Chapter XVI: Letter XVI: Valley of Achor, March 26, 1818

MY DEAR FRIEND, MISS D.,

What apology shall I make for my long delay, but lowness of mind, and a tedious winter; and this, _with_ you, I am sure is quite apology enough. I write you, concerning the once crucified, but now exalted _Jesus_. As it is the wish of my soul, to live to fill up the cup of some poor believer’s consolation, though I am denied that privilege at present, yet I hope to throw a mite into the Gospel treasury for you, by sending a few imperfect lines, which I must beg you to accept. O that I had but _the_ wisdom of Solomon, _the_ piety of a David, _the_ knowledge of a Paul, _the_ fervour of an Isaiah, _the_ faith of an Abraham, _the_ love of a John, with _the_ tearful affections of a Mary, that I might speak good of his name. _Christ_ is all in all; _he_ is the very glory in the centre of Heaven, as the sun is in the universe. _He_ is the joy of Heaven; and though _he_ is far off us, yet _he_ has promised ever to be with us. _He_ is exactly suited to us in all our wants, and the love of Jehovah is in no case so eminently displayed, as in providing such a _Jesus_ for us. So great, so kind, so glorious, and yet so precious. We shall soon be done time, and commence upon an eternal scene; then our knowledge will be complete, though no doubt, it will be expanding for ever, and the effects of it, even in Heaven, will be wonder, humility, and love, for the mind will incessantly be employed in roving over the glories of God; as the God of all grace, one in three, and three in one; seen, apprehended, enjoyed, beheld, and loved in _Christ Jesus_.

And now they range the heavenly plains,
And sing _his_ love in melting strains;
Or, overwhelm’d with rapture sweet,
Sink down, adoring at _his_ feet.

May this be our lot, and in order to that _state_, that _bliss_, that _joy_, and that sweet _employment_. May the eternal spirit give us such views of Christ, as shall cause us to long for the time.

We are poor sinners, guilty, and hell-deserving, condemned by a holy law, and exposed to a thousand miseries in this world; and in our fallen nature, to the woe of perdition. Christ is the Saviour of the lost; _he_ was from all eternity raised up, and voluntarily offered _himself_ to become the Saviour of _his_ church. Say ye of _him_, whom the Father hath sanctified—and for their sakes I sanctify _myself_. Set apart, separated, for _his_ peoples’ salvation. Glory be to _his_ dear name: _he_ is God and man; had _he_ been only God, we could not have been saved; had _he_ been man only, _he_ would not have been able to save us; but _he_ is God and man; this at once secures the honors of _his_ law, the glory of _his_ perfections, and the salvation of _his_ church. As God and man, _he_ is the Lord, our righteousness, and as the atonement, which alone is efficacious, _he_ is called the Lord and God, who laid down _his_ life, and purchased the church with _his_ blood. How most divinely adapted _he_ was, and _is_, to save us. What a glorious meeting of divine excellencies are in _him_. Hence, the Father calls upon us, to behold _him_, Behold my servant, whom I uphold. The Lord Jesus declares, _he_ will say of _himself_, Behold me, behold me! to a people who had not known _him_! and the holy Spirit points _him_ out, by John; Behold the Lamb of God! I know my dear friend desires to know _him_, that she may believe in _him_, and love _him_. This encourages me to go on with my sweet subject, which I hope will not prove tedious to you. The person of Christ is most wonderful, it is greater than _his_ glorious works, and ought to be for ever the theme of our discourse. Permit me, then, just to observe, there meets in Jesus, infinite _highness_, and infinite _humility_—infinite _glory_, and infinite _condescension_—infinite _grace_, and infinite _justice_—infinite _majesty_, and transcendent _meekness_—the deepest _reverence_ of God, and an _equality_ with God—infinite _worthiness_ of good, and the greatest _patience_ under evils—wonderful _obedience_, and supreme _dominion_ over heaven and earth—the most perfect _resignation_, and absolute _sovereignty_—an entire _trust_ in God, and yet _self sufficiency_ in _himself_. _Justice_, _mercy_, and _truth_ are sweetly combined in _him_, displayed through _him_, and shines in all _he_ says, and in all _he_ does; while, as an high priest, _he_ makes intercession—as God and man, _he_ demands the very blessings: Father, I will, that those whom thou hast given _me_, be with _me_. _He_ is the _lion_ to our foes; the _lamb_ to our faith, and at times, _he_ appears the _lion_ in providence, while _he_ is the lamb, in a way of grace, to the soul. This is your _Christ_.

All over glorious, is our Lord,
To be admired, and yet ador’d:
_His_ worth, if all the nations knew,
I’m sure the world would love _him_ too.

And so says,
Your’s truly,
_Ruhamah_.