umble disciple and a faithful monitor. I wished to acknowledge the
goodness of God in each of these her capacities.

I sometimes entertain a hope that the last day will unfold the value of
these epistolary communications, beyond even any present estimate of
their spiritual importance.

CHAPTER IV.

The translation of sinners "from the power of darkness into the kingdom
of God's dear Son," is the joy of Christians and the admiration of
angels. Every penitent and pardoned soul is a new witness to the
triumphs of the Redeemer over sin, death, and the grave. How great the
change that is wrought! The child of wrath becomes a monument of grace--a
brand plucked from the burning! "If any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
How marvellous, how interesting is the spiritual history of each
individual believer! He is, like David, "a wonder unto many;" but the
greatest wonder of all to himself. Others may doubt whether it be so or
not; but to him it is unequivocally proved, that, from first to last,
grace alone reigns in the work of his salvation.

The character and privileges of real Christians are beautifully described
in the language of our Church, which, when speaking of the objects of
Divine favour and compassion, says: "They that be endued with so
excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose in due
season; they through grace obey the calling: they be justified freely:
they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his
only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works; and
at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity."

Such a conception and display of the Almighty wisdom, power, and love, is
indeed "full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly
persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of
Christ mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members; and
drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things: it doth greatly
establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed
through Christ, and doth fervently kindle their love towards God."

Nearly allied to the consolation of a good hope through grace, as it
respects our own personal state before God, is that of seeing its
evidences shed lustre over the disposition and conduct of others. Bright
was the exhibition of the union between true Christian enjoym