conclude that your Redeemer had a quite especial regard for you, in that he has given you a deep sense of his torment and dying love; and a persuasion of the great efficacy of his cross' merits; this being the most valuable and heavenly light that can be conveyed to any soul in this world, and the sweet criterion of real grace. Go on therefore in this path, look constantly to and make use of your kind and faithful Saviour once slain for you, believing that he will keep you in his hands and protection till you come where he is. But you make one objection against your own joy of faith" Should not I be also sanctified? I do not find I am sufficiently." I cannot suppose this operation of grace is wholly wanting in you, you yourself will not say it is; and it is in its nature a progressive thing, increasing as our confidence towards our Saviour, and our experience in his ways increase. To describe it in short, there is, as soon as our past sins are forgiven through the blood of Jesus, an abhorrence directly of all evil for the future, and an ardent desire of living according to his will and word, established in our hearts as a general principle: we can knowingly consent to, or take delight in no corrupt suggestion any more: and besides this, as soon as we know a thing to be sinful, we have now immediately (though we had not formerly) a fund of power through redeeming grace to resist, yea, authority to crush it: and, on the contrary, strength to act as becomes members of Christ. A cheerful belief of this, and even taking it for granted, is a great help to our finding it so, and also that we, instead of some timorous and

melancholy scrupulosity, cherish rather an intelligent and loving faithfulness of behaviour, a just discernment of what may be pleasing or displeasing, suitable or unsuitable to our dear Lord, who himself once lived a holy life upon earth, and yet had a real human body about him like ours, and felt all the common sensations incident thereto, only in an innocent and guiltless manner. This we should also desire, and may indeed attain it more and more, although we are never complete, by a childlike walking with our Deliverer in the odour and comfort of his merits. But, however, even where we fall short, yea, though we should spy many defects in ourselves every day, we have leave still to claim his propitiation afresh, to pour out our heart before him, and obtain counsel and help, and, instead of being discouraged, to enter rather into more familiarity and particular converse with him, and take faster holder of him, by occasion of faults we have been made sensible of. He is always tender-hearted and compassionate, and will not cast us off.

J. G.

MADAM,

LETTER III.

WHEN I read your letter, it puts me in mind of the time when I was myself solitary, anxious to come up to the description given of a Christian, and to obtain a certainty for my heart, and without any friend in the mean while to advise with.

This may seem a hard situation, but in reality it is not; for our dear Saviour is at such a time very near, and feeds us with his hidden manna, teaches us wisdom secretly, even the wisdom of believing in him with our whole heart: nor would the intermeddling of any one else be of service. There must unavoidably be enigmatical things in the work of grace and salvation of a soul, and these enigmatical problems must be powerfully solved to each in particular from above, nor can one tell the other the solution. The chief help we can be of to each other is barely testifying simply, saying it is true; practically and literally true; and on that ground recommending it, for one another's consolation. For indeed, if I know a neighbour who tastes evangelical happiness, and know (by ever so few instances I have heard from his own mouth) through what doctrine or general instrument he became so happy, then I know in effect as much as I can learn from him for my purpose, since it is always some general doctrine or general instrument on which all depends, and not any particular or minute prescriptions. The general doctrine itself may be, and certainly is enigmatical, till it is cleared up to us by the Holy Spirit, who gives us a strong light, sweet feeling, and courage in relation to such great gospel truths, sometimes by occasion of a sermon we hear, or a book we read, and sometimes when we are alone without either, so that we can venture upon them with our whole weight; and believe them fulfilled to us and in us and the main point being thus clear and palpable to our hearts, it enables us to be our

own casuists and counsellors as to every thing else. What is now the great point, the great truth which can make us happy, and which brings such a train of solid felicities after it as are beyond description? I need not tell you-you know it very well: It is the meritorious death of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which, and faith therein, we have pardon and righteousness, strength and sanctification, and sweet comfort by the daily loving conversation of our heart with him over and above. If I need not tell you this, what need I tell you? Perhaps the method how to attain faith. There is no method but only being poor and needy-Perhaps how to proceed in the adjusting of your outward circumstances; where and how to spend your time. This I cannot advise in particular, but I rather think that Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind, which our Lord Jesus Christ will give you, by faith and the knowledge of himself, will instruct you in the right time about all you are to do or omit: but still surely the principal thing is, directly and without any more ado, to entreat him for your share of grace, peace, and life, and to be washed in his blood and inwardly united to him. As to all other things, I can give you no other rule for your proceedings in the interim, but to do as near as you can, as other religious persons do, and not to be too forward to any extraordinary step. Your practical understanding, as hinted already, will increase of itself. Therefore I can speak of nothing to you, at least at present, but the general object of the heart, that suffering Saviour who has shown so much love, and promised us so many bles

sings, and into whose kingdom and arms we are invited by the Gospel to come to him so substantially, that we can henceforth live, move, and have our being in him, who washed away our sins. Thus I cannot be your director; but one thing I can do, I can rejoice with you that our Saviour vouchsafes to work upon, and lead you by his grace, and also that he has appointed you to belong to so well-disposed a family in general; this I think of with pleasure.

J. G.

LETTER TO MR. CHARLES WESLEY.

DEAR SIR,

Jan. 23d, 1738.

have written to

you

I UNDERSTAND that me, but the letter happened to be lost, and I did not receive it. Your brother desired me to read his sermon for him; which God willing, I shall do next Sunday. I have seen upon this occasion, more than ever I could have imagined, how intolerable the doctrine of faith is to the mind of man; how peculiarly intoler able, even to most religious men. One may say the most unchristian things, even down to deism; the most enthusiastic things, so they proceed but upon mental raptures, lights, and visions; the most severe things, even the whole rigour of ascetic mortification; and all this will be forgiven. But if you speak of faith, in such a manner as makes Christ a Saviour to the utmost,- -a most universel help and refuge: in such a manner as takes away glorying,