I would do good, evil is present with me: that, whilst I allow, and approve of, and delight in the law of God, after the inner man, I am so drawn aside by my indwelling corruptions, the snares of the world, and Satan's temptations, that, were it not for my assured belief that I have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins, I could have no confidence towards God, being condemned by my own heart. In short, I can do no other than allow that my best days, dispositions, and services, are all defective and defiled, and need to be washed in that fountain which the Lord hath opened for sin and for uncleanness.Certainly, should you ask what is your duty and your wisdom under your present troubles, I should answer, That you should take no anxious unbelieving care for the morrow, what you or your's shall eat or drink, or wherewithal you shall be clothed: that you should cast all your care upon God; be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God; seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and commit your way unto him, who never faileth them that put their trust in him. But, should you answer that, though you know this to be your duty, though you desire to act thus, and do in part attempt it; yet, nevertheless, anxious cares, and worldly thoughts, and mournful considerations, whether you will or not, frequently crowd into your mind, distract and discompose you, and even accompany and trouble you when addressing yourself to prayer, and the reading of the scriptures; I should not wonder, nor censure, nor think you for that reason peculiarly blameworthy. Sinful these things are, deficiencies and defilements in our services, that need the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, our great high priest, who ever liveth to make intercession for his people; but they are no other than what every sincere and humble Christian in the world will acknowledge himself to be guilty of; and what, under far less trials, I too much experience; which makes me place no confidence in such poor sinful services, but trust wholly to what Christ hath done for me-he having been made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Our comfort is, that we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin; and who suffered being tempted that he might be able to succour them that are tempted: a Saviour who loved his people, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and who has a fellow-feeling for us in all our sufferings: a Father who pitieth us, and knoweth whereof we are made, and remembereth that we are dust.-I only therefore would wish you to strive and pray continually against the workings of unbelief; when your heart is overwhelmed, to pour out your complaints, and spread your sorrows (as Hezekiah did Sennacherib's letter,) before the Lord and I doubt not that God, who comforteth those that are cast down, will both provide for your outward wants, support you under your troubles, and, by his abundant consolation, in -- due time turn your mourning into joy. Indeed your letter, though written in somewhat of a complaining strain, and not without some suspicions that I should disapprove it, is the most comfortable letter I have ever received from you, since my views of religion were changed; and it leaves me little doubt that the Lord is leading you, in the same gradual manner that he led me, to a spiritual and experimental acquaintance with the truth as it is in Jesus. I discern an increasing earnestness in matters of religion, a more tender and awakened conscience, a growing conviction of unworthiness, and somewhat of a greater fearfulness of being mistaken. As to the rest, I am in no hurry: the word of God I recommend to your daily reading; and oh may the Lord stir you up to frequent the throne of grace, and, without confining yourself wholly to the words of another, now and then to pour out the genuine desires of your heart, in your own words, for the teaching and guidance of his Holy Spirit! I hope we do not, shall not differ essentially: I only say that there are some things, which I doubt not the Lord will teach you by and by, (as he sent Peter to Cornelius to speak unto him words whereby he and his house might be saved,) which, though sincerely serving God, you are hitherto mistaken about; and other things I believe myself, which perhaps you may never believe in this world, and yet be saved for all that. "You say you are afraid I shall say that unless you be converted you cannot be saved.' I do say so, and am sure of it: and saith not the Lord the same? Verily, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God.-But what if I add, that I see dawning hopes that this necessary work is already wrought in your soul; and that the time is coming, and not far distant, when your own inward experience shall explain to you the meaning of this and several other expressions of the New Testament to the same effect, better than any commentators in the world?-for the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.However, one would think there was nothing so mysterious and hard to be understood under this easy word. Let me drop a hint upon it. Man by nature is given up to the love of the world, and the things that are in the world: these he pursues and longs after, and seeks his happiness from them. This is to be carnally minded. Some after a season are convinced of the world's vanity, and are led to desire a better portion. Their eyes are enlightened ; they are undeceived respecting this universal infatuation like the prodigal, they come to themselves, and discover the folly and madness of a rational immortal being seeking happiness from things which perish in the using, and which must shortly be left for ever: they discern that the eternal and all-sufficient God is the only suitable and satisfying portion and happiness: they thenceforth set themselves to seek his favour as the one thing needful, and look for their happiness from him. There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me! This is conversion: being turned from seeking our happiness from the world and self, to seeking it from God only.-Generally this change is preceded by a deep conviction of our lost state by nature and practice, a sense of our perishing need of pardoning mercy, and a discovery of the glorious person, gracious work, and offices of Jesus Christ, and an application to him, according to his invitation, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Sometimes these views follow after this inward change, as in me; and some are left much in the dark all their lives, of whose sincerity and salvation I have no doubt.-When this change has taken place in our source of happiness, our desires and ends, aims, hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, converse, and conduct too are changed: Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. This is conversion; and I trust you have experienced something of it, and that it will be more and more evident to your mind every day. "Your affectionate brother, "THOMAS SCOTT." To Mrs. Webster, Leicester. "DEAR SISTER, Chapel Street, March 16, 1796. "In the midst of my urgent and numerous employments, I cannot be satisfied without writing a few lines to assure you that I am very glad to hear from you, and of your welfare; though a variety of circumstances concur in making me a worse correspondent than formerly. In general I find my writing so much injures my health, and wears down my spirits, more than all my other |