218 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



adviser of others is always one who is very far indeed 

 beyond the power of advice to reclaim.' By way of 

 practical conclusion to the whole matter we have the 

 following : ' But why, you may ask, why then write 

 me that which I already know ? The question, though 

 a simple, is truly a hard one, and I can ansAver it in no 

 other way than by saying that I wrote from my feelings 

 that, from seeing the connection which the passing 

 time and my wasting life have together, I was insensibly 

 led to think of time and eternity, life and death, and, as 

 I was, when my mind was thus occupied, writing my 

 friend, to commit these thoughts to paper for his perusal. 

 But besides general there are in these pages particular 

 facts. I have told you that what I now believe I did 

 not once believe, and I have told you how I have deter- 

 mined, relying on the help of God, to make the doctrines 

 of Christianity the rule of my belief, its precepts that of 

 my conduct. Ah, William, how easy it is to write of 

 virtuous deeds ! how difficult to perform them ! How 

 easy is it to make a good resolve ! how difficult to abide 

 by one ! But the power, truth, and goodness of God are 

 infinite, and He has promised to give His Holy Spirit 

 to them that ask it/ 



From this point Hugh Miller never receded. A 

 profound change had passed over his spiritual nature, 

 a change none the less penetrating or pervasive that 

 its operation had taken place in the silent chambers 

 of his soul and had manifested itself in few external 

 signs. Through no paroxysms of self-accusing agony 

 did he make his way into the temple of his spiritual 

 rest. By no raptures of religious enthusiasm did he 

 announce his arrival at his Father's house. With the 

 deliberate assent of reason, conscience, and feeling he 

 embraced the Gospel of Christ, and solemnly cast in his 



