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his book, as promptly as they would believe his word, if they had with him a personal interview.

Question 5. If I were to ask for the remission of all my sins, and were to believe that my words were regarded, and my transgressions blotted out, I should surely rejoice: might I thus take comfort?

Answer. If you ever believe Christ's real statement as it stands in the Bible, it will be faith, and joy is one concomitant of faith. There was one who once declared, that under a hope of recently pardoned sin, his predominant feeling was a desire never to offend God again. Such a wish is connected with repentance. It is often the strongest feeling observable at the time. Often, the sinner does never notice the goodness of God; and never has his attention turned towards that affecting kindness of the Saviour, until his own case brings it before him, and until a hope of pardon arouses his observation.

FAREWELL. Reader, if you believe that you never sinned, we bid you farewell in despair; for sin has benumbed your soul into a stupidity which is hope less. If you know you are a sinner, seek pardon forthwith, for this is the only wise course. If you wish pardon, our farewell advice, as to the manner of seeking it, is to act just as you would do if you saw the Redeemer.

Without seeing the Saviour, ask as you would if you did see him; without hearing him speak, attend to his written words just as you would do if you heard him speak them. "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Without seeing the white throne, before which we must certainly

stand in judgment, act as you will wish you had when you do see it: without seeing the bright glory of the peaceful abode, and the joyous features of the white-robed society, act as vigorously as the worth of such a residence should prompt: without looking down into the red atmosphere, where are thrown together "the fearful, and the unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and all liars," act so as to avoid their company and their eternity. Farewell.

CHAPTER XLVI.

THE AUTHOR'S UNBELIEF-MEANS OF RESCUE.

ONE way to make plain the cure of infidelity, is to give examples of deliverance. Facts are not read with less interest from being presented as the lever by which other minds have been moved; and as the particulars of our own history can be given with more accuracy than others, the following may not be out of place.

Before entering upon the means of escape from unbelief, it is necessary to notice the mode of descending into that abyss.

My parents were professors of religion, with a plain education, but well informed in holy things. Firm, ardent, and unassuming, infidelity came not before their thoughts.. It seemed to be their impression that entire unbelief very rarely existed, and that where it was avowed it could scarcely be sincere. I never remember to have heard the truth of inspiration questioned by mortal lips until the age of sixteen; when, having passed through the usual college course too hastily, I went to read medicine in Danville, Kentucky. As soon as I mixed with society, I of course entered the company of some who were admirers of the French philosophy. I was not as much with the world as others, but I heard them

speak occasionally. When talking of religion their feelings were always awake. They seemed to believe that in disregarding inspiration there was something peculiarly original and lofty. The sparkle of the eye, the curl of the lip, and the tone of voice, if interpreted, seemed to say that the rest of mankind were contemptible fools, but "we are not." Their remarks impressed me, but not deeply. That their sarcasms and jeers influenced me towards infidelity, was because men love darkness more than light; for their arguments were so destitute of fact for foundation, that ignorant as I was, I could sometimes see that they in reality favored the other side.

I had some longing after the character of singular intellectual independence, and some leaning towards the dignified mien; but I did not assume either as yet, for my habits of morality remained, and my reverence for superior age and deeper research. It was necessary that I should receive praise from some source, before all diffidence or modesty should be swallowed up in self-esteem. in self-esteem. And this intoxicating poison was not wanting. After the expiration of three years, I became surgeon's mate, or second physician, to a regiment of Kentucky militia which wintered near the northern lakes. The approbation of many around me there, led me to feel as though I was one of the actors on life's wide stage. After this, as I frequented the wine-club or the card-party, reverence for the Bible diminished; and as my respect for holy precepts diminished, my sinful habits increased. Infidelity inclines us towards pride, festivity, and dissipation, while these engender infidelity

Like two ponderous metallic globes hung together on the side of a declivity, they mutually assist each other down the steep, and the further they proceed, the greater is their momentum. After this I became. first surgeon to a regiment of Tennessee troops which served at Mobile. There I became acquainted with many officers of the regular army, whose intimacy was not calculated to lead me towards God or heaven. During this time, and after this, all worldly success only injured me. It increased my haughtiness, or added to my means of profuse pecuniary expenditure. Revelry darkened the cloud that enveloped my soul, and of course I advanced rapidly in unbelief. In my race of infidelity I never reached entire atheism. I was what was called a deist. After a time I began to have moments of doubt whether or not God existed; and moving still onward, it was not long before those short seasons of atheism began to lengthen and to blacken-when I was mercifully arrested. The means of my escape employ our next attention.

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