_Achor’s tale_, _September_ 29, 1818. Mr. G. GRAY. MY DEAR BROTHER, What can I say to you, and how can I sufficiently thank you for your kindness and benevolence of heart and conduct; well might the apostle exhort, “Let us not love in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth;” and this has been your conduct to me since my abode at the sign of the unstrung harp, near the weeping willows, by the rivers of Babylon. Here I at present live, but what the Lord promised the Israelites in captivity, he is most graciously fulfilling in my case. I need not remind you that _Achor_ was a valley in Jericho, where Achor the son of Carmi was stoned; perhaps the valley borrowed its name from the circumstance itself. Achor means trouble, and you know what is written in your favorite chapter, 2nd of Hosea. What an affecting picture the Lord has given us of Israel’s ingratitude and rebellion; but having determined from all eternity, that where sin hath abounded, there grace also should much more abound, and triumph over all the sin of his people, which has brought them into so much trouble, as Achan did the Israelites, that in the very midst of that valley of Achor, he would open a door of hope, and give them strong consolations; that there he would manifest his pardoning love, display his eternal power, sanctify the cross to them, reveal his love to the heart, and though in the very midst of trouble, yet his people should sing of his mercy, truth, faithfulness, kindness, and righteousness, all which are displayed in their marriage union to Christ, the date of which is as ancient as eternal election. The grand displays of it was in the great act of the Redeemer’s incarnation. The means to bring about this union, was the removal of all the awful impediments which were in the way, by the obedience, the sufferings, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, intercession and life of Christ, as Mediator in heaven for us. Nor can this blessed union be felt or enjoyed by us, till God the Holy Ghost has subdued our enmity, quickened our souls, reconciled us to God’s mind, shewed us the person, love, and work of Christ; made us willing by his power, created holy desires in the soul, and enabled us to say, Thou, Oh my God, in Christ art the thing that I long for. Here is union felt; and as the soul is led on in the knowledge of the great things of God, it is enabled to trace the origin of this union to the counsels of eternity. I trust you will, my dear brother, be enabled when you are called forth to stand up as a spokesman for your dear Lord, declare what you know of the counsel of God, not that you, or any other preacher, either _know_ or _can_ declare the _whole_ counsel of God. Nothing is more common than this expression, and nothing can be more erroneous. I do not believe any one ever declared the whole counsel of God, since our Lord and his apostles