,transcribed from the #ahbj 7second7 ,r4 ,thomas edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,public domain book cover ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,faith1 ,,in ,,the ,valley of ,achor3 ,,being ,a ,series of ,letters ,,to ,,several ,,friends1 ,,on ,,religious ,,subjects4 99 99 99 99 99 ,by ,ruhamah4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,second ,,edition4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,southwark2 ,,printed ,,by ,r4 ,,thomas1 ,,red ,,lion ,,street1 ,,borough4 #ahbj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,letter ,i4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,aug4 #aj1 #ahah4 ,to ,mr4 ,k--,g4 ,,dear ,,sir4 ,,many thanks for the loan of the invaluable books1 containing the last fragments of the late venerable and spiritual ,,jenkins1 of ,lewes4--,surely it may be said with propriety1 8,he being dead yet speaketh10 but it is only to those who are taught of ,god4 ,we speak1 says the ,apostle1 to wise men1 not to unhumbled1 unrenewed1 carnal men1 nor to mere nominal professors1 nor to those who are barely resting in a form of words1 tho' sound--such persons cannot digest the experimental truths they contain2 there was a time once when they would not suit me1 but ,i have found them exceedingly precious2 nor do ,i think that tried man had a sensation1 a trial1 a grief1 a temptation1 an enemy1 a sin1 a corruption1 a fear1 a doubt1 or misgiving1 but what the ,lord has permitted me to feel2 nor do ,i think he was favored me with one token or pleasing hope1 an help1 a deliverance1 a gracious smile1 or a display of the divine faithfulness1 in the application and fulfilment of the promises1 but the ,lord has also indulged me with similar mercies4 ,i must recommend them to the poor of ,christ's flock who wait on and for the ,lord1 till pardoning mercy is revealed with some power4--,i know you are anxious to learn how ,i go on in soul matters1 this is the main concern with you and with all my real friends in ,christ4 ,i have now no other way left to inform you satisfactorily1 but by letter1 and ,i certainly could fill volumes on the subject of my daily experience of the teachings of the ever blessed ,spirit2 nor have ,i any objection to make this subject known to you1 and to all those who are concerned for my best interest3 this is the principal point1 to exalt the ,lord ,jesus1 in the grand displays of his grace to the most unworthy--and ,i can say to his glory1 he has1 ,i trusts most effectually humbled me in the dust1 laid me low1 shewed me such views of sin as ,i never saw before1 and quickened my soul to feel what it never so sensibly and deeply felt before4 ,i do experience that the tendency of his gracious influences meeken1 soften1 and humble the heart2 rendering it also teachable and grateful4 ,this ,i could demonstrate by reciting a variety of experiences ,i have been favored with1 but ,i pass by numbers1 to relate one in particular1 that ,i can never forget in this and a coming world4 ,after ,i had been in this furnace some weeks1 in which ,i felt as others do in similar cases1 much grief1 anger1 rebellion1 and discontent1 but not quite without a spirit of prayer1 that ,i might be favored with the very gracious visits of the ,saviour1 and a sense of ,god's approbation in my own soul1 though despised by others4 ,i entreated the ,lord to shew me the exceeding sinfulness of sin1 as well as ,i could bear it1 for ,i am convinced no man could ever behold sin in all its malignity1 none but the ,god-,man could bear that--yet ,i desired to see sin as most abominable in ,god's sight4 ,these petitions were in time answered2 the ,lord led me to reflect deeply in my retired moments1 on the nature of sin1 original and actual4--,this knowledge of it increased1 till one evening1 being alone1 ,i was most completely overpowered with a solemn stillness of spirit1 a view of sin1 my own sins of heart1 lip1 and life2 these crouded in my mind4 ,i felt guilty4 ,i stood condemned4 ,i had a fearful apprehension of ,god's just displeasure2 all was dark within1 except sin and the anger of ,god--these were clear enough2 horror overwhelmed me1 and ,i sunk low at the footstool of divine mercy2 ,i feared1 ,i trembled1 ,i was brought low1 ,i was troubled4 ,i saw nothing of a ,saviour1 though ,i had so often preached about him4 ,head notions were nothing now--past experience was hid1 and every gracious promise of the ,bible was closed up for a time4 ,what a state to be in6 ,but ,i believe this was drinking of the bitter cup our ,saviour drank so deeply3 this was1 in one sense1 being crucified with ,christ1 and having fellowship with him in his sufferings4 ,these feelings will give a man a real understanding of all those texts which refer to soul trouble1 in the book of ,job1 the ,psalms of ,david1 the feelings of ,jeremiah1 and perhaps1 what ,paul felt during the three days he was without sight1 and did neither eat nor drink4 ,these feelings will make me sympathize with the soul that is afflicted1 and experiences the terrors of the ,almighty4 ,but ,i do esteem it among my many special favors1 that this did not continue but part of a night4 ,i sank down in shame and guilt1 condemning myself and acknowledging the justice of ,god in my condemnation4 ,but while in this state1 thus broken1 contrite1 and filled with holy awe1 ,i was kept pleading for mercy1 present mercy as well as future4 ,while on my knees prostrate1 as ,elijah on another occasion1 or1 as ,jeremiah words it1 ,putting my mouth in the dust2 and although ,i really was filled with fear lest ,i should be cut off1 yet at this very time the ,lord gently led my mind1 or rather brought the following words1 very softly to my heart2 they were at first seemingly at a distance1 but drew nearer at ,i listened and observed them4 ,the words were1 8,i have caused thine iniquities to pass from thee1 and have clothed thee with change of raiment40 ,i observed1 my mind could not gladly receive this sentence1 fearing presumption--but they still followed me1 and abode with me1 till the horror1 terror1 fears1 and darkness gradually dispersed1 and my mind was enabled so far to receive them as to cause a present ease1 which continued with me a few days longer4 ,i found the peace they brought with them continue1 and ,i was in a small degree helped to believe they were from ,god to me1 and as much mine as they were ,joshua's1 to whom they were spoken2 but though my thoughts were in a measure fixed upon them1 yet ,i was not without being assaulted with some misgivings of heart4 ,i concluded it best to entreat the ,lord to shew me this more powerfully1 and not only to put the words in my mind1 but to write them so effectually that ,i might know1 without the shadow of a doubt1 ,i was actually interested in the capital blessings the words contained4 ,this was most divinely manifested in a few days afterwards1 as ,i was in the act of reading some remarks of the truly excellent ,mr4 ,,toplady1 on ,justification by the imparted ,righteousness of the adorable ,god-,man4 ,i was actually overcome with a sweet surprize of the love of ,god to me in ,christ ,jesus1 making his dear ,son a sin offering1 and his people righteousness in him4 ,i was enabled to feel such solid peace1 holy joy1 and sacred pleasure in my soul as can never be described by tongue or pen4 ,i was melted by the power of his love1 and indulged with such access to ,god1 that every doubt1 fear1 and misgiving of heart was removed4 ,i saw1 ,i knew1 ,i felt that ,i was reconciled to ,god1 and that ,god was my ,father1 my ,saviour1 and my ,comforter4--,oh1 that ,i had then sunk into the arms of death6 ,o that ,i had been permitted to take my flight2 at that time the ,saviour had engaged my heart1 nor could ,i then have sinned against him for the world4 ,i want many such sweet manifestations of his sensible presence2 and ,i can assure you1 painful as my situation is1 ,i would gladly endure it again for such enjoyments4 ,but ,i must observe1 these blessed seasons are unknown to carnal professors1 and never enjoyed1 even by the favorites of heaven while in a light1 careless1 carnal frame of soul2 no--the promise runs thus1 8,to this man will ,i look1 7and surely it was a look of love which ,i experienced7 and with him will ,i dwell1 who is poor and of a contrite heart1 and that trembles at my word40 ,knowing you can rejoice in my prosperity1 having mourned in my adversity1 ,i write thus freely4--,do as you please with the letter2 if it is of any consolation to your spiritual acquaintances1 let them read it likewise1 but let them remember1 ,i do not send it to gain applause1 but that they may glorify ,god on my behalf4 ,and as to many others1 ,i am very sorry ,i ever had their good opinion at all4 ,i must just remark1 that such blessed sensations as ,i have here described1 is not believing1 but rather the end of our faith1 the present salvation of the soul4 ,it is a manifestation of pardoning mercy1 as an evidence of full and free justification in ,christ--this is1 in the best of senses1 obtaining mercy2 as such1 ,i shall make bold to change my subscription from ,j4 ,c4 to the name the ,lord has given to elect ,gentiles1 in the second chapter of ,hosea4--,wishing you a clean hand1 a warm heart1 and a holy life1 ,i remain1 your's in him1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,ii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,april #g1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,h--,l1 ,sen4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i ,,have been much grieved to hear of your deep afflictions of body4 ,i wish it lay in my power to visit you1 to read1 pray1 and converse with you4 ,we have spent some pleasant hours together in speaking of him who loved us better than he loved himself2 who did not grudge to give his very life for us2 and ,i really believe1 if it was needful1 he would do it again1 and not only so1 but ,i believe he would have done all he did1 if it was only for the salvation of one individual of his people4 ,alas1 my dear ,mother2 what do we know of his love1 the love of a ,god8 ,all the knowledge the brightest saint upon earth has of that subject is a mere nothing to the subject itself4 ,i want clearer apprehensions of it4 ,i want to feel its warming power4 ,i want to see its divine excellency4 ,i want to rejoice in the ,god of love2 he has dealt well with me since ,i have been in this place4 ,i trust he has both pardoned and subdued that in me which was contrary to his holy will4 ,but ,i want this blessing carried on in every hour's experience4 ,may the ever-blessed ,spirit give us to believe in the love which ,god has for us1 and enable us to give credit to this most precious truth for ourselves1 8,i have blotted out as a thick cloud thy sins40 ,i really think we are often mistaken about our love to ,christ2 for we fancy we have no spiritual affection for him1 because we are not in raptures of love with him2 but let me remind you of what the holy ,apostle says of the matter4 ,i have not time or room in this short letter1 to enlarge upon the subject1 yet by reading it yourself in the #acth of the #ast of ,cor4 it may stir up your mind1 and confirm you in the persuasion of ,god's love to you3 8,charity thinketh no evil40 ,the ,apostle does not say he1 as a man1 thinketh no evil1 but ,charity1 the love of ,god1 the holy principle in him thinketh no evil1 of ,god or the doctrines of the ,gospel4 ,it rejoiceth not in iniquity2 then it is not a principle of libertinism2 but it rejoiceth in the truth1 in ,christ1 and in his word4 ,it beareth all things ,god puts upon it1 although the old man rebels against the will of ,god4 ,it hopeth all things which ,god has promised4 ,it hateth iniquity4 ,the carnal part in the regenerate1 loves sin1 and seeks to be gratified1 but this holy principle hates it4 ,it is kind1 when the ,saviour's sorrows are in view4 ,it suffereth long the unkindness of others1 and waiteth till ,god is pleased to deliver4 ,it envieth no man's gifts or goodness1 but rests satisfied with ,god in ,christ4 ,it is not puffed up1 nor can it boast of what it does1 but it extols the ,saviour2 it delights in the ,saviour2 it is willing to owe its all to the ,saviour4--,this is love1 or gospel ,charity4 ,this is that which is born of the ,spirit1 which cannot sin4 ,this is the seed of ,god1 the new nature2 and these are the evidences of an interest in ,christ1 and you can bless ,god at times1 that you know these things by experience1 in some good degree4 ,we have very sinful natures1 but ,christ is our sanctification1 in the holiness of his nature1 before ,god4 ,we have broken the holy ,law of ,god in thought1 word1 and deed1 but ,jesus gave it all its vast demands1 and perfectly satisfied it4 ,we have signed most awfully against a good and gracious ,god1 but ,jesus has made an atonement for all offences1 and the ,father has expressed his infinite pleasure in the work of ,christ1 and he has promised to forgive and to forget all our sins1 by virtue of that one offering4 ,may the comfortable assurance of this sweet truth make us happy in life and death4 ,this will make our bed in our sickness1 and strengthen us on the bed of languishing1 just as the ever-blessed ,spirit is pleased to open our minds1 to receive it in the power1 sweetness1 and glory of it4 ,several in your family ,i trust1 are effectually called by grace4 ,what a mercy1 that you will soon meet them above--this is a pleasing thought to depart with1 and you have little else to do but to go home4 ,do send me word how you all are in health2 and if you can sit up to read1 ,i will send you a precious little book1 8,mr4 ,mason's thing needful10 with those places turned down that ,i have found precious to me4--,may the ,lord shine upon you and in you1 ,i remain1 yours in him1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,iii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,june #ag1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,h--,l1 ,jun4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friends1 ,amidst the severest trials ,i am wading through this week1 ,i cannot forget you both4 ,surety you must be ready to exclaim with pious ,david1 8,deep calleth into deep20 and with afflicted ,job1 8,thou breakest me with breach upon breach40 ,your afflictions are great indeed1 ,i think deeper than ,i could bear2 the ,lord has visited your house1 but ,o6 what a sweet thought1 it is a visit of love1 of mercy to you1 but of love indeed1 to the tender babes4 ,you will go to them through the same mercy and love1 but it would be neither love not mercy to let them return to you4 ,dear1 much esteemed ,friends1 ,i can feel for you1 ,i have been called to the same trouble1 in part1 nor shall ,i ever fully forget what ,i then felt1 when the soul of my dear daughter took its flight1 and when ,i laid her dust in the silent receptacle for suffering mortality1 but it was well2 the ,lord demands1 has demanded his own1 they were his property1 and he gave ,mrs4 ,hill the honor to bear them1 with this charge1 ,take these children and nurse them for me1 not for sin1 nor for the world1 nor for ,satan1 but for ,god--,selah4 ,nature no doubt1 most sensibly feels the stroke1 but may the good hand of ,god support you1 and the full assurance of meeting them again1 bear up your sinking spirits like pillars of marble4 ,i am anxious to know how you are in mind and body1 and assure you ,i can weep with you1 but ,i am fully persuaded you will see vast wisdom in this stroke another day4 ,had you1 ,mrs4 ,h4 been laid upon a sick and dying bed1 while they were in helpless infancy1 it would have distressed your poor heart to leave them1 exposed to nobody knows what mother they might have4 ,a mother is every thing1 this ,i can only know from observation1 but ,i observe among many unhappy persons ,i meet with in this place1 that they were either deprived of a tender mother1 which began their troubles1 or that they had used a mother ill1 and ,god never prospered them after it4 ,o my dear friends the ,lord has delivered you from many an heart-breaking sorrow1 and from much misery4 ,those dear creatures will afflict you1 they will trouble you no more for ever1 either your heart or your head4 ,you are afflicted1 the loss is great1 they were dear to your heart1 but you are called to sacrifice them1 to restore them to their right owner2 and while your feelings struggle with ,god's will1 methinks ,i hear the ,saviour say1 8,suffer them to come unto me1 and forbid them not1 for of such is my kingdom composed40 ,it has been the opinion of some blessed men of ,god1 that the majority of saved persons in glory1 are children4 ,on those the ,lord has magnified the riches of his grace1 and out of their mouths ,god has ordained his own glory1 as they must ascribe their salvation to free1 unmerited mercy alone4 ,dear babes1 what must have been their surprize1 when they started from the body and arrived in glory2 when their little powers were expanded and their minds filled with the joys of ,jesus4 ,think often of their joyful arrival1 and if they could see you shed a tear about them1 it would almost induce them to appear to you1 saying1 ,if you loved us you would rejoice1 because we are gone to our ,father1 and the world seeth us no more2 we are entered into peace1 we have done for ever with sin1 in which we were born1 and with sorrow as the consequence1 and shall be now for ever with the ,lord4 ,happy voyagers1 no sooner set sail than they are arrived at their desired haven2 hasty sojourners1 they found nothing here worth their stay2 they were afflicted1 and like their dear ,lord1 only tasted the vinegar and the gall4 ,but they have left their parents to drink deep of the cup of sorrow1 they have turned their heads away and refused the draught2 they opened their eyes1 saw the light1 and after a little1 they withdrew into the regions of eternal day--your lilies are cropt1 and will flourish in the garden of eternal bliss for ever4 ,those tender plants1 those lovely flowers are removed into a shelter1 before the thunders roar1 the lightnings fly1 and the tempest pours its rage4 ,they were sinners1 or else they could neither have suffered or died2 but loved1 redeemed1 and secretly sanctified by the indwelling of the holy ,spirit1 they winged their way to ,god4 ,how joyful their meeting1 see them clasp each other1 see them smile and triumph1 and join the chorus of the skies4 ,our dear1 our mourning parents both farewell1 ,we go from you1 with ,christ in heaven to dwell1 ,we go to see our heavenly ,father's face1 ,we go to sing redeeming love and grace4 ,we go to learn the sciences divine1 ,we go in glory's bright array to shine1 ,we go to joys1 which cannot be exprest1 ,we go to ,god1 to be for ever blest3 ,and can you wish us back to earth again1 ,to be afflicted there with toil and pain1 ,to be with dire convulsions rack'd and tore1 ,the tortur'd little babes we were before4 ,may you1 my dear friends be prepared to meet them1 by an experimental acquaintance with the blood and righteousness of ,christ2 let this your prayer1 day and night4--,christian love to all your dear family1 ,your sympathizing ,friend1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,iv4 ,valley of ,achor4 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hill1 ,jun4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend ,,titus1 ,,it would be very ungrateful in me to forget you1 or to neglect writing to you among the many friends who have kindly visited me in my affliction1 and have not been ashamed of ,christ1 nor of me his unworthy servant4 ,that gracious ,god1 who has the hearts of men in his hands1 has kept you in the truth1 though you have been opposed1 and altho' you could not do that for me you could have wished1 but you have often wisely cautioned me against that freedom of spirit which has often occasioned fools to insult my feelings1 and to triumph in my supposed weakness4 ,it was not without reason the ,saviour1 as man1 did not commit himself to man1 for it is said1 8,he knew what was in man1 and he needed none to testify of that to him40 ,and now1 my dear friend1 permit me to remark1 that some have gone with ,god's people till they get into the slough1 and there they have left them and religion together2 but although trouble has turned some back1 and has slain its thousands1 yet prosperity and carnal ease has slain its ten thousands-- ,for more the treach'rous calm ,i dread1 ,than tempests bursting o'er my head4 ,if we belong to the family of ,god1 we shall never be long without a cross1 in some way or other2 but if we do not belong to ,god ,satan will let us alone--it is his work to disturb and distress the former1 and to render his life unhappy2 and it his work also1 to lull asleep those who are his own children--better therefore be under the chastening hand of ,god all our days than be fast asleep in the arms of sin and ,satan4 ,the whole world is divided into two classes only1 the seed of the ,serpent1 and the seed of the ,woman1 and this we feel within4 ,i beg my dear friend will not think it strange when ,god gives him to feel his own native sinfulness1 when he feels all that deadness and carnality that is inherent in his nature2 this1 when properly felt and seen1 will trouble him at all times1 but ,i hope when this is the case1 that he will not fall into that snare of the devil's which ,i have known some young persons to be trapped with1 when ,satan suggests1 ,o you are nothing but an hypocrite--your conduct and inbred sins prove it4 ,you had better give up religion1 or else it will make worse for you in hell4 ,listen not to this a moment1 but fly to the ,saviour--be honest2 tell him all that you feel and are ensnared with4 ,plead his sufferings1 obedience1 death1 and intercession4 ,beg the holy ,spirit to shew you these things in such a powerful way as shall subdue sin1 not root it out1 as certain preachers say--no1 the ,canaanite will be in the land as long as you live1 else where would be the warfare8 ,how could we live by faith on the work of ,jesus8 and where would be the use of the greatest part of his promises1 and the account of the experiences of the tried saints8 ,you have three combined enemies1 the ,world1 the ,flesh1 and the ,devil2 but you have three glorious friends1 the adorable ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit4 ,you have three besetments1 ,passion1 ,lust1 and ,pride2 but you have three remedies1 ,christ's ,obedience1 ,blood1 and ,love4 ,these when seen1 known1 felt1 and enjoyed1 produce three most blessed effects1 ,abasement1 ,humility1 and ,self-,denial2 and this will lead to the practice of three duties1 ,prayer1 ,hearing1 and ,obedience2 and these will be a means of the gracious visits of three gracious1 kind1 and condescending persons4 ,if any man love me1 my ,father will love him1 and we will come to him1 and make our abode with him2 when he1 the ,spirit1 shall come1 he shall abide with you for ever4 ,thus you see the connexion of great things in experience1 to lead us to glory1 where we shall be filled with three more4 ,the ,lamb in the midst of the throne1 shall lead them to fountain of living waters--,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit--then with unspeakable joy shall we draw waters of everlasting delight from seeing1 knowing1 and being with ,god4--,blessed are the pure in heart1 for they shall see ,god4 ,the heart means the whole man1 body and soul1 purged from sin1 unpardoned by the death of ,jesus--the faculties that are under the influence of divine favor2 the conscience1 that feels guilt when sin is felt1 and peace when faith is able to receive the atonement4--,the mind1 will1 and affections1 which are open to receive ,christ as he is set forth in the ,gospel4 ,the truth being received gives ,christ an actual existence in the mind1 so that he dwells there1 and let what will happen to us ,christ is uppermost4 ,when ,satan1 sin1 error1 trouble1 the deepest affliction1 or the thoughts of death1 judgment1 and eternity impress the mind1 do observe this1 ,christ is still uppermost2 the mind bends that way as naturally1 in this sense1 as a child runs home1 and clings to its parent in time of trouble or danger4 ,i have had a long experience of these truths1 and only regret that ,i have had so little time to reflect deeper on them4 ,i see the wisdom of ,god in the present trial which has befallen me--the ,lord has done what he devised2 ,i am the gainer1 my dear friends the loosers1 but they will gain in the end2 the ,lord has chastened and humbled me1 and has accepted my broken spirit and contrite heart4 ,he has shewed me my faults in many things ,i never saw before1 and others ,i had forgot1 and has led me to see he has pardoned them1 and ,i trust subdued what is contrary to himself4 ,what the ,lord is about to do with me ,i know not1 ,i leave it with him--,i only want this pruning to bring forth more fruit1 that ,i may glorify ,christ and prove that ,i am a disciple indeed4 ,the eternal ,god be your guide1 father and friend4 ,do pray much1 read much1 think much1 and obey much4 ,still cry out1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner6 and add also1 ,be thou my strong habitation1 whereunto ,i may continually resort4 ,so prays ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,v4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,august #bjth1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,o--,d4 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i was deeply afflicted when ,i heard of your sudden indisposition1 ,i hope this note will find you recovering4 ,i need not remind my most invaluable ,friend1 we are poor dying worms1 the creatures of a day1 we fade as a leaf2 it will be only in that happy state of the ,church1 the latter day glory1 in which that fine promise will be fulfilled1 ,isaiah #fe1 8,for as the days of a tree1 so are the days of my people20 happy for us our salvation is in ,christ4 ,nor death1 nor hell shall e'er divide ,his favorites from his breast1 ,in the dear bosom of his love ,they must for ever rest4 ,hallelujah4 ,but you want a blessed manifestation of this1 and that you shall have2 my people shall be satisfied with my goodness1 saith the ,lord2 and till this sensible manifestation comes1 may you enjoy what the word of ,god has said respecting his own people1 and compare it with what he has done for you4 ,the peculiar characters by which they are known--and here you cannot err--they shall all know me saith the ,lord4 ,the blessed ,spirit has given you many a precious view of ,christ--,selah4 ,blessed is he that believeth4 ,and you can say your heart is opened to receive ,jesus1 your mind bends to him1 and you come to him for all you need--,selah4 ,the ,lord will give a crown of life to those who love his appearing4 ,and you can say1 you love all his gracious smiles1 his promises that are brought home to you1 his appearing in every ordinance1 and every providence1 as an answer to prayer for yourself1 or for any of the family of ,god--,selah4 ,blessed are they whose hope the ,lord is2 and you know the ,lord has driven you out from every other1 and begotten you to a good hope1 through grace1 so that ,christ is now your only hope--,selah4 ,blessed are all they that trust in him4 ,here you lean1 on this you depend1 even on his blood1 his righteousness1 his intercession1 his word and faithfulness--,selah4 ,your heart shall live that seek ,god2 and you know at times1 that the enjoyment of the love and grace of ,god1 in his threefold character of person1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,spirit1 is the one thing needful your soul is seeking for--,selah4 ,whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 this is another evidence you are sure of1 all the year round4 ,and1 ,i am come that they might have life2 this secret also1 you find out by hungering and thirsting after ,jesus and his salvation--,selah4 ,we know we are passed from death to life1 because we love the brethren2 and you can say1 to the glory of ,god1 you do1 in the most sacred sense--,selah4 ,the ,lord delighteth in them that fear him2 this grace he has implanted in your soul1 or else you would have turned an apostate before now--thanks to his name4 ,blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy2 you can feel for the afflictions of ,joseph1 the trials of ,god's family--,selah4 ,i could send you near an hundred more1 let these stay your mind just now1 these are ten ,bible evidences4 ,may you rest on ,christ alone4 ,i have sent you a precious little pocket piece1 entitled1 8,visits to and from ,jesus10 written by our favorite1 ,dr4 ,hawker1 read it through once a week for the present1 'tis a precious talent1 and will get more talents4 ,i have found it sweet4 ,grace be with you1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,vi4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,sept4 #a1 #ahah4 ,m4 ,a4 ,,hill4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i have many friends of your name1 and thousands know ,i have also many enemies of the same name1 though they never saw me2 there are little hills of ,zion1 loved of the ,lord1 and hilly difficulties to encounter4 ,i am sure you will smile1 when ,i observe ,i have often noticed1 that if ,god raises me up a friend1 the ,devil often raises me up an enemy of the same name2 but this is the experience ,i have long had1 of mercies and miseries1 dark nights and cheerful days1 heavy losses and great spiritual gains1 sore temptations and seasonable helps2 tears and smiles1 castings down and liftings up1 fits of despair and lively hopes1 the powers of unbelief and the triumphs of faith1 the heart at times fretting against the ,lord1 then all at once sweet submission to his will2 a glorious time in the pulpit1 and the very next time1 shut up1 barren and dead3 a sweet testimony from some poor soul of the ,lord's giving efficacy to the word of his grace1 by my message1 another comes in directly after1 to tell me some one has turned an enemy4 ,hearing the ,lord has blessed some of my poor writings1 and presently the ,devil has sent the baser sort to blow their horns about the streets1 proclaiming my supposed infamy4 ,perhaps a precious soul-animating letter is sent me1 and while reading it1 the post-man brings another1 filled with the most abominable obscenity1 written1 no doubt1 by an hypocritical professor--one part of the day enjoying the very life and power of religion1 the other part lean1 barren1 and trifling4 ,i could enlarge on this1 and fill a volume1 but ,i must inform you ,i am reading the ,pilgrims ,progress1 and find it very blessed2 it is a glass1 wherein ,i see much of the face of my own experience2 ,i intend in many future letters to my friends1 to quote and explain a part of it1 especially those parts which are the most intricate1 and perhaps the least noticed4 ,it is an invaluable book2 others have attempted to write similar books1 but they are all very inferior to the ,tinker's ,master-piece of ,piety and ,genius4 ,here ,i see the chequered scene the ,lord generally leads his people through1 from conversion to glorification4 ,here we see the christian burdened and delivered1 sighing and singing1 on the mount of communion and in the shadow of death1 loaded with corruption and pardoned by blood1 condemned and justified1 happy and miserable1 meeting a few real pilgrims and plenty of hypocrites1 fighting and fainting1 rising and falling1 yet kept1 sanctified1 and assured of glory4 ,sometimes groaning under a body of death1 then soaring with the wings of a dove2 brought out of self and living by faith1 on the person and love1 the work and grace of ,christ4 ,i trust you will be led to seek ,jesus the ,pearl of great ,price--never rest till you have found him1 for it is life eternal to be favored with an experimental knowledge of him4 ,may your heart be led from every thing else1 and fixed there alone2 that you may know and enjoy all that is implied in this greatest of texts1 8,for thy ,maker is thy husband1 the ,lord of ,hosts is his name40 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,vii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,sept4 #a1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,h4 ,h--,l1 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friend1 ,i beg you will have the goodness to send me the truly excellent ,dr4 ,hawker's ,concordance1 ,i think it would be a great treat to me just now4 ,i am astonished when ,i read any of that blessed man's late ,writings1 to see how he has grown up in the gracious knowledge of ,christ4 ,i must for ever admire that divine hand which has planted1 watered1 pruned1 and reared up such a tree of righteousness4 ,but does it not hurt your feelings to see the awful opposition made against him for the truth's sake1 even in this ,christ-despising day4 ,i own it often distresses me1 and indeed1 such have been the lessons ,i have learned since ,i last saw you1 that ,i am lost in wonder that ,god does not damn every creature1 let the curtain of time drop1 and burn the world to ashes6 ,since ,i have been here ,i have seen so much of the evil of sin in myself1 in ,god's people1 in ministers1 in professors1 in pharisees1 in erroneous characters1 and in the profane world1 that ,i have been overcome with the sight4 ,above all ,i am most affected with the sight of sin in the sorrows of ,jesus4 ,here1 ,o here may we ever be divinely and suitably affected4 ,here alone we see it in its most hideous forms4 ,the ,lord help us to hate it1 and flee from it as from the face of a ,serpent4 ,i trust you are going on in the divine life1 and that you still find the ministry of good ,mr4 ,wilkinson1 who is one of the greatest ornaments in the ,church of ,england1 very profitable to your soul--the ,lord help you to go on till you finish your course with joy4--,with respect to myself1 ,i believe ,i am now very blessedly1 though painfully1 experiencing the fulfilment of that precious promise1 in ,ezekiel xxxvith1 ,from all your filthiness and from all your idols will ,i cleanse you4 ,this is done by the manifestation of the atonement1 the application of truth1 and the power of the ,gospel1 by the sacred indwelling and the powerful operations of the ever-blessed ,spirit4 ,but the furnace of affliction generally attends this work--many long to see me out of it2 and my nature often rebels against it1 but faith knows1 it is good to be here4 ,the filthiness from which we must be cleansed is all the uncleanness2 pollution1 and impurity of our defiled nature1 in their guilt1 love1 power1 and practice--from these will ,i cleanse them4 ,the idols or idolatry are things loved1 adored1 and enshrined in our affections as rivals to ,god2 these must come down1 that ,christ may be all in all2 and so must all our natural religion if ever we get sweetly established in the truth4 ,i am well satisfied with the ,lord's dealings with me1 and at times ,i can submit to this chastisement1 just as the ,pilgrims did4 ,so ,bunyan says1 8,then ,i saw in my dream that the ,shining ,one told them to lie down1 which they did1 and he chastised them sore2 and as he chastised them with the whip of small cords1 he said1 ,as many as ,i love ,i rebuke and chasten2 be zealous therefore1 and repent4 ,this done1 he bid them go on their way1 and follow the advice of the ,shepherds1 looking unto ,jesus40 ,why were they thus scourged8 they had got vain confident1 thought highly of themselves1 their gifts1 attainments1 experience1 manifestations1 graces1 works1 sincerity1 sufferings1 and services4 ,these look well without1 but it is only a black monster in a white robe--the devil spreading a net for their feet to turn them into self-admiration1 from ,christ4 ,this is one of the paths of the destroyer--here ,i have often been1 to my shame ,i speak it1 nor can ,i escape the cross for it2 but this text cheers me1 ,as many as ,i love--not as many as ,i hate1 but love1 ,i rebuke and chasten4 ,the gardener takes but little notice of that tree he intends to cut down4 ,he never manures1 primes1 waters1 or defends it2 but he does all these things to his own plantation--you know how to apply it4--,grace be with you4--,kind respects to your better half1 and my old kind friend1 ,s4 ,d4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,viii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,oct4 #a1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,,lawson1 ,,my ,,dear ,,afflicted ,,friend1 ,are you still in the furnace of affliction8 ,i am astonished when ,i behold what heavy pressures1 deep heart-felt sorrows1 and mighty loads of accumulated grief1 some of ,god's children are called to bear1 and that for years together2 but what can we not endure1 through all-sufficient grace8 ,i hope you find this grace supporting you1 and at all times giving you kind assurances of glory4 ,that you can say1 with the same confidence as the ,apostle1 and all established believers1 8,we know1 that if this earthly house of our tabernacle were dissolved1 we have a building1 a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens40 ,where those heavens are it is of very little importance for you and me to know2 our main concern is with the house there1 called by our dear ,lord1 ,many mansions4 ,our dwelling house1 mansions1 and joy1 will not consist in merely being in a place called heaven1 but it will lay in the full enjoyment of the love1 favor1 approbation1 and sight of ,god in ,christ2 this was ,job's hope and expectation1 8,in my flesh ,i shall see ,god30--and this is the promise to the ,church1 8,they shall see his face40 ,david was so transported with this1 that he exclaimed1 in the sweetest confidence1 8,as for me1 ,i will behold thy face in righteousness4 ,i shall be satisfied when ,i awake in thy likeness40 ,there will be no beholding the face of the dear ,immanuel but in his righteousness4 ,this glorious robe is imputed by ,god the ,father1 to poor sinners4 ,we are taught out of his ,law our need of this ,surety's righteousness2 we are clothed with it1 and brought by the ,father in it to his dear ,son1 who graciously accepts us in it1 owns us as his own1 and gives us the ,spirit of ,adoption1 to say1 8,my ,father40--,the blessed ,spirit carries on this work1 by enlarging the heart1 expanding the mind1 and extending our views in the knowledge of ,christ2 and the longer we live the more we learn the real value of ,christ--his goings forth in eternity1 in a way of love to us--his mysterious incarnation--his surprising condescension--his holy life of obedience1 and his great act of putting sin away1 by the sacrifice of himself4 ,these become precious to our souls as we grow in knowledge2 nor do we stop here3 the glorious victories he has obtained1 the value of his work1 and the acceptableness of it to ,god2 the life of ,mediation he is living for us in heaven1 and the prevalency of his intercession2 these are our food1 our feast of fat things4--,but the ever blessed ,spirit carries on his work1 till he has given us most exalted views of his ,person1 as one in the divine essence2 as the ,son of ,god1 in away not known to angels or men2 as ,god-,man ,mediator2 as the glorious head of the ,church1 and the ,saviour of the body1 and as our all in all4 ,this is knowing ,christ1 and wherever the ,lord has bestowed this favour on the soul1 whatever trials1 temptations1 or griefs1 may beset or befal them1 such shall hold on their way1 and wax stronger and stronger-- ,tho' thousand snares beset his feet1 ,not one shall hold him fast2 ,whatever dangers he may meet1 ,he shall get safe at last4 ,the ,lord refresh your soul with these blessed things1 that you may say with your afflicted brother1 8,this is my comfort in my affliction1 thy word hath quickened me40 ,permit me to remind you1 that ,god doth not willingly afflict1 nor grieve us2 there is a cause4 ,we are sinners1 and ,god will make us know it4 ,god chastens us for our profit1 that we may be partakers of his holiness4 ,every rod was eternally appointed for us2 we shall have all that is allotted to us--men and devils can add no more to them2 for if ,god appoints their number ten we never shall have eleven4 ,i dare say you are anxious at times to know how ,i am1 and how ,i go on4 ,look into your own experience1 and you will know that1 for as in water face answereth to face1 so doth the heart of one child of ,god to another4 ,remember1 he hath1 he doth1 he will deliver you4 ,wishing you the smiles of him1 who is the health of your countenance1 and your delivering ,god1 ,i remain1 ,yours1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,ix4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,december #agth1 #ahag4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,f4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friends1 ,i need not apologize1 ,i hope1 for troubling you with a few lines1 as ,i trust you are born of ,god1 and love ,god as he is in ,jesus1 though perhaps you feel at times much grief of heart1 that you enjoy so little of the sweetness of believing in ,christ4 ,what a mercy ,god makes us manifest to each others hearts1 that we belong to his family2 but the witness of ,god is greater1 this is infinitely preferable to any human testimony1 however clear and pleasing it may be to us1 in point of brotherly love1 and we which believe1 have the witness in ourselves1 we can prove that ,god has done something for us2 though this work may be under a cloud for a time1 yet the ,lord the ,spirit renews it1 clears it up1 makes it plain1 and encourages us to hope in himself till faith is lost in sight1 and hope in full enjoyment4 ,blessed be ,god we are getting nearer home1 and though we seem to lag and hang back1 yet ,god declares he will save her that halteth1 and her that he has afflicted1 therefore1 on his divine faithfulness let us hope for what he has promised to us1 and our expectation shall not be cut off4 ,this is a sweet encouragement to my soul1 in my painful pilgrimage1 but when ,i look to the promises1 to ,christ in the promises1 and to his fidelity1 ,i thank ,god and take courage4 ,the ,lord deals well with me in the land of my captivity1 and ,i only want more faith to trust in him1 greater submission to his will1 a living upon him as he is set forth1 a leaving all with him1 to manage for me1 and to favor me with the presence of the holy spirit1 in his saving offices2 as a spirit of revelation in my understanding1 as a spirit of power on my will1 as a spirit of faith in my heart1 as a spirit of love in my affections1 as a spirit of light in my judgment1 and as a spirit of peace in my conscience2 with his constant operations as a spirit of supplication1 enabling me at all times to draw near unto ,god--this is that seven-fold operation of the divine spirit which we daily need4 ,you have your trials as well as ,i have1 and it is of very little consequence where we have them1 whether in my state or in yours1 none of the children of ,god are exempt from the blessed peace ,christ has made1 and of course they are not exempt from the tribulation he has promised--they both go together1 and perhaps my present place1 was the spot appointed from all eternity1 where ,i was to enjoy the solid peace of the gospel2 and this ,i trust ,i shall be much favored with before ,i return2 it is in this pleasing hope ,i live1 ,i have much to oppose and much to encourage that hope1 our path-way dear brother is through fire and water1 and our way to glory is up hill4 ,our spirits tire1 flag1 weary1 get heavy and faint1 but we go on from strength to strength1 till we get home4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,x4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,january #a1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,r--,t4 ,grace be onto you and peace4 ,i have often admired the grace of our ,lord ,jesus in its freedom1 in its sovereignty1 and in its power1 in our complete and eternal salvation--this you and ,i shall have to bless ,god for1 to all eternity2 and if you was snatched away by death this moment1 you would be ready to praise and adore ,god for it--and surely our fitness for a better world is to be enabled upon earth to give the glory due to his name4 ,no doubt you will most readily unite with me in this particular1 that it requires great grace to support and uphold a man in great difficulties1 but while the left hand of ,god is laid upon him1 does not the right hand of grace support1 and at times console and cheer his heart4 ,perhaps this is the meaning of that important text1 8,his left hand is under my head1 and his right hand doth embrace me40 ,this is the grace ,i now need4 ,i will not trouble you with a list of my sorrows1 but can assure you they are greater than ,i ever did1 or ever can tell any one in the world4 ,satan is busy in raking up all my faults1 from childhood4 ,carnal reason thinks ,god deals very hard with me4 ,sense can see no further than to-day1 and suggests ,i shall die beneath my load4 ,fancy paints out a thousand troubles ,i may never see2 while unbelief is ready to give the lie to every promise in the ,bible1 and wants to persuade me to give up praying1 and abandon myself to despair4 ,thus ,i am tried every day1 and much deeper now than when ,i first entered this ,valley4 ,but1 hark6 the voice of love and mercy sounds from the covenant of grace1 8,for a small moment have ,i forsaken thee1 but with great mercies ,i will gather thee4 ,i will correct thee in measure1 but thou shalt never be forgotten of me4 ,i will deliver thee1 but the times and seasons the ,father hath put in his own power40 ,and then another voice sounds from ,calvary1 8,i have blotted out1 as a cloud1 thy sins--return unto me1 for ,i have redeemed thee40 ,here faith listens1 and asks1 ,what me ,lord8 ,yes1 you1 by name4 ,then ,i reply1 ,lord there may be others of my name4 ,true2 but the ,persons for whom ,i entered into covenant1 for whom ,i became incarnate1 for whom ,i obeyed the ,law1 for whom ,i suffered1 and for whom the rich blessings of the ,gospel is provided1 are sinners--this is your nature1 your action1 and your name1 and ,i have denominated you by the very names you have given yourself1 from your own convictions and feelings4 ,bring in hither the poor1 the halt1 the blind1 the lame1 and the needy4 ,surely ,i must come under some of these2 and according to different states so we are named4 ,here ,i beg my dear sister ,r's most particular attention4 ,i know she is a patient in ,free-grace ,hospital1 and ,i want her assured that her case is not forgotten by the most blessed ,physician of ,souls1 who has said1 8,i am the ,lord that healeth thee40 ,convinced of our state as sinners1 we feel poor indeed--without spiritual money1 or cloaths1 or home1 or friends6--this is real poverty--the charge brought against the ,church at ,laodicea1 8,thou knowest not that thou art poor1 and miserable1 and blind1 and naked40 ,this charge belongs to hypocrites1 and not to a poor sinner1 whose emptiness is daily felt1 and perhaps faith is too weak to draw much comfort from the ,promises--and ,god the ,spirit has shewn you the darkness of nature4 ,now ,god does not say you are blind1 but he calls us by the name we give ourselves4 ,hence1 ,god says1 8,hear ye deaf1 and look ye blind1 that ye may see40 ,and because every little makes us start1 or keeps us back from praying1 hoping1 and believing1 we are called the halt1 and the lame2 and as our sins too often rise and gain the ascendancy over us1 that we cannot exercise strong confidence in ,jesus1 and his work1 so we are called the maimed4 ,sin and ,satan has maimed us1 and wicked fellows have thrown stones at us1 as ,christ's sheep1 and maimed us3 and ,i can assure you there is not any thing that ,jesus has said or done1 but it is the blessed office of the ,holy ,ghost to shew us our need of it2 and if he sets us longing for it1 travailing in soul1 agonizing in spirit1 and most sincerely desirous of the blessing1 he will communicate it1 for he has said1 8,shall ,i cause to travail1 and not bring forth8 ,shall ,i bring to the birth1 and shut the womb80 ,you are longing to bring forth the exercise of precious faith1 lively hope1 cheerful confidence2 and you are at times longing for the salvation of ,god1 and you will not be disappointed4 ,but do not be alarmed--even these longing desires may be in a great measure suspended--this has often alarmed me1 till some ,promise or a sweet ,sermon1 or a precious ,hymn1 have set me longing again2 or else some new and heavy cross has come on4 ,this sets me to confessing1 to searching1 to reading to humility1 to waiting1 and standing on my watch tower1 to hear what ,god the ,lord will say4 ,i hear what ,satan1 the world1 and mistaken possessors say1 not what carnal reason1 unbelief1 and sense has to say--these all want to swear away my eternal life2 they are not the judges of the court2 they dont understand the nature of the case2 and it is a man's privilege to appeal from a low to a higher court2 thus did ,paul and lost his head1 thus did ,i and lost my liberty4 ,but though this may be the case in temporals1 yet it is not so in spirituals2 all judgment is committed to ,christ1 because he is the ,son of ,man2 he is the judge in the court of mercy1 and ,i will hear what the ,lord will say4 ,moses has condemned me1 conscience has said ,amen to the sentence1 justice demands satisfaction1 the law is broken1 guilt is great1 ,satan is busy1 hell appears open1 heaven shut1 and the soul trembles1 and with all the heart exclaims1 ,god be merciful to me1 to me a sinner6 ,and amidst all1 will you believe it1 faith is waiting for the sentence from the judge2 and when it is cut him down1 ,o justice--take him1 ,o ,satan--close upon him1 ,o hell4 ,no1 not so1 but1 poor sinner look up1 be of good cheer1 thy sins are forgiven thee--but how1 ,lord8 and he shewed him his hands and his side4 ,i trust my dear ,brother has had many such views1 not only when liberty first came1 but many times after1 when the whole work has been as it were dead1 and lost2 yet there has been many revivals again1 and no doubt will1 till death4 ,i hope you are both well4 ,i only want another piece of a broiled fish1 and of a honey-comb1 7,john1 #ba7 both are gifts4 ,a common blessing in a kind providence1 is a fish1 and grace to enjoy it1 is an honey-comb4 ,though to poor ministers1 a soul is compared to a fish1 and if they are led to ask for the salvation of a soul1 or for success in their ministry when they go a fishing--surely the ,lord will not give them a ,scorpion1 that is1 a reprobate4 ,the ,lord grant we may be found among the good fish at the end of the world1 when the gospel net will be full1 and the grand separation take place4 ,till then may we swim in the ocean of mercy1 with the fins of faith and love4 ,the ,lord bless thee with every needful grace4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xi4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,december #agth1 #ahag4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,f4 ,,beloved ,,of ,,the ,,lord1 ,i trust you are growing into an increasing acquaintance with the ,lord ,jesus1 and the work of his ,spirit on the heart4 ,i have often admired that grand promise in the book of ,job1 8,thine age shall be clear as the noon day40 ,it is very blessed to look back on the way the ,lord has led us1 and the work he has wrought in us--may he give you special light to see it4 ,the ,queen of ,sheba admired many things about ,solomon's buildings1 and the ,holy ,ghost has thought fit to record this one among the rest--the ascent to the house of the ,lord4 ,blessed be ,god you have got up some of those steps2 and though you may be sensible of many a stumble1 and many a fall by the way1 yet you have not fell from ,god1 nor out of the way1 and as sure as your hope1 faith1 and mind is supremely placed on him1 you will gradually ascend that road1 which you will find lead you to glory at last4 ,perhaps you have ascended seven of those steps3 first1 ,god has shewed you in some measure1 and at times very deeply1 that you have no good in yourself4 ,second1 he has been pleased to let in a ray of light into the mind1 by which you have seen something so precious in ,christ1 that you could truly say1 you would willingly part with all for him4 ,third1 the blessed ,spirit has bowed your will1 or rather given you another will1 a new will1 by which1 you have made a most blessed choice of the ,lord ,jesus1 who is the object of the ,father's delight1 so that you could see your will and the will of ,god1 perfectly correspond4 ,fourth1 the ,lord has given you to believe in ,jesus1 to present salvation3 your heart has most divinely rested upon his finished work1 and you have found it very safe4 ,fifth1 you have enjoyed the privileges of the children1 in fellowship with those who love ,god1 at his table1 in his house1 and in his word4 ,sixth1 the habitual sanctification of the mind1 in various actings2 sometimes of faith1 hope1 love1 humility1 patience1 and self-denial4 ,seventh1 a resting satisfied with ,christ1 as all in all2 anxious for more knowledge of him1 that you may feel your confidence in him grow--that you may be more than ever devoted to his glory4 ,thus you can say1 to the honor of the blessed ,spirit1 that he has led you up some of those steps of experimental knowledge--and let me assure you1 from the most undoubted authority1 that as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god4 ,i feel great pleasure in writing this short note--blessed be ,god nothing alters the religion of the heart1 only it must be tried1 something will surely try it2 all the spoils that were taken from the enemy among the ,israelites1 was to go through fire1 or through water1 and as we are the spoils ,christ has taken from the enemy1 so we must go through the water of common trials1 and the fire of uncommon afflictions--but hark6 how graciously he speaks1 ,for ,i will be with thee1 ,thy troubles to bless1 ,and sanctify to thee ,thy greatest distress4 ,the ,lord bless you for ever4--,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,oct4 #bj1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,e--,r4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,agreeable to my promise1 ,i will attempt an answer to your anxious letter1 although ,i feel great reluctance in so doing1 knowing well1 that not he which commendeth himself should be approved1 but him whom the ,lord commendeth4 ,it is the mercy of all ,god's children1 that they stand approved in ,christ1 and as an evidence of it1 they1 through the teaching of the holy ,spirit1 approve of ,christ1 and all in ,christ4 ,our work1 as fellow ,christians1 should consist daily in commending ,christ1 and recommending him to each other--this ought to be our constant employment and delight1 especially ministers of the gospel1 in their public exercises2 but alas1 we live in a day in which ,i am sorry to say1 the man1 who can best commend himself1 set up his own experience1 and dwell much upon the marvellous1 is the man who is the most acceptable4 ,this is an awful proof of the degenerate state of the church1 yet ,i do consider it as my duty1 to vindicate myself and friends1 from that censure which we do not merit1 and which is most unjustly heaped upon us4 ,in doing this in my address to you1 ,i aim merely to correct some mistakes under which you lay1 and feel much bondage as the consequence4 ,in doing this1 ,i could certainly fill a volume1 but ,i shall only assure you in a few words1 what ,,is1 and what is ,,not the case4 ,first3 ,you have beep informed that ,i am happy4 ,in reply to this ,i beg to observe1 ,i cannot be very comfortable1 when ,i reflect that the precious cause of ,christ1 probably1 has received a wound through my carelessness--and if any part of my conduct has given occasion for the enemies of ,christ to blaspheme1 or to increase their hatred to the ,gospel2 this is an heart-breaking circumstance to me4--,secondly3 ,to be deprived of the blessed ordinances which ,i once so richly enjoyed1 is a source of much sorrow--never did ,i know their value as ,i now do2 nor can ,i wonder at ,david1 when in exile exclaiming1 8,my flesh and heart crieth out for the courts of my ,god40--,third3 ,the afflictions of the ,church since the commencement of my troubles1 in ,september1 #ahaf1 must deeply affect me4 ,its loss of that poor1 feeble ministry of unworthy me4 ,its divisions1 and the many apparent attempts to deprive them even of the place to meet in2 with the scoffs1 jeers1 and contempt of the proud they have to bear4 ,believe me ,i am grieved for the afflictions of ,joseph1 for surely no vessel in a storm has been much worse torn to pieces than our poor ,church1 which ,i have long named the 8,packet ,distress40 ,another part of her affliction has been from the lies of certain ,ministers1 who have attempted to build their ,churches with what materials they could collect from us1 to keep up the fire amongst us1 and increase our afflictions--they are perpetually running about1 to degrade both myself and people4 ,i could mention their names1 if it were prudent1 but they are well known4 ,the main point they aim at1 is to hurt me in the estimation of the few godly characters we have left1 and this is their common cant--8,no doubt ,mr4 ,c4 is certainly a fallen character1 but even that we might pardon1 did we but see him sorry for it2 but instead of that1 he is as cheerful1 light1 and trifling as ever40 ,this is always expressed with much seeming pity1 sorrow1 and concern1 but could you see the heart of hypocrisy lurking at the bottom1 and the infernal design of such initiations1 you would despise such persons1 who are described in the ,bible as hawking pedlars--8,thou shalt not go up and down as a tale bearer among my people40 ,such are like sharks1 following a sick ship4--,and now comes another daring1 cruel1 and unjust charge3 8,o1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,i hear1 is supported in his situation by just such fellows as himself40 ,but my dear friend1 the persons who support me1 and my dear children1 are chiefly a few pious women1 of good character1 and who are well known in the ,church3 and as to bad characters1 men or women1 whom ,i know to be such1 ,i am determined at all times to deal faithfully with1 and then they will soon leave me4 ,another charge you hear of is 8,that there are many bad people in the congregation1 and who attend the sacrament now40 ,this is another falsehood1 for the deacons will not allow any person of bad conduct to communicate with the church at the ,lord's supper2 and if you know any that do1 in that church1 you are highly culpable if you do not inform the deacons of it--8,thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy neighbour40 ,many persons1 both public and private characters1 have used the tongue to degrade both myself and the people who worshipped with me1 but who would find enough to do1 to look at home2 while they can find out one fault1 which they suppose ,i possess1 their neighbours1 perhaps1 can find out an hundred of theirs4 ,it is truly laughable to see the toil1 trouble1 and expence that many have been at to circulate my supposed infamy1 that would not take that trouble1 either to save their own souls from hell1 or relieve an afflicted person2 yet such make a profession of religion1 and assign the same hypocritical reason for their opposition to me1 which the heathens did of old for their oppression of the ,israelites1 7,jeremiah l4 ver4 #g47 ,all that found them have devoured them1 and their adversaries said1 we offend not1 because they have sinned against the ,lord4 ,much these heathen cared about the ,lord--and as to my professing foes1 ,i beg you will always recommend them to the prophecy of ,obadiah1 it is but one chapter--but do point to them from the #ajth to the #afth verse4 ,when such professors come to you with a budget of scandal1 just put your finger on this text1 as already quoted1 and ask them the meaning of it3 8,thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among my people40 ,and when you see them quite enjoy the subject of censure and backbiting1 shew them this text3 8,and dust shall be the ,serpent's meat1 for ,ephraim feedeth upon ashes40 ,and when there are plenty around your table1 pouring out scandal in abundance1 always turn to this text--,isaiah #bh1 8,for all tables are full of vomit and filthiness2 there is no place clean10 8and this is the mess which dogs are fond of40--,see #b ,peter ii1 ver4 #bb4 ,this will be the best cure for scandal1 and will keep your heart stedfast in ,god's covenant2 and although dark may be the cloud on me at present1 stay till the ,lord appears for me--,judge not my state or case yet2 this is not the time for passing an opinion4--,job's friends erred in this work2 they all three agreed to torment him1 because they thought he was an hypocrite1 but you know how mistaken they were4 ,this leads me to notice another insinuation1 that 8,surely ,j4 ,c4 is an hypocrite60--,this is a most frightful charge1 and in general a common epithet cast upon all those who profess religion2 and as it is the worldling's sneer1 it is not worth notice4 ,what ,i really am in ,god's sight is best known to himself2 and as it respects my conversion1 call1 and ministry1 ,i shall certainly write it while ,i am here2 and if the ,lord ever raises up my head again1 ,i shall certainly publish it1 for the magnifying that grace which the ,lord has so bountifully bestowed on me1 and which will give some satisfaction to my friends1 and no doubt afford my enemies a treat also4 ,but1 as it respects the subject of hypocrisy1 let my enemies tremble in reading this text3 8,beware ye the leaven of the pharisees1 which is hypocrisy30 they assumed the garb of sanctity1 and professed much love to the law2 made a stir about external holiness and charity1 yet1 inwardly1 they were full of enmity1 spite1 malice1 and hatred to the truth4 ,deemed others as ,antinomians1 or enemies to the law1 while they were the worst enemies to the law4 ,an old author has pointed out thirty-three kinds of hypocrites1 which ,i send you for your reflection2 and at the same time1 knowing the deceitfulness of the human heart1 may we ever pray with ,david1 8,cleanse thou me from my secret faults40 ,the ,arch ,hypocrite is the ,devil himself1 and he is the father of all the following children4--,there is ,the natural hypocrite4 ,the civil1 ,the moral1 ,the political1 ,the theatrical1 ,the heretical1 ,the schismatical1 ,the superstitious1 ,the ignorant1 ,the profane1 ,the counterfeit convert1 ,the worldly1 ,the religious1 ,the stinted1 ,the waxing1 ,the temporary1 ,the preaching1 ,the hearing hypocrite1 ,the praying1 ,the inspired1 ,the believing1 ,the hoping1 ,the fawning1 ,the repenting1 ,the fearing1 ,the patient1 ,the obedient1 ,the talking1 ,the idle1 ,the zealous1 ,the judging1 ,the libertine1 ,the scandalous4 ,it is an awful thing when a man deceives himself1 and such1 alas1 is the case with every unconverted character3 but no believer in ,christ1 who is made acquainted with the plague of his own heart1 but must lament the hypocrisy he daily feels within himself2 and must with joy and grief acknowledge with the truly excellent ,,erskine-- ,i'm without guile an ,israelite1 ,yet like a guileful hypocrite1 ,maintaining truth in the inward part1 ,with falsehood rooted in the heart4 ,and this is the holy ,spirit's account of a pardoned and justified man in ,christ1 in whose spirit there is no grille1 yet his nature makes him often sigh1 ,o wretched man that ,i am6 ,i trust the ever blessed ,spirit of all grace will most effectually purge away my pride1 self-will1 stubbornness1 rebellion1 and carelessness1 according to his gracious promise3 8,and ,i will purge out the rebels from among you40 ,but this cannot be accomplished without deep afflictions4 ,you know the generally received maxim--,violent maladies require violent remedies4 ,another method the above persons adopt is to degrade my ministry1 by asserting that 8,all ,i ever advanced was from strength of memory40 ,if this was the case1 it is certainly very much to my credit1 that ,i was so much given to study as to fill my mind with sufficient matter to preach so often as ,i did1 near thirty ,sermons a month1 for fourteen years1 and for these ten years past to the same people4--,but you shall hear what an envious preacher said in company1 who has just left us3 8,oh1 as to ,c's religion and preaching1 he was generally running about with a parcel of gay young people1 till the last moment he had to come into the pulpit--and as to ,sermons1 why he generally went into his study and learned a ,sermon by heart1 and then came and preached it40 ,this is so palpable that it is not worth contradicting4 ,how ,i can be running about with gay young people till preaching time1 and at the same time be in my study1 learning a ,sermon by heart1 ,i don't know--and yet1 would you believe it1 this contradiction was received by the company4 ,some people will believe any thing but the truth2 and it is no wonder ,god permits them to be always in bondage about the minister they professed to be blessed under4 ,it was most justly remarked by a good man1 when gossips came to him with a story against his minister1 8,and pray has not the preacher one good qualification--not one1 that you can tell me of1 either as a man1 a christian1 a preacher1 a husband1 a father1 or a neighbour8 ,strange to tell1 if he has not--and if he has1 would you call to tell me of that8 ,i believe not40--,dear ,mrs4 ,e4 go thou1 and do likewise4 ,as to the present prosecution1 whether guilty or not1 is not the point2 only it is necessary to remind you1 the prosecution is not for falling into the crime1 but most explicitly for 7as they chuse to word it7 an intent only4 ,but whether ,i was actually guilty or not1 even of that1 let the prosecutor's own words settle it4 ,he has positively declared1 that ,i was not guilty of any indecorous act to him whatever4--,here ,i leave this subject to your reflection1 and conclude by observing to your last remark1 that you disapproved of an assertion of mine once in the pulpit1 namely1 8,that if a child of ,god had not felt the terrors of the ,law yet1 perhaps they would before their death1 and therefore it was right to expect1 or look out for them40 ,god forbid that ,i should limit the ,holy ,one of ,israel in his operations of grace in the hearts of his children1 but this ,i know1 that very few of ,god's children has escaped them1 though at first they might have been allured into a knowledge of ,christ1 yet they felt the storm on the road4 ,abraham1 ,david1 ,job1 ,heman1 ,asaph1 ,hezekiah1 and many others found it1 and so may you2 it is best to be prepared by a spiritual acquaintance with the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 in his person1 work1 love1 offices1 and promises4 ,i thank you for your faithfulness to me--he that rebuketh a wise man shall find favour--and may a full free-grace reward be given thee of the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 under whose wing thou hast long trusted4 ,pray for me1 that ,i may be more wise for the future1 and more useful to ,god's family4 ,and1 ,o help me to praise him1 that ,i am still a bush burning1 yet unconsumed1 because ,i am one4 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xiii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,nov4 #ac1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,n--,h4 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i ,,am anxious to hear how thy ,god supports your mind under the afflictive dispensation4--,little did ,i think that we should so speedily lose one that was dear to us both--to me as a friend1 and a conscientious christian1 but as every thing to you1 next to ,god and your own soul4 ,but we shall meet again1 where tears shall be wiped from every eye1 and parting shall be known no more4 ,my friend ,i shall recognize above1 and you will clasp your much-loved ,north again-- ,he's gone6 lost for awhile1 ,and number'd with the dead6 ,but there's a day when ,i shall ,meet my friend4 ,meet him6 ,oh1 transporting thought6 and ,together spend eternity itself4 ,ah1 cruel death6 thus so early to separate twin souls4 ,why do ,i thus talk6 ,our beloved friend has escaped the head ach1 the heart ach1 inbred corruption1 an ensnaring world1 a tempting devil1 wicked men1 false professors1 abounding error1 and weak-minded christians4 ,what a glorious1 painful deliverance6 blessed to him and distressing to us1 more particularly to you4 ,i need say nothing about him--you best knew his worth4 ,i only lament my captivity1 that ,i could not attend him in his illness--that ,i could not see the finishing work of grace on his heart--that ,i could not with him1 and by him1 bend the knee1 and commend him to his dear ,saviour1 who was waiting to receive his dear elect1 redeemed soul4 ,those who live on the sea coast have seen armies drawn up1 in order to receive some great personage2 so1 truly 7could you and ,i look beyond this lower world7 we should have seen numbers of angels waiting to conduct your dear partner to the land of eternal bliss4 ,yea1 more1 the dear ,saviour himself came for him--so he promises1 ,i will come again1 and receive you to myself1 that where ,i am there you may be also4 ,how very uncertain is life6 ,perhaps as ,i write this short epistle1 this hand may be checked1 and mouth be dumb4 ,o may we be found in some sweet frame1 or good work when death appears4 ,may we never be attacked in an ill-spent hour1 but be wrapt in holy thoughts1 and clothed with the righteousness of ,god our dear ,saviour--pardoned by his precious blood1 and on the wings of love1 ready to take our flight4--,death is certainly very terrific to us1 but it is our ,father's porter1 sent to unlock mortality1 to let out his prisoner to the full enjoyment of his inheritance4--,i pray ,god to grant we may both find ,christ so precious to us1 that we may truly say with the apostle1 ,for me to live is ,christ1 and to die is gain--that is1 ,christ is gain to me1 whether ,i live or die4 ,our main business is to cultivate an intimacy with ,christ4 ,i remember when my heart was overcharged with grief1 that ,i was nearly distracted1 there came to me a soft1 still voice1 as it were1 saying1 8,acquaint thyself with ,god1 and be at peace with him40 ,this is the command1 and ,god has promised that he will give us an heart to know him2 and has declared1 8,all thy children shall be taught of ,god40 ,to know ,god in ,christ is eternal life1 and this knowledge of him is knowing him in an experimental way1 as a ,god pardoning iniquity1 transgression1 and sin4 ,this1 only this1 can subdue the fears of death1 and take away its sting4 ,i often think of the dying saying of a good man1 when asked1 as he was near death1 whether he feared death1 8,i cannot say0 said he1 8that ,i have so lived as not to fear death1 but ,i can say that ,i know ,christ so1 that ,i am not afraid to die40 ,i trust the ,lord will support you in your very trying circumstances--that his hand will preserve you in your approaching calamity1 and give you a safe delivery--that almighty grace will save the child1 that parents and children may meet in glory4 ,the ,lord is well known in ,zion as an husband to the widow1 and the father of the fatherless1 and he will be known by you in these lovely characters4 ,i had not an opportunity of dropping a tribute of respect for your dear husband in the pulpit1 ,i beg1 however1 the ,lord will be with you1 and give you to enjoy all the grace contained in this sweet text--8,for thy maker is thy husband1 the ,lord of ,hosts is his name40 ,to him be glory by the ,church4 ,amen4 ,command me home1 ,oh ,god my ,king1 ,and bear me to the ,skies1 ,where ,angels loud ,hosannahs sing1 ,and drink celestial joys4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xiv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,february #bjth1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,p--,n4 ,,my ,,ever ,,dear ,,friends ,,in ,,the ,,best ,,of ,,bonds1 ,grace and peace be your's4--,i trust ,i need not apologize for writing to you from such a place1 and under such circumstances4 ,you will no doubt join me in saying1 ,i am just where the ,lord had long devised ,i should be1 and where1 ,i bless his dear name1 he graciously condescends to pay me many a visit1 sometimes with a rod1 and sometimes with a smile3 and he has promised both to us--he laid up the rod as well as the manna in the ark1 and it is only the sanctified rod1 afflictions in ,christ1 that can do us any lasting good4 ,but ,i trust that in my personal experience1 the rod has budded in my convictions of what ,i have done amiss in many things1 for says an inspired apostle1 8,in many things we all offend40 ,i hope the rod has also blossomed in my humility1 and that the fruit will be peace and righteousness2 and as much preciseness in my whole conduct1 as if my salvation depended on it4 ,i trust the long contention the ,lord has had with me1 for these ten years past1 is consummated4 ,i cannot bless ,god for distress of mind1 but ,i can bless him for that grace that melts the heart1 and produces that secret sacred mourning1 wonder1 gratitude1 and peace4 ,none but an all-seeing ,jehovah can tell what ,i have seen here2 my grief has been great1 my sighs have been many1 my heart has been broken1 sin has appeared detestable1 error damnable1 man truly depraved1 ,god patient1 long suffering and good4 ,i have been deeply distrest on account of my own sins1 and the sins of others4 ,o that this work had been as deep on my soul some years ago1 as it has been only some few months past1 but1 alas1 ,i lived too far off from ,god--company--visits--bustle--noise--st ir--clamour--and levity of manners1 light and trifling professors1 and no power given me sufficient to keep me on my guard4 ,these stole my time1 attention1 and talents2 the spirit's operations were not watched1 the ,saviour was slighted1 and his dear company shunned2 established believers and deep taught favorites of the most high were left1 and ,i was in doubts what to do between conscience and feelings1 guided too much by the latter1 and the former got hardened4 ,these and a thousand things more ,i deeply regret2 these try my spirit now1 and though ,i have no doubt they are pardoned1 for ,i have tasted1 felt1 and handled that blessing also in this place1 yet ,i cannot1 will not forgive myself1 while ,i live in the body4 ,what the ,lord is doing with me1 has puzzled many1 but he has not left me wholly in the dark about it4 ,as the great ,head of the ,church1 he is washing the feet of his disciples2 digging and purging his garden1 pruning his trees1 awaking the north wind1 beating his spices1 snuffing his candles1 trimming his lamps1 trying his gold1 refining his silver1 purging the dross1 removing the rubbish1 descending in a cloud1 and stripping me of self-admiration1 which is rank idolatry--and all this is in covenant love4 ,this is using the fan1 and the sieve1 and ,i hope purging that away that can be well spared2 and ,i can assure my dear friends ,i am still praying over1 and watching the accomplishment of that sweet text in ,zechariah1 8,i will bring the third part through the fire2 ,i will try them as gold is tried1 and refine them as silver is refined3 they shall call on my name4 ,i will say it is my people1 and they shall say1 the ,lord is my ,god1 ,selah40 ,the ,lord tries our faith1 by stirring up every thing in opposition to us1 yet enabling us to believe thro' all4 ,he tries our love1 by leading us to see the awful errors that abound in the world1 in opposition to the most blessed ,redeemer2 and by sometimes hiding his face4 ,he tries our hope1 by permitting ,satan to assault us on every hand4 ,he tries our patience1 by delays to answer our prayers1 by the length of our afflictions1 and by their aboundings4 ,thus he tries us1 and then he most graciously gives us an opportunity of trying him4 ,we try his love1 and find it the same every hour4 ,we try his power1 and find it supports and cheers us4 ,we try his word1 and find it precious4 ,we try his obedience1 death1 and intercession1 and find it brings a lasting peace to the soul4 ,we try his truth and faithfulness1 and find that firm all the way to heaven6 ,we try his long suffering1 by our daily provocations2 and we try his mercy1 and find it kind4 ,his grace1 and find it sovereign1 rich1 and free4 ,thus the ,lord deals with us1 and we with him4 ,these things ,i have found1 felt1 and known1 and hope1 through abounding goodness1 yet to proclaim to others1 perhaps not more faithfully than ,i have1 but ,i hope more simply and clearly4 ,i want the divine spirit to lead me deeply into all truths1 for the knowledge and purity of ,god's people's minds and consciences1 and to follow after righteousness in every sense--peace and joy as the happy consequence4 ,i have no doubt but this trial is for my present salvation1 in many senses1 but ,i am afraid of every thing--,satan has desired to have me1 but you can guess the cause why not1 8,i have prayed for thee1 that thy faith fail not40 ,ever your's1 in ,christ1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,jan4 #aa1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,,jones4 ,,my ,,much ,,beloved ,,brother1 ,i thank you for your kind letter1 it was more than a mite cast into the gospel treasury1 as every kind word and kind action is doubly sweet when a person is in deep trouble2 ,i have often thought of poor ,job1 when he cried out in the real bitterness of his heart1 8,have pity upon me1 ,o my friends1 for the hand of ,god hath touched me40 ,but above all1 ,i have at times thought of him who said1 8,lover and friend hast thou put away from me40--7#hhth ,psalm74 ,ah6 he was forsaken that we might never be forsaken--he was bound for our liberty--chastised for our peace--suffered for our comfort--died for our life--and lives that sin might die1 and our souls might be with him--he toiled for our ease1 and for our safety bled4 ,need ,i tell you who ,i mean8 ,him1 being delivered for our offences1 him hath ,god exalted4 8,sir1 if ye have borne him hence1 tell me where ye have laid him40 8,we hid our faces from him1 yet we did esteem him--the bond of our peace was upon ,him1 the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all4 ,yet it pleased the ,lord to bruise him1 he hath put him to grief--therefore will ,i divide him a portion with the great40 8,saw ye him whom my soul loveth80 8,i sought him1 but ,i found him not--,i will seek him1 ,i found him1 ,i held him1 and would not let him go until ,i had brought him into my brother's house40 ,need ,i mention his name8 ,it would not be half so sweet1 as if you were on a journey1 or accidentally fell in company with one that loved him1 and over-heard his dear name mentioned by a stranger1 in a very sweet and savory way3 how it would open your ears1 lead out your love1 and quicken your soul4 8,his name is ,jesus6 for he shall save his people from their sins40 ,but this could not be1 without his acting as a substitute for them1 and this he has done4 ,he first indemnified his people1 and then gave himself up to the justice of ,god4 ,ah1 little did his enemies think what was in the heart of ,jesus when he gave himself up to them1 and said1 8,if ye seek me1 let these go their way40 ,this was acting over what he had engaged to do in eternity1 when the adorable ,father called him forth to act for the dear people of his charge4 ,considering them in the fallen state1 as sinners1 justice looked to him for satisfaction1 and millions were saved upon the ground of his covenant engagement2 his vast mind took in the nature of sin1 with all its deserts1 and he engaged to become a sin-offering1 to bear all our guilt1 to stand in our place1 in the malefactor's cloaths1 and to endure all that we had deserved4 ,o my brother1 how we shall love him when we see him in all his glory1 in heaven2 but is it not very lamentable1 that sin in us should so chain us down to earth and self1 that we can but seldom rise to ,god1 and never without sin1 evil is ever present4 ,i feel at times its influence so deeply as ,i cannot describe to any one--to me1 it is as trying as ,st4 ,paul's thorn in the flesh4 ,i humbly conceive that good man was perpetually buffeted to curse ,god1 but what ,i feel is different1 and yet so horrible ,i cannot tell anyone on earth4 ,o my grief1 how great it is on this subject1 and if it is ,satan's influence1 what a cruel ,devil he must be1 to harrass in this present affliction1 but ,i am a sinner1 and the ,lord will make me feel it4 ,i have too much given way to ,satan1 and now he is set at me like a bull-dog1 or as a gaping lion1 ready to devour me--my faith is weak and my fears are strong4 ,i want the strength and vigor of faith in exercise1 to carry me above present feelings1 and present troubles2 but as sinners1 ,i believe ,god will make us most heartily sick of sin1 especially our most easy besetment1 shall be the principal pull that ,satan and the world will ever trouble us with4 ,thus ,i find nothing can subdue sin but communion with ,christ1 maintained and kept up by our union with him4 ,the mind must be powerfully led by the holy spirit1 to contemplate what ,christ is to us1 and as we are kept near to him1 sin cannot get the mastery4 ,a daily cross galls the old man1 and imbitters ,life1 but a view of ,jesus1 accompanied with power1 subdues sin--that which pardons sin subdues it4 ,this is what we want1 and all our neglect of ,christ1 is punished by ,satan's stirring up sin1 seducing us into it1 and then turning accuser1 and a court adversary4 ,but ,i apprehend the ,lord has but one grand object in view1 and that is to lead us to ,jesus only4 ,the troubles of ,life wean us from the world2 the weakness of ,god's children1 and their faults1 keep us from idolizing the very best of them4 ,sin within us keeps us from settling in the flesh1 while the temptations of the devil urge us constantly to make ,christ our refuge4 ,thus the ,lord over-rules all for us1 and1 as an all-wise physician1 he compounds all our conflicts1 to make us like himself1 by being a partaker of his holiness4 ,every day's experience proves to us the value of ,jesus1 as ,god-,man ,mediator--as our atoning sacrifice1 and everlasting justification before ,god4 ,as our head and representative--our intercessor and advocate--as the blessed maintainer of his own work--and as engaged to help1 protect1 bless1 and bring us home to glory4 ,i know not what the ,lord intends to do with me1 and when he is precious to my soul ,i do not care what he does with me4 ,i have then no will of my own4 ,i neither want to preach or be silent1 leave this place or abide in it1 that is no trouble to me then--but when nature1 sin1 sorrow1 and ,satan trouble me1 ,i feel like a wild ,bull in a net4 ,at times ,i feel compunction1 godly sorrow1 and self-abasement3 this is the lowest seat in the ,college of ,christ4 ,here is safety2 but1 alas1 even these we may be proud of1 so that we really get weaned from frames and feelings1 and rejoice that ,jesus is the same4 ,hence the command1 ,rejoice in the ,lord always4 ,he is always the object of faith1 hope1 love1 and joy2 our feelings are not1 though we highly esteem them--nor can we rest without some sensations of joy in the ,lord--,i trust the ,saviour will be precious to your mind2 keep you near himself2 and when sin is striving for the mastery1 you may have grace given to call on the ,lord--and be sure to cry out before you are hurt1 for you may not be able when the hurt comes2 for such is the nature of sin1 that1 like the leprosy of old1 it is of a deadening nature2 it makes the guilty stupid1 till ,god is pleased to quicken us again2 and when we feel the wounds sin has made1 we want the ,saviour to heal us again1 which he kindly does4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xvi4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,december #agth1 #ahag4 ,mrs4 ,,hutchings4 ,,my ,,dear ,,mother1 ,,for such has been your affection and concern for me1 which ,i trust will never go unrewarded by the dear ,saviour4 ,many have been the attempts to keep you from attending my feeble ministry1 to hurt your mind1 to distress your spirit1 and to perplex your heart1 but having obtained help of ,god you continue to this day1 only grieved that my enemies have at last gained that end they have been so long aiming at1 and because you cannot make me as comfortable in my captivity as your heart desires4 ,the ,lord takes the will for the deed in the hearts of those who desire to fear his name1 revere his truth1 love the ,saviour1 trust his word1 and hope in his finished work4 ,this ,i trust is the case of the dear friend to whom ,i now write4 ,this is an act of free favour from a good and gracious ,god1 and where these things are to be found1 the ,spirit has begun a work he will never leave or forsake4 ,may it be clearer to your mind1 more powerful upon your heart1 more evident to your faith1 and produce in your soul such a hope as will never fail1 till you see ,god in glory4 ,i have often intended to call on you1 and talk of these sweet things1 because you wished me so to do1 and because ,god had given to your mind an humble desire to know ,christ1 and be found in him4 ,but a continued scene of bustle all day1 and too frequently in company with my enemies1 which ,i now deeply lament4 ,this hindered me2 and sometimes1 at night1 ,i was weary in1 though not with my work1 that ,i needed rest1 so then ,satan stopt me2 but ,i shall be happy to talk with you now by letter1 and perhaps it will be much better than our conversation might have been1 because you can read another time what you might not have remembered in talk4 ,i hope never to grow weary of reminding my dear friends of that one thing that is truly needful1 the experimental knowledge of ,christ4 ,the tidings of the ,gospel are very simple1 being only a declaration that ,god the ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit1 as the ,god of love1 purposed to glorify each other2 in the everlasting happiness of a number that no man can number--and methinks ,i hear you say1 ,i would give ten thousand worlds1 at times1 to know if ,i am among that number4 ,the ,lord1 ,i hope1 will make that clear to you soon4 ,each adorable person in the ,trinity1 agreed to take names1 suited to the offices they would sustain in the business of our salvation4 ,one adorable person condescended to take the name of ,father--the dearest1 the most familiar1 the sweetest name--and as he appeared in that character1 he called forth the second adorable person1 as ,mediator2 and after proposing to him another nature1 besides his ,god-head1 he became the elect head of all his dear family1 who appeared in his mind1 just as they will be in the resurrection--truly glorious4 ,i hope ,mrs4 ,,hutchings was seen among the brilliant throng4 ,but for the greater displays of grace1 ,god permitted this happy number to fall into sin1 with all the dreadful consequences that should attend such a fall4 ,upon the fore-sight of this1 the dear ,son of ,god was called1 and he graciously consented to come down into this world1 to stand in our stead1 to take our place1 to obey the law which we had broken1 and which obedience of his1 was to be reckoned ours4 ,yes my dear friend1 this text has often gladdened my heart4 8,but to us it shall be imputed1 who believe in him40 ,o what a comfort1 our dear ,lord not only obeyed the ,law1 but he endured the penalty of it1 which was all that was implied in the 8,curse of ,god40 ,but dear ,lord1 what did that imply2 no heart can conceive1 no tongue can ever describe it--his heart melted like wax1 his dear knees trembled1 his spirit was filled with anguish1 and his whole soul felt the pangs of the damned--the sufferings of his dear1 his sacred body were dreadful1 but the sufferings of his soul1 were the very soul of his sufferings4 ,o what must sin be--may we see it as a most dreadful evil1 and those who make a mock at sin mock the ,saviour's bitter anguish4 ,he died1 but in dying he satisfied the justice of ,god1 and the ,father has declared himself well pleased1 quite satisfied with his work4 ,god can now be holy1 yet save an unholy sinner2 he can be just1 and yet justify an ungodly creature2 he can be ,god1 and yet pardon the very vilest4 ,the work is done1 it was for sinners ,jesus died--then sure ,i hope he died for thee4 ,in this hope ,i trust you will live1 not upon what you may ever feel1 that may encourage you1 but entirely upon the work of ,christ4 ,may this simple testimony encourage you to pray in spirit1 when you have but few words1 or perhaps1 like ,hannah1 no words to say2 yet your spirit ,i hope will be often going up to ,god1 the holy and ever blessed ,spirit1 who also engaged in the same agreement with the ,father and the ,son1 that he would assume such offices for those for whom the ,redeemer died4 ,that he would shew them their need of ,jesus1 that he would enlighten them1 so that they might see ,christ was exactly suited for them2 that he would help them to call upon him1 to run to him when stung with guilt2 that he would enable them to hope in his person1 to trust in his work1 to love his name1 his gospel1 his people1 and his ways2 to wait on him in secret and in public1 till be graciously shewed them their interest in ,christ1 and the interest ,christ has in them4 ,that he would give them honourable thoughts of ,jesus1 and enable them to rejoice that ,jesus has precious thoughts of them4 ,this is the work of the blessed ,spirit1 and if my dear ,friend desires this work on the heart to live and die with1 ,i must beg her to take every opportunity to entreat this divine ,spirit to work these things in the mind1 according to his promise1 8,i will write my laws in their minds1 ,i will be merciful to their unrighteousness1 and their sins ,i will remember no more40 ,let me beg of you1 when you have got through this letter1 to read the thirteen first verses of the eleventh chapter of ,luke1 and if you ever do me the honour to read this side of my letter again1 and can make it out very easily1 always read the same verses again4 ,god bless you--when ,i write to one1 ,i write to you both4 ,kind respects to all the family4 ,your's truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xvii4 ,from ,m4 ,c4 to her ,father4 ,,dear ,,father1 ,i write merely to inform you ,i am still at our kind ,friend's1 ,mr4 ,p4 he has left town for a few days1 and ,mrs4 ,p4 says she will not spare me till his return4 ,last ,sunday morning we went to hear the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,e4 whose chapel is in ,d4 ,street1 near the ,foundling2 he certainly preached a most excellent sermon1 upon 8,i am the ,life40 ,you have been informed that he denies the existence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ from eternity1 but he fully proved that ,christ was the lasting life of his people1 and that his church was in him before the foundation of the world4 ,he shewed us that ,christ was the head of his people1 that he was their life of justification1 their spiritual and their eternal life4 ,i assure you he did not rob the ,saviour of his glory1 but aimed to extol him as far as ,i could understand the subject4 ,i think for humility in the pulpit1 he exceeds every minister ,i ever heard2 he has laid down his carriage to do good1 which1 ,i think1 shews a christian spirit2 and if he holds any error1 ,i think if ministers were to go to him1 and reason with1 and pray for him1 it would be more becoming them than opposing him4--,in the evening we came over to our own chapel1 and was much gratified to see every thing at the ,sacrament conducted with so much good order in your absence1 by ,mr4 ,park1 who1 though not a very great1 is a very good man4 ,there were a great number of ,communicants1 and a good congregational--all appeared solid4 ,pray father do not let any worthless character administer the ordinance1 as ,i think it very presumptuous for a man1 apparently destitute of grace1 to say at the ,lord's ,table1 8,i take this cup1 in the fullest confidence that ,i shall drink the new wine in the kingdom of ,god40 ,i have just written to my dear ,aunt1 to inform her ,i shall stay a week longer here1 as ,i am very comfortable4 ,i remain1 dear ,father1 ,your affectionate and dutiful ,daughter1 ,m4 ,c4 ,be so kind as not to read this letter to any one4 ,,letter ,,xviii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,january #a1 #ahai4 ,to my ,daughter4 ,,my ,,dear ,,girl1 ,agreeable to your request ,i have not read your letter to any one1 but without your permission1 ,i shall take the liberty to let many read it themselves4 ,i know you will not thank me for it1 but ,i hope others will1 for the truths you have given me an opportunity of stating1 in opposition to those awful heresies1 which so awfully abound in the present day of general profession4 ,i am well pleased that the ,lord has been so far gracious to you1 as to give you an attentive ear1 a degree of light1 an humble desire after the favour of ,god1 and a sense of your interest in the dear ,redeemer4 ,these things1 accompanied with a tender conscience1 are most blessed signs--they are the buds1 which ,i hope will blossom and bear fruit to the glory of ,god4 ,but here you must not rest1 the command is1 8,go forward1 and you shall know1 as you follow on to know the ,lord40 ,seek him earnestly1 diligently1 fervently--never rest till you find him--eternal life is in him1 and all that hate him love sin and death4 ,do not rest on any good desires1 but on the object desired2 this desire accomplished you will find sweet to the soul2 follow hard after ,jesus1 and you will find him your ,god1 your portion1 your heaven1 your all4 ,and what a consolation to me will it be1 that the ,lord remembered you1 or any of my dear children4 ,i would endure many years privation as ,i now do1 if ,i could obtain that blessing for you all1 or for only one4 ,a good woman in ,scotland once said she had borne nine children1 with great pain of body1 and she would bear them all again for their eternal salvation4 ,although it is not of him that willeth1 nor of him that runneth1 but of ,god that sheweth mercy1 yet every means must be used1 as much as if salvation depended on them4 ',twill save you from a thousand snares1 ,to feel religion young2 ,grace will preserve your growing years1 ,and glory crown the song4 ,remember1 my dear girl1 while seeking the ,lord--,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit--angels1 saints1 and good men--all the perfections and all the promises of ,god1 are on your side4 ,but with respect to your account of ,mr4 ,e4 ,i am not at all satisfied with it2 his humility may be admired in a few external self denials1 but his putting down his carriage as an act of humility is nothing1 if he at the same time disdains the golden bottom of ,solomon's chariot1 of the wood of ,lebanon1 7 #crd chapter ,solomon's ,song7 the essential and eternal divinity of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ--as ,jehovah--as one in the divine essence--the self-existent and independent ,god4 ,this is the glorious and alone foundation of the ,church2 and if ,christ is not this adorable person1 the angels in heaven must be guilty of rank idolatry1 the ,church will be lost1 and ,i must sink under the curse of ,god4 ,for all the angelic hosts adore him1 the ,church is built upon him1 and ,i am trusting in him4 ,for thus saith the ,lord1 8,cursed is man that trusteth in man1 and maketh flesh his arm40 ,and if ,christ is not ,god in the highest sense of the word1 woe be to all who trust in him4 ,but the scriptures are plain and positive upon this subject1 for blessed are all they that put their trust in him4 ,the gentleman whom you heard preach so many precious truths1 ,i can say nothing about without hearing him myself2 he may possess much humility1 but if his heart has never been humbled by the grace of ,god1 to bow to the testimony which ,god1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit has given of ,christ1 his humility is not a grace1 of the holy ,spirit's working1 and all the good he may do to the bodies of the poor1 yet if he is circulating poison to the soul1 what will it avail them4 ,no doubt some good men have reasoned with him1 and ,i hope prayed for him1 that ,god would bring into the way of truth1 all such as have erred and are deceived4 ,i have been informed that he is nothing but an ,arian in his sentiments or views of ,christ1 and however clearly he may declare some of the grand calvinistic truths of the gospel1 it is but building a castle in the air1 as the great doctrines have no other basis1 than the self-existence of the adorable ,redeemer1 and if this foundation be removed1 what can the righteous do8 ,the ,atheist and the ,sadducee are trying to remove this foundation1 by denying an hereafter1 or a world to come4 ,the ,deist is employed in the same work1 by ridiculing the ,scriptures4 ,the ,arminian hates the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of ,christ1 imputed to faith4 ,the ,socinian declares ,christ is but a mere man4 ,the ,libertine sins that grace may abound4 ,the ,sabellians1 and the new ,jerusalem folks1 as they1 themselves--these deny the ,personality1 and1 of course1 the ,divinity of the ,father and the holy ,spirit2 and the deluded ,arian denies the essential ,divinity of the ,son of ,god4 ,thus the ,devil has employed these labourers to remove ,god's foundation--to leave us without ,god1 and like ,satan himself1 without hope4 ,but blessed be ,god for that faith which embraces the grand truth of the sacred pages2 that there are three which bear record in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 and these three are one4 ,the glorious record that each adorable person bears1 is to the ,divinity of ,christ1 as ,god over all1 blessed for ever4 ,hear what the ,father says of ,christ1 8,thy throne1 ,o ,god1 is for ever and ever40 ,hear what the ,saviour says1 8,look unto me1 and be ye saved1 all ye ends of the earth1 for ,i am ,god1 and there is none else40 ,hear also the testimony of the holy ,spirit1 8,and his name shall be called wonderful counsellor--the mighty ,god40 ,the ,arian does indeed admit1 that ,christ is ,god1 but then it is only in a subordinate sense--only a ,god1 by delegation and office4 ,but then1 this is making two ,gods--one supreme1 and the other subordinate1 and to worship any thing below infinite divinity1 is awful idolatry1 for all men must honour the ,son1 as they honour the ,father--8,thou shalt worship the ,lord thy ,god1 and him only shalt thou serve40 ,angels and saints are commanded to adore and worship him1 8,let all the angels of ,god worship him1 for he is thy ,jehovah1 and worship thou him40--,it is certainly curious to see the ,arian strutting about with this text1 in #agth ,john1 8,this is life eternal to know the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom thou hast sent40 ,but when you remind him of #ast ,john1 #eth chapter1 #bjth verse1 he shrinks back1 crying out1 it is doubtful whether that part is inspired1 ,and we know that the ,son of ,god is come--this is the true ,god1 and our eternal life2 for if the ,father is the true ,god1 so also is ,christ4 ,nothing proves this point so clearly as the glorious and incommunicable name of ,jehovah1 given him1 as at once expressive of his underived independent self-existent ,deity1 as one in the adorable ,godhead4 ,but this subject would fill a volume of immense size4 ,let me bring to your view1 a few out of the many glorious testimonies given in the ,bible1 and by comparing scripture with scripture1 you will through grace see their beauty1 ,isaiah viii1 #ac1 #ad1 ,sanctify the ,lord of ,hosts himself1 and let him be your fear and your dread1 and he shall be for a sanctuary2 but for a stone of stumbling1 and a rock of offence to both the houses of ,israel4 ,see how the apostle ,peter explains this text1 and applies it to his ,lord4 #ast ,peter1 ii1 #g1 #h4 ,isaiah vi1 #e1 ,mine eyes have seen the king1 the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,see how this belongs to ,christ1 ,john xii1 #da4 ,isaiah xliv1 #f1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 the king of ,israel and his ,redeemer1 the ,lord of ,hosts--,i am the first1 and ,i am the last1 and besides me there is no ,god4 ,see ,revelations xxii1 #ac4 ,isaiah iv1 #c1 #aa1 ,i1 even ,i am the ,lord1 and besides me there is no ,saviour2 and ,peter stiles him our ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,psalm lxxviii1 #ef1 ,they tempted and provoked the most high ,god4 #ast ,corinthians1 x1 #i1 ,neither let us tempt ,christ1 as some of them also tempted him4 ,john iii1 #bi1 ,he that hath the bride1 is the bridegroom4 ,isaiah1 liv1 #e1 ,for thy ,maker is thy husband1 the ,lord of ,hosts is his name4 ,psalm #bc1 ,jehovah is my shepherd4 ,john x1 #af1 ,there shall be one fold and one shepherd4 ,john xx1 #bh1 ,and ,thomas said my ,lord and my ,god4 ,romans ix1 #e1 ,of whom1 as concerning the flesh1 ,christ came1 who is over all1 ,god1 blessed for ever4 ,psalm #ajj1 ,know ye that the ,lord he is ,god1 and we are the people of his pasture4 ,john x1 ,he1 ,christ1 calleth his own sheep by name4 ,feed my sheep1 saith ,christ to ,peter4 ,feed the flock of ,god said ,peter4 ,collosians ii1 #h1 ,for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the ,godhead1 bodily4 ,and this is his name whereby he shall be called--,jehovah our righteousness4 ,why callest thou me good1 there is none good but one1 that is ,god4--,and his name shall be called ,the mighty ,god4 ,revel1 i1 #h4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending1 which is1 which was1 and which is to come--the ,almighty4 ,i could quote a vast number more grand passages1 to shew you that ,christ is equal with the ,father1 one in the undivided essence1 the object of worship1 possessed of every divine perfection1 the way to ,god1 the suitable ,saviour of his church1 and the glory of ,god1 angels1 and saints2 but these are enough one would think1 to convince any reasonable being1 but such1 alas1 is human depravity1 that nothing short of almighty power can give faith to believe the record which ,god has given of his ,son4 ,in these few texts1 our adorable ,jesus is called the ,lord of ,hosts1 the mighty ,god1 ,jehovah1 ,god over all2 my ,god1 the most high ,god1 and the ,almighty2 and if the testimony of a worm might be added-- ,that ,christ is ,god ,i can avouch1 ,and for his people cares1 ,for ,i have pray'd to him as such1 ,and he has heard my prayers4 ,the ,lord give you an experimental knowledge of himself as your ,saviour4 ,i remain1 your affectionate ,father1 ,ruhamah4 ,p4,s4 ,have you seen that truly excellent tract1 called the ,young ,cottager1 written by that blessed man of ,god1 ,rev4 ,leigh ,richmond8 ,i beg you will often read it1 as it1 ,i think1 excels all the tracts ,i ever read1 except ,dr4 ,hawker's2 it possesses the elegance of ,hervey and the fervour of ,hawker1 sweetly combined4 ,,letter ,,xix4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,september #a1 #ahah4 ,miss ,,davies1 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i fear my nerves will scarcely permit me to drop you a few lines4 ,what a day have ,i passed through6 ,solemn period1 but ,i hope blissful one to the unhappy1 happy men4 ,no doubt you felt for me exceedingly1 knowing how near to me the late events would occur4 ,on ,sunday our worthy ,chaplain preached the condemned sermon1 ,i choose rather to call it their coronation sermon1 as he then gave a most1 affecting1 but blessed account of their state1 and looking round upon a weeping congregation1 he begged leave to use the words of his master1 on a very affecting occasion1 8,daughters of ,jerusalem1 weep for yourselves1 not me40 ,the poor men who were condensed to die1 wanted no pity1 they had obtained mercy1 they now only needed the prayers of ,god's people1 for his upholding hand1 his supporting power1 and his soul-comforting presence1 at the last1 the solemn1 the affecting moment of their dissolution4 ,i am informed they had it1 but as ,i have not yet had the particulars of their conversion and happy death from any spiritual person1 ,i cannot write you to that effect1 but as soon as ,i can possibly gain the account1 ,i will send it to you1 knowing your heart will1 and does leap for joy1 at the real conversion of any sinner1 but especially those who were so near death and eternity4 ,i hope the account will be well authenticated4 ,this morning1 ,monday1 ,i awoke early1 and was enabled to pour out strong cries and supplications to ,god1 for the poor men1 that they might feel the joys of salvation1 as they approached their painful end4 ,at seven o'clock the solemn church-bell tolled2 but at eight o'-clock1 all my powers were affected by the chapel bell answering it4 ,i knew then the procession was begun1 ,i knew then the subject was real1 every stroke of the church bell seemed to say1 ,come6 and every sound of the chapel bell responsed1 ,we come6 ,we come6 ,i felt every sound at my heart1 and it again brought me on my knees in earnest prayer1 that a dear ,saviour would meet them at the place of execution4 ,they arrived about an hour after on the place2 ,i could not see them1 but ,i heard nearly all that passed4 ,the first sound was singing1 ,i judged it was the lamentation of a sinner1 one verse1 and which ,i think comprehends every thing at once4 ,mercy1 good ,lord1 mercy ,i ask-- ,this is the total sum1 ,for mercy1 ,lord1 is all my suit1 ,lord let that mercy come4 ,this prayer will suit the holiest believer1 living and dying4 ,after a pause1 as ,i judged1 everything was preparing for the awful stroke4 ,i heard one of them pray1 but not being near enough ,i could not distinguish his words4 ,as he drew to a close ,i heard the fatal drop fall which launched them into the presence of ,god4 ,i burst into tears1 yea ,i thought my heart would have broke4 ,i could only then dart up ejaculatory prayers that the ,lord ,jesus would receive their departing spirits4 ,but grief overpowered me all the day2 ,i could not lift up my head with any pleasure4 ,i was pensive and distressed4 ,a multitude of very affecting ideas floated on my mind1 and grief and gratitude took their several turns2 but ,i am as well as can be expected after so severe a shock4 ,i only fear a revival of sorrow on ,sunday1 when ,i sit in view of the spot where ,i last saw them4 ,glad shall ,i be to send you some good account of them in my next4 ,on the evening previous to the execution1 ,i read part of the solemn funeral service of the ,church1 and expounded to the prisoners in this class1 the #aeth of the first of ,corinthians4 ,the subject of the ,resurrection was very interesting1 and my mind was devoutly engaged for some time with the chapter4 ,i had occasion1 for the first time ,i believe1 to expatiate on that singular verse1 #bi1 ,else what shall they do who are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not8--,the passage would receive some easier comment if rendered over the dead1 as ,greek critics will allow1 it being customary for the primitive christians to baptize their proselytes over the graves of the believing dead4 ,this is the way some learned men make it out4 ,the plain matter of fact is1 that superstition had began to encroach on the simplicity of the ,gospel1 even in ,paul's days1 and many ignorantly supposed that the ordinance of ,baptism was inseparably connected with the pardon of ,sin4 ,from this mistaken notion1 many postponed their ,baptism till their last moments2 the consequence of which was1 many dying suddenly were not baptized at all--their superstitious relatives imagined it would be an act of charity to the dead to be baptized for them1 in their name and stead1 begging of ,god at the same time1 to accept the ,baptism of the proxy1 as though it had been administered to the principal4 ,hence others translate the passage1 ,what shall they do who are baptized for1 or instead of the dead4 ,but if the dead rise not again this imaginary labour of love can answer no valuable end4 ,why then do you doubt the ,resurrection of the dead8 ,may ,god the ,holy ,spirit quicken our souls into the enjoyment of the favour of ,god1 the knowledge of our pardon and justification in ,christ1 and enable us to bring forth the fruits of the ,spirit1 is the earnest prayer of ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xx4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,june #f1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,,blinkinsop1 ,,my ,,most ,,affectionate ,,friend1 ,can ,i ever forget your concern1 good wishes1 prayers1 and endeavours for my best interest8 ,you have carefully watched for my good as a ,sister1 felt for me as a ,mother1 and done me all the good you could as a ,christian4 ,may ,god most kindly reward you1 and if not in this world1 in temporal things1 he will own you in that day when he shall make up his jewels--and never will he let your dear children1 perhaps1 go unrewarded4 ,he will be a ,god to you and a ,guardian to them4 ,i hear you think of going into the country this summer1 if so ,i shall not be favored with a visit for a long time4 ,i hope you will not go1 but that ,i must leave to your better judgement4 ,i have been very much cast down since ,i last saw you1 nor do ,i expect to be much otherwise4 ,when we walk contrary to ,god1 we know that he will walk contrary to us2 but he has most kindly declared that when the heart is humbled1 he will appear to our joy4 ,i find the third chapter of the ,lamentations of ,jeremiah very sweet to me at times1 it is worth your reading1 as it is so suitable to my case and state1 and no doubt you will find it good to read it very often2 the former part no doubt belongs to ,christ--he was the man that had seen affliction1 by the rod of ,god's wrath1 and it is well for us that he bore that for us1 or else we must have borne it for ever1 in that place where hope never comes4 ,you have found him a good and gracious ,saviour4 ,he has helped you in many a need4 ,he has delivered you in many a trouble4 ,he has enabled you to believe in him1 to love him as he is set forth in the ,gospel1 a ,saviour4 ,he is well calculated to be a ,saviour1 as he is ,god with ,god4 ,he loved our nature so well that he chose it in preference to the angels1 though we had sinned worse than they did--yet such was his love for us that he gave himself for us4 ,he lived an holy life of obedience for us1 which the adorable ,father imputes to us for our justification1 while the ever blessed ,spirit opens our blind eyes1 and gives us to see1 and feel our need of that righteousness2 having none of our own fit to appear before ,god in1 we need it1 believe in it1 trust in it1 and hope to be saved by it4 ,o my dear1 kind friend6 may you and ,i be better acquainted with ,god's love in providing such a way for a poor sinner to be saved4 ,may we have a stronger faith1 a larger mind and affections1 to receive ,christ as he is revealed in the ,word4 ,the ,bible reveals ,christ to us1 but the ,spirit must reveal ,christ in us4 ,we are poor guilty creatures1 and need pardon for all sin4 ,he has shed his blood to make atonement--a satisfaction for sin1 and having died for our sin1 he is gone to heaven to present his ,person and his ,work to ,god for us4 ,he is interceding there--he ever lives to plead our cause1 to conquer our enemies1 to carry on the work of salvation1 to hear our prayers1 to watch over us in our sorrows1 to support us in our calamity1 to deliver us1 in his own time and way1 and finally to bring us home to glory-- ,there we shall see his face1 ,and never1 never sin2 ,there1 from the rivers of his grace1 ,drink endless pleasures in4 ,there we may meet to celebrate the riches of divine grace1 and experience the joys of that friendship1 which is only begun in this world1 but is often sadly interrupted by sin and sorrow4 ,fearing you will leave town1 ,i thought it right to drop this token of my most sincere regard and gratitude4 ,may every good be thine1 and ,god be glorified in our eternal salvation4 ,what is there in this lower world worth living for8--it is full of changes1 trials1 and sorrow4 ,may we come up out of the wilderness1 leaning on the beloved1 longing to get home1 and daily dying to all the world4 ,getting better acquainted with ,jesus1 by the teachings of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i feel at times very much deprest indeed1 but have no doubt but that all things will work for good1 and1 ,though painful at present 'twill cease before long1 ,and then1 ,o how pleasant the conqueror's song4 ,god bless you1 my dear1 my much-loved friend--time is on the wing--soon we shall look back and say1 ,he hath done all things well4 ,i remain1 ,your's truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxi4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,dec4 #f1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,,darby1 ,,my ,,dear ,,sister ,,in ,,the ,,lord1 ,i have read your letter1 with sacred pleasure1 containing an account of the ,lord's gracious dealings with your soul4 ,i wish every member of the ,church would write me something of their experience1 that ,i might judge of their state1 for1 as experience worketh hope1 when we know a person's experience we can judge of their hope4 ,it is the custom of some ,churches1 when persons are admitted1 to give in a written experience2 this is a good custom1 as many people are too timid to appear and speak of the dealings of ,god with them1 in the whole face of an assembly1 not that they are ashamed of the work of ,god upon them1 but they may be naturally timid4 ,i have always endeavoured to be as familiar to those who come to me about spiritual things as ,i could1 with any propriety1 and even that has been attended with a disadvantage1 as the enemy has turned that against one4 ,i wish ,i could never speak to any but the ,lord's own children4 ,i never found them any snare to my soul1 but ,i have found mere empty gay professors to be a snare4 ,david personated ,christ when he expressed the feelings of his soul1 in the #afth ,psalm1 8,the saints1 the excellent of the earth1 are my delight40 ,the ,lord made ,david sick of every body else1 yet no man was ever so plagued with a parcel of hypocrites as he was4 ,his prime minister1 ,achithophel1 was a snare to him4 ,his chief captain1 ,joab1 was always a trouble1 and his darling son1 ,absalom1 was always a most profound1 ungrateful1 cruel hypocrite4 ,yet the ,lord's people were dear to ,david's soul1 and why8 because they were dear to ,christ2 bore his image1 trusted in him1 looked for him1 and walked as it became their profession4 ,and ,i must remind ,mrs4 ,d4 that the ,apostle has pointed out a most decided evidence of a real believer1 8,we know we are passed from death to life1 because we love the brethren4 ,and he that loves him that begets1 loves him1 also1 that is begotten of him40 ,you could not love a believer as a child of ,god2 if you was not a child of ,god yourself4 ,sinners love sinners1 but they cannot saints1 as saints4 ,but while ,i would have you bless ,god for this grace given you1 and while ,i would bless ,god on your behalf1 yet1 ,i trust1 you will not rest on present attainments1 but go on to know ,christ1 that you may be found in him4 ,i always find it the safest way to thank ,god for what he has done for me1 but when ,i reflect upon the attainments of hypocrites ,i am alarmed1 and go to the ,saviour1 daily1 just as ,i did when ,i first set out1 a poor needy1 guilty sinner in myself1 condemned by law and conscience1 with a nature as depraved as the worst creature breathing1 and standing in as much need of teaching and keepings of drawing and renewing1 as ,i ever did4 ,to this ,paul alludes1 nay exhorts1 8,as ye have received ,christ ,jesus1 the ,lord1 so walk ye in him40 ,you can well remember the bondage of spirit you felt under the ,law1 and how precious the person of ,christ1 as a complete ,saviour1 was to you--how precious he appeared in his mediatorial capacity1 as an atoning sacrifice1 putting away sin1 as the end of the law1 fulfilling all its demands1 and1 as an intercessor1 pleading your cause4 ,you need this same ,jesus every day1 and will want him as much in the article of death1 as you did when the ,lord first gave you to feel your need of him--and ,i am sure you will bless the ,lord for ever leading you to feel that need so deeply4 ,we are great sinners1 and need a great ,saviour1 every day1 and all the day4 ,in reading your letter of the ,lord's dealings with you1 ,i cannot help exclaiming1 ,and will ,god in very deed dwell with sinners on the earth8 ,yes1 for he has said 8,i will dwell in them1 and walk in them40 ,male and female are all one in ,christ ,jesus4 ,he has condescended to choose a portion of our nature1 and unite it to the dear ,son of his love--the ,son of ,god--,god the ,son3 and in the choice of our nature1 and the person of his ,son1 he chose all the millions that shall be saved1 united them to ,christ1 and then viewed them complete in him4 ,thus the head and the members rose together in the mind1 the purpose1 and decree of ,jehovah4 ,to these he designed to manifest himself as the ,god of all grace1 in the covenant of redemption and mercy--in the mysterious incarnation of ,christ--in the meritorious holiness of his life--in the putting away sin by his awful sorrows1 and in rising from the dead to justify his own work1 and as the first fruits of them that sleep in him4 ,and is it not wonderful that ,god the ,holy ,spirit should ever visit you8 ,can you not often ask1 with your sister ,ruth1 8,why have ,i found grace in thy sight1 that thou shouldst take knowledge of me1 seeing ,i am but a stranger40 ,it becomes you to be thankful4 ,this will bring more blessings to you1 in a way of enjoyment2 and as the ,lord has taught you1 humbled your spirit1 and melted you with his love--brought you to receive the truth in the love of it1 so ,i trust you will be more devoted to him4 ,he is worthy of your highest affection1 your daily addresses1 and warmest gratitude4 ,the ,lord help you to adorn that gospel you love1 to sympathize with the afflicted in the household of faith1 to warn the unruly1 and encourage the weak ones of the flock4 ,let thy garments be always white1 and let thy head lack no ointment4 ,strive to become a mother in ,israel1 by an increase of spiritual knowledge2 then your faith will grow1 and your hope abound4 ,kind respects to ,mr4 ,d4 ,i am much pleased the ,lord has not forgotten him1 he has seen the meaning of ,god's promise2 8,i will take you one of city1 and two of a family1 and ,i will bring you to ,zion40 ,and the ,saviour1 will1 ,i trust1 present you all faultless1 before the throne of his glory1 to himself in himself in the millennium2 and at last he will present you to his ,father and your ,father1 his ,god and your ,god1 when ,god1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit will be all in all4 ,grace and peace be multiplied to you all1 as a family4 ,pray for me1 that ,i may be kept and sanctified4 ,your's1 in him1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,march #ast1 #ahah4 ,miss ,,harris4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friend4 ,mr4 ,k4 requested ,i would drop you a few lines4 ,i beg your acceptance of such as ,i may write at this time1 in very painful circumstances4 ,believe me1 my friend1 ,i most sensibly feel the hand of ,god2 my poor heart it broken1 my sighs are many1 and my heart it faint4 ,but ,i call to mind past times1 when ,i certainly have known1 tasted1 and felt the precious truth ,i once preached1 and then ,i thank ,god and take courage4 ,the ,lord has designed from all eternity1 to bring his children home to his eternal bliss2 but then he has1 also1 appointed all the means to lead to that one grand end4 ,this was1 perhaps1 shewn to pious ,jacob1 in a vision of a ladder1 which he afterwards called the house of ,god1 and the gate of ,heaven4 ,christ is all these2 he is the way1 he is the house1 he is the gate3 and it is the work of the ,holy ,spirit to lead his people up to him1 as the way of life4 ,this is the way ,god has taught me1 and the way only where ,i find any solid peace in a world of cares1 sin1 and death4 ,these are the seven steps up the ladder1 up the way of life2 and the steps of a good man are ordered by the ,lord and he shall direct his way1 and ,i am sure he always directs to the dear ,redeemer4 ,may you feel inwardly directed to him1 and in the word1 and by a faithful ministry outwardly directed also4 ,but it is not enough to be directed there1 we must be led by a divine hand1 power must be put forth1 for the kingdom is not in word1 but in power4 ,nor am ,i satisfied with any person's ministry1 except ,i feel that power--any man with truth floating in his head1 may send me to ,jesus2 but ,i want the power to attend that direction1 to bring me to him1 knowing1 that as many as are led by the spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god4 ,a soul1 when formed anew1 quickened and illuminated1 is led to ,christ by ,god the ,father1 who owns and receives the soul4 ,nor is there any coming in reality1 but as we are led4 ,you may see this in our first parents2 ,eve was a part of ,adam1 and we are a part of ,christ1 the fruit of his sufferings and death4 ,for except a corn of wheat fall into the ground1 and die1 it abideth alone1 but if it die1 it bringeth forth fruit4 ,the ,lord having formed ,eve1 brought her to ,adam1 and he declared the union between her and him4 ,he loved her1 received her1 and she was dear to him4 ,i leave you to make all other reflections upon this subject1 and trust the blessed spirit will lead you to see and enjoy it in your own soul4 ,i am truly happy the ,lord has impressed your mind with his spirit1 while in youth--'tis most blessed to know the adorable ,trinity1 as our new ,creators1 in this time of our life4 ,altho' we have got to bear the burden and heat of the day yet it is a mercy to be hired early in the morning1 it is all of grace1 from first to last1 nor will one chosen vessel in glory1 have any greater share of ,god's smiles1 or be nearer the throne than another1 though called as early as ,jeremiah and ,john the ,baptist1 or late as the ,thief on the ,cross4 ,you will have much to struggle with1 many days of darkness and grief1 but the blessed spirit will turn all into good for you1 by taking every opportunity of glorifying ,christ1 in his salvation and offices2 and the deeper your knowledge of ,jesus1 the richer will be your soul in heavenly things4 ,the more you are brought into an acquaintance with the ,god-,man ,mediator1 the sweeter will be your communion and fellowship1 till it arrives to real earnests and foretastes of glory4 ,but all the principal difficulty will consist in being led to understand how to live a life of faith1 out of self1 upon the ,son of ,god--it is for want of the clear knowledge of this1 ,i am in my present trouble2 this may astonish you1 but ,god knoweth ,i lie not--a future day may explain that to the ,church4 ,i understand the ,lord has blessed you with an affectionate heart towards your dear ,mother1 and he will reward it4 ,i have often envied the felicity of those who have a kind mother to care for1 watch over1 pity1 and help them2 but ,ah6 poor me was left by parents1 cruel and unkind1 to perish1 till ,i was found an helpless infant4 ,for me no tender mother has yielded her fostering care1 but ,left on the world's bleak waste1 forlorn1 ,in sin conceiv'd1 to sorrow born3 ,no guide the dreary waste to tread1 ,above1 no friendly shelter spread4 ,but the ,lord had some kind1 and ,i hope gracious design1 in preserving me till now1 though my distress has often made me blame1 like ,job1 the kind hand that took me up when an out-cast4 ,i am still the child of woe1 the hand of ,god and man appears against me in providence1 and my distress of mind is great--my dear friends deprived of my public labors1 and exposed to the shafts of cruel calumny4 ,my dear family without a fond mother1 and now deprived of a father they dearly loved1 and whose paternal embraces they eagerly prized3 but now ,no ,children run to lisp their ,sire's return1 ,or climb his knees1 the envied kiss to share-- ,excuse me1 tears will not let me proceed4 ,may the dear ,saviour bless you4 ,we live in a dying world2 a few more rising and setting suns will settle all4 ,may we aim to know1 to win1 and to be found in ,christ3 clothed with his righteousness1 pardoned with his blood1 purified by his spirit1 filled with his love1 and for ever delighted with his glory4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxiii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,january #crd1 #ahai4 ,mrs4 ,,brown1 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i can never sufficiently thank you for your christian sympathy1 affectionate concern1 and fervent desires for my best interests1 that you can weep with those that weep1 especially for the afflictions of ,joseph4 ,amos #fth4 ,this is a most blessed and decided evidence that the love of ,god reigns in the heart2 and though this principle is often hid from its happy possessor1 perhaps it is better seen by others2 but if our love is genuine1 it bears a resemblance to the love of ,god1 to his ,son1 and to his children4 ,now as dear ,mrs4 ,brown is often in bondage about her part and lot in ,christ1 and as love is the most decided proof of that interest1 let us examine this subject4 ,hence the ,saviour compares a believer who is not clear about his interest in the favour of ,god1 or has seen it and lost it1 to a ,woman having ten pieces of silver1 and having lost one4 ,mind1 it is a ,woman1 not a careless ,man1 who1 if he had lost any thing would give a general look and pass it by rather carelessly1 only perhaps saying1 ,well1 ,i am very sorry ,i have lost it too--and here the matter rests--but to a ,woman assiduous1 careful1 attentive1 and vext with her loss4 ,the nine pieces of silver refer no doubt to the graces of the ,holy ,spirit1 but the tenth to the knowledge of the reality and enjoyment of them4 ,time was1 perhaps you could say1 you knew and believed the love that ,god had for you1 and no doubt but you had love in return4 ,but the scene has since changed1 and you have had to combat with enemies without1 and worse within2 and on account of their prevalency1 you have often been permitted to question the reality of all you experienced before1 while busy ,satan has suggested1 ,where is your religion now8 ,where is your love to ,christ8 ,are you a ,christian8 ,up starts ,unbelief1 and says1 ,i will never believe a person can be a partaker of ,christ1 be in ,christ1 love ,christ1 or ever be one of ,christ's1 that can think as you think1 say as you say1 or do as you do4 ,no1 no1 says carnal ,reason1 why it stands to common sense1 that a converted person is a changed one altogether4 ,now ,mrs4 ,b4 looks within1 thinks deep of it1 while the dust these things have raised1 blinds her eyes1 that she sees not her spiritual signs1 but listens to those suggestions1 and rashly concludes against herself1 that1 perhaps1 all her past experience was but fancy4 ,under these fears we live too long4 ,ephraim1 says ,god1 is an unwise ,son1 for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children4 ,but perhaps some sweet idea occurs about ,christ and his love1 his work and his word2 or some very precious sermon1 chapter1 or hymn4 ,this comes and revives the old work2 ,satan withdraws1 hope springs up1 and a thirst for ,god is felt again4 ,now we begin to stir1 to light a candle1 to sweep the house1 and to search diligently for the sense of ,god's love1 favor1 and pardoning mercy4 ,sweeping is self-examination1 comparing spiritual things with spiritual--that is1 our judgement1 experience1 and views1 with ,god's word4 ,lighting a candle is going to ,christ1 as the true light1 enabling you to see his glory1 his beauty1 his goodness4 ,and this glory1 goodness1 and beauty is called his loving kindness1 8,we have thought of thy loving kindness in thy temple40 ,and this is what ,david prayed for1 ,i have desired of the ,lord1 that ,i may see the beauty of the ,lord4 8,thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty40 ,and surely the ,lord never appears so beautiful to us1 as when he appears1 a ,god1 pardoning our sins4 ,well may we exclaim1 ,and let the beauty of the ,lord our ,god be upon us2 ,i know you can say ,amen to this4 ,moses desired to see the glory of ,god1 and the ,lord promised to cause his goodness to pass before him1 and proclaimed1 forgiving iniquity1 transgression1 and sin4 ,thus all his excellencies are seen in this great act2 and sure ,i am1 that a sweet clear sight of this blessing1 is more worth than a thousand worlds4 ,this will cause us to shout victory in death and judgement4 ,o may you not only hope1 but see this blessing2 and not only see it1 but enjoy it1 for it is the joint work of the adorable ,trinity4 ,the ,father foresaw all our guilt1 and secretly purposed to pardon it4 ,the dear ,redeemer foresaw all that our sins would merit1 and engaged to bear it4 ,and the divine1 the blessed ,spirit1 foresaw all our backslidings1 yet engaged to enable us to believe--we are pardoned and justified in the name and by the ,spirit of our ,god4 ,i wish you much of this blessing1 in believing views of ,christ4 ,the ,lord has enlightened you to see ,jesus as altogether lovely2 your will has chosen him1 your heart is at rest when he is truly precious1 and you can say1 he is supreme in your affections4 ,bless his dear name for it2 his love is set upon you1 and ,satan knows it1 if you don't1 and he will follow up the ,lord's work diligently1 either to destroy it1 or to set you doubting its reality4 ,but the principal part is love1 and all our love to ,jesus is but a reflection of his love to us4 ,he says1 ,yea1 ,i have loved thee2 and we can reply1 ,and ,lord ,i desire to love thee most supremely4 ,god loves his dear ,son1 and so do we2 he loves his truth1 so do we2 he loves his saints1 and so do we4 ,he hates their sins1 so do we2 he pities their infirmities1 so do we2 he forgives their follies1 so do we2 he feels for them in trouble1 so do we2 he visits them in prison of soul1 or circumstances1 so do we2 he loves their company1 prayers1 praises1 converse1 and prosperity of soul1 so do we2 he hates their enemies1 with all their cruelty and malice1 so do we2 he will one day punish their enemies1 unless grace prevent it1 and we shall say ,amen to it4 ,thus1 in a very simple manner1 have ,i shewed the reality of ,bible love4 ,but ,i want to live such a life of faith on ,jesus1 as ,paul did1 when he said1 ,the life ,i live in the flesh1 ,i live by the faith of the ,son of ,god1 as ,jesus did1 as man1 on his divine ,father4 ,so we should live on ,jesus1 as ,god-,man ,mediator1 on his eternal unchanging love2 his covenant engagements2 his meritorious work of obedience2 his putting away sin1 by his sufferings and death2 his intercession at the ,father's right hand1 and his glorious office1 as an advocate for us1 ever pleading his blood1 with which ,god is well pleased4 ,on him may we live1 to him may we go1 and him in every thing employ4 ,we are sinners1 and need his grace1 guilty1 and need his blood1 condemned1 and need his righteousness1 weak1 and need his arm1 miserable1 and need his mercy1 rebellious1 and need his long suffering4 ,thus we are poor and needy1 and every promise in the ,bible made to such1 is your's4 ,o that we could so resist ,satan1 when he comes to dispute us out of these things1 that we might take courage and read them all as our own4 ,then we shall be rich indeed1 for ,god is faithful to his ,son1 in whom they are made2 and to his people1 to whom they are revealed4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxiv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,march #ast1 #ahai4 ,miss ,,miller1 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,this day of the month never comes1 but it ever brings a variety of very affecting ideas to my mind1 as it is supposed to be the day on which ,i was found1 when an helpless infant1 deserted by parents1 and left to perish2 but the ,lord had some gracious intention in preserving me1 till called and brought forth to public view4 ,blessed by many1 and by many cursed4 ,yet the curse1 causeless1 has not1 nor shall ever come4 ,we have had the pleasure of dining together for some years1 as on this day1 and ,i trust we shall spend a blessed eternity together1 when time1 with us1 shall be no more4 ,it is my mercy that1 though ,i was left fatherless1 and motherless1 ,i am not left ,christless4 ,but when father and mother forsook me1 the ,lord took me up1 and dealt better for me than my poor parents could have done1 perhaps1 even in providence4 ,on this subject ,i need not enlarge1 as ,i hope1 while ,i am in ,babylon1 to write my own memoirs1 and publish it when ,i have an opportunity4 ,but this depends on the display of the gracious office of ,god1 the ,holy ,spirit1 to act as my remembrancer4 ,i am sorry ,i have been so negligent of the gracious dealings of ,god with me1 in providence and grace2 and have not set up those way marks1 which ,i ought to have noticed1 and which1 no doubt1 would be a satisfaction to my own friends1 the comfort of my own mind1 and for the glory of ,god4 ,but1 my dear friend1 while my tongue is partially silent many dear spiritual people want a small token of my spiritual regard for them1 by recommending the dear and adorable ,saviour to them4 ,as the pen of cruel slander1 and daring calumny1 has been so much employed against me1 ,i want to employ my pen in writing of him1 whom angels admire and saints adore2 and whose dear name1 ,i trust1 you love1 whose gospel you prize1 and whose saints you esteem2 and as a proof you love him1 only reflect1 in some silent secret moment1 suppose he was to frown upon you in death1 and disown you in the last great day4 ,what an horror1 grief1 and misery do you feel in the thought6 ,what1 to be for ever banished from ,god6--from ,jesus6 ,o sad and dreadful idea2 if the thought indulged is ,hell enough to you1 'tis a proof you love him4 ,and do you not feel1 at times1 a secret satisfaction1 a sacred pleasure1 when you hear or receive any new sweet thought of ,jesus8--'tis because you love him4 ,and should you not like to be favored with much communion with him1 to open your whole heart to him1 and find his whole heart open to you8--'tis because you love him4 ,and if you hear a thing called a preacher1 and he appear empty of ,jesus1 do you not feel disgusted at him8--'tis because you love him4 ,when you hear his sacred name blasphemed1 or in any sense slighted1 do you not feel hurt at it1 and pray that you may never be sent to ,hell1 among ,devils1 who will be for ever cursing it2 but long to get to glory1 where you will join with angels in always praising it8--'tis because you love him4 ,if a person stands very high in your estimation1 whom you believe to be well taught of ,jesus1 do you not feel an on common respect for him8--'tis because you love him4 ,if you are very cold1 dead1 dark1 and barren in soul1 in secret and public1 and feel as if you could not honor ,jesus by bringing forth fruit to his praise1 is not this matter of much grief to you8--'tis because you love him4 ,when you feel for his people1 his despised ministers and cause1 that is unjustly hated1 and cruelly treated1 'tis because you love him4 ,do you not feel glad when you hear of the sound conversion of any one to ,jesus1 when they are able to give a scriptural account of the ,lord's dealings with them8--'tis because you love him4 ,do you not feel grateful to the ,saviour1 when you are favored with an affecting sight of him1 as dying for you1 rising for you1 and living for you8--'tis because you love him4 ,do you not feel thankful at times1 that the good work was ever begun in your heart1 and that you have any love to him--surely 'tis because you love him4 ,when you reflect upon his kindness to you in providence1 with a keen sense of your utter unkindness1 do you feel1 or desire to feel grateful8--'tis because you love him4 ,do you desire1 above all things else beside1 to live to him1 feel peace with him1 and at last1 to be with him for ever2 to adore and thank him2 to crown him ,lord of all1 with all the blood-bought throng8--'tis because you love him4 ,and we love him1 because he first loved us-- ,his people's everlasting friend1 ,he loving1 loves us to the end4 ,your's1 in him1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,jan4 #bfth1 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,,clark4 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i thank you for your letter4 ,i am always glad to hear how my dear friends go on in the divine life2 and if they are not increasing sensibly in faith1 hope1 and love1 yet1 if growing downward in humility it is still well4 ,what we are in our fallen state1 as sinners1 must be learned by us--this is all the hell we shall ever experience in this world1 and some have found that to be quite hell enough4 ,under this painful chastening1 ,jonah cried out of the belly of hell4--,the ,psalmist declared ,god had laid him in the lowest deeps4 ,jeremiah wished he had never been born--and ,job cursed his day6--and all their painful agonies of soul was nothing to be compared to the painful soul-distress which the ,lord ,jesus felt1 when he entered the garden of ,gethsemane1 and his vast mind was filled with horrors1 terrors1 and frights--the guilt of sin sunk his spirits1 the wrath of ,god melted his heart--and his agonies were inconceivable4--,oh6 what did our ,christ endure for some hours1 yea1 from nine o'clock at night till three the next afternoon3 it will never be forgotten by him--his whole mind was taken up with it2 every thing else was forgotten4--,sin and wrath1 guilt and distress followed on him--wave upon wave1 till he expired4 ,and the very posture in which he hung as he died was very important4 ,see his dear arms stretched out to receive you and me4 ,see his dear feet waiting1 fastened to the cross1 to confer his blessing4 ,see his side wide opened1 to shew his heart to us--and see him bow his dear dying head1 to kiss the poor returning soul1 who is waiting at the foot of the cross till ,jesus assures the soul of its interest in him4 ,here1 ,i hope1 my much esteemed friend is waiting4 ,here he is safe4 ,but you complain of sin--the ,old man4 ,and what is this old man8--it is a continual inclination to sin4 ,can the brightest saint alter this8--alas1 ,no3 ,and are you not astonished that such poor sinful beings as we are1 that we should ever be proud of our rags8 ,proud1 in the sight of ,god6--such is our depravity4 ,and it is from this same source you feel so much deadness in divine things1 so much darkness in soul1 and such carelessness and wanderings in your best moments2 these all spring from the heart1 which we find to be bad indeed4 ,i once knew a little of it1 and often preached about it1 but my views of it are much deeper now--,i both see and feel1 groan under and hate1 what ,i cannot get rid of4 ,o could ,i but get rid of what ,i feel1 how happy should ,i be4 ,there is but one remedy left1 and that is a more blessed acquaintance with the dear ,saviour1 and the enjoyment of high and heavenly communion with him4 ,to this blessing ,i humbly aspire4 ,this fevor ,i am praying daily for--this1 and this only1 is the cure of all our spiritual diseases4 ,this will make me happy in captivity1 and contented with the will of ,god4 ,but1 alas1 ,i am very rebellious6 ,what a mercy when we can see that every trial1 cross1 loss1 disappointment1 pain1 and difficulty is in covenant love1 flowing to us1 because ,god has loved us2 and to conform us to his lovely image1 we want the mind kept by an almighty power--still1 resigned1 quiet1 and composed1 as a hand ought to be steady1 that holds a glass of some very costly liquid4 ,we want keeping quiet1 while ,god takes the opportunity of pouring into the soul the precious consolations2 and helps us to believe that whatever happens1 is certainly right1 and will be for the best4 ,i have heard of a man1 that whatever he met with1 he said it was for the best4 ,one day1 a dog stole his dinner1 and his ungodly companions asked him1 if that was for the best8 ,they all being at work in the quarry1 the man said1 he would just run and see if the dog had eat all his dinner2 and while he was gone out1 the pit fell in1 and killed all his companions4 ,thus it was for the best that the dog should steal his dinner4 ,i find there is nothing like prayer1 reflection1 and gratitude2 but ,i am exactly like yourself2 ,i am distressed with those opposite sinful propensities1 which it is impossible to avoid2 these intercept my peace1 perplex my soul1 grieve my spirit1 becloud my evidences1 and often steal my heart from ,god1 till the ,saviour shines again1 and then ,i am renewed1 refreshed1 and strengthened again4 ,may your spirit often thus experience the very gracious operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 causing you to know1 trust1 and love the person of ,jesus1 as your covenant head1 alone ,saviour1 all-sufficient righteousness and atoning sacrifice1 ever-living intercessor and wonderful counsellor4 ,may he be more precious to your heart1 and dearer to your soul1 in life and death2 and may the same grace rest on your dear partner in life1 and family1 is the earnest prayer1 and hearty wish1 of your ever sincere and grateful ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxvi4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,sept4 #eth1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,,dudley4 ,,my ,,dear ,,tried ,,friend1 ,the ,lord accepts the will for the deed1 from his dear people4 ,you3 would do me much good1 if it lay in your power2 but the ,lord has enabled you to say1 ,to will1 is present with me2 and the ,apostle says1 ,if there was a willing mind1 it is accepted4 ,david wanted to build an house for the ,lord1 but he had not liberty2 yet the dear ,saviour sent him word1 it was well it was in his heart4 ,the will was accepted4--,pious ,mary had once anointed her ,saviour1 and she intended to do it again at his burial2 but fearing she might not have the honor to embalm him1 she came before hand1 and anointed him to his burial4 ,the ,saviour accepted the will for the deed1 and declared1 wherever the ,gospel was preached1 this kind act should be noticed4 ,so we find in our experience4 ,we would love ,god--without a rival4 ,we would know him as he is in ,christ2 perfectly2 we would enjoy him uninterruptedly2 we would hold perpetual communion with him2 we would serve him1 day and night2 we would never dishonour him1 grieve him1 offend him1 or slight him2 we would never sin against him any more4 ,but ,o1 we cannot attain to this2 how to perform that which is good1 we find we cannot4 ,so we would comfort the saints1 relieve the afflicted1 cheer the disconsolate1 plead for the truth1 and support the cause of ,god4 ,bring into the way of truth all our dear friends2 and if it was agreeable to the decrees of ,god1 we would bring in all to the knowledge of the truth--however dark you may feel1 however miserable you may seem1 ,i hope the ,lord will over-rule that1 to bring you out of yourself1 daily to die to self1 daily to be looking to ,jesus1 and being satisfied that he is your eternal all1 that he has taken away all your guilt1 that he has bore all your sins1 that he has obeyed for you1 that he is your intercessor before the throne1 that he lives to plead your cause1 manage all your concerns1 turn every apparent evil into good1 will never leave you until he has done all the good he his promised unto you4 ,i am a little acquainted with your trials2 much as ,i am tried myself1 ,i would not exchange troubles with you4 ,i thank you for your kind wish1 that ,i may be favored with the divine presence1 this is the general prayer of the ,lord's people1 for me1 and ,i am much honored with it4 ,what shall ,i render to the ,lord4 ,i hope he is leading me to the knowledge of ,christ1 it is eternal life to know him2 and ,god has promised us an heart to know him1 so as to live upon him1 make use of him1 and give him all the glory4 ,as this is so capital a blessing1 so ,i must remind you that this is the work of the ,holy ,ghost1 in the heart2 and his sacred indwelling1 is the presence of ,god4 ,let thy ,presence go with me1 prayed ,moses4 ,this was typified by the ,cloudy ,pillar1 which abode upon1 encompassed round1 and led1 protected1 and cheered the ,israelites1 for forty years2 and although they often rebelled1 fretted1 complained1 and sinned against ,god1 yet he bore with their manners1 changed his conduct1 tried them1 and permitted them to be beset by enemies1 yet he did not take away the cloudy pillar4 ,you know how to apply this subject4 ,i bless ,god the work is going on in your soul1 and if the following things ,i see in you1 and gather from your kind letter1 are evidences of the work of ,god1 my dear friend is in possession of it4 ,a being quickened to see the misery of a fallen nature4 ,humbling views of your own nothingness4 ,an earnest desire for communion with ,christ1 in his own ordinances4 ,a patient1 yet longing1 waiting for pardoning love to be manifested to the soul1 with power4 ,a daily cross1 felt from nature1 sin1 ,satan1 and the world4 ,a grief of heart1 that you cannot serve the ,lord as you desire4 ,sympathy with the tried people of ,god4 ,gratitude for past experiences1 of the power of ,god on the soul4 ,a coming out of self daily1 and leaning upon ,jesus1 the best beloved4 ,this is the path--go on dear ,friend-- ,wrestle until your ,god be known1 ',till you can call the ,lord your own4 ,your's1 in him1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxvii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,nov4 #ahth1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,,tungate4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friends1 ,i trust the ,god of all grace is carrying on his own work in both your souls4 ,this may be doubted by you in your darkest seasons1 but when you feel the word with power1 when you get access to ,god1 when you feel joy and peace in believing1 when you feel ,christ very precious to your soul1 then you are at a point about it4 ,none can persuade you out of your feelings1 nor dispute you out of your esteem for1 and love to ,christ1 his truths1 his people1 or his word4 ,your spiritual birth is clear1 your title to heaven is plain1 you have then a sensible witness in yourself1 that you are born of ,god1 and that you know ,god4 ,you have had such seasons3 this is tasting the new wine of the kingdom1 this is finding the ,pearl of great ,price1 this is the new heart of flesh1 this is the right spirit1 this is coming into the banqueting house1 this is being fed with honey out of the rock1 this is enjoying the fatted calf2 the ring of eternal love1 the wedding garment1 and the shoes of the gospel of peace4 ,this is finding the piece of silver1 and proving wisdom's ways pleasantness1 and her paths peace4 ,this is walking in the light of ,god's countenance1 and receiving the end of our faith--the present salvation of the soul4 ,i have had a few such times as these since ,i have been here1 but these have not lasted long2 ,i wish they had so overpowered me1 that they had broke up old nature1 and ushered me into the full enjoyment of ,god4 ,but the sun is gone down1 night is come on again1 the beasts of the forest creep forth1 the ,devil takes every advantage1 and the world seems to frown1 yet every thing urges the necessity of walking by faith1 of making use of ,christ as the ,almighty physician1 the healer of breaches1 and the restorer of wanderers4 ,this is the name that is very precious to us1 ,i am the ,lord that healeth thee2 and every gracious look from him1 melts us1 renews us1 revives us1 and conquers the heart4 ,this was the look that melted ,peter4 ,a great traveller and writer says he saw some rocks abroad1 which dropped water when the sun shone on them4 ,this was true1 indeed1 of ,peter1 whose name signifies a rock1 or a stone2 and it is equally true of us1 who are called stones4 ,i ever wish to be under the soul melting influence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,oh1 that he would so blessedly overcome our hearts with his love1 in great power4 ,this is what ,i am praying to feel very often1 yet1 it is the will of our divine ,lord1 to exercise our minds sharply with sore trials2 and1 the very worst of all trials1 is a being daily burdened with sin1 working within1 and1 like prisoners1 either entreating for liberty1 or trying to get out4 ,these often hide the ,saviour from us1 and make it winter in the soul2 faith is weak1 hope is low1 love is cold1 and patience is gone sick to bed2 yet the ,lord is at hand1 he is very near1 although we see him not1 nor feel him4 ,jacob said1 ,the ,lord is in this place1 and ,i knew it not4 ,philosophers say1 ,the sun is nearer to us in winter than in summer2 this does not appear true1 but it has been1 and is very easily proved4 ,so ,christ1 the ,son of righteousness1 is nearer to us in our winter graces of faith and patience1 than in our summer graces of joy1 hope1 peace1 and love4 ,he makes his way to us1 when we cannot find the way to him1 he seeks us1 when we cannot seek him1 he can find us1 and he holds us1 when we cannot find him1 or claim him as our's4 ,that precious text1 #acth ,zechariah1 and last verse1 is often precious to me in this furnace2 the ,god of truth promises1 first1 ,i will bring you through2 second1 ,they shall call on my name2 third1 ,i will try them2 fourth1 ,i will say they are mine2 fifth1 and they shall say the ,lord is mine4 ,what a feast does this text afford me in those days of my calamity2 some parts have been fulfilled in my experience1 the other part will ere long3 and as soon as the deliverance comes1 we must look out for some other trials4 ,the ,christian's seldom long at ease1 ,one ,trial gone1 another doth him seize4 ,this is the way2 but as loved1 redeemed1 called1 pardoned by precious blood1 and justified by imputed righteousness1 we shall get safe home1 to celebrate eternal mercy1 as displayed by a triune ,god in our salvation4 ,i long for the time to meet you both again1 at the table of the ,lord4 ,i trust ,christ will be more dear to us than ever1 that we shall be dying daily1 and living in1 and by1 and with ,christ4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxviii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,january #bfth1 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,,farmer4 ,,my ,,much ,,esteemed ,,friend1 ,you must think me very unkind1 and seemingly negligent in writing to you1 but ,i can assure you ,i have never forgotten you1 from the first day of our acquaintance4 ,i often anticipate the period when1 ,i hope1 we shall often yet meet on praying ground--in the church militant1 and finally1 in the church triumphant4 ,at present the church is in a militant state2 the term is military1 and implies a warfare1 contending powers1 within and without4 ,the worst lays within--every evil done in this world1 and every sin in devils2 we have the root of them in our hearts2 this we must feel1 groan under1 and lament2 we derived this nature from our first parent1 his sin became our's1 as we stood in him1 we sinned in him1 and fell with him1 we are guilty of his sin1 and it is imputed to us4 ,so we also took a most corrupt nature1 and this is seen as soon as we can shew it4 ,we go astray from the womb1 and should stray into hell1 if it was not for the grace of ,god2 and being depraved1 how could we do any thing that is good4 ,alas6 if our salvation depended on a good thought1 we must have been lost for ever4 ,almighty mercy has shewn you those things2 and when you hear any talk1 or see them hoping upon their own goodness1 does it not raise disgust in your mind at the sentiment4 ,bless ,god for causing you to differ2 you might have been left to the blindness of your mind1 the perversity of your will1 and the hatred of the heart to ,god6 ,you find these things still working1 but they do not reign4 ,they1 and every other evil in the heart1 are like rebellious prisoners1 are often contriving schemes to get out1 and to regain the old liberty you used to give them2 but although they rebel1 and may prevail against you1 yet1 they never can take the castle of the heart4 ,there may be a bias1 a propensity to evil1 but you can never be a carnal man again--you may look like one1 feel like one1 and suffer like one2 but though this may grieve you1 it shall never be accomplished in the way ,satan desires4 ,hence ,solomon says1 ,there is vanity ,i have seen on the earth2 that there be just men1 to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked1 and that there be wicked men1 to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous4 ,i said1 ,this also is vanity4 ,i trust your convictions are genuine1 and this is the first work of the ,spirit1 to prepare the way for the revelation of ,christ to the soul4 ,christ has no room in an unhumbled1 hard1 careless1 unconvinced1 unbroken spirit4 ,he has declared he will dwell with none but those who contrite and humbled--,these characters are particularly described in his commission1 as set forth in ,isaiah xli1 #a1 #b1 #c4 ,this was the first text our dear ,lord took when he preached in the ,synagogue2 and although we have no account of the sermon1 yet the substance of it was given by our ,lord to his disciples1 on the ,mount1 in the #eth of ,matthew1 where we have an eight-fold description of the persons interested in him1 as the eternal life of his saints4 ,god's blessing on mount ,zion1 is life for evermore2 and when the ,priest1 under the old ,law1 declared the blessing to the people1 he always said1 ,the ,lord bless thee2 so ,christ1 our great ,high ,priest1 began his sermon with blessing--it was no part of his work to pronounce the curse of the ,law4 ,hence he said to the ,jews1 ,think not that ,i will accuse you to the ,father1 there is one that accuseth you already1 ,moses1 in whom you trust4 ,there is nothing in the heart of ,christ to his people1 but love1 mercy1 pity1 goodwill1 and kindness2 he knows all our sins and ,god-provoking crimes1 in thought1 word1 and deed1 but these he does not so much as mention1 only by pleading his precious blood for their forgiveness1 and by setting his work against our sins4 ,hence these two precious texts1 8,i1 even ,i1 am he that blotteth ,i out thy transgressions40 8,the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 his ,son1 cleanseth us from all sin40 ,it is in the present tense1 it is above1 yea1 infinitely above all our sins4 ,the precious work of ,christ is compared to a sea1 for its abundance2 and our guilt is compared to a mountain1 which may be cast into the sea1 but it would be soon lost there4 ,this arises from the dignity of the person who died for us1 it was ,jehovah ,jesus--possessing every divine perfection in his nature1 ,god over all blessed for ever1 who condescended to take up our nature1 and obey the law1 as man--which himself has given1 as ,god4 ,this was surprising love indeed1 love to his own law1 and love to us1 as sinners4 ,may we love him with every power and passion on earth and in heaven4 ,christ ,god-,man is our ,saviour--he is the ,head of the ,church1 as the elect1 and the only ,saviour of her1 as fallen4 ,he is ,prophet1 ,priest1 and ,king to us2 and these grand offices he has gloriously delayed in obtaining our salvation1 and by the holy influences of the ,spirit making them known to us4 ,as blind and ignorant1 we need ,god-,man for our ,instructor4 ,as rebels against ,god1 and slaves to ,satan1 we need him for our ,king1 to subdue and conquer us4 ,as bound over to judgment1 and exposed to misery1 we need him as our ,priest1 to intercede for us4 ,and this will give you sweet light into that glorious1 but well known text1 #ith ,isaiah1 8,unto us a child is born1 unto us a son is given2 and his name shall be called ,wonderful1 ,counsellor1 the mighty ,god1 the everlasting ,father1 the ,prince of ,peace40 ,here is the whole of ,christ made manifest1 in his two natures1 divine and human4 ,here are his blessed offices1 ,counsellor in his prophetic office1 the everlasting ,father1 in his priestly office1 the mighty ,god and ,prince of ,peace1 in his kingly office4 ,may this subject be precious to your soul1 and may ,god the holy ,ghost give you supernatural ideas of ,christ1 and of the ,father's love to him1 and in him4 ,most hearers are satisfied with their own natural knowledge of ,christ2 may you and ,i be blest with supernatural views--if the ,lord favours me with much of this blessing1 ,i shall not murmur at two years captivity4 ,the liberty of the soul is of the greatest importance2 and very often those who have the greatest bondage of body and circumstances1 are favored with the sweetest access to ,god4 ,when the streams of creature comfort run dry1 the fountain is most divinely prized4 ,seek his favour1 and labour in spirit for the fullest assurance of faith1 hope1 and spiritual understanding4 ,my kindest love to your better half1 and her dear mother4 ,something strikes my mind ,i shall meet you all three in heaven4 ,i know not what will befal me in future2 the ,lord is able to make it light at midnight1 and ,i think ,i know what it means--'tis darkness all round me1 strange it should be light within1 yet so ,i sometimes find it4 ,the ,egyptian enemies are in total darkness1 but the spiritual ,israelites have light in their dwellings4 ,i cannot send your dear wife and mother but these three verses4 ,great ,god ,i would not ask to see1 ,what in futurity shall be2 ,if light and bliss attend my days1 ,then let my future hours be praise4 ,is darkness and distress my share1 ,then let me trust thy guardian care4 ,enough for me1 if love divine1 ,at length through every cloud shall shine4 ,yet this my soul desires to know1 ,be this my only wish below1 ,that ,christ is mine--this great request ,grant blessed ,lord1 and ,i am blest4 ,my heart is so sweetly opened in writing to you all1 that you must pardon every error4 ,i hope you do me the favor of taking in my scrawl every fort'night4 ,give my kind love to dear ,mrs4 ,wise1 and to ,mrs4 ,barns--,god bless you all4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxix4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,dec4 #ast1 #ahai4 ,mrs4 ,,wise4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i have had such repeated proofs of your kindness and concern1 that ,i may well address you thus1 ,i cannot sufficiently express my obligations--this is a subject ,i know is not very pleasant to you1 but gratitude compels me to make this acknowledgment4 ,i beg the ,lord to bless you with much grace1 in the knowledge of himself2 this will be making you really wise indeed1 you will then become wise in spirit1 as well as name4 ,god has promised that all his people shall know him1 from the least to the greatest1 this is the joint work of the adorable ,trinity4 ,the ,father teaches us out of his love1 and after chastening us with a sense of his displeasure with our sins1 he clothes us with the righteousness of ,christ1 and draws our hearts to ,christ4 ,the dear ,saviour accepts us1 and shews us the love of the ,father to us1 opens his own work1 instructs us in the knowledge of his person1 nature1 engagements and offices2 while the ever blessed ,spirit displays his kind offices1 by bearing testimony of ,christ in his exact suitableness to us4 ,he reveals the dignity1 excellency1 and value of ,christ2 he bears witness to our spirits that we are the children of ,god4 ,this he does in his ordinary operations1 by enabling us to see1 that our experience and views1 are agreeable to his promises2 that his leadings and teachings1 are the very footsteps of the flock2 that his word and our experience corresponds4 ,thus the ever adorable ,spirit1 as a witness1 enables us to compare spiritual things with spiritual1 spiritual experience with spiritual truths in the word4 ,in this gracious influence1 you would do well to examine the word4 ,look1 for instance1 into many precious ,psalms1 see how they suit you2 then read many grand parts of ,isaiah1 particularly the #edth chapter2 then the latter part of ,ezekiel1 #cfth chapter2 the #crd of ,john1 #ajth of ,romans1 and indeed wherever the work of the ,spirit is set forth--because the work of the ,holy ,spirit in the heart1 is the sure evidence of an interest in the love of ,god1 and in the person1 love1 and grace of ,christ4 ,this is an infallible testimony2 but sometimes the ,lord more sensibly overcomes the soul with his love1 and extends peace like a river2 then our comforts abound1 our joys are real1 and we feel that we are at peace with ,god4 ,we get then indeed upon the mount of high communion and fellowship1 we feel his love1 we feel the comforts of the ,gospel1 we feel the joys of his salvation4 ,now1 in both these instances the ,spirit bears witness2 the first is common1 the latter special4 ,i prize the first because it abides1 the last1 only is enjoyed but seldom--,i could wish it always did1 but where would be the warfare1 where would be the carrying a daily cross4 ,i have experienced both in this place1 more divinely than even ,i did before2 and ,i am brought to hate sin more than ever1 for these three reasons especially2 because it is high rebellion against the best of ,fathers2 because it murdered the ,son of ,god2 and because it is so offensive to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,these are the reasons2 and you know it is one thing to hate sin1 because of the injuries it does us1 and another thing to hate it1 because it offends the ,lord4 ,may you feel the consolations of the ,holy ,spirit often in your soul1 and when you do not1 still1 ,i trust1 you will be led to the ,father's record of ,christ1 and the ever blessed ,spirit's testimony of him2 and as your faith increases1 so you will find it most blessed to live in believing views of him1 as the everlasting covenant ,head of his people1 as putting away sin1 as making intercession for you1 and daily presenting your person to ,god2 and as your righteousness1 strength1 your joy1 and your all4 ,and if you live a thousand years in the church militant1 you will never out-live this humble doting of faith-- ,a guilty1 weak1 and helpless worm1 ,on thy kind arms ,i fall2 ,be thou my strength and righteousness1 ,my ,jesus1 and my all4 ,true wisdom consists in fearing the ,lord4 ,behold1 the fear of the ,lord1 that is wisdom4 ,it also consists in flying to ,christ for refuge--,the prudent man foreseeth the evil1 and hideth himself4 ,it consists in the knowing our sins are forgiven us--,the ,day ,spring from on high hath visited us1 to give the knowledge of salvation1 by the forgiveness of sin4--,it also consists in the blessed operations of the ,holy ,spirit--,the wisdom which is from above is pure1 peaceable1 and heavenly4 ,and true wisdom also consists in a good knowledge of the word of ,god4 ,this is able in the power of ,god1 to make us wise to salvation4--,may this be your happy experience1 and you will be wise indeed4 ,very kind respects to ,mr4 ,f4 his dear ,mother1 and ,spouse4 ,i remain your well-wisher1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxx4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,january #bcrd1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,,barnes4 ,,my ,,dear ,,old ,,friend1 ,i trust these lines will find you well in health1 seeking the ,lord from a feeling sense of need1 waiting for more grace1 that you may love the ,saviour more1 and serve him better4 ,he is a good master1 and ,i have found him so4 ,he is kind1 loving1 and gracious1 and no doubt ,i shall prove him so to the end4 ,i find him now in his supporting hand1 his sacred presence1 his word sweet in reading1 and his throne still open to receive my petitions4 ,i am shut out from my public work1 but ,i am not shut out from ,god1 and ,i shall yet see why ,i am put in this place1 through the cruelty of a wicked man1 who has sworn falsely1 both before a magistrate and a judge1 when ,i could not defend myself1 but he will have his reward another day4 ,no doubt ,i am sent here for some very great end1 and if it is but for the good of one soul1 it will be worth all my sorrow4 ,i only want to live to know more of ,christ1 to bring forth more fruit to ,god1 and to be useful to others--and ,i may be useful here1 as well as in any other place4 ,i hope you will be favored by the blessed ,spirit with an enlarged mind1 to see such excellencies in ,christ--as ,god-,man ,mediator1 as bearing all your sin1 as suffering in your stead1 as obeying the law for you1 taking away the sting of death1 rising for your life1 ascending to heaven1 and appearing in your room for you before ,god2 in a prepared place to make intercession with ,god1 to send you every blessing1 and to wait till your appointed time1 then he will send for you home1 to be with him for ever4 ,there you will see his face1 and never1 never sin4 ,these are blessings you must long for1 if you belong to ,god4 ,sin must be felt as a burden1 sin must be hated as an enemy1 sin must be fled from as a serpent1 sin must be pardoned and took away before ,god2 and nothing can do this for us1 but the precious blood of ,christ1 and the free favour of ,god1 manifested in the work of the ,holy ,spirit1 leading our minds to the ,saviour1 and enabling us to believe in him to the saving of the soul4 ,o that you may be blessed with clearer knowledge1 stronger faith1 greater love1 and sweeter obedience4 ,i am grieved ,i am not able to preach the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 as ,i once did1 but ,i live in the hopes of being a greater blessing to the church than ,i ever was before2 but1 ,i trust1 if ,i ever do again1 ,i shall keep many at a greater distance than ,i did before4 ,i am at times broken-hearted about the cause of ,christ1 especially that part of it ,i had the management of4 ,it is like a ship at sea1 we will call her the ,packet ,distress--the disciples went out to sea1 night came on1 the wind blew hard1 the sea arose in consequence of it1 the poor ship was in the dark1 and in the deep4 ,no sails were unfurled1 they were obliged to tug at the oar1 and after they had rowed a great way1 ,jesus was seen on the water coming towards them2 but although when they were toiling in rowing1 and what is very blessed to remember is1 that while they were tossed about on the stormy sea1 ,jesus was on a mountain1 praying for them4 ,this circumstance was in the #fth chapter of ,mark1 #de to #east verse2 the #fth of ,john1 #af to #bast verse4 ,i need not tell you a great storm has arose1 by reason of a great wind that has blown--blessed be ,god it is but wind1 and the ,lord commands that1 and he must allay it1 when he has accomplished all the ends he had in view4 ,and though he permits these things1 he has some grand end in view--he will be glorified in all he permits4 ,the sailors had no sails up in this storm1 it was too great1 and perhaps very little love is felt by those who are tempest tossed1 so that we must ply the oar of all-prayer together1 and in due time the dear ,redeemer will appeal to our joy4 ,he is now in heaven1 ,i hope pleading the cause of his poor tried people1 and in life own time1 when we are tired in toiling and rowing1 we shall see him treading down the proud waves of our enemies1 and calling out--,it is ,i1 be not afraid4 ,then all will be calm again--none can make it calm but the ,saviour2 to him let us look1 in him let us hope1 life has all power in heaven and in earth1 and none can stay his hand1 or say1 ,what doest thou8 ,i hope we shall yet see better days1 and live more to ,god's glory4 ,this we cannot do without more grace1 and when we feel what poor sinners we are1 then is the time to pray for more grace4 ,it is not enough to be convinced we are sinners1 but we must know we are pardoned sinners1 and as we receive this knowledge1 so our sins are subdued4 ,nothing can so truly subdue sin1 as the hope1 or the full assurance they are forgiven4 ,i hope the ,lord is shewing you what you are in yourself1 humbling you with the most blessed views of ,christ1 and at times giving you a spirit of prayer1 and of hearing1 and tho' you are not able to read much1 yet ,i trust many sweet texts of scripture come to your mind1 to encourage you to hope for salvation1 through the doing and dying of ,christ4 ,i hope you will be led to know more of ,christ and his precious salvation1 more of his person and work1 by the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit1 that you may feel the earnests of heaven4 ,the ,lord has promised we shall know him1 from the least to the greatest1 that he will be merciful to our souls1 and that we shall be satisfied with his favour4 ,this is all that is worth living for1 and as it is to his glory1 so we glorify him by seeking after this4 ,i have many precious moments in this place alone4 ,i find the ,saviour very dear to my heart1 and though ,i am much distressed at times about my family1 on whose account ,i weep in secret very bitterly1 and also about my friends1 who have been persecuted for my sake4 ,these things grieve my soul1 but yet ,i have much to be thankful for4 ,all the persons ,i am situated with1 treat me with great respect1 and my dear friends supply my wants4 ,thus ,i am favored1 time is on the wing1 eternity and heaven draws near1 we shall soon have done with all temporal things1 and ,god will then fill every power of the soul4 ,may your life be in faith1 and your death glorious4 ,may ,god be with you1 and among many mercies1 may you be thankful the ,lord has blessed you with so good a master and mistress1 who indulges you with an opportunity of hearing the ,gospel--what would ,i have given for such a situation once4 ,may the ,saviour bless them4 ,i remain1 your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxi4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,oct4 #bjth1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,,lawson4 ,,my ,,dear ,,brother in the ,,great ,,head of the ,,church4 ,in your kind visit to me last ,sunday1 you dropped a word which ,i caught1 on that very important text which has sometimes troubled some of ,god's dear children1 #ffth ,psalm1 #ahth verse1 8,if ,i regard iniquity in my heart1 the ,lord will not hear me40 ,the reason why the children of the most high are staggered about this text1 is because they are the unhappy subjects of the body of sin and death--of course1 they feel those strong propensities to sin1 of every kind1 a carnal nature1 with which they are tried1 they feel lusts or desires after that which is contrary to ,god--in their flesh or old man1 there is nothing that is good4 ,this flesh does not mean the body4 ,for there are many good things in that vessel4 ,there is a regenerated soul1 there are principles of grace1 there is the ,holy ,spirit in it1 as his own temple4 ,but the flesh1 the carnal part of an elect person1 as regenerated1 is distinct from both the body and the soul2 yet both are at times influenced1 led captive1 overcome and ensnared by this plague1 this burden1 this grief1 this old man1 so called by the ,apostle1 and by ,solomon called a strange woman1 against which1 he1 in the person of ,christ1 cautions his children in many places in the book of ,proverbs4 ,the worst part we feel of this evil principle1 is the sinful desires for sensual and carnal gratifications4 ,this was the way-faring man1 who came to ,david1 and would not be satisfied without the ewe lamb2 and this same traveller often visits us2 for though he is an inmate with ,god's children1 yet through the reign of ,grace1 he is not our king1 ruler1 or associate4 ,the grace of ,god has altered all our minds1 took the throne of our hearts1 and reigns king here4 ,for thus runs the covenant promise1 ,sin shall not have the dominion over you1 grace shall reign4 ,we have fell out with sin1 we have another nature which hates sin1 nor can it ever entertain it more4 ,we hate iniquity by the holy principle in us4 ,this iniquity which the ,psalmist refers to1 ,i humbly conceive1 means those awful principles of pride1 and self-righteousness1 in which mankind are involved1 and by which they deceive their souls4 ,i need not remind you of the distinction between transgression and iniquity2 the one refers to the out-breakings of sin into acts of immorality2 the other refers to the carnal ambitious principles of free-will1 independence1 and self-sufficiency4 ,david had seen an end of perfection1 by the application of the law2 he had been in the horrible pit1 and miry clay1 and had been led to see that his own righteousness could not bear the strict scrutiny of ,god's justice1 and that in ,god's sight1 no flesh living could be justified1 by any thing they could do4 ,his mind was fixed on the adorable ,redeemer1 as his surety1 mediator1 righteousness1 and intercessor--here his heart was fixed1 trusting on this he lived and died4 ,through this medium alone1 his soul had access to ,god1 his prayers were heard and answered1 his requests were received1 and his petitions granted4 ,this was an evidence that he had an holy principle within him that hated iniquity1 although he had an opposite principle within him that did regard iniquity4 ,the ,lord looks upon us as we are in ,christ1 and as we are under the reign of grace1 which destroys the reign of sin1 transgression1 and iniquity4 ,david hated all the works of the flesh1 and above all1 those cursed principles which are in opposition to the humiliating doctrines of the ,gospel1 which teach men to look to1 trust in1 and make their own works1 either in whole or in part1 a ,saviour4 ,the ,lord had appeared to ,david1 as a prayer-answering ,god2 this was an undeniable proof that he did not regard iniquity in his regenerated soul1 and every answer to prayer which we receive1 is a most blessed evidence to us1 that grace has done the same for us which it did for ,david4 ,hence he acknowledges the mercy1 in the two following verses4 ,i beg you to read the connection from #afth verse to the close4 ,but my dear friend1 may we not look a little higher than ,david or any chosen vessel2 may not this passage belong to ,david's ,lord1 of whom he speaks throughout the book of ,psalms4 ,was not his nature entirely free from sin and iniquity2 was he not holy1 harmless1 and undefiled1 separated and free from iniquity as ,god himself2 and if he had not been so1 he could not have made an atonement for his ,church1 nor wrought out a righteousness for them2 but having completed the work1 by his interest he obtained the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 to abide in and with his people for ever4 ,in this view1 only read over the above verse1 and you will see a peculiar glory in them1 in reference to ,christ4 ,may he be very dear to your heart1 living and dying2 may you be led to his person and work1 and feel joy and peace in believing in the love which ,god hath for you in ,christ4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,november #ahth1 #ahah4 ,mrs4 ,,march4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i well know the cause why you are absent from chapel--if a preacher does not stand manifest to your conscience1 you cannot hear him1 nor can ,i blame you4 ,the time of my deliverance ,i hope will come1 when ,i trust to meet the ,lord's people once more1 and abide with them1 till sickness and death finally separate4 ,the second chapter of ,isaiah is a very grand and solemn part of ,god's word4 ,i have no commentators here to explain it1 but hope the ,lord will give me a little light into it1 as ,i write this short note on it1 particularly that important address1 in the #ajth verse1 which you beg a few thoughts on4 ,the compass of a very long letter1 would be too short to set forth one half the beauties and excellencies contained in this part of sacred writ4 ,the prophet ,isaiah is supposed to be the most evangelical of all the prophets1 not1 but all the rest wrote of the same grand object1 ,christ1 but this great man was led more deeply into the subject4 ,he lived under the reigns of several kings1 and died a martyr1 under the reign of ,manasseh4 ,it is supposed he was sawn asunder with a wooden saw4 ,he was led most divinely to see the person1 glory1 love1 work1 and the kingdom of ,christ1 the nature of the ,gospel dispensation1 and the peculiar happiness of the ,church1 in the first dawn of that period1 and its full meridian in the latter day glory4 ,to these distant times1 he1 no doubt1 alludes in the five first verses of this chapter4 ,the conquests of grace1 is particularly pointed out in the #dth verse4 ,when ,christ1 to whom all judgment is given1 shall reign in the power of his ,gospel1 in every part of the world1 and when fierce persecutors1 who have been as swords and spears against the saints1 those being converted1 should be made useful characters in the ,lord's garden4 ,we are exhorted to walk in the light of the gospel1 and perhaps our ,lord1 and his servant ,john1 alludes to this text in their several addresses to the saints1 in the ,gospel and ,epistles of ,john4 ,we may1 with propriety1 call ,isaiah the ,old ,testament ,apostle--such were his clear views of ,christ1 that one would think we were reading a history of circumstances past1 more than a prophesy of what was to come1 although he lived1 probably1 seven hundred years before the events themselves took place4 ,the prophet then proceeds1 from the #fth verse of this chapter1 and the following verses1 to predict the desolation of ,jerusalem1 for those sins which had so much displeased the ,lord1 particularly the reigning sin of idolatry1 to which the ,jews were so awfully prone4 ,this prophecy may allude to the first captivity1 by ,nebuchadnezzar1 which was a very desolating siege1 but more particularly to the destruction of the city and temple of ,jerusalem1 by the ,roman armies1 for their rejection of the ,gospel1 the murder of the ,son of ,god1 and their persecution of the apostles and ministers of ,christ4 ,the ,jews were all wedded to their own works1 and trusting in them1 is idolatry4 ,this was their base conduct1 both rich and poor1 therefore the ,lord was determined to break up house-keeping with them1 and devote the whole land to destruction2 and such should be the terrors of the siege1 that the prophet is commanded to direct the attention of many to the holes of the rocks and caves of the earth--such should be horrors experienced by all the inhabitants of ,judea1 from the terrible majesty of ,jehovah1 when he should shake the earth with his awful vengeance4 ,this subject is again and again repeated1 to shew its certainty and its horror1 a faint shadow of the last great day1 when our ,god shall appear in grandeur1 our world shall be in flames1 when consternation shall turn every unprepared heart pale as the second death1 #bdth ,matthew2 and the #fth of ,revelations should be read with this chapter1 but ,i humbly conceive this address in the #ajth verse1 may be applied to ,god's children1 who should live to see these awful times1 and indeed1 viewed in a gospel sense1 there is no period when the exhortation is needless4 ,we are sinners1 guilty1 polluted1 undone1 and hell-deserving4 ,god1 as viewed in the law1 is truly awful4 ,he appears1 and every truly awakened soul sees him1 and dreads him as a sin-avenging ,god1 who will by no means of man's devising1 clear the guilty4 ,the sinner who is under the hand of the law1 feels the intolerable burden of his own sins1 views the holiness of ,god1 the extent and spirituality of the commandments1 and groans under fearful apprehensions of eternal woe1 and who finds he can do nothing but sin in thought1 word1 and deed1 notwithstanding all his vows1 watchings1 and care2 yet his mind apprehending the faithfulness and unchangeableness of ,god1 who has declared1 ,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die4 ,this awful perfection dwells on his mind1 and the horrors1 real and imaginary1 seize his spirits4 ,here he feels the evil of sin1 the terrors of the ,almighty1 the nature of the law1 the impossibility of being saved by it1 the awful state of all who are out of ,christ1 however moral their deportment1 or clear their doctrinal views4 ,here a soul sees his need of a surety1 his need of a better righteousness than his own1 his need of an atonement1 and a ,saviour1 who is ,god-,man ,mediator4 ,this is learning the subject from real heart felt experience2 and this explains many passages in the ,bible1 descriptive of the feelings of many who were brought into this state4 ,this is being planted into the likeness of ,christ's death1 and when such souls are brought into the liberty of the gospel1 they know1 even if they cannot explain1 what it is to be planted into the likeness of his resurrection also4 ,now to all such tried souls1 exercised with the terrors of ,god1 and fearing his wrath and terrible majesty1 as a sin-avenging ,god1 to all such is the address made1 ,enter into the rock1 and hide thee in the dust4 ,when the prophet ,jeremiah was exercised1 with some awful impressions of the divine majesty1 he describes a soul made so willing to see his interest in pardoning mercy1 that he putteth his mouth in the dust4 ,if so be there may be hope1 the lowest place that can be1 suits such an one1 yea1 in the very dust1 pleading for mercy and pardon1 through the blood of the ,lamb1 and his law-fulfilling righteousness4 ,i have often been in this state2 and perhaps the prophet refers to such a state in the #bith chapter1 #dth verse1 ,and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust4 ,this1 although many miseries are experienced1 is a safe state2 but none can believe that we are thus exercised1 till ,god raises the poor from the dust1 and the needy from the dunghill4 ,see #aac ,psalm1 #ast of ,samuel1 ii1 #g1 #h4 ,the command is1 ,enter into the rock4 ,there is no safety but in him1 he is the rock1 and his work is perfect4 ,he is the high1 holy1 fruitful1 refreshing1 foundation2 shelter1 safety1 defence1 and strength of his church4 ,here many a soul has run1 and found safety1 help1 comfort1 and peace3 this is the only dwelling place for a law-condemned sinner1 who has fled for refuge2 here alone is firm1 floating1 and solid peace1 all1 all is sea beside4 ,i must refer you to that blessed circumstance1 recorded in #ccrd ,exodus1 and the close of the chapter4 ,this will greatly assist your spiritual views of the passage under consideration4 ,it is only in ,christ we can see the glory of ,god4 ,to enter in1 is the mind enabled by ,god the ,spirit's power1 to receive the truth1 and to be led by the same ,spirit to apprehend the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 as he is revealed4 ,this is the truth that makes us free1 hand as it enters into the mind1 so we sweetly enter into it4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxiv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,april #dth1 #ahai4 ,mrs4 ,,lawson1 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,with grief of heart ,i have to inform you1 that poor ,dean is appointed to die on ,thursday morning4 ,this is a most distressing circumstance1 as ,i know the poor fellow entertained a hope that it would be proved an act of insanity4 ,my feelings will be sorely distressed1 as ,i shall have the pain to hear his poor trembling footsteps on the scaffold4 ,may ,god prepare his soul1 and assure him of his interest in ,christ4 ,may he feel the pardoning love of ,god--this will be as pillars of marble1 to support his sinking heart4 ,oh that he may be washed in the dear ,redeemer's blood1 and clothed with his righteousness1 that he may be accepted of the ,father the moment the soul quits the body4 ,glad should ,i be to visit him1 and pray with him1 but that is not allowed4 ,last night ,i was very low about him1 and suddenly opened upon the #cgth ,psalm1 ,the ,lord will not leave him in his hand1 nor condemn him when he is judged4 ,if his last letter to me was genuine1 he is saved in the ,lord1 with an everlasting salvation4 ,his soul is every thing now1 the body will soon be lifeless4 ,solemn thought1 affecting idea--to be cut off by an untimely death1 in the height of health and manhood6 ,how truly awful2 what has sin done1 and ,oh how great is the power of ,satan4 ,the ,lord will put an end to the empire of ,satan1 and confine him down to darkness1 fire1 and chains1 and we shall say ,amen to ,satan's sentence4 ,i trust poor ,dean has found mercy at the hands of ,god4 ,various letters ,i have sent him1 and glad ,i am the ,lord enabled me to point him to the bleeding cross4 ,his first letter to me1 was a proof his mind was very dark1 and his last letter proves his increase in light and faith2 if the ,lord has thus blessed my poor letters to him1 you and ,i can see that ,i was not sent here in vain4 ,it is well1 the ,lord has many means to bring his children to the knowledge of the truth4 ,what ,god did to ,pharaoh1 and his host1 reached the ear of ,rahab the harlot1 in ,jericho1 and she was converted4 ,the fame of ,solomon's wisdom was heard in the country of the ,sabeans1 and proved the conversion of the queen of ,sheba4 ,the wonderful destruction of the ,assyrian army1 reached to ,babylon1 from thence came the wise men to worship ,christ1 and a church was formed there4 ,a famine drove ,naomi from ,bethlehem1 and she carried the knowledge of the true ,god to the country of ,moab1 which proved the conversion of ,ruth4 ,the ,syrians invaded ,israel1 and took a little maid captive1 which terminated in the conversion of ,namaan4 ,a famine drove ,elijah to a widow at ,zidon1 and ,elisha's passing by a house at ,shunem1 proved their conversion4 ,paul and ,silas were taken up1 and put in prison1 and ,onesimus was confined in the same place for felony1 and ,paul was the means of his conversion there4 ,a person swore that against me which ,i knew nothing about1 and ,i was doomed to this place for a time4 ,i dread the approach of ,thursday1 the shock will be great1 but it will be soon over2 and then1 ,o what a transition--what bliss will his spirit feel1 and what gratitude to ,god for bringing him home from an ignominious death1 to eternal life4 ,i have been informed ,mr4 ,hyat1 of the ,tabernacle1 visited him several times1 and those visits have been blessed to his soul4 ,i find faith and patience wants strengthening1 but all fullness is in ,christ4 ,i am glad prayer is making in the ,church for ,mr4 ,d4 ,ever your's1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,may #hth1 #ahai4 ,mrs4 ,o1 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i well know your concern about the state of poor ,mr4 ,d4 ,yourself and your dear sister--dear indeed by a three-fold cord of nature1 grace and trials1 have expressed much anxiety for some information on the subject of his conversion and end4 ,i have but few materials to furnish you with that account1 as my situation precluded all intercourse with him1 except by letter and a distant view of each other4 ,this was no small matter of sorrow to me1 for many weeks1 nor could ,i often help exclaiming in the pathetic language of ,jeremiah1 8,truly this is a grief1 but must ,i bear it40 ,some time ago1 ,i wrote a few lines to your dear sister1 giving her an account of the death of three unhappy men 7see ,letter #ai7 but as ,i could gain no satisfaction about them1 sufficient to call your attention to admire that grace1 which ,i was informed they were favored with1 ,i left the subject4 ,god forbid that ,i should exercise more charity to dying men1 than the ,lord has manifested4 ,i am well convinced that the ,judge of all the earth will do right2 and although he giveth not account of his matters1 yet the day will declare his righteousness1 and every dark and mysterious providence will be unfolded2 let us therefore wait the great teacher1 ,death1 and ,god adore4 ,i am not enraptured with the various accounts of the closing scene of many1 nor am ,i moved with the darkness to which ,god's dear people may be liable at the end of their warfare2 all was darkness when the eternal ,son of ,god was dying1 yet1 he was the ,son of ,god1 and ,satan may be permitted to harrass a believer to the very gates of heaven2 yet thousands are deluded to the last moment1 whose hopes are built upon the sand1 and whose religion sinks with their lives1 when their false refuges and lying confidences give way4 ,many profane graceless characters die like lambs1 but ,oh1 could we see what terrors surround them upon its approach to an angry ,god1 in the world of spirits1 it would harrow up our very souls4 ,many proud pharisees1 who are trusting in themselves that they are righteous1 that they are better than others1 die in the same state4 ,many flaming1 professors1 who boast they have done much for ,god1 and his cause1 find in death that ,god has done nothing for them2 and those who only have received the system of truth in the notion1 and yet destitute of its power1 are in the same awful state4 ,many who have come to an ignominious end1 have been left to die with a lie in their mouths1 declaring their innocence of their crimes2 and others have patched up a peace with ,god1 as they call it1 by a little sorrow for sin1 the receiving the sacrament1 by forgiving their enemies1 and dying in peace with all the world4 ,these are some of the various delusions1 in which many of our poor fallen race leave this world for eternity2 but ,i am happy to say1 that ,i believe many have gone from the fatal drop to endless bliss1 who have been convinced of sin1 cried for mercy in ,god's way1 and obtained a sense of pardoning mercy through the doing and dying of the adorable ,mediator4 ,this has inspired a holy confidence in the mind1 that maketh not ashamed1 a hope that cannot fail1 as it centers in the person and finished work of ,christ4 ,great indeed has been the false confidence of many4 ,mary1 queen of ,scots1 a rigid papist1 went to the block to be beheaded1 in a strong confidence4 ,rosseau1 the infidel philosopher1 died as calm as a summer's evening breeze1 and the celebrated ,addison said in death1 8,see in what tranquility a christian can die20 and yet1 alas6 what was the ground of their hopes8 ,but the person who is the subject of this letter1 was indeed better taught1 and we must appeal to the church and the world on his behalf1 and say1 8,is not this a brand plucked out of the fire40 ,it is a mercy to find the ,pearl of great ,price in early life1 as it saves the soul from a thousand thorns1 which gall the consciences of those1 who do not experience the pardon of their sins till the terrors of death approach4 ,the ,lord has given us one particular instance in his word1 of the victory of his grace in the soul1 as the body was wracking in the agonies of death1 and this is recorded that none might despair1 and none might presume4 ,two malefactors were crucified with our dear ,lord1 on ,golgotha2 and when impious profane wretches1 with the hell-hardened priests1 were insulting him in his agonies1 thieves that were crucified with him1 did cast the same in his teeth4 ,this shews the awful state they were both in1 but ,oh1 the freeness and sovereignty of divine grace--the ,lord selected one of those to be an instance of it--at this awful period the ,lord ,jesus looked upon him1 and began his work of grace2 the effects were soon visible1 in reproving his companion1 and submission to his fate1 the acknowledgment of his just sentence1 with a high commendation of the illustrious sufferer4 ,this was presently vented again in prayer1 crying first to his companion in sin and sorrow1 8,dost thou not fear ,god1 seeing thou art in the same condemnation8 ,we indeed1 justly suffer1 but this man hath done nothing amiss40 ,then perhaps writhing his agonising body towards his ,redeemer1 he strove to shew his veneration1 by lowly bowing his head4 ,the effort tore his lengthening wounds1 and the blood gushed forth in larger streams2 but disregarding the pain1 and the streaming blood1 he cried1 8,lord1 remember me1 when thou comest into thy kingdom40 ,the dear ,saviour1 with a divine smile1 which entered the heart of the poor malefactor1 looked on him with benignity1 grace1 and love2 and with a gentle voice replied1 8,this day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise40 ,no doubt this sweet promise was attended with the full pardon of his sins1 a sense of divine love1 and a joy full of glory4 ,the peace of ,god1 which his dear ,lord was now making for him1 filled his wondering mind1 and fitted his new-born soul for celestial triumphs4 ,here was grace indeed--sovereign1 rich1 and free4 ,he saw his ,redeemer in agonies1 he beheld the midnight darkness which veiled the heavens1 he felt the earth quake1 and he heard the rocks split when his ,lord exclaimed 8,it is finished40 ,no doubt with strange emotions of love1 grief1 wonder1 capture1 surprise1 adoration1 and joy1 he cast his dying eyes on his suffering ,saviour2 he saw our ,jesus bow his dear head in death1 having obtained eternal redemption for all who come to ,god through him2 and no doubt he longed for the moment when he should breathe his last--but his heart was once more to be broken4 ,the soldiers came to break the legs of the malefactors1 but his ,lord was dead already2 and the poor thief1 with dim dying eyes2 yet saw the murderous villain drive a spear in the heart of that ,christ that had pardoned his sin2 his soul struggled to get through the body1 to the bosom of its ,saviour and its ,god4 ,his legs being broken1 he then expired1 and his disimprisoned soul fled to the paradise promised him4 ,this was grace indeed4 ,oh for this love let rocks and hills ,their lasting silence break4 ,this almighty grace1 ,i humbly trust1 accomplished the salvation of ,mr4 ,d4 ,it appears from what ,i can learn1 that he had lived in thoughtlessness and folly1 and those amusements which are calculated to fasten the bands of spiritual death the firmer2 but the ,lord stopped him in his mad career1 in a very awful way1 and with one tremendous sin1 punished others1 and made it an awful1 but gracious means to bring him to reflection1 to seeking the ,lord1 and to that repentance that needeth not to be repented of4 ,sin rose to its heighth1 ,satan did his utmost1 and the hand of the ,lord appeared2 the awful moment of temptation came1 he complied1 he sinned with an high hand and an uplifted arm--ignorant of the nature of sin1 he vainly supposed a child wanted no ,saviour1 forgetting it is written1 8,i was shapen in iniquity1 and in sin did my mother conceive me40 ,he performed the fatal act1 and ushered the soul of the child into eternity1 destroyed its body1 robbed its dear parents of its affectionate embrace1 involved them in sorrow1 and plunged himself into the deepest horrors1 real and imaginary2 forfeited his life to the just laws of his country1 and if grace had not been manifested1 he would have complicated his own everlasting destruction4 ,oh1 the extent of the crime6 how dreadful6 ,his tortured heart could feel no rest day nor night1 till he gave himself up to justice4 ,i saw him come into prison1 and strange to tell1 ,i felt a spirit of prayer for him influence my mind1 which1 more or less1 abode with me till his execution4 ,i knew how it would be with him1 and ,i daily feared he would die by his own hands2 but the ,lord appeared gracious1 not only in preserving him1 but in giving him a serious concern about his never dying soul4 ,there was a person in the same class with him1 who had been for some time also with me2 this person often took occasion to talk seriously with ,mr4 999999 ,d4 and observing the state of his mind1 he advised him to write to me2 but ,i being a stranger to him1 and his mind sadly agitated1 he requested his companion to write to me1 and lay before me his distressed feelings1 and begged to know from me if there were any hopes held out in scripture1 for such a character as he was1 and if there were any murderer ever obtained eternal life4 ,i endeavored to answer him according to the word of ,god1 assured him ,i was glad to find him under concern for his soul1 and asking the way to ,god4 ,i pointed out the nature and design of the ,gospel1 in the revelation of a ,saviour1 exactly suited to such sinners as he was2 the invitation to poor sinners1 who were led to cry for mercy from a feeling sense of need2 the freeness of divine grace1 and above all1 ,i constantly urged the necessity of an application of the atonement to the conscience1 and shewed him according to my poor abilities1 that the salvation he now stood in need of1 consisted in the sense of pardoning mercy4 ,this ,i urged upon him to cry day and night for1 and never rest till he knew for himself his sins were forgiven1 and then ,i knew all the happy holy consequences that would follow4 ,i next pointed out the excellency of the good and just laws of the land in which we live1 and although ,i was most cruelly charged as an enemy to all laws1 divine and human1 yet this was as false as ,god was true1 as ,i consider the wholesome laws of the country1 to come the nearest to the precepts of the sacred scriptures1 and that a ,christian1 in his best state of mind1 esteemed and loved every law of ,god4 ,great peace have they which love thy law4 ,the next step ,i took1 was to point out those parts of scripture1 which suited his case and this ,i constantly enforced1 as ,i hoped he grew in knowledge1 and in seeking the ,lord2 but ,i did not answer the question in reference to the possibility of a murderer's salvation1 for some time after1 because ,i considered it necessary that he should be truly wounded1 till the healing balm was brought4 ,i shall not enlarge upon the subject of the various letters ,i sent him in his unhappy situation1 but with respect to the question1 8,the doubt in the minds of many1 whether it is possible for a person guilty of murder1 to obtain eternal life30 ,the scriptures are clear upon this subject4 ,many have obtained it1 although they most justly forfeit their natural lives1 agreeable to the divine injunction1 8,whoso sheddeth man's blood1 by man shall his blood be shed40 ,and if a murderer is not detected and executed by the laws of his country1 yet1 in general1 some evil befals them1 and they seldom die a natural death2 for the word of ,god is mostly fulfilled in this particular4 ,but1 with respect to the soul1 the salvation of that is an act of free1 sovereign mercy4 ,the passage of ,john's ,epistle1 #crd chapter1 #aeth verse1 should be read in its connexion1 and you will find that it explains itself1 8,whoever hateth his brother is a murderer1 and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him40 ,this text refers to those hypocrites in a profession of religion1 who1 in heart1 hate those that are truly called of ,god to the enjoyment of the truth2 and such1 indeed1 is the nature of the holy law of ,god1 that it views unjust anger in the mind1 as murder2 so says the ,lord and fulfiller of his own law1 #eth of ,matthew4 ,who then can hope for salvation from the broken ,covenant of ,works2 but it is very evident that some who have committed murder have been pardoned by the blood of the atonement1 and are now in heaven4 ,god's highly distinguished servants1 both ,moses and ,david1 were guilty of ,murder2 ,moses killed an ,egyptian and hid him in the sand1 and ,david gave orders to captain-general ,joab to place ,uriah in the front of the battle1 that he might be killed2 this cruel act was resented by the ,lord1 for although his sins were pardoned1 yet ,david had a broken heart within1 and perpetual wars without4 ,while ,manasseh was in a state of nature1 it is said he wrought very much evil in the sight of the ,lord--moreover1 ,manasseh shed innocent blood very much--and yet1 ,oh the wonders of free victorious grace6 ,manasseh is brought into trouble1 into a prison1 and into fetters1 and there the ,lord convinced him of sin1 humbled his heart1 gave him a spirit of prayer1 and made himself known to him as a sin pardoning ,god4 ,some of the murderers of the ,son of ,god were pardoned3 for these the dear ,saviour prayed1 while they were in the very act of crucifying him1 8,father forgive them40 ,and when the bold and faithful apostle ,peter preached to them1 he charged the murder of the ,saviour to their consciences1 ,god gave them faith to believe in him1 grace to receive his word1 repentance unto life1 and they were baptized in the name of that very ,jesus whom they had crucified4 ,i might also mention ,saul of ,tarsus1 who gives a most affecting account of himself1 in the #bfth of the ,acts4 ,and who can tell the list of those who have been humbled and renewed by the grace of ,god1 and who went from the fatal gibbet to glory8 ,this ,i trust was the sad1 but through mercy1 happy case with ,mr4 ,d4 ,after the lapse of a few weeks1 when his agitated bosom would permit him1 he wrote to me--there was nothing in his letter but what was very natural to expect from a person in his situation2 yet1 from a few sentences1 ,i was encouraged in my hope that he was seeking the ,lord4 ,i gained information of him every week1 and always wrote to him accordingly4 ,his fears1 terrors1 and horrors overwhelmed his trembling spirit1 and ,i hoped there was more than nature in it4 ,some pious men brought him some religions ,tracts4 ,good ,mr4 ,smith of ,penzance1 once visited him1 and by the good hand of ,god1 his terrors abated1 and his mind was gradually opened by the ,holy ,spirit1 to see the value of ,christ1 and to make application to him for that mercy and grace he delights to display4 ,i frequently observed him at the chapel1 and when our worthy ,chaplain advanced any precious sentence of the fullness and freeness of grace1 he used to look at me with smiling approbation2 by this ,i could see he was1 at least1 gaining some knowledge of the right way1 and rejoicing in the truth4 ,he experienced very violent temptations from the enemy1 sometimes to suicide1 then to doubt the authenticity of the ,bible4 ,various were his tossings of mind and deep was his distress1 till the ,lord led him to receive the atonement in his mind with power2 this was done in the use of the means4 ,i could humbly wish to have known how this came into his mind1 whether by the impression of any scripture1 or in any open manifestation of power1 light1 and liberty4 ,i heard he was more comfortable than he used to be1 and wrote to him to know the ground of that comfort1 and the real state of his mind1 to which he sent me the following simple and plain ,letter4 ,mr4 ,c4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend ,,well ,,wisher1 ,i feel much indebted to you for your good advice and kind attention to me under my heavy afflictions4 ,i have the pleasure to inform you ,i am a wonder to myself3 my mind and heart prone after the riches of ,christ--there is no name under heaven1 nor in heaven1 so precious as his to me4--,you know what the ,bible promises to all believers4 ,i have read it1 and thought it reached any case but mine1 but now1 thanks be to ,god1 ,i find my case and sins were what our blessed ,saviour shed his blood for--such rebels as me6 ,a free pardon is held forth for such vile creatures as ,i am4 ,i thank ,god from my heart1 he has done a great work for me--the blood of ,christ is precious blood--he is strengthening me much in faith4 ,i find he is all ,i need4 ,i am nothing but sin1 and have done no good in all my life1 yet he holds a free pardon for me4 ,he has answered my polluted prayers1 and every promise in the book tells me it is for me4 ,the blessed and ,holy ,spirit has opened my blind eyes1 and shewed me what ,i am and what ,christ is1 in some degree1 but his riches and mercies none can fathom--his promise takes away the sting of death4 ,i am looking to him1 and put all things into his hands1 and it will be well4 ,kind ,sir1 ,i remain1 your's1 c4 ,a great ,sinner1 ,r4 ,dean4 ,from this simple letter ,i received some degree of consolation1 and finding his mind was open to receive the atonement for the pardon of all sin1 ,i judged it now expedient to lead his attention to that glorious robe of imputed righteousness which is the end of the law and the glory of the gospel1 that he might be able to say ,jesus thy blood and righteousness ,my beauty are my glorious dress2 ',midst flaming worlds1 in these array'd1 ,with joy shall ,i lift up my head4 ,i pressed his attention to that capital blessing1 knowing that faith had to do with that alone to render us just before ,god2 that while the blood of ,jesus took away all sin1 the obedience of ,christ to the ,law fulfilled all righteousness--the one excludes from hell1 but the other brings us to heaven2 8,for in the ,lord shall all the ,seed of ,israel be justified1 and shall glory40 ,i had1 after this1 much uneasiness of mind on behalf of poor ,mr4 ,d4 his situation with so many awful characters1 in the same part of the prison1 ,i knew was not very favorable to his growth in grace2 yet ,i knew1 if the work was genuine on his mind1 it would be carried on2 but some persons had attempted to console his mind with this idea1 ,that on his trial it would be proved he was insane4 ,i feared this would throw him into a careless frame about his soul1 and ,i fear it did for a time1 but the speedy approach of the assize alarmed him1 and ,i hope the ,lord quickened him again4 ,i wrote to him not to listen to any such ideas for a moment1 and reminded him of the first intimation of ,satan to out first parents--8,ye shall not surely die40 ,i trust this had the desired effect2 he was tried and cast for death1 as ,i expected1 and his fatal day was appointed1 but deferred to wait the decision of the fate of another1 who was afterwards reprieved4 ,this was indeed rather an uncommon circumstance1 but ,i fondly hoped the ,lord had so appointed it1 that poor ,mr4 ,d4 might be the better capacitated to enter into his awful presence4 ,in reference to his state of mind1 during this period1 the worthy minister of the place constantly visited him1 and held forth the suitable consolations of the gospel to his view1 nor were those visits in vain4 ,i frequently heard ,mr4 ,d4 pray aloud1 and with much energy4 ,the day before his execution 7,april #g1 #ahai7 he was visited by a ,nobleman and his respectable ,friend1 who1 in imitation of their divine ,lord1 delights to go about doing good2 may ,god prosper their efforts1 and another day fulfil in those honorable persons all those gracious promises in the #dast ,psalm1 #a1 #b1 #crd verses4 ,some pious1 ,friends from the ,methodist ,society often visited him1 and prayed with him1 and ,i trust felt the presence of the ,lord with them2 as an evidence of his approbation of their work of love1 some continued with him all the night previous to his execution3 ,mr4 ,d4 received them kindly and gratefully4 ,the visitors did not perceive the least sign of insanity1 but a calm composedness of mind1 and an humble trust in the atonement of ,christ1 and without the shadow of a doubt of the pardon of his sins4 ,believe me1 ,i feel an emotion of gratitude and tears while ,i write this4 ,he could give no account what induced him to commit the horrid deed1 but spoke very composedly on every subject4 ,he joined the gentlemen in prayer1 and singing an hymn-- ,behold the bleeding lamb of ,god1 ,nail'd to the shameful tree2 ,how vast the love that him constrain'd ,to bleed and die for me4 ,about an hour after1 leaning upon the shoulder of one of the visitors1 he requested him to sing that sweet hymn again1 in which he joined them1 with a sweet and heavenly frame of mind2 but ,satan was to have his last onset1 and about the middle of the night the enemy harrassed him sorely1 deep darkness pervaded his mind1 and his heart trembled with fear4 ,the dear friends perceiving this1 advised him to retire and read alone1 and they withdrew to the other end of the room4 ,after he had read a little1 he fell on his knees1 and prayed most fervently1 consistently1 and scripturally4 ,satan left him1 and his mind became quite serene4 ,at seven in the morning1 when he was preparing all things necessary for his final departure1 he addressed a fellow prisoner in a most surprizing and affecting manner2 spoke of the mercy he had received1 and encouraged him to call on ,god for pardoning mercy1 through the doing and dying of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the visitors then read a letter from his dear friend1 the uncle of the dear child1 in which he praised ,god for the mercy ,mr4 ,d4 had found1 and from the tenor of the letter1 we trust the day dawns on his mind1 and the day star begins to shine4 ,mr4 ,d4 attended the solemn service at the chapel1 and received the ,lord's supper2 not to make his peace with ,god1 but in thankfulness to his dear ,lord who had made it for him on mount ,calvary4 ,the solemn bell announced his approach1 and my soul was overwhelmed with solemn grief1 which ,i endeavored to vent out in prayers and tears4 ,at nine o',clock ,i heard him1 having ascended the scaffold1 in supplication1 which increased in fervent entreaties1 and committing his soul into the hands of the ,redeemer4 ,his petitions were earnest and importunate1 and as he increased in agitation1 so also in devout intreaties1 crying1 ,lord ,jesus receive my spirit2 ,look1 look upon a poor murderer4 ,oh1 by the blood of the cross1 by the blood of calvary1 look upon me4 ,lord have mercy upon me4 ,lord-- here he was going to speak again1 but the drop fell1 and his soul took its flight to the bosom of its ,saviour and its ,god2 with ,christ in his heart1 heaven in his eye1 and ,lord--on his tongue4 ,thus died poor ,mr4 ,d4 a sinner1 saved by grace alone4 ,i trust his sad case was laid on the hearts of many ,god-fearing persons1 and many prayers were put up for him1 nor did they return empty4 ,some of our dear friends had several precious tokens for his good2 and ,i am happy to say ,i gave some hope1 that the death of ,mr4 ,d4 is the means of the spiritual life of one in the family3 perhaps it will not end here4 ,i must add1 that the worthy family to whom the child belonged1 most freely forgave him the rash act1 and paid every attention to him during his confinement4 ,from this short account of poor ,mr4 ,d4 ,i think we may discover some of those blessed evidences which characterize a real believer4 ,his brokenness of spirit and honest confessions1 prove his humility before ,god3 his crying day and night to the ,lord1 evidence his eternal election2 his mind being led to the ,saviour manifested his adoption1 and his receiving the atonement and resting upon ,jesus1 shewed that his faith was genuine4 ,his temptations demonstrate ,satan's hatred to him1 and his entreaties for mercy to the last moment1 prove that he had obtained mercy3 8,is not this a brand plucked out of the fire80 ,i would call your attention in this letter1 to the infinite evil of sin1 the mystery of divine providence1 the wonders of almighty grace1 and the necessity of fervent prayer for divine keeping2 8,hold thou me up1 and ,i shall be safe20 but this would fill a volume4 ,you can recollect ,i have observed1 that the ,lord in general resents a murder in his own way1 and in his own time1 although the murderer may escape condign punishment4 ,this has been proved in many instances1 one of which ,i have just read in the ,methodist ,magazine1 which ,i will just mention in few words4 ,a gentleman was riding over ,hounslow ,heath1 when a poor man1 with his little boy1 ran after him to solicit relief2 but the gentleman refusing1 the beggar continued his intreaties1 which aggravated him that he drew his sword and laid the poor beggar on the ground1 and then rode away3 the poor boy screamed out that his father was killed4 ,ten years after this1 as he was riding near the same place1 some boys were playing at cricket1 and one of them hit the gentleman's toe with his ball4 ,it was painful1 and a surgeon at ,brentford1 told him it would prove of dangerous consequence4 ,he came to ,london for advice1 and was informed he must suffer amputation1 as a mortification had actually taken place4 ,he would not give his consent to this1 and death approached4 ,the doctor asked him if he knew any thing of the boy who had thrown the ball1 and he said he did1 for he well remembered he was the son of the old man1 whom he had killed some years before4--,verily1 there is a ,god that judgeth in the earth4 ,wishing you all grace1 ,i remain1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxvi4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,february #af1 #ahai4 ,miss ,,grummant4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friend1 ,i am quite grieved the ,ancient ,paper you was so kind as to lend me1 has not been returned to me2 if ,i was out from this place ,i could procure another1 and will do so1 ,god willing2 but ,i will tell you every word of it4 ,a ,,description ,,of ,,the ,,person ,,of ,,jesus1 ,as it was found in an ,ancient ,manuscript1 sent by ,publius ,lentulus1 ,president of ,judea1 to the ,senate of ,rome4 ,there lives at this time in ,judea1 a ,man of singular ,character whose name is ,jesus ,christ2 the barbarians esteem him as a ,prophet1 but his own followers adore him as the immediate offspring of the immortal ,god4 ,he is endued with such unparalleled virtue1 as to call back the dead from their graves1 and to heal every kind of disease with a word or a touch4 ,his person is tall1 and elegantly shaped1 his aspect amiable and reverend2 his hair flows into those beauteous shades which no united colours can match1 falling into graceful curls below his ears1 agreeably couching on his shoulders1 and parting on the crown of his head1 like the head dress of the sect of the ,nazarenes4 ,his forehead is very plain1 smooth1 and large1 his cheeks without a spot or wrinkle1 save that of a lovely red1 his nose and mouth are formed with exquisite symmetry1 his beard is thick1 and of a colour suitable to the hair of his head1 reaching a little below his chin1 and parted in the middle like a fork1 his eyes grey1 bright and clear1 quick and serene4 ,he rebukes with majesty1 counsels with mildness1 pleasant in speech1 and invites with the most tender and persuasive language2 his whole address1 whether by word or deed1 being courteous and friendly1 elegant1 grave1 and characteristic of so exalted a being4 ,no man has seen him laugh1 but the whole world beheld him weep frequently1 and so persuasive are his tears1 that the multitude cannot withhold theirs from joining in sympathy with his4 ,he is very temperate1 modest1 and wise1 in short1 whatever this ,phnomenon may turn out in the end1 he seems1 at present a man1 for his excellent beauty and divine perfections1 every way surpassing the ,children of ,men4 ,this is certainly a very pretty description of the human nature of our dear ,lord1 and ,i feel half inclined to suppose that our first parent ,adam1 was a little like him in person--this is only a carnal notion1 ,i acknowledge1 but ,i cannot forbear to indulge it4 ,the psalmist ,david1 said of ,christ1 eight hundred years before he came1 8,thou art fairer than the children of men30 yet this dear visage and beauty was marred1 spoiled1 more than any man's2 grief had so affected him1 that when but thirty1 he looked like a man of fifty years of age4 ,he was a man of sorrows1 and his most intimate acquaintance was grief2 he saw such an infinite evil in sin1 the hourly insults poured upon ,god by the whole world2 he saw ,jehovah slighted1 ridiculed1 abused1 hated1 and opposed2 his whole heart loved ,jehovah1 and this broke his heart1 lay heavy on his spirits1 and caused him to say1 as in his own common prayer book1 the ,psalms1 8,rivers of water run down mine eyes1 because men keep not thy law40 ,he saw the dreadful state his own children were in1 and what he had to endure to make an atonement for them4 ,every now and then one of his soul pangs took him2 hence we read of his being troubled in spirit1 agitated and troubled in soul4 ,this was some time before his sufferings in the garden4 ,but while we admire his outward beauty as man1 what vast beauty possessed his mind--wisdom1 prudence1 chastity1 holiness1 zeal1 understanding1 faith1 hope1 love1 and joy2 in the principle--mercy1 commiseration1 pity1 affection1 patience1 gratitude1 and fidelity4 ,look at his actions1 and they all correspond with the holy principles of his mind1 and this holy nature was the image of ,god1 the exemplar pattern and likeness of the new man of grace in the souls of ,god's children2 but ,oh1 what an exalted idea does the sacred pages give us of this blessed ,jesus2 he was1 he is ,god-,man4 ,his body was but the casket1 his divinity the rich jewel it contained4 ,he was united to the ,son of ,god1 to ,god the ,son1 who is over all1 ,god blessed for ever4 ,he is ,god-,man1 he possesses every divine perfection2 he is ,jehovah1 ,god and ,lord2 he is stiled1 ,jehovah #ccj times in the old ,testament2 he is called ,god #ij times in the old ,testament1 and #be times in the new4 ,he has put away sin by his obedience and sufferings2 he is exalted above the heavens4 ,how truly beautiful and glorious he appears in the midst of heaven1 wearing our nature1 but shining brighter than a million suns--the delight of the ,father and the ,holy ,spirit--the joy of saints and angels2 and whatever was his appearance on earth1 we can form no idea of his human nature in heaven4 ,god bless you while young1 with some very sweet views of him1 that he may be dear to your heart in youth and age1 in life and death4 ,so prays your affectionate well wisher1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxvii4 ,achor's tale1 ,september #bi1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,g4 ,,gray4 ,,my ,,dear ,,brother1 ,what can ,i say to you1 and how can ,i sufficiently thank you for your kindness and benevolence of heart and conduct2 well might the apostle exhort1 8,let us not love in word and in tongue1 but in deed and in truth20 and this has been your conduct to me since my abode at the sign of the unstrung harp1 near the weeping willows1 by the rivers of ,babylon4 ,here ,i at present live1 but what the ,lord promised the ,israelites in captivity1 he is most graciously fulfilling in my case4 ,i need not remind you that ,achor was a valley in ,jericho1 where ,achor the son of ,carmi was stoned2 perhaps the valley borrowed its name from the circumstance itself4 ,achor means trouble1 and you know what is written in your favorite chapter1 #bnd of ,hosea4 ,what an affecting picture the ,lord has given us of ,israel's ingratitude and rebellion2 but having determined from all eternity1 that where sin hath abounded1 there grace also should much more abound1 and triumph over all the sin of his people1 which has brought them into so much trouble1 as ,achan did the ,israelites1 that in the very midst of that valley of ,achor1 he would open a door of hope1 and give them strong consolations2 that there he would manifest his pardoning love1 display his eternal power1 sanctify the cross to them1 reveal his love to the heart1 and though in the very midst of trouble1 yet his people should sing of his mercy1 truth1 faithfulness1 kindness1 and righteousness1 all which are displayed in their marriage union to ,christ1 the date of which is as ancient as eternal election4 ,the grand displays of it was in the great act of the ,redeemer's incarnation4 ,the means to bring about this union1 was the removal of all the awful impediments which were in the way1 by the obedience1 the sufferings1 death1 burial1 resurrection and ascension1 intercession and life of ,christ1 as ,mediator in heaven for us4 ,nor can this blessed union be felt or enjoyed by us1 till ,god the ,holy ,ghost has subdued our enmity1 quickened our souls1 reconciled us to ,god's mind1 shewed us the person1 love1 and work of ,christ2 made us willing by his power1 created holy desires in the soul1 and enabled us to say1 ,thou1 ,oh my ,god1 in ,christ art the thing that ,i long for4 ,here is union felt2 and as the soul is led on in the knowledge of the great things of ,god1 it is enabled to trace the origin of this union to the counsels of eternity4 ,i trust you will1 my dear brother1 be enabled when you are called forth to stand up as a spokesman for your dear ,lord1 declare what you know of the counsel of ,god1 not that you1 or any other preacher1 either know or can declare the whole counsel of ,god4 ,nothing is more common than this expression1 and nothing can be more erroneous4 ,i do not believe any one ever declared the whole counsel of ,god1 since our ,lord and his apostles on earth--they declared the whole1 perfectly and infallibly2 but other ministers1 however faithful they are1 must not say so1 it is an error2 but what the ,lord has taught you1 that you can declare1 even the truth as contained in the grand doctrines of the ,gospel2 the perfections and glories of the divide ,jesus1 the original ruin and present corruption and misery of man1 the spirituality of the holy law of ,god1 the perfect satisfaction of ,christ1 complete justification by his imputed righteousness1 regeneration by the operations of the eternal spirit1 spiritual faith and evangelical repentance towards ,god2 love to1 arising from the knowledge of the adorable ,trinity in ,unity1 the warfare between the flesh and the spirit1 the trials of the way1 the temptations of the adversary1 the strength1 light1 and comfort afforded us2 the stability of the eternal covenant1 the depths of divine mercy1 the perpetuity of eternal love1 with all the happy consequences of these truths in the life1 conduct1 and the whole conversation4 ,you and ,i1 my brother1 are not afraid these great truths will make their possessors careless of their conduct2 ,no1 every sin felt and discovered1 or the least outbreakings of it1 is as a dagger to the heart1 a load upon the mind1 nor can there be any rest till a fresh manifestation of pardon is felt4 ,we consider the work of the ministry to be the greatest work and the highest honour ever conferred on a poor fallen creature here4 ,to make use of the language of good old ,mr4 ,ryland1 here is full scope for fear1 hope1 gratitude1 justice1 compassion1 zeal1 interest1 ambition1 glory1 pleasure1 and unbounded fire2 rise ambition1 rise glory into intense fire1 and joy without bounds or end4 ,reflect1 ,o my soul1 what astonishing glory for me to be decreed and ordained by the great ,head of the ,church1 to copy ,god's eternal thoughts1 to receive the infusions of ideas from all the holy inspired penmen2 to be called out of nothing1 out of meanness1 obscurity1 baseness1 sin1 and misery1 to stand in the place and room of the eternal ,son of ,god1 to paint his perfections1 to blaze abroad his glories about the world1 to display the virtue of his blood1 and tell of his astonishing death1 the grandest action in the empire of ,god--to express this action in a thousand points of light1 to have the most intimate treaties with immortal souls1 to do nothing but transact with souls--blood-bought souls2 to be an ambassador1 an angel1 a representative of the ,son of ,god2 to be put into his place 7in a certain sense7 as a preacher1 to have commerce with deathless souls1 to be inrolled by ,christ in this time state amongst the faithful and zealous preachers1 and for ,christ to value us as dear and important to himself1 and to the church4 ,this subject is so great1 ,i scarcely know how to write it1 but so interesting1 ,i must send you a line or two more4 ,what a glory to revive gospel doctrines1 to display ,christ's glory1 and to raise the credit of the work of the ,spirit2 to die with the highest dignity1 angels and good men around my bed1 and ,god himself within my soul4 ,o what a glory is this1 to rise up amidst throngs of admiring smiling angels1 before the throne of the ,son of ,god2 to see all the great and good preachers in heaven look at me as ,i rise1 to hear them say1 ,here1 see1 here he comes from his study1 from his pulpit1 and from the bed of death to our shining worlds1 and to his ,master's throne4 ,see how ,jesus looks at him1 see how he crowns him4 ,hark what he says to him1 ,well done good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord4 ,see him bring forth the crown of glory1 and put it on my head1 for ,christ will not trust the noblest angel in heaven to crown his saints3 he will do it himself1 and will say1 ,here1 ye labourers1 take your reward2 ye shepherds1 take your honour2 ye soldiers take your military glory2 ye ambassadors1 ye stewards1 ye angels of the churches1 take your immortal crowns1 live for ever surrounded with sun beams1 and crowned with stars4 ,may this felicity be yours and mine--'tis well1 perhaps1 the dignity1 importance1 responsibility1 and trials of the ministry1 are hid from our eyes at the entrance on the work1 or ,i think none would go into it at all4 ,what ,i have since seen1 had ,i seen it before1 ,i do not think ,i should so willingly have run1 but would rather have been dragged4 ,there is but one thing would ever make me very willing to enter on the sacred work1 and it is that--and that love which makes me willing to go forward again4 ,do you ask me what that is8 ,why the same which made ,isaiah willing to go1 after he had seen the glory of ,christ ,god-,man1 having finished salvation's work1 exalted1 glorified1 and adored1 revealing the word of pardon with power to his soul1 and assuring him he was pardoned2 then he said1 ,here am ,i1 send me --4 ,see #fth chapter of ,isaiah4 ,i know the passage will bear a higher comment1 but ,i humbly conceive it represents ,isaiah's commission1 and ,i can assure you1 it is only such feelings1 views1 and enjoyments1 that make me willing now1 whatever were my motives before4 ,i can appeal to the ,lord1 as the searcher of all hearts1 ,i want nothing now to do with the ministry1 but to proclaim all that ,i am led to understand by the terms ,god-,man ,mediator4 ,farewell4 ,let this epistle be read to all those who expound in the vestry on ,friday nights4 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xxxviii4 ,valley of ,achor4 ,miss ,,ingle4 ,,my ,,dear ,,young ,,friend1 ,i send you back the ,diary of your late dear sister1 which ,i have perused with mingled emotions of joy and grief1 of pleasure and pain4 ,blessed be ,god for the grace given her in ,christ ,jesus1 before the world began1 and manifested to her in so many pleasing and painful ways4 ,i wish ,i had money to spare to send it into the world2 but alas1 ,i am straitened1 yet ,i have cause to be eternally thankful1 and ,i beg the ,lord will bring me home to glory1 to praise his dear name for it4 ,my heart is most sensibly affected with your dear mother's trials3 what a constant visitor affliction is at your house4 ,how many times hath death looked in1 and took away those of your family that were particularly dear to you all4 ,nor is he easy1 he is on the road again4 ,the glorious conquerer of death1 has by his obedience and sufferings1 his blood and death1 converted him into an angel of peace1 a messenger of joy1 sent to conduct you to the upper and better house-- ,far from a world of grief and sin1 ,with ,god eternally shut in4 ,the pulling down the earthly house is all the misery1 but it has got the leprosy in the walls1 and it must come down4 ,sin1 that tyrant and ugly monster1 has rendered it necessary that it should be changed1 in order to enjoy union to the happy soul in another state4 ,the body has sinned with the soul1 and it must suffer with it1 the body was redeemed with the soul1 and it must also be saved with it4 ,but in order to enjoy that1 it must experience a change by sickness and death4 ,this is a painful subject1 but the ,lord will make it familiar to you4 ,i trust whenever death comes to you1 he will wear an angel's form1 that he will be only your ,lord's porter1 sent to open the gates of glory1 and conduct you through the consecrated way which our ,lord has trod4 ,as all things are now dying with you1 ,i humbly hope the ,lord will most graciously visit your soul with his love1 shew you that your sins are forgiven through the doing and dying of a precious ,saviour4 ,he has blotted out1 done away1 hid1 removed1 and covered all the sins of every coming sinner2 and he says1 ,let him return to the ,lord1 and he will have mercy upon him1 and to our ,god1 and he will abundantly pardon2 precious text4 ,returning to the ,lord1 is the heart1 mind1 faith1 and hope of a soul1 who was chosen in ,christ1 and united to ,christ4 ,now1 by the power of the spirit bending1 inclining1 seeking1 and desiring ,christ4 ,coming to the ,lord our ,god is moving in mind to the ,father1 as a ,god of love1 grace1 and mercy1 in ,christ to us4 ,yet1 if the ,lord is drawing you to ,christ1 as your only hope1 mark1 he will have mercy1 he will abundantly pardon4 ,are you1 my dear girl1 seeking his favour and mercy to be manifested to your soul1 convinced of your need of it8 is your heart set upon it8 do you believe that you shall be lost without it8 and has ,god the ever blessed ,spirit shewn you that ,christ is a suitable ,saviour1 and that he is the gift of the ,father's love to guilty man8 ,and do you choose him as your ,saviour and only hope1 your atoning sacrifice1 and your only righteousness8 ,god be praised1 you have ever heard the gospel1 which has pointed you to him1 though you know it is not enough to be pointed to ,christ1 but we want bringing to him4 ,hence the promise1 ,they shall come1 and ,i will lead them4 ,let me conclude this short letter by reciting a few texts1 to encourage you in seeking the ,lord4 ,if thou seek him1 he will be found of thee4 ,if thou seek the ,lord thy ,god1 thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul4 ,thou ,lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee4 ,your heart shall live that seek ,god4 ,i said not unto the seed of ,jacob1 seek me in vain4 ,ye shall seek me1 and find me when ye search for me with all your heart4 ,seek ye the ,lord1 till he come and rain righteousness upon you4 ,seek ye me1 and ye shall live4 ,the ,lord is good to them that wait for him1 to the soul that seeketh him4 ,he that cometh to ,god1 must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him4 ,the hand of our ,god is upon all them that seek him for good4 ,these are among the many precious promises that the ,lord has given to his people1 to encourage them to seek his face1 his favour1 and his friendship4 ,may the ,holy ,ghost shine on his word1 and shine into your beast2 to give you joy and peace in believing4 ,grace be with you1 ,ruhamah4 ,the dear girl is since gone home to glory1 testifying as she sunk in death1 that the ,saviour was very precious to her soul4 ,,letter ,,xxxix4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,april #ab1 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,,edmunds4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,it is many months ago since ,i saw you1 but ,i hope you are still in the ways of ,god1 looking unto ,jesus4 ,you and ,i have been taught to see there is nothing but misery and destruction out of ,christ1 nor any hope but in his word and work4 ,the ,lord has opened to us the spirituality of his law1 and often reflected an humbling sense of his displeasure on the mind4 ,sin has been felt1 and guilt has laid us low--fear1 dread1 and darkness has been on the soul1 and bondage1 enmity1 rebellion1 and distance1 has been most sensibly experienced4 ,these things have frequently beset me since ,i have been here1 and although they have been painful feelings1 ,i esteem them after they are over1 as to the hungry soul1 every bitter thing is sweet4 ,but the ,father not only chastens us1 but he draws us to ,christ4 ,he first teaches us our lost state4 ,i do not say the ,lord communicates this bondage1 this darkness and misery1 but we are quickened to feel our sinfulness1 and all these unpleasant sensations come on1 of course2 but being thus chastened1 we are taught the value of ,christ1 by seeing our need of a ,mediator1 a surety1 a better righteousness1 and an intercessor in the light of the word2 and by the spirit we see the exact suitableness of ,christ1 and are quickened to long for a sense of his mercy1 the pardon of sin1 and peace with ,god1 in ,god's own way4 ,this we desire above all things else2 and the adorable ,father draws us out in holy1 humble desires1 fervent breathings1 and earnest entreaties for the joys of pardoning love1 and a gracious visit from ,christ4 ,the ,father kindly guides our eyes to the promises1 the invitations1 the precious declarations1 and kind words of the ,saviour in the ,gospel4 ,these draw the heart2 and as faith gathers sweet views1 so hope springs up1 and the fears of death and hell1 with a sense of ,god's anger1 gradually abate4 ,the ,holy ,spirit testifies of ,jesus in the word1 and in our hearts2 gives us blessed views of his person and love1 his infinite condescension1 and his most blessed work in putting away sin1 and fulfilling the law2 conquering death and subduing hell2 and as living a life of mediation in heaven for us4 ,these things become precious1 as the mind is opened to receive these truths2 and as power is felt1 so the fruits appear4 ,his love is seen1 and this sight under the spirit's power melts us into nothing1 produces godly sorrow1 sweet repentance and humility1 self loathing1 and glowing love to ,god4 ,this1 this my dear friend is my past1 and often is my present experience1 and my conscience can witness to it2 and as to the bad opinion which good men have of me1 it once distressed me2 but since ,i have found the good opinion of crowds has been a snare to my soul1 has puffed me up with pride1 and set me down in carnal ease1 ,i am best without it4 ,applause does not agree with my spiritual constitution1 ,i grow best in the valley4 ,can the flag or the rush grow without the mire8 ,i wish ,i had never courted the applause of man1 but had been a little more anxious for the approbation of ,god and my conscience4 ,a good name was an idol1 and the ,devil has run away with mine2 no doubt in many cases ,i have justly deserved it1 and now it is my duty1 privilege and mercy1 to learn what ,god means by this trial4 ,hence the command1 ,hear ye the rod1 and who hath appointed it2 and the men of wisdom shall see thy name4 ,i have taken the highest seat in ,god's house1 but the dung hill and the lowest form in the school suits me now4 ,i have been building my nest in the tree of creature friendship1 but this storm has blown it down1 and now ,i am glad to embrace the rock ,i wet with the showers from the mountains of trouble2 but ,i find shelter1 hope1 and solid rest in ,jesus and his finished work4 ,i shall be more fit to preach when ,i return1 than ,i was before2 but ,i will never preach again1 till the ,lord evidently calls me out4 ,i ran once1 but ,i ran too fast1 and fell into trouble4 ,when ,god lifts me up again1 ,i shall stand more surely and safely1 because ,i hope to stand in the ,son1 to abide in the vine1 to continue in the truth1 to keep in the love of ,god1 and all that these expressions imply4 ,i trust you and your's are growing in grace1 that you still find the ,saviour precious1 your helper and deliverer4 ,the ,lord is with me1 and ,i know it1 and the good of it will be seen after many days4 ,kind respects to those who still secretly esteem me for my master's sake4 ,your's1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xl4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,june #ast1 #ahai4 ,dear ,miss ,,smith1 ,the little ,poem on ,friendship which ,i read to you1 and you was so kind as to compliment1 will be published shortly1 separate from this little work4 ,it is a good remark ,i have somewhere met with1 that ,friendship is a plant of too delicate a nature to grow1 with any great degree of luxuriancy and fruitfulness1 in the soil of the human heart2 but ,i ever wish to prize its buds1 its blossoms1 its fruits1 its very leaves1 and above all1 its ,divine ,root2 and ,i have a hope founded upon the doing and dying of the adorable ,friend of guilty man1 that ,i shall enjoy this best of gifts in its eternal bloom1 in a brighter better world1 when the winds of scandal shall howl no more2 the tumultuous waves and the roaring billows of complicated grief shall distress my already tempest-tossed mind no more for ever4 ,i have found many acquaintance who hummed about me in the warmth of prosperity1 but like summer insects1 those butterflies disappeared1 when the cold blasts of adversity1 by reproach1 struck a few of my outward enjoyments2 but ,i am more divinely led to the enjoyment of that love which can never alter or decay4 ,i have learned wisdom now1 in some measure1 to discriminate between friends and acquaintance2 and although the latter have started back in the day of battle1 yet the former still bear me on their hearts in the right place1 and here they present me1 that my trials may be sanctified to me1 and to the ,church at large4 ,david had many acquaintances1 but did not find a ,jonathan every day4 ,in the ,church1 or in the world1 my trials are great2 but these would not have been so 7speaking after the manner of men7 if all my acquaintance had been real friends4 ,i beg to conclude this note with a few jingling verses1 with my most affectionate and grateful respects to your dear father and mother1 and hope ever to bear in mind their unwearied kindness4 ,had all mine acquaintance been friends1 ,at whose urgent request ,i have run1 ,to answer some frivolous end1 ,and injure me when ,i had done-- ,had all mine acquaintance been friends1 ,my case before ,god they would lay1 ,and1 knowing his will in his word1 ,have helpt me to watch and to pray4 ,had all mine acquaintance been friends1 ,they ne'er would have robb'd me of peace1 ,but comforted1 cheer'd1 and upheld1 ,and wish'd me an increase of grace4 ,had all mine acquaintance been friends1 ,they ne'er would have wounded my name1 ,but covered my errors in love1 ,and reproved when ,i was to blame4 ,had all my acquaintance been friends1 ,they'd ne'er have rejoic'd in my fall1 ,but pitied1 and prayed1 and upheld1 ,and for strength on my ,saviour wou'd call4 ,had all mine acquaintance been friends1 ,they ne'er would have left me in woe1 ,but wept in my grief and distress1 ,and encourag'd me onward to go4 ,were all my acquaintance such friends ,as ,miss ,s-- and her parents so kind1 ,my spirits much higher would tend1 ,while gratitude fir'd my mind4 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xli4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,february #bnd4 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,,martin4 ,,my ,,very ,,dear1 ,,faithful1 and ,,tried ,,friends1 ,grace and peace be to you both4 ,i would have wrote before now1 but not knowing your direction1 ,i waited till ,i had the pleasure of hearing of you1 which ,i did this day1 from my much esteemed ,friend ,mrs4 ,brown4 ,i have no news to relate1 ,i only write to assure you the ,lord is very gracious to me2 and by his word1 and by his spirit1 he bears up my sinking mind like pillars of marble4 ,i am a monument of mercy indeed1 and so you would say1 if you knew my broken heart and afflicted mind4 ,i am at times brought very low1 but then ,i get lifted up from the dunghill1 and my spirit rejoices in ,god my ,saviour4 ,i trust you will not be moved by the things which have happened to me4 ,there is now and ever will in this world be a peculiar mystery in divine providence2 but ,god is his own interpreter--the dear ,saviour is the great ,head of the ,church1 and as he loves us1 desires our company1 and wants to give some particular expression of his love2 so he brings low1 empties us1 chastens1 tries1 and alarms us4 ,the cup of salvation being allotted us1 we must meet with alarming providences1 which are not explained to us1 till he reveals himself1 as our brother1 gives us a double mess1 and an exchange of raiment4 ,the things that have befallen me1 ,i trust are in covenant love2 the ,lord is only putting on his yoke1 and opening a way to manifest his grace the clearer1 and to prove the riches of his mercy4 ,o that we may yet praise him who is our helper1 and in due time will be our deliverer4 ,my sun is gone ten degrees back1 like ,hezekiah's1 but the ,lord will bring it up4 ,my master has given orders1 and ,i1 for shame1 have taken the lowest seat4 ,i feel convictions of sin sharper1 but ,i find ,christ more than ever blessed4 ,o could every brick and book in my room speak1 they would tell what passes between ,god and my soul4 ,i am grieved to be here1 on account of my friends1 my family1 and the cause of ,god1 and my poor heart is at times completely melted4 ,i am in real sorrow1 yet ,i have now1 and shall ever have cause to bless ,god for what ,i am learning in this painful school4 ,i would now ask how is my dear afflicted companion in tribulation ,mr4 ,m4 ,i trust our dear ,lord has appeared for him in his kind providence1 and that the ,saviour is precious to his soul2 ,i am begging the ,lord to teach me how to live a life of faith on the ,son of ,god4 ,christ himself1 when here below1 lived and died in faith1 and the ,apostle said1 ,he lived on ,christ as crucified1 as his righteousness1 his intercessor1 his head and representative4 ,this is the life ,i want to live2 but then ,i find there is no life but as it is given me daily1 nor can ,i exercise this life of faith1 but as power is given from above4 ,we live by virtue of being quickened by the spirit1 though we often get dead1 dark1 cold1 carnal1 and lifeless1 so that we can hardly call it a life4 ,but the ,apostle says1 ,not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,i want my dear ,mrs4 ,m4 to notice this expression4 ,i hope1 as a ,child of ,god1 and as deeply tried1 ,i am alive in your mind1 ,i exist1 ,i live in your mind--you often think of me1 but you cannot do for me what you would3 ,i take the will for the deed4 ,now1 as we see what it is for a friend to live in us1 the subject is clear to you3 ,christ has an existence in your mind1 as you have heard of him2 this is the difference between a worldling and a believer2 the former hears of ,christ1 that is enough for him2 the other not only hears1 but ,christ has a place in the mind1 as he is set forth in the word3 the will makes choice of him1 the affections are fixed on him1 faith trusts in him1 hope expects him1 patience waits for him1 love enjoys him1 and1 as our views enlarge1 and power is given to see him taking away sin1 conscience enjoys peace with ,god1 because it is given to faith to see ,god is everlastingly at peace with us4 ,well may the ,apostle say1 ,lord increase our faith2 this is what ,i want1 and ,i hope my much-loved friends are favoured with it4 ,i am at present in the furnace but the ,lord regulates the heat1 and ,i am at times so happy ,i really dont want to come out of it2 but sometimes it is so hot1 all the dross and tin of my rebellion boils up1 and ,i am astonished the ,lord ever lets me live at all4 ,i wonder at his patience and forbearance1 and when ,i taste his mercy and love1 my affections are led out to him again1 and ,i long to get to glory to praise him as ,i desire to do4 ,i have much to be thankful for2 my wants are supplied1 and the ,lord is with me1 so that it is better with me now than the last two years of my liberty2 the ,lord has both pardoned and subdued my sins1 and he is leading me on in the divine life--only the weather is cold1 nights are long1 my company is bad1 and ,i have hardly time or place for reading or writing1 except what ,i get by stealth4 ,how long this trial will last1 ,i know not1 ,i long for it to be over1 but ,i fear ,i shall loose my sweet seasons4 ,my heart is overcome with grief1 when ,i think of the poor ,packet ,distress3 she is out at sea1 in the dark and in the deep4 ,i want my heart fixed at all times1 trusting in the ,lord2 ,i know it will be well with them that fear the ,lord1 and ,i have reason to believe the ,lord has blessed me with that grace1 and keeps me in it1 but we find that more sensibly at one time than another1 so ,david found it2 how he feared the ,lord when his conscience checked him for cutting off the lappet of ,saul's coat1 but where was his fear of ,god in the ,matter of ,uriah8 ,we want our weak graces kept alive1 maintained1 and exercised on their proper object2 they must be tried1 and as ,god tries our graces1 so he gives us an opportunity of trying him1 and as we have found him faithful in times past1 so we shall again1 to his own honour4 ,he knoweth the path ,i take1 and when he hath tried me1 ,i shall come forth as gold--,christ is the gold1 and we are said to be predestinated to be conformed to his image1 both in spirit1 trials1 and glory4 ,the ,apostle has set before us a noble army of cross-bearers1 and after he had advised the ,church to notice those stars in the #aath of ,hebrews1 he recommends a perpetual looking at the ,son1 who for the joy that was set before him1 endured the cross2 and a cross is allotted for all the saints1 either in soul1 body1 circumstances1 family1 from ,satan or some sin1 from saint or from sinner4 ,this has been the ,lot of ,god's family1 and you cannot say that you have been exempt--many1 and deep have been your trials1 but you are still the living1 the living to praise him4 ,god be with you4 ,your's1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xlii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,august #ast1 #ahai4 ,mrs4 ,,harbro4 ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1 ,i trust you are well in health1 with your family2 it is just a year ago since ,i last wrote to you1 which letter being wrote under very peculiar circumstances1 and under the powerful influence of grace which ,i felt at that time1 which letter ,i have in reserve to be published at a future period1 when the ,lord turns my captivity4 ,many1 and great have been your changes and trials since that time2 we live in a world of changes and vicissitudes1 it may justly be compared to the sea1 ever restless and uneasy1 exposed to many storms and dangers1 but the ,lord has engaged to conduct us safe home1 and will surely bring us to that haven of eternal rest and peace2 and as this is the case1 we need not murmur1 although our ,ferry ,boat is a little tossed about1 and some of the passengers prove very troublesome1 we shall soon get home1 eternal love has sworn to bring us safely there2 and though the mountains depart1 and the hills be removed1 yet his kindness shall never depart from us1 nor the covenant of his peace ever be removed4 ,the ,lord foresaw what poor sinners we should be1 and he could have prevented it1 had it been agreeable to his eternal purposes2 but if it had been prevented1 what should we have known of the boundless mercy of his heart1 and how could we have known any thing of the lovely precious ,saviour and ,redeemer4 ,god had decreed that the vessels of his glory should be vessels of his mercy first1 and all he has purposed1 promised1 and done1 is for the riches of his grace1 in kindness towards us1 by ,christ ,jesus2 and this free unmerited favor of a covenant ,god1 has brought salvation of every kind to us3 we have experienced some of them1 and there are thousands of salvations which we are not sensible of1 that attend us daily4 ,i trust the ,lord is leading you on to a better acquaintance with the person and work of ,jesus1 and though you lament that you do not feel so much love to him1 as you did in your earlier experience1 yet you are learning wisdom--8,whom shall he teach wisdom1 and whom shall he make to understand doctrine1 but those who are weaned from the breast1 and drawn from the milk40 ,isaiah xxviii1 #i4 ,after this weaning time is over1 we feel our need of spiritual armour1 and we are called out to fight2 but never let us forget him who hath said1 ,my grace is sufficient for thee4 ,i beg you to accept my best wishes1 in the language of a favorite1 now in glory4 ,i wish you much increase of every grace1 ,i wish you strength to run your christian race1 ,i wish you patience under every rod1 ,i wish you much sweet fellowship with ,god1 ,i wish your evidences bright may shine1 ,i wish you joy and comfort all divine1 ,i wish you very strong in precious faith1 ,i wish you well through life1 and well in death1 ,i wish you safe on the celestial shore1 ,and there ,i wish you well for evermore4 ,kind respects to ,mr4 ,h4 and family4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xliii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,june #ast #ahai4 ,mr4 ,,sweetland4 ,,my ,,dear ,,kind ,,friend1 ,i hope the ,lord ,jesus is precious to your soul1 that your heart is fixed on him1 and that you are daily looking to him for life and salvation4 ,i hope every fresh feeling sense of sin1 urges you to his blood and righteousness1 as the only remedy1 as the serpent-bit-,israelites of old were to look to the brazen serpent3 all were to look at it2 some looked stedfastly1 others feebly1 some had a full1 near1 distinct view of it1 but others only had a feeble1 distant1 imperfect1 confused sight1 and many1 perhaps1 could hardly raise their dying eyes to catch a glimpse of it2 yet1 they all looked1 at some rate or other1 and all who looked1 lived1 and were healed4 ,this points out the various states of ,god's dear people1 in the strength and weakness of their faith1 as exercised on the dear ,saviour2 and as it shews the diversity of their cases1 so it also points out the various frames of mind an individual soul may experience4 ,there are times when we are strong in faith1 persuaded the work is begun1 and we can look to the ,lord with stedfast eye2 but there are other seasons when faith seems to languish1 love to be dead1 and hope seems to have perished1 the world and its cares have carried the mind away1 and ,satan has confused and perplexed us4 ,nothing seems left in the soul1 but perhaps a little desire1 and that hardly awake or felt4 ,here we stumble1 till the work is again revived1 and the dew descends again4 ,this made the prophet of old exclaim1 ,wilt thou not revive us again1 and1 ,oh ,lord1 revive thy work in the midst of the years4 ,and when the ,saviour draws near1 we are grieved that we should slight him so ungratefully1 and as love flows in1 godly sorrow flows out4 ,to this repentance we are called by the ,spirit1 and it is a change of the mind2 this change is ,god's work on us3 we cannot produce it1 and yet it so important1 that we cannot be saved without it1 it must be wrought in us by the power of ,god4 ,christ is exalted to give it in his most blessed characters1 as a ,prince and a ,saviour3 this is a dissolving the heart1 or rather the new heart in exercise1 under the gracious operations of the ,holy ,spirit2 the mind is overcome with a sense of the long suffering of ,god towards us1 and a feeling discovery of his love to us1 in ,christ ,jesus1 with a view of our own depravity1 and base backslidings2 we mourn that we ever offended such a ,saviour1 or sinned against such love2 we are ashamed of ourselves1 especially when we see our ,god sweetly pacified1 and his heart full of love towards us4 ,this was the holy generous feeling of ,mary ,magdalen1 and this work must be felt in some humble degree1 if ever we are saved1 for except we repent1 we must perish in our sins1 because this repentance is the effect--not the cause of pardon1 nor is it produced from any fear or dread of hell1 but from a sense of love1 because we have had the baseness and ingratitude1 the cruelty and the bitterness to sin against a good1 a gracious1 a kind1 and a bountiful ,god3 we loath ourselves in our own sight for our abominations1 and as this is the fruit of the ,spirit1 so it is pleasant and acceptable to ,god4 ,i hope my dear friend will be favored with this blessing1 it is an evidence of pardon1 pardon is an evidence of redemption1 and that is the gift of ,god2 and this gift is an evidence of eternal love4 ,i trust you are in health1 no doubt you feel your mortality1 by many attacks of pain of body4 ,we are poor dying mortals1 the creatures of a day2 we do all fade as a leaf1 not as a tree1 but as a weak1 helpless1 trembling leaf1 but precious faith in our ,lord1 and his love1 his sacred name1 and his complete work--this assures us we have a building of ,god1 eternal in the heavens1 and that building is ,christ ,yet a season1 and you know ,happy entrance shall be given1 ,all our sorrows left below1 ,and earth exchang'd for heaven4 ,the ,lord be with you1 and reward you for your affectionate kindness to the most unworthy ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xliv4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,june #ast4 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,,farq4 ,,my ,,dear ,,brother1 ,i trust the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ will reign triumphant in your soul1 till it is consummated in endless bliss4 ,various are the fears1 doubts1 and misgivings of heart1 to which you have been liable2 many have been the ,workings of inbred corruption1 and the power of sin1 as stirred up by the law1 and which lay hid1 till they were seen and felt by you2 this being attended with gloominess1 dejection1 and legal striving1 shews that it was the work of the law2 and the ,lord taking the opportunity to lead you to ,jesus1 as the atoning sacrifice1 and the end of the law for righteousness1 shews the greatness of his rich grace1 and the boundless love of his heart4 ,but ,god and your own soul best knows1 what distress of mind is experienced before the ,saviour speaks peace to the heart1 and assures it of its acceptance and justification before ,god1 in his own work3 yet1 amidst all the distress1 a truly awakened grace-taught soul experiences1 there is a clearing to1 and a humble trusting in ,christ1 so that if you had died in that distress of mind1 you would most certainly have been saved1 seeing our interest in ,christ does not save the soul1 it was saved in the ,lord long before we had an existence2 but no humbled believer can rest short of the knowledge and personal enjoyment of that salvation1 by the leadings and teachings of the ,holy ,spirit1 as the glorifier of ,christ4 ,i remember this was my case1 and ,i find it has been yours'3 this is the secret path which no fowl knoweth1 and the vulture's eye hath not yet seen3 all spiritual teaching is the evidence of our interest in the electing love of ,god1 all others are passed by4 ,i do not wonder at your esteem for that sweet chapter1 the #ejth of ,isaiah1 it would fill an immense volume to do it justice1 in describing its full glories2 the ,holy ,spirit led the mind of the prophet very divinely into the knowledge of ,christ1 as the atonement and justification of his people2 and this subject is most sweetly set forth in this chapter1 with an affectionate address to poor souls walking in darkness1 about their interest in ,christ1 and a direction given them how to act in such a state4 ,the chapter opens with the reason why the ,lord had rejected the ,jews1 and why he put them away1 viz4 for their awful and obstinate rejection of the person1 the ministry1 the miracles1 and work of the ,son of ,god4 ,the adorable ,redeemer then asserts the dignity of his own ,god-head1 as manifested in the awful and grand display of his works of power1 justice1 and vengeance2 these great themes are set forth in the three first verses4 ,the ,saviour then describes his commission from the ,father1 to accomplish the calling and redemption of the elect1 agreeable to an ancient stipulation1 or covenant1 subsisting between the father and the ,son2 he next points out his ability for the work as ,god-,man1 and his qualifications1 by the out-pouring of the ,holy ,spirit without measure upon him1 in the #dth and #eth verse's4 ,next follows his voluntary abasement of himself into the hands of his enemies1 with the firmness of his mind1 and the constancy of his love to his church1 as manifested in his unparalleled sorrows1 his confidence in his being carried through the great and arduous work of the redemption of his church1 and his full triumph over all his enemies2 the help that was promised him by his ,father1 in the covenant1 and the challenge that he would give to the enemies of his dear people1 for whom he should work out a complete righteousness2 read the #f1 #g1 #h1 and #ith verses4 ,christ ,jesus did in the love of his heart engage1 agreeable to the call of the ,father1 to become the surety of his ,church3 all their sins being imputed to him1 he stood guilty in the eye of the law1 and justice of ,god2 and having given ample satisfaction to justice1 fulfilled the law1 made reconciliation1 glorified all the perfections of ,god1 and put away sin3 he was justified in the ,spirit at his resurrection1 having paid the debt1 he received the receipt in full1 and upon his triumphant entrance into glory1 bearing the marks and scars in his sacred body1 with the virtue of his work fresh in the mind of ,god1 and sweetly accepted by him1 he gives the challenge to law1 to justice1 to all4 ,who shall lay any thing to the charge of ,god's elect1 unpardoned1 unatoned for8 ,who will contend with me8 let us stand together3 ,who is mine adversary8 let him come near to me6 ,this is ,christ's universal challenge to all accusers of his children3 he has done the work1 nothing can be added to it1 or taken from it1 and the adorable ,father imputes this work to his ,church2 faith is given them to receive this atonement and righteousness1 and power is given them to enjoy it as their own2 and this believing and receiving the work the ,lord ,jesus has accomplished1 is called1 obeying ,christ's voice2 while the work of ,god on the heart is stiled1 fearing the ,lord4 ,this fear1 and this obedience are evidences of interest in the great work of the ,triumphant ,conquerer of sin1 death1 and hell4 ,and1 whoever among the ,lord's called ones1 are walking without a sense of ,god's love1 find a sense of interest in the ,redeemer2 without the light of comfort1 the light of joy1 and the light of love2 though darkness is felt by them1 and nothing but darkness without them1 yet they are not totally in the dark1 but they are the children of the light1 and of the day4 ,let such trust in ,jesus1 and stay their minds upon the ,spirit's testimony of ,christ2 but this trusting and staying is the gift of ,god4 ,the chapter then concludes with an address to all pharisees1 who reject the perfect work of ,christ1 and who trust in a form of godliness1 without the power4 ,such compass themselves about with their own sparks1 walk in their own light1 and die1 at last1 in sorrow4 ,the parable of the foolish virgins will illustrate this last verse4 ,excuse the brevity of these remarks4 ,affectionate respects to your better half4 ,your's1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xlv4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,nov4 #adth1 #ahah4 ,mr4 ,,freeman4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1 ,grace be with you4 ,the hand of our ,father has separated us for a time2 this is done in infinite wisdom1 and ,i hope in covenant love4 ,i do not pretend to say my case is similar to the holy apostle ,paul's1 but ,i trust there is the same grand end to be answered1 by my captivity4 ,several1 ,i hope1 will have to bless ,god that ,i was ever brought into this place3 some poor run-away servant1 like ,onesimus--some prodigal character1 and strange to tell1 some proud and self-conceited pharisee1 ,i hope1 has learnt a little by my feeble efforts in this place--the only way to ,god4 ,i have great hopes of an awful character also--nor have ,i any great desire to leave this captivity1 till ,i see what the ,lord is about to do with him4 ,i see much wisdom in my removal from the ,church for a time3 many grew tired of the repeated messages of mercy which ,i constantly delivered1 and would travel all day long in search of some other preachers3 this was not acting like contented children4 ,and ,i know also1 that the ,lord would remove me away for a time1 because those ,israelites began to loathe the manna2 for this purpose fiery serpents were sent in among them4 ,christ calls some people serpents1 and their lying tongues are compared to fire4 ,these have stung the people1 but let us look to him who is lifted upon the pole of the ,gospel1 and who alone can cure our wounds1 and heal all our diseases4 ,i am much pleased in hopes of seeing this sweet text yet accomplished1 7#cjth ,isaiah7 8,moreover the light of the moon1 shall be as the light of the sun1 and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold1 as the light of seven days1 when the ,lord bindeth up the breach of his people1 and healeth the stroke of their wind0--,selah4 ,but my dear ,friend1 ,i also am highly culpable2 persecution having ceased1 and prosperity come on1 faith could not grow in this state4 ,i mixed too much with the world1 and grew too careless of ,god's tried ones--the rod was wanted1 had it been spared1 ,i should have been spoilt1 but my heavenly ,father would not spare for my much crying2 it is now my duty1 and mercy to detain this messenger1 and read what the ,lord means by it1 knowing the master's feet is behind1 ,i hope1 with many a blessing for us all4 ,it is in this confidence ,i hope yet to praise ,him1 who now supports1 consoles1 upholds1 and often smiles on my soul4 ,in his presence is life--,my presence shall go with thee4 ,whither shall ,i flee from thy presence8 ,is not this presence the ,holy ,spirit himself1 who is promised to the ,church8 ,and is not ,christ himself the very life of the soul8 ,is he not the very life of heaven above1 and the life of the ,church8 ,do you not see and feel a deadness in a congregation1 and under a sermon1 if your ,lord is not all in all8 ,is not every place without him1 like the empty grave of ,christ8 ,they may be good moral men1 both the minister and the people2 such angels may be sitting at the head and feet of that ,church1 but no spiritual ,mary can be happy1 if the ,master is not there4 ,the grave cloaths may be well folded up1 and the napkin that was about the head1 in a place by itself2 these things our dear ,lord left behind him1 and if the veil is taken from our eyes1 if our bonds are loosed1 we must leave those things which bound us by nature4 ,legal ceremonies and pharisaic works--these must be left in ,christ's grave1 we have nothing to do with them2 if we be risen with ,christ1 we must seek those things which are above4 ,i trust you are quickened by his power1 that the ,holy ,spirit is leading you to ,christ1 as the resurrection and the very life of your soul3 that you feel after him1 when he is distant1 feel for him in his sorrows1 and feel miserable when you are not allowed to draw near4 ,is this your experience8 blessed be ,god if it is4 ,do observe--when all is dark within then it is your time to go out to ,christ3 only read the #crd4 and the former part of the #eth chapter of ,solomon's ,song1 and if light is given you on these chapters1 it will cast a radiancy on the way the ,lord has led you4 ,still beg of ,god that my trials may be of use to me1 and to many--time is on the wing1 and if prayer did not succeed in keeping me from this place1 nor yet in my speedy deliverance1 yet1 ,i have blessings in abundance1 and this trial will turn out for the furtherance of the truth1 through your prayers4 ,i hope the pious friendly ,females ,i had the pleasure of seeing with you1 are all well3 give them my kind love1 tell them it will be well4 ,wishing you every covenant blessing in enjoyment1 especially that in the #hth chapter of ,hebrews--#aj1 #aa1 and #abth verses1 ,i remain1 your's1 in ,christ1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xlvi4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,january #bcrd4 #ahai4 ,miss ,,watts4 ,,my ,,ever ,,dear ,,friend1 ,grace and peace be with you4 ,i received and read your simple1 but sincere testimony of the work of ,god on your soul1 with pleasure--,oh6 that the ever adorable ,spirit would increase it1 that you may abound in knowledge and judgement4 ,it is a mercy to be called by grace in our early days4 ,what shall we render to the ,lord1 for thinking upon us in our low estate2 for bestowing a thought of us in the councils of eternity1 and appointing us to obtain salvation1 by the doing and dying of a glorious ,redeemer8 ,we are poor1 lost1 vile1 guilty creatures1 in and of ourselves3 we are ten thousand times more vile and sinful than we can possibly conceive2 there is not an evil done under the sun1 but we have got the root of it in our hearts4 ,this ,i have often declared1 but ,i am now more sensibly led to know it2 the ,lord is gradually teaching me in deep experience1 what ,i have often preached to others4 ,i have many sad moments1 but the ,saviour smiles again1 and then ,i get up and run on a little while2 but1 alas6 the burden of a body of sin and death1 sinks my spirits again1 and sometimes ,i have darkness on my path2 but ,i must tell you1 that when ,i am drove out from every joy1 hope1 comfort1 or pleasure1 ,i always find it most blessed to cast myself at the dear ,saviour's feet1 saying ,lord thine arm must be reveal'd ,ere ,i can by faith be heal'd1 ,since ,i scarce can look to thee1 ,cast a gracious look on me1 ,at thy feet ,i humbly lay1 ,shine1 ,oh6 shine my fears away4 ,what a special favour1 my dear friend1 to be led to the ,saviour1 to know him in any measure1 by the teachings of his own ,spirit2 to desire him above all1 and to make up all our happiness alone in him4 ,when you look around you on those who are destitute of grace1 and whose souls abhor the very sound of religion1 and others who are contented with a bare outside shew2 these have a form and a name to live1 but they are dead1 and why do we differ from them--this is an act of pure mercy and covenant love4 ,we do not envy their state1 although they possess every comfort in life1 nor does ,satan trouble them2 but we are chastened and judged of the ,lord that we should not be condemned with the world4 ,we are brought into judgement in our own hearts1 ,god the ,spirit illuminates and quickens the conscience1 we feel our guilt1 we acknowledge the justice of our sentence1 and see that ,god would be just if he cut us off1 and sent us to hell4 ,we are filled with fears1 we are distrest in mind1 nor can any solid comfort be felt1 only as ,god is pleased to give us scriptural views of ,christ--as the gift of the ,father's love1 as every way suited to act for us with ,god1 as our ,mediator1 being ,god with ,god1 and man with man1 well calculated to make an atonement1 to bring ,god and man together1 into a state of reconciliation2 to obey the law which we had violated1 and to endure that very curse which we had deserved--blessing on his dear name1 he felt all the hell in his precious soul and sacred body1 which we had deserved1 and he left nothing for us to do1 but to believe and to take the comfort of it4 ,and here it is we want much light1 life1 and power2 that we may be able to receive this great work in such a way1 as to produce peace1 love1 and joy4 ,we want the heart persuaded into this truth2 hence the ,saviour said1 ,receive the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4 ,and these are some of the many precious truths we want power to receive--,i have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions4 ,in the ,lord shall thou be justified1 and shall glory4 ,yea1 ,i have loved thee with an everlasting love4 ,having begun the good work1 he will finish it4 ,i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4 ,the ,lord give my much loved friend power to take1 receive1 and enjoy these precious truths in her own soul4 ,i am much melted into wonder1 and gratitude1 and praise1 when ,i hear the ,lord has ever blessed my poor message to any of his dear people1 that he ever gave testimony to the word of his grace1 by my feeble instrumentality--glory be to his name1 he has made me manifest to your soul that he sent me to preach2 and having experienced his love1 you are enabled to prove it1 by sympathising with me in my sorrows1 and helping to comfort me in tribulation4 ,may the dear ,lord bring me back in the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of ,christ1 truly humbled in spirit1 and with a heart and a mouth full of ,christ1 that ,i may yet praise him who is the health of my countenance1 and my merciful ,god4 ,grace1 mercy1 and peace be your's1 in enjoyment and dependence1 and ,god be glorified in your present and your eternal salvation4--,i remain1 ,your affectionate and grateful ,friend1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xlvii4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,march #eth1 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,,frimbley4 ,,my ,,dear ,,sir1 ,not having seen or heard of my dear friend for some time past1 ,i must inquire after you1 hoping that ,i need make no apology for the friendly enquiry4 ,i suppose you are still in the wilderness1 and ,god has promised to make this world such to us--he has not given such a promise to the non-elect2 it is their paradise1 and our plague2 'tis their home1 but our inn2 'tis their portion1 but our bait4 ,we are not born for this place1 it is doomed to fire2 we are but pilgrims1 staying at this spot1 till an order comes from the king of the better country1 and demands us home4 ,and is heaven our home--are we sure that we shall get safe at last8 let us examine1 for faith can reason well4 ,if the ,lord meant to destroy us1 he would not have shewed us what he has1 nor would he have told us what he has3 we have seen our natures1 found them vile2 we have seen the spirituality of ,god's law1 we have seen the vanity of all things below the stars1 we have seen our strength to be perfect weakness1 we have seen the exact suitableness of ,christ1 we have seen the value of his blood and obedience1 and the love of his heart in bearing our persons before the throne1 we have seen his good hand in many a trouble1 and we have seen his faithfulness1 mercy1 wisdom1 and truth4 ,we have seen many and better people than we are1 blaze in a profession1 and go out in darkness2 we have seen the workings of corruption1 and the malice of ,satan4 ,can my dear friend deny it8 ,are not these truths in your soul's experience and mine8 ,many a grand doctrine has the blessed ,spirit opened to us1 many a promise has he applied1 many a sweet thought has he sent home1 many a precious idea has he formed in the mind1 and many a gracious hint of his greatness1 goodness1 and love3 these are some things he has told us--the secret of the ,lord1 is with them that fear him1 and he will shew them his covenant4 ,i trust the ,lord is carrying you on in the divine life2 he has promised that the path of his people1 shall be as the light of the day--that day may be cloudy1 windy1 and stormy1 yet it is day1 because the darkness of nature is past1 and shall never return1 ,mysterious providences may distress1 yea almost distract us1 yet faith will ride again1 she may get low but shall never fail2 it never has yet1 although it has been as low as it could be4 ,i beg the ,lord to strengthen our faith1 encourage hope1 and draw forth love3--these graces have to do with ,christ1 and the ,father's love to us in him4 ,it is truly lamentable that the ,lord's children in the present day1 are resting so short of their precious privileges2 they have not attained1 nor are they pressing on to know what might be known1 even the promise of the ,father1 in the more abundant out-pouring of the ,spirit3 this is a blessing worth waiting and hoping for2 for we1 through the ,spirit1 wait for the hope of righteousness1 by faith3 and this is what the ,apostle ,paul prays the ,ephesians may be favored with4--,see the #ast4 chapter of ,eph4 from verse #afth to the close2 and in the same ,epistle he prays1 also1 that the saints might be so enlarged in soul1 as to come up to the attainments of the most eminent saints1 and know1 and enjoy1 the love of the adorable ,trinity4--,this is a spiritual baptism1 of which the outward is only a sign--it is to be admitted into the most holy views of1 and communion with1 ,god1 in his three-fold character of persons1 in his decrees1 purposes1 and covenants1 in his eternal transactions1 and the outgoings of his love1 the glories of ,christ's person1 and the everlasting perfection of his work4 ,these grand subjects are food for faith1 these nourish faith1 and lead us to establishment and solid peace1 that neither sin1 law1 nor ,satan can disturb4 ,i trust you go to hear some one who is calculated to feed the soul4 ,as for myself ,i am often low1 yet contented at times with the lowest form in the school of ,jesus4 ,i hope your dear partner in life is led on amidst all conflicts1 trials and plagues--blessed is she that believeth1 and ,i trust dear ,mrs4 ,f4 is long brought to that4 ,faith centers in ,jesus1 and gathers strength in every trial2 it will be victorious by and bye4 ,the victory which ,jesus has gained is given to us by the ,father1 and it is the work of the ,spirit to manifest it with some power4 ,i have no news to send about myself--if the ,lord wanted me to carry him into ,jerusalem he would send word that ,i must be loosed now1 for the ,lord hath need of him4--,god be with you both4 ,your's1 truly1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xlviii4 ,valley of ,achor1 ,june #afth1 #ahaie4 ,my dear ,mrs4 ,,bailey4 ,,grace and mercy be with you4--,i hope you are well in health and spirits1 and1 above all1 that the ,lord is with you4 ,i wish you felt grateful for what he has done for you3 it is well to look back to the days of our ignorance2 for although we know but little yet1 still the ,lord might have left us to know nothing2 but is written1 ,all thy children are taught of ,god2 and if we belong to the election of graces we are taught by the ,father4 ,there are two things we are sure to learn of the ,father2 we learn our own depravity and condemnation by the law1 that we deserve nothing at the hands of ,god1 but his wrath1 because we have sinned against him2 and we learn of him the value of ,christ1 as he is revealed in the word4 ,we learn the record that ,god has given us of his ,son1 that he is just such a ,saviour as we need2 for being condemned we need a surety to pay our debts1 a better righteousness to appear in1 before ,god1 and we need an atonement to take away all our sins--,christ has done it1 and he is now in heaven pleading our cause1 representing us before ,god1 and answering all the charges that can be brought against us by ,law1 by ,satan1 or by conscience4 ,his blood and obedience1 his holy nature1 holy life1 and agonizing death1 is our everlasting cure4 ,this is so precious to the ,father1 that he accepts all that come to him in his dear ,son's name1 and pleading his work2 he will never send them away1 cast them out1 or give them up to ,satan2 this is our mercy2 none that trust in him shall be desolate1 forsaken1 lost1 condemned1 or damned--,selah4 ,you have many trials1 but they are most divinely appointed to produce the fruits of righteousness1 to exercise faith and patience1 to empty us of the love of sin and the world1 to shew us our weakness1 and the daily need we have of ,christ1 as our strength1 our wisdom1 and our deliverer4 ,christ is our support1 our strength1 and our help1 till he works a deliverance for us4 ,i am learning this1 that ,i may explain it to others2 ,i talked about these things1 and felt them in a degree1 but now ,i know them deeper than ,i once did2 the ,lord has instructed me with a strong hand1 and ,i long to speak these things to others1 yet a sense of my unworthiness keeps me back from thinking even about it4 ,i want the ,lord's children to trace up these mercies and trials to an everlasting covenant1 where they were provided2 and it is very blessed to remember1 that all flows in love to us1 and were divinely appointed for us in infinite wisdom--the ,lord is author of all our mercies1 he is not the author of our sins2 he permits them1 and he over-rules them1 according to his own plans1 which he laid out in eternity1 but he did not begin them1 he does not force us to them1 and it would be wicked to suppose it3 the ,lord foresaw them1 and he could have prevented them1 but he had some grand ends to answer by them4 ,he decreed to glorify his justice1 his mercy1 and his grace by them4 ,so it is the case with all our trials now1 they are all laid out in number1 weight1 and measure1 and they will terminate well2 they will bring glory to ,god1 and magnify the riches of his free grace4 ,i wish my dear ,friend felt much of a spirit of grace and supplication4 ,our conflicts are designed for this very end1 to stir us up to prayer1 and reading the word3 just like a person of property1 who feels he is in want of money1 and searches his ,father's will to see where his property lies4 ,this is our case-- ,sometimes my ,lord his face doth hide1 ,to make me pray1 or kill my pride4 ,this is the design we are ready to suppose1 when all things run against us1 that ,god is against us2 but it is quite the contrary1 ,god is not at war with us1 but against some of his and our enemies1 within us3 this is the reason why he contends with us1 to empty us of self1 to bring us to live upon ,christ1 as our all in all1 that we may die daily to self and the world2 and thus in due time1 live a life of faith upon ,christ4 ,we all want to live a life of sense1 but the ,lord will be trusted in the dark1 as well as followed in the light1 and we must be brought to this point1 if we wish to honour ,god--but we want to live on frames and feelings1 to walk in sunshine and good roads2 but this cannot be called trusting in him4 ,there are many very precious promises made to those who trust in him1 and these we should lose1 if we were not led into this path4 ,i trust dear ,mr4 ,b4 is well--my christian respects to him3 tell him ,i hope the ,lord will lead his mind to ,christ as his ,saviour1 and hope ,god will bless you both1 and all who are dear to you4--,many thanks for your concern for ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,,xlix4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,february #agth1 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,mrs4 ,,shephard4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friends1 ,,grace and peace be with you4--,this is what the ,apostles wished the ,church of ,god1 in all their ,epistles1 to which they often subjoined mercy4 ,what these three epithets imply1 ,i and you must die to know1 the adorable ,trinity purposing to set his love on man and on angels--it was love indeed1 as it flowed from the heart of ,god4 ,it is love1 but it being set on some1 and not on others2 some are elect angels1 some are not2 some are elect men1 some are not2 and this love being so distinguished1 is grace1 or free favour2 and this favour manifested to us as fallen1 guilty1 hell-deserving creatures1 is mercy4 ,i wish you to make these distinctions1 as they will open many blessed texts and doctrines of the word4 ,now as grace and mercy flows to us so divinely1 this brings peace indeed1 and in fact4 ,these three terms at once1 include the gracious covenant work of the ever adorable ,trinity3 the ,father is the ,god of all grace1 the ever blessed ,spirit is the mercy that saves us1 and ,christ is our peace4 ,and these terms also set forth the three-fold offices of the ever blessed ,jesus--he is merciful1 as our ,prophet1 gracious1 as our ,priest1 and peaceable1 as our king4 ,and is there not another sweet idea occurs to the mind in experience1 the influences of the ,spirit are gracious2 these teach us to see our misery1 and help us to cry for mercy2 and mercy seen and felt in pardoning sin1 produces peace1 thus grace1 mercy1 and peace are with us4 ,there was something you said to me at the place1 which gave me very great pleasure1 in reference to yourself1 and from which ,i gathered a hope you was growing in the knowledge of ,god our ,saviour4 ,this is life eternal to know him1 and it is a very great favour indeed to be growing in that knowledge2 many of the ,lord's children are grieved that they cannot get better1 nor grow into a good opinion of themselves4 ,hence they are not pleased with themselves1 and cast down because they appear so bad to themselves1 whereas our main concern should be to get better acquainted with ,christ1 as he is revealed in the gospel1 carrying on the great work of salvation4 ,you and ,i must lament1 that when ,god's children meet together1 even in their most serious moments1 they spend all their time in talking about their frames1 and feelings1 instead of ,christ2 whereas1 talking about ,jesus1 and striving to get some sweet ideas of him1 as he is set forth in the word1 and communicating those ideas1 would be the best subject1 to improve the mind1 warm the heart1 and lead out the soul to love ,christ1 and one another4 ,this would be the communion of saints1 as connected with the forgiveness of sins4 ,poor1 tried saints are always talking about their feelings2 and common professors are talking about this religious society1 and the other1 and thus they are well pleased with what they do for ,god1 before ,god has done any thing for them3 ,there is no communion in all this1 'tis a mere bubble1 and a plan of ,satan's1 to keep ,christ out of the mind4 ,christ is all in heaven1 and he should be all in the ,church2 and when he is all in all to us1 we have got the sweetest evidence that we can have1 that we belong to ,god4 ,i am sometimes cast down in soul1 but the ,lord raises me up again2 and although the work of ,god is genuine on the soul1 yet ,i find1 by repeated experience1 that ,i can neither love1 believe1 or hope1 but as the blessed ,spirit operates on the soul4 ,without ,christ we can do nothing1 no more than a body without a head1 or limb cut off the body1 or sick man without a physician1 or an accused man without a counsellor1 or a condemned man without a pardon4 ,christ is our ,lord1 physician1 advocate1 and atonement1 our righteousness and strength2 and it is our mercy he is the balm in ,gilead1 health amongst the witnesses1 and the healer there4 ,gilead signifies witnesses3 these are the ,bible1 and in the ,church1 and1 blessed be ,god1 in our hearts2 also as there are many things there can witness for him4 ,hence ,god says1 ,ye are my witnesses1 and my servant1 whom ,i have chosen4 ,christ was ,god's witness to us1 and we are witnesses of the freeness of his grace1 and the value of his blood4 ,christ represents us to ,god and we represent ,christ--he is ,god-,man in one4 ,man ruined himself in aspiring to be ,god1 and ,god saves man by becoming man2 the divinity is espoused to our nature1 that our souls might be espoused to ,christ1 and to ,god in him4 ,the adorable ,father and eternal ,spirit aims at the exaltation of ,christ1 as ,god-,man1 and all things are made for this purpose4 ,all things for his sake did ,jehovah prepare1 ,for of him1 and through him1 and to him they are2 ,all systems and worlds which revolve through the sky ,were made for the lifting of ,jesus on high4 ,may he be glorified in your salvation and mine1 and reward you both for your sincere esteem for him1 who remains ,your's in him1 ,ruhamah4 ,,letter ,l4 ,achor's ,vale1 ,october #bfth1 #ahai4 ,mr4 ,,fossett4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend ,,and ,,brother1 ,when the chastising hand of ,god is laid heavily upon a nation1 a family1 an individual1 or a church1 it becomes the afflicted to ask1 ,is there not cause8 ,when the troubles abounded on pious ,job1 he said unto ,god1 ,shew me wherefore thou contendest with me8 and when the ,lord made a breach upon ,uzzah1 the reason is assigned1 no doubt as an answer to some enquiring souls1 who were deeply affected with the ,lord's hand4 ,david finding the cause of the breach was that of acting contrary to the orders which had been previously given1 in reference to the persons bearing the ark 7#a ,chronicles1 xv1 #ac7 ,the ,lord our ,god made a breach upon us1 for that we did not seek him after the due order4 ,and it is an awful circumstance recorded in the ,new ,testament1 that1 the sad disorders and conduct of the ,church at ,corinth1 was resented by the great ,head of the ,church on many of its members 7see #a ,cor4 xi1 #cj74 ,it has pleased the ,lord to make an awful breach amongst us1 as a ,church2 the removal and long reproach of your minister1 the troubles and disgrace of the congregation1 the affliction of mind1 body1 and circumstances of the ,church at large1 must be viewed as the rod of a ,father1 chastising and correcting1 reproving and calling to consideration4 ,as an individual1 ,i trust the ,lord has convinced me of the sad occasion of these afflictions1 and having granted me the assurance of his pardoning mercy1 ,i feel it my duty to call the attention and exertion of the deacons and managers1 the church and congregation1 to lay this important matter to heart2 and knowing the cause1 to endeavour to remove it4 ,the ,lord ,jesus is jealous of his honour1 and whatever sullies or tarnishes that glory1 he will resent it in some way or other4 ,it has been a source of grief to many pious1 grace-taught1 and conscientious persons1 that there is so great a neglect of the order of the gospel amongst us1 as professing to believe in1 and love the ,lard ,jesus1 by the teaching of his ,spirit--permit me to say1 that this is a reason why the ,lord has thus so deeply afflicted us4 ,i have been constantly preaching the word1 as far as ,i was taught1 and helped1 to the ,lord's people amongst us1 for some years3 ,god has given his testimony to the word of his grace1 and there has been an assembling in his house1 a submission to the ordinance of baptism1 by the majority1 and a constant attendance at the ,lord's table4 ,this was well as far as it went2 but it is necessary to stand complete in the whole will of ,god1 and to act in all things1 consistent with the rules laid down in his word4 ,the precepts of the ,new ,testament are the laws of ,christ1 as king in ,zion1 and they must form our rule of conduct in the ,church1 and in the world4 ,a wilful neglect of this rule1 is an insult upon the ,saviour1 and he will resent such conduct in his own ,people4 ,let us therefore search and try our ways1 and turn again unto the ,lord4 ,i have frequently endeavored to rectify the error into which we have fallen1 viz4 ,the neglect of ,church order4 ,some years ago1 ,i published a pamphlet1 entitled 8,the ,nature of a ,gospel ,church10 with the covenant into which all the members were to enter1 upon their admission to the ,lord's table4 ,but1 alas6 this has scarcely ever been noticed since3 it was approved of1 but never practised4 ,i hope1 at a future day1 to revise that little book1 and add the following ,articles1 which appear to me to be important1 to the founding and establishing the ,church in future1 and for the glory of the ,saviour2 but till we are settled again1 as a congregation1 ,i take this opportunity of sending you what ,i humbly conceive to be the ,spirit's mind1 concerning the well-being of the ,church of ,christ4 ,these ,articles1 ,i pray the ,god of all grace1 to enable us constantly to observe1 with the rules laid down in the members covenant1 and the confession of faith there published4 ,the ,articles1 ,i hope1 will be punctually attended to4 ,i know your concern of mind on this subject1 and have no doubt1 by prayer and perseverance1 but the ,lord will succeed our humble attempt to glorify his holy name4--,christian love to ,mrs4 ,f4 ,i remain1 your's truly1 in gospel bonds1 ,ruhamah4 ,rules of the ,ruhamah ,society4 #a4--,that as many ,deacons be chosen1 as the circumstances of the ,church may require3 that they may be men taught of ,god1 and good moral characters1 and who are ,baptists1 both in ,principle and ,practice4 #b4--,that the ,deacons shall be chosen by ,lot1 or by a ,majority of the ,members1 at a public ,meeting of the ,church1 when every ,member shall be entitled to a ,vote1 except those who are under ,church censure3 such cannot be admitted to vote1 till fully restored4 #c4--,that the ,minister shall make it a particular point of conscience1 to point out the work of ,deacons1 in the faithful discharge of their office4 #d4--,that the ,minister and ,deacons shall be reproved by the ,church1 for any inconsistency of conduct1 or a deviation from any of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel2 and should either ,minister or ,deacons continue to persist in such practises1 or errors1 they must be suspended1 should a majority of the ,church so determine1 #e4--,should any of the ,members act in any unjustifiable way to the ,minister1 such shall be reproved2 and if they continue such conduct1 the ,church shall expel them4 #f4--,that the ,minister is to have but one voice in the ,church1 on any occasion whatever4 #g4--,that the ,church meet once a month1 at which the ,minister1 if possible1 is to be always present1 and the ,deacons also to make it a point of conscience to attend all the public and private meetings of the ,church and ,congregation1 as far as they are able4 #h4--,that the ,church ,meetings shall always be opened with ,prayer1 and reading the preceptive parts of the ,new ,testament1 setting forth the ,duty of ,church ,members4 #i4--,that the ,minister shall have the privilege to call the ,church together on any special occasion4 #aj4--,that no ,minister be suffered to go into the ,pulpit to preach1 without the consent of the majority of the ,church1 unless on any urgent occasion1 when either ,minister or ,deacons may give their consent4 #aa4--,that the ,minister shall appoint some of the ,deacons to manage all the temporal affairs of the ,church1 and appoint one of the ,members once a year1 to act as ,secretary to them1 and report the state of the temporal affairs of the ,chapel to the ,church4 #ab4--,that the particular ,affairs of the ,church shall not be disclosed to those who have no connection with us2 and any unpleasant circumstances which may arise in the ,church1 or concerning any ,member1 shall not be exposed to the world--and all ,admonitions to offending ,persons shall be kept from general observation4 #ac4--,that a ,book or ,books shall be kept to record the names of the ,members1 and every important transaction in the ,church4 #ad4--,that no ,person acting as a ,servant in the ,church shall hold more than one ,office1 except by particular request4 #ae4--,that no ,member be allowed to bring any grievance of a temporal nature1 before the ,church1 till it has obtained the ,consent of the ,minister and ,deacons4 #af4--,that the ,ordinance of the ,lord's ,supper be duly administered every first ,lord's ,day in the month1 in the ,evening1 and on particular occasions1 when the ,minister shall appoint4 #ag4--,that when a ,person desires to unite with the ,church1 to break ,bread1 and to partake of the various ,privileges of the ,lord's ,house1 they are to intimate the same to the ,minister or to the ,deacons1 or to any ,member to introduce them4 #ah4--,that the ,deacons are to enquire into the state of their souls1 respecting a ,work of ,grace1 and if they are satisfied1 the ,candidate is to be brought to the ,minister1 who is to propose them to the ,church at the earliest ,meeting thereof4 ,this ,examination is to be in a very faithful1 yet candid and affectionate manner4 ,the ,deacons are also to take the earliest opportunity of minutely enquiring into the moral ,character and ,conduct of such ,persons1 and upon approbation the ,candidate must attend at the next ,church ,meeting4 #ai4--,that ,persons wishing to be admitted be also requested to relate to the ,church the dealings of ,god with their souls2 but1 if timid1 they may give in a written account of the same1 or the ,minister to ask them such questions as relate to the subject2 and upon the ,candidate's retirement1 the ,deacons are to give an account of the report of their moral conduct1 and if there is a majority of ,votes1 they shall be immediately admitted as ,members of the ,church4 #bj4--,that if such ,persons are not baptized by immersion1 the subject is to be particularly explained to them by the ,deacons and ,members of the ,church1 as they have opportunity1 but they are not to be admitted to the ,lordly ,table till the subject is opened to them4 #ba4--,that any desirous of ,baptism1 are to signify the same as early as possible to the ,deacons1 or ,minister1 that1 when there is a convenient number1 they may partake of that ordinance4 ,not less than twelve persons1 unless under very peculiar circumstances4 ,and if it be signified1 privately1 that any ,person or ,persons are not able to bear the usual expence attending the ordinance1 the ,church is to bear that expence1 as on those occasions there is much damage done to the ,chapel4 #bb4--,that the baptized ,persons1 and all those who were admitted as ,members at the ,church ,meeting1 shall be publicly received at the ordinance of the ,lord's ,supper1 when the ,articles of ,faith shall be read to them1 an address be given them1 with singing and prayer1 when they are to receive the right hand of fellowship from the ,minister1 the representative of the ,church4 #bc4--,that the ,minister and ,deacons shall enforce the various ,duties of ,church ,members1 and stir each other up to every good word and work4 ,that they shall sympathize with each other2 study each other's spiritual and temporal welfare--that they shall deal and trade with each other1 as much as their circumstances will admit1 in preference to any other1 as ,children of the same ,father4 ,that they warn the unruly1 instruct the ignorant1 comfort the feeble-minded2 give timely1 kind1 affectionate1 but faithful reproof1 when needed2 restore the ,backslider1 and endeavour to promote the prosperity and peace of the ,church4 ,but if any ,member persists in walking inconsistently1 such shall be admonished by the ,minister and ,deacons2 but if this has no avail1 the ,church shall be informed of it1 and if no reproof has had any effect1 such offender shall be cut off1 till some signs of penitence and reformation appear1 when1 if it be desired1 such ,person shall be re-admitted4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,finis4