particular promises. Hereby we are led to look more to our particular wants; to search the Scriptures more diligently, and to act a more enlightened and a stronger faith on the word of God. Hereby, too, we are stronger against particular temptations, if we see that our very case, our very wants, trials, sufferings, have been contemplated by God, and have a particular promise affixed to them. Hereby, too, in some degree, we measure our own attainments. For instance-Sin shall not have dominion over you: does this, then, seem too high a privilege to us? Have we pleaded this promise with God in prayer? Or-My strength is made perfect in weakness? Have we so felt our own weakness, as to delight in this promise? I am sure that by not thus living on, searching out, and pleading the promises of God, we defraud ourselves greatly of our comforts.

*

LETTER XX.

TO A FRIEND.

Guestingthorpe, November 8, 1822.

* * After all, how short an acquaintance can we have with another in this life! and under what disadvantageous circumstances, too!-continually separated-when we meet, having some trouble or other to speak of encumbered with frailty

the best subjects of conversation and desire as yet but imperfectly known, and, alas! how much neg

lected, and too faintly appreciated! But what shall friendship be in heaven! It shall last for ever; and that, between spirits made perfect; having no troubles to communicate, no sorrow to sympathize in, no frailties to overlook or forgive. And what subjects for delightful intercourse, a God no longer at a distance, no longer imperfectly known; all His dealings with us in this little life fully understood, with the acknowledgment, not of faith, but of sight and certainty, that not one good word hath failed, &c.; --and, in prospect, the eternal continuance of glory! That our friendship may be renewed, rendered perfect, consummated, and perpetuated in heaven, is my constant prayer!

LETTER XXI.

*

TO ANOTHER FRIEND.

1822.

I pray for you, that your faith may not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Remember that the Great Head of the Church himself appealed to Scripture (John v. 39): remember the approved example of the Bereans: remember St. John's exhortation, to try the spirits; that is, to use our own individual judgments, enlightened by Scripture, on any pretensions to inspiration or infallibity. Remember St. Paul's Anathema, Maranatha, and his wishing every one to be satisfied in his own mind: remember the doctors who made the

commandments of none effect; and who worshipped God in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Search the Scriptures for the plain practical meaning; that which bears on your own practice, and feelings, and interests; that which lets you into your own duties, and your privileges. Dwell very much on the latter, if-as I trust is certainly the case with you-you find, on a careful scrutiny of your heart, that the believing these privileges to be yours would have, not a licentious, but a sanctifying effect upon you. Desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. Ah! that we should leave such mines so little searched! What can be so dishonourable to God?-We several times were inquiring what faith, saving faith, is. This is the illustration I propose to use to-morrow. Christ was on earth, healing all manner of diseases: some, no doubt, despised the whole account-they had not faith: some again, who had no bodily disease, no doubt believed in this his power; and some who did not, might think and say they did. Suppose one such had a disease, and did not know it; his belief in the power of Christ would evidently do him no good; for not knowing his disease, he would not go to touch the hem of his garment. But suppose he could find out the disease, do you not think that then his faith would seem all at once to grow weaker that a thousand doubts, which he never entertained, so long as he was only thinking of others, would spring up, directly he began to find

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himself in want of healing? Mine is such a peculiar case, such an inveterate malady, so particularly loathsome;-nay, I am lame; the very infirmity that keeps me from going to Him, and getting him to heal me, if He be able. My dear M., I fear our objections, as to ourselves, always end in something like this last clause; and that there is, at bottom, some unbelief respecting the Lord Jesus Himself.

We are truly sorry to learn from Dr. G. the very poor state of your health. It pleases a gracious God, who, we surely know, does not willingly afflict, nevertheless to try you very sharply with bodily pain and affliction. What can I say? If I say that earthly afflictions, at the longest, must be short, and then for God's afflicted children there is a bright eternity beyond, I shall say what is true; but what I know, cannot generally be felt, when pain makes even one day appear long, and wearisome nights succeed. But remember the Apostle's words, These light afflictions, which are but for a moment. Remember, that those who are now inheriting the promises, have all had to exercise faith and patience, though not all in the same degree that you are called to. Remember how full of compassion

was our Lord, when on earth; weeping with his friends, and healing, out of love and pity, all manner of sickness and disease; that He is our sympathizing brother still, and does most surely pity all the sufferings of every one of his people. I say, remember these things; I mean, put aside, as far you can, the world and the body, and lose yourself in these divine meditations. Alas! how easy to give advice! how difficult, how impossible of ourselves, to do the thing! But this is the means of comfort; pray to God to enable you to use the means, and to make them effectual.

I am going, if it please God, on Sunday, to expound, in the church here, John xi. How much of the sweetest consolation is there in that chapter! The message of the sisters, He, or she, whom thou lovest, is sick ;—our Lord's remark, This sickness is not unto death; not, in any of his own, unto eternal death; but for the glory of God, that the Son of God should be glorified thereby. And should we not willingly bear all that, whereby our dear Lord may be glorified?-The account of death, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.-Look at a poor sick child, that with difficulty you have got to sleep, the effects of which sleep you are anticipating, in renewed strength and restored health and spirits; and then look at the body of the sleeping believer, and anticipate its awaking in the morning of the resurrection, in health and strength, in incorruption, glory, and power ;that declaration of our Lord's, the very substance of