liever? Has it increased and strengthened your practical faith, in making you a more painstaking, hard-working labourer in the vineyard of Christ? He has taught us to judge of the tree by its fruits. What good fruits have you to show? "Thou that teachest another (by analogy), teachest thou not thyself?" σε In reply to these questions, I must own that I cannot say much for myself; but much for analogy I can say. The study and belief of universal analogy, as it could only be received by faith, so it has increased and strengthened that hospitable principle, which opened the doors of the heart to entertain it. When the world, the flesh, and the devil united, have "thrust sore at me, that I might fall,-Psalm cxviii. often has the faith which springs from the view of analogy been an instrument of a good Providence, to keep me from falling away openly and finally. Often has it excited devotional feelings of the most ardent kind, full of faith, hope, and love. Often has it made worldly pleasures and pursuits to appear like dung, in comparison of the faith and knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Often, or ra ther continually, has it shown me that prayer is the golden pipe, the conductor of my vital air, my breath of life, and my soul's meat and drink. Often has it made me long for the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, whether spiritual or visible, figurative or literal; and in proportion as the world, the flesh, and the devil, have succeeded in making me fear that universal analogy is a dream; or rather that it was dreaming to believe that the world would ever receive it, or derive any benefit from it; in the same ratio, my faith, hope, and love have gradually melted away, and almost vanished like the smoke of an expiring flame. But I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, that though I have passed through a long, dark, cold night, and winter of doubt, unbelief, fear, and aversion from the sun of righteousness; and defiled by the mire of sin, "when the iniquity of my heels" or my irregular moral walk)" has" (with dirt) "compassed me "about,"-Psalm xlix. ; yet the spring-time of the promise, of a cheerful hope, appears again; and I feel a degree of spiritual renovation, in the faith and hope of my return to the sun of my soul, in the equinox of my spiritual orbit. With respect to my good works, I confess that I have none to show; and if I had, I hope I should not think them worthy to be mentioned. But that (alas!) is my own fault, and not the fault of universal analogy, which has constantly taught me better things. So also has my Bible, its foundation; and if I perish (which God in mercy avert!) they both remain righteous, holy, and blameless! My blood must rest on my own head! Yet I still hope in God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE END. NOTE on PAGE 172, LINE 2. * As a stick which is crooked, must, in order to be made straight, be bent the opposite way beyond the true straight line, so it is in religion and morality. The true straight line is this, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as "thyself." But this is not enough for fallen man; he requires more, viz. “ I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but "whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the "other also." Printed by S. Gosnell, Little Queen Street, London. |