them Dr. Steele's three tracts and lent them Mahan.
They were much interested, but I do not know how much struck. I can not
smile, as some do, at Dr. Steele's testimony. I believe in it fully and
heartily. If I do not know what it is to "find God real," I do not know
anything. Never was my faith in the strongest doctrines of Christianity
stronger than it is now.

_Feb. 13th._--I spent part of yesterday in reading Stepping Heavenward!
You will think that very strange till I add that it was in German; and,
as the translator has all my books, I wanted to know whether she had
done this work satisfactorily before authorising her to proceed with the
rest. She has omitted so much, that it is rather an abridgment than a
translation; otherwise it is well done. But she has so purged it of
vivacity, that I am afraid it will plod on leaden feet, if it plods at
all, heavenward. And now I must hurry off to my sewing-circle.

_To a young Friend, April 4, 1873._

I want to correct any mistaken impression I have made on you in
conversation. The utmost I meant to say was, that I had got new light
intellectually, or theologically, on the subject of the working of the
Spirit. In the sense in which I use the words "baptism of the Holy
Ghost," I certainly do not consider that I have received it. I think
it means _perfect consecration_.... Thus far, no matter what people
profess, I have never come into close contact with any life that I did
not find more or less imperfect. I find, in other words, the best human
beings fallible, and _very fallible_. The best I can say of myself is,
that I see the need of _immense_ advances in the divine life. I find it
hard to be patient with myself when I see how far I am from reaching
even my own poor standard; but if I do not love Christ and long to
please Him, I do not love anybody or anything. And if I have talked less
to you on these sacred subjects this winter, it has been partly owing
to my seeing less of you, and an impalpable but real barrier between us
which I have not known how to account for, but which made me cautious in
pushing religion on you. Young people usually have their ups and
downs and fluctuations of feeling before they settle down on to fixed
_principles_, paying no regard to feeling, and older Christians should
bear with them, make allowance for this, and never obtrude their own
views or experiences. I think you will come out all right. Satan will
fight hard for you, and perhaps for