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child on its mother; for if, in this case, the natural provision fail, other supplies may be substituted; in the other, it is impossible. Indeed, the natural outgoing of the renewed soul is towards Christ; for God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into his heart, and his griets and fears, and wants, and joys, constrain the pathetic cry, "Abba, Father!" I know, my friend, you want to be satisfied of the reality of this great and blessed change, the existence of this life of God in your soul; but what is the proof, the evidence, we are to look for? You have no reason to be discouraged, though you cannot refer precisely to the time when you were delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son. Were I to ask you how old you are, I believe you could answer me only as your ears have heard, and others have told you: nor ought you to question the reality of your spiritual life, because the change was not introduced or attended with those convictions and terrors, with which the rocky hearts of many have been rent. The Spirit of God is sovereign in his operations, and effects the same change, accomplishes the same design, in very different ways. Though he has not been pleased to call for the earthquake, the whirlwind, and the storm, to prepare his way to your heart; yet, if he has prevented you with the blessing of his goodness, and, before you called, has answered you; if he has instructed you with his eye, and by a look which penetrated your soul, has sent you to your closet trem

bling and weeping over your sins and your heart of sin; if, with a still small voice, he has spoken in some precious word to your soul, and sweetly drawn and made you willing, in the day of his power, to accept of Christ as he is offered in the Gospel; if he has poured upon you the Spirit of grace and supplication, and has caused you to look on HIM whom you have pierced, and mourn," and, in the contemplation of the cross and sufferings of Christ, has discovered to you the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and taught you to regard it with hatred and revenge, as your worst enemy; if he has shed abroad the love of God in your heart, and made it a new, and powerful, and delightful principle of obedience; if the hand of the Lord has been upon you, and wrought in your soul such tempers as these, then has he herein spoken good concerning you, and peace unto you: nor should you suffer any reasonings of an unbelieving or desponding mind to take that peace from you. It is pleasant, and greatly to be desired, to live beneath unclouded heavens, and in the exercise of fervent love to Christ; yet our hea venly Father, in his infinite wisdom and grace, chooses a very different path for many of his dear children. He leads them amidst clouds and darkness, with many sighs, and griefs, and tears; yet, His way is always found to be the right way. In this respect, the experience of our late friend, Mrs. L-, is particularly remarkable, of which you have heard, and perhaps, ere long, you may read. I

wish, therefore, that you would set the Lord before you, the Lord Jesus, the Friend and Saviour of perishing sinners,-in all the wonders of his love, the grace he so freely tenders, and the service he requires. Then ask, "Is my heart with him? Do I hunger and thirst for his salvation? Am I willing that he should save me from my sins, from all of them, and by whatever means he shall choose? Could I find delight in his ways, in his word, in the company of his people? Could I hold fast the profession of my faith amidst painful trials, and even persecution, for his dear name's sake, and find my all in Christ, though called to suffer the loss of all things for him. If you find such a heart in you, have evidence more substantial than that which

you

The Spirit himself

These are the im

arises from joys and raptures. beareth witness with your spirit. pressions of his own seal; these are the effects of the great change which you are solicitous to have evidence of; the strong and restless desire of the sincere milk of the word; godly sorrow for sin; fleeing for refuge to Christ; cleaving to him by faith and love; devotedness and submission of the soul to him. These are the characters and actings of the children of God: they demonstrate spiritual life as truly as breathing, and crying, and feeding evidence natural life. Then, let not your heart be troubled: regard with thankfulness what God has done; and still wait upon him, and pour out your soul before him: he will not shut out your prayer.

He may withhold sensible comforts to make you more importunate; but "then shall you know, if you follow on to know the Lord."

I am, &c.

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER LVI..

TO MISS B

TRULY, there is no friend like the blessed Lord Jesus. Though it is comparatively very little that I know of him, yet, from what I have seen and known, I have reason to speak of his grace with aternal admiration. He drew me with the cords of his love; and, I trust, effectually bound my heart to him at a very early period; and the experience of revolving years, in a long succession, has contributed very greatly to endear his beloved name, to increase confidence in him, and to render his service more sweet; nor is there any thing within my power that I would not do to aid a humble inquirer, whose heart is prepared to leave all to follow him. I have, and I hope you have, a persuasion, that you truly, and from your very heart, desire to be his; but whether he will receive you, is a question you have often regarded with trembling and

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anxiety. These suspicions are the result of mistaken or clouded apprehensions. Did unbelief interpose no veil between your mind and the representation which is given of him in his own most precious promises, and the wonderful rewards of his love, you would not suspect the sincerity of your own heart; you could not hesitate a moment in respect to the willingness of the Saviour, or his ability. To be the Saviour of lost sinners is the commission he has received from his Father: it is his office, and for this he is anointed;-it is the commission he has accepted;-it is the business in which his soul is engaged. What heart-felt joy, even in a dark night, has a poor sinner sometimes found in those words: "Lo, I come; I delight to do thy will, O God!" What has he done, what has he suffered, to secure this most gracious purpose! What a ransom has he paid! What enemies has he vanquished! What mountains have been made low; what valleys have been exalted; what obstacles, that must for ever have been insuperable to every arm but his, have yielded to his determination to open to helpless, wretched outcasts, a way of return to God, though at the expense of the last drop of his blood! Wonderful determination of the Lord of glory, in regard of his own creatures in the vilest rebellion! Precious blood! in the view of a humble brokenhearted sinner seeking salvation. What a meeting will there be of the Saviour and his ransomed tribes, when the import of those words from his eternal Father shall be fully known, "By the blood

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