LETTERS. 



307 



grounded confidence in the providing care of the Al- 

 mighty, and a strong belief that his hand is in every 

 event, and that it is a hand of raercy. The chances and 

 changes of mortal life are so many and various, that a 

 person cannot possibly fortify himself against the con- 

 tingencies of futurity without some such hold as this, on 

 which to repose amidst the contending gales of doubt 

 and apprehension. This I say as aifecting the present 

 life : — our views of the future can never be secure, they 

 can never be comfortable or calm without a solid faith 

 in the Redeemer. Men may reason about the Divine 

 benevolence, the certainty of a future state, and the pro- 

 bable means of propitiating the Great Judge; but their 

 speculations will only entangle them in the mazes of 

 doubt, perplexity, and alarm, unless they found their 

 hopes on that basis which shall outstand the tide of 

 ages. If we take this away, the poor bark of mortality 

 loses its only stay, and we steer at random, we know not 

 how, we know not whither : the religion of Jesus Christ 

 is strength to the weak, and wisdom to the unwise. It 

 requires no preparatives of learning or study, but is, if 

 possible, more obvious and easy to the illiterate tlian to 

 the erudite. Xo man, therefore, has any excuse if he 

 neglect it. The way is plain before him, and he is in- 

 vited to enter. He has only to kneel at the foot of the 

 cross, and cry, with the poor publican, *' Lord, have 

 mercy upon me, a miserable sinner."' If he do this, and 

 examine his own heart, and mortify the body of sin 

 within him, as far as he is able, humbly and earnestly 

 imploring the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, we cannot 

 doubt but he will meet with the approbation and assist- 

 ance of the Almighty. In this path we must all tread. 

 In this path I hope that you, my dear sister, are now 

 proceeding. You have children ; to whom can you 

 commit them, should Providence call you hence, with 

 more confidence than the meek and benevolent Jesus ? 

 What legacy can you leave them more certainly profit-' 

 able than the prayers of a pious mother ? And, if 

 taught by your example, as well as by your instructions, 

 they should become themselves patterns of a holy and 



