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.