. He drank the whole cup, a letter
of John Newton. God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will
not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas. Psalm 46, 1 and 2. November 2, 1761. My dear sister, let us not be
greatly discouraged at the many tribulations, difficulties, and
disappointments which line the path which leads to glory. Our
Lord has plainly told us that in this world you will have many
trials and sorrows, yet He has also made a suitable provision
for every case we can meet with, and is Himself always near to
those who call upon Him, as a sure refuge, an almighty strength,
a never-failing, ever-present help in every time of trouble. Jesus himself was a man of sorrow
and acquainted with grief for our sakes. He drank the whole
cup of unmixed wrath for us. Shall we then refuse to taste
a sip of the cup of affliction at his appointment, especially
when his wisdom and his love prepare it for us? And He portions
every circumstance to our strength, when He puts it into our hands,
not in anger, but in tender mercy, to do us good, to bring us near
to Himself, and when He sweetens every bitter sip with those comforts
which none but He can give. All former believers were once
as we are now. They had their afflictions and
their fears, their enemies and temptations. They were exercised
with a wicked heart and a wicked world. Now they are all before
the eternal throne of God and the Lamb. While we are sighing,
they are singing. While we are fighting, they are
triumphing. The time is short, and the world
is passing away. All its troubles and all its
vanities will soon be at an end. In a little while, we shall see
Him as He is. Every veil will be taken away,
every seeming frown will be removed from His face, and every tear
wiped away from ours, we shall also be like Him, even now when
we contemplate His glory as shining in the looking-glass of the gospel,
we feel ourselves in some measure transformed into His image. What
a sudden, wonderful, and abiding change we shall then experience,
when He shall shine directly, immediately, and eternally upon
our souls, without one interposing cloud between. Now the dwelling
of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be
His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of
things has passed away. Revelation 21.3