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fearful doom of the son who said to his father, "I go Sir, and went not:" of those to whom the prophet's words were a pleasant but soon forgotten song! Ah! why should your souls resemble Gideon's fleece, dry amid descending dews, when, would you seek it with full purpose of heart, they might be as "a watered garden." Be no longer contented with vague desires and uncertain hopes; arise as to a great work, which there remains, perhaps, little time to accomplish. Seek to be quickened if you are dead; to be roused if you are sleeping; to be alarmed if falsely secure; to be established if wavering; that you may be enabled to say with the men of Samaria, "Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that he is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

We now form a large and happy family : did it ever strike you that when once scattered we shall be reunited only after death, and for one purpose? May he who alone is able to keep us from falling, and preserve us blameless to the day of Jesus Christ, grant

that such reunion may be joyful; that one of the many mansions in the kingdom of the Father may receive us all, there to form but one family again!

To each, and all, I now bid an affectionate farewell.

LETTER XIII.

MY DEAR

THE interest excited in my mind by our late conversation, makes me anxious to fulfil my promise of writing without delay.

The present is an eventful period in your life; upon it, for aught we know to the contrary, hang the issues of life and death-life and death eternal. The convictions and desires which now occupy your mind, are manifest proofs that the Spirit of God is striving with your spirit, drawing you secretly, but, I hope, strongly also, to surrender yourself wholly and cheerfully, to his service and his guidance. The waters are troubled, I would hope, preparatory to your everlasting healing;

and light has dawned upon your heart, in order, I trust, that it may "shine more and more unto the perfect day;" that so, you may become a child of light, and walk in light, and no more stumble in darkness. Oh! then, beware how you check or slight these gracious influences, lest he who waits to be to you the Comforter, be grieved, and depart and hide himself for a while, or perhaps for ever. Cherish these good desires and sacred emotions, that they may not terminate in mere desires and emotions. Seek earnestly that they may "strike root downwards, and bear fruit upwards," even "the fruits of the Spirit," in season and in abundance. If a single seed of grace has fallen into your heart, ask him who is the great Husbandman of the soul, to watch over and water it every moment, lest any hurt it ;" lest the deceitfulness of earthly delights impede its growth; lest vain imaginations, or idle habits, devour it ere it spring up; or, lest after shooting forth in green and vigorous verdure, temptations, like the scorching sun, wither it for ever. It is no light matter to be a Chris

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tian. Nothing, not the union of all earthly power and human advantages, can make, or keep you one. It requires an exercise of Omnipotent strength, the strength of him who called light out of darkness, and brought water from the flinty rock. Fear, therefore, continually for yourself, but look to God and fear nothing. From the first moment of his pilgrimage to the last, the Christian has but one point of safety, one rock of refuge, one place of shelter, and their name is "Constant Dependence." Your task is, ever to look upwards, and inwards, that so you may be preserved from presumption and despair. Never, surely, was any one more happily placed for becoming "wise unto salvation." Spiritual instruction is, indeed, very nigh; and counteracting influences are removed very far. God, by his dispensations, seems saying to you, "Only incline your ear, hear, and your soul shall live. I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding. Ask me,

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