The Lord bless you for ever.—Your’s, truly, _Ruhamah_. LETTER XII. _Valley of Achor_, _Oct._ 20, 1818. Mrs. E—R. MY DEAR FRIEND, Agreeable to my promise, I will attempt an answer to your anxious letter, although I feel great reluctance in so doing, knowing well, that not he which commendeth himself should be approved, but him whom the Lord commendeth. It is the mercy of all God’s children, that they stand approved in Christ, and as an evidence of it, they, through the teaching of the holy Spirit, approve of Christ, and all in Christ. Our work, as fellow Christians, should consist daily in commending Christ, and recommending him to each other—this ought to be our constant employment and delight, especially ministers of the gospel, in their public exercises; but alas, we live in a day in which I am sorry to say, the man, who can best commend himself, set up his own experience, and dwell much upon the marvellous, is the man who is the most acceptable. This is an awful proof of the degenerate state of the church, yet I do consider it as my duty, to vindicate myself and friends, from that censure which we do not merit, and which is most unjustly heaped upon us. In doing this in my address to you, I aim merely to correct some mistakes under which you lay, and feel much bondage as the consequence. In doing this, I could certainly fill a volume, but I shall only _assure you in a few words_, _what_ IS, _and what is_ NOT _the case_.