The Power of Faith Part 6

"APRIL 23, MONDAY. It is finished. My dear minister's bitter draught is over. On Thursday, the 19th of this month, a quarter before ten o'clock, A.M., the Lord received his spirit and laid his weary flesh to rest. He had a sore conflict with the king of terrors, who seemed allowed to revel through every part of his mortal frame: his legs were mortified to his knees; he had not been able to lie down for four weeks, and died in his chair. Like his Master, he groaned, but never complained: he had a draught of his Master's cup, but the bitter ingredient _desertion_ made no part of it. I had the honor to close his dear eyes, and to shut those dear lips from whence so many precious truths have proceeded, and to mix with the ministering spirits who attended to hail the released. This honor I had desired, but did not reckon myself worthy, and hardly hoped for it; but the Lord saw the wish, though never formed into a pet.i.tion, and indulged me. I bless him for it. And now, farewell human friendships; let me gird up the loins of my mind, and run with patience the little further, looking unto Jesus, and following also him my pastor, 'who, through faith and patience, now inherits the promises.'

"This is a great work finished. Dr. Mason was 'a city set on a hill.' He was with the army during all the war after the evacuation of New York; had great influence over the soldiers; preached the gospel of peace uniformly, but never meddled with politics, though he was fully capable. In every situation the Lord supported him in uniformity and consistency of character, and carried him through without a single spot or stain. Glory to G.o.d in the highest for this repeated proof of his faithfulness. 'Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.'

"I. GRAHAM."

Great was the grief of Dr. Mason's congregation on his removal.

In him, to great learning were united meekness, prudence, diligence, and knowledge of the world, and an affectionate superintendence of the interests, spiritual and temporal, of his flock. He so arranged his avocations and studies in regard to time, that he had always a few hours in the afternoon to devote to visiting the families of his congregation. So regular was the order he observed, that Mrs. Graham and her family knew when to calculate on seeing him, and always expected him with the antic.i.p.ation of profit and pleasure. Once every week they were sure of seeing him, if in health. His visits were short, his conversation serious, awakening, instructive, and affectionate. He inquired about their temporal affairs, and in cases of difficulty gave them his best advice. His counsels were salutary; his knowledge of the world and his discrimination of character rendered him well qualified to advise. In one of his visits to Mrs.

Graham she mentioned to him the want of good servants as one of her trials. "Mrs. Graham," said he, "have you ever prayed to the Lord to provide good servants for you? Nothing which interests our comfort is too minute for the care of our heavenly Father."

To one of her daughters, who felt a strong inclination to profess her faith in Christ by joining the communion of his church, but yet was afraid that her heart was not sufficiently engaged for the service of G.o.d, Dr. Mason proposed the following question: "If," said he, "the world, with all its wealth, pleasures, and power, were placed in one scale, and Christ alone in the other, which would your heart freely choose as a portion?" On her replying there would be no hesitation as to her choice of Christ, he gave her encouragement to profess her faith, although it might not at present amount to the full a.s.surance of hope.

He was indeed a faithful shepherd of his flock, and his people mourned for him as for an affectionate father. It is much to be desired that his example were more followed by Christian pastors. To preach with eloquence and acceptance is a talent of great value in a minister of the gospel; this makes him respected, and his congregation admire him, because, for one reason, they are proud of him; but to gain their affections, to make a congregation the children of an aged pastor, or the friends and brethren of a younger one, let the minister visit the families of his people; this will seal on their hearts the regard which their understandings had already dictated.

Very few ministers have been more remarkable for a strict attention to this duty, than the late Dr. John Mason and his venerable and attached friend Dr. Rodgers. When the former died, the latter exclaimed, "I feel as if I had lost a right arm."

The congregation, bereaved of their pastor, wrote immediately to his son, the late Rev. Dr. John Mitch.e.l.l Mason, to hasten his return from Edinburgh to New York; and after preaching to them with great acceptance for several months, he was ordained and installed pastor of the church in April, 1793. Mrs. Graham entertained for him the most affectionate attachment, and this attachment was reciprocal.

At this date we find some of Mrs. Graham's delightful devotional exercises.

"NEW YORK, 1793.

"Blessed Lord, thou hast, to the praise of thy grace, given me the heritage of them that fear thy name; thou hast prepared my heart to pray, and inclined thine ear to hear; thou hast drawn me into thy fold, and hast fed me in thy green pastures. I rejoice in Israel's Shepherd; not one of his flock shall be lost. Often have I wandered from his presence and sought pasture among the swine, but my Shepherd has ever drawn or driven me back. He has a rod and I have felt it; but I bless the hand and kiss the rod.

"O, how wonderful to look back and see 'all the way by which he has led me, to prove me, to try me, to show me what was in my heart, that he might do me good at my latter end.' Amen, my G.o.d, I leave myself in thy hands. I should lose myself; but thou wilt keep me from foes without and foes within. What then have I to care for? My Shepherd careth for all; he slumbers not nor sleeps, and he will perfect what concerns me; of this I am as sure as that I now write it.

"The law of thy mouth is better unto me than gold and silver. O how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Thou, through thy commandments--or the whole of thy truth--hast made me wiser than my teachers. The law of G.o.d makes the simple wise. How sweet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' How safe, how happy are they who are taught by the word of G.o.d. 'Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not taught thee this, but my Father who is in heaven.'

"O my children, enrich your minds with a full acquaintance with the word of G.o.d; lay it up in your memories, when you can do nothing more; be a.s.sured, if ever you are made wise unto salvation, it must be by this word; if ever you are taught of G.o.d, he will teach you by the words contained in the Bible. 'Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of me;' search the Scriptures, for in them are contained the words of eternal life. 'Be followers of them who, through faith and patience, now inherit the promises.'

"Holy David went forward, heavenward, improving in the knowledge of G.o.d, of himself, and of G.o.d's plan of salvation for ruined sinners, by studying the word, the works, and the providences of G.o.d, but chiefly the word of G.o.d; praying for, watching for the influences of G.o.d's Spirit on his judgment and thinking powers: it was by this that he became wiser than his teachers. He was a king, and had the cares of the nation to occupy his mind; he was a man of war, and had that art to study. But O, the privilege of the Christian! he goes through every part, even of his earthly way, leaning upon G.o.d. David could say, even of war, 'The Lord teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.'

'The Lord subdued the people under me.' In temporals and in spirituals, he is my shield, my strength, my buckler, my strong tower.' I shall not fear what man can do unto me.' 'In Judah's land G.o.d is well known; there he brake the spear, the bow, and the battle.'

He ascribes all to G.o.d. We hear nothing of his own wisdom, his disciplined armies, his order of battle and warlike powers, though attention to all these was his duty, and not neglected by him. He devoted all his natural talents to G.o.d; he exercised them diligently, but still he knew and acted under the influence of that knowledge, that unless the Lord build the house, the builders lose their pains; unless the Lord keep the city, the watchmen watch in vain. He, as well as worldly men, chose the means best adapted to the end proposed. Let natural men a.s.sert, and let it be admitted, that David knew better how to use a sling and a stone, than mail, helmet, and sword; therefore he chose them. But follow David until he meets the hostile foe. Do we hear a word of his art as a slinger, as a marksman? though we may suppose he was expert at both. 'Thou comest to me with a sword, a spear, and a shield; but I come in the name of the Lord of hosts, the G.o.d of the armies of Israel whom thou hast defied; and this a.s.sembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear'--these are not essential--'for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.'

"How comfortably might Christians go through life did they walk with G.o.d in their daily business and occupations, carefully observing the leadings of Providence, cautiously avoiding either running before or lagging behind; but in all things making their requests known to G.o.d; at all times committing their way to him, being careful about nothing, but to use with diligence the means of grace, and also the means of acquiring the good things of life, leaving the issues of both to G.o.d, in the full a.s.surance that what is good the Lord will give.

'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.' In spirituals and in temporals, 'the hand of the diligent maketh rich.' Be 'not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.'

"Lord, teach me thy law graciously, in all its perfection, its extent, order, beauty, and harmony, and grant me all the a.s.sistance provided to enable a lost, depraved, corrupted child of Adam, to set out in thy good ways, to go forward, and to finish in the same course; and all the consolation, joy, and peace which thou hast provided to be enjoyed in a measure even here, and to be perfected in the world to come. Amen.

"'O Israel, return unto the Lord, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.' Hos. 14. Yes, fallen, O how fallen from G.o.d the only good, the fountain of happiness. Lost his image, which was the glory of man in paradise. Lost that sweet complacency and delight in his perfections and attributes which innocence enjoyed. Lost rect.i.tude of reason and judgment. No longer can we judge of excellence, no longer love what G.o.d loves. Our wills no longer straight with his will, but crooked, opposing G.o.d, and choosing evil instead of good. 'O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.' Amen, says my soul, in thee is my help."

"NEW YORK, October 3, 1793.

"'One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.' Isaiah 44:5.

"I, as one, subscribe to the truth of all that G.o.d has said: I, as one, subscribe my a.s.sent to all he has done. I set my amen to his well-ordered covenant, well-ordered in all things, and sure. And this is the covenant, even Christ, the sum and substance, for he hath given him to be a covenant of the people. The whole and every part of it is G.o.d's covenant. To me it must be a testament, the new testament in Christ's blood. To me it must be a covenant of gifts and promises. I can be no party, having nothing to give; nothing with which to covenant. He hath said, 'Thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.' Amen. Be my help, my deliverer.

"'Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved; for I am G.o.d, and there is none else.' I do look unto thee alone for salvation.

Thou art G.o.d; there is none else: besides thee there is no Saviour.

"'I will pour water on the thirsty, and floods on the parched ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy offspring.' Amen. I yield my soul into thy hand, dry and parched, to receive thy showers of reviving, quickening, fructifying grace."

Writing about this date to her beloved friend Mrs. O---- of Edinburgh, Mrs. Graham, for the encouragement of her friend, gives her, in confidence, the following record of her own Christian experience:

"It is now. I think, thirty-five years since I simply, but solemnly, accepted of the Lord's Christ, as G.o.d's gift to a lost world. I rolled my condemned, perishing, corrupted soul upon this Jesus, exhibited in the gospel as a Saviour from sin. My views then were dark compared with what they now are: but this I remember, that at the time I felt heart-satisfying trust in the mercy of G.o.d, as the purchase of Christ; and for a time rejoiced with joy scarce supportable, singing almost continually the 103d Psalm.

"I took a view of the promises of G.o.d, and wrote out many of them, and called them mine; and among the foremost was that in Psalm 89:30-33; and well has the Lord kept me to it, and made it good: for, my dear friend, never was there a more unsteady, unwatchful Christian; never did the children of Israel's conduct in the wilderness depict any Christian's heart and conduct in the gospel times better than mine; and just so has the Lord dealt with me. When he slew me, then I trusted in him; when he gave me carnal ease and comfort, I forgot my Rock and rebelled. Often did I stumble too from legality, instead of looking at my own weakness and impotence, and trusting wholly in my Redeemer's strength. I was wroth with myself, wondered at myself, and thought it impossible I could be as I had been. I made strong resolutions, yea, vows, and became a slave in means to hedge in this wandering, worldly, vain, flighty heart; but, alas, a few months found me where I was, with scarce a thought of G.o.d from morning to night; prayer huddled over in words that had no effect on my heart; and the fear of h.e.l.l the chief restraint from sin or spur to duty. Then, in general, the Lord had some affliction for me, which laid me afresh at his feet, and made me take a fresh grasp of Christ, and a fresh view of his covenant: then again I felt safety, joy, peace, and happiness.

"Thus, by line upon line, by precept upon precept, aye, and by stripe upon stripe, he taught me that I could not walk a moment alone. This is now my fixed faith; and in proportion as I keep it in sight, I walk safely; but I still forget, and still stumble and still fall; but I am lifted up and taught lesson after lesson; and I shall stumble and shall fall while sin is in me; but the last stumble shall come, and the last stripe shall be laid on, and the last lesson taught, and that which concerns me shall be perfected.

O, then shall I look back, and see 'all the way by which he has led me, to prove me and try me, and show me what was in my heart, that he might do me good in my latter end.'

"I am often, even in this valley of darkness and ignorance, allowed this retrospective view; and am led to say not one word of all that he promised has failed. 'Hitherto the Lord hath helped, he hath been the guide of my youth, and even unto h.o.a.r hairs will he lead me;' and when he calls me to pa.s.s through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall even then fear no evil, for his rod and staff shall support me; and I shall enter into the presence of my Redeemer, white and clean, dressed in his most perfect righteousness; angels and saints shall know me in this glorious robe; my Redeemer will acknowledge me as his ransomed, and I shall be for ever with the Lord."

To Mr. A.D., Edinburgh.

"NEW YORK, 1793.

"I have just been reading over my dear friend's precious letters, and am refreshed anew by the same truths and uniform experience of every Christian; which all amounts to this, that the Lord is the portion of his people, and that whom he loves, he loves to the end. My soul melts with tenderness when I recollect my fellow-travellers in the wilderness; those dear a.s.sociates with whom I have so often taken sweet counsel; who so often comforted me with the same comforts with which they themselves were comforted. I am also led to recollect some who have finished their warfare; some whose trials were sharp and long, but who, through the same grace in which we trust, were steadfast to the end; and now inherit a crown of life--the reward of grace, not of debt.

"I rejoice to hear that your children are promising; I think it is the greatest comfort a parent can enjoy in this world. I have a large share of it in my three daughters; but my prodigal is not come to himself; he still feeds on husks, nor thinks of the plenty in his Father's house. I had great hopes last winter; I heard he had been very ill in consequence of very severe treatment from his captain. The Lord has been emptying him from vessel to vessel, and I have been waiting the issue; but mine eyes almost fail. I have great hopes that G.o.d's time of mercy will come. I am also satisfied that it will be the best time; but still I cry, O how long? My dear friends, I think I would recommend it to you to _keep your children about you_. No other had ever the influence over him that I had; and I regret that I did not bring him with me.

"Our young Timothy, J.M., is a perfect champion for the gospel of Jesus; the Lord has well girded him and largely endowed him; he walks closely with G.o.d, and speaks and preaches like a Christian of long experience: he was ordained about two months ago in his father's church, and a few weeks after married a lady of eminent piety, and preached all the day, both the Sabbath before and after: no levity, no novelty appeared in word or gesture, which is not always the case with the best at such times. There is probably no church in New York whose discipline is as strict, nor one which has so many communicants. He is reckoned a man of great talents and an orator; and many of even the idle and careless go to hear him.

"A few Sabbaths ago he preached from these words, 'I determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.'

After proving that all the Scriptures, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, pointed to Christ and his great work of redemption, and a.s.serting that that sermon could not be called the gospel of which He was not the subject, he spoke home to his audience, and told them that this, through the aid of divine grace, was his firm purpose--to dwell on redeeming love. He was sure no subject would be welcome to any Christian, where Christ was not to be found; nor would any such subject ever convert a sinner; and therefore, if any were about to take their place there, expecting to hear any new or strange thing, let them not disappoint themselves. O, for a thankful heart; the Lord has indeed done wonders for me and mine; and blessed be his name for his mercy also, that in a remarkable manner, by a strange concurrence of circ.u.mstances, he hedged me in to become a member of this congregation, where I am led and fed with the same truths which nourished my soul in Zion's gates at Edinburgh; and I am helped to sing the Lord's song in a foreign land. Often have I been tempted to hang my harp upon the willow, 'when Zion I thought on;' but this was, and sometimes still is my sin and ingrat.i.tude, for I ought to build houses, and plant vineyards, and seek the good of the land; for he has a small vineyard here, which he waters and cultivates, and I ought to labor therein, and do whatsoever my hand findeth to do with diligence, and say, 'The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; heaven is his throne, the earth his footstool,' and he fills all things and all places.

"'What aileth thee, Hagar?' O what a G.o.d of mercy is our G.o.d!

Often has he hailed me in some such language: 'What aileth thee?' why is thy countenance sad? am I not better to thee than ten friends? Then has he turned my heart to him, made me feel myself close to him; he has suffered me to lean on his bosom, hang on his arm, and lisp out, Abba. At such blest moments I have thought the whole earth but one point, and from that to heaven but one step, and the time between but as one moment; and my company here sufficient to satisfy me by the way. At such blest moments I felt perfect, full, entire satisfaction with all that G.o.d is, all that he does; and could trust him fully with all my concerns, spiritual, temporal, and eternal. But, alas, by and by, like a peevish child, I began to fret, wish this, wish that; grieve for this, grieve for that; fear this, fear that; stagger, stumble, fall. O what a G.o.d of patience and long-suffering. And O how rich that well-ordered covenant, that provides suitable grace for all these unsteady seasons. It is my greatest consolation that the Lord knows it all. There are times when I cannot see him, but every moment he sees me. I should fall off and leave him, but he holds me fast and never leaves me. O blessed plan, where G.o.d secures us in safety, even from ourselves. We have not only destroyed ourselves, and he has been our help; but we are ever destroying ourselves, and still he renews this help.

"Well, what shall we say? Father, glorify thy name, and let us lie in thy hand as clay in the potter's, till thou finish thy workmanship, and fit us vessels of mercy, to be filled with happiness, when thou shalt have done thy good pleasure in us, and by us, in this world, through the grace that is in Christ Jesus, who loved us, and gave himself for us; to whom be glory, honor, and praise in the church below, and in the general a.s.sembly above, now and ever. Amen.

"My love, my heart's love, to my dear Mrs. D----. I am ever your affectionate friend, in the bonds of the gospel,

"ISABELLA GRAHAM."

Early in 1793 Mrs. Graham heard, from a worthy clergyman at Greenock, who, at her request, paid attention to her son, that he had been very ill of a fever, and subsequently subject to epileptic fits.

In one of these he had fallen from the mast-head, and was rendered unfit for service for many months. The gentleman to whom he was apprenticed, permitted him to leave. In these circ.u.mstances Mrs.

Graham addressed to him the following letter:

"MY LONG-LOST BUT STILL DEAR SON--If this ever reach you, hearken to the voice of your mother, your only parent, and to the voice of G.o.d by her. O, my son, you have had a long race in the service of Satan; he has kept you in bondage and made you his drudge. You are far advanced in the broad way that leads to destruction--to that place of endless torment prepared for the devil and his angels, to which Satan is dragging you. He has even been seeking the destruction of your body, that he might have you secure.

"O, my son, think. Has he proved a good master? What have you found in his service? and has he not disappointed all your gayest hopes, and fed you with husks? Have you, my son, been happy? Are you not obliged to drive away your own reflections? I know you are. Dare you, my son, sit down and think over all the past, all the present, and look forward to the future with any degree of comfort? My son, you cannot. Hear then the word of the Lord; that Lord, that merciful Lord, who has seen you in all your rebellion, heard every profane oath you may have uttered, seen you rioting among the sons of Belial; yet what is his voice to you? O, my son, it is not, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.' No, my son, the door of mercy is still open to you; the Lord calls, 'O sinner, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.' Only repent, so iniquity shall not prove your ruin.' 'Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry.' 'Hear, and your soul shall live.' 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved'--saved from h.e.l.l; saved from Satan and his snare; saved from the force of corruption in your heart.