“She soon outran faithless me in the heavenly race; gently chid me for my remissness, but continued my friend and helper.  Ever foremost in the race, humble and steady in faith, she looked not back, nor halted.  She has long since finished her course, received her crown and reward of grace, and become fruit to the account of that friend who supplied what was wanting in me.  I rejoice with them both, give glory to God, from whom their fruit was found, and take shame and confusion for my part.

“How many opportunities have I lost, and from the same sinful, shameful cause.  O my Redeemer, what can I say to thee?  Words are wanting to express my loathing of that vile, selfish cowardice.

“Didst Thou, who art the Creator of heaven and earth, the brightness of the glory of God, the express image of his person, and upholder of all things, suffer shame, contempt, anguish, death for my sake, that thou mightest redeem me from the second death, and purchase for me eternal life; and do I shrink and turn away from the least taste of thy cup, though the curse is extracted and a blessing infused!

“And after all this, art thou pacified towards me?  I search in vain for words to express the amazing grace.  ’As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him, and towards vile me, who can lay small claim to that character; yet, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed my transgressions from him.  Bless the Lord, ye his angels, who excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.  Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure; ye ministering spirits, sent forth to watch over and minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation.”

“FEBRUARY, 1812.

“Dr. M——.  ’Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,’ John 1:29.

“He dwelt chiefly on the substitution of the victim in the room of the transgressor.  When a victim was offered for an individual, he was to lay his hand on the head of the animal, by the appointment of God, as a token of his faith that his sins should be transferred to the victim which suffered death in his stead, and that his sins were forgiven and his person accepted.  If the victim was for the whole congregation, then the elders, as their representatives, were to lay their hands upon the head of the victim, signifying the same faith.  Great was the subject of the plan of redemption:  The Son of God clothed with our nature, given and set apart as a propitiatory sacrifice, the victim upon whom the sins of his elect were laid, and he sacrificed in their stead.

“The Lamb of God, which took away the sins not only of the Jewish transgressors, but the sins of the elect out of every nation, kindred, and tongue throughout the world—­on this Lamb of God rests my own individual hope for pardon and for acceptance.  I lay my own individual hand of faith on his dear head, confess my sin, and rely upon his sacrifice for pardon and acceptance, through the atonement made by himself, God’s anointed Priest.”