Transcribed from the 1820 (second) R. Thomas edition by David Price,
email ccx074@pglaf.org
[Picture: Public domain book cover]
THE
VOICE OF FAITH,
IN THE
_Valley of Achor_:
BEING A
Series of Letters
_TO SEVERAL FRIENDS_,
ON RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS.
* * * * *
By Ruhamah.
* * * * *
_SECOND EDITION_.
* * * * *
SOUTHWARK;
PRINTED BY R. THOMAS, RED LION STREET, BOROUGH.
1820.
* * * * *
LETTER I.
_Valley of Achor_, _Aug._ 10, 1818.
To Mr. K—G.
DEAR SIR.
MANY thanks for the loan of the invaluable books, containing the last
fragments of the late venerable and spiritual JENKINS, of Lewes.—Surely
it may be said with propriety, “He being dead yet speaketh,” but it is
only to those who are taught of God. We speak, says the Apostle, to wise
men, not to unhumbled, unrenewed, carnal men, nor to mere nominal
professors, nor to those who are barely resting in a form of words, tho’
sound—such persons cannot digest the experimental truths they contain;
there was a time once when they would not suit me, but I have found them
exceedingly precious; nor do I think that tried man had a sensation, a
trial, a grief, a temptation, an enemy, a sin, a corruption, a fear, a
doubt, or misgiving, but what the Lord has permitted me to feel; nor do I
think he was favored me with one token or pleasing hope, an help, a
deliverance, a gracious smile, or a display of the divine faithfulness,
in the application and fulfilment of the promises, but the Lord has also
indulged me with similar mercies. I must recommend them to the poor of
Christ’s flock who wait on and for the Lord, till pardoning mercy is
revealed with some power.—I know you are anxious to learn how I go on in
soul matters, this is the main concern with you and with all my real
friends in Christ. I have now no other way left to inform you
satisfactorily, but by letter, and I certainly could fill volumes on the
subject of my daily experience of the teachings of the ever blessed
Spirit; nor have I any objection to make this subject known to you, and
to all those who are concerned for my best interest: this is the
principal point, to exalt the Lord Jesus, in the grand displays of _his_
grace to the most unworthy—and I can say to _his_ glory, _he_ has, I
trusts most effectually humbled me in the dust, laid me low, shewed me
such views of sin as I never saw before, and quickened my soul to feel
what it never so sensibly and deeply felt before. I do experience that
the tendency of _his_ gracious influences meeken, soften, and humble the
heart; rendering it also teachable and grateful. This I could
demonstrate by reciting a variety of experiences I have been favored
with, but I pass by numbers, to relate one in particular, that I can
never forget in this and a coming world.
After I had been in this furnace some weeks, in which I felt as others do
in similar cases, much grief, anger, rebellion, and discontent, but not
quite without a spirit of prayer, that I might be favored with the very
gracious visits of the Saviour, and a sense of God’s approbation in my
own soul, though despised by others. I entreated the Lord to shew me the
exceeding sinfulness of sin, as well as I could bear it, for I am
convinced no man could ever behold sin in all its malignity, none but the
God-Man could bear that—yet I desired to see sin as most abominable in
God’s sight. These petitions were in time answered; the Lord led me to
reflect deeply in my retired moments, on the nature of sin, original and
actual.—This knowledge of it increased, till one evening, being alone, I
was most completely overpowered with a solemn stillness of spirit, a view
of sin, my own sins of heart, lip, and life; these crouded in my mind. I
felt guilty. I stood condemned. I had a fearful apprehension of God’s
just displeasure; all was dark within, except sin and the anger of
God—these were clear enough; horror overwhelmed me, and I sunk low at the
footstool of divine mercy; I feared, I trembled, I was brought low, I was
troubled. I saw nothing of a Saviour, though I had so often preached
about him. Head notions were nothing now—past experience was hid, and
every gracious promise of the Bible was closed up for a time. What a
state to be in! But I believe this was drinking of the bitter cup our
Saviour drank so deeply: this was, in one sense, being crucified with
Christ, and having fellowship with him in his sufferings. These feelings
will give a man a real understanding of all those texts which refer to
soul trouble, in the book of Job, the Psalms of David, the feelings of
Jeremiah, and perhaps, what Paul felt during the three days he was
without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. These feelings will make
me sympathize with the soul that is afflicted, and experiences the
terrors of the Almighty.
But I do esteem it among my many special favors, that this did not
continue but part of a night. I sank down in shame and guilt, condemning
myself and acknowledging the justice of God in my condemnation. But
while in this state, thus broken, contrite, and filled with holy awe, I
was kept pleading for mercy, present mercy as well as future. While on
my knees prostrate, as Elijah on another occasion, or, as Jeremiah words
it, Putting my mouth in the dust; and although I really was filled with
fear lest I should be cut off, yet at this very time the Lord gently led
my mind, or rather brought the following words, very softly to my heart;
they were at first seemingly at a distance, but drew nearer at I listened
and observed them. The words were, “I have caused thine iniquities to
pass from thee, and have clothed thee with change of raiment.” I
observed, my mind could not gladly receive this sentence, fearing
presumption—but they still followed me, and abode with me, till the
horror, terror, fears, and darkness gradually dispersed, and my mind was
enabled so far to receive them as to cause a present ease, which
continued with me a few days longer. I found the peace they brought with
them continue, and I was in a small degree helped to believe they were
from God to me, and as much mine as they were Joshua’s, to whom they were
spoken; but though my thoughts were in a measure fixed upon them, yet I
was not without being assaulted with some misgivings of heart. I
concluded it best to entreat the Lord to shew me this more powerfully,
and not only to put the words in my mind, but to write them so
effectually that I might know, without the shadow of a doubt, I was
actually interested in the capital blessings the words contained. This
was most divinely manifested in a few days afterwards, as I was in the
act of reading some remarks of the truly excellent Mr. TOPLADY, on
Justification by the imparted Righteousness of the adorable God-Man. I
was actually overcome with a sweet surprize of the love of God to me in
Christ Jesus, making his dear Son a sin offering, and his people
righteousness in him. I was enabled to feel such solid peace, holy joy,
and sacred pleasure in my soul as can never be described by tongue or
pen. I was melted by the power of his love, and indulged with such
access to God, that every doubt, fear, and misgiving of heart was
removed. I saw, I knew, I felt that I was reconciled to God, and that
God was my Father, my Saviour, and my Comforter.—Oh, that I had then sunk
into the arms of death! O that I had been permitted to take my flight;
at that time the Saviour had engaged my heart, nor could I then have
sinned against him for the world. I want many such sweet manifestations
of his sensible presence; and I can assure you, painful as my situation
is, I would gladly endure it again for such enjoyments. But I must
observe, these blessed seasons are unknown to carnal professors, and
never enjoyed, even by the favorites of heaven while in a light,
careless, carnal frame of soul; no—the promise runs thus, “To this man
will I look, (and surely it was a look of love which I experienced) and
with him will I dwell, who is poor and of a contrite heart, and that
trembles at my word.”
Knowing you can rejoice in my prosperity, having mourned in my adversity,
I write thus freely.—Do as you please with the letter; if it is of any
consolation to your spiritual acquaintances, let them read it likewise,
but let them remember, I do not send it to gain applause, but that they
may glorify God on my behalf. And as to many others, I am very sorry I
ever had their good opinion at all.
I must just remark, that such blessed sensations as I have here
described, is not believing, but rather the end of our faith, the present
salvation of the soul. It is a manifestation of pardoning mercy, as an
evidence of full and free justification in Christ—this is, in the best of
senses, obtaining mercy; as such, I shall make bold to change my
subscription from J. C. to the name the Lord has given to elect Gentiles,
in the second chapter of Hosea.—Wishing you a clean hand, a warm heart,
and a holy life,
I remain, your’s in him,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER II.
_Achor’s Vale_, _April_ 7, 1818.
Mrs. H—L, Sen.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
I HAVE been much grieved to hear of your deep afflictions of body. I
wish it lay in my power to visit you, to read, pray, and converse with
you. We have spent some pleasant hours together in speaking of _him_ who
loved us better than _he_ loved himself; who did not grudge to give _his_
very life for us; and I really believe, if it was needful, _he_ would do
it again, and not only so, but I believe _he_ would have done all _he_
did, if it was only for the salvation of one individual of _his_ people.
Alas, my dear Mother; what do we know of _his_ love, the love of a God?
All the knowledge the brightest saint upon earth has of that subject is a
mere nothing to the subject itself. I want clearer apprehensions of it.
I want to feel its warming power. I want to see its divine excellency.
I want to rejoice in the God of love; he has dealt well with me since I
have been in this place. I trust _he_ has both pardoned and subdued
_that_ in me which was contrary to _his_ holy will. But I want this
blessing carried on in every hour’s experience. May the ever-blessed
Spirit give us to believe in the love which God has for us, and enable us
to give credit to this most precious truth for ourselves, “I have blotted
out as a thick cloud thy sins.”
I really think we are often mistaken about our love to Christ; for we
fancy we have no spiritual affection for him, because we are not in
raptures of love with him; but let me remind you of what the holy Apostle
says of the matter. I have not time or room in this short letter, to
enlarge upon the subject, yet by reading it yourself in the 13th of the
1st of _Cor._ it may stir up your mind, and confirm you in the persuasion
of God’s love to you: “Charity thinketh no evil.” The Apostle does not
say he, as a man, thinketh no evil, but Charity, the love of God, the
holy principle in him thinketh no evil, of God or the doctrines of the
Gospel. It rejoiceth not in iniquity; then it is not a principle of
libertinism; but it rejoiceth in the truth, in Christ, and in his word.
It beareth all things God puts upon it, although the old man rebels
against the will of God. It hopeth all things which God has promised.
It hateth iniquity. The carnal part in the regenerate, loves sin, and
seeks to be gratified, but this holy principle hates it. It is kind,
when the Saviour’s sorrows are in view. It suffereth long the unkindness
of others, and waiteth till God is pleased to deliver. It envieth no
man’s gifts or goodness, but rests satisfied with God in Christ. It is
not puffed up, nor can it boast of what it does, but it extols the
Saviour; it delights in the Saviour; it is willing to owe its all to the
Saviour.—This is love, or gospel Charity. This is that which is born of
the Spirit, which cannot sin. This is the seed of God, the new nature;
and these are the evidences of an interest in Christ, and you can bless
God at times, that you know these things by experience, in some good
degree. We have very sinful natures, but Christ is our sanctification,
in the holiness of his nature, before God. We have broken the holy Law
of God in thought, word, and deed, but Jesus gave it all its vast
demands, and perfectly satisfied it. We have signed most awfully against
a good and gracious God, but Jesus has made an atonement for all
offences, and the Father has expressed his infinite pleasure in the work
of Christ, and he has promised to forgive and to forget all our sins, by
virtue of that one offering. May the comfortable assurance of this sweet
truth make us happy in life and death. This will make our bed in our
sickness, and strengthen us on the bed of languishing, just as the
ever-blessed Spirit is pleased to open our minds, to receive it in the
power, sweetness, and glory of it. Several in your family I trust, are
effectually called by grace. What a mercy, that you will soon meet them
above—this is a pleasing thought to depart with, and you have little else
to do but to go home.
Do send me word how you all are in health; and if you can sit up to read,
I will send you a precious little book, “Mr. Mason’s thing needful,” with
those places turned down that I have found precious to me.—May the Lord
shine upon you and in you,
I remain, yours in him,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER III.
_Achor’s Vale_, _June_ 17, 1818.
Mr. & Mrs. H—L, Jun.
MY DEAR FRIENDS,
Amidst the severest trials I am wading through this week, I cannot forget
you both. Surety you must be ready to exclaim with pious David, “Deep
calleth into deep;” and with afflicted Job, “Thou breakest me with breach
upon breach.” Your afflictions are great indeed, I think deeper than I
could bear; the Lord has visited your house, but O! what a sweet thought,
it is a visit of _love_, of _mercy_ to you, but of _love_ indeed, to the
tender babes. You will go to them through the same mercy and love, but
it would be neither love not mercy to let _them_ return to you. Dear,
much esteemed Friends, I can feel for you, I have been called to the same
trouble, in part, nor shall I ever fully forget what I then felt, when
the soul of my dear daughter took its flight, and when I laid her dust in
the silent receptacle for suffering mortality, but _it was well_; the
Lord demands, has demanded _his_ own, they were _his_ property, and _he_
gave Mrs. Hill the honor to bear them, with this charge, Take these
children and nurse them for _me_, _not_ for sin, _nor_ for the world,
_nor_ for Satan, but for God—Selah. Nature no doubt, most sensibly feels
the stroke, but may the good hand of God support you, and the full
assurance of meeting them again, bear up your sinking spirits like
pillars of marble. I am anxious to know how you are in mind and body,
and assure you I can weep with you, but I am fully persuaded you will see
vast wisdom in this stroke another day. Had you, Mrs. H. been laid upon
a sick and dying bed, while they were in helpless infancy, it would have
distressed your poor heart to leave them, exposed to nobody knows _what_
mother they might have. A mother is every thing, this I can only know
from observation, but I observe among many unhappy persons I meet with in
this place, that they were either deprived of a tender mother, which
began their troubles, _or_ that they had used a mother ill, and God never
prospered them after it. O my dear friends the Lord has delivered you
from many an heart-breaking sorrow, and from much misery. Those dear
creatures will afflict you, they will trouble you _no_ more for ever,
either your heart or your head. You are afflicted, the loss is great,
they were dear to your heart, but you are called to sacrifice them, to
restore them to their right owner; and while your feelings struggle with
God’s will, methinks I hear the Saviour say, “Suffer them to come unto
me, and forbid them not, for of such is my kingdom composed.” It has
been the opinion of some blessed men of God, that the majority of saved
persons in glory, are children. On _those_ the Lord has magnified the
riches of _his_ grace, and out of their mouths God has ordained _his_ own
glory, as they must ascribe their salvation to free, unmerited mercy
alone. Dear babes, what must have been their surprize, when they started
from the body and arrived in glory; when their little powers were
expanded and their minds filled with the joys of Jesus. Think often of
their joyful arrival, and if they could see you shed a tear about them,
it would almost induce them to appear to you, saying, If you loved us you
would rejoice, because we are gone to our Father, and the world seeth us
no more; we are entered into peace, we have done for ever with _sin_, in
which we were born, and with _sorrow_ as the consequence, and shall be
now for ever with the Lord. Happy voyagers, no sooner set sail than they
are arrived at their desired haven; hasty _sojourners_, they found
nothing here worth their stay; they were afflicted, and like _their_ dear
Lord, only tasted the vinegar and the gall. But they have left their
parents to drink deep of the cup of sorrow, they have turned their heads
away and refused the draught; they opened their eyes, saw the light, and
after a little, they withdrew into the regions of eternal day—your lilies
are cropt, and will flourish in the garden of eternal bliss for ever.
Those tender plants, those lovely flowers are removed into a shelter,
before the thunders roar, the lightnings fly, and the tempest pours its
rage. They were sinners, or else they could neither have suffered or
died; but loved, redeemed, and secretly sanctified by the indwelling of
the holy Spirit, they winged their way to God. How joyful their meeting,
see them clasp each other, see _them smile_ and _triumph_, and _join_ the
chorus of the skies.
Our dear, our mourning parents both farewell,
We go from you, with Christ in heaven to dwell,
We go to see our heavenly Father’s face,
We go to sing redeeming love and grace.
We go to learn the sciences divine,
We go in glory’s bright array to shine,
We go to joys, which cannot be exprest,
We go to God, to be for ever blest:
And can you wish us back to earth again,
To be afflicted there with toil and pain,
To be with dire convulsions rack’d and tore,
The tortur’d little babes we were before.
May you, my dear friends be prepared to meet them, by an experimental
acquaintance with the blood and righteousness of Christ; let this your
prayer, day and night.—Christian love to all your dear family,
Your sympathizing Friend,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER IV.
_Valley of Achor_.
Mr. T. Hill, Jun.
MY DEAR FRIEND TITUS,
IT would be very ungrateful in me to forget you, or to neglect writing to
you among the many friends who have kindly visited me in my affliction,
and have not been ashamed of Christ, nor of me his unworthy servant.
That gracious God, who has the hearts of men in his hands, has kept you
in the truth, though you have been opposed, and altho’ you could not do
that for me you could have wished, but you have often wisely cautioned me
against that freedom of spirit which has often occasioned fools to insult
my feelings, and to triumph in my supposed weakness. It was not without
reason the Saviour, as man, did not commit himself to man, for it is
said, “He knew what was in man, and he needed none to testify of that to
him.” And now, my dear friend, permit me to remark, that some have gone
with God’s people till they get into the slough, and there they have left
them and religion together; but although trouble has turned some back,
and has slain its thousands, yet prosperity and carnal ease has slain its
_ten_ thousands—
For more the treach’rous calm I dread,
Than tempests bursting o’er my head.
If we belong to the family of God, we shall never be long without a
cross, in some way or other; but if we do not belong to God Satan will
let us alone—it is his work to disturb and distress the former, and to
render his life unhappy; and it his work also, 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 Satan. The whole
world is divided into two classes only, the seed of the Serpent, and the
seed of the Woman, and this we feel within. I beg my dear friend will
not think it strange when God gives him to feel his own native
sinfulness, when he feels all that deadness and carnality that is
inherent in his nature; this, when properly felt and seen, will trouble
him at all times, but I hope when this is the case, that he will not fall
into that snare of the devil’s which I have known some young persons to
be trapped with, when Satan suggests, O you are nothing but an
hypocrite—your conduct and inbred sins prove it. You had better give up
religion, or else it will make worse for you in hell. Listen not to this
a moment, but fly to the Saviour—be honest; tell _him_ all that you feel
and are ensnared with. Plead _his_ sufferings, obedience, death, and
intercession. Beg the holy Spirit to shew you these things in such a
powerful way as shall subdue sin, _not root it out_, as certain preachers
say—no, the Canaanite will be in the land as long as you live, else where
would be the warfare? How could we live by faith on the work of Jesus?
and where would be the use of the greatest part of his promises, and the
account of the experiences of the tried saints? You have _three_
combined enemies, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil; but you have
_three_ glorious friends, the adorable _Father_, _Son_, and _Spirit_.
You have _three_ besetments, _Passion_, _Lust_, and _Pride_; but you have
_three_ remedies, Christ’s _Obedience_, _Blood_, and _Love_. These when
seen, known, felt, and enjoyed, produce _three_ most blessed effects,
_Abasement_, _Humility_, _and Self-Denial_; and this will lead to the
practice of _three_ duties, _Prayer_, _Hearing_, and _Obedience_; and
these will be a means of the gracious visits of _three_ gracious, kind,
and condescending persons. If any man love me, my Father will love
_him_, and _we_ will come to _him_, and make _our_ abode with _him_; when
_he_, the Spirit, shall come, _he_ shall abide with you for ever. Thus
you see the connexion of great things in experience, to lead us to glory,
where we shall be filled with _three_ more. The Lamb in the midst of the
throne, shall lead them to fountain of living waters—_Father_, _Son_, and
_Spirit_—then with unspeakable joy shall we draw waters of everlasting
delight from seeing, knowing, and being with God.—Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they shall see God. The heart means the whole man, body and
soul, purged from sin, unpardoned by the death of Jesus—the faculties
that are under the influence of divine favor; the conscience, that feels
guilt when sin is felt, and peace when faith is able to receive the
atonement.—The mind, will, and affections, which are open to receive
Christ as he is set forth in the Gospel. The truth being received gives
Christ an actual existence in the mind, so that he dwells there, and let
what will happen to us Christ is uppermost. When Satan, sin, error,
trouble, the deepest affliction, or the thoughts of death, judgment, and
eternity impress the mind, do observe this, Christ is still uppermost;
the mind bends that way as naturally, in this sense, as a child runs
home, and clings to its parent in time of trouble or danger. I have had
a long experience of these truths, and only regret that I have had so
little time to reflect deeper on them. I see the wisdom of God in the
present trial which has befallen me—the Lord has done what he devised; I
am the gainer, my dear friends the loosers, but they will gain in the
end; the Lord has chastened and humbled me, and has accepted my broken
spirit and contrite heart. He has shewed me my faults in many things I
never saw before, and others I had forgot, and has led me to see he has
pardoned them, and I trust subdued what is contrary to himself. What the
Lord is about to do with me I know not, I leave it with him—I only want
this pruning to bring forth more fruit, that I may glorify Christ and
prove that I am a disciple indeed.
The eternal God be your guide, father and friend. Do pray much, read
much, think much, and obey much. Still cry out, God be merciful to me a
sinner! and add also, Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may
continually resort. So prays
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER V.
_Valley of Achor_, _August_ 20th, 1818.
Mrs. O—D.
MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,
I was deeply afflicted when I heard of your sudden indisposition, I hope
this note will find you recovering. I need not remind my most invaluable
Friend, we are poor dying worms, the creatures of a day, we fade as a
leaf; it will be only in that happy state of the Church, the latter day
glory, in which that fine promise will be fulfilled, _Isaiah_ 65, “For as
the days of a tree, so are the days of my people;” happy for us our
salvation is in Christ.
Nor death, nor hell shall e’er divide
His favorites from his breast,
In the dear bosom of his love
They must for ever rest.
_Hallelujah_.
But you want a blessed manifestation of this, and that you shall have; my
people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord; and till this
sensible manifestation comes, may you enjoy what the word of God has said
respecting his own people, and compare it with what _he_ has done for
you. The peculiar characters by which they are known—and here you cannot
err—they shall all know me saith the Lord. The blessed Spirit has given
you many a precious view of Christ—Selah. Blessed is he that believeth.
And you can say your heart is opened to receive Jesus, your mind bends to
him, and you come to him for all you need—Selah. The Lord will give a
crown of life to those who love his appearing. And you can say, you love
all _his_ gracious smiles, _his_ promises that are brought home to you,
_his_ appearing in every ordinance, and every providence, as an answer to
prayer for yourself, or for any of the family of God—Selah. Blessed are
they whose hope the Lord is; and you know the Lord has driven you out
from every other, and begotten you to a good hope, through grace, so that
Christ is now your only hope—Selah. Blessed are all they that trust in
_him_. Here you lean, on this you depend, even on _his_ blood, _his_
righteousness, _his_ intercession, _his_ word and faithfulness—Selah.
Your heart shall live that seek God; and you know at times, that the
enjoyment of the love and grace of God, in _his_ threefold character of
person, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the one thing needful your soul
is seeking for—Selah. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, this is
another evidence you are sure _of_, all the year round. And, I am come
that they might have life; this secret also, you find out by hungering
and thirsting after Jesus and his salvation—Selah. We know we are passed
from death to life, because we love the brethren; and you can say, to the
glory of God, you do, in the most sacred sense—Selah. The Lord
delighteth in them that fear him; this grace he has implanted in your
soul, or else you would have turned an apostate before now—thanks to his
name. Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy; you can feel
for the afflictions of Joseph, the trials of God’s family—Selah. I could
send you near an hundred more, let these stay your mind just now, these
are ten Bible evidences. May you rest on Christ alone. I have sent you
a precious little pocket piece, entitled, “Visits to and from Jesus,”
written by our favorite, Dr. Hawker, read it through once a week for the
present, ’tis a precious talent, and will get more talents. I have found
it sweet.
Grace be with you,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER VI.
_Valley of Achor_, _Sept._ 1, 1818.
M. A. HILL.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
I have many friends of your name, and thousands know I have also many
enemies of the same name, though they never saw me; there are little
hills of Zion, loved of the Lord, and hilly difficulties to encounter. I
am sure you will smile, when I observe I have often noticed, that if God
raises me up a friend, the Devil often raises me up an enemy of the same
name; but this is the experience I have long had, of _mercies_ and
_miseries_, dark _nights_ and cheerful _days_, heavy _losses_ and great
spiritual _gains_, sore _temptations_ and seasonable _helps_; _tears_ and
_smiles_, castings _down_ and liftings _up_, fits of _despair_ and lively
_hopes_, the powers of _unbelief_ and the triumphs of _faith_, the heart
at times _fretting_ against the Lord, then all at once sweet _submission_
to his will; a glorious _time_ in the pulpit, and the very next _time_,
shut up, barren and dead: a sweet testimony from some poor soul of the
Lord’s giving efficacy to the word of his grace, by my message, _another_
comes in directly after, to tell me some _one_ has turned an enemy.
_Hearing_ the Lord has blessed some of my poor writings, and _presently_
the Devil has sent the baser sort to blow their horns about the streets,
proclaiming my supposed infamy. Perhaps a precious soul-animating
_letter_ is sent me, and while reading it, the post-man brings another,
filled with the most abominable obscenity, written, no doubt, by an
hypocritical professor—one part of the day enjoying the very life and
_power_ of religion, the other part _lean_, _barren_, and _trifling_. I
could enlarge on this, and fill a volume, but I must inform you I am
reading the Pilgrims Progress, and find it very blessed; it is a glass,
wherein I see much of the face of my own experience; I intend in many
future letters to my friends, to quote and explain a part of it,
especially those parts which are the most intricate, and perhaps the
least noticed. It is an invaluable book; others have attempted to write
similar books, but they are all very inferior to the Tinker’s
Master-piece of Piety and Genius. Here I see the chequered scene the
Lord generally leads _his_ people through, from conversion to
glorification. Here we see the christian _burdened_ and _delivered_,
_sighing_ and _singing_, on the _mount_ of communion and in the _shadow_
of death, loaded with _corruption_ and pardoned by _blood_, _condemned_
and _justified_, _happy_ and _miserable_, meeting a few real _pilgrims_
and plenty of _hypocrites_, _fighting_ and_ fainting_, _rising_ and
_falling_, yet _kept_, _sanctified_, and _assured_ of glory. Sometimes
_groaning_ under a body of death, then _soaring_ with the wings of a
dove; brought out of _self_ and _living_ by faith, on the _person_ and
_love_, the _work_ and _grace_ of Christ. I trust you will be led to
seek Jesus the Pearl of great Price—never rest till you have found _him_,
for it is life eternal to be favored with an experimental knowledge of
_him_. May your heart be led from every thing else, and fixed _there_
alone; that you may know and enjoy all that is implied in this greatest
of texts, “For thy Maker is thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is _his_
name.”
Your’s, truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER VII.
_Valley of Achor_, _Sept._ 1, 1818.
Mr. H. H—L,
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND,
I beg you will have the goodness to send me the truly excellent Dr.
Hawker’s Concordance, I think it would be a great treat to me just now.
I am astonished when I read any of that blessed man’s late Writings, to
see how he has grown up in the gracious knowledge of Christ. I must for
ever admire that divine hand which has planted, watered, pruned, and
reared up such a tree of righteousness. But does it not hurt your
feelings to see the awful opposition made against him for the truth’s
sake, even in this Christ-despising day. I own it often distresses me,
and indeed, such have been the lessons I have learned since I last saw
you, that I am lost in wonder that God does not damn every creature, let
the curtain of time drop, and burn the world to ashes!
Since I have been here I have seen so much of the evil of sin in myself,
in God’s people, in ministers, in professors, in pharisees, in erroneous
characters, and in the profane world, that I have been overcome with the
sight. Above all I am most affected with the sight of sin in the sorrows
of Jesus. Here, O here may we ever be divinely and suitably affected.
Here alone we see it in its most hideous forms. The Lord help us to hate
it, and flee from it as from the face of a Serpent.
I trust you are going on in the divine life, and that you still find the
ministry of good Mr. Wilkinson, who is one of the greatest ornaments in
the Church of England, very profitable to your soul—the Lord help you to
go on till you finish your course with joy.—With respect to myself, I
believe I am now very blessedly, though _painfully_, experiencing the
fulfilment of that precious promise, in Ezekiel xxxvith, From all your
filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. This is done by
the manifestation of the atonement, the application of truth, and the
power of the Gospel, by the sacred indwelling and the powerful operations
of the ever-blessed Spirit. But the furnace of affliction generally
attends this work—many long to see me out of it; and my nature often
rebels against it, but faith knows, it is good to be here. The
filthiness from which we must be cleansed is all the uncleanness;
pollution, and impurity of our defiled nature, in their guilt, love,
power, and practice—from _these_ will I cleanse them. The idols or
idolatry are things loved, adored, and enshrined in our affections as
rivals to God; these must come down, that Christ may be all in all; and
so must all our natural religion if ever we get sweetly established in
the truth. I am well satisfied with the Lord’s dealings with me, and at
times I can submit to this chastisement, just as the Pilgrims did. So
Bunyan says, “Then I saw in my dream that the Shining One told them to
lie down, which they did, and he chastised them sore; and as he chastised
them with the whip of small cords, he said, As many as I love I rebuke
and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. This done, he bid them go
on their way, and follow the advice of the Shepherds, looking unto
Jesus.” Why were they thus scourged? they had got vain confident,
thought highly of themselves, their gifts, attainments, experience,
manifestations, graces, works, sincerity, sufferings, and services.
These look well without, but it is only a black monster in a white
robe—the devil spreading a net for their feet to turn them into
self-admiration, from Christ. This is one of the paths of the
destroyer—here I have often been, to my shame I speak it, nor can I
escape the cross for it; but this text cheers me, As many as I love—not
as many as I hate, but _love_, I rebuke and chasten. The gardener takes
but little notice of that tree he intends to cut down. He never manures,
primes, waters, or defends it; but he does all these things to his own
plantation—you know how to apply it.—Grace be with you.—Kind respects to
your better half, and my old kind friend, S. D.
Your’s, truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER VIII.
_Valley of Achor_, _Oct._ 1, 1818.
Mrs. LAWSON,
MY DEAR AFFLICTED FRIEND,
Are you still in the furnace of affliction? I am astonished when I
behold what heavy pressures, deep heart-felt sorrows, and mighty loads of
accumulated grief, some of God’s children are called to bear, and that
for years together; but what can we not endure, through all-sufficient
grace? I hope you find this grace supporting you, and at all times
giving you kind assurances of glory. That you can say, with the same
confidence as the Apostle, and all established believers, “We know, that
if this earthly house of our tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Where
those heavens are it is of very little importance for you and me to know;
our main concern is with the house there, called by our dear Lord, Many
mansions. Our dwelling house, mansions, and joy, will not consist in
merely being in a place called heaven, but it will lay in the full
enjoyment of the love, favor, approbation, and sight of God in Christ;
this was Job’s hope and expectation, “In my flesh I shall see God:”—and
this is the promise to the Church, “They shall see his face.” David was
so transported with this, that he exclaimed, in the sweetest confidence,
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be
satisfied when I awake in thy likeness.” There will be no beholding the
face of the dear Immanuel but in his righteousness. This glorious robe
is imputed by God the Father, to poor sinners. We are taught out of his
Law our need of this Surety’s righteousness; we are clothed with it, and
brought by the Father in it to his dear Son, who graciously accepts us in
it, owns us as his own, and gives us the Spirit of Adoption, to say, “My
Father.”—The blessed Spirit carries on this work, by enlarging the heart,
expanding the mind, and extending our views in the knowledge of Christ;
and the longer we live the more we learn the real value of Christ—his
goings forth in eternity, in a way of love to us—his mysterious
incarnation—his surprising condescension—his holy life of obedience, and
his great act of putting sin away, by the sacrifice of himself. These
become precious to our souls as we grow in knowledge; nor do we stop
here: the glorious victories he has obtained, the value of his work, and
the acceptableness of it to God; the life of Mediation he is living for
us in heaven, and the prevalency of his intercession; these are our food,
our feast of fat things.—But the ever blessed Spirit carries on his work,
till he has given us most exalted views of his Person, as one in the
divine essence; as the Son of God, in away not known to angels or men; as
God-Man Mediator; as the glorious head of the Church, and the Saviour of
the body, and as our all in all. This is knowing Christ, and wherever
the Lord has bestowed this favour on the soul, whatever trials,
temptations, or griefs, may beset or befal them, such shall hold on their
way, and wax stronger and stronger—
Tho’ thousand snares beset his feet,
Not one shall hold him fast;
Whatever dangers he may meet,
He shall get safe at last.
The Lord refresh your soul with these blessed things, that you may say
with your afflicted brother, “This is my comfort in my affliction, thy
word hath quickened me.” Permit me to remind you, that God doth not
willingly afflict, nor grieve us; there is a cause. We are sinners, and
God will make us know it. God chastens us for our profit, that we may be
partakers of his holiness. Every rod was eternally appointed for us; we
shall have all that is allotted to us—men and devils can add no more to
them; for if God appoints their number ten we never shall have eleven.
I dare say you are anxious at times to know how I am, and how I go on.
Look into your own experience, and you will know that, for as in water
face answereth to face, so doth the heart of one child of God to another.
Remember, he hath, he doth, he will deliver you. Wishing you the smiles
of him, who is the health of your countenance, and your delivering God, I
remain, Yours, truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER IX.
_Valley of Achor_, _December_ 17_th_, 1817.
Mr. & Mrs. F.
MY DEAR FRIENDS,
I need not apologize, I hope, for troubling you with a few lines, as I
trust you are born of God, and _love God as he is in Jesus_, though
perhaps you feel at times much grief of heart, that you enjoy so little
of the sweetness of believing in Christ. What a mercy God makes us
manifest to each others hearts, that we belong to his family; but the
witness of God is greater, this is infinitely preferable to any human
testimony, however clear and pleasing it may be to us, in point of
brotherly love, and we which believe, have the witness in ourselves, we
can prove that God has done something for us; though this work may be
under a cloud for a time, yet the Lord the Spirit renews it, clears it
up, makes it plain, and encourages us to hope in himself till faith is
lost in sight, and hope in full enjoyment. Blessed be God we are getting
nearer home, and though we seem to lag and hang back, yet God declares he
will save her that halteth, and her that he has afflicted, therefore, on
his divine faithfulness let us hope for what he has promised to us, and
our expectation shall not be cut off. This is a sweet encouragement to
my soul, in my painful pilgrimage, but when I look to the promises, to
Christ in the promises, and to his fidelity, I thank God and take
courage. The Lord deals well with me in the land of my captivity, and I
only want more faith to trust in him, greater submission to his will, a
living upon him as he is set forth, a leaving all with him, to manage for
me, and to favor me with the presence of the holy spirit, in his saving
offices; as a spirit of revelation in my understanding, as a spirit of
power on my will, as a spirit of faith in my heart, as a spirit of love
in my affections, as a spirit of light in my judgment, and as a spirit of
peace in my conscience; with his constant operations as a spirit of
supplication, enabling me at all times to draw near unto God—this is that
seven-fold operation of the divine spirit which we daily need. You have
your trials as well as I have, and it is of very little consequence where
we have them, whether in my state or in yours, none of the children of
God are exempt from the blessed peace Christ has made, and of course they
are not exempt from the tribulation he has promised—they both go
together, and perhaps my present place, was the spot appointed from all
eternity, where I was to enjoy the solid peace of the gospel; and this I
trust I shall be much favored with before I return; it is in this
pleasing hope I live, I have much to oppose and much to encourage that
hope, our path-way dear brother is through fire and water, and our way to
glory is up hill. Our spirits tire, flag, weary, get heavy and faint,
but we go on from strength to strength, till we get home.
Your’s, truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER X.
_Valley of Achor_, _January_ 1, 1818.
Mr. & Mrs. W. R—T.
Grace be onto you and peace. I have often admired the grace of our Lord
Jesus in its freedom, in its sovereignty, and in its power, in our
complete and eternal salvation—this you and I shall have to bless God
for, to all eternity; and if you was snatched away by death this moment,
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 name. No doubt you will most readily unite with me in this
particular, that it requires great grace to support and uphold a man in
great difficulties, but while the left hand of God is laid upon him, does
not the right hand of grace support, and at times console and cheer his
heart. Perhaps this is the meaning of that important text, “His left
hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.” This is the
grace I now need. I will not trouble you with a list of my sorrows, but
can assure you they are greater than I ever did, or ever can tell any one
in the world. Satan is busy in raking up all my faults, from childhood.
Carnal reason thinks God deals very hard with me. Sense can see no
further than to-day, and suggests I shall die beneath my load. Fancy
paints out a thousand troubles I may never see; while unbelief is ready
to give the lie to every promise in the Bible, and wants to persuade me
to give up praying, and abandon myself to despair. Thus I am tried every
day, and much deeper now than when I first entered this Valley. But,
hark! the voice of love and mercy sounds from the covenant of grace, “For
a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies I will gather
thee. I will correct thee in measure, but thou shalt never be forgotten
of me. I will deliver thee, but the times and seasons the Father hath
put in his own power.” And then another voice sounds from Calvary, “I
have blotted out, as a cloud, thy sins—return unto me, for I have
redeemed thee.” Here faith listens, and asks, What _me_ Lord? Yes, you,
by name. Then I reply, Lord there may be others of my name. True; but
the Persons for whom I entered into covenant, for whom I became
incarnate, for whom I obeyed the Law, for whom I suffered, and for whom
the rich blessings of the Gospel is provided, are _sinners_—this is your
nature, your action, and your name, and I have denominated you by the
very names you have given yourself, from your own convictions and
feelings. Bring in hither the poor, the halt, the blind, the lame, and
the needy. Surely I must come under some of these; and according to
different states so we are named.
Here I beg my dear sister R’s most particular attention. I know she is a
patient in Free-grace Hospital, and I want her assured that her case is
not forgotten by the most blessed Physician of Souls, who has said, “I am
the Lord that healeth thee.” Convinced of our state as sinners, we feel
poor indeed—without spiritual money, or cloaths, or home, or
friends!—this is real poverty—the charge brought against the Church at
Laodicea, “Thou knowest not that thou art poor, and miserable, and blind,
and naked.” This charge belongs to hypocrites, and not to a poor sinner,
whose emptiness is daily felt, and perhaps faith is too weak to draw much
comfort from the Promises—and God the Spirit has shewn you the darkness
of nature. Now God does not say you are blind, but he calls us by the
name we give ourselves. Hence, God says, “Hear ye deaf, and look ye
blind, that ye may see.” And because every little makes us start, or
keeps us back from praying, hoping, and believing, we are called the
halt, and the lame; and as our sins too often rise and gain the
ascendancy over us, that we cannot exercise strong confidence in Jesus,
and his work, so we are called the maimed. Sin and Satan has maimed us,
and wicked fellows have thrown stones at us, as Christ’s sheep, and
maimed us: and I can assure you there is not any thing that Jesus has
said or done, but it is the blessed office of the Holy Ghost to shew us
our need of it; and if he sets us longing for it, travailing in soul,
agonizing in spirit, and most sincerely desirous of the blessing, he will
communicate it, for he has said, “Shall I cause to travail, and not bring
forth? Shall I bring to the birth, and shut the womb?” You are longing
to bring forth the exercise of precious faith, lively hope, cheerful
confidence; and you are at times longing for the salvation of God, and
you will not be disappointed. But do not be alarmed—even these longing
desires may be in a great measure suspended—this has often alarmed me,
till some Promise or a sweet Sermon, or a precious Hymn, have set me
longing again; or else some new and heavy cross has come on. This sets
me to confessing, to searching, to reading to humility, to waiting, and
standing on my watch tower, to hear what God the Lord will say. I hear
what Satan, the world, and mistaken possessors say, not what carnal
reason, unbelief, and sense has to say—these all want to swear away my
eternal life; they are not the judges of the court; they dont understand
the nature of the case; and it is a man’s privilege to appeal from a low
to a higher court; thus did Paul and lost his head, thus did I and lost
my liberty. But though this may be the case in temporals, yet it is not
so in spirituals; all judgment is committed to Christ, because he is the
Son of Man; he is the judge in the court of mercy, and I will hear what
the Lord will say. Moses has condemned me, conscience has said Amen to
the sentence, justice demands satisfaction, the law is broken, guilt is
great, Satan is busy, hell appears open, heaven shut, and the soul
trembles, and with all the heart exclaims, God be merciful to me, to me a
sinner! And amidst all, will you believe it, faith is waiting for the
sentence from the judge; and when it is cut him down, O justice—take him,
O Satan—close upon him, O hell. No, not so, but, poor sinner look up, be
of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee—but how, Lord? and he shewed
him his hands and his side. I trust my dear Brother has had many such
views, not only when liberty first came, but many times after, when the
whole work has been as it were dead, and lost; yet there has been many
revivals again, and no doubt will, till death. I hope you are both well.
I only want another piece of a broiled fish, and of a honey-comb, (John,
21) both are gifts. A common blessing in a kind providence, is a fish,
and grace to enjoy it, is an honey-comb. Though to poor ministers, a
soul is compared to a fish, and if they are led to ask for the salvation
of a soul, or for success in their ministry when they go a fishing—surely
the Lord will not give them a Scorpion, that is, a reprobate. The Lord
grant we may be found among the good fish at the end of the world, when
the gospel net will be full, and the grand separation take place. Till
then may we swim in the ocean of mercy, with the fins of faith and love.
The Lord bless thee with every needful grace.
Your’s, truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER XI.
_Valley of Achor_, _December_ 17_th_, 1817.
Mr. & Mrs. F.
BELOVED OF THE LORD,