COMMUNICATIONS FROM WILLIAM AYERS (Ayers)

FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Hector, N. Y., March 24, 1843.

Brother Beebe:—Having a little leisure, I will devote a few minutes to writing to you. I view myself as a poor lost sinner, in and of myself, and if saved at all, it must be altogether of grace, and through the blood and righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, and, “Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works; but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Tim. i. 9. I cannot rely upon the arminian system of works, for nothing but that grace which was given to the heirs of salvation in Christ before the world began can support and sustain one who has been brought like myself to see and feel and confess that all I ever have done was to sin against God. “My only joy and assurance is when I am favored with a view of Jesus; then I can say with Peter, ‘He bore our sins in his own body,’” &c. Such a view will lead all God’s children to praise and magnify his holy name. But such views do not comfort the popular religionists of our day. Their dependence for what they call the conversion of sinners is on their protracted meetings, where, by the use of their anxious benches and other contrivances, they can convert sinners in large numbers, and give the praise and glory to men, money and humanly invented machinery. Some of them will “Thank God for anxious benches,” as though they had received them immediately from heaven, or had some countenance for the use of them in his word. To me it appears that they depend upon a wooden god, made by their hands to convert; and they certainly do ascribe the glory (if glory it be) to their wooden benches, or gods. The difference between the modern idols and the calf made by Aaron, is that his was made of gold, but theirs of wood. O that all of God’s dear children were delivered from their views of Ashdod, and their strange progeny which cannot speak the pure dialect of the true Israelite. Hagar’s mocking Ishmaelites, although born first, never can be identified with the children of the free woman, which is above, and is the mother of all, who, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise of God. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus according as hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. I fully believe the testimony of Paul, that there were no spiritual blessings given in Adam, all were given us in Christ, and that not according to our volition or works, but according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will, I believe it is the pleasure of God that we shall live to the praise of the glory of his grace. I am compelled to acknowledge that salvation is all of grace; for when I felt myself sinking down under the weight of my sins, and in my most despairing moments, when the natural sun had set in the west, Justice seemed to say, Cut him down; let him not see the light of another day! total darkness seemed to envelope my soul, and a sense of the almighty wrath of God overwhelmed my troubled soul; Jesus appeared to wings my God and Saviour, and bid me look to him for salvation; and having dispelled my darkness, and taken away my sins and guilt and fears, and shed his love abroad in my heart, bid me proclaim his goodness to me. This was grace, for it could not be works. Then I saw and understood how a poor, guilty, lost and helpless sinner could be saved, and how God could be just and the Justifier of sinners.

To every afflicted child of God who may read these lines, permit me to say, if ye are persecuted for the name and sake of Jesus, and reproached as do-nothings, &c., count it all joy. “Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.” “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? it is God that justifieth.” And, “Who shall separate us from the love of God? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?” No, my beloved brethren, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

May the Lord guide you, my brother, as editor, both in regard to what you write and what you receive into your columns.

Yours in hope of eternal life,
WILLIAM AYERS.