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mercy) I have never had any long-continued doubt of my interest in his saving love. Whenever darkness and distress assault me, I am enabled to look to him who is the light and consolation of Israel ; and remember that his grace is as free to me as another, and that he is as willing as ‘ able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by him.'
I send you this account, my dear brother, thus circumstantially, to let you see, if possble, that there has no uncommon temptation overtaken
you. Remember, though you walk in darkness and have no light, yet there is a gracious provision made for all such in the Gospel, in the very
nature and constitution of it in general, as well as in its precious promises and declarations in particular ; so that, if we take this Gospel just as it lies in our Bibles, we shall see that there is hot the least room for even the worst of sinners to despair. For even to the impenitent and unbelieving, the Gospel opens a remote hope, as it
is the means of leading them to repentance and producing faith : and to the awakened and sensible sinner, an immediate hope, as the means of
that holiness and comfort he seeks. The grace that saves must be entirely, absolutely, free to them ; or else in the just and full conviction of their sin and guilt, it would be impossible any of them could have hope.
You want to see more of the image of God in you, more of the saint and less of the sinner ; the desire is right and good ; but remember, were
you the purest saint on earth, that purity, though an occasion, would not be the primary ground and reason of your comfort. We are begotten
