confession at last is begun, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.' Here he is stopped by the command of the father to the servants to "bring forth the best robe, and put it on him.' See Luke, xv. 22-24. Ah, you say, "if I thought God, my greatly offended God, but once affectionate Father, would thus receive my guilty soul, I would not remain at a distance from him; but he never can have mercy upon such a wretch as I am." You are mistaken, my dear friend. He is able to save you unto the uttermost, and if you come unto him, in the name of Jesus, trusting in his atoning blood, you shall find him willing also to heal your backslidings, and to restore unto you the joy of his salvation. I must abruptly conclude this letter. That God may save you from despair, and remove the cup of trembling out of your hand, is the ardent prayer of your sympathizing and affectionate friend, J.C. LETTER XXX. TO THE SAME. My dear Friend, Dublin, October 19, 1841. I do not wonder that a recollection of the inward heaven you once enjoyed, greatly heightens the bitterness of your distress; nor am I surprised that you should painfully feel "One single moment of deliberate thought The following comment of an old divine, on Ezekiel, xviii. 24, though written some centuries ago, is as applicable to you, as if penned yesterday, and with direct reference to yourself. "Would it not vex a scrivener, after he had spent many days and much pains upon a large patent or lease, to make such a blot at the last word, that he should be forced to write it all again? Yet, so it is, that as one foul blot or dash with a pen, defaceth a whole writing, so one foul sin dasheth and obliterateth the fairest copy of a virtuous life; it razeth out all the golden characters of divine graces imprinted in our souls. All our fastings and prayers, all our sighing and mourning for our sins, all our exercises of piety, all our deeds of charity, all our sufferings for righteousness, all the good thoughts we have ever conceived, all the good words we have ever uttered, all the good works we have ever performed; in a word, all our righteousness is lost, at the very instant when we resolve to turn from it. As one drop of ink coloureth a whole glass of clear water, so one sinful and shameful action staineth all our former life; yet, this is not the worst, for it followeth; in his trespass that he hath trespassed; and in his sin that he hath sinned; in them shall he die." I have seen the remark somewhere, in the course of my reading, that it has been supposed, that between the time of satan's triumph over our first parents, and the coming of God to walk in the garden, one night intervened. This is but a conjecture; yet it is not unlikely that God did let them feel themselves a little. It appears they had time to contrive aprons of fig leaves for themselves. "And they sewed figleaves together, and made themselves aprons." If the above supposition be correct, oh, what a dreadful night they must have spent. What horror of soul. What fearful forebodings. Nor is it likely they had the heavenly visitants, as in the happy nights of their innocence, so beautifully expressed by Milton, "How often from the steep of echoing Hill or thicket, have we heard Oft in band, while they kept watch, Or nightly rounding walk, With touch of instrumental sounds Joined their songs, divide the night, All these had, perhaps, fled to heaven, as messengers to the celestial hosts, of the dread intelligence of Adam's fall. And the elements, were they immediately changed? Milton thought so, when he tells us, that no sooner had Eve plucked, and eaten the forbidden fruit, than "Earth felt the wound, and nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, If the heavens, on that dreadful night, were muffled with clouds; if the forked lightning and the rattling thunder blazed and vollied along the threatening skies. If the winds were raging, and the dark tempest was let loose upon the once peaceful Eden-what horror must have seized the guilty pair. The expositor within their own breast, would, no doubt, give a faithful exposition of the meaning of that angry storm. Perhaps the presence of such warring elements was little needed. The fearful conviction of guilt was present. Conscience, doubtless, had raised a storm within. And the powerful voice of that vicegerent of the Almighty, was far more dreadful to the soul, than the loudest discharges of heaven's artillery. If there were such a space of time between their fall, and the merciful visitation of their Creator;—may it not have been necessary, in order that they should taste the unmixed bitterness of sin; and to prepare them, with adoring gratitude, to hear the gladdening news of the promised atonement? Whether we are right in all our conjectures respecting our first parents, is not, I apprehend material. But it gives me an opportunity of saying, that it seems to me you have passed through scenes of mental anguish similar in many respects; and that now, through the blessed spirit, you are prepared to receive the boon of salvation. You have no disposition to fly from the presence of God. You seem rather to say with poor Job, who was sorely afflicted both in body and mind,- -"Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him." Neither do you attempt to palliate or excuse your sin, nor blame any one but yourself: the justice of your condemnation you readily confess, and can never forgive your apostacy from God. These are signs of real repentance. They cannot be mistaken. And I am as certain as that I have an existence, if you persevere, God shall be found of you, to the joy of your heart. He will "heal your backslidings, and love you freely." Has he not commanded you to return, saying "return O backsliding Israel, saith the Lord" And what is his positive promise in the same chapter? Hear it for your comfort; " and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep mine anger for ever." Hear also the following declaration from the Lord thy God. O infinite condescension! boundless love! Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you." Read the chapter upon your knees from which I have made these extracts.-Jeremiah, iii. Fear not, the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple. In the cool of the day, the voice of the Lord thy God shall be heard in the garden of his promises, proclaiming mercy to your troubled soul. He is near who justifieth-who forgiveth iniquity, transgression, and sin. Lo he comes, not to condemn, but to give life everlasting. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." "O believe the record true, God to you his Son hath given." 66 Be patient, restless, resigned; yet vehement in your supplications for mercy. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Repeat the following verses upon your knees, perhaps you can sing them; and expect the great salvation every moment by faith-that is, trust in the merits of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ : "My suffering, slain, and risen Lord, |