Amherst
Dec. 28/69
"Private"Will you read this "enclosed" for yourself privately?--and if you think, there is any thing profitable, Please read it to Your Dear brother.
This is my first copy. Yet I hope, it is still legible. If you get through your reading, please return it to me, because I want to keep it for myself. Excuse my brief writing, because I am not quite strong yet.
Your sincere friend,
Joseph Nee-Sima
Remember me your brother, Deacon T. and your good neighbors.
Amherst
Dec. 2lst, 1869
"Copy" Capt. H. S. Taylor was caught and killed between the ferryboat and the drop at East-Boston side on Saturday, Dec. 11th, 1869--I wrote this letter for his relatives who live merely for this world and are very careless for their spiritual welfare, to warn them to be ready for the Master's Call.
My Dear Friends,
Will you be kind enough as to spare your time in reading my unworthy letter which may inform you something acceptable to your souls. Since Capt. Horace was taken away from us so suddenly I thought it well for every one to be ready for the Master's Call. So I asked myself, whether I am ready to go. I have been carefully examining myself since I returned to Amherst whether I have any doubt in the Saviour's Promise or I have any disinclination to the Master's Call.
I dare to say now, I am ready if the Lord calls me, because it would be better off for me to leave this world of sin and be with Jesus. I believe sincerely his grace is sufficient to save a poor unworthy sinner, such as I am. I came to Jesus because I found myself a miserable sinner. I accept him because he was ready to receive me. I believe fully I am secured in his hand to which I can cling with my childlike trust.
A thousand times I should surely have fallen into the uttermost darkness on account of the burden of my own sin, if he had not upheld me. I am nothing without him but a poor sinful creature. But my dark path is brightened by his presence.
He is now my precious Saviour. He is all in all. Blessed be the name of the Lord, who hath sent him to this sinful world to remove our spiritual disease.
As soon as I returned to Amherst I thought I should write to you on the subject of religion, so I began it last Thursday evening but unfortunately I had taken a cold, and since last Friday have been quite unwell. But through the kind care of my Amherst friend I am wonderfully improved.
While I was lying in my bed, sometime on a sofa, I was so much pressed by the Spirit that I should write to you on the above mentioned subject as soon as I could get strength enough to write, because I lost my opportunity to ask Capt. Horace about his religious view, in his life-time, though I sought it for a long time. If I had asked him about it, and obtained a certain answer from him perhaps I would have had a satisfaction, though he was so greviously taken away from us. It is too late now to ask him or to invite him to Jesus. He has already gone.
Though he did not profess the Name of Jesus before men, yet I have some reason to believe from his last words, "O! My God. O! My God," that he has already been a Christian inwardly. As all of you know well how he kept his thoughts within himself, and never expressed freely or outwardly. His spiritual affair is only known between God and himself. Perhaps he may be much happier than to be with us, though it is a great loss to us.
I have been praying for him these four years. I hoped indeed, God would have remembered my feeble prayers for him and received him into the pure, and spotless habitation through Jesus Christ.
We never thought, that he should be taken away so soon. But I suppose, it was his appointed hour. There is no error in God's doings. He does all things for our good. When he calls us, we cannot wait for a moment. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away." So we must know how frail we are.
Remember that there is a fatal point within one step. It is well for us to know that we are subject to the Divine dealing and it is very proper for us to be ready for the Master's call. My dear friends! Are you ready for it? Will you be ready to flee from the wrath to come?
Perhaps you may think, I am very impolite or unqualified to ask you such a thing. But as I have above mentioned, I was so pressed by the spirit and could possibly get rid of it. I don't know myself, whether it is merely my own thought or suggested by the spirit of your departed friend, that I should write to you in regard to your spiritual welfare. So you must not imagine by any means, that I have esteemed myself somewhat wiser than you are, because I asked you to be ready for the Master's call etc.
I esteem myself very low. I am unworthy as dust. I am a miserable sinner. I never heard of Jesus till I have fully grown up. But through the grace of God, I was led to know the plan of salvation. Whence I accepted it, I was filled with joy and gladness. And I wished also, every one should come to Him who is able to cleaneth all our sinful stains. He is always kind and gentle. He called himself a friend of sinners, while he was in the flesh. He is now pleading for us on his Father's Throne.
Such is our Saviour. Would you wish to become his friends and to insure your life in him ? You can easily come to him if you chose. He is always inviting you to come. It is free indeed to every one. My dear friends! What is a hindrance between him and you?
Are you too proud to come? He will make you humble. Are you too weak to come? He will uphold you. Are you too busy to come? He will give you a precious hour to spend. Are you too tired to come? Come! He will give you a sweet rest. Are you poor? Come! He will make you rich in faith. Are you rich? He will make you poor in spirit. Old or young persons! Come! Jesus pities aged folks and loves children. Come now my dear friends! Do not delay.
Jesus is waiting for you at the door. You have now a better opportunity to come, his invitation is free. You can come without money. Can't you come now?
Perhaps some of us may be taken away so suddenly and unexpectedly as Capt. Horace was. For we know not indeed what will become of us on the morrow. But if we secure ourselves in Jesus, we shall surely live, though we die; for he is our life and resurrection. You have heard of him and known of him as your Saviour from your childhood. Why do you hesitate still? Step out boldly and join your hands to his. Then you will be safe.
Friends! It is not any severe thing to be Christian, but a happier thing. It is easy too. The Lord will make you pleasant in every way. Friends! Finally let me say to you "Be Christian." For I would not indeed, that you should pass away this sad affliction without receiving any sanctifying influence into your heart.
I shall not say any further about this subject. But if you have any doubt, fear, disinclination or difficulty drop me a line and tell me your case. I will make especial prayers for your conversion, because I fully believe, God would not object even the prayers of an unworthy sinner such as I am. May God draw nigh unto you, comfort you in your affliction, guide you gently by his spirit and save you at last.
Your faithful and unworthy friend
Joseph Nee-Sima