To Miss C., May 24, 1838.
My dearest Anne,
Join me, I beseech you, in praising and adoring that precious Jesus, who has
done so much for such an unworthy worm as I am. The language of my heart is,
"What shall I render to God?" for again have I been favored with draughts of
heavenly joy and unutterable bliss. Again has the high and lofty One who
inhabits eternity revealed Himself to me in the person of Jesus, by the
power of the Spirit. Oh yes, the bright beams of uncreated glory have again
shone upon my soul in the face of my Beloved, in whose life-giving
countenance their radiant effulgence is so softened that mortals may in
spirit behold, admire, and love. O my dear friend, I cannot tell you the
holy joy with which I have again tasted, nay, drunk of the cup of salvation,
being washed in blood, robed in righteousness, and crowned with love; so
that I have basked in the sunshine of my Redeemer's presence, and bathed in
the ocean of unutterable bliss, finding all human language inadequate to
sound forth His praise. I have exultingly called upon the glorified spirits
(in whose society I felt myself) to aid my feeble strains, and teach me
nobler sounds; and with triumph I have solicited the angelic hosts to strike
their immortal lyres, and louder sound His praise whose name is love, for
mercy revealed to vile ungrateful me!
Oh for more gratitude to my precious Savior, my Lord, my
life, my all, through whose streaming veins these blessings come to me! I am
lost in astonishment at His amazing condescension; and view with adoring
wonder the heights, lengths, breadths, and depths of His love--which passes
knowledge. When I ask why I should be thus loved and blessed, I am
confounded. The cause is beyond my reach—but the effects
blessedly flow into my soul. I know you will--you do rejoice with me.
Oh to remember that we have an eternity to spend together in the full-orbed
presence of God, our own God, where sin will never interrupt—but we shall
unceasingly serve and love Him as we ought, and sing, "Unto Him who loved
us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood!" To the Lord God and the
Lamb--be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hallelujah! May the Lord vouchsafe to
each of us more and more foretastes of the glory which is to be revealed,
until we hear the soul-thrilling words, "Arise, my love, my beautiful
one--and come away." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
I meant this to have been a note of thanks for your
kindness—but that must be another time, for Jesus's fragrant name, full of
sweetness, has absorbed my soul--and now none, none but Jesus! O adorable
Prince of Life, draw us closer and closer to Yourself, fill us more and more
with Your undeserved and overwhelming love, until it shall please You to
grant us in one long everlasting embrace--to lose our sorrow and our sins.
I write with a trembling hand—but an overflowing heart. I
know you understand my language, and therefore I speak freely, though unable
to utter a thousandth part of my Redeemer's grace and my happiness! Adieu,
my much-loved friend.
Accept the sincere love of your unworthy,
Ruth