“I cannot say how that tender and mournful complaint moved me. It was as if Jesus stood before me, telling me ‘I have that against _thee_.’ My heart was quite melted down. Yes, no doubt too many things, otherwise good in themselves, are done without that noble spirit of love. O that my heart might bleed for that unaccountable coldness with respect to the love I owe to my blessed Redeemer! I repent of it sincerely, though not so as I wish, remembering how great the fall is. But how cheering is the promise which that beloved Redeemer gives to all those who overcome that coldness and strive to be fervent in love. They shall ‘eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God, they shall enjoy the sweet favour and love of God, they shall see and taste how good the Lord is.’ May this inestimable promise keep up a fire of love in our heart! May we condemn all coldness and mere formality in religious exercises! I hope your heart is burning with the love of Christ, as the heart of the disciple on the road to Emmaus. Indeed, materials to kindle that fire within us are not wanting, provided we take care and be vigilant. Let us then mutually excite one another as long as we have opportunity, and let not the multiplicity of business damp that holy flame, which ought to be burning continually. My heart wishes you may be always a shining light!” Later on he is writing again, full of good wishes for his friend in the New Year:-- “O may Jesus be glorified in your precious soul, so as to be your wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption! We were reading and meditating this evening on Colossians ii. wherein Jesus is set forth as our all--the sun, the centre, and fountain of all our bliss. Whatsoever we want we find in Him, and are as the Apostle says ‘complete in him.’ In Him we are circumcised by putting away the body of sin, which is the true spiritual circumcision when we are buried, by being baptized in His Name, in Him we are raised from the dead by believing in Him and His divine resurrection, by Him we are quickened with a true sense of the paternal favour of God, having our sins pardoned. If then we have all in our Divine Redeemer, how just and comfortable is the conclusion that we are not to look out for any happiness in the new moons, etc. Why should we run to the shadow having and possessing the body? Why should we complain of want of comfort and strength, having Jesus? Let us stir up one another to a faithful adhering to the fountain of all our bliss. But let us receive Him entirely as our all--love, serve and glorify Him as such by our whole life.” His mind has been dwelling upon the exhortation of St. Paul that we “be strong in the Lord.” He knows what it is to meet with powers of darkness and enemies which are for ever attacking him without and within. But he takes heart and admonishes his friend to be faithful.