is of grace, that while we were yet sinners, “we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,” it is by grace also, that “being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saveth us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”  And here I find abundant need to take heed that I “receive not the grace of God in vain;” for truly Christ cannot be ours, if we will not be his.  But though I have to lament many a revolt, and many a backsliding, and many a denial in heart of Christ my Saviour, yet the Lord, who turned and looked on Peter, has not forsaken me; the fountain set open for sin has been, I believe, set open for me; and still does He continue to “heal my backslidings, and to love me freely.”  For the future I have sometimes many a fear, because of this deceitful heart of mine; and at others I can trust it in His hands, whose grace will be sufficient for me to the end,—­that end, when I may realize, what I now assuredly believe, that the “gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  And now, my dear ——­, are we not one, essentially one, both one in Christ?  I know that, uniting in the acknowledgment, and, above all, I trust, in the experience, of the great truths of the gospel, we differ in their applications and influences on subordinate points, and I believe this must be expected to be often the case while “we see through a glass darkly;” but we shall, I trust, “see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion;” and He will keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day.  The Lord’s “commandment is exceeding broad,” and it is no wonder that our narrow minds cannot adequately appreciate the whole, or that, while we believe the same things, we sometimes view them in different order and proportion, often being nearer each other than we are aware.  I fear much good is not done by discussing differences; at least, I find it calls up feelings which are not good, and I lose more practically than I get or give theoretically.  May the Lord bless us both in our pilgrimage, and guide us in a plain path to a city of final habitation, where we shall not want sun, or moon, or any other thing than the glory of God and the Lamb, to be our everlasting light.

I could not be satisfied without replying to thy kind remarks and inquiries about myself and my hopes; but now, having said so much, I hope thou wilt not think it strange that I cannot argue on things about which we differ.  I have not adopted opinions without reflection, and it has fully satisfied myself; but I have nothing to spend in controversy, which I always find does me a great deal of harm.  I hope we now know enough of each other to rejoice in each other’s joy.

6th Mo. 16th.  Last evening alone in the plantation.  Sought the Lord.  It was beautiful.  Was not nature meant by Him