The Power of Faith: Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham.Graham, Isabella
Religion
The Power of Faith: Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham.
Graham, Isabella
Christian biography; Graham, Isabella, 1742-1814
"When was it that the Lord proclaimed this, and took unto
himself this name? After Israel, his chosen, had been guilty of that
awful sin in the wilderness, of making the golden calf, and
proclaiming, 'These be thy gods, O Israel:' David takes it up in the
103d Psalm, 'The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and
plenteous in mercy.' Read on, my dear, then turn to the 130th. This
God is your God, and has long been your God; his work was upon your
heart, though you could not discern it. In bondage you have long
been, but not a willing captive; unbelief kept you in bondage, long,
long after your eyes were opened to see your bondage; and even to
discern, in some feeble measure, your remedy.
"The Lord has wise reasons for all you have suffered: if not now,
you shall in some after-time 'know and consider all the way by which
he has led you, to prove you, to try you, and show you what was in
your heart, that he might do you good in your latter end.' You did not
wait patiently for the Lord your God; you did not in general say,
'Though he slay me, I will trust in him:' no, my friend has been a
great unbeliever, yet hath the Lord, the sovereign Lord, 'whose ways
are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts,' brought you
out of 'a fearful pit, and out of the miry clay; set your feet upon a
rock, and established your goings; put a new song into your mouth,
even praise unto our God.' Now you sing the 34th Psalm. I do rejoice
with my friend; I bless the Lord with her; let us exalt his name
together. It is establishing to my own soul. I have long prayed, and
long looked for this: I lived in the faith of it, assured that He who
had begun the good work, would perfect it in his own time.
"I cannot but regret your want of pastoral food; yet ought I to
regret any thing? The Lord himself is your Shepherd. My Bible lies on
my lap, and I had turned to the 34th Psalm, to know if it contained
what I would point out to you: on finishing the last verse, I
unconsciously turned my eye on the Bible; the words that met it were,
'I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go: I
will guide thee with mine eye.' Psa. 32:8. And so it shall be. Amen,
my God, Amen. Do as thou hast said.
"Perhaps, my friend, by this time your notes are lowered. It has
pleased the Lord to give you a strange sight: Mary Magdalene, a great
sinner at the feet of Jesus, pardoned, comforted, and highly honored
in after-life.
"This history, accompanied by the Spirit of God, has consoled,
strengthened, and raised up many bowed down since that day, many now
around the throne, who sing of pardoning love.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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