goodness, yet to proclaim to others, perhaps not more faithfully than I
have, but I hope more simply and clearly. I want the divine spirit to
lead me deeply into all truths, for the knowledge and purity of God’s
people’s minds and consciences, and to follow after righteousness in
every sense—peace and joy as the happy consequence. I have no doubt but
this trial is for my present salvation, in many senses, but I am afraid
of every thing—Satan has desired to have me, but you can guess the cause
why not, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”
Ever your’s, in Christ,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER XV.
_Valley of Achor_, _Jan._ 11, 1818.
Mr. JONES.
MY MUCH BELOVED BROTHER,
I thank you for your kind letter, it was more than a mite cast into the
gospel treasury, as every kind word and kind action is doubly sweet when
a person is in deep trouble; I have often thought of poor Job, when he
cried out in the real bitterness of his heart, “Have pity upon me, O my
friends, for the hand of God hath touched me.” But above all, I have at
times thought of him who said, “Lover and friend hast thou put away from
me.”—(88th Psalm). Ah! 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 die, and our
souls might be with him—_he toiled for our ease_, _and for our safety
bled_. Need I tell you who I mean? _Him_, being delivered for our
offences, him hath God exalted. “Sir, if ye have borne him hence, tell
me where ye have laid him.” “We hid our faces from him, yet we did
esteem him—the bond of our peace was upon Him, the Lord hath laid on him
the iniquities of us all. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath
put him to grief—therefore will I divide him a portion with the great.”
“Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?” “I sought him, but I found him not—I
will seek him, I found him, I held him, and would not let him go until I
had brought him into my brother’s house.” Need I mention his name? It
would not be half so sweet, as if you were on a journey, or accidentally
fell in company with one that loved him, and over-heard his dear name
mentioned by a stranger, in a very sweet and savory way: how it would
open your ears, lead out your love, and quicken your soul. “His name is
Jesus! for he shall save his people from their sins.” But this could not
be, without his acting as a substitute for them, and this he has done.
He first indemnified his people, and then gave himself up to the justice
of God. Ah, little did his enemies think what was in the heart of Jesus
when he gave himself up to them, and said, “If ye seek me, let these go
their way.” This was acting over what he had engaged to do in eternity,
when the adorable Father called him forth to act for the dear people of
his charge. Considering them in the fallen state, as sinners, justice
looked to him for satisfaction, and millions were saved upon the ground
of his covenant engagement; his vast mind took in the nature of sin, with
all its deserts, and he engaged to become a sin-offering, to bear all our
guilt, to stand in our place, in the malefactor’s cloaths, and to endure
all that we had deserved. O my brother, how we shall love him when we
see him in all his glory, in heaven; but is it not very lamentable, that
sin in us should so chain us down to earth and self, that we can but
seldom rise to God, and never without sin, _evil is ever present_. I
feel at times its influence so deeply as I cannot describe to any one—to
me, it is as trying as St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh. I humbly conceive
that good man was perpetually buffeted to curse God, but what I feel is
different, and yet so horrible I cannot tell anyone on earth. O my
grief, how great it is on this subject, and if it is Satan’s influence,
what a cruel Devil he must be, to harrass in this present affliction, but
I am a sinner, and the Lord will make me feel it. I have too much given
way to Satan, and now he is set at me like a bull-dog, or as a gaping
lion, ready to devour me—my faith is weak and my fears are strong. I
want the strength and vigor of faith in exercise, to carry me above
present feelings, and present troubles; but as sinners, I believe God
will make us most heartily sick of sin, especially our most easy
besetment, shall be the principal pull that Satan and the world will ever
trouble us with. Thus I find nothing can subdue sin but communion with
Christ, maintained and kept up by our union with him. The mind must be
powerfully led by the holy spirit, to contemplate what Christ is to us,
and as we are kept near to him, sin cannot get the mastery. A daily
cross galls the old man, and imbitters Life, but a view of Jesus,
accompanied with power, subdues sin—that which pardons sin subdues it.
This is what we want, and all our neglect of Christ, is punished by
Satan’s stirring up sin, seducing us into it, and then turning accuser,
and a court adversary. But I apprehend the Lord has but one grand object
in view, and that is to lead us to Jesus only. The troubles of Life wean
us from the world; the weakness of God’s children, and their faults, keep
us from idolizing the very best of them. Sin within us keeps us from
settling in the flesh, while the temptations of the devil urge us
constantly to make Christ our refuge. Thus the Lord over-rules all for
us, and, as an all-wise physician, he compounds all our conflicts, to
make us like himself, by being a partaker of his holiness. Every day’s
experience proves to us the value of Jesus, as God-Man Mediator—as our
atoning sacrifice, and everlasting justification before God. As our head
and representative—our intercessor and advocate—as the blessed maintainer
of his own work—and as engaged to help, protect, bless, and bring us home
to glory.
I know not what the Lord intends to do with me, and when he is precious
to my soul I do not care what he does with me. I have then no will of my
own. I neither want to preach or be silent, leave this place or abide in
it, that is no trouble to me then—but when nature, sin, sorrow, and Satan
trouble me, I feel like a wild Bull in a net. At times I feel
compunction, godly sorrow, and self-abasement: this is the lowest seat in
the College of Christ. Here is safety; but, alas, even these we may be
proud of, so that we really get weaned from frames and feelings, and
rejoice that Jesus is the same. Hence the command, Rejoice in the Lord
always. He is always the object of faith, hope, love, and joy; our
feelings are not, 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 mind; keep you near himself; and when sin is striving for the
mastery, you may have grace given to call on the Lord—_and be sure to cry
out before you are hurt_, for you may not be able when the hurt comes;
for such is the nature of sin, that, like the leprosy of old, it is of a
deadening nature; it makes the guilty stupid, till God is pleased to
quicken us again; and when we feel the wounds sin has made, we want the
Saviour to heal us again, which he kindly does.
Your’s, truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER XVI.
_Valley of Achor_, _December_ 17_th_, 1817.
Mrs. HUTCHINGS.
MY DEAR MOTHER,
FOR such has been your affection and concern for me, which I trust will
never go unrewarded by the dear Saviour. Many have been the attempts to
keep you from attending my feeble ministry, to hurt your mind, to
distress your spirit, and to perplex your heart, but having obtained help
of God you continue to this day, only grieved that my enemies have at
last gained that end they have been so long aiming at, and because you
cannot make me as comfortable in my captivity as your heart desires. The
Lord takes the will for the deed in the hearts of those who desire to
fear his name, revere his truth, love the Saviour, trust his word, and
hope in his finished work. This I trust is the case of the dear friend
to whom I now write. This is an act of free favour from a good and
gracious God, and where these things are to be found, the Spirit has
begun a work he will never leave or forsake. May it be clearer to your
mind, more powerful upon your heart, more evident to your faith, and
produce in your soul such a hope as will never fail, till you see God in
glory.
I have often intended to call on you, and talk of these sweet things,
because you wished me so to do, and because God had given to your mind an
humble desire to know Christ, and be found in him. But a continued scene
of bustle all day, and too frequently in company with my enemies, which I
now deeply lament. This hindered me; and sometimes, at night, I was
weary _in_, though not _with_ my work, that I needed rest, so then Satan
stopt me; but I shall be happy to talk with you now by letter, and
perhaps it will be much better than our conversation might have been,
because you can read another time what you might not have remembered in
talk. I hope never to grow weary of reminding my dear friends of that
one thing that is truly needful, the experimental knowledge of Christ.
The tidings of the Gospel are very simple, being only a declaration that
God the Father, Son, and Spirit, as the God of love, purposed to glorify
each other; in the everlasting happiness of a number that no man can
number—and methinks I hear you say, I would give ten thousand worlds, at
times, to know if I am among that number. The Lord, I hope, will make
that clear to you soon. Each adorable person in the Trinity, agreed to
take names, suited to the offices they would sustain in the business of
our salvation. One adorable person condescended to take the name of
Father—the dearest, the most familiar, the sweetest name—and as he
appeared in that character, he called forth the second adorable person,
as Mediator; and after proposing to him another nature, besides his
God-head, he became the elect head of all his dear family, who appeared
in his mind, just as they will be in the resurrection—truly glorious. I
hope Mrs. HUTCHINGS was seen among the brilliant throng. But for the
greater displays of grace, God permitted this happy number to fall into
sin, with all the dreadful consequences that should attend such a fall.
Upon the fore-sight of this, the dear Son of God was called, and he
graciously consented to come down into this world, to stand in our stead,
to take our place, to obey the law which we had broken, and which
obedience of his, was to be reckoned ours. Yes my dear friend, this text
has often gladdened my heart. “But to us it shall be imputed, who
believe in him.” O what a comfort, our dear Lord not only obeyed the
Law, but he endured the penalty of it, which was all that was implied in
the “_Curse of God_.” But dear Lord, what did _that_ imply; no heart can
conceive, no tongue can ever describe it—his heart melted like wax, his
dear knees trembled, his spirit was filled with anguish, and his whole
soul felt the pangs of the damned—the sufferings of his dear, his sacred
body were dreadful, but the sufferings of his soul, were the very soul of
his sufferings. O what must sin be—may we see it as a most dreadful
evil, and those who make a mock at sin mock the Saviour’s bitter anguish.
He died, but in dying he satisfied the justice of God, and the Father has
declared himself well pleased, quite satisfied with his work. God can
now be holy, yet save an unholy sinner; he can be just, and yet justify
an ungodly creature; he can be God, and yet pardon the very vilest. The
work is done, it was for sinners Jesus died—then sure I hope he died for
thee. In this hope I trust you will live, not upon what you may ever
feel, that may encourage you, but entirely upon the work of Christ. May
this simple testimony encourage you to pray in spirit, when you have but
few words, or perhaps, like Hannah, no words to say; yet your spirit I
hope will be often going up to God, the holy and ever blessed Spirit, who
also engaged in the same agreement with the Father and the Son, that he
would assume such offices for those for whom the Redeemer died. That he
would shew them their need of Jesus, that he would enlighten them, so
that they might see Christ was exactly suited for them; that he would
help them to call upon him, to run to him when stung with guilt; that he
would enable them to hope in his person, to trust in his work, to love
his name, his gospel, his people, and his ways; to wait on him in secret
and in public, till be graciously shewed them their interest in Christ,
and the interest Christ has in them. That he would give them honourable
thoughts of Jesus, and enable them to rejoice that Jesus has precious
thoughts of them. This is the work of the blessed Spirit, and if my dear
Friend desires this work on the heart to live and die with, I must beg
her to take every opportunity to entreat this divine Spirit to work these
things in the mind, according to his promise, “I will write my laws in
their minds, I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins
I will remember no more.” Let me beg of you, when you have got through
this letter, to read the thirteen first verses of the eleventh chapter of
Luke, and if you ever do me the honour to read this side of my letter
again, and can make it out very easily, always read the same verses
again.
God bless you—when I write to one, I write to you both. Kind respects to
all the family.
Your’s truly,
_Ruhamah_.
LETTER XVII.
From M. C. to her Father.
DEAR FATHER,
I write merely to inform you I am still at our kind Friend’s, Mr. P. he
has left town for a few days, and Mrs. P. says she will not spare me till
his return. Last Sunday morning we went to hear the Rev. Mr. E. whose
chapel is in D. Street, near the Foundling; he certainly preached a most
excellent sermon, upon “_I am the Life_.” You have been informed that he
denies the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ from eternity, but he fully
proved that Christ was the lasting life of his people, and that his
church was in him before the foundation of the world. He shewed us that
Christ was the head of his people, that he was their life of
justification, their spiritual and their eternal life. I assure you he
did not rob the Saviour of his glory, but aimed to extol him as far as I
could understand the subject. I think for humility in the pulpit, he
exceeds every minister I ever heard; he has laid down his carriage to do
good, which, I think, shews a christian spirit; and if he holds any
error, I think if ministers were to go to him, and reason with, and pray
for him, it would be more becoming them than opposing him.—In the evening
we came over to our own chapel, and was much gratified to see every thing
at the Sacrament conducted with so much good order in your absence, by
Mr. Park, who, though not a very great, is a very good man. There were a
great number of Communicants, and a good congregational—all appeared
solid. Pray father do not let any worthless character administer the
ordinance, as I think it very presumptuous for a man, apparently
destitute of grace, to say at the Lord’s Table, “I take this cup, in the
fullest confidence that I shall drink the new wine in the kingdom of
God.” I have just written to my dear Aunt, to inform her I shall stay a
week longer here, as I am very comfortable.
I remain, dear Father,
Your affectionate and dutiful Daughter,
_M. C._
Be so kind as not to read this letter to any one.
LETTER XVIII.
_Achor’s Vale_, _January_ 1, 1819.
To my Daughter.
MY DEAR GIRL,
Agreeable to your request I have not read your letter to any one, but
without your permission, I shall take the liberty to let many read it
themselves. I know you will not thank me for it, but I hope others will,
for the truths you have given me an opportunity of stating, in opposition
to those awful heresies, which so awfully abound in the present day of
general profession. I am well pleased that the Lord has been so far
gracious to you, as to give you an attentive ear, a degree of light, an
humble desire after the favour of God, and a sense of your interest in
the dear Redeemer. These things, accompanied with a tender conscience,
are most blessed signs—they are the buds, which I hope will blossom and
bear fruit to the glory of God. But here you must not rest, the command
is, “Go forward, and you shall know, as you follow on to know the Lord.”
Seek him earnestly, diligently, fervently—never rest till you find
him—eternal life is in him, and all that hate him love sin and death. Do
not rest on any good desires, but on the object desired; this desire
accomplished you will find sweet to the soul; follow hard after Jesus,
and you will find him your God, your portion, your heaven, your all. And
what a consolation to me will it be, that the Lord remembered you, or any
of my dear children. I would endure many years privation as I now do, if
I could obtain that blessing for you all, or for only one. A good woman
in Scotland once said she had borne nine children, with great pain of
body, and she would bear them all again for their eternal salvation.
Although it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of
God that sheweth mercy, yet every means must be used, as much as if
salvation depended on them.
’Twill save you from a thousand snares,
To feel religion young;
Grace will preserve your growing years,
And glory crown the song.
Remember, my dear girl, while seeking the Lord—Father, Son, and
Spirit—angels, saints, and good men—all the perfections and all the
promises of God, are on your side.
But with respect to your account of Mr. E. I am not at all satisfied
with it; his humility may be admired in a few external self denials, but
his putting down his carriage as an act of humility is nothing, if he at
the same time disdains the golden bottom of Solomon’s chariot, of the
wood of Lebanon, ( 3rd chapter Solomon’s Song) the essential and eternal
divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ—as Jehovah—as one in the divine
essence—the self-existent and independent God. This is the glorious and
alone foundation of the Church; and if Christ is not this adorable
person, the angels in heaven must be guilty of rank idolatry, the Church
will be lost, and I must sink under the curse of God. For all the
angelic hosts adore him, the Church is built upon him, and I am trusting
in him. For thus saith the Lord, “Cursed is man that trusteth in man,
and maketh flesh his arm.” And if Christ is not God in the highest sense
of the word, woe be to all who trust in him. But the scriptures are
plain and positive upon this subject, for _blessed are all they that put
their trust in him_. The gentleman whom you heard preach so many
precious truths, I can say nothing about without hearing him myself; he
may possess much humility, but if his heart has never been humbled by the
grace of God, to bow to the testimony which God, Father, Son, and Spirit
has given of Christ, his humility is not a grace, of the holy Spirit’s
working, and all the good he may do to the bodies of the poor, yet if he
is circulating poison to the soul, what will it avail them. No doubt
some good men have reasoned with him, and I hope prayed for him, that God
would bring into the way of truth, all such as have erred and are
deceived. I have been informed that he is nothing but an Arian in his
sentiments or views of Christ, and however clearly he may declare some of
the grand calvinistic truths of the gospel, it is but building a castle
in the air, as the great doctrines have no other basis, than the
self-existence of the adorable Redeemer, and if this foundation be
removed, what can the righteous do? The Atheist and the Sadducee are
trying to remove this foundation, by denying an hereafter, or a world to
come. The Deist is employed in the same work, by ridiculing the
Scriptures. The Arminian hates the doctrine of justification by the
righteousness of Christ, imputed to faith. The Socinian declares Christ
is but a mere man. The Libertine sins that grace may abound. The
Sabellians, and the new Jerusalem folks, as they, themselves—these deny
the Personality, and, of course, the Divinity of the Father and the holy
Spirit; and the deluded Arian denies the essential Divinity of the Son of
God. Thus the Devil has employed these labourers to remove God’s
foundation—to leave us without God, and like Satan himself, without hope.
But blessed be God for that faith which embraces the grand truth of the
sacred pages; that there are three which bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. The
glorious record that each adorable person bears, is to the Divinity of
Christ, as God over all, blessed for ever. Hear what the Father says of
Christ, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.” Hear what the Saviour
says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth, for I am
God, and there is none else.” Hear also the testimony of the holy
Spirit, “And his name shall be called wonderful counsellor—the mighty
God.” The Arian does indeed admit, that Christ is God, but then it is
only in a subordinate sense—only a God, by delegation and office. But
then, this is making two Gods—one supreme, and the other subordinate, and
to worship any thing below infinite divinity, is awful idolatry, for all
men must honour the Son, as they honour the Father—“Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Angels and saints are
commanded to adore and worship him, “Let all the angels of God worship
him, for he is thy Jehovah, and worship thou him.”—It is certainly
curious to see the Arian strutting about with this text, in 17th John,
“This is life eternal to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent.” But when you remind him of 1st John, 5th chapter, 20th
verse, he shrinks back, crying out, it is doubtful whether that part is
inspired, And we know that the Son of God is come—this is the true God,
and our eternal life; for if the Father is the true God, so also is
Christ. Nothing proves this point so clearly as the glorious and
incommunicable name of Jehovah, given him, as at once expressive of his
underived independent self-existent Deity, as one in the adorable
Godhead. But this subject would fill a volume of immense size. Let me
bring to your view, a few out of the many glorious testimonies given in
the Bible, and by comparing scripture with scripture, you will through
grace see their beauty, Isaiah viii, 13, 14, Sanctify the Lord of Hosts
himself, and let him be your fear and your dread, and he shall be for a
sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to both
the houses of Israel. See how the apostle Peter explains this text, and
applies it to his Lord. 1st Peter, ii, 7, 8. Isaiah vi, 5, Mine eyes
have seen the king, the Lord of Hosts. See how this belongs to Christ,
John xii, 41. Isaiah xliv, 6, Thus saith the Lord, the king of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts—I am the first, and I am the last,
and besides me there is no God. See Revelations xxii, 13. Isaiah iv, 3,
11, I, even I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Saviour; and Peter
stiles him our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Psalm lxxviii, 56, They
tempted and provoked the most high God. 1st Corinthians, x, 9, Neither
let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted him. John iii, 29, He
that hath the bride, is the bridegroom. Isaiah, liv, 5, For thy Maker is
thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name. Psalm 23, Jehovah is my
shepherd. John x, 16, There shall be one fold and one shepherd. John
xx, 28, And Thomas said my Lord and my God. Romans ix, 5, Of whom, as
concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God, blessed for
ever. Psalm 100, Know ye that the Lord he is God, and we are the people
of his pasture. John x, He, Christ, calleth his own sheep by name. Feed
my sheep, saith Christ to Peter. Feed the flock of God said Peter.
Collosians ii, 8, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead,
bodily. And this is his name whereby he shall be called—Jehovah our
righteousness. Why callest thou me good, there is none good but one,
that is God.—And his name shall be called The mighty God. Revel, i, 8.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, which was,
and which is to come—the Almighty.