A LETTER TO A FRIEND. 253 



reason to hope that it may be well with me when I die. I 

 place no reliance whatever upon my imperfect perform- 

 ances of duty, as a ground of justification with God. I 

 rely solely and entirely upon His mercy, through the great 

 sacrifice of my blessed Lord and divine Saviour, Jesus 



Christ I have not that assured hope and that 



fulness of joy which many more favored Christians possess ; 

 but if I should die this year, I have an encouraging hope 

 that my Creator will accept me, unworthy as I am. 



The concern which Professor Silliman took in the 

 welfare of all his friends led him to active efforts 

 where such efforts appeared to be warranted by 

 any hope of success to promote their religious 

 good. Among these friends was a scientific man 

 of deservedly high reputation in his department of 

 study, but sceptical in respect to the claims of 

 Christianity, and who had lately adopted the tenets 

 of " Spiritualism." To him, Professor Silliman ad- 

 dressed an earnest letter on the subject of religion, a 

 copy of which is preserved in the diary. 



MY DEAR , In return for your present at Albany, 



I request you to accept, as a proof of my kind regard and 

 good-will, a small volume, entitled, " The Christ of His- 

 tory." It goes to you by the mail which conveys this letter. 

 As I have perused with respectful attention your work on 

 Spiritualism, I ask that you will in turn read this little 

 book, which presents a view of the Saviour, to my mind 

 both original and convincing. Four historians, writing 

 without consent and independently of each other, concur 

 in presenting a character of celestial elevation and good- 

 ness, such a character as has never been presented be- 

 fore or since in human history, nor conceived of by the 

 mind of man. The narrative of his life, his acts, his teach- 

 ings, his example, his death, and his resurrection, proves 



