A SIGHT OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED.
THE following is from the writings of Anne Dutton, to whom Whitfield frequently bade his converts write for spiritual help. She was very largely used of God through her letters:—
The blessed Spirit did, as it were, take me by the hand, and led me to take a survey of Christ, in all the steps of His humiliation, from His birth to His death, as the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief for me!
He led me to take a view of Christ on the cross, in the agonies of His soul, and torments of His body, as bearing my sin, enduring my hell, giving up Himself a sacrifice in my room and stead; to redeem me from endless misery to eternal glory! I viewed all my sins meeting upon Jesus, and saw Him wounded for my transgressions, and bruised for my iniquities. And, oh! the infinity of grace which I saw, both in the Father's and Christ's heart, in this wonderful contrivance of infinite wisdom to save me by a crucified Jesus !
In the finished work of redemption I viewed my salvation wrought out, and a perfection of peace, pardon, life and glory came flowing down to me in the freest grace, through the blood of Christ. And, oh! the power of the cross, the display of boundless grace herein set my soul a-burning!
I looked and loved! yea, I looked and mourned. The fire of divine love melted my soul down, and made mine eyes a fountain of tears. Now I looked on Him whom I had pierced, and mourned, indeed, with the sweetest, and yet the bitterest, mourning that ever my soul felt. The exceeding riches of grace in the free, full, and eternal pardon of all my sins through a bleeding Jesus, filled my soul with unspeakable joy and sweetness. And, yet, at the same time, as I viewed my sins against Christ, meeting upon Him, piercing and wounding of Him, I was in such bitterness for Him that I never before found. Oh f thought I, were my sins the whips and nails? Did these cause His agonies, wound His soul, fill His bitter cup, which in infinite love He drank off for me? Oh, evil worm that I am! Oh, hateful sin! thou art the most loathsome, abominable thing in my sight ! It was me the dear Lord Jesus loved; and yet it was I that pierced Him! and, oh, how this pierced my soul ! Thus I was in bitterness for Him, which yet was very consistent with those unspeakable joys of redeeming love, which at the same time filled my heart.
This was one of the sweetest days I have enjoyed in this world. And, in a word, the manifestations of God's love to my soul in this affliction were so great, that I have thought I could freely endure the same agonies again, if I might have the same comforts. It was the time of my espousals, and the day of the gladness of my heart.