39. All Things for Good
39
All Things for Good1
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
—Romans 8:28
I would not have you to think it strange that your journey to New England has gotten such a dash.2 It indeed has made my heart heavy; yet I know it is no dumb providence, but a speaking one, whereby our Lord speaks His mind to you, though for the present you do not well understand what He says. However it is, He who sits upon the floods has shown you His marvelous kindness in the great depths. I know that your loss is great and your hope is gone far against you, but I entreat you, sir, expound aright our Lord’s laying all hindrances in the way. I persuade myself that your heart aims at the footsteps of the flock, to feed beside the shepherds’ tents and to dwell beside Him whom your soul loves, and that it is your desire to remain in the wilderness, where the woman is kept from the dragon (Rev. 12:14). And as this is your desire, remember that a poor prisoner of Christ said to you that that miscarried journey is with child to you of mercy and consolation and shall bring forth a fair birth on which the Lord will attend. Wait on; “He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16).
I hope that you have been asking what the Lord means and what further may be His will in reference to your return. My dear brother, let God make of you what He will; He will end all with consolation and will make glory out of your sufferings. Would you wish better work? This water was in your way to heaven and written in your Lord’s book; you were obligated to cross it and, therefore, kiss His wise and unerring providence. Do not let the censures of men, who see only the outside of things—and scarce well that, abate your courage and rejoicing in the Lord. Although your faith sees only the black side of providence, it has a better side, and God will let you see it. Learn to believe Christ better than His strokes, Himself and His promises better than His glooms.
Dashes and disappointments are not canonical Scripture; fighting for the Promised Land seemed to cry to God’s promise, “Thou liest.” If our Lord were to ride upon a straw, His horse would neither stumble nor fall. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28); therefore, shipwreck, losses, etc., work together for the good of them that love God. Hence, I infer that losses, disappointments, ill-tongues, loss of friends, houses, or country are God’s workmen, set on work to work out good to you, out of everything that befalls you. Do not let the Lord’s dealing seem harsh, rough, or unfatherly because it is unpleasant. When the Lord’s blessed will blows across your desires, it is best, in humility, to strike sail to Him and to be willing to be led any way our Lord pleases. It is a point of denial of yourself to be as if you had not a will but had made a free disposition of it to God and had sold it over to Him. And to make use of His will for your own is both true holiness, and your ease and peace. You do not know what the Lord is working out of this, but you shall know it hereafter.
And what I write to you, I write to your wife. I feel compassion for her case but entreat her not to fear or faint. This journey is a part of her wilderness to heaven and the Promised Land, and there are fewer miles behind. It is nearer the dawning of the day to her than when she went out of Scotland. I should be glad to hear that you and she have comfort and courage in the Lord.
1. Letters, no. 161, 298–300.
2. This correspondent, John Stuart, because of the oppressive measures of the prelates, intended to emigrate to New England. He had been forced to give up his plans. A “dash” is an affliction or discouragement.