IT would be very ungrateful in me to forget you, or to neglect writing to you among the many friends who have kindly visited me in my affliction, and have not been ashamed of Christ, nor of me his unworthy servant. That gracious God, who has the hearts of men in his hands, has kept you in the truth, though you have been opposed, and altho’ you could not do that for me you could have wished, but you have often wisely cautioned me against that freedom of spirit which has often occasioned fools to insult my feelings, and to triumph in my supposed weakness. It was not without reason the Saviour, as man, did not commit himself to man, for it is said, “He knew what was in man, and he needed none to testify of that to him.” And now, my dear friend, permit me to remark, that some have gone with God’s people till they get into the slough, and there they have left them and religion together; but although trouble has turned some back, and has slain its thousands, yet prosperity and carnal ease has slain its _ten_ thousands— For more the treach’rous calm I dread, Than tempests bursting o’er my head. If we belong to the family of God, we shall never be long without a cross, in some way or other; but if we do not belong to God Satan will let us alone—it is his work to disturb and distress the former, and to render his life unhappy; and it his work also, to lull asleep those who are his own children—better therefore be under the chastening hand of God all our days than be fast asleep in the arms of sin and Satan. The whole world is divided into two classes only, the seed of the Serpent, and the seed of the Woman, and this we feel within. I beg my dear friend will not think it strange when God gives him to feel his own native sinfulness, when he feels all that deadness and carnality that is inherent in his nature; this, when properly felt and seen, will trouble him at all times, but I hope when this is the case, that he will not fall into that snare of the devil’s which I have known some young persons to be trapped with, when Satan suggests, O you are nothing but an hypocrite—your conduct and inbred sins prove it. You had better give up religion, or else it will make worse for you in hell. Listen not to this a moment, but fly to the Saviour—be honest; tell _him_ all that you feel and are ensnared with. Plead _his_ sufferings, obedience, death, and intercession. Beg the holy Spirit to shew you these things in such a powerful way as shall subdue sin, _not root it out_, as certain preachers say—no, the Canaanite will be in the land as long as you live, else where would be the warfare? How could we live by faith on the work of Jesus? and where would be the use of the greatest part of his promises, and the account of the experiences of the tried saints? You have _three_ combined enemies, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil; but you have _three_ glorious friends, the adorable _Father_, _Son_, and _Spirit_.