To Mr. K——

“Only -unbelief” — Ancient Israel — Borders of the promised land reached — Met and vanq-uished by an enemy — Who -was it? — God dishonored by unbelief.

Dear Sir, — 0 how infinite in importance is the point which the arch deceiver gains by the little words “only unbelief!” Here is just where for months past the enemy has gained a signal victory over my dear brother K. Not only over yourself has he triumphed, but, according to your own acknowledgment, the precious cause of Christ has

Circumstances favorable to Usefulness.

suffered loss, by your not being in the enjoyment of this blessing. You say, “I feel that if I had the blessing, the circumstances in which I am placed would be peculiarly favorable to my usefulness.” How many might have believed through your testimony, had your unbelief been given up, when you gave up every other sin? Why was this exception persisted in? Surely, brother, you did not consider how derogatory to the character of God it is to doubt his word. Relative to the enormity of this sin, well may God complain of you and many others, as of ancient Israel, “My people doth not consider.”

Let us,* dear brother K, for a moment glance

at the nature and consequences of this sin. Think of Israel. God, with a high hand, and an outstretched arm, had brought them up out of the house of bondage. The Red Sea was safely passed by a miraculous interposition, and Israel looked on and beheld the destruction of his enemies, as they were overthrown by the power of the Highest. Gently, as a nurse cherisheth her children, were they led forth through the wilderness. One obstacle after another, most formidable in prospect, had been overcome by the power of God, imtil they had become fully instructed relative to the almightiness of his hand to deliver, when they arrive at the borders of the promised land. They have escaped their Egyptian task-masters. They

A Terrible Foe Dreadful Doom.

have passed the Red Sea. The parched and howling wilderness, too, has been traversed, and the hosts of Israel stand at Kadesh Bamea ready to enter in triumph upon their long- sought rest.

Just here, they are met by a foe more formidable than the hosts of Pharaoh, more terrible than the sea or the desert. That foe subdued them and drove them back into that terrible wilderness, where they wandered till the bones of that whole generation were strown bleaching on the sands. Who was that mighty foe of Israel? Paul tells us. “They entered not in because of unbelief “—” only

UNBELIEF.”

Ah! when Israel discovered the consequence of this one act of unbelief; when they saw that they had thereby so greatly displeased God, that they were for ever debarred the privilege of entering that land, in prospect of which their journeyings had been commenced, and continued down to that point of time, when God sware that they should not enter into his rest; 0, think you, that they were disposed to speak of unbelief as a light matter? As their doom was being accomplished, and they were, one after another, fast falling in the wilderness, do you imagine that they were prone to look back and say, 0, it was only unbelief?

Now, if Satan succeed in blinding our minds to the formidableness of this enemy, 0 is not this indeed a mighty achievement? I need not say that the honor of God is as truly concerned in us his spiritual Israel; “being delivered out of the hand of our enemies that we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life;” as it was in the deliverance of his ancient people. How greatly was the name of God dishonored by the sin of Israel in their refusing to enter; and O how greatly is our heavenly Joshua, the Captain of our salvation, who hath undertaken to brino- his redeemed people into this Canaan of rest, dishonored, when we by our unbelief refuse to enter!

Dear brother K, be no more of a doubtful

mind. Give up your waverings: “For he that wavereth is as a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed; for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” “This is the command of God, that ye believe.” Is it left optional with yourself whether you will obey this command? How presumptuous to doubt God! Resolve that you will do so no more. Be without variableness or shadow of turning in your purposes. To the degree you are otherwise, instability in experience will be your portion. “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.”

In Christian love, yours.

Roll away the Stone. Valley of Decision.