LETTER XLIX.
Achor’s Vale, February 17th, 1819.
Mr. & Mrs. Shephard.
MY DEAR FRIENDS,
Grace and peace be with you.—This is what the Apostles wished the Church of God, in all their Epistles, to which they often subjoined mercy. What these three epithets imply, I and you must die to know, the adorable Trinity purposing to set his love on man and on angels—it was love indeed, as it flowed from the heart of God. It is love, but it being set on some, and not on others; some are elect angels, some are not; some are elect men, some are not; and this love being so distinguished, is grace, or free favour; and this favour manifested to us as fallen, guilty, hell-deserving creatures, is mercy. I wish you to make these distinctions, as they will open many blessed texts and doctrines of the word. Now as grace and mercy flows to us so divinely, this brings peace indeed, and in fact. These three terms at once, include the gracious covenant work of the ever adorable Trinity: the Father is the God of all grace, the ever blessed Spirit is the mercy that saves us, and Christ is our peace. And these terms also set forth the three-fold offices of the ever blessed Jesus—he is merciful, as our Prophet, gracious, as our Priest, and peaceable, as our king. And is there not another sweet idea occurs to the mind in experience, the influences of the Spirit are gracious; these teach us to see our misery, and help us to cry for mercy; and mercy seen and felt in pardoning sin, produces peace, thus grace, mercy, and peace are with us.
There was something you said to me at the place, which gave me very great pleasure, in reference to yourself, and from which I gathered a hope you was growing in the knowledge of God our Saviour. This is life eternal to know him, and it is a very great favour indeed to be growing in that knowledge; many of the Lord’s children are grieved that they cannot get better, nor grow into a good opinion of themselves. Hence they are not pleased with themselves, and cast down because they appear so bad to themselves, whereas our main concern should be to get better acquainted with Christ, as he is revealed in the gospel, carrying on the great work of salvation. You and I must lament, that when God’s children meet together, even in their most serious moments, they spend all their time in talking about their frames, and feelings, instead of Christ; whereas, talking about Jesus, and striving to get some sweet ideas of him, as he is set forth in the word, and communicating those ideas, would be the best subject, to improve the mind, warm the heart, and lead out the soul to love Christ, and one another. This would be the communion of saints, as connected with the forgiveness of sins. Poor, tried saints are always talking about their feelings; and common professors are talking about this religious society, and the other, and thus they are well pleased with what they do for God, before God has done any thing for them: There is no communion in all this, ’tis a mere bubble, and a plan of Satan’s, to keep Christ out of the mind. Christ is all in heaven, and he should be all in the Church; and when he is all in all to us, we have got the sweetest evidence that we can have, that we belong to God. I am sometimes cast down in soul, but the Lord raises me up again; and although the work of God is genuine on the soul, yet I find, by repeated experience, that I can neither love, believe, or hope, but as the blessed Spirit operates on the soul. Without Christ we can do nothing, no more than a body without a head, or limb cut off the body, or sick man without a physician, or an accused man without a counsellor, or a condemned man without a pardon. Christ is our Lord, physician, advocate, and atonement, our righteousness and strength; and it is our mercy he is the balm in Gilead, health amongst the witnesses, and the healer there. Gilead signifies witnesses: these are the Bible, and in the Church, and, blessed be God, in our hearts; also as there are many things there can witness for him. Hence God says, Ye are my witnesses, and my servant, whom I have chosen. Christ was God’s witness to us, and we are witnesses of the freeness of his grace, and the value of his blood. Christ represents us to God and we represent Christ—he is God-Man in one. Man ruined himself in aspiring to be God, and God saves man by becoming man; the divinity is espoused to our nature, that our souls might be espoused to Christ, and to God in him. The adorable Father and eternal Spirit aims at the exaltation of Christ, as God-Man, and all things are made for this purpose.
All things for his sake did Jehovah prepare,
For of him, and through him, and to him they are;
All systems and worlds which revolve through the sky
Were made for the lifting of Jesus on high.
May he be glorified in your salvation and mine, and reward you both for your sincere esteem for him, who remains
Your’s in him,
Ruhamah.