Jing to inquire of those around you." A more intense feeling of danger would certainly produce this effect. Even pride gives way in a season of peril. A greater passion usurps the seat of a lesser, when the two can not reign together. And you have, perhaps, witnessed in another, that hardly-repressed anxiety of manner, which solicited an inquiry into its cause -that distant hinting at a subject there was not quite boldness enough to introduce; and. you saw, plainly, the cause of all this, through the miserable efforts to conceal it. But because that hint was not taken, and that exposed anxiety was not reached by a single question, -and the theme of religion was still kept back-the half awakened inquirer suppressed a murmur, at the disappointment, and, in the petulance of a mortified child, gave up the whole matter, with the self-consoling thought-"It is partly the fault of others, if I perish.” Here is pride acted out. And puerile as it may appear, it is a case of no uncommon occurrence. I am persuaded that if the inquirer will take pains to examine the ground he is treading, he will find a scriptural admonition meeting him at every step, and fitting the very dis position of mind which he then entertains. And it were well if, in the outset, he pondered the meaning of the Saviour's admonition-an admonition which strikes at a latent, but dangerous principle of the heart—" whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels.' It imports nothing to the purpose to say, that we would be willing to endure any public dishonour for the sake of Jesus Christ. There is a kind of heroism in this, which has its attractions. And it is more than possible that the very man who would give his body to be burned, rather than abjure Christianity, may be kept back far from salvation, by the petty consideration of shame: While it is equally certain, that thousands who now retire from the blessings of the Gospel,-dreading the first disclosure of their feelings,-would be willing to enter, if they could, into a confidential contract, with the Redeemer. How important it is, my dear friend, to begin aright in any undertaking! And no where is it as much so as in the great concerns of the soul. An error here will follow us on; and may effectually preclude all discovery of the truth. There is an ingenuousness and candour, for which the present state of your mind is well prepared, and the exercise of which will always furnish some relief. I have often thought there was something touching in your remark on an interview with W.-" his appearance at that moment, was like that of the angel to Hagar, as she sat in the wilderness mourning over her dying hope." And I do admit that at such a season as this, we have our personal preferences of those to whom we would present the burden of our minds. Where there is good sense and piety in the object of our choice, the interview may be blessed. And I see no necessary reason, as others profess to do, why such a choice should produce an undue leaning on human means: For we entertain, with little apprehension, our preferences in the ministrations of the Word: And we are certainly bound to adopt those measures which most directly reach our wants; as well as to seek those instructions, which most immediately meet the circumstances of our particular cases. And yet, after all, it is rather a principle than a practice, to which I would direct your attention. Whether we express our difficulties to another, or adopt only those more direct means which are prescribed in the Word of God, is of secondary importance in many cases, judicious as the former may be, in most instances. But it is of primary importance to know whether we are attempting to commence this great concern, with a subdued temper, or with fostered feelings of pride. It is a question which has more than once occurred to me, when I have reflected on your inquiries, whether I shall congratulate my friend on his present state of mind, or how far I should sympathize with him in this new species of sorrow? But how could I do either, alone? This is a most critical era in his life. It may look forward to the enjoyment of Heaven; or it may produce an issue as positive on the side of despair. Let us pause together for one moment and examine the ground on which you are standing. The prejudices which you once carefully guarded, and which seemed as a retreat when conscience approached too near-how they have dwindled away! The objections to evangelical truth, which possessed shape and magnitude, with the very appearance of solidity, have vanished as the light grew brighter around you. Difficulties which you thought deserving of serious investigation; and petty objections, which furnished an excuse for indifference to the whole matter of salvation-have receded without awaiting your scrutiny. Whence all this? It was no mere deduction of reason. You have arrived at a conclusion more irresistible, and by a process more rapid, than that of argument. This is none other than the work of the Spirit, whatever its end may be. You are surrounded by a new and powerful exhibition of divine truth. You look far enough, perhaps, into the doctrines of the gospel, to see that they contain an energy, and a fullness of meaning, of which you thought little before. You discover more nearly, the worth of the Christian's hope. You feel, in some measure, as if awakening from a dream, to a sense of want and danger. How will you account for all this? "It is God that worketh in you." You can look back with some surprise on the past; while you compare it with your present sense of conviction. The thoughtlessness of your associates darkens your prospect by the contrast it furnishes: and you are half disposed to say, I see a hand you can not see: |