174 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



aright, " It passeth knowledge ! " I cannot bid him 

 God speed who would deny His willingness to save us. 

 No ! the more I consider the subject, the more am I 

 persuaded that He delighteth in mercy/ 



There w r as doubtless an answer to this from Miller, 

 but I have not found it. In Sept., 1825, Swanson again 

 writes, and still, apparently in response to hesitation 

 exhibited, or objections started, by his correspondent, 

 insists upon the plenitude of the Divine mercy. ' He 

 is described as holding out His hands all day long to a 

 rebellious and gainsaying people, and shall we impiously 

 dare to say that He is unwilling to receive any ? 'Tis 

 true there are mysterious doctrines in the Bible ; 'tis 

 true, election, &c., are spoken of; but if I know aught of 

 the spirit of the Scriptures, these were never meant to 

 keep a returning sinner back from God. Indeed, I pre- 

 sume we often mistake this very doctrine. It appears 

 to me not as intended for our use before conversion, but 

 after it. It seems to me given for the support and con- 

 solation of the saints, and not as a question for the 

 returning penitent. We never hear of the apostles 

 making use of such expressions as these to an inquirer : 

 " It may be you are not elected. It may be, though 

 you tell us you believe, you are deceived." But we find 

 them asking this question, "Dost thou believe ? " Be- 

 lieve what ? That Jesus is the Christ. And I ask you, 

 my dear Hugh, dost thou believe ? Do you believe that 

 He lived ? that He was the Sent of God ? that He died 

 to save sinners ? I know that thou believest. Well, is 

 your life and conversation corresponding to this belief? 

 Do you pray ? read the Scriptures ? obey the injunctions 

 of Christ?' 



Miller, however, is shy of coming to close quarters. 

 In a letter of 18th November, he takes a sportive tone 



