more freely, because our conscience bears us witness, that we really desire to be more like the Christians we admire most, and would be very glad to get over that in which we chiefly differ from them.

Another thing very encouraging, is, that we can trace some resemblance between their early experience and our own. Few things, perhaps, please or surprise us more than the discovery, that some of the loveliest and most happy Christians had to struggle hard, at first, with many of the same doubts, fears, and temptations which now harass us. This, we did not expect to find in the experience of the very holy and happy. We imagined that, from the first, their conversion must have been so complete, as to place them above all such conflicts between the flesh and the spirit. We took for granted, that they had never found it difficult to believe, or to hope, or to pray. This difficulty

we thought peculiar to ourselves. And, as to treachery of heart, weakness of purpose, changeableness of feeling, and floods of vain and unholy thoughts, we were almost sure that no real Christian had ever felt as we did. We heard, of course, our pious friends speak of their having had to go through deep and dark waters, and to sustain some heavy burdens: but we did not allow ourselves to suspect that unbelief, or the prevalence of a wrong spirit, or the pressure of temptation, entered into their trials. We thought that they could only mean, the trial of their faith and patience, by afflictions or losses: not by the plagues of the heart, or by the treachery of the conscience.

It was, therefore, no small help to us, when we found out that "no strange thing had befallen us, in having to struggle so much against fightings without and fears within. We were not, of course, glad that others had

hearts as bad as our own, nor that grace met with much opposition in all hearts: but we were glad to know the fact itself. It proved to us, that our case was neither desperate nor singular: and thus prevented us from giving up all hope and effort, as useless in our own case. It showed us, that the day of small things ought not to be despised; seeing it had often been followed by years of great things in the experience, character, and career of many.

We have then been somewhat encouraged by discovering, that the beginnings of our piety, had parallels in the early experience of the best. Did it ever occur to you, whilst marking this with pleasure, that just in proportion as you are of "one spirit" with the

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saints on earth, you are of one spirit" with the saints in heaven also? If you have never followed out this sweet thought for your own

encouragement, it is well worth your while to

do so now. The fact is fraught and fragrant with strong consolation, to all who are anxious to be sure that they have been "made to drink into one Spirit" with the children of God on earth: for, if the persuasion that you had done this would cheer you, how much more cheering to discover that your best principles and desires are in harmony with the leading principles of the whole family in heaven? You are quite sure that their views and feelings and desires are right. You see at a glance, that they cannot err nor mistake. And, do you not see also, that so far as your spirit resembles theirs, even you are right too? Consider this. The great principles which prevail in heaven are not natural on earth; do not spring up by accident in the human mind ; nor can they be learnt, so as to be loved, by human means. Whoever loves them, has been taught by the Spirit of God. You have as

certainly been illuminated and led by Him, if you try to think and feel and act towards the Saviour as the saints in glory do, as these saints have been perfected by the Holy Spirit. Yes; the same hand that completed their sanctification, has begun your sanctification,.if you are trying to enter into the spirit of heavenly principles.

Do not say, on reading this, that neither your principles nor feelings will bear to be tried by a heavenly standard. It is not so true as it is plausible, that, if some earthly standards of piety make you ashamed and even afraid of yourself, comparison with perfect spirits must overwhelm your hopes altogether. This is plausible, but it is not true. In some things, indeed, it is only too true, that you bear none of the image, and breathe none of the spirit of the family in heaven; and in nothing are you very like them. There is