read my letters with prayer, and beg of God that he will attend every observation with the light and blessing of his Spirit.

You say, "The work of justification is greatly obscured by many, and you do not exclude me ;that I tell you, sometimes it is by faith, sometimes by works." So do St. Paul and St. James, yet they are strictly consistent with themselves and each other. But I sometimes think you understand by works a meritorious condition: I never mean any such thing. When I speak of the works God requires in a seeker or believer, I only mean a coöperation with, or using the grace given to us. I believe God the Father loved all mankind in their sins, freely and unconditionally, or he had never given his only-begotten Son. And it was an unconditional promise, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." God the Son also loved us freely and unconditionally, when he left his Father's glory, and became man ;-lived, died, and rose again for us. I believe too, God the Holy Ghost, unconditionally (with respect to any thing we can do) "enlightens every man that cometh into the world." But then, these things being done for us, by and through the free grace of the Eternal Trinity, we are required to use the light given.

If the Spirit of God convinceth of sin, which is his work, we are required to forsake it; and there is always power to do it communicated. This forsaking of sin is an act of man, and a condition; for "put away the evil of your doings," saith God, "from among you, and cease to do evil :" yet this is not a meritorious work. Again if the Spirit point the guilty, heavy-laden sinner to the Lamb of God, shows the all-sufficiency of his atonement, and that the promises are made to such lost sinners as he is, who are weary of the burden of sin,

that he has a right to come, because all are invited; and that "now is the accepted time" with God, "and now is the day of salvation ;"--that no price, no worthiness, is required; but he may come without money, and be forgiven freely-when these things are revealed by God, which is his work, then it is that we are commanded to act faith. We are to believe the record true; embrace it, rely upon it, and venture our guilty souls on the promises made through a bleeding Saviour. It is after this act of faith, not before it, God gives the witness of the Spirit. Do you understand me? The witness, or the seal of the Spirit, is God's gift, not our act; given to all who do act faith on Jesus, and the promise made through him. But it is not given till faith be acted. If we, as penitents, had no power thus to act faith, how would God be just in declaring, "He that believeth not shall be damned?"

With respect to works after justification, can any one retain his confidence in God without them?Has he any foundation in the Scripture to do so? -God absolutely requires that we should do, do, do, (as you say,) and be, be, be: not in a meritorious sense, but as fruits of the law of love, written in our hearts, acceptable and well pleasing through Jesus Christ, and with every injunction he gives power to perform it. The power given is of grace, and the use of that power is the act of man. Again: When the Lord, by his Spirit, reveals our inbred sin, and points us to the all-cleansing blood, and to the promises to circumcise our heart, &c, it is his work wrought in us freely. But, when this light is given, we are to embrace the promises, and act faith upon them. God hath said, "I will do it." Let me ask, Do you believe he will do it in you? Hold fast that faith, then, for the promise is sure, it cannot fail; and God's time is now. Only believe. God at this moment requires an act

of faith in you. He holds out the promise, and bids you believe. But you will say, I do not feel the blessing. Poor Thomas!--Because thou hast not seen, thou wilt not believe. "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed!" But you ask, "What must I believe?" I answer, that God is faithful-that he can and will, in a moment, give you what now you do not feel: nay, you will not feel it till after you have believed. If I had given you an apple, it would not be faith to believe

had given it but, if I had promised to give you one, and to give it you instantly on your requesting it; if you then believed my promise, and took me at my word, though you did not see or handle the apple, this would be your act of faith in me. But how much more immutable the promise of a God! You cannot believe him in vain. Even suppose (which is seldom the case) you thus act faith a day or two, or longer, before you receive the witness, shall you be the worse for it? Nay, but far better for having believed: this faith will bring power into your soul, and you will sensibly feel what you never felt before; and soon you will prove the Spirit's inward testimony, that it is done unto you according to your faith. But you will say, “How is the work instantaneous, if I must wait a day or two?" I answer, the work is done the moment you believe; though the witness of the Spirit (which is not your faith, but the gift of God) be not fully given till afterward. "He that believeth" (the promise saith)" shall be saved"-from guilt, from inbred sin, and into glory.

It appears to me you labour under another mistake. You expect in being saved from sin, to be also delivered from temptation, short comings, weaknesses, and infirmities; but these are inseparable from humanity. We shall never have a perfect body till the resurrection: of consequence,

We shall

shall be liable to a thousand infirmities. never have perfect knowledge in this life; and shall therefore ever be liable to errors in judgment, &c. The perfect law of Adam would condemn these things but we are under the covenant of grace; or, in other words, under the law of love to Christ; whose blood every moment pleads for these things. May the God of peace and love teach and guide you into his perfect will, prays your affectionate cousin,

H. A. ROE.

LETTER XIX.-To the Rev. J. Wesley.

MACCLESFIELD, Oct. 15, 1779.

REV. SIR,-Since I received your last, I have had a return of the pain in my side, an oppression of my lungs, and sometimes (which I never had before) such a yellowness on my skin, that I apprehended it would turn to the jaundice. After eating and drinking, I was thrown into violent heats, and afterward into cold, fainting sweats. Then I was either in great pain at my stomach, or else so sleepy, that I could not keep my eyes open for a considerable time. But, blessed be God! I found it a sweet affliction; for never did I find Christ so precious; my evidence so clear; my will so unreservedly swallowed up in his, nor the intercourse so truly opened betwixt him and my believing soul. Hence I loved, and praised him for every pain; and, had it been his adorable will to have called me hence, how gladly should I have obeyed the joyful summons, and hasted to the presence of my beloved, my friend, my all! But seeing he still spares me a little longer, I embrace his will, and bless the merciful hand which brought me down, and hath raised me up again. I see an open field,

a boundless prospect of new delights lies open before me. I see and feel that God hath engaged all his attributes in my behalf; and in his strength I fear no cross, no shame, no enemies; for my Leader, my Captain, my King, is the Lord of hosts. His glory is my only aim, and my only happiness. O precious thought! O bliss, not imaginary, but real! not fading, but everlasting; not decreasing, but ever growing! O vast abyss of unfathomable love! And as this is my portion, so, dear sir, it is yours also. We experience it now, and shall for ever know it. On these accounts, how easy is the sight of faith! how delightful the labours of love! and how welcome the cross we bear for Him, who is our life. our strength, and our salvation!

Dear Mr. S. is still unable to go into his circuit, and I fear he will never be much better. · Cold bathing seems to do him most good; but he is very ill, especially in the mornings. His grief at not being able to travel is, I believe, a great hinderance to his recovery. My soul feels great nearness to him; for I believe he is, in a peculiar sense, beloved of God, and a faithful steward of his grace.

I hope, sir, you will remember him at the throne of grace, and that God may either restore him to his former usefulness, or else help him to be perfectly resigned to his adorable will; for you know, dear sir, that to have a soul all on fire for doing good, kept back and hindered by sickness, weakness or other bodily infirmity, must be a great temptation to the contrary. But as there are none so weak as myself, and, of consequence, who stand more in need of Divine assistance, I hope you will not cease to mention me in your prayers. In so doing you will greatly oblige, Rev. sir, your very unworthy, but most affectionate friend and servant, H. A. ROE.