A LETTER TO A MINISTER.

ges may be expected to result. those spiritual consolations, with

The remarks which have been which the stranger doth not inter. made, may serve to shew us our meddle, and which the world can dependance upon the Holy Spirit. neither bestow nor destroy.-IDNaturally, we are in a state of com- deed our dependance on the Holy plete moral darkness. We have eyes Spirit is entire. Without bis inbut we see not. We have under- fluence, neither the word of truth, standings, but, in respect to things nor the blood of the cross, can ev. purely spiritual, they are per vert- er save us. Without his influence, ed and blind. We have conscien- we are blinded, depraved and misces, but they are in a great meas. erable in this life, and most be ure stupified and seared.

miserable for ever.

P. Under these circumstances, how much do we need the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. How much do we need his divine assistance, to pre

For the Christian Magazine: pare

our minds for the truth, and truth for our minds, and to im- Attleborough, Aug. 9ih 1815. press upon us those considerations Rev. Sir, without a knowledge of which we I feel wholly at a loss, how to must perish for ever.--Naturally introduce the subject upon which too, our hearts are unsanctified. I wish to write. You will thereWe are capable of loving God, re- fore, be pleased to excuse me, if penting of sin, and becoming holy: I do it very abruptly, by relating but we are wholly averse to holi- a few simple facts, in order to exness, and unwilling to do our duty. plain my motive for addressing a How much then do we need the letter to a stranger. In the autumn Holy Spirit, to make us willing in of 1811, I lost a beloved brother the day of his power. How much by death. I had for many months do we need bis sanctifying influ- viewed the tyrant advancing with ence, to make

us possessors of a slow, but steady pace; and I that 6 holiness, without which no at length saw his dreadful work man can see the Lord."--Natural- performed. My heart rose against ly also, we are as miserable, as we God. I wished him deprived of are sinful. Disappointed in our the power to punish. I would search after happiness, and dissatis. gladly have hurled him from his fied with ourselves, we 6 are like throne. I found I was willing to the troubled sea, when it cannot join earth and hell in opposing the rest, whose waters cast up mire execution of justice upon sinners and dirt." How much then do These feelings were of short duwe need the Divine Spirit as our ration. They shocked me and comforter. How much do we need left an impression of the total

was

de pravity of my heart.

The never

be benefitted by the blindness of my mind and my stu- prayers, which were made on pidity in not realizing my guilt that account, expecting they had and danger gave me uneasiness. been answered in some one else. I found my petitions for mercy When you, Sir, came to Attlewere nothing but mockery. I borough and preached on Saturfelt desirous of having a particular day near my father's, I attended interest in the prayers of some due and listened attentively; but telt who I thought was pious. I was nothing, until these words were unwilling to make such a request uttered, “they must be broken to any, 'vith whom I was acquaint- hearted, they must die--let them ed, partly from a fear, that I should feel what else they may- let them deceive them, making them think do what else they will, they have I was a convinced sinner, when I not taken one step towards heavknew I was not; and partly from en." I know I had never felt this an unwillingness to being ques- broken-heartedness for sin, which tioned concerning my feelings in was spoken of. I had often thought regard to religion. I spent many there was no merit in my religious hours in thinking what I should performances; but I had never felt do. I at length determined to it before. I seemed like one cut write to you, Sir; but how should off from every support and I do it without being discovered ? looking around in vain for someI concluded to disguise my hand- thing on which to lean. writing, to send it without name turned home and endeavored to or date; requesting my brother recollect the sermon; but

my mind to put it into the Post-Office ; e- was too much agitated to rememvading his questions concerning ber any thing distinctly, except its contents.

those two sentences. I awoke in From that time until June 1815 the morning, feeling unhappy at -I was far from enjoying life.- the thought of spending another I constantly felt that something Sabbath, as I had ever done with was wanting in order to my being out understanding what I read, happy. I felt that I had a hard or feeling what I bea rd. I saw heart and a blind mind; and that no way, in which I should be I was far from righteousness. I benefitted by the preaching on never considered myself the sub- that day. I thought that all the ject of genuine conviction, but means had been used in vain with felt anxious that I might be. I me which were generally taken thought much of the letter, was to convince and convert sinners. desirous of knowing, if it were re. I wished for conviction of sin and ceived, but at length concluded, danger. Yet I was conscious, that that provided it were, I should I was armed against it.

I re

While I was meditating upon recollect of applying them to my. my unhappy sitaation, the thought self. I went to meeting and heard occurred to me, why not commit the three sermons, which were my ways unto the Lord, rest in preached on that day. I was prehim and wait patiently for him. I pared to hear with attention, exfelt that I could willingly do it. pecting to learn what I might do. I wished to be made entirely holy. In the improvement of the mornAnd I was desirous of entering im. ing discourse I was told to do my mediately into God's service. I duty, if I remember right, without asked myself, if I were willing, af- regard to consequences. This ter enjoying his presence here, to thought immediately occurred to be cast from it for ever. I shrupk me, who can tell me what my dufrom it. The thought returned, ty is ? I asked myself, if I were am I not willing God's will should willing, that Jesus Christ should be done? I thought I could cheer. be my teacher and do for me and fully commit my all into his hands, direct me in every respect. I learing the event with him. My thought I was. The character of

. proud heart quickly suggested to God, as exhibited in the second me, that these feelings were right. sermon, appeared pleasing. I was The thought distressed me. I glad, that God was a being, possesmentally said what can be done sing all power. I had seen enough with such a heart as mine? I took of my own heart to convince up the bible and opening to the me, that all, which was said in the 10th chapter of Acts, I read third sermon concerning the natthese words, she shall tell thee ural deprávity of man was true. what thou oughtest to do.” Who, Meditating one day that week thought l, can tell me what I ought upon my own feelings, while sitto do ? My mind was immediately ting under your preaching, the letdirected to you, sir. You had ter, which I had addressed to you, been the means of convincing me, Sir, threeyears and an half before, that I had not taken one step to- rushed into my miod. I had not wards heaven. I thought, per- thought of it for many months.-haps, you would now tell me, how It gave me pleasure to think it I might. I soon found I made were possible you had received it great dependance upon it. I felt and that your prayers were ana in haste to go to meeting. It be. swered in regard to me. ing early, I again took my Bible lected, that I resolved when I and opened to the 22d chapter of wrote the letter, that if ever I had Luke. I read with indifference, the least hope, that I was reconuntil I came to the 31 & 32 verses. ciled to the will of God, I My heart was affected. I thought would make you, Sir, acquainted them gracious words, but do not with it. But I scarcely knew.

I recol

TEENTH CENTURY BY BUNYANUS.

that I had any ; and I was altoge

From the Utica Repository. ther at a loss to know how to ex

THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS IN THE NINEpress it. The feelings that I haye bad, that I hoped were rigbt,

CHAPTER IV. have been so few, so faint, and Now I beheld that the pilgrims of so short continuance, that I had arrived at the house of the know not, whether I am the friend interpreter, where they knocked, or the enemy of God. I feel none and one opened the door, and inof that opposition, which I former. quired who they were, and what ly bad to the divine government; they wanted. Then Thoughtful but I cappot determine, whetber it told him they were pilgrims who is resignation or stupidity. If I entered this way at the Wicket have ever been the subject of gate, and were bid to call at the your prayers, Sir, I beg the con- house of the Interpreter, to be tinnance of them; if not, may 1 more fully introduced into the Bow be particularly reinembered. King's statutes. So they were Begging your pardon, Sir, for the desired to walk in, and were introa liberty 1 bave taken, I subscribe duced into the presence of the myself with sentiments of res. Interpreter, a venerable old man, pect, yours,

of a grave but pleasant counteSophia BULLOCK. nance, who desired them to be As the person who wrote the seated, and then inquired who preceding letter has been a num- they were, and how they had ber of years in the world of spir- come in at the gate, and what its and was greatly endeared to they had met with by the way ; her christian acquaintance, as well and they told him. Then he said, as to her bereaved relatives, it

In.. You did well in not ex. has been thought proper to add changing your books with Mr. her name; that her letter may Plausible. He is an impostor, and appear and be known, as it was an enemy to pilgrims; and by written by her own band. The good words and fair speeches he letter that sbe sent to the Post-Of- deceiveth the hearts of the simple. fice, was received and was proba He knows that done are approved ably as trying to him who re- by the Lord of the way, but such ceived it, as the occasion of it was

as love his statutes, and obey to the writer. The writer was

them. He desires, therefore, to unknown, until the reception of keep them ignorant of these, or the preceding letter. May every to make them believe they are reader

pray with humility and different from what they are. For perseverance for distressed, and this purpose he wishes to deprive perishing sinners. T. W.

ors.

ke cannot prêvail upon him to ced on the King's statute book ; take his mutilaied and erroneous and thus prepare them to be carcopies, he often fills their minds ried about with every wind of docó with doubts as to the correctness trine, and become a prey to every of those they have, and greatly deceiver. hinders their improvement and

Ardent. I confess that I was too comfort in perusing them. As for much inclined to listen to Mr. his pretended Improved Version, Plausible, and was disposed to reit was indeed made by men of ceive his books. But I desire to learning and abilities ; but they be thankful that I have escaped were men who wished to degrade the danger. the character of the Prince Im. Th. I wish to know what ground manuel, and rob him of his hon- we have to depend upon the cor

They wished also to mis- rectness of our present copies of represent the character, and gov- the King's statute book, that my erament, and designs of the King, confidence in it may not again be and make it appear that he would shaken; for I confess that Mr. not destroy his enemies and burn Plausible's discourse made some up their cities with unquepchable impression upon my mind also. fire. His other copies are more or In. As to the correctness of the less erroneous, in order to suit the original copy of which your codifferent inclinations of those who pies are a translation, I would may be willing to exchange. That observe, that tbe most learned of made by John the Itinerant, does the King's servants have carefulnot indeed, like some of them de- ly compared all the copies that grade the Prince Immanuel to a could be found in the different parts mere fallible, peccable man, nor of the world, and taken down a deny the existence of the Holy statement of every variation, even Comforter, nor the everlasting in the manner of spelling the punishment of the King's enemies ; same words, and published the rebut if

you should compare it with sult of their labours, from which your own copies, you would per- it appears, that the copies in ceive that it is intended to con- present use, cannot differ, in aby ceal many of the doctrines which important particular, from those your copies teach, and to favour which were written by the King's those which he laboured to estab. scribes. And as to the translation lish ; and that it differs from yours you have, it was the joint labour in so many places, that its tenden- of forty-seven of the most learned cy must be to weaken the confi- of the King's servants that could dence of the feeble minded in any be found, in a learned age, and is copy, and make them believe that the copy distributed by all those there is no dependance to be pla- corporations which the King has