Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Lt 124, 1897
Wessels, Sister [Philip]
“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
March 7, 1897
This letter is published in entirety in DG 183-185. +Note
Dear Sister Philip Wessels:
I will pen a few lines to you this morning. I hope and pray that you will not lose faith, or become discouraged. We all have our individuality; this cannot be submerged in another. You have a soul to save or to lose. The Lord will be to you a present help in every time of trouble. He would have you stand at your post of duty, relying wholly upon Him who has loved us and died for us. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 1
You now have a double responsibility, because your husband has turned his face away from Jesus. As a mother, your work is to bring your children to the Master. When Christ was upon earth, and the mothers brought their children to Him, the disciples were about to send them away, but Jesus rebuked the disciples, saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 19:14.] 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 2
I know it must be a great grief for you to stand alone, as far as the doing of the Word is concerned. But how knowest thou, O wife, but that your consistent life of faith and obedience may win back your husband to the truth. Let the dear children be brought to Jesus. In simple language speak the words of truth to them. Sing to them pleasant, attractive songs, which reveal the love of Christ. Bring your children to Jesus, for He loves little children. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 3
Keep cheerful. Do not forget that you have a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Christ has appointed. You are never alone. If you will listen to the voice that now speaks to you, if you will respond without delay to the knocking at the door of your heart, “Come in, Lord Jesus, that I may sup with thee and thee with me,” the heavenly Guest will enter. [See Revelation 3:20.] When this element, which is all divine, abides with you, there is peace and rest. It is the kingdom of heaven come nigh unto you. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 4
Let every hour be one of trust and prayer and faith. You may expect trials. We must all be purified from dross, and made white and tried. In the time of trial, seek to bring every thought into captivity to Jesus Christ. One foe after another may come in unexpected ways, but dismiss the temptations of the enemy. In this way, we go on from grace to grace, from strength to strength, obtaining one spiritual victory after another. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 5
Hold fast to Christ, and He will give you His strong arm to lean upon. There is a crown of life for the overcomer. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 6
Close union with Christ means to do the words of Christ. He calls this union a continuance of His love. Then the heart is in harmony with God. Treasure up the promises, doing every little duty faithfully, as unto God. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.” [John 15:10.] Here is compliance and dependence. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 7
You have a strong Helper, and while you trust in your surety, you are safe. The sapless twig, grafted into the living vine, partakes of the same nourishment [as] the vine, and becomes a branch <which bears fragrant blossoms and fruit.> When is seen the closest possible relation between the sinner and the Saviour, is when the sinner is a doer of the Word of God. Then the heart, the will, the mind, is in close union with Christ. By faith, finite, feeble, helpless humanity joins its feebleness to His strength. Such a union, entire confidence, and love our helplessness and dependence demands. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 8
Christ died a shameful death that He might bring us unto God. When the soul is persuaded that Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him, when it resigns itself entirely to Him as an all-sufficient Saviour, when it clings to the promises made, and believes fully in Jesus, it is pronounced by God one with Christ. A soul that depends on Christ with the simplicity that your child depends upon its mother is justified, for it becomes one with the Substitute, who was justification and redemption. Herein is love, that the heart and will are knit together in Christ Jesus. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 9
What saith our Saviour? “I will not leave thee comfortless; I will come unto you.” “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” When trials overshadow the soul, remember the words of Christ, remember that He is an unseen presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, and He will be the peace and comfort given you, manifesting to you that He is with you, the Sun of Righteousness, chasing away your darkness. “If a man loves me,” Christ said, “he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” [John 14:18, 21, 23.] Be of good cheer; light will come, and your soul will rejoice greatly in the Lord. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 10
In much love. 12LtMs, Lt 124, 1897, par. 11