FROM THE MEMOIR OF JAMES BRAINERD TAYLOR, BY JOHN HOLT RICE D. D., AND BENJAMIN HOLT RICE D. D.
IN a communication addressed to his parents, dated July 16, 1822, there is a display of filial and fraternal love, mingled with Christian affection and joy, evincing a high and sustained mental excitement. The father, mother, and all the grown up children, had become hopefully pious. In reference to this subject he expresses himself thus:
“When I look at my father’s house my heart is filled with praise for what God has wrought. I now rejoice in the assurance that the family altar is frequented every day, and that there is offered up the sacrifice of broken spirits and contrite hearts. How comforting! My dear parents, may you ever abide under the shadow of the Almighty, find the banner of Jesus over you to be love, and his food to be sweet to your taste! May your house be a Bethel to each of your souls,” &c.
After addressing most earnest and affectionate exhortations to each of his sisters, he adds concerning himself, “Of all others I have the most reason to praise the Lord, because he has kept me in perfect peace. Precious seasons, delightful hours I have enjoyed, and the remembrance of them is sweet. The Lord has manifested himself to me by his Spirit, and I now feel his presence; my heart is stayed on the Lord; Jesus is precious; and I feel an increased determination to give up all for Christ, for he is worthy.”
In another letter he says, “Thanks to my heavenly Father, I can write to you in a new strain. My former communications have been full of complaint, yet I did not tell you of half the distress which I felt on account of coldness in my Master’s service, lest I should distress you with the narrative. But now I feel that I can never sufficiently praise the Lord for all that he has done for me. I will take the cup of salvation and call on his name. I would also call on my soul, and all that is within me to bless him for the great deliverance which he has wrought. Surely he has delivered me from the snare of the fowler—he has set my feet in a large place and made me to rejoice in his great salvation. Never have I enjoyed so much in religion as since the 23d of last April. That was, and ever will be a memorable day to me. Praise the Lord for it! He is all. I am nothing. The glory of my salvation, from first to last, shall be ascribed to Jehovah.”
To another he expresses himself thus: “Since my arrival at Lawrenceville I addressed to you a letter testifying the goodness of God to my soul. I have now to say, to the praise of his grace, that he has continued his favors. At this time I enjoy an indescribable peace, it passes knowledge, and yet it is a blessed reality. And it is now my earnest desire that all Christians may strive for a deeper work of grace in their hearts.
“I am ready to testify to the world that the Lord has blessed my soul beyond my highest expectations. People may call this blessing by what name they please, faith of assurance, holiness, perfect love, sanctification—it makes no difference with me whether they give it a name, or no name, it continues a blessed reality; and, thanks to my heavenly Father, it is my privilege to enjoy it—it is yours also, and the privilege of all, to enjoy the same, and to go beyond anything that I have ever yet experienced.”
He thus writes to one who had, at an early period in life, made a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ:
“Oct. 31.—A hope of eternal life is indeed a treasure more precious than gold, yes, than much fine gold.” When I saw you last, you expressed doubts and fears respecting yourself. You also wished to obtain a brighter evidence, a clearer witness of your acceptance with God. The desire is laudable, and it may be gratified; for full assurance is attainable. And who is happy without it?
“To attain what you desire, two things are necessary.
“1. You must believe that it is attainable.
“2. You must seek it with your whole heart.
“1. You must believe that it is attainable. That it is so, see for proof, Heb. vi. 11. We there find a desire expressed that the Hebrews might possess it to the end. Paul enjoyed it. 2 Tim. iv, 6-8. The eighth verse plainly shows that the writer possessed full assurance. ‘There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.’ See also Rom. viii, 38, 39. ‘For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Many others, besides the apostles, to the lasting joy of their souls, have found this truth a blessed reality.
“2. Therefore you must look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. Heb. xii. 2. Mere belief that assurance is attainable, will not bring down the blessing to our possession. The prodigal son believed that there was bread enough and to spare in his father’s house, while he was feeding on husks. But what would this conviction have availed had he not come to the resolution, ‘I will arise and go unto my father?’ and what his belief and resolution, had he not put the resolve into execution? Exertion is necessary. Can we attain any object of desire without using means adapted to the end in view?
“Suffer then, the word of exhortation. Give all diligence to secure that, which I trust the Holy Spirit has caused you to desire. Let your cry be continually in the Lord, that your soul may be filled with perfect peace. Be encouraged, for the promise is, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive.’ You have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ He has said, ‘If ye shall ask anything in my name. I will do it.’ John xiv, 14, &c. Ask, O ask, that your joy may be full.
The following, to the same friend, is so full of the fervor of piety, that the reader will peruse it with deep interest.
“Nov. 9.—The retrospect to you, as to me, is no doubt mingled with emotions of regret and joy. For, once we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. Nearly fifteen years of my life were spent at a distance from God, in pursuit of a phantom, a visionary object, denominated by its votaries, pleasure. With what eagerness I followed that on which I have long since stamped vanity and vexation of spirit, the companions of my youth could testify. But alas! two of them have gone, never to return. One departed with bright evidence of a work of grace inwrought by the Holy Spirit—yes even in the triumphs of faith, saying, just before she left the world, ‘I am going soon, my Saviour is near.’ The other manifested no token of a change of heart. Should these persons now give testimony respecting the hilarity of our youthful days, how deep would be their tone of reprobation! But soon the day of account will come, and all must answer for the deeds done in the body.
“Besides the person first mentioned, only two others of my youthful companions, as I believe, have denied themselves, taken up the cross, and followed the Saviour.
“‘Why was I made to hear thy voice,
And enter while there’s room?
While thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come.’
“When I had reached the age of fifteen years and five months, I publicly professed the religion of Christ, and joined myself to his people. This confession was witnessed on the 15th of Sept., 1816. The vows then made to be the Lord’s, have often since been repeated in the closet and in the sanctuary. Eventful era in my life! Never by me to be forgotten! Its annual return always brings grateful recollections.
“On last Sabbath I was privileged to obey the dying command of the Lord Jesus, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’ It was a most precious season. The intercourse between my soul and heaven was open and free. I was brought into the banqueting house of the Beloved; and his banner over me was love. Truly I had communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. My brethren and sisters were objects of my affection—yes, all who were purchased by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. I also with all my heart, desired the conversion of impenitent sinners. Indeed the Lord was present to bless me with gospel measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.111Communion seasons grow better and better. And so it ought to be. By and by I hope to drink new wine in the paradise above.
‘When shall I wake and find me there?
O glorious hour! O blest abode!
I shall be near, and like my God,
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.’
“I said that the 15th of September, 1816, was, and ever will be an eventful era to me. But there is another day to which I shall ever recur with as much, if not more interest. It was the 23d of last April. On that day the Lord wrought a deeper work of grace in my soul than at any former period. Yes, blessed be his holy name for ever! he condescended to bestow a favor, for which I have been longing for years—the witness of which I have enjoyed daily ever since. I cannot tell you what I have enjoyed from his fullness; but let it suffice to say that my peace has flowed like a river; and I can testify that I have experienced more of the presence of the Lord, than during my whole previous existence. The earnest of the purchased possession has been given to me, and I have rejoiced in the hope of the glory of God, and of the rest which remaineth for his people.
“I wish you to understand that I advert to this subject, and dwell on it, because I wish to show forth the divine goodness as manifested to so unworthy a sinner as I am; and to testify the loving kindness of the Lord.
“It may encourage my friend, who, I trust, has tasted that the Lord is gracious. Let me again urge you to seek until you obtain that bright evidence of your acceptance which you desire. Never give over the effort. The adversary is ever near to cheat you out of the promised blessing. But the word of truth assures us, that if we resist him, he will flee from us; and that if we draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to us. ‘Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.’ ‘If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.’ Such are the promises which encourage us. If then you seek and find not, search narrowly into your heart, and see if there is anything cherished there inconsistent with your desires to obtain this blessing: any thing opposed to holiness, such as love of the world, pride, selfishness, &c. God does not come and dwell in the heart where he finds rivals. Before you venture to approach the holy presence of the Lord and offer sacrifice to him, examine yourself carefully, and put far away every thing that can hinder the blessing. If you feel how important it is that believers should be sanctified wholly, in soul, body and spirit, you will excuse the plainness of my speech. Allow me to propose a question, which has occurred to my mind since I wrote the preceding paragraph. Why may not you be an uncommon Christian? Do you see any thing to prevent it? Is not the Lord on your side? Have you not the God of Jacob for your refuge? Have you not an Advocate with the Father, who is also a sympathizing friend, having been in all points tempted as his disciples, yet without sin? O then strive for it. Keep the world, the flesh, and the Devil continually under your feet, and heaven continually in view; that you may have heaven within you. Is it not for this that you have been brought into the church at a very early period in life? Is it not your duty to be an uncommon, that is, a very humble, self-denying, cross-bearing, (in a word,) BIBLE CHRISTIAN? And it is no less your privilege than your duty.
“Pray for me, that I may have more faith, humility, patience, yea, everything to make me Christ-like.”—Nov. 23.—The soul may be in heaviness through manifold temptations. 1 Pet. i, 6. Then, and in all times of difficulty, there is an opportunity for trusting in the Lord, and seeking him until he comes and accomplishes a complete deliverance. To be tempted is not a sin—but to yield to temptation. To endure it is a blessing. James i, 12. But if temptation takes effect, it will bring forth death. Verse 15. Thanks to heaven’s high King, ‘the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.’ 2 Pet. ii, 9. Then let us commit our cause into the hands of the Author and Finisher of our faith, who ‘worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure.’ And after all our exertions for deepening the work of grace in our souls, may we lie passive in his hands. Although our whole life should be one continued scene of doubt and fear, heaven will make amends for all. But ask and look for overcoming grace here, now. There is enough and to spare. Let me request that your prayers be offered up on my behalf—that the Lord would make me a faithful servant in his vineyard, should he call me there to labor; and that during my work of preparation I may be useful.”