manifest
strides amongst the Mohammedans on the other side of the
desert, and in Persia, and we shall soon see the same spirit
that is working in Europe working here: amidst these tempests,
I sometimes think 'tis hard to live. Yet, my dear friend, it is
sweet to live hardly for Jesus.

After all my sufferings and all my sorrows, my heart is not
discouraged. We have first the clods of the language to break
up, then to prepare the ground, then to sow the seed, and
through all to look for the precious showers from on high, and
lastly for the fruit. Let us, then, like the husbandman
patiently wait.

The evil of the pressure of the world on the soul I feel as
fully as you can do; not the luxurious worldliness of Europe,
yet the pursuit of the language, and the absolute
uncongeniality of all around, disorders the soul greatly.
During Mary's life, or rather pilgrimage, I never wanted
spiritual refreshment; I sometimes used to fear it stole away
those hours that the language and other calls demanded; but now
whilst I am sensibly proceeding in the language, my soul knows
not that animated joy of heavenly communion with the saints on
earth which I once enjoyed. Jesus still is near, still comforts
and supports; but yet I feel he meant his Church to be a body.
The miserable substitute of man's ordination for the Holy
Ghost's, has destroyed the true unison and order of the Church
of Christ, by substituting that which is artificial for that
which is of God; by appointing man to be the artificer of a
work God alone can accomplish. Now the Church presents a
monstrous aspect, a great mis-shapen head called the clergy,
and as mis-shapen a body called the laity. All the members
being crowded into the head, and leaving the body without
office or service, this did not the Spirit. How blessed it is
among all these disorders to know that the Lord cares for his
own, and will keep them as the apple of his eye, watching day
and night lest any hurt them. Thus, were we preserved when we
little thought it, by our Shepherd's care. There is something,
I think, in this view of the body being thus composed of
members of various orders, various services, from the most
minute to the most important, all tending to the one great end,
the glory of the only Head