“MY DEAR CHILDREN—­Here am I in my little room, surrounded with every comfort, and as the provision of my God, I value all; but there lies the chief, my Bible, the testament of my dying, risen, ascended, reigning Saviour, bequeathing to me eternal life, executed in full, and made as sure as the promise and oath of God.  The influences of the Holy Ghost on my mind, taking of the things of Christ, and showing them unto me; opening wide the leaves of that new testament, in which I read unsearchable riches, and my title to them sure:  yes, sure, even to me, a base idolatrous gentile, a rebel against the eternal King, my Creator, Preserver, Provider; a backslider in heart and in life.  What has such a one to do with a holy God?  He hath said only return; and he himself hath turned to me, chastened, convinced, restored, comforted.  His ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts; but as the heavens are above the earth, so are his ways above our ways, and his thoughts high above our thoughts, and his plans above our conception.  For although it is for ever true, that he is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity; that his law has denounced a curse upon the transgressor who keepeth it not in every jot and tittle; it is for ever true, that this God is unchangeable in his nature and purposes.  What he hath said, that will he do.  It is for ever true, that I am all I have said, and worse, a sinner in heart, tongue, and practice; yet am I a beloved child, a justified one, an heir of God.

“Here is the testament, here is my charter with the seal of God upon it—­JESUS, thou art the Secret of the Lord; thou art the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root and offspring of David.  Thou hast prevailed to open this book of secrets, to loose the seven seals, and lay open its mysteries.  Thou Lamb of God, the appointed and anointed to the great work; in our room, and in our nature, thou hast sustained the curse.  Thou hast obeyed the law; thou hast drunk the last drop of the last vial of that wrath which would have sunk my soul in the endless depths of misery; and I never could have expended one drop, but sunk deeper and deeper under it.  O not unto me, not unto ministers, not unto any creature be the praise.  As for me, I am, in a word, all that is vile in myself; ministers, providences, afflictions are just what God makes them; without his blessing they will not only pass without profiting, but Satan and corruption will make them ministers to themselves.  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, for he has redeemed me with his blood.  Worthy is the Lamb to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing—­to him, to him alone, be the praise; who, of an heir of hell, hath made an heir of heaven, by a substitutional righteousness wrought out in his own person:  mine by free gift, in which I am completely justified.  To this work let nothing be added, with this work let nothing be mixed.