Faith better than Sight.

answerable thereunto.

Or, if this were the better

way for man in his present state, God had ordained it. But the holy apostle Peter, who had both heard this voice which came from heaven, and was also an eye-witness of his majesty, does not pronounce the indulgence of these senses the surest way for establishing the heart: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts, knowing this-first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

I note this most important passage, with the hope that you may, as in the presence of God, mark, learn, and inwardly digest; and from this time believe, when you comply with the conditions upon which the blessings which you need are promised, that they are already yours. The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart. I will return to the point which I may seem to have left, but which, in truth, I have aimed at in the foregoing remarks. Now, should you believe, when you ask God to discover to you anything which may be unrevealed, that he fulfills his word to you; in your confessions before God and man, you would say, "Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am

Confession on the Authority of the Word.

now wholly given up to God. I have laid all upon the altar." Were an inquirer to ask, “What authority have you for speaking so confidently of your state?" you would reply, "I have the authority of God's word. Upon this alone my confidence rests. I, in sincerity, have given myself wholly to him. I have the promise that he will receive me when I make the surrender; and I cannot now believe otherwise than that he does receive me, unless I doubt his word, and this were in itself sinful." 'But, perhaps, there may be something undiscovered, which may mar your sacrifice, and render it unworthy the acceptance of God." "I am bound to believe that the Faithful and True fulfills his word to me; he cannot deny himself. I have asked, if there be anything withheld, or if in anything I be otherwise minded, that God will reveal even this unto me; and now it were, indeed, most dishonoring to God, for me to doubt his faithfulness in this respect." Just in proportion to your confidence in the faithfulness of God would be the strength of your testimony in your confessions of what he had done for you.

O if these doubtings and waverings were only regarded among professed believers as sinful, as they are in reality before God, what a different state of experience would the church present! Satan, surely, is peculiarly successful in blinding the minds of multitudes who believe in

An Unvanquished Foe.

Great Loss.

the attainableness of the rest of faith, relative to the enormity of this sin. When one who has been brought out of the bondage of spiritual Egypt arrives at the borders of the promised land; if an enemy, perchance his last unvanquished foe, prevent his leaping over, even though but within one step of his long-sought rest, what a victory is gained! Shall an enemy, capable of detaining his victim for days, months, and even years, at this point, be thought of as an enemy of small moment? Shall a foe, possessed of power sufficient to keep hundreds among the ministry, who are sincerely endeavoring to gain the rest of faith, and thousands also among the laity, who, for years, have been uttering strong desires for its attainment, O shall such an enemy be regarded as a slight foe? But, alas! too well does Satan succeed in keeping the understanding of multitudes in comparative darkness, relative to the aggregate loss of the church in the holiness of her membership, through this form of unbelief.

Why do you not enter into the enjoyment of full salvation? asks the inquirer of one who would be a sincerely devoted follower of Christ. "I cannot say why," says the latter, "unless it be my unbelief. I have for a long time been seeking, and I know of nothing that I would not be willing to sacrifice for its attainment; and I conclude, that it can be only my unbelief which keeps me from the

enjoyment of this my promised inheritance. I know that the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and also that God hath made it my duty to believe, and frequently I have almost made the venture, but again I waver!" So says the doubting one: as if it were comparatively a small matter to indulge in these vacillations of faith; and this, too, when it is the word of the unchangeable Jehovah which we claim the privilege of crediting or rejecting at our pleasure.

I have not yet finished what I would communicate on this subject, for my heart is indeed full; but circumstances render it inexpedient that I should write more at present. I will give you my thoughts more fully, soon.

Yours, &c.

No XXI.—TO MR. K—.

"Only unbelief"-Ancient Israel-Borders of the promised land reached-Met and vanquished by an enemy-Who was it ?-God dishonored by unbelief.

DEAR SIR,-O how infinite in importance is the point which the arch deceiver gains by the little words " ONLY unbelief!" Here is just where for months past the enemy has gained a signal victory over my dear brother K———. Not only over yourself has he triumphed, but, according to your own acknowledgment, the precious cause of Christ has