To Mr. P——

Baptism of the Spirit — The just shall live by faith — Witness of the Spirit — Answer delayed — Need of patience — My sister — Interview with Rev. T. Merritt — Confession — Steadfastness — Zeal.

Dear Sir, — I learn by your letter, that you have not yet received the full baptism of the Holy Ghost. O that you, by the Spirit, may be sustained in a patient waiting! “For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.’* Now the just shall live hi, faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” O, my beloved brother, may you not be of those that draw back! Did time permit, I could refer you to cases where individuals, after having been brought to the point where you now stand, have, through the tremendous assaults which Satan hath here made upon their faith, drawn lack fearfully. May the Lord save you from the painful experience I have witnessed in others who have thus cast away their confidence!

Yet, though T would urge yon to wait pa-Expect the Witness. Something gained by the Delay.

tiently, and with the resolve never to remove the offering from off the hallowed altar, I would also press the importance of looking momentarily, and with earnest wresthngs, for the witness of the Holy Spirit. It is your privilege to be filled with the Spirit, and with all the fruits of righteousness. We may conceive something of ile feelings of him whose faith we are admonished to follow, while he continued expecting and longing for the descent of the hallowed re. The poet doubtless gives some idea of the state of his feelings when he says, —

“Restless, resign’d, for this I wait.”

But Abraham did not wait long; neither will you, if you remain steadfast in the faith. Yet you must not imagine that you are not gaining anything by this delay: “Knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience; but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Even while lingering here, you may be strong in faith, giving glory to God.

You ask if I ever knew any one so long detained at this point as you have been. Yes; I have known some who have been eminent examples in faith, in purity, and in doctrine, who, in like manner with yourself, have been called to endure the trial of their faith. One of these is my sister in the flesh, who in the enjoyment of this

My Sister. The Reckoning. Rev. T. Merritt.

blessing was in Christ before me, and whose example and prayers have been very helpful in all my heavenward way. Her experience has been written, from which I will quote briefly.

After she had most solemnly and irrevocably resolved, in obedience to God, to “reckon herself dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord,” she waited about one week before she received any sensible assurance of the fact, (to use yourxpressions,) “that she was thus dead, and thus alive.” But she had counted the cost of living a life of faith, and was not to be moved from her steadfastness. While thus lingering with intense longings, the Spirit, through the medium of the written word, encouraged her faith greatly, by the continuous application of these words: “Blessed is she that believeth; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” She continued, though buffeted and variously tempted, steadfast and unmovable, until one day, occasion requiiing that she should call on the Rev. T. Merritt, she said something expressive of her interest on the subject of holiness. “You enjoy that blessing, do you not, sister?” said Mr. M. She was startled at the inquiry, for she had not yet thought of confessing it, and soon replied,” I have dared to reckon myself dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God, through our Lord Jesus

Presumption. Confession, Joy. Efforts.

Christ; but I do not know but that it may be presumption.” “Why, sister, presumption hes in doubtinor God, not in behevino him,” he returned. She had now joined confession to her faith; it was not enough that with her heart she had believed, the order of God not being fully met, until she had made confession with her mouth; and now she was filled with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Throughout body, soul, and spirit, she felt the holy fire of divine love penetrating, as it were, her entire being. So great was the weight of glory which rested upon her for several days and nights in succession, that her mortal frame could not have long borne up under it, had not the Lord in a measure staid his hand. Ever since, her faith has been steady and active, inclining to ceaseless and well-directed efforts in promoting the cause of the Redeemer, rather than those fitful, and often misguided endeavors, which the habits of those present, whose efforts and faith are graduated by the state of their emotions. May our faith lead us to “go and do likewise.”

Yours affectionately.

Faith without Joy. Inquiry.