VISIT TO WASHINGTON. 95 



wife was present at this ordinance in public; but it was 

 celebrated in her sick-room last summer, Rev. Professor 

 Goodrich having kindly made the arrangements and per- 

 formed the service ; so that it is now more than half a 

 year since I united in partaking of these elements with 

 her who now needs, I trust, no symbols ; but, being in the 

 Saviour's immediate presence, is a purified, holy, and happy 

 spirit, and perhaps permitted even to revisit these scenes : 

 and who knows that her spirit may not now be conscious of 

 what I am doing ? If such a thought should make me 

 vigilant, how much more should the certainty that I am 

 always in the presence of the infinite God ! 



Dr. Fitch's sermon to-day was on justification by faith, 

 a doctrine full of comfort. Lord, I believe, help thou 

 mine unbelief! It is an unspeakable comfort to know that 

 our sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ, and that God 

 will not condemn us for sins for which we could never 

 atone, while our continued obedience is as much required 

 of us as if we expected to be saved by our performance of 

 duty. There is no comfort for the sinner except in the 

 intervention of the Saviour. 



Yielding to the persuasions of his family, he left 

 home for a short visit to Washington. 



New York, March 10, 1850. We are on our way to- 

 wards Washington, in consequence of the earnest request 

 of my son that I would meet him at Washington, where 

 he is expecting to arrive from Louisville with his family, 

 about the middle of next week. My daughters were ear- 

 nest that I should go, and all coincide in the opinion that 

 some change of scenes may be useful to me, after the long 

 course of anxiety and affliction through which I have passed. 

 They have thought me to be in danger of cherishing sor- 

 row too much. Perhaps I have done it more than was 

 expedient, and I am willing to become cheerful with sobri- 

 ety, and to cherish spiritual affections, and hope never to 



