CONTEMPLATIONS

- A SERIES OF LETTERS TO A FRIEND

William Huntington (1745-1813)

LETTER VIII.

TO THE REV. J. JENKINS, AT THE NEW VICARAGE, LEWES, SUSSEX.

Dearly-beloved and longed-for, my joy, and the crown of my rejoicing!

I WISH above all things that thou mayest prosper in thy labours, and be in health for the work, knowing that hard labour and a frail tabernacle make us move heavily: but our God has promised that, as our day so shall our strength be. I shall now resume my former subject, as I find you are by no means weary of it. And what I purpose to send to my dear brother is something of the unctuous experience which believers have of the glorious mystery that I have been writing about. I shewed you in a former epistle that if ever our hearts were comforted, if they were ever knit together in love, and if ever we come to the full assurance of understanding, it must be by an humble "acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 2, 3. This mystery is not only to be acknowledged or assented to as a revealed truth, but it is to be embraced by faith, and to be held, and held fast; as many violent and unwearied attacks, both by devils and heretics, will be made against it; and, if we are unsound or unsettled in the ground-work or foundation, all the rest will be out of order. The building, cannot be fitly framed, according to the account of a wise master builder, unless the glorious proprietor of the building be savingly known; for it is a mystical building, founded in faith, and cemented together in love, and grows up in wisdom, knowledge, and powers not by my spirit, human might, nor by the power of free-will, "but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Take the apostle's account - "Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom you are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit," Eph. ii. 19-22. The apostle tells us that the living, stones, the choice materials of this building, are God's household, freeborn citizens; and that Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone that unites all saints, Jews and Gentiles, antediluvian and postdiluvian saints together; and that the building grows up into an holy temple in the Lord, an habitation of God through the Spirit. If God the Son be left out of our faith, there is no foundation; and if God the Father, or the Holy Spirit, be left out, where is the inhabitant? It is "an habitation of God through the Spirit." Christ is the nearest object to faith, as our Mediator. "Ye believe in God, believe also in me;" for through Christ we believe in God, who "raised him from the dead," 1 Peter, i. 21. And we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Here is the mystery; faith lays hold of Jesus Christ, and through him we believe in God the Father, and upon our believing we receive the Spirit through faith, and are sealed by him. This is the ground-work, the basis, and power, on which faith stands or rests; all building is in vain without this. "Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life," Jude, 20, 21. The most Holy Trinity is the mystery on which faith rests; and we stand by faith, or rest on the powerful confidence which the arm of God reveals in us. Hence the exhortation, "Hold the mystery of faith in a pure conscience," I Tim. iii. 9. This is called building up ourselves on our most holy faith. Faith is the Father's gift to us through Christ, and from his fullness it comes, and by the operation of the Spirit it is wrought in us, and therefore called a fruit of the Spirit; this is the basis, namely, the Holy Trinity. Love is the bond of union, or the grand cement that compacts and builds up; charity edifieth, or raises the edifice. Hence we read of the love of God to us, in giving the Son; and the love of the Son, in laying, down his life for us; and the love of the Holy Ghost also. "Now I beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit," Rom. xv. 30. The love of the Trinity to us is the bond of union, which, when perceived by faith, and enjoyed, leads to a most blessed freedom and familiarity with the Father, Son, and Spirit; as you read, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery," Eph. iii. 9. We can have fellowship with nothing but persons; there is no fellowship with names. "These things have I written unto you, that you may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ," 1 John, i. 3. And you read of the "comfort of love," and of the "fellowship of the Spirit," PhiL ii. 1. Hence the foundation of vital godliness is God-Father, Son, and Spirit. Faith apprehends this, and by a fall persuasion stays the mind thereon; love is the cementing bond that unites the soul to God. "He that loveth dwelleth in God, and God in him; that is, he abideth in the Trinity; he abideth in the Son, and in the Father. And it is added, "As that anointing hath taught you, you shall abide in him." Read I John, ii. 27. Here is our inbeing and abiding in the Father, Son, and Spirit; and fellowship is the effect of this union.

True fellowship among men is a company of real friends meeting together in love. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." And the Holy Ghost applies the word of reconciliation. "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you," John, xv. 15.

Persons in fellowship often meet and associate together. Believers, with their confessions, prayers, praises, and thank offerings, pay their constant visits to their God: and in their conclusive doxologies address all the three divine persons distinctly and by these we ascend, in faith and affection, to the Almighty. And, with respect to the sensible enjoyment of God's presence, the Holy Trinity often condescends to visit us. "If a man love me he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him," John, xiv. 23. And the Holy Ghost comes also - "I will send you a Comforter, who shall abide with you for ever." Thus does the holy and blessed Trinity visit and take up their abode with believing souls.

Persons in real union and fellowship are a comfort to each other, and partake of each other's joys. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever," John, xiv. 16. Christ does not say, "I myself will pray to myself, that I may send myself," which would have been the right way of expressing the matter, if there were but one person in the Trinity: but "I will pray the Father." Here is Christ upon earth praying; the Father in heaven prayed unto; and another Comforter, distinct from them both, prayed for, The Father comforts us by revealing his dear Son in us, and by accepting us in the beloved, and appearing well pleased with us in his righteousness. "And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me," Isai. xii. 1. The Saviour comforts us by speaking the word of eternal life to our hearts. "My word is spirit, and my word is life. My sheep hear in voice, and follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand," John, x. 27, 28. "This is my comfort in my affliction; for thy word hath quickened me," Psalm cxix. 50. The Holy Spirit comforts us, by applying the promises to us, and attending them with power; the word comes with power in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; which power brings peace, joy, and gladness of heart; which is called the sincere milk of the word; and so it is written, "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that morn for her; that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream; then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem," Isai. lxvi. 10-i2. This joy, consolation, love, and peace, are in the New Testament called the fruits of the Spirit," Gal. v. 22.

Persons in true fellowship have great confidence in each other, and know much of each other's minds; and so it is with God and his saints. In the saints' worst hours they believe without doubting the truth of God, and the truth of the whole of his word; whether they can take the comfort of it or not, they know it is true, and that God the author of it, is true: and, as God is true so he makes his children sound in the truth, lovers of it, and earnest contenders for it, and sworn enemies to all false doctrines. "For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie; so be was their Saviour," Isa. lxiii. 8. They know much of each others minds; and so it is with God and his elect: they are made acquainted with God the Fathers secret purposes of grace, of his counsels and his covenant, of his good will of purpose, and of promise in Christ Jesus before the world began. Christ chooses us out of the world, and discovers himself to us, with all his finished work and saving benefits; while the Holy Spirit takes of the things that are his, and shews them to us, and makes them manifest in our hearts, and secretly seals up to the day of redemption.

Persons in fellowship often feast and banquet together. The Father makes us "a feast of fat things, of marrow and fatness, and of wines on the lees well refined," Isa. xxv. 6. Which glorious feast is the offering up of Christ (in sacrifice) once for us all. This is bringing forth the fatted calf to entertain the returning prodigals. Wisdom says, "She hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, she hath furnished her table. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled," Prov. ix. 2, 5. And no sooner does the poor perishing sinner's mind and conscience feast upon his sin-atoning blood and life-giving flesh, but the fire of inbred lusts, the fiery wrath of a broken law, and the fiery darts of Satan, are all quenched and disposed, while the Holy Spirit and his grace flow-in, and overshadow the soul with the discovery of Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste," Song ii. 3. And as the Almighty banquets us, so does he feast and feed upon the satisfaction Christ made for sin, and upon the fruits of his own implanted grace. "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry," Luke, xv. 22, 23. And the Saviour says, "I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drank my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly. O beloved," Song, v. 1. Nor is the Holy Spirit less entertained, when we are lively under his influence, observant of his instructions, and obedient to his dictates; as appears by the approbation that he gives, the witness that he bears to our hearts, and by filling us with more of his grace, while we are blessing him for what we have got. When the apostles were apprehended and taken before the council of the Jews, and threatened and charged to teach no more in the name of Jesus, the Spirit of God enabled them to speak with such fortitude that the council marvelled; and, when they joined their own company, and put up their united prayers, the Holy Spirit shook the very house, and filled them all again. "And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word of God with boldness," Acts, iv. 31. For, as the Spirit is said to be grieved by the sins of some men, and to be vexed and rebelled against by others; so he rejoices in some, approves of others, and fortifies them to the astonishment of their most inveterate persecutors. Philip, when be obeyed the Spirits voice, and joined himself to the Ethiopian's chariot, and preached Jesus to him, "was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was found at Azotus," Acts, viii. 39, 40. He fortified, furnished, and emboldened Paul before the Roman governor, that Felix trembled when Paul stood undaunted. He made Stephen's face shine like the face of an angel, when his persecutors gnashed their teeth with anguish and desperation; and made Paul and Silas sing the high praises of God in the prison at midnight; and sent an earthquake and shook the prison to the foundation thereof, and opened the doors of it, and made the chains fall from off the criminals, to let them know that he proclaims liberty to captives - "For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty;" and this the poor jailor found soon after, to his astonishment. In all these things it is easy to see how the Holy Spirit is entertained, pleased, and delighted, when men obey his dictates, and give themselves up to be led by him.

Persons in fellowship are jointly engaged: so God and his people are engaged in one cause, and jointly concerned in one interest. God is the portion of his people, and Jacob is the lot of God's inheritance. He that toucheth the saints toucheth the apple of God's eye; and the saints hate them that hate God, and count them their enemies: they love them that love the Lord; and, when any professors turn their backs and forsake God, as Judas did, the real saints always forsake them. God's own glory, in all his works, is what he aims at; and in the defence of God's glory and honour are his people engaged. God seeks a quarrel with the Philistines, and Sampson will fight it out if he die in the field. God will avenge his people on the Egyptians, and Moses engages the whole nation. The wicked Jews judged and condemned the Son of God, and the apostles got upon twelve thrones to judge and condemn them; and, when they had passed the sentence upon them, the Lord executed it. "But, when they persecute you in this city, flee ye to another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come," Matt. x. 23. The world, the flesh, and the devil, are God's enemies; and against these do the saints cry, pray, and fight, all their days; and, if they are foiled or overcome, it is called violence, captivity, or a rape, which God will highly resent; and, if they are pressed beyond measure, and despair even of life, and are thrown seven times, and complain, I die daily," or "for thy sake we are killed all the day long;" yet they up and at it again, and never give over, nor give up, till they die; for "as he is, so are we in this world," 1 John, iv. 17. "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that we might live through him:" and "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it." And the Spirit's love appears in his convincing us of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and in taking up his eternal abode with us, when we were the most vile, filthy, and abominable creatures, and to every good work reprobate.

The saints have suffered all sorts of torments, and every kind of death that men or devils could invent, rather than dishonour their God, or lose their exceeding great reward: hence they labour after conformity to him, and disallow of every lust and corruption that resists his sovereign will.

If God arraign, they will not excuse; if be punish they accept. If he search, they submit; if he condemn, they will not acquit; if he rebuke with fire, they approach the light; if he is wrath, they fear and quake; if he invite, they come up; if he chasten, they submit; if he attract they follow on; if he frown, then they fear; if he command, they commend; if he forbid, they forbear; if he withdraw, they despond; if he threaten, they contract; if he allure, they enlarge; if he is absent, they are jealous; if he indulge, they make free; if his anger burn, they are mute; if he resist, they withdraw; he hides himself, they go in search: his bowels move, their bowels yearn; if he contend, they attend; if kindness flow, their spirits melt; if he forgive, they cannot forget; if he commune, their heart will burn; if he embrace, they swoon in love; if he bind, they will not be free; if he pull down, they will not build up; if he should wound, none else shall heal; if he lay on, they will not throw off; if he detain, none shall release; if he afflict, they will not be soothed; if he shut up, they will not come out; if he desert, they will not be wooed; if he cause grief, they will not hear peace; and, if he chide, they will not flee; he bends his bow, they yield their breast; if he delay, they still persist; if he deny, they will not give up; he will not relieve, they till entreat; he says "Begone," they importune; he shuts the door, they knock the more.

The divine and essential Word has taken our nature into God: and there is a divine nature lodged in all the saints, and no separation can be made, either by life or by death. 0 my brother, my mouth is opened to thee, my heart is enlarged; thou art not straitened in me, but in thy own bowels. Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as to my beloved son), be ye also enlarged. Adieu. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and endure hardness as a good soldier. The Captain has overcome the world, and the victory is yours.

Ever thine in him,

W HUNTINGTON.