*Your last letter is a comfortable earnest to me, that I shall at least have one companion in the way which God has sent me to walk in, _the way of the cross, the inward crucifixion_, as you so justly call it; (thanks be to God for this refreshment to my spirit!) Many speak of this, and because St. _Paul_ mentions the being crucified with Christ, they preach about and about it; but I see plainly that you not only _speak_ but _feel_.――And _do_ you know _so much_ of the _bitterness_ of the creature? The Lord be praised! May you daily know it more and more! I am sure this experience will only make the hidden manna the sweeter. And I am equally sure, that those bitter draughts are absolutely necessary to every soul that would _wholly_ give itself up to God. ’Tis easy to talk of the will being perfectly resigned, swallowed up in the will of God, &c. And while this only floats as a notion in the brain, no great sufferings will attend it. But when the soul really feels what this implies, that it is a being cut off from the creature, then it knows indeed what it is to suffer; then it fights as it were in the midst of the fire. Every thought must be brought into obedience to Christ; and God effects this in the soul as it is able to bear it: first one trial comes, then another. One strikes at love of the creature, another at self-love, a third at spiritual pride. And the fight continues till Christ has brought down all his enemies, and led captivity captive. And to attain this state of glorious liberty, who would not rejoice to suffer? What a coward must he be, who would fly from a field of battle, where to die is to conquer? Oh what blessed encouragements has a Christian to fight manfully! Let us not be weary or faint in our minds. We have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin; but let us not fail to do it. Have we not a captain who treads all the powers of death and hell under his feet? Is he not Jehovah, mighty to save? And has he not promised that he will save even to the _uttermost_? The way we have to travel is indeed long, and there are lions in it. But what of that! Jesus the deliverer is with us, and nothing shall hurt us. Through Jesus we can all things do, all things suffer, all things conquer, and what would we more? Farewel! May the peace of God be with you, and make your soul to rest on him. _Your ever obliged and affectionate Friend and Servant_, **** * * * * * To Miss ****. _Wednesday Night, February 13, 1754._