The Voice of Faith in the Valley of Achor: Vol. 2 [of 2] — Part 9

I trust my dear kind Friend can say she humbly desires only Christ and an interest in him, to know that her sins are pardoned by him, and that she lives in the tenderest affections of his heart. The scriptures declare that you do live there, but you want to feel it for yourself; yet, I hope you can say, from what little you do know, you depend upon Christ as God-Man and Mediator, upon his most blessed work, as your acceptance with the Father, only you want the gracious Holy Spirit to shew you so much of Christ as to cause you to love _him_ above all things, and to give you the clearest assurance of his love to you. _Do take notice_. This little knowledge you have of _him_, and this desire after _him_, this humble dependence upon _him_, and renouncing all others, is really believing in _him_.

May the Lord bless thee and keep thee, be your leader, guide, and comfort. Kind love to your Niece, and all enquiring friends and acquaintance.—I must conclude this letter, with some Remarks I have met with on the very great difference between an _Acquaintance_ and a _Friend_.

ACQUAINTANCE and FRIENDS _DISTINCT CHARACTERS_.

FALLEN man an erring creature is, And, bent on erring, errs in this: He forms connections without end, And calls each _intimate a Friend_.

But ’twixt the two a difference lies, And, oh! how great is our surprize— To view the characters more near, How vast me difference does appear.

_Acquaintance_ cries, to ease my woe, Be warm’d, be fill’d—and off they go. My _Friend_ presents the thing I need, The _one’s_ in word, the _other_ deed.

While pleasing plenty crowns my cup, _Acquaintance_ springs like mushrooms up; But woeful want creeps forth to light, And each betakes himself to flight.

Yet sometimes one of human kind. In this dull day remains behind; And ’tis my _Friend_, for only he Cares for the child of misery.

_Acquaintance_ see me go astray: But he must look to that they say. My _Friend_ seeks out my devious track, O’ertakes me, and conducts me back.

If sick, or into prison thrown, My _Friend_ still makes my case his own, And in my chamber or my cell Esteems it his delight to dwell.

The utmost my _Acquaintance_ do, While these great deeps I’m passing through, Is, squeeze this prayer out now and then— Heav’n send him safely out again.