LETTER XII.
Valley of Achor, Oct. 20, 1818.
Mrs. E—R.
MY DEAR FRIEND,
Agreeable to my promise, I will attempt an answer to your anxious letter, although I feel great reluctance in so doing, knowing well, that not he which commendeth himself should be approved, but him whom the Lord commendeth. It is the mercy of all God’s children, that they stand approved in Christ, and as an evidence of it, they, through the teaching of the holy Spirit, approve of Christ, and all in Christ. Our work, as fellow Christians, should consist daily in commending Christ, and recommending him to each other—this ought to be our constant employment and delight, especially ministers of the gospel, in their public exercises; but alas, we live in a day in which I am sorry to say, the man, who can best commend himself, set up his own experience, and dwell much upon the marvellous, is the man who is the most acceptable. This is an awful proof of the degenerate state of the church, yet I do consider it as my duty, to vindicate myself and friends, from that censure which we do not merit, and which is most unjustly heaped upon us. In doing this in my address to you, I aim merely to correct some mistakes under which you lay, and feel much bondage as the consequence. In doing this, I could certainly fill a volume, but I shall only assure you in a few words, what IS, and what is NOT the case.
First: You have beep informed that I am happy. In reply to this I beg to observe, I cannot be very comfortable, when I reflect that the precious cause of Christ, probably, has received a wound through my carelessness—and if any part of my conduct has given occasion for the enemies of Christ to blaspheme, or to increase their hatred to the Gospel; this is an heart-breaking circumstance to me.—Secondly: To be deprived of the blessed ordinances which I once so richly enjoyed, is a source of much sorrow—never did I know their value as I now do; nor can I wonder at David, when in exile exclaiming, “My flesh and heart crieth out for the courts of my God.”—Third: The afflictions of the Church since the commencement of my troubles, in September, 1816, must deeply affect me. Its loss of that poor, feeble ministry of unworthy me. Its divisions, and the many apparent attempts to deprive them even of the place to meet in; with the scoffs, jeers, and contempt of the proud they have to bear. Believe me I am grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, for surely no vessel in a storm has been much worse torn to pieces than our poor Church, which I have long named the “Packet Distress.” Another part of her affliction has been from the lies of certain Ministers, who have attempted to build their Churches with what materials they could collect from us, to keep up the fire amongst us, and increase our afflictions—they are perpetually running about, to degrade both myself and people. I could mention their names, if it were prudent, but they are well known. The main point they aim at, is to hurt me in the estimation of the few godly characters we have left, and this is their common cant—“No doubt Mr. C. is certainly a fallen character, but even that we might pardon, did we but see him sorry for it; but instead of that, he is as cheerful, light, and trifling as ever.” This is always expressed with much seeming pity, sorrow, and concern, but could you see the heart of hypocrisy lurking at the bottom, and the infernal design of such initiations, you would despise such persons, who are described in the Bible as hawking pedlars—“Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale bearer among my people.” Such are like sharks, following a sick ship.—And now comes another daring, cruel, and unjust charge: “O, Mr. C. I hear, is supported in his situation by just such fellows as himself.” But my dear friend, the persons who support me, and my dear children, are chiefly a few pious women, of good character, and who are well known in the Church: and as to bad characters, men or women, whom I know to be such, I am determined at all times to deal faithfully with, and then they will soon leave me. Another charge you hear of is “That there are many bad people in the congregation, and who attend the sacrament now.” This is another falsehood, for the deacons will not allow any person of bad conduct to communicate with the church at the Lord’s supper; and if you know any that do, in that church, you are highly culpable if you do not inform the deacons of it—“Thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy neighbour.” Many persons, both public and private characters, have used the tongue to degrade both myself and the people who worshipped with me, but who would find enough to do, to look at home; while they can find out one fault, which they suppose I possess, their neighbours, perhaps, can find out an hundred of theirs.
It is truly laughable to see the toil, trouble, and expence that many have been at to circulate my supposed infamy, that would not take that trouble, either to save their own souls from hell, or relieve an afflicted person; yet such make a profession of religion, and assign the same hypocritical reason for their opposition to me, which the heathens did of old for their oppression of the Israelites, (Jeremiah l. ver. 7.) All that found them have devoured them, and their adversaries said, we offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord. Much these heathen cared about the Lord—and as to my professing foes, I beg you will always recommend them to the prophecy of Obadiah, it is but one chapter—but do point to them from the 10th to the 16th verse. When such professors come to you with a budget of scandal, just put your finger on this text, as already quoted, and ask them the meaning of it: “Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among my people.” And when you see them quite enjoy the subject of censure and backbiting, shew them this text: “And dust shall be the Serpent’s meat, for Ephraim feedeth upon ashes.” And when there are plenty around your table, pouring out scandal in abundance, always turn to this text—Isaiah 28, “For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness; there is no place clean,” “and this is the mess which dogs are fond of.”—See 2 Peter ii, ver. 22. This will be the best cure for scandal, and will keep your heart stedfast in God’s covenant; and although dark may be the cloud on me at present, stay till the Lord appears for me—Judge not my state or case yet; this is not the time for passing an opinion.—Job’s friends erred in this work; they all three agreed to torment him, because they thought he was an hypocrite, but you know how mistaken they were.
This leads me to notice another insinuation, that “Surely J. C. is an hypocrite!”—This is a most frightful charge, and in general a common epithet cast upon all those who profess religion; and as it is the worldling’s sneer, it is not worth notice. What I really am in God’s sight is best known to himself; and as it respects my conversion, call, and ministry, I shall certainly write it while I am here; and if the Lord ever raises up my head again, I shall certainly publish it, for the magnifying that grace which the Lord has so bountifully bestowed on me, and which will give some satisfaction to my friends, and no doubt afford my enemies a treat also. But, as it respects the subject of hypocrisy, let my enemies tremble in reading this text: “Beware ye the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy:” they assumed the garb of sanctity, and professed much love to the law; made a stir about external holiness and charity, yet, inwardly, they were full of enmity, spite, malice, and hatred to the truth. Deemed others as Antinomians, or enemies to the law, while they were the worst enemies to the law. An old author has pointed out thirty-three kinds of hypocrites, which I send you for your reflection; and at the same time, knowing the deceitfulness of the human heart, may we ever pray with David, “Cleanse thou me from my secret faults.”
The Arch Hypocrite is the Devil himself, and he is the father of all the following children.—There is
The natural hypocrite.
The civil,
The moral,
The political,
The theatrical,
The heretical,
The schismatical,
The superstitious,
The ignorant,
The profane,
The counterfeit convert,
The worldly,
The religious,
The stinted,
The waxing,
The temporary,
The preaching,
The hearing hypocrite,
The praying,
The inspired,
The believing,
The hoping,
The fawning,
The repenting,
The fearing,
The patient,
The obedient,
The talking,
The idle,
The zealous,
The judging,
The libertine,
The scandalous.
It is an awful thing when a man deceives himself, and such, alas, is the case with every unconverted character: but no believer in Christ, who is made acquainted with the plague of his own heart, but must lament the hypocrisy he daily feels within himself; and must with joy and grief acknowledge with the truly excellent Erskine—
I’m without guile an Israelite,
Yet like a guileful hypocrite,
Maintaining truth in the inward part,
With falsehood rooted in the heart.
And this is the holy Spirit’s account of a pardoned and justified man in Christ, in whose spirit there is no grille, yet his nature makes him often sigh, O wretched man that I am! I trust the ever blessed Spirit of all grace will most effectually purge away my pride, self-will, stubbornness, rebellion, and carelessness, according to his gracious promise: “And I will purge out the rebels from among you.” But this cannot be accomplished without deep afflictions. You know the generally received maxim—Violent maladies require violent remedies.
Another method the above persons adopt is to degrade my ministry, by asserting that “All I ever advanced was from strength of memory.” If this was the case, it is certainly very much to my credit, that I was so much given to study as to fill my mind with sufficient matter to preach so often as I did, near thirty Sermons a month, for fourteen years, and for these ten years past to the same people.—But you shall hear what an envious preacher said in company, who has just left us: “Oh, as to C’s religion and preaching, he was generally running about with a parcel of gay young people, till the last moment he had to come into the pulpit—and as to Sermons, why he generally went into his study and learned a Sermon by heart, and then came and preached it.” This is so palpable that it is not worth contradicting. How I can be running about with gay young people till preaching time, and at the same time be in my study, learning a Sermon by heart, I don’t know—and yet, would you believe it, this contradiction was received by the company. Some people will believe any thing but the truth; and it is no wonder God permits them to be always in bondage about the minister they professed to be blessed under. It was most justly remarked by a good man, when gossips came to him with a story against his minister, “And pray has not the preacher one good qualification—not one, that you can tell me of, either as a man, a christian, a preacher, a husband, a father, or a neighbour? Strange to tell, if he has not—and if he has, would you call to tell me of that? I believe not.”—Dear Mrs. E. go thou, and do likewise.
As to the present prosecution, whether guilty or not, is not the point; only it is necessary to remind you, the prosecution is not for falling into the crime, but most explicitly for (as they chuse to word it) an intent only. But whether I was actually guilty or not, even of that, let the prosecutor’s own words settle it. He has positively declared, that I was not guilty of any indecorous act to him whatever.—Here I leave this subject to your reflection, and conclude by observing to your last remark, that you disapproved of an assertion of mine once in the pulpit, namely, “That if a child of God had not felt the terrors of the Law yet, perhaps they would before their death, and therefore it was right to expect, or look out for them.” God forbid that I should limit the Holy One of Israel in his operations of grace in the hearts of his children, but this I know, that very few of God’s children has escaped them, though at first they might have been allured into a knowledge of Christ, yet they felt the storm on the road. Abraham, David, Job, Heman, Asaph, Hezekiah, and many others found it, and so may you; it is best to be prepared by a spiritual acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, in his person, work, love, offices, and promises. 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 Almighty, under whose wing thou hast long trusted. Pray for me, that I may be more wise for the future, and more useful to God’s family. And, O help me to praise him, that I am still a bush burning, yet unconsumed, because I am one.
Ruhamah.