LETTER XXIII.

MY DEAR BOYS,

I HAVE often talked to you about God, but now I wish to talk to you by letter, that when I am far away you may have my words, though you cannot hear my voice. As well as I can, I wish to explain what it is your duty to believe, desire, and practice, concerning true religion.

The soul, my dear children, that hidden, but precious part of man, whereby he lives, and moves, and thinks, and feels, is not what it was when God pronounced Adam

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very good." Then, pure thoughts, right feelings, and holy actions, proceeded from it as flowers grow from a plant, or fruit from a tree. But you know the history of Adam's fall; and even if you did not, I

think your own hearts would convince you that something is wrong; that by natural inclination they do not bring forth the fruits of the Spirit" love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." If God had given man a wicked soul in the first instance, we need no longer wonder at man's wicked life; but it came from his hands pure and perfect: "God made man upright-he hath sought out many inventions." All the ancient history you read, proves the latter part of this sentence; you find no nation, people, kindred, or tongue, except the Jews, that did not, during four thousand years, worship and serve the creature instead of the Creator; making to themselves idols of every kind, and walking in the imagination of their own evil hearts. The Bible gives us a sad history even of the chosen people of God; neither judgment nor mercy could long restrain them from worshipping false gods, and forsaking the true One. All this proves, that though man had power to get wrong, he was, of himself, absolutely unable to get right again; just as a blind person must have his sight

restored before he can discern the path wherein he should walk. To this end, God, who was not willing that the world he had made so fair and good should be wholly destroyed by sin, or that his creatures should for ever be subject to Satan, his enemy and theirs, in due time sent his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that "whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." To believe in Christ, is not merely to credit his words, but to trust his power, desire his favor, obey his wishes; and surely the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world," He, "who being in the likeness of God, took upon him the form of a servant," who laid down his life, not for his friends, but his enemies, is fully worthy of such love and reverence. Perhaps you think it must be pleasant and easy to feel thus towards the Saviour; pleasant it certainly is, but not so easy as you may imagine. You remember the verse we read last night, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not:" and again, that other verse spoken by John the Baptist, "I indeed baptize you with water, but there

standeth one among you whom ye know not; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; "-this last verse explains whatever may seem strange in the first. The Jews were "his own," to whom, after having been promised and expected for some thousand years, "he came." They witnessed his miracles, they heard his words, they saw his holy and benevolent life, yet the most part of the nation" received him not," but despised, rejected, and crucified him! Why was this? They had not been baptized with the Holy Ghost; in other words, their minds and hearts were in the condition of blind and deaf persons, who having eyes and ears, neither hear nor see. Now do not think to say within yourselves, "O we are not like those wicked Jews, we believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. It was indeed good of him to die for us, and we love him for it, and we hope, that after death, he will take us to heaven, that beautiful place, where there is no pain nor sorrow." O, my dear children! how do you prove your belief and love, and what reason have

you to hope that he will bestow upon you heavenly joy and glory? Is it willingly or unwillingly that you read the Scriptures, go to church, listen to instruction, and spend the Sabbath in a quiet, orderly, religious manner? If your consciences answer "not willingly," there needs no further witness against you the case is bad. Even if you reply

willingly," I must question you a little further, for it is possible to like the Bible for its interesting stories; to listen to instruction, and like going to church, and being quiet on a Sunday, to please your friends; or because you suppose God will reward you for so doing. The proof that a person really loves the Saviour and believes on him, is this :-he thinks much about him; he feels the sin that is in his heart, he laments it, and not only so, he strives against it. He also endeavors to act as if the eye of God were ever upon him, like the sun looking down from the heavens. The word of God is his delight, because it teaches him the will of God; and he prays, not from fear, or from compulsion, but from the same motive that leads an affectionate child to converse with a wise