Letter from Sr. Devereux to Sr. White.
By M. E. Devereux
THERE has seemed to be a kind of influence over us which destroyed the life of our meetings, but thank the Lord, I think most of us feel that we have been groveling in the dust long enough, and are determined in the name of Jesus to be free. We had almost forgotten that it was not necessary for us to sit still, and be bound hand and foot; that our Lord was strong, and able, and willing, to deliver us if we cried unto him. I would not have you think we have been altogether cast down; we have tried to live; but it has been hard work. A week ago, Sabbath, we had a good meeting, and yesterday the Lord especially blest us. It seems to me now that "there is a sound of abundance of rain." I hope we may be already to receive it.32There is no sin in our coveting the grace of God, and no danger of our coveting too much of it. I long to be entirely conformed to his will; to have no will of my own; ready to do or to suffer whatever falls to my lot without a murmur. Though the way be dark and stormy, and the thorns and briers tear my weak, trembling feet, yet if I can only hear Jesus whisper to my heart, "It is I, be not afraid," I will be content, and bless what causes me to suffer. When I think how Jesus left the glories of his Father's kingdom, and took upon himself our nature, became so poor he had not where to lay his head, that he was tried and tempted, scorned and scoffed at, and at last numbered among transgressors, and died the shameful death of the cross, all to purchase life for rebel man, and that I too can have that never-ending life, it seems to me that I never can grow cold and stupid again; that I could never grow weary of thanking him for his great love and merciful kindness towards us. O, I long to have him take full possession of my poor heart, all sinful and unworthy as I am; that all my thoughts, affections and desires may be centered on him the chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. I feel that it would be bliss indeed to suffer for his sake. The scorn and scoffing of friends move me not in the least, but only make me stronger. I have found that earthly friends are of little worth, but this friend sticketh closer than a brother. A father and a husband has my God been unto me. I have never found it a vain thing to trust in the Lord. When left a widow, and poor, and every friend seemed to flee from me, then the Lord took me up; then he heard the voice of my crying. He has provided for me all things needful; yet, I am better off than my Master was; for I have a place to lay my head. I firmly believe the Lord provided me a home, because I was determined to obey him in all his commands. If God has thought best to reveal unto us more of the glories and beauties of his kingdom, and to show us what we must pass through ere we can gain an entrance there, I think we ought to be truly grateful that he so highly favors us. Your views, are an encouragement and comfort to me. I never felt to fight against them for a moment, but have thought it best to be careful not to say I believed, till I was well grounded. The first time I read them, I was very much animated, and said I could not believe Satan would ever give such views; for no one that read them could help feeling a greater desire to live righteously that they might dwell in that goodly land. No, it seems to me altogether contrary to his workings. Did Satan, when he tempted Christ, tell him if he would suffer all things he would give him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them? Ah! no: he was going to give it to him on very easy terms—if he would simply fall down and worship him. What could be more easy than that? Satan thought even to bind the Son of God in his meshes, and so by a master stroke gain every mortal that should ever exist: knowing that our only hope was in Christ. But God's plan was one of suffering, which our Redeemer worked out for us, with his own blood. He bought the field with the treasure it contains. Well, now, if the visions taught we could gain an entrance into the kingdom as easy as most of the teachers of the present day, I might think they were of Satan; for I should then think they disagreed with the Bible. But through them all I see the thorns and the cross. We must suffer as our Master did. He truly provided a way whereby we might obtain eternal life; but our carnal natures must be mortified, we must be purified from all the dross of earth through suffering. We are not greater than our Master; therefore we will count it all joy that we can be permitted to suffer for his dear sake. M. E. DEVEREUX.
Mill Grove, Erie Co., N. Y.