I HOPE faith and patience will hold out; the furnace is to try these, but grace and truth can stand the fire, and all counterfeit coin dissolves. It distinguishes between speculative and experimental knowledge; between an assent of the mind, and faith in the heart; between a good, and a false hope; and between the joys of elated nature, and that of the Holy Ghost. The furnace always dashes presumption and conscience out of countenance, and stops the mouth of all prayer, but that of the Spirit of supplication. In the worst of hours, we are sure of support; if no joy, no peace, no love, no comfort, yet we are sure of strength; "As thy days, so shall thy strength be:" and our evidences are more clear, faith more strong, and the peaceable fruits of righteousness more abundant afterwards. The furnace is not joyous, but grievous, neither are they any pleasure to God; but their is a needs be for them, and depraved nature cannot do without them; and the promise is, that the branch purged shall bring forth more fruit.
I have remembrance of thee in every prayer of mine, making request in thy behalf; and am fully persuaded of thy deliverance in God's own time. Farewell, be of good comfort, for they that fear God shall come forth of them all.
Your's affectionately,
W. H., S. S.
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