time of our dissolution, which we are generally inclined to behold as afar off. 1775. I have often been made sensible that there is a spirit which giveth life, and whose influence sweetens every bitter cup. However I may have sometimes feared a delusion of the mind, and that there was presumption in believing a secret union with the Divine Spirit to be at times felt; yet an impression, of which at other times we are powerfully sensible, seems to bring its own evidence that the Lord thus graciously condescends; and we are then animated to worship him in spirit and in truth. If this be enthusiasm, it is such an enthusiasm as I wish to feel, and I rejoice in those seasons as festival days of Zion. If they are all a delusion, on what is our faith founded? The Scriptures abound with testimonies to this Divine inspiration, and the New Testament clearly enforces that there can be no acceptable worship, but that which is influenced by the Divine Spirit, through the power of the Holy Ghost operating on our minds, of which we are made partakers through the sanctifying blood of a Redeemer, who died for our sins, that fallen man might again be raised unto life. It is alone by faith in him that we can be cleansed from our sins; by giving way to his power we shall be perfected in all holiness, and be at last received into his glorious kingdom. 5th, 4th Mo.-"Into thine hand," O Lord, "I commit my spirit."* This is the frequent language of the truly humbled soul, with ardent desires that He, who can alone guide us aright, would condescend to behold us with an eye of tender compassion, and conduct us safely through this vale of doubt and anxiety. O Lord, look down upon us, and help us. We are wholly unable of ourselves to perform any good word or work; assist us, we beseech thee, in this our pilgrimage, and make us willing, yet more and more, to devote ourselves to thy service. "Into thine hand, I commit my spirit;" deal with me according as thou wilt; lead me through the valley of tears, and into the deepest scenes of humiliation, if they are necessary to purify my soul. But, O gracious God, blot out my transgressions from before thine eyes. Assist me to approach thee, O Lord, in humble faith; and, seeing my own insufficiency, let * Psalm xxxi. 5. for peace. me depend wholly on thee, who can strengthen us for the performance of every good word and work, and enable us to come up in all thy commandments. Let a glorious, holy hope that thou wilt still preserve, animate my drooping faith, and encourage me more diligently to pursue those things which make In the seasons of humiliation, thou hast set before my view the vanity of all worldly enjoyments; and that there is nothing truly desirable, but a place in thy favour. More and more confirm these sentiments, O Father of mercies, and cause me to rejoice in every dispensation that draws me nearer to thy holy power; that, being baptised with thy spirit, I may bring forth fruits unto holiness, the end whereof is everlasting life. 7th, 6th Mo.-My mind has been considerably impressed with the advice which our friend C. Phillips gave us, at Devonshirehouse Meeting yesterday morning, and it has occasioned a query to arise, whether I have not myself suffered by a too great taste for speculative reasoning, which, there is room to fear, much oftener tends to darken the mind than to illuminate it. Our friend, after having exhorted us to 'consider our ways,' and enlarged, with her usual clearness, on the subject, expressed a fear, that many were amusing themselves with disquisitions that tended not to profit; entering deeply into inquiries concerning natural things, and what was doing in the world; which knowledge tended to puff up the mind, and that people were too apt to clothe themselves with it. That it would turn to no profit in the day of affliction, and that we should then want something better to fly to. That we had no need of Egyptian knowledge to instruct us in things necessary to salvation; and that, however we might despise those, and reckon them enthusiastic, who sought for knowledge from God, yet the inspiration of his spirit had declared, “A good understanding have all they that do His commandments."* That all our acquirements in natural knowledge should be under the direction of this superior wisdom, which was alone able to instruct us in the way of Salvation. Observation, and the witness in ourselves, may convince us that these arguments are drawn from solid truth. The animating, quickening power of the Spirit of Christ, operating on our minds, is that alone which can perfect us in the path of holiness; and * Psalm cxi. 10. all our reasonings can never bring us to this heart-enlivening faith, which will enable us to walk in the commandments of the Lord, and give us that peace which no outward afflictions can ever take away. I have sometimes been ready to form resolutions, that I would never read any thing which might shake my faith in an inward principle, able to direct; or which might lead to such reasonings as I have found to end in a wilderness state, a state of doubt and perplexity, not easily passed through. But a dread of enthusiasm seems greatly to prevail over my mind, and to make me fearful of giving up sufficiently to the heavenly vision. The great impropriety of conduct, in some who have pretended to be led by inward feelings, has often made me fear that a deception might take place in my own mind; and that, under the apprehension of doing that which was required by the Supreme Being, I might be acting against, rather than for the truth. Yet something is certainly necessary, besides moral rectitude; neither can that be kept to, but through the influencing power of a superior spirit. Experience more and more convinces me, that what may be known of God is made manifest within, and that no man knoweth the things of God, but by the Spirit |