For God’s sake avoid disputes of all kinds. I was delighted the last time you was with me, to observe that you was greatly altered for the better in this respect. Think not that I will omit to pray for you, and fail not to pray for me. Oh my friend, soon will time be swallowed up in eternity. * * * * * I READILY believe you, my dear friend, that you have not brought back the same heart you carried with you: for I thought I discovered the two last times I saw you, a falling off from the grace you had, and the happy state of mind you had been in; but for God’s sake strive to recover yourself before you are sunk lower. Think how dreadful your case will be, if you should so grieve the Spirit of God, as to cause him to depart from you. I know your heart to be ungrateful and deceitful, and you yourself know full well how much it is so; but fear not to search into its most hidden corruptions. Was it ten times more vile and polluted than it is, the blood of Jesus is all-sufficient to cleanse it. And my dear soul, let me intreat of you earnestly to seek after a clear and constant sense of the pardoning love of God. This only can enable you to trample all temptations under your feet: believe me, unless you really walk in the light of his countenance, you never can conquer all the powers and works of darkness. Oh seek the peace which passes all understanding. You have need enough of it, I am sure, considering the many snares you walk in. I really fear you do not diligently seek after God: ’tis very certain they that seek shall find; and therefore that the Redeemer is not fully manifested in your soul is entirely owing to your sloth and negligence. How is it possible for you to keep your ground against temptations which are continually striking upon your senses, unless you have _in_ you the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen? When our understandings are clear in gospel doctrines, we are too apt to imagine our hearts are so. My dear friend, for God’s sake deceive not yourself. Oh suffer not your soul to rest, till you can say with full assurance of faith, “My sins are forgiven.” Depend upon it this is the first step in true Christianity. Oh cry to God every moment from the bottom of your heart, and he will do more for you, than you can either ask or think. I am a witness of his free and boundless mercy. For some days past I have been in the wilderness, my soul weary, faint, and desolate; no rejoicing in God; not one ray from the Sun of Righteousness: but this morning, this blessed morning, my Beloved returned to my soul, and I rejoiced with joy unspeakable, and could say with the fullest assurance, “My sins are done away――Christ is mine――God the Father is my reconciled Father――God the Holy Ghost is my comforter and guide.” *Oh my friend, my heart is now so overwhelmed I can scarce write. I could repeat a thousand and a thousand times over――_Christ is mine_. My soul is ready to spring