The Sweet Rest of Faith
By A. P. Lawton
O how it rejoices my poor heart to see in the Review the rich experiences of full and free salvation. This is food. It is meat in due season. What encouragement to the soul longing and panting for rest; not rest from labor, care and toil, but a calm rest in God through faith in the precious promises, which, to those who claim them, are so many gems. On such deep water how easy to sail. The bark may be frail, and sometimes the waves may seem to roll almost mountain high, but we know that the Father is at the helm, and his Son is our pilot. Having full faith and confidence in them, how securely we ride! These, and those only, who have experience in this sweet rest in God, know its value. This sweet Canaan of rest we know when we enter, it is no guess work. Different temperments may be exercised differently, and the same individual may be exercised differently at different times, but all by the same Spirit. My brother or my sister is no sure guide for me. There are gifts differing. It is not for us to select. God knows best how to adapt himself to us. My heart says, Let him come in in his own way; any way, only come in. It is our privilege to know that his words abide in us, and that we abide in him. There may be high states of feeling without grace, or the true Spirit of God, yet the Spirit of God is always attended with feeling. As I before said, it is not always the same. The Spirit of God works like leaven in those who are filled with it. It leavens the whole lump. All the graces are set in order, active, and developed in their proper places, and times. I have proved by an experience of thirty-three years, that the same Spirit differs in the same individual. Sometimes we are wrapped in a sacred awe that dares not move, lest the gentle, sweet, all-pervading influence should be disturbed. Sometimes it gushes up, and must flow out in praise to God, which is comely, and may not be restrained with safety to our spiritual comfort. At other times we may not be sensible of either of those influences, and yet retain the consciousness that we please God, and our offering is accepted. However strictly we may conform to the letter, if we have not the Spirit of God, we are none of his. Clouds, storms, buffetings, &c., are not contrary signs. These must be met. Trials are the tests. All the graces must pass the crucible. They must be tried. Perhaps patience, under all circumstances, is the most sorely tried, and the most difficult to retain. Impatience intrudes into things great and small, and must be watched against at every turn. She is vigilant, and pleads her rights under many assumed names. Patience is to be a prominent grace of the last church. “Here is the patience of the saints.” We have need of patience, &c. I do thank God and take courage that I see this holy living pointed out in the Review. We have it all in the Bible, but these living experiences tell for present truth. If one can (with this baptism) chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, who could calculate the result if the entire church should get the whole armor on? There is no room nor time in a heart or church thus consecrated, for strife, backbiting, envy, jealousy, tale-bearing, whispering, &c. Though we are to watch over our brother, and he his keeper, yet it should be in love. O what love will then run from heart to heart. We should then be often upon our knees in the secret place, pleading for the erring brother, and our own erring hearts. With what tender solicitude would our hearts go out after him! and how carefully would we study to approach him, in a manner not to wear but to win: and how cordially would we open our arms and our hearts to receive him returning, and give him our aid and sympathy, and strengthen the things that remain that are ready to die. Dear brethren and sisters, I would be glad to enter into a covenant with you to pray and live for this state of things. I have not meant to be personal in anything I have said. It is the overflowing of a full heart, and an ardent desire to know and do all the will of God.