ights to try our faith by the conditions in which He places us. A
plant set in the shade shows where its heart is by turning towards the
sun, even when unable to reach it. We have so much to distract us in
this world that we do not realise how truly and deeply, if not always
warmly and consciously, we love Christ. But I believe that this love is
the strongest principle in every regenerate soul. It may slumber for a
time, it may falter, it may freeze nearly to death; but sooner or later
it will declare itself as the ruling passion. You should regard all your
discontent with yourself as negative devotion, for that it really is.
Madame Guyon said boldly, but truly, "O mon Dieu, plutot pecheur que
superbe," and that is the consoling word I feel like sending you to-day.
I know all about these little domestic foxes that spoil the vines, and
sympathise with you in yours. But if some other trial would serve God's
purpose, He would substitute it.

_To a young Friend, New York, Dec. 3, 1873._ I was interested in what
you wrote about Miss G. and of Dr. C.'s meeting. You say she spends her
time in young works of benevolence. This shows that her piety is of
the genuine sort. It is hard to have faith in mere talk. It is a great
mystery to me, that, while we meet with negative faults in ordinary
prayer-meetings, we find so many positive faults in more earnest ones.
Perhaps there is less of self in those who conduct them than we imagine.
I always regret to see talk to each other supplant address to God in
such meetings--always. As to Miss ---- and others making a "creed" as
you say out of their experience, I think it may be accounted for in this
way: They come suddenly into possession of thoughts and emotions to
which others are led gradually; they are startled and overwhelmed by the
novelty of the revelations, and at once form a theory on the subject;
and, having formed the theory, they fall to so interpreting the Bible as
to support it. Those who reach the point they have reached more
slowly are not startled, and do not need to form theories or seek for
unscriptural expressions with which to declare what they have learned.
They are probably less self-conscious, because they have not been aiming
to enter any school formed by man, but have been simply following after
Christ; hardly knowing what they expect will be the result, but
getting a great deal of sweet peace on the way. And they also acquire,
gradually, a certain kind of heaven-t