National rejoicings on account of peace
restored—The blessings of Calvary—Martha and Mary—A visit to Filey—Self-examination—"The
Word made flesh"
1857. The Spirit's word—Redemption price—Pantings after Jesus—A
banquet with the King—The coverings of the tabernacle—A second visit to
Filey—Divine love—Watching for the Lord's hand on the top of Mount Carmel
1858. A New Year's motto: "Looking unto Jesus"—The Refiner's
work—Longing for the "better land"—The debt paid, and the Church eternally
free—The blessedness of union—No birthday portion—The sun in a mist—The
furnace
1859. Tribulation—Disease progressing—Death of Mr.
T—. Preciousness of the blood of the Lamb—Jesus as the High Priest—Christ
delighting in His Church—A feast-day
1860. Much bodily suffering—The enemy harassing—Christ in the
types, Psalms, and Prophets—The realization of the presence of Jesus in the
furnace—Safe in the Ark—The Lord Almighty for a crown of glory—The last
entry