These desires of the soul are highly commended by the Saviour, as they spring from a feeling sense of need; are the pulse of the soul, which beats for God. Many a poor Believer in seasons of darkness, has blessed God for the feeling desire, the hunger, the thirst, the wish for what God has promised, and what the soul feels its need of. But let me ask you again, have you not found such days of evil, as the loss of these desires? No life, no spirituality, no appetite, no earnestness, no fervent desires, not a breath of the New man felt or seen; and to be left in this state a considerable time, when all has been shut up? I have still triumphed in my desires, but when _these_ have failed, all is dark, gloomy, wretched, desolate. This has sent me mourning about the streets of Zion, crying, _Saw ye him whom my soul loveth_? This is the enquiry of souls who are afresh quickened to feel their native guilt, their deadness, and want of the light of comfort, of joy, of peace, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit. The Saviour was sent to comfort them that mourn after a godly sort, sorrowing after Jesus; to gain a sense of his love, a token for good, a fresh view of pardon, and eternal life. This is calculated to comfort the mourner in Zion, to cheer his heart, and enable him to look forward to death and the grave, with sweet composure, knowing Jesus is the conqueror of death, spiritual, temporal, and eternal. To him, I commend you, and remain Your’s in him, [Picture: Signature of J. C.] _LETTER XI_. TO MRS. D—. _Peckham_, _September_ 30, 1814. _MY DEAR FRIEND IN CHRIST JESUS_. I have been just reflecting a little on that glorious Title and Office of our most blessed Lord, a _Surety_: the longer I live the more I feel the need of him as such; the bondage, sin, and misery I am daily and hourly experiencing, except a few sweet seasons of liberty in prayer, preaching, writing, and conversing about the precious things of God. It is well he became one with us, in the eye of the law, that he kindly undertook for us, and infallibly secured the payment of that obedience it demanded of us. This whole debt he took upon himself, and crossed our name from the bond, and addressed his divine Father for us, _Whatsoever my people owe thee_, _put that to my account_. The Father graciously accepted this, and has declared himself well pleased with it. Every blessed view of this gives me hope, peace, and rest. I am truly miserable but when this is shewed me, then I feel a sweet serenity of mind. O! precious Surety, O! glorious Redeemer, thy Person, thy Name, and thy Work, is very dear to my heart: No other stay have I beside, If these should alter I must fall.