Vol 16 - TO MR. THOMAS GARVEN.

TO MR. THOMAS GARVEN.
REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,
I BLESS you for your letter; it was as a shower to the new-mown grass. The LORD has given you the tongue of the learned; be fruitful and humble. It is possible that you may come to my case; but the water is neither so deep, nor the stream so strong, as it is called. I think my fire is not hot; my water is dry land; my loss rich loss. My poor stock is grown, since I came to Aberdeen. And if any had known the wrong I did, in being jealous of such a lover as CHRIST, who withheld not his love from me, they would think the more of it; but, I see, he must be above me in mercy: I will never strive with him; to think to recompense him is folly. If I had as many tongues to praise him as there have fallen drops of rain since the creation, or as there are leaves of trees in all the forests of the earth, or stars in the heaven; yet my LORD JESUS would ever be in advance with me: we shall never get our accounts fitted; a pardon must close the reckoning. For his comforts to me, in this honorable cause, have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty; howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us. Love (I mean CHRIST'S love) is the hottest coal that ever I felt: cast all the salt sea on it, it will flame: hell cannot quench it: many, many waters will not quench love. I wonder that he should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am; but he is abundant in mercy; he has no niggard's alms, when he is pleased to give. O that I could invite all the nations to love him! Free grace is an unknown thing! This world has heard but a bare name of CHRIST. I would that CHRISTT got more of his own due than he doth. Brother, ye have chosen the good part, who have taken part with CHRIST: you will see him win the field, and you shall get part of the spoil, when he divideth it. They are but fools who, laugh at us, for they see but the back part of the moon; yet our moon-light is better than their twelve-hours' sun: we have gotten the new heavens, and as a pledge of that, the Bridegroom's love-ring. The children of the wedding-chamber have cause to skip and leap for joy; for the marriage-supper is drawing. nigh. O time, be not slow! O sun, move speedily, and hasten our banquet! O Bridegroom,. be " like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains! O Well-beloved, run fast, that we may once meet! - Brother, I restrain myself, for want of time. Pray for me: I hope to remember you. The good-will of Him who dwelt in the bush, the tender mercies of GOD in CHRIST, enrich you: grace be with you!
Yours in his LORD JESUS,
S. R.