Romaine's letters to his friends
Letter 1March 5, 1788
My dear Friend,
I am in your debt for January 1, 1788. It has never been out of my mind, but I have really too much business for my age and growing infirmities. Yet, whenever I think of lessening my work, Luke 9:62 frightens me ("No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back, is fit for service in the kingdom of God."), and I set out afresh to get on, as my Lord shall help me.
I am still "Looking to Jesus"—a sight that would do an angel good, and much more a sinner! For His name is Wonderful. There is none like Him in Heaven or earth. Consider His nature, His essential glory, or His offices—His mediatorial glory, from what He saves us freely, and to what He brings us perfectly—even to life eternal. Surely He is a matchless Jesus. And He wants only to be known, that He may win our hearts and we may admire and adore Him.
Why is He not then universally admired? If man had no failing in his faculties, he could not help falling in love with such
infinite beauty. But he is blind—yes, truly he is dead! He has lost not this or that thing, but life, and thereby all communion with the spiritual world. He is actually dead in trespasses and sins. And when the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus frees him from the law of sin and of death—then he receives spiritual senses and is able to see him by faith who was before invisible.
His first look is generally for healing. He beholds the Lamb who was slain and finds peace through His cleansing blood. The Spirit seals the testimony of the Father concerning the Son. He believes, and the more simply—the more virtue flows from Jesus, to purify and to rejoice the heart. He believes on, reads the faithful Word, hears it, prays over it, and the Spirit applies it, making Jesus still more precious.
Every fresh look to Him confirms the reality and increases the blessedness of living by faith upon Him. And thus daily communion with Jesus nourishes spiritual life and renders it more easy and more delightful.
These were some of the outlines of our New Year's sermon: how we get eyes to see Jesus and how fresh sights make our eyes stronger. The eye-salve of His Word and Spirit clears the mental organ and enables it to behold more wonderful things than Adam saw in paradise. May the prospect brighten upon you; and the more beautiful it is, may He speak to your heart and say, "All this is yours!"
We proceeded thus: if this is your faith, now try it. The trial is God's way of improving your faith. Jesus being the author and the continuer of faith, He expects that we look up to Him constantly for our:
1. Safety, as 1 Peter 1:5: "We are kept," etc.
2. Growth; being alive by Him, we grow by cleaving to Him, as the branch to the vine, Ephesians 4:15: "But holding the truth in love," etc.
3. All spiritual blessings flow from Him, Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be God," etc.
4. All temporal blessings, holy use of troubles, burdens, wants, sickness, trust, as Isaiah 27:1-2, and they will be profitable; and health and money and lands and all good things in life shall be sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.
5. Come what may, trust on, look to Jesus; and Romans 8:28 shall be infallible truth.
6. "But he may lose sight and be blind forever." 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 cannot be broken. He shall see the King in His beauty.
7. "But he may fall and be lost." Oh, no. Christ's prayer, John 17, is as effectual as ever. Hebrews 2:13.
8. "But he must die." Well, a dying man, looking to Jesus, may hear Him say, "Fear not, I am with you," Psalm 23:4. He has a good warrant to be comforted as long as the breath is in his body—and then, "All these died in faith."
9. Oh, what will this man find when he opens his eyes and sees Jesus in His glory! May the Lord the Spirit prepare us for that sight and keep us looking to Jesus by faith, until we see Him by sense!
William Romaine
Letter 2
May 3, 1788
My good Friend,
I am fully satisfied you do not forget the Master nor His servant. I please myself with thinking that you are living what I teach, and that our word for 1788, "Looking to Jesus," is realized by you. I believe He has opened your eyes. You do see Him—a true Jesus, but not in all His glory. The object is too great for the eye of faith, and too bright when we come near it. But if you will humbly ask for some of His eye-salve, it will marvelously strengthen the nerves, insomuch that you may see Him who is invisible—enough of Him to win all your affections!
Such sights bring applications. He is matchless beauty—and He is mine! He is all perfection, and I am perfect in Him! He is the wonder of Heaven, and soon I shall see Him face to face. This hope makes studying the Word, believing, growing up into Him—very sweet and profitable. Every fresh view of His heavenly Person begets some conformity to Him, and wishes for more.
I have been consulting one who was quite enraptured with his Lord's beauty—who had seen Him in His glory, and he gave me great encouragement to proceed in this divine study. For he said to me, ''After twenty-three years' happy experience of what He is to me, besides the visions and revelations which I had of Him in paradise, still I know Him but in part. Yet what I do know has such a powerful influence upon my heart and life, that I am still pressing forward; and I will, God helping me, until I know, even as also I am known."
Oh, this was sweet advice. You cannot think what good it did me; for I found my case and the apostle's were much alike.
I do know my Jesus truly and savingly—yet it is but little. I am not satisfied with my spiritual attainments. More, far more remains to be known of this infinite object, and therefore it is not enjoyed. A sense of this keeps alive a constant appetite for fresh discoveries of Jesus. This hungering and thirsting is not in vain—it is the vigor of spiritual life in the kingdom of faith.
The health of the soul is more seen in its desires than in its enjoyments; for we have flesh and blood, and they let us feel we are not at home. We have also many mighty and cunning enemies, who are always attacking and often robbing us of our sensible enjoyments. And yet faith can live and thrive amidst all. It can break through every obstacle that stands between it and its Beloved, trusting to what God has promised, and waiting patiently for His fulfilling it. If He hides His gracious countenance—yes, if He appears as an enemy, the believer trusts and is not afraid. These are some of the workings of faith, by which its truth, its efficacy, and its blessedness appear.
May the Spirit keep them very strong upon our hearts! It is His office, while we are absent from our dearest Friend, to preserve longings after Him in our souls—warm breathings (such as Psalm 63) fervent desires not to be satisfied until they get full enjoyment. And in this way the Holy Spirit glorifies the Savior. What He manifests to us creates such an appetite for Him, as only Jehovah-Jesus Himself in glory can fill. All the grace we now get out of His fullness, is but a glimpse of what we hope to get out of the same fullness in glory. Now this is living and thriving faith.
William Romaine
Letter 3
June 12, 1788
My dear Friend,
Your last letter brought me down upon my knees. I feel for you. I pray that you may have a right use of this painful visitation. It can only be sanctified by the Spirit of God and prayer. May you meet it in faith and improve it by patience. A child—a pleasant child of fair hopes—I have lost such a one, and I well remember it gave me occasion to exercise all the grace I could get. At that time I found an infinite fullness in Jesus, and there is the same for you to go to.
And now that your children are growing up, they will make you very miserable, or else they will compel you to be daily learning: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16. Read it. Meditate well upon it. Pray over it. It is a lesson of constant practice.
If your children live, if they prosper, if they go on in spiritual success, as well as temporal; if they are sick, if they should die—all will try your faith and make you feel that your whole dependence for yourself and family is on the Lord, who made Heaven and earth.
Whatever may be the outcome of W's illness, we know not. But our Lord has taught us to live in subjection to His holy will, whatever He may please to send.
Sir, you are not to learn this only in theory, but how to practice it is the point; and therein most of us fail. We—none of us—carry our subjection so far as He warrants us. His rule is, "If any man is My disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." This carries the terms of discipleship very high. A man must deny all that he has and is as a child of Adam—himself—as being under the law, under sin, and under condemnation. No possible hope in himself. And then he takes up the cross, which was the instrument of death, and to which the curse of the broken law was annexed and executed too, on Adam and all his descendants. He pleads guilty, owns the sentence to be just, and carries about with him an abiding conviction that he deserves the curse and death due to sin as his wages. He puts the life of Adam, what he lives in the flesh, upon the cross, and hence forward lives by the faith of the Son of God—really dead to all hopes of salvation, except what Christ is to him.
It is a great trial to have your own son sick; it will be a greater trial if God should take him from you. But such a trial does not come up to our Lord's meaning. We call everything that goes contrary to our will a cross, but this is far short of the matter. Christ's disciple must not only deny the will of the flesh, but himself; not only all trust in the flesh, but life itself. If he has come aright to Christ, he has come with a halter about his neck; yes, and has it on still—owning that the cross and curse due to sin, are due to him. He submits to the penalty; and moreover, waits with faith and patience for the execution.
It is thus the Spirit of God makes Christ his one hope—breaking off all connection with Adam's world, and with the life we derive from Adam. He quickens us into Christ, and into Christ's world. This is a total resignation—not only the will, but the whole man is crucified with Christ. The greatest thing we have, life itself, is resigned to Him. And thus the disciple is taught submission in all other things.
It becomes easy then to say "yes," and to practice too, "Take away what You please, Lord; not my will, but may Your will be done!" Duties are all alike easy, trials all alike tolerable, when we meet them in the strength of Christ. But when we would do them or bear any part of them ourselves, then we find our perfect weakness. A disciple feels his impotance and lays the burden upon Christ, who says to him, "I will sustain you." His almighty power fulfills His Word. And through Him, faith and patience do their perfect work. This is following Christ. May you at this time, and at all times, be one of His happy disciples—denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following the Lamb wherever He leads you.
It will not be unseasonable to remind you that you cannot store up a stock of grace, and thereby keep your heart in any preparation to submit cheerfully to God's will, especially when it is much contrary to your own. No past experience can enable you to bear a present trial. You must have fresh grace for the moment, just as you breathe, Isaiah 27:3. So is the spiritual life: it is not from yourself, any more than your physical life. We fetch both from outside of us. The life and liveliness of your soul depend entirely on Christ, the light of life, and on the Holy Spirit, the breath of life; and you can only receive, and can only enjoy these influences from Christ and the Spirit as you are living every moment by faith.
This is the holy art of believing; by it a beggar is enriched; a sinner is pardoned; the weak are made strong in the Lord; the miserable are blessed; the dying disciple lives forever. May you practice this holy art, and become the happiest of believers in the country.
William Romaine
Letter 4
August 13, 1781
My dear Friend,
I have not been at all well since I left you; a dizziness follows me constantly, and sometimes I am ready to fall. I am aware of the consequences, and, thank God, I have nothing to fear, come what may. Though it is a fair warning that my house is growing ruinous, yet I have a prospect of another building—a house of Emmanuel's making—out of the reach of death and misery—fit for Emmanuel's land, which is a country far, far better than paradise! It is made so to me by free gift, the grant accepted by faith, and the pledge of the Spirit enjoyed. The grant is death is a covenant mercy—by which we receive all covenant blessings. And for all in hand and in promise, I am kept looking to Jesus.
I am afraid to say much of myself, lest I should fall into a mistake, which I have often noticed and blamed in Mrs. Rowe, that she talked too much in raptures and shot too high, far above common Christians' heads. However, let Him have His glory. He won the crown; let Him wear it. Keep Him in sight in all His gifts, in all His graces—everything will then go well. This is my old lesson, and my new lesson daily. Pray, I charge you to pray for,
William Romaine
Letter 5
Blackfriars, November 8, 1788.
I owe you for a very friendly note—the contents were all matter of praise. How thankful should you feel, and how humbly should you walk, under a sense of such mercies! And even for this, there is an ample provision made. Grace, from which all good comes, is ready to make you truly thankful and to keep you humble. And if you use ever so much grace to increase humble thankfulness, yet always remember the character of our Jesus—He gives more grace.
Saturday morning. I am looking at that most blessed Giver of more. He is like the sun which is never weary of sending out more light. Our Sun is ever sending out more grace—fresh, always adding—more in quantity, more in quality—better and better; and the last the best—even eternal grace, the crown of all.
Sir, I tell you a great secret, and it is all I have learned in a very long experience. By putting this word to everything, it makes a miraculous change; it really turns evil into good. Misery with grace can feel happy; pain is sweet; gracious poverty makes rich; a weak believer, out of weakness, becomes strong—weak in himself, therefore strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. No painful dispensation can really hurt, where grace is exercised; indeed nothing can hurt, not even sin itself. "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20-21. Read these two verses, and Paul's commentary upon them in Ephesians chapters 1 and 2, and then tell me whether the grace of our Jesus ought not to have (and from me it shall have) constant use and employment as long as I have any being. May you and yours do the same, and then you will find showers of blessings coming down daily upon you.
All was good in your letter, except what related to Mrs. K.; and even that, put grace to it, will also be good. Grace can extract much spiritual health out of bodily sickness. I hope and pray she may be better for her present illness, and find under it grace sufficient to make her say from her heart, and her husband to join her, "Not my will, but may Your will be done!"
But mind, this must be present grace, received moment after moment, out of the fullness of the God-man. We have no stock in hand; and when faith lives as it should do, it finds the benefit of receiving all, just as it is needed, even fresh grace to thank Jesus for His grace.
William Romaine
Letter 6
December 20, 1788
Mr. T.,
Mrs. K. is sick, yet her sickness is not unto death. Oh, what a mercy that her soul is alive to God in Christ. United to Him, she is one with the fountain of life and cannot be cut off (see John 9:25-26). Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. May her husband and all the family, knowing what it is to be in the Lord, when they sorrow, yet sorrow not as others who have no hope.
You seem to be much affected with the complexion of the times. So am I, and your Divine Support is mine also. The Lord reigns; the Lord Jesus—and blessed are all who put their trust in Him. His subjects have nothing to fear in the worst of times, for their King is almighty. He is almighty to save them from all their sins, almighty to save them from all their miseries, almighty to give them all spiritual blessings—yes, almighty to command the best blessing, even life forevermore. Oh, what a King is this! Oh, what blessed subjects are these! Who is a God like You, Jehovah-Jesus, who pardons rebels and makes them kings and priests unto God and the Father; and then invites them to sit down with You upon Your throne of glory! The Lord reigns in His kingdom of grace, by His Word and by His Spirit, daily conquering rebels and making them His willing subjects—until they are all the elect are brought safely to the kingdom of His glory.
Now, what makes these blessed views of Jesus, the King of kings, so quieting and comforting to my heart, is that He is my King. This crowns all. He is my almighty Savior, my Blesser, my Keeper. His providence is over me for good; and He says to me, "Lest any hurt you, I will keep you night and day!" And as to what concerns life and godliness, He says, "Cast all your cares upon Me, for I care for you."
Jesus, Lord, I believe You—the government is upon Your shoulders; under Your protection I am safe and happy. I know You can get Yourself honor and renown in the darkest days, and the most stormy weather.
Let the tempest rage ever so much, my Pilot is almighty. He says to the winds, "Be still!" and to the waves, "Cease!" and the stormy winds and water fulfill His word.
Sir, here is my rest. I use means as well as you. I am at my prayers. But Jesus is my only hope. The present prospect may appear to you very dark—a black cloud gathering. You fear what may come, when it bursts in all its vengeance. My good Sir, this is the time for faith, to exercise it—yes, to improve it.
What good fair weather and sun-shining faith? How can one tell whether it is true or genuine? But to put to sea in our little boat in the midst of a storm, the waves dashing over our head and threatening to swallow us up every moment. Then to be able to say and feel, "My Christ is with me in the boat; therefore I will trust and not be afraid!" This is the proper working of the faith of God's elect. For thus the command runs: "Trust in Jehovah forever because in Jah, Jehovah, is everlasting strength."
I have been so much pleased with your thought, "The Lord reigns!" that if God spares life and health, I will preach upon it New Year's Day, and make it my motto verse for the year 1789; giving the character of the person of the King—of the nature of His government, and what a peculiar sort of people His subjects are—saved, pardoned, justified, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ—how they live, and how they die—and how they live to die no more!
Pray for me, that I may be so enabled to set forth His praises, that He may be glorified in me and by me, now and forever.
William Romaine
Letter 7
January 10, 1789, Saturday morning
It is so cold, that I can scarcely hold my pen, but I cannot help writing to you my present thoughts. Pardon failings, as it is written, "Have fervent love among yourselves, for this love shall cover the multitude of offenses" (1 Peter 4:8). Concerning Mrs. K.'s death, and I thank God for her. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: for they lived in Him by His Spirit, the Spirit of life, who had given them faith to receive Christ, by which they were united to Him and had grown up as members under Him their Head; living upon Him as well as by Him. Oh, blessed life! For it is out of the reach of death; as Jesus said to Martha,"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, although he dies, yet shall he be made alive; and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
So says He to you. He speaks what is as true today, as it was then. Believe Him and dry up your tears. Mourn not as those do who have no such hope. Mrs. K. was in the Lord. She is in Him now. She is with Him now, and she is now like Him—like that standard of all perfection. Upon the ground of this faith, you ought to have a family meeting and join in thanksgiving to our dearest Jesus that He has granted to admit one of you into His presence, and into His glory—and then to improve the providence in prayer, that God would make you all ready.
You will soon follow her—sooner than some of you think. Take warning. You have nothing to do here that signifies anything, but to prepare for death. God help you to live by faith, that the next of you who goes after her may be found in the Lord, and may live with Him forever.
Mrs. T., we have been praying for you, and this is the best thing we can do. I know well the tenderness of your heart and how you have felt your present loss. I believe you go for comfort just where I would have you go—to our blessed Jesus. He who has won your heart, is waiting to be gracious to you. He can supply your sister's absence with His presence. Whatever good you had from her was His gift, and now that He takes it away—He can make up your temporal loss abundantly by His spiritual blessings. May you live near to Him and make so much use of Him at this time, that you may now find Him a precious Jesus. For, "Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him." You know this well as a theoretic truth, but I wish you to feel its power. May you enjoy the presence and the love of our matchless Jesus, which is blessedness in the supreme. May He whisper to your heart, "I have made your sister as happy as My almighty love can. Wait a little, and I will do as much for you."
Mr. K., I trust we have one spirit, and feel as brethren for one another. I am sure I do for you. Where to go for comfort, you know as well as I—even to the God of all comfort. He, and He alone, can give comfort to you at this time. We, your friends, can only pray that you may make good use of and receive much profit from your present painful dispensation. You are aware that wisdom to do this must come from above; and it is such a wisdom as produces miraculous effects, as truly as in the day when James wrote (James 1:1-6) .
Miss K., weep not as those who have no hope. I am praying for grace to teach you submission to the will of our Lord. She was your mother—but remember how she lived, how she died, and where she is now. Dry up your tears. You have work to do for the Lord. You are to fill up for a time your mother's place in the family. May my God give you grace and prudence and diligence, carefully to follow her steps.
William Romaine
Letter 8
April 27, 1789
I congratulate you on our late national mercies, which all the people have felt—those of the world in their way; and we in our way, in prayer and in praise, bringing God into our joys and looking up to Him, that He would give us fresh reason to rejoice in His holy name. I believe you and I are in unison, and perhaps I may strike an octave—the touching upon my joy may affect and increase yours.
Never was I more disappointed, nor more agreeably, than on the 23rd. I expected to be left alone and to preach to stone walls; but behold, we had a full church and a blessed congregation of serious worshipers. Our subject was the 122nd Psalm, a short paraphrase on it, with reasonable applications. As I take no notes, I can only give you some of the outlines. May they warm your heart as much as they did mine, for I had some of the prophet's joy which he felt when he said, "I was glad when they said to me: Let us go into the house of the Lord."
They were going up to Jerusalem, as they did three times a year. It was a pleasant occasion to the true worshipers who had received the Holy Spirit, by whom they had living faith in Jesus, and thereby believed and enjoyed the Father's love in Him. They went up to the festivals to confirm and to increase their joy; for they knew well that the temple was the type of Christ's body, and all the public services there had relation to Him.
When they said, "Our feet shall stand within your gates, O Jerusalem," they then felt that true joy and peace in believing, which any of us now feel in reading Romans 5:1-2. For the very word Jerusalem, which means the inheritance of peace, led them to look up to Him who alone is our peace, who alone makes us heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (see Galatians 4:22 to the end, Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 21 throughout). And when they came to Jerusalem, how it added to their joy (verse 3)! All worshiping in one place, one object, one faith, and one uniformity of rites and service (verse 4).
When the tribes went up, even the tribes of the Lord, they had the same testimonies; that is, ordinances, as we have, all referring directly to the Messiah—the temple, its vessels, the holy place, the most holy place preached Christ as plainly as I can. For they went up to give thanks unto the name Jehovah. He was a Person—the name Jehovah, as in Exodus 23:21, Isaiah 30:27. That Person who was to be God incarnate, Jehovah Jesus, through whom prayer, praise, duties, all we do, are made acceptable, and through Him only. In this faith, wherever a Jew was when he prayed, he turned his face toward the temple, acknowledging that the God worshiped at Jerusalem was his God.
In this view, they might well rejoice when they went up with one heart and one voice to bless the name Jehovah because to Him they ascribe (as in verse 5) their civil as well as religious prosperity. Under Him they enjoyed full security for life and property. A good government, according to the Word of God, is a great mercy. This they enjoyed; they had a king sitting on the throne of judgment, ruling in the fear of God. Sensible of their blessings and thankful for them, they exhort one another (verse 6): "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"—our church and state. They love Christ who pray so, who feel for their brethren and their prosperity, and who know and value the house of the Lord our God. They will be much in prayer for the continuance of these inestimable blessings.
These meditations brought our thoughts home to England, and to inquire whether we had not as much reason to rejoice today, as they ever had on any festival at Jerusalem. We have the same religious, the same civil mercies as they had; and we come behind them in nothing, unless we fail today in our national praises; for our privileges are uncommonly great and call for singular acknowledgments. We have religion in its purity, God's Word in our hands, men sent by God to open and to explain it, and they are owned of Him in their labors. Nowhere in the world is the gospel in its truth and in its power experienced, as it is with us. Oh, what rich incense of praise should go up to the throne of grace from us this day! Oh, what superlative thankfulness do these favors of God require of British believers, of you and me! The gospel runs and is glorified, and yet the times are quiet. The government is on the side of our most holy faith.
Our king, God bless him, is himself a defender of it. May He by whom kings reign, look down upon him with a gracious eye this day. When he prostrates himself before his God, may the great Angel of the covenant take his prayers and praises, and perfume them with much of His heavenly incense. Lord God, speak to his heart, and let him feel some of that joy and peace which surpass all understanding.
Our service was crowned by the people thanking the Lord our God and giving Him the glory due unto His great name—for public mercies, family mercies, personal mercies. How high ought our praises to rise! Sinners as we are, helpless, unworthy—yes unthankful and unprofitable. Oh, what a God have we to deal with, who loads such creatures with such benefits! What a mercy that such poor thanks, and these His own gifts of grace, should be accepted at our hands!
Holy Spirit, assist us in our prayers; help our infirmities in our praises; and teach us, with increasing gratitude, to adore the Son for His salvation, and to worship the Father for His love in Jesus. To the Eternal Three be eternal praise!
William Romaine
Letter 9
Blackfriars, November 11, 1789.
My dear Friend,
I thank our Physician that you are all kept so well, and that I hear Mrs. D. is a great deal better. If you would follow His recipes, all would mend. He prescribes one simple remedy, and that infallibly cures every spiritual malady: Only believe. All who ever tried it found that its virtue never fails; no, not when life itself failed. To this, the experience of Christians of every age has set its seal. And yet we have among us many religious pretenders, who cry it down as a quack panacea. Our learned doctors have shut it out of the new London and Birmingham churches. And they treat us as rank enthusiasts, who try to keep our remedy still in practice.
You know, Sir, as well as I, what the great men of the day think of Jesus Christ, and of His remedy; but their opinion does not hurt you or me. We trust to matter of fact. A wounded conscience set at peace, a broken heart healed, a miserable sinner made happy, a dying sinner rejoicing in the prospect of death. Millions of such who now see His face, and we who now feel His healing virtue, are witnesses of His almighty power, and that He still saves freely by grace through faith. To this truth I set my hand and seal, this eleventh day of November, 1789. It is all my salvation, and God be thanked, it is all my desire.
You have my living and dying testimony in a volume of sermons, which I have revised and just published. Please accept them as a token of brotherly love; and when you read them, may you feel real fellowship with your divine Jesus; as much, more if it pleases Him, than He has most graciously granted to me. Perhaps I may seem too enthusiastic in speaking of this happiness to some. Even believers are too apt to rest in the mere notion of truth, but is it not therefore received that it may produce its proper effects—such as great joy and peace in believing the unsearchable riches of Christ? What are they, if nobody is to be enriched out of His treasury?
These are the five senses of the spiritual man; and each of them finds in Christ as the proper exercise of its faculty.
"Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty!" Yes, I have had a glimpse of Him, and I long to see more of His matchless charms.
He has promised, "They shall hear My words, for they are sweet." Yes, Lord, I hear the joyful sound, and it is heavenly melody in my ears.
"Your name is as ointment poured forth." I sense its fragrance; the smell of Your ointment is to me much better than all spices.
"Come taste and see how gracious the Lord is." I have come, Lord, and Your fruit is indeed sweet to my taste.
"As many as touched Him were made perfectly whole." Glory be to Him who enables us still to handle the Word of life.
The bodily senses take in all the objects of nature. Just so, the spiritual senses take in all the fullness of Christ; and in Him they have their employment, and will have their happiness forever.
The belief of this and some enjoyment of it, make me wish that I myself and you, my Christian friends, that we may we have our spiritual senses more exercised upon Jesus, that we may get stronger hold of Him, may find Him more precious, and every day may be growing up into Him.
You have great reason to pray for,
William Romaine
Letter 10
My very good Friend,
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah" Psalm 62:5-8
You know our custom: we begin the year always with a motto verse. Ours for 1790 is "Trust in Him at all times." A year of special faith—I would have it famous for believing. Our bodies and souls and families, the church, the state, at home, abroad—all call for much trust in our God. The word trust means to lean upon anything which you think will support you, and you will do it with more or less confidence as you are persuaded it is able to keep you from falling.
This is a beautiful idea of faith, as it respects the Word of God—our ground to lean upon. What has He said in His promise of salvation, and what security have I in leaning upon it—that I shall be a saved sinner! You have the Word of truth which cannot lie—the promise of a faithful God, who keeps His promise forever —His covenant, secured by the oath of the eternal Three, and all these guaranteed by the name which the Trinity have taken, namely, to be Elohim, engaged upon oath to be on the side of His people; their sworn allies, to defend them from all evil and to give them all good in earth and in Heaven.
Notwithstanding the foundation of our faith is thus immutably laid, so as to render unbelief without excuse; yet so it is, that they only believe to whom it is given. The Holy Spirit alone can convince of sin, its guilt, its danger—and how near the poor creature is to death and Hell. He makes the conviction felt and effectual, and the man is in earnest to flee from the wrath to come.
Then the divine warrant and the command to believe gain credit, and the truth of the promise is received, and thereby the blessing in the promise comes to be enjoyed. He is made to see that he has good ground to lean upon God's Word; and he finds it safe, trusting to such evidence. And thereby he experiences how blessed they are who put their trust in such a God, as Psalm 2:12 states: "How blessed are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!" because there is great joy and peace in believing. It may be done safely; it may be done happily, at all times.
What more can be said to recommend this leaning upon God's Word? No case is so desperate with sin and misery, but the Word reaches it with a promise; and faith mixed with the promise brings deliverance from all sin (Romans 8:1-3), from all misery—if it continues, it does good (Romans 8:28), and in the best time, a happy outcome, as Zechariah 13:9 states: "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people;' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" Oh, what a blessing there is in this passage of Zechariah!
You have lately been tried in this fire, and you will be again, and soon. Read it over and over; digest it; you will find it to be a sovereign cordial in an hour of need. May God grant you to see it in His light, and to get all the nourishment out of it of which it is full.
Is it so then, that no guilt, no trouble, should hinder a man from trusting in God? No, more—if these are the special times of trusting, then let us consider what encouragement we have to make this year famous for believing, come what may.
First, for salvation, as verse 7. Fallen man is under the law, under sin, therefore dying and without any help or hope in himself; for there is salvation in no other than Jesus Christ.
But whenever anyone believes in Jesus, he is saved freely by grace. The law no longer condemns—the Lawgiver justifies! All iniquities are freely forgiven, and the peace of God rules (should rule) in the conscience always, and by all means. Death is changed into life (John 11:25-26), even a life that cannot die.
Secondly, oh, what a glorious subject of rejoicing is here, called in verse 7 glory. God Himself is our salvation. Here faith may triumph all the year. Isaiah 12:3, "With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!"
As salvation is for sinners, joy for the miserable—so the next word in verse 7, strength, is suited to the weak. The weakest believer has an almighty arm to lean upon in every trial, trouble, or temptation. He cannot fall, unless his faith fails. Strong in faith, strong in all. Thus, for all the possible events of the year, we have, as verse 7 says, God for our refuge in the most desperate case that can be.
Our Jesus is able to save to the uttermost. You may safely cast all your sins and all your cares upon Jehovah-Jesus. His almighty power is with you and for you.
He said once, and we find it true to this day, "Fear not; I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward." Who can tell the full meaning of this promise? However, leaning upon it, we may go with confidence through all the troubles of life, yes, through the valley of the shadow of death, and fear no evil.
Oh, what a year would this be, if we could always bring these principles into practice, without doubt or wavering! For you see that in all cases, in all times, we are commanded to trust God in Christ; and in trusting we shall find:
1. Salvation;
2. The joys of it; and
3. The security of it, the Lord's strength being our keeper and our sure refuge in life and death, from all possible evil.These are some of our encouragements to set out in this new year with fresh spirits, that we may hold out and go on from faith to faith. There is no temptation, enemy, danger, or corruption which can stop us. No, these are so many motives for depending on God's promised help; so that neither what we feel within, nor fear without, should make us withdraw our confidence.
Then came the application:
1. To professors who have not faith.
2. To weak believers, who are so because they do not make use of Christ's strength; for under the teaching of His Spirit, the weakest is the strongest.
3. To sound believers. The motives from this Psalm—a paraphrase was given upon it—then desiring them to read it at home, to memorize it by heart, that in the shop, in the closet, in the exchange, wherever they were or whatever they were doing—they might live by faith on the Son of God; so that it might be a most famous year for the increase of faith.
William Romaine
Letter 11
May 3, 1790
My dear Friend,
You bind us to you with the sweet cords of love. I send you in return some of my good things, a word in season—which was our subject yesterday at church; and if the Lord pleases to rain and shine upon it, you will taste some of the rich fruit of the tree of life, which grows in the midst of the paradise of God.
The words were Psalm 65:10. "You bless the springing thereof." He is speaking of the beauty of this season, when nature revives from the dark, dead winter, and the grass and grain and trees grow and shoot forth. How verdant are the meadows, how flourishing the grain, what fair blossoms on the trees—promising us, through God's blessing, a fruitful year!
Are we only to look at this delightful scene, and is it all to end in admiration? Oh, no. A very important lesson is held forth and made quite sensible. Nature in this, as in all other things, preaches and confirms the doctrines of grace—not by comparison or metaphor, but the God of nature so formed His works, that they should be standing records, outward and visible signs, to give us true ideas of spiritual objects.
In the present case, we have a fine spring season; what is the cause of it? The earth itself is inert matter—it acts only as acted upon. What pushes forward the grass and grain and trees? An unerring philosopher gives this account, 2 Samuel 23:4: "He (Christ) shall be like the light of the morning, when the sun rises; even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springs out of the earth by clear shining after rain."
Here has been a fine shower; after it, the sun rises without a cloud, and this makes the grass spring out of the earth. The clear shining light thus rarifies the rain, impels it into the tubes of the plant or tree, drives it along as sap and nourishment; so all things grow.
This is the picture, created on purpose to give an idea of a spiritual spring. Christ is the light; His Spirit is the water of life. All men by nature are like winter until Christ enlightens and, by His Spirit, revives them. He breaks up their fallow ground and fits it for the seed, which is the Word of God. When the sower, who is the Son of man, puts His Spirit into the seed, then it has life, it grows, it bears fruit a hundredfold, even fruit unto life everlasting.
This answers a grand inquiry in the spiritual life: How shall I know that I have had a spring-time, and that any of the good seed has been sown in my heart?
Answer: I feel I want it; my heart is fallow ground, and I wait on the Sower, as Deuteronomy 32:2, "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." We desire that He would put in the good seed and give it the early and the latter rain.
But how shall I know that mine is really a true spring? By depending more on spiritual influences. Nothing grows in nature without rain and sunshine. Just so in grace, nothing grows without Christ and His Spirit. A conviction of this will lead to the experience of Isaiah 58:11, "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
But I do not grow as I could wish! It is a great growth to feel this. I need more showers—oh, what am I when the influence of Heaven is withdrawn! Then I feel my dependence—then I see it good to wait for the showers of Heaven—then I expect gentle rain, dropping that it may soak in, and come down like dew, unfelt, unseen, only in its blessed effects.
But how shall I be certain, that if I have a spring, I have the blessing of God upon it? Truly, thanks be to the Son of man, I have got some of the harvest. I bless Him for fulfilling Hosea 14:5-7, " I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon!" And I also rejoice in my God, the Giver of my life and of my liveliness.
Psalm 4:7 is my present state, "You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound!"
And that most beautiful spring mentioned in Song of Solomon 2:10-13 is what I am seeking and praying for: " My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."
I wish I had room to give you my ideas of that sublime description. Call upon me for it, if ever I see you; and I will give it to you, that you shall know all that I know of it.
The seed sown, growing, thriving will ripen into a glorious harvest! Great joy and peace in believing is the first-fruits. Oh, how should those who have the foretaste of that eternal spring adore and worship Him!
It will be the same there in glory, as here on earth—only more perfect and more lasting. May the sun shine and the clouds drop down their influence upon you and upon every branch of your family, that we may all feel His life, His liveliness, and our growth by Him into life eternal.
William Romaine
Letter 12
My dear Friend,
At present I am busy about my Bible, being granted to live to read it over once more. Two things have occurred to me in the present perusal, in both which I am enabled to triumph.
The one is a deeper discovery of the horrible state I am in through sin; so that, as a child of Adam, I feel nothing in myself but the working of corruption. By and under the law, I am dead to God. But all are alive to sin, every faculty is at work to bring it forth: the mind, the heart, the senses, yes, the very imagination distracting, quite lawless. I can do nothing but cry out, "What a wretched man I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?" Romans 7:24
Reading verse 25, I get my second lesson and find employment for my Jesus, "Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" A body of sin and death like mine needs an almighty Savior, and I am learning to put more honor upon His Word and work daily. I find more need of Him than ever, and it is some true joy that He is most exactly suited to my desperate case; having no hope but in His blood, not one ray of goodness but in His righteousness, no strength but in His arm, no happiness but out of His fullness. I am led even to triumph in what He is to me. I would lay myself at His feet and would bless His dear name that He has become all my salvation, and glory in Him that He is now all my desire.
It is the best reading that ever I had. Self was never so brought down and so crucified daily, nor did I ever see so much reason to magnify the Person of Jehovah-Jesus.
In this spiritual crucifixion of self and sin—in this true growing up out of self into Christ—may the Holy Spirit teach you to profit daily. Pray for yours, in our common Lord,
William Romaine
Letter 13
November 10, 1790
Mr. and Mrs. T.,
I am told it is a good thing to be giving thanks because it is the right improvement of past mercies, and the best way to secure a rich supply for the future. It keeps the eye where it should be—fixed upon the fullness of Jesus. He gave—He continues to give—and He will continue to give. All comes from Him. A mercy—the feeling it a mercy—and the praising Him for it; this is grace upon grace. It is His way, yes, His delight to give thus liberally, when He gets all the glory of His gifts. In this holy merchandise, you may be as rich as you will.
My friends, He will withhold no good thing from you if you carry all His praise back to Him. Receiving His gifts and thanking Him for them—is the true spirit of the gospel, and is the practical improvement of it both in earth and in Heaven.
This is my lesson for the year 1790. I have just finished another reading of my Bible, and as I told you, my profiting has been in a deeper discovery of the exceeding wickedness of sin, and of my own heart—sin, deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. If I had been only in the school of Moses to learn, I would, with such views of sin, have hanged myself long ago. But in the school of Christ, His Spirit enables us to feel daily more of the mystery of iniquity, that we may have occasion to know more of, and to trust more in that offering of Jesus which perfects forever.
Thus things go quite right when Christ is exalted and self is brought down and kept down. This seems to bring our religion into a very little compass; but the practice of this one doctrine is universal, reaching to all times of life, and to all things in life—keeping us ever dependent on the Spirit of Christ to teach, and on His power to enable us to live out of self, upon the fullness of God our Savior.
Sir, He can make you a better scholar than I am; for which blessing, may my prayer be heard for you in the full sense of the promise: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."
William Romaine
Letter 14
May 5, 1792
My dear Friend,
I thank you for the good account you send me of my Doctor. I knew He would not fail you. Thanks be to Him for blessing the means for Mrs. T.'s recovery.
I trust for His further help. He can still do greater things; for He does nothing by halves; all His words and works are like Himself, perfect. If He undertakes, He will infallibly complete the cure. So we read of His patients, however desperate their cases, they were all made perfectly whole. His hand is not shortened. He can remove every spiritual disease, and restore present and eternal health. Such miracles are not ceased.
More faith in Him would multiply them in number; more faith would increase them in experience; more faith would then bring Him more praise. For thus we read of a healed sinner: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy!" Psalm 103:1-4
By this spiritual health He works a wonderful effect upon the body; it is better than any medicine, not for keeping off diseases, but for bringing in the supports of patience, and the comforts of faith by which a man, even in bodily pain, can be kept happy in his soul—yes, so happy as scarcely to feel the pain for the greatness of his inward joy.
Thus speaks the Word: "My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into various trials." And the noble army of martyrs confirmed the word: they met death rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer for their precious Jesus.
I want Mrs. T. to come from Bath perfectly cured, as well as He thinks proper, in her body—but in the highest health that can be in her soul. She knows a good deal of His fame, but a great deal more remains to be known.
He is not only a most wonderful Physician for healing all the diseases of sin, but also for giving His patients every faculty which can fit them to receive and to enjoy the blessings of spiritual health.
Oh, what a Jesus—what a Jesus! He creates ears to hear the words of eternal life, and eyes to see the King in His beauty and to be enamored with His matchless charms. And then to taste and see what a most sweet Jesus He is—oh, what a fragrance!
When the gospel recommends His love, and the Spirit makes His name like the sweetest ointment poured forth, then the believer can, with his hands, handle the Word of life—he hears and sees and tastes and smells and feels that his Beloved is infinitely more than all other beloveds. Thus He gives spiritual senses and spiritual enjoyments to the inward man, and come what may to the poor body, he maintains joy and peace in believing, which the world cannot take away.
Oh, that you and Mrs. T. may go away from Bath admiring and adoring His wonder-working love, healed in body, healed in soul, happy in both.
You never, never can trust Him enough, nor praise Him as He deserves. His name alone is excellent, and His praise above Heaven and earth. May He become dearer to you every day; so He will, if you use Him more. Let Him be your companion in your journey. Make much of Him; be intimate with Him in your own room. Go nowhere without Him. Do nothing without Him. Living by faith upon Him at all times and for all things, whatever you take in hand shall prosper. He will bless your substance, your table, your children, your servants. He will load you with His benefits, and He will do you good all the days of your life. And when they come to an end, He will grant you to depart in peace. After that, He will do greater things than I can tell you!
My prayers, my letters, my life are directed to Him, that He would grant to make me any way instrumental in recommending Him to you; that you and yours may grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of our dearest Jesus.
William Romaine
Letter 15
November 14, 1792.
I am very thankful for your account of Brother K.'s sermon. There is great need of such sound doctrine, and also of much prayer to our God that He would be pleased to bless it to spiritual profit. He can, and only He can, cool and quiet the inflamed spirits; and only He can keep us from the infection. I am therefore of His party, and of no other. And though we are but a little army, yet we shall prove in the end the strongest side. Yes, come what may upon this distracted world—He will keep us safe from all evil. The persuasion of this makes us love Him, gives us a zeal for His glory and a holy sympathy with believers, and for unbelievers.
In all of which I have received great confirmation from Ezekiel 9, in which I find a fixed purpose to destroy the city for the abominations committed by priests and people—the execution is ordered, and the destroyers have their commission. But they are not allowed to act until the Lord Christ sets His mark upon His own people, of whom not one was to be hurt. They were His sealed ones—His Spirit had set on them the seal, and faith received the impression.
Their character as believers is beautifully drawn in verse 4, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it." They were humbled and mourning for un-humbled sinners, and crying and praying to the Lord for mercy for themselves and for a guilty land.
In their number may I be found, and herein exercising my whole system of Christian politics—grieved for my Lord's glory, grieved for those who rob Him of it, and praying earnestly to Him that He would grant them repentance unto life; blessing at the same time His dear name for the distinguishing mark of His love, that He has enabled me to set to my seal that God is true.
Oh, my friend, we are as wicked, as ripe for destruction, as Jerusalem was! We have great reason to mourn before the Lord and to pray that He would spare this guilty land. Whatever He is going to do with us in the way of judgment, I know not; but I have infinite reason to thank Him that the destroying angel cannot hurt one on whom is His mark.
I truly believe, without doubting, that He has sealed you also for His own; and I can see the impression very legible on Mrs. T. May the Spirit who made it, render it every day more plain and more practical, especially by the blessed fruits mentioned in verse 4, of the holy mourners—that they may abound in a great harvest at _____, is the hearty prayer of
William Romaine
Letter
16December 1, 1792
My dear Friend,
So much for this affair; now for another in which more than you and I are concerned—I fear children yet unborn. It is the evil, infinite evil, everlasting evil of sin, on which all the charges are to be laid of national, public, family, and personal suffering. God is angry at nothing but sin! His wrath against it is revealed from Heaven—all sin, my sin. It is charged upon me, and I have fled to the city of refuge—sheltered by the sprinkled blood and by the mighty arm of my Jesus. When I live most upon Him, He teaches me the true humbling of heart for myself; and seeing from what He has saved me, my heart melts over the sins and sufferings of others. Then He makes me plead with Him for my fellow-sinners. This is the only concern I have with the times. He is ruling by His providence, punishing sin, and warning sinners to take heed now He has His iron rod in His hand. Oh, spare Great Britain! Lord, spare us, and give not Your heritage over to confusion.
I have a long catalogue of national sins to pray over: as long as the prophet had, Ezekiel 9, and I hope with some of his faith.
I told you before what a great honor it is to be among those holy mourners on whom God had set His mark; for they were not to be touched by the destroyer. How precious is that chapter to me in these times! What full security does it give believers, that God will take special care of them, whatever destruction He may send upon unbelievers.
I pray Him to set His mark upon you; that is, faith; that when men's hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth, you may not be afraid of any evil tidings, but your heart may be established, trusting in the Lord.
May the God of peace grant you peace always, and by all means. So prays, most cordially,
William Romaine
Letter 17
February 2, 1793
My friend, Mr. T.,
Mr. N. told me you were expected in town; but I hear nothing of your arrival, and therefore I send my messenger to inquire how you all do. You are busy, I know, and to some purpose. As far as I can, I will help you on, either in the seeking, or in the enjoying of the best of things.
I am in my watch-tower, looking up to the Keeper of Israel for you and yours, for the public prosperity, for our king; and above all, that our Lord would be pleased to revive His work in our land and day. This is much upon my heart, and keeps me watchful and waiting for what the Lord will answer.
As His interpreter, reading His will in His present dispensations, I am to plead in His name for sinners, and to give them warning. He is angry at nothing but sin, and His anger has broken out. His almighty arm is lifted up to strike, and His glittering sword has given a fearful blow, as you may read in Ezekiel 21:8-18; and yet it has more to slay before it is put up into the scabbard. No repentance yet, no turning to Him who smites them.
I see daily greater necessity for keeping in my watch-tower; as it is my office to be found waiting upon God, humbled for my own sins, and praying and pleading for those who cannot read His present judgments against sin, and against the greatest of all sins—unbelief.
In times as bad as the present, Habakkuk prayed and kept on praying in his watch-tower, until he got a gracious hearing and a favorable answer. He is a good example for all who follow the steps of his faith, humbling themselves before God for sin—they will find His mercy for themselves, and it may be such a gracious answer as he obtained. This is my present office, in which I am now waiting—in which I hope to meet you often as a Christian, a minister, a subject.
William Romaine
Letter 18
March 6, 1795
Mr. and Mrs. T.,
I wish I could give you the grace, as well as my book, The Triumph of Faith; but it is an inestimable gift, and in better hands than mine. One is the Author and the Finisher, and with Him I am pleading for the increase of faith in both of your hearts. The more He gives you, your appetite will increase, and you will wait in the means of His appointing for daily growth.
With this waiting faith I hope I am getting on; and as I am nearer every moment to the end of my faith, I thank my God that He grants me very comforting and believing views of what lies before me. And I doubt not but He will make me a dying witness for Jesus and His love. Do not cease to recommend me to His mercy, as I trust He will enable me to plead for you to the last.
I have received a very obliging letter from Brother K., for which I own myself indebted to him; and am repaying him as fast as I can with my prayers, both for himself and for his congregation. If he has good times in his pulpit work, and sinners hear and repent, and if his church members grow in number and grace—I am helping him as my Lord enables me. With him I am more earnest, because we live now in troublesome times, when a refuge from the storm and a sure covert from danger should be much sought after and highly valued.
My love particularly to Mrs. T., and I hope she has some of the experience, as well as the knowledge, of the great doctrines in which the Christian triumphs. Because of her stomach's sake and her frequent infirmities, I wish her spirits may be kept up by the reviving cordials of the gospel, that she may never lack joy, great joy, and peace in believing. My God be with you, a very precious Jesus to all of you. So prays,
William Romaine
Letter 19
December 13, 1782
My good Friend,
I have read in a certain Book, "As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." You know this is the gospel. Many, thank God, very many times it has been good news to you and me. And while the blessed sound is joyful in our hearts, it makes all other good news better.
So it improved your letter. I received it as one of my covenant blessings. You have your thanks, and God has had His. I am certain you will not be offended that He had the first and best. The contents of the letter were also, every one of them, cordials, "as a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul."
What struck me first was your noble collection for the Bible Society. Indeed it was great, in itself valuable, but more so from the motive.
I believe Mr. _____ gives and teaches to give from faith. Christian charity springs from Christ received, works by Christ's grace, expects acceptance through Christ's intercession, and done ever so much or ever so well—refers all to Christ's glory.
So again I come to my point. The good minister and the good congregation have my warmest thanks, but to the Lord Christ be all their praise!
Please communicate this to Mr. K. and further inform him how much he and his congregation are laid in my heart since I have fully discovered the present state of _____. Oh, what deplorable blindness is there in ministers and people! What a fearful opposition are they carrying on against the Lord and His Christ! What have I told them, but of the almighty power, of the infinite wisdom as influenced by the sovereign love of Jehovah-Jesus, to save all who come to Him; to save them from all their sins and from all their miseries, and also to give them all possible good in earth and in Heaven! This is the kindest message of the gospel, and it is sweetly recommended by putting the sinner into the present enjoyment of salvation, as the sure pledge of eternal enjoyment.
Mr. _____ says, "This shall not be preached in my pulpit, because my congregation are offended at it!" Lord God, open their eyes! In this view, you see the important stand which your brother ought to make. The good news shall not be allowed to be proclaimed in churches. Not even Mr. _____, among his friends and relations, shall enter the pulpit. In such circumstances surely very much depends upon Mr. _____. How earnest must a pastor be in his work!
How faithful in preaching!
How careful in his walk!
How fervent in closet prayer!
How constantly dependent on Christ for the success of his ministry!
May the Spirit of the living God keep . . .
his eye single,
his heart chaste, and
his whole soul engaged in magnifying the Person and the work of God our Savior!I shall be often remembering him and you when I am at the throne of grace. The King of kings is extremely gracious to me, and admits me into His presence, and sometimes into His cabinet. When He grants me such a favorable audience, I will not fail to present a petition for poor S___. Let me recommend it to you to do the same at your prayer-meetings. God bless them, and be much with you in that hour. May your pleadings for your ignorant neighbors bring down, both on them and on you, showers of blessings.
Your letter was like the aforesaid cordial because it brought a welcome account of your family. We had been often saying, "I wonder why we do not hear from _____. What can be the matter? I am afraid they are not all well."
At last comes good news from your family and friends, for which I am very thankful. My blessed Master is very kind in taking care of you. He has followed you with loving-kindness all your days. And I pray Him, I doubt not but He will, keep you to the end.
When you have read thus far, you will begin to think that I write in good spirits—and yet I am under God's chastening rod, and it is a very sharp one. Mrs. _____ called on Tuesday, and my wife could not see her; indeed, she has seen nobody since we heard the melancholy news of my son's death. It has been to us both a very heavy affliction. He was cut off by a violent illness. I feel as a parent; I am not a stone.
But grace has got the better of nature. God supports. God comforts. I have a will of my own, and by it I would have gladly kept my son; for he was a sweet youth. But I can, from my heart, say," Not my will, Lord, but may Your will be done," whereby I have the advantage of finding that my faith, being put into the furnace, is true gold. It is, glory be to grace, proved and improved.
When I first saw the letter which brought us the account, I knew the general's seal to it, and fearing the contents, I looked up for the presence and for the support of my good Master and my old Friend; and He answered me in the words of a great believer: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." He has a right to do what He will with His own. Then He enabled me to reply, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." And I do praise Him for giving me some of Job's resignation, that I could use his words with the same spirit.
My poor wife has exquisite feelings on this occasion. She wishes not to murmur, nor to displease our good Lord by any hard thoughts of Him. But the tenderness of the parent, and to a child who never offended her in his life—occasions risings of grief. The spirit is willing to kiss the rod, but the flesh is weak. In the main, she behaves as I could wish. Her faith is supported. Her mind grows quiet and calm. And I doubt not but God will soon bring in His comforts, as well as supports.
William Romaine
Letter 20
Bath, September 22, 1783
My dear Friend,
Our good Lord would not have you not to be overwhelmed by your loss, but to mourn as one that has hope. We cannot doubt that your mother is with the Lord. And though she had a legal heart to struggle with, and had legal connections which cherished a sort of staggering at the promises—yet she was in Christ. All is safe in His hand. I have heard her again and again commit herself into His keeping; and I am a witness that her confidence was placed on the right object, on which God Himself had commanded her to rest her soul. Sorrow not, therefore, so much for her, as to hinder your gratitude to God for His special kindness to her living and dying. You have lost a mother, a good mother, and I have lost a friend; but neither you nor I would wish her back again.
Blessed be God, we are following her—and very fast. Blessed be His holy name, He supported her faith to the last—so He will support ours. Let us improve this providence, as much as we can, to be always ready—that living and dying we may be the Lord's.
William Romaine
Letter 21
Friday morning
My dear Friend,
Although I have not time to write as I could wish, yet I could not neglect the opportunity, if it was only to let you see that the doctrines of grace are not unfriendly to good works. The first good work a man can do is to receive them; and the next, and so on, is to make use of them.
When I would tell you of my good works, it is not great I. Oh, no. It is the sun that makes fruitfulness—so does my Sun, my light and my life. He enables me to wish to be like Him and to be doing what He did, and as He did it—with the same motive and to the same end.
My love to you is truly His gift. And what if I should say I show proof of it, expecting nothing back? I take every occasion to mention you and yours to my gracious Lord, and He is pleased to hear me. The very privilege is its own blessedness. It will only receive some addition when you shall say, "I am doing the same for you and yours." I believe you are doing it. But do it more and better, and get out of my debt as fast as you can. It will be a good while first; but if you will let me give you a hint, it may be improved for your sake and mine. Make a conscience effort of remembering me as often as you are going to. "Pray for one another"—so runs the command.
Mind how faithful He is to His Word. Daniel's three friends went to prayer—they sought God with him, to give Daniel the understanding of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and the interpretation. While they prayed, the answer came.
In like manner, when Peter was in prison, and to be executed the next day—the church was at prayers all night for his deliverance; and while they were praying, Peter came and told them how God had delivered him. Peter spoke very feelingly afterwards when he said, "The Lord knows how to deliver those who are His."
Indeed, Sir, I want your prayers. I ask them; I have some right to them; and I believe they will do me good. My blessing on all the children. Peace be with you. Amen.
William Romaine
Letter 22
January 9, 1786
Mr. T.,
I begin with thanks. Blessed be His name who has spared us another year, and is still magnifying His mercy to us and to ours. He is good and does good, for His mercy endures forever. And to whom? Who are the objects of His saving mercy? Wonderful to consider: all, all of them are rebels—and when pardoned; for their best services deserve nothing but Hell. And yet He glorifies His grace in such—giving, increasing, multiplying His mercies, both to their bodies and souls; yes, He loads them with His benefits.
My friend, take an estimate of them; you have more time than you had previously.
I am a bad accountant, but you are well acquainted with figures. Try what you can do in casting up this sum: What has God done for you? When did His purpose of doing you good begin? How many mercies have followed you all the days of your life? And when will they stop? "The steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him!" Psalm 103:17. I believe it will puzzle all your skill in arithmetic to give the sum total of your mercies. A better man than you tried, but he failed; and he thought it his wisest part to end the trial with fresh praise, as you may read: " Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough?" Psalm 106:1-2
It is the right working of divine grace, to be willing to ascribe all to grace. And instead of getting out of debt by praises—we are more indebted for our praises, and should be more thankful for more thankfulness.
When I have acknowledged your Christmas present, it is no payment. It is only saying that you are very kind to your friends, and I am among them, much indebted to you. That with you is enough; so it is with our God.
William Romaine
Letter 23
January 4, 1792
Mr. T.,
We have taken our leave of the last year. Farewell, 1791—you will return no more. Welcome, 1792. Our business now is to try to profit from the past, and to improve the coming time. When a Christian looks back, everything calls for his praise. And looking forward, everything calls for prayer, the prayer of faith. On these subjects we employed ourselves on New Year's Day. You know it is one of my festivals. We had a great meeting; and, I trust, many true worshipers. Our motto for this year, and our employment through all our years is, "Grow in grace!"1 Peter 3:18.
Here is the outline. Grace means favor, free favor. In our present circumstances, it is the favor of God to the sinners of mankind; said to come from Jehovah, very, very gracious—from the Father, from the Son frequently, and from the Spirit of grace—to teach us that in the blessed Trinity, all their purposes, words, and works are favor, nothing but real favor to believers.
To those who feel guilt and wrath in their consciences, grace comes like a cool breeze after a sultry day. Grace is also compared to dew, which, in hot countries, is very necessary to all the fruits of the earth, and comes upon them most freely, as you may see, "They will be like dew sent by the LORD or like rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back and no one can restrain." Micah 5:7
Hence the NECESSITY of grace was shown. Grace is to the soul what breath is to the body. What the dew and rain and the shining of the heavens are to everything that grows out of the earth—so is grace, as the apostle proves at large, Ephesians 2.
And this leads us to consider the OBJECTS of grace, not so much in the purpose of the Trinity, as in the discovery of it in ourselves. They are quickened by the Spirit of life, enabled to receive Jesus for their Savior and their God, and then to live upon His fullness by faith, where they find all grace for spiritual life, growth, and activity; moment after moment, grace for grace. To learn this lesson in practice, is the sound experience of a true believer:
grace to pardon, as 1 Timothy 1:14;
grace to subdue sin;
grace to purify the heart;
grace to regulate the life.These, in use, are the exercise and the improvement of the grace of Jesus. The true believer takes all from Christ as mere favor, and wishes to grow up into Him in all things.
May this prosper in your heart. God is teaching it to you, as I observe from your last letter; and I see a legal turn in you that would pervert His teaching. Sir, the feeling of what you are, should not keep you from Christ, but make you live more on His grace, and endear Him to you, as the only refuge for your case. If you grow in self-knowledge, it should be your schoolmaster to teach you more of Christ; because the more you know Him, the more you will trust Him. He will every day give you more reason to do it; and mind, the more you trust Him, the more you will love Him. His Spirit will make Him to your believing heart a precious Jesus; and the constraining love of Christ will lead you to a diligent use of all the appointed means, in which He has promised to meet and to bless His people. This is all by His grace alone. He gives grace—and He gives glory. Saints and angels are, and will be to eternity, worshipers of our Emmanuel. So says Peter: "To Him be glory now, and through the day of eternity. Amen."
My application was:
1. To the graceless.
2. To seekers.
3. To the weak in faith.
4. To the strong.
All is from Christ!
May this year be a growing year:
downward, and upward;
out of self, into Christ;
from all creature dependence; to more perfect dependence, in and on God, His Word and Spirit, as a witness to the fullness of Jesus.Oh Sir, this is fine talking. But believe me, you may as soon create a world, as learn this lesson without almighty grace. Pray, pray for divine teaching. Pray for a growth in grace, that you may loathe and abhor yourself; and repenting in dust and ashes, may adore the God of all grace. I am on my watch-tower for you and for Mrs. T. and for all your family—that they may get it, and use it.
Mr. K. will not be offended at my wishing him more grace in his heart and in his pulpit and in his family.
William Romaine
Letter 24
My dear Friend,
Though sick, I have had to preach twelve times in fourteen days—but when the time to preach comes, I then get better. No Master like mine! His service is perfect freedom.
Our meditation concerning Him on New Year's Day was on one of His names, namely Melchizedek. From comparing what is said of him in Genesis and in the 110th Psalm, with Paul's comment upon these passages in Hebrews 7, it seems to me most certain, that Jesus Christ is the person spoken of in the Old Testament.
The apostle has explained the word for us and says it means "the King of righteousness." Oh, what a blessed name! There being none righteous, no not one, He condescended to be "the Lord our righteousness." He wrought a perfect righteousness out for us, and applies it in us. He sends His Spirit to convince us that we need it, and to enable us to trust in His righteousness—to plead it in the conscience, and to rejoice in it in the heart, and to be filled with the blessed fruits (as Philippians 1:11) of it in our lives.
Consider, He is the King of this saving righteousness—a great King—Jehovah—King of kings—the Creator of Heaven and earth—the God of providence who upholds all things by the word of His power—the God whom the fathers worshiped under the tabernacle and temple dispensation—and the God whom Christians worship, it being their distinguishing character to call upon the name of the Lord, as you may see, Acts 9:14, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Timothy 2:22. May He reveal Himself all the year to you, as your righteousness.
And this is the proper work and office of faith—with all the confidence of your heart to depend upon Him, so as to enjoy peace with God, love to God, and loving obedience.
Remember, this year will call for much faith, and you will not exercise it as far as He warrants you. He bids you cast all your care upon Him: for your wife and children, for business, for death, for eternity. You cannot cast too much upon Him; the government of all worlds is upon His shoulders! Oh, precious faith!
He is my King. He rules in my heart. He has set up there a throne of grace. He keeps the rebels within me under control, and keeps me willing to follow Him wherever His providence leads. Mr. T., I beg for you, and beg yourself, for more trust in the Lord our righteousness. That you may so grow in grace as to thank God, who always causes you to triumph in Christ.
William Romaine
Letter 25
Dear Sir,
Your recent sickness had a voice; it spoke, and you heard it say, "In the midst of life, we are in death!" How short is life—and how uncertain! How certain, infallibly certain, is death! How necessary is preparation for it—how dangerous the least delay—how comforting a well-grounded hope of safety in death, and of joy beyond it!
Sir, you know these things. Oh, for more practical knowledge and lively experience! There is an antidote against the sting of death—yes, and against the fear of death. It is an infallible cure. True faith believes and takes it. The conscience feels the sovereign virtue; the blood of the Lamb cleanses it from all sin. And when guilt is gone, the heart is saved from every enemy it had reason to fear, and is entitled to every blessing that God has promised. It is upon the ground of this warrant, and nothing else, (please mind that) that any man can look forward to death and judgment, with a hope full of glory and immortality. What did the blessed company of Old Testament martyrs say? All these died in faith. To whom the New Testament church in perfect unison replies, "Thanks be to God, who gives us also the victory over the law, over sin, and over death, through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Sir, you have their faith; may God help you to make good use of it.
If you live long, you must expect many trials; the prospect which faith opens into the other world will marvelously support and comfort you under them.
God has given you many, many temporal blessings. True faith will improve them and exalt them into spiritual and heavenly mercies. It will teach you to sit loose to them. God in them, and not they alone, will be your portion. You will taste His goodness in them; and when He calls you to leave them, He will make you as ready to leave them as a poor beggar would be to fall asleep, if the Almighty had promised that he would awake a great emperor.
Our Jesus is this Almighty—He has promised to be our Shepherd through life and death. May He magnify His tender care over you, by making you feel happy in Him, as happy as the 23rd Psalm promises He will make you.
I know you will excuse my long sermon; but truly I am so sensible of the importance of preparation, and the dreadful danger of delay, that I could not help thanking my God, who had spared you.
This sickness, I trust, was for His glory and your good, as Lazarus' was. But Lazarus died afterwards. May you live to die as Lazarus, and be where he is now. I assure you, the Christian hope has its present harvest of blessings. May you enjoy them abundantly through life, and forever and ever.
Mrs. T. is in my eye and in my heart. What I wish you, I also wish her. She carries about with her a constant monitor—a weak and nervous body; and He says to her, "You also be ready."
I know she believes; and whatever bad nerves may suggest (and they are terrible enemies to the comforts of Christ), yet He is on her side. And He will prove Himself in every time of need, to be her Savior and her God. She is persuaded I make use of my interest with Him for her at the throne of grace, and for all she loves.
B. K. gave me yesterday a good account of his father—I was in prayer for him and have now been giving thanks. May he be preserved, for the sake of his church, his family, and his friends.
William Romaine
Letter 26
November 28, 1785
My dear Friend, Mrs. T.,
I was greatly interested in the birth of John; and, if I remember
well, I sent you on that occasion some reflections to stir up your gratitude. My heart has been with you on the present mercy, for which I joined in prayer and now join in thanksgiving. You will not be offended that I send you what has been upon my mind lately, and what I trust has been also upon yours. May He who commands the blessing make it the means of exciting and increasing the praises of your heart. I suppose you are frequently in your closet, and in the presence of God.
Oh, how many are my mercies! And these new mercies are calling for a new song of praise. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." For surely His mercy and goodness have followed me all the days of my life.
Oh, what was I, that God should set His love upon me before time, and in time call me to the saving knowledge of His Son, whom to know aright is life eternal? And what am I even now, since I have felt something of the power of His precious gospel? Why me, Lord? What was I, what am I, that I should be eternally chosen and effectually called and perfectly accepted in the Beloved? Not unto me, in the least, not unto me, but unto Your sovereign grace be all the praise!
Oh, help me to ascribe to You the glory due to Your great name; for I am surrounded, I am loaded with Your benefits. All Your dealings with me show forth Your loving-kindness. In temporals, as well as spirituals, I am singularly favored. Oh, let me never be allowed to rob You of Your glory, but help me to give it all where it is due, in life and death and to all eternity—to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
When this life shall be completed, William Romaine hopes to be in company and to join in an everlasting hallelujah. Yes, and before too. The well-grounded expectation of this feeds and nourishes our gratitude at present. Already I feel some of its heavenly influence, and my design in writing is to suggest something which may give you a new relish of it.
Though we cannot enjoy so much, nor praise so well, as our elder brethren who are now round the eternal throne—yet surely we may taste and see as well as they, how gracious our Lord is. And although they are banqueting at the marriage-supper—yet we, the friends of the Bridegroom, are invited to rejoice in our Lord as well as theirs, and we are commanded too to rejoice in Him always; and again I say rejoice!
I know your weak frame and your poor nerves—I make allowances for your bodily infirmities; yet it is upon account of these very things that I would try to stir you up the more. You need fresh encouragements to believe; and by believing, not only to go on your way, but also to be able to go on rejoicing. Happy am I, if my good Master pleases to bless anything I write to the increasing of your faith and of your joy in Him.
Be assured, the more you trust Him, the greater reason you will find to trust still more. And when you are quite satisfied that you are safe in His hands, as He warrants you to be—then will your love to Him abound. For faith first works love, and then works by love—keeping the heart warm in its grateful attachment to a precious, precious Jesus. May this be your portion; so prays,
William Romaine
Letter 27
Mrs. T.,
You gave me great pleasure in your last letter. I am much indebted to you. I speak not trivially after the manner of men, but from my heart. I feel thankfulness. It is no bad wish to pray you may feel as much; for I am sure you have as much, if not more, reason. You have a Friend who has done wonders for you, and who expects nothing in return but a humble acknowledgment; and that also He must give you.
I often think of His goodness and bless Him for you. If He took away a parent—He was better than a father. He Himself brought you up and made your guardians so careful of you and so kind to you. He sent you your husband and put you into such circumstances that your heart cannot wish for more. Look back, Mrs. T.; look around and see whether our God has not dealt bountifully with you. May all His temporal mercies stir up and increase gratitude in your soul.
But what are these, though they are great and many and undeserved, compared to His special spiritual favors? I knew He loved you, but I am happy to have it from your hand. Whatever almighty love can do for your good, He will perform! Oh, what a debt do you owe Him for His unspeakable gift—Himself! What a sum is that! His Spirit to unite your spirit to Jesus. Oh, what an infinite mercy! And to abide with you to keep you in union, and to establish communion with God your Savior, that in His fullness you may find and enjoy all the blessings of the Father's love—His Father, and in Jesus your Father.
By what gracious providences has He led you to this experience! Your relations, friends, acquaintances, and education—all are kindly overruled by Him to train you up in the gospel way. Your present settlement, the family you are in, the ministry you sit under—oh, what mercies! The Bible opened to you, the promises credited and applied. Prayer a delight, in some measure; praise at times very encouraging; a humble walk—as I can witness.
My dear friend, raise up your heart and bless His holy name. If your heart is cold like the weather—then warm it at His love. For all His gifts are but a little pledge in hand. At present, your best blessings are but a foretaste of what is to come. Look forward and see what a glorious portion awaits you!
Trust, trust Him; do not be afraid. It is yet but a little, very little while, and He will put you into full possession of His glorious Heaven. And I hope to see it, and join your eternal song of praise to God and the Lamb.
I am tottering over the grave. But He says to me, and He keeps up my spirits, "Because I live, you shall live also." In this confidence, come what may, I go on my way rejoicing.
William Romaine