Transcribed from the 1820 R. Thomas edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

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THE
VOICE OF FAITH
IN THE
Valley of Achor:

BEING A

Series of Letters

TO SEVERAL FRIENDS,

ON RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS.

By Ruhamah.

VOL. II.

SOUTHWARK;
Printed by R. THOMAS, Red Lion Street, Borough.

1820.

LETTER I.

Valley of Achor, June 1, 1819.

Dear Mr. Hairby,

I have sent you a little more scribble to read, which will amuse you for an hour. Will you be so kind as to send them all to Mrs. Harris? You need not seal them, though I hope the Lord will seal you; but he has already, for the spirit in the heart is the king’s seal, saying, This is mine—the Church is a fountain sealed; and every sensible token that you have had, every smile and ray of spiritual joy, every gracious promise applied to the heart, and every time love is sensibly felt, this is the sealing of the Spirit. Christ was sealed by the Father when he was chosen in eternity, he was the Son of God; but perhaps he was not sensibly sealed by the Holy Spirit till his baptism, when, probably, both the Father and the Holy Spirit spoke, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. So says St. Matthew and St. Mark. God has chosen us in Christ, this is the Father’s sealing; but the Holy Spirit in us, is the Spirit’s seal, and every gracious look, intercourse, and holy frame, is the sealing work. This is not faith, but it is the enjoyment of the object we do believe in. Faith is a radical principle, and always abides in the heart: But after ye believed ye were sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. This sealing is the sensible enjoyment of the promised good. I beg dear Mrs. H— to notice this. A little sacred comfort arising from believing, hoping, and trusting in the finished work of Christ, is also the sealing work; and, perhaps, in the closing scene of life, when she draws near to death, this will be more blessedly enjoyed—For my people shall be satisfied with my goodness saith the Lord.

Your’s,
Ruhamah.

LETTER II.

Valley of Achor, August 10, 1819.

To the Same.

MY DEAR SIR,

How gracious is the Lord: when I cannot believe, still he abideth faithful—Oh! for an heart to love him, and to adore him; but though I have often rebelled, yet, how gracious and faithful he still continues towards me—surely faithfulness is the girdle of his reins. This is the girdle for faith to lay hold of. My faith has only to do with his promises, the whens, the wheres, and the hows; this is the Lord’s work, and not mine. I wish above all things for an increase of faith, of hope, and love; the sweetest is love: but though I have so sweetly felt this lately, it is now suspended, yet I hope it will return. I am now in my old place, a poor, vile, guilty creature, at the feet of Jesus, pleading his work again; and looking now, not at what I feel, but at the satisfaction of Christ, with which the Father is everlastingly well pleased. Here I rest, till love is felt again; my desire is to him, and to the remembrance of his name. Sin works, Satan is busy, but grace still reigns. Thus we see that grace has yet the honor of the field. We have not run back, though we have often been down, the Lord raises us up again, and this motto is our privilege, “I shall arise.” Oh! what a mercy, greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world. I have cause to be thankful to the Lord that he has thus far led me; but the Devil, at times, almost drives me distracted with the carking cares of what will happen to me. Oh! lay my case before God, that I may have power to cast this burthen on the Lord. I wish I could get over it; yet my fears may be a good sign, better fear than to presume, or grow careless.

Love to Mrs. H. and Daughter,
Ruhamah.