LETTER TO THE SAME - Robert Murray Mcchene
Trials from a blind world—How the death of Christ is an atonement.
LONDON, November 5, 1842.
MY DEAR C., —I pray for you that your faith may not fail. Hold fast by Jesus for a little while, and then we shall be forever with the Lord, where the unbelieving will never be. I got safely up to town without stopping. The young man in the coach with us was Lord P. He and I were alone all night in the railway carriage, and I would fain have told him the way to be saved, but when morning dawned, I lost him. I preached twice on Thursday, and once last night, and now I am preparing for to-morrow. I feel, like John the Baptist, the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The mad world presses on like a bird hasting to the snare. They do not know that the dead are there, and her guests are in the depths of hell.
I thank God without ceasing when I remember you all, —how God opened your eyes and hearts, and made you flee from the wrath to come, and believe the record which God hath given concerning his Son. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.” “He thus faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,” Rev. 2:10. Do not be surprised if worldly people mock you and say all manner of evil against you falsely. Jesus told you it would be so. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own.” You have been long enough of the world. Did the world ever hate you then? So now, when you have come out from among them, and are cleaving to Jesus, do you think they will love you? Remember Jesus loves you. God is for you and who can be against you? Remember, all who have gone to heaven before you suffered the same things; see Rev. 7:14: “These are they that came out of great tribulation.”
You wish to understand more about Christ’s death being an atonement. I shall try and explain. The curse which Adam by his sins brought upon us all was this, “Thou shalt surely die.”—Gen. 2:17. This included the death of the body, the death of the soul, and the eternal destruction of both in hell. This is the curse that hangs over every unpardoned sinner. And our sins have only added certainty and weight to the awful curse, for the “wages of sin are death.” Now, when the Son of God said He would become our Surety and Saviour, the Father said, “Thou must die for them;” see John 10:17, 18: “I lay down my life.” “This commandment have I received from my father.” It is true, Christ did not suffer eternal destruction in hell; but He was a person so glorious and excellent—God’s own Son that His short sufferings were equal in value to our eternal agonies. So that, in the eye of law, and in God’s account, Jesus has suffered all that you and I were condemned to suffer. Hence that sweet, sweet passage, “Comfort ye, comfort ye, … for she hath received (in Christ) of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”—Isa. 40:1, 2. Christ’s dying for us is as much in God’s account as if we had twice over borne the eternal agonies of hell. Hence that sweet song which God enabled you and G. to sing: “I will praise Thee; though Thou west angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and Thou comforters me.”—Isa. 12:1. Hence also that triumphant question, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died.”—Rom. 8:34.
Keep looking, then, to Jesus, dear soul, and you will have the peace that passeth all understanding. Whenever Satan accuses you, send him to the stripes of the Lord Jesus. Deal gently and tenderly with your unconverted friends. Remember you were once as blind as they. “He was despised, and WE esteemed Him not.”—Isa. 53. Honour your mother in the Lord. Give her all reverence and obedience in things not sinful. Ask—to read and pray over Matt. 18:3–6. I would love much to visit the cottage on my return, but I fear I shall be kept in town till Friday, so that I must travel night and day home. The Lord blesses you and keep you cleaving to Christ the true vine. You have found the pearl of great price. Go and sin no more. “If any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” God is able to keep you from falling. In his dear arms I leave you. —Yours, etc.