Cheering Words For Anxious Enquirers

Earthen Vessel 1892:

A Letter by the late Thomas B. Voysey, to a seeking soul, written Nov. 17th, 1873.

My DEAR FRIEND,—It is with mingled feelings of pleasure, regret, and shame I take my pen in hand to address you. 

I.—Pleasure in again perusing your letter of solemn, holy, pleasurable solemn tidings. If the dear lady of whose sudden decease you wrote me was prepared, as you have reason to believe, was it not pleasure to her to be beckoned to those “eternal mansions,” to be 

“Free from the approaches of decay, 

Or the least shadow of a spot”?

Yet it is solemn to those left behind. The voice seems to say, “Be ye also ready.”

I was pleased with your epistle on her account, and I trust thankful for the grace displayed in her; but I was also pleased in seeing that Satan will not leave you, alone. “He worries those whom he cannot devour.” You know, my dear friend, that it takes two to make a quarrel, and if you feel any antagonism to that great enemy of souls, why is it? Did you always have it? Did it arise and spring up from yourself? I think, yea, am sure, that the answer must be in the negative, for if a kingdom be divided how shall it stand? If Satan rise against Satan, how shall he stand? Antagonism to Satan and his ways of sin must arise from grace in the heart. If this—namely, grace, be in the heart, how came it there? It was given in regeneration, whenever that took place; though faint at first, it will grow, and in the Lord’s time manifest itself. How came grace to be given? Because of predestination and foreknowledge. “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called” (Rom. 8:29, 30). Follow it out, and see where it leads to. Grace follows in the track marked out in His decrees.

But when we look at these things we must first look within, and ask two or three questions. 1st, Have I life? Perhaps we can hardly tell. Well, then, 2nd, Do I see? Do I see myself a sinner? Oh yes! From the sole of the foot to the crown of the head I am all uncleanness. Then I must have life, for no dead man, in that state, ever saw. 3rd, Do I hunger and thirst after something which I do not possess, yet scarcely can tell what I want? Yes; what I want is bound up in this “salvation;” or, “Give me Christ, or else I die.” Why these feelings? Because of life, which has its cravings, which must be satisfied.

I am told that of all sciences that of botany is the one which most leads the mind to the Creator. In other sciences order is distinctly and strongly marked; but in this, order and life, which none can give but Him. Men can give form to objects, but yet they remain dead. Therefore if life is in the soul (spiritual life, of course, I mean), and if it was not always there, it must have been implanted by someone at some time. If man cannot give it, if it is beyond the power of the highest angel to give, if no devil in hell wishes to give it; then, seeing there is only One left who could give it, it must be that One, and bless His dear name it is He who gives eternal life to His dear sheep; and if you have life, the life of feeling, of desires, of hungerings and thirstings, you are a lamb at any rate, in the fold of the Chief Shepherd, who laid down His own life in order that all His sheep and lambs might live. Cast, my dear friend, your soul into His hands. Wait not until you improve.

“If you tarry till you’re better, 

You will never come at all.”

But go with all your guilt, just as you are. As Hart says:—

“Let not conscience make you linger, 

Nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requireth

Is to feel your need of Him:

This He gives you,

‘Tis His Spirit’s rising beam.”

He is a Saviour for those who feel themselves lost. His blood is a fontain for the filthy, and drink for the thirsty. His righteousness is to shelter the naked, and His loving heart and bosom the resting-place for the weary and oppressed. Do not be discouraged if you do not obtain an answer immediately. Go again and again, and wait and watch patiently, and pray until He arise for your relief.

The Lord has various ways of dealing with His people. In some He commences His work with deep convictions, and drives them to the Saviour. In others He awakens concern, shows them the beauties of Christ, and allures them to Him; but afterwards, by line upon line, precept upon precept, He deepens and extends His work, gradually unfolding the hidden evils lurking within, and making them cry often, in the language of the great apostle, “O wretched man that I am!” Such I feel is my own case. I am passing through a season of dark temptation, and, sad to say, have yielded to the foe. He has sought for and found occasion against me, and truly I have found him my accuser, while my conscience cannot deny the truth of his accusations. Yet, midst all, I trust my confidence and hope is in the blood which cleanses from all sin. Here I am hanging, but I want to realize my Father’s forgiving smile, and to experience His loving kiss, which will dispel all my fears and reassure me of His love.

I desire to leave myself in His hands. It may be necessary for me to have a portion of the shade in order that the light may be more manifest, and the contrast more striking. What He wills is best. He is too wise to err, and too good to be unkind.

…Lately I have been studying the life of Daniel, in order, if possible, to help two or three of my boys to pass successfully in that subject. I have not yet heard how they have got on. I feel that my class is composed of those who will soon be turning out into life, and who can tell their future? Oh! may it please Him who “wings an angel and guides a sparrow,” to cause some word to be made a blessing to their immortal souls, which in His own time may bear fruit to His honour and glory. My labour then will not have been in vain.

…I close by wishing you all needful blessings, both spiritual and temporal, from the great Storehouse, Christ Jesus, who is able and willing to assist the needy, and who says, “Come unto Me…and I will give you rest.” 

So prays, your sincere friend,

THOS. B. VOYSEY