Danger of falling away.

Willing and obedient.

mit." For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance." As if he had said, If we do not "go on to perfection," we are in the utmost danger of falling away. "And if we do fall away, it is impossible (that is, exceedingly hard) to renew us again to repentance."

I have indeed written a long letter, but you are so critically and also responsibly circumstanced with respect to the topics presented, that I will not apologize.

Your devoted friend.

No. XLII. TO MR. C———.

The willing and obedient-Profession and practice-The cross—“ I will guide thee by mine eye"-Lessons of experience-The importance of immediate action in the use of present grace-A temptation not to speak definitely yielded to-Sad effects-Reproved, but not rejected-God doth not afflict willingly-Holiness may be forfeited by neglect-A strange testimony-Reply-Acknowledgment-Lingering in duty-Its consequences-Views of personal obligation.

Του say that you know you must be willing and obedient, if you would eat the good of the land. I have thought, my dear brother C., that the Lord had taken much pains to teach you this lesson; but has not your experience taught you, that it is

Consecration. A Cross shunned. "What do ye more than Others ?"

one thing to receive a lesson, and quite another thing to retain it? My heart assures me, my precious brother, that you are sincere before God; and as you have earnestly asked my advice, I am sure you wish me to be candid.

Permit me, then, to say, that grace, I think, has done much for you. I see no reason to conclude, that you have been mistaken as to your state, in conceiving it to be one of consecration to God; but yet I have observed, what, by some, might be deemed discrepancies between your conduct and profession, which may retard your own progress and also hinder your success in testifying of Christ as your full Saviour. Let me instance. Not long since you were asked to take part in the exercises of a meeting where your services were really required. It was evident that there was not another present to take your place, but you yielded to the shrinking of the flesh, and declined before several who do not profess to be wholly sanctified, saying, "I do not feel free to it." Here was one professing to be wholly sanctified, unwilling to perform a duty rendered obvious by the providence of God; and how could those not professing the blessing reconcile the conduct and the profession? If the thoughts of most present had been uttered, doubtless the response of many hearts had been, "What do ye more than others?" I must confess that, though fully aware of the sincerity of brother C.,

Follow the Lamb. Daily Cross.

Painful Experience.

yet I could not but feel that a profession carried out thus was hardly to be desired.

Imagine that the Saviour, when about to bear the cross up the hill of Calvary for you, had yielded to the shrinkings of nature, and said, "I do not feel free to it." You have given yourself up to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; but I need not say to you, that you cannot do this, unless you take up your cross daily and follow after him. The warfare is against the world, the flesh, and Satan. Doubtless every successive day of our pilgrimage will present "something still to do or bear," from which the flesh may shrink; but shall we yield? If so, we are the servants of him whom we obey. But I am persuaded better things of brother C., though I thus speak.

I am thankful that your heavenly Father reproved you on the occasion referred to. In his great love he sometimes permits us to be convinced, by painful experience, of our errors. We who are parents take pains to instruct our children, in order that they may gradually come to a knowledge of the various duties of life, and after having once clearly assured them of a duty, we expect them to act accordingly. We do not condemn a child for not knowing, but if he disobeys subsequently to his being convinced of duty, then condemnation follows. Now, dear brother, in more instances than the one referred to, have I feared that you

Guided by a Look.

A Silken Cord.

Bliss.

would come under condemnation. Your Lord and Master says, "I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye." How quiet and gentle his sway! It is true, he holds the reins which are to guide us through all the vicissitudes of life, and its various duties; yet they are held by the hand of infinite wisdom and love; and the silken cord, which holds us in the way, is a bond of love. I heard one, who is now eminent for the holiness and usefulness of her life, say, on her first entrance upon the way, "I resolved to obey every intimation of the Holy Spirit, even the faintest of them." Richly does her experience prove the faithfulness of God, "The willing and the obedient shall eat the good of the land."

If I were to be guided by the eye of another, what constant watchfulness were necessary; but if my inmost heart were wholly possessed with the idea, that, to turn my attention off from that eye of light, were to leave me, perhaps in one moment, to take a step which might end in darkness, misery, and death; whereas, on the other hand, obedience to its dictates were only submitting to what was, in the highest degree, necessary for my well-being-O that were bliss indeed! What a privilege to be guided by an eye whose every motion is dictated by love-infinite LOVE! Please turn to the thirty-second Psalm, and read from the

Bit and Bridle. Lessons learned. "Why don't you do it?"

́eighth verse to the close. How evident it is, that our heavenly Father would have us obey the gentle monitions of his Spirit! "Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle." How our hearts yearn in love over a child who exhibits a ceaseless desire to know and obey our wishes! Such a child may my dear brother C. ever be.

I am endeavoring to be willing and obedient; yet, it is by painful experience that I have occasionally learned some useful lessons. I will attempt to give you a glance at the way a few of these were learned; and I think the relation may help to expose the devices of Satan. A few days after I first received the witness of holiness, I was at a meeting where there was a number of persons deeply agonized in spirit for the salvation of God. Some were groaning for justifying grace, and others for full redemption. O, thought I, if there were only some one here to talk about the simple way of salvation by faith! Why do you not do it?" was suggested. O, thought I, it would require a special commission to undertake a duty so formidable; for among the suppliants for full salvation were one or more ministers, and other persons of influence. I was at a camp meeting, and I hastened to a retired place, that I might, without interruption, inquire of God. But I had scarcely knelt before I received the gentle chidings