that he giveth
unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; who, of God, is
made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
complete redemption. Believing this, according to his faith it shall
be. Christ shall be in him, 'a well of water springing up to
everlasting life.' He will shed abroad his love in his heart, and
according to his promise, give him power to become a child of God.
The Holy Ghost, the Comforter, shall be given unto him, to teach him
the knowledge of the Scriptures, and to become a principle of
holiness in his heart. Then shall he find that wisdom's ways are ways
of pleasantness, and all her paths peace; then shall he experience
the blessedness of that man whose God is the Lord; then is the way
open for communion and converse with God the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost.

"If, my dear Miss M----, I have made myself understood, you have
my view of God's method of making his creatures happy; and I believe
he will make us to know that he is a sovereign God, and that there is
no other name, or method, by which men can be saved, but the name of
Christ Jesus. But, take nothing on my word, nor the word of any
creature; search the Scriptures; read the first eight chapters of the
Romans, the whole of the Ephesians: stumble not at mysteries--pass
them over, and take the milk for babes; pray for the teaching of the
Spirit; and let me recommend to you the advice of Mr. Newton, in his
Omicron's Letters, a book well worth your reading. 'Lay not too much
stress on detached texts, but seek for the sense which is most
agreeable to the general strain of Scripture.'

"My dear Miss M----, I am now old, and I hope have done with the
world; but I have been young and drunk deeply of youth's choicest
pleasures. I was blest with the best and most indulgent of parents; I
was the wife of a man of sense, sentiment, and sensibility, who was my
very first love and lover; and that love ripened and improved with
years. My children were good and healthy; love, health, peace, and
competency blessed our dwelling. I had also, in early life, taken hold
of God's covenant, and tasted his covenant love; and devoted myself to
his service, which was in my mind a principle of moderation, compared
with mere worldlings; but very far was I from that non-conformity to
the world which the precept of the gospel requires. Had I kept close
to my covenant God, enjoyed his bounty with thankfulness, occupied my
talents, devo