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Prostrate before thy mercy seat,
I dare not, if I would, despair;
None ever perished at thy feet,

And I will lie for ever there."

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If this letter fail to be a blessing to you, it at least prove how much you are loved by your most affectionate friend and brother,

JAMES CAUGHEY.

LETTER XXXI.

TO THE SAME.

Dublin, November 5, 1841.

My dear Friend,

Your experience brings to my remembrance, a sentiment uttered by a minister of Jesus, now with God. "When a soul is convinced of sin, Jesus throws into it, a portion of that fire, if I may so speak, which was kindled in his own breast, when he died on Calvary."

You ask, and there is no doubt the inquiry agonizes you, "Why is it that I do not obtain the blessing for which I am crying to God, day and night ?" "I water my couch with my tears-they are my meat day and night." I believe Christ died for me. I endeavour to trust in the merits of the atonement, with all my heart, but the billows cease not to roll over me. The tempest agitates my soul; and there is no deliverance; no salvation; I am lost-lost for ever!" Not so, not so; hope thou in God, for thou shall yet praise him. Though deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of his waterspouts; though all his waves and

his billows go over thee; the Lord will yet command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night, his song shall be with thee, and thy prayer to the God of thy life.

But, "why is it that I do not obtain the blessing, for which I am crying to God, day and night? The reasons may be various. To impute the delay of the blessing, to any arbitrary determination, or secert purpose of God, is dangerous, and contrary to the general tenor of scripture. Whenever an individual humbly repents and unfeignedly believes the gospel, he is made, that moment, the partaker of God's converting grace. Pardon is then and there imparted; and the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, by the Holy Ghost given unto him.

I could imagine circumstances, which might seem to render necessary, a procrastination of salvation on the part of God; but I always feel afraid to utter a single sentiment, that would seem to contradict the universal applicability of that beautiful and conclusive declaration of God himself, " Behold, Now is the accepted time: behold, Now is the day of salvation." But with reverential awe, I would suggest it as a possible thing, that he may see something in your case, to justify the keeping of you for a season in your present state. The cup of penitential grief has been put into your hands, filled with the wormwood and the gall; be willing to drink it to the dregs; it must have a tendency, when you are restored, to secure your future faithfulness.

Reflect upon the past; may you not learn an important lesson from the retrospect ? Can you make any discovery of what led you into this trouble? Have you failed to detect a proneness in you, to that very sin, which has led to your apostacy? there not been many instances, in which you have felt the strongest impulses toward it, when nothing

Have

but the want of opportunity, or the controlling grace of God, could have restrained you from it? This was the sin of your nature; and, from which, the greatest danger is still to be apprehended. The Apostle calls it, “the sin which doth so easily beset us;" that to which we are most inclined, and which has the greatest influence over us. Now it would

seem, that God intends to make you feel the plague of this prevailing evil of your sinful nature, and taste the bitter consequences of its indulgence, that you may carefully avoid in future, the occasion of your present wretchedness. Temptations may yet assail you, after your adoption into the family of God; from falling into which, perhaps, nothing would contribute so effectually to save you as a terrifying remembrance of what you are now suffering. God may be teaching you the evil nature of sin, by a lesson awfully severe. I am fully persuaded salvation will come-it is very near.

"Haste, my Lord, no more delay,

Come, my Saviour, come away."

See! the arms of your compassionate Saviour are outstretched to receive you. Fly,-oh fly into those arms of everlasting love. He will not he cannot spurn you away. Can you doubt the sincerity of his invitation-" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden ?" Dare you suspect the veracity of his sacred promise-" and I will give you rest,' "him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out?" It is enough, my Lord. He does believe. He cannot doubt. He comes to thee as a helpless, guilty sinner. Oh, let him see thy face, and live.

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With sincere sympathy and deep affection, I am yours,

J. CAUGHEY.

LETTER XXXII.

TO THE SAME.

My dear Friend,

Dublin, November 13, 1841.

Your distressing case reminds me of an affecting incident connected with the explosion of the American steamer, Pulaski, a few years ago. The vessel was on her voyage from Savannah to the city of New York. In a dangerous sea, and in the dead hour of the night, the boiler burst, and about one hundred souls were launched into eternity.

The vessel was torn to pieces; and, upon a few fragments of the wreck; with the mast lying across it, a number of human beings floated out to sea. They continued to drift farther and farther from land, till nothing but sky and water met their view. During four days, the scorching sun poured his rays upon their almost naked bodies, till they were blistered. They had no food to satify the cravings of hunger; their tongues were scorched with thirst; and to drink the salt water, they knew would only increase the dreadful feeling.

A hint was given by one of the sufferers, that, in order to save themselves from death, they should cast lots who should die for the sustenance of the rest. But the idea of eating the flesh, and drinking the blood of a fellow-being, was so dreadfully repulsive, it was rejected with horror. As they were gazing intensely into the far-off horizon, they were cheered with what at first appeared a dark spot, but, which soon brightened into a sail. They raised their little flag of distress, but it was unnoticed, and the vessel disappeared. After some time, another hove in view,

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but the signal was not seen, and she vanished away. In like manner, two others appeared, but to their anguish, they also passed out of sight. Hope deferred, maketh the heart sick," says the inspired. writer; so they felt.

After several hours had elapsed, another sail appeared; it seemed as if it was pasted on the sky : soon its shape altered. The outlines of a vessel could now be traced; and to their trembling joy, seemed to be nearing them. Ah, the captain of that ship little thought how many eyes were fixed with a gaze of agony upon the white sails of his stately vessel. They hoisted their signal of distress once more, and uttered their feeble cries. But alas, she also appeared to be shaping her course in another direction. One poor fellow who had been dreadfully scalded, looked himself into despair, cried out "she is gone," and laid him down to die.

The time of extremity was God's opportunity; one eye from that vessel caught the signal: the word was passed to the deck, and resounded through the ship 66 a wreck!-a wreck! In a few moments she began to bear down towards them. One of the sufferers perceiving the change in her course, uttered the cry, "she sees us! she is coming toward us!" Nearing them rapidly, a short time only elapsed, which they employed in thanksgiving to God, when the vessel loomed up a short distance from them, and the clangour of the captain's trumpet rang over the waves, "Be of good cheer, I will save you!" I need scarcely tell you they were soon on board, filled with adoring gratitude to God, and thanksgivings to their deliverer.

I remarked in the commencement of this letter, that your state of soul reminded me of the perilous condition of these shipwrecked passengers. You were sailing onward to heaven, with a happy soul,

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