GLASGOW, 17th March 1858.
MY DEAR MRS. MANSON,—Thanks for writing me,
for in truth I was meditating to write you (i.e. your husband and
you=one), but could not make out whereabouts you were at this time. I am glad
you are to be near Crieff ; we may see you now and then. But I will be afraid
to say much to Mr. Manson about ministerial work, lest thereby I sadden
him,—only he is one who can say, 'It is the Lord,' and so be as content to
sit still as to labour—
'They also serve who only stand and wait.'
Indeed this is by far the most self-denying work, and so
may be found the most glorifying to God. I cannot but hope, too, that the
Master has some work for Mr. Manson. Tell him that Wycliffe, when forbidden by
the bishop to preach for a season, set the more eagerly to his translation, and
remind him that Southwood may become a Wartburg, and he a Luther!
As for
yourself, no doubt your change of life, the very removal of former cares, and
the kind of vacation-state you are in, will cause your soul at times to feel as
if under a cloudy sky. But you well know to judge of God's love only by His
Unspeakable Gift,—a gift irrevocably given, and given to
you,—never by frames and states and feelings and your own thoughts.
When Mr. Manson came back to you on the day of the eclipse, did he report that
the sun was changed? No, he reported that his light had been intercepted for a
few minutes, and that never were men more fully alive to the inexhaustible and
unchangeable lustre of that globe of light, than when for a moment deprived of
its actual presence.
Your husband is somewhat lazy, he has not written me
this long time. I think I will make that an excuse for saying no more at
present, so good-bye for this time. Pray for us.—Yours truly in the Lord,
ANDREW A. BONAR.
Transcribed from Reminiscences of Andrew A.Bonar D.D.
first published
LONDON, HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27 Paternoster
Row
1895
HTML transcription files copyright © 2001-2006.
Jane Newble
6 July 2001