208 the heart's-ease. 



fore-ordained the condemnation of some souls, 

 creeps in, to paralyze the mighty arm of energetic 

 faith, and to cripple the strong pinion of soaring 

 hope, we are tempted to do bitter wrong to the 

 souls of our brethren, no less than to the faithful- 

 ness of our unchangeable God. Many an earnest 

 and solemn discourse have I had with D. upon 

 these points ; and I cannot forget the patient en- 

 durance, the affectionate anxiety, with which I 

 have seen him for hours engaged in combatting 

 the delusions of one who had imbibed such notions. 

 It gave him pain, even to hear it urged, that an 

 actual decree had gone forth, willing, from all 

 eternity, the everlasting perdition of individuals 

 hereafter to be born into the world. It grieved 

 him, even to the suffusion of his eyes with tears, 

 that such a charge should be brought against his 

 God, whose tender mercies he well kne\j to be 

 over all his works ; and whose own immutable 

 word assured him that he willeth not the death of 

 a sinner. He dearly loved, by bright displays of 

 inviting mercy, to set forth the freeness of pardon 

 ing grace, for the encouragement of such as are 

 labouring to bring souls to God ; and more espe- 

 cially those of their own household. He believed 

 what he spoke ; he acted on his belief: and never 

 did I witness a more sustained, persevering series 

 of efforts, than I saw in him, on behalf of a young 

 and endeared relation. That man, of his own free 



