I SHALL not forget the great reason I had to be thankful both to God and you, for our _last_ conversation. It seemed to me, that I had more liberty of speaking to you than usual, though a thousand things were yet left unsaid; and you led me to make many observations, which I hope will be of _lasting_ benefit to my soul. You have taught me to see the amazing wisdom and loving kindness of God in several instances, which I should not else have thought of; and I am fully satisfied with all his disposals: knowing he orders all things well, I chearfully submit; and I trust that strength will be given me to walk on in the way set before me, “though sorrowful, yet (in one sense) always rejoicing.”――Is it not a great blessing that the thorns are mixed with roses? This is infinitely more than I deserve.――How true is it, that the higher satisfaction we have in any thing, besides God, the greater pain must necessarily attend it? I have often been taught this lesson, in various degrees, each rising above the other; and yet I have not learnt wisdom. And who shall teach me _this_ wisdom? Why you yourself can lay down most excellent rules, but it is God alone who can give me power to practise them. I plainly see the necessity of having every thought brought into subjection to Christ: it must be thus, if I would attain settled peace and constant recollection.――In your extract from _Molinos_, the state of mind I am seeking, is well described in these words: “The soul that is entered into the heaven of peace, acknowledges itself full of God, and his supernatural gifts; because it lives grounded in _pure love_, receiving equal pleasure in light and darkness, in night and day, in _affliction_ and _consolation_: through this holy and heavenly _indifferency_, it never loses its peace in _adversity_, nor its _tranquility_ in _tribulation_, but sees itself full of unspeakable enjoyments.”――――And again, “Though the valley of the lower faculties of the soul, is suffering _tribulations_, _combats_, _martyrdoms_, and suggestions, yet at the _same time_, on the lofty mountain of the higher part of the soul, the true sun casts its beams; it enflames and inlightens it, and so it becomes clear, peaceable, resplendent, quiet, serene, being a mere ocean of joy.”――But alas! you will say, “How far are _you_ from this state!” True, I am far from it indeed. And yet I have sometimes experienced some little glimmerings of it, but they have been soon disturbed: and then I have fondly said to myself, Well, when this trial, when this temptation, or difficulty is over, I shall return to my sweet peace, and my soul will be wholly swallowed up in the love of God. Vain imagination! I think I have _now experimentally_ learnt a truth, which before only floated in my brain, “That the peace of a Christian does not consist in being free from temptations and difficulties, but in stedfastly and calmly conquering them.”――Once more, the Lord preserve you! Could my prayers avail any