come to Christ, or close with Christ. It is very hard to deal
with this delusion.

"I find some old people deeply shaken; they feel insecure. One
confirmed drunkard has come to me, and is, I believe, now a saved
man. Some little children are evidently saved. All that I have
yet seen are related to converts of my own. One, eleven years
old, is a singular instance of divine grace. When I asked if she
desired to be made holy, she said, 'Indeed, I often wish I was
awa, that I might sin nae mair.' A.L., of fifteen, is a fine
tender-hearted believer. W.S., ten, is also a happy boy.

"Many of my own dear children in the Lord are much advanced; much
more full of joy,--their hearts lifted up in the ways of the
Lord. I have found many more savingly impressed under my own
ministry than I knew of. Some have come to tell me. In one case a
whole family saved. I have hardly met with anything to grieve me.
Surely the Lord hath dealt bountifully with me. I fear, however,
that the great Spirit has in some measure passed by,--I hope soon
to return in greater power than ever. The week meetings are
thinner now. I will turn two of them into my classes soon, and so
give solid, regular instruction, of which they stand greatly in
need. I have not met with one case of extravagance or false fire,
although doubtless there may be many. At first they used to
follow in a body to our house, and expected many an address and
prayer by the road. They have given up this now. I preached last
Sabbath twice, first on Isaiah 28:14-18, and then on Rev. 12:11,
'Overcame by the blood of the Lamb.' It was a very solemn day.
The people willingly sat till it was dark. Many make it a place
of Bochim. Still there is nothing of the power which has been. I
have tried to persuade Mr. Burns to stay with us, and I think he
will remain in Dundee. I feel fully stronger in body than when I
left you. Instead of exciting me, there is everything to
solemnize and still my feelings. Eternity sometimes seems very
near.

"I would like your advice about prayer-meetings; how to
consolidate them; what rules should be followed, if any; whether
there should be mere reading of the word and prayer, or free
converse also on the passage? We began to-day a ministerial
prayer-meeting, to be held every Monday at eleven, for an hour
and a half. This is a great comfort, and may be a great blessing.
Of course we