I HAVE been very poorly, laid aside for a whole week, and am still very weak and feeble. Many warnings come about quitting this clay cottage, and much daubing, plastering, and new materials have been spent upon it; but the plague is in the house, the leprosy is in the walls, and the sad infection has spread itself, and therefore it must come down. The priest has looked at it again and again; it has been often shut up and opened again, still 'tis unclean, yea, utterly unclean, the plague is in the head, Levit. xiii. 44.
Old Adam, the old man, the plague of the heart, is still within; bin the new man of grace shall reign to eternal life; hence Peter calls Grace, "The grace of life;" and it is a truth, that every grace from the Lord's fulness hath eternal life in it. Quickening grace gives life to the dead, and brings us forth from insensibility, and from the sleep and cold chill of death. Hope is called a lively hope, because it looks out, labours after, and expects the good things promised to hoping souls. The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, removes the sting of death, "Oh death where is thy sting?" Being justified freely by his grace, is called justification unto life; surely if God circumcise our hearts to love him, it is clone that we may live; and every body knows that faith is no less than eternal life in hand, for, "The just shall live by faith."
Mary may see in all this, that I am mustering up all the evidences that I can, for indeed at present I am very cold, dry, and barren; so that I can fetch no comfort from his countenance, his presence, his throne, nor from his promises; but I can fetch it from some past experiences of his life-giving power; "This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me." We have the promise of being watered every moment, but what that moment means in the Holy Spirit's sense of the word, I know not. My unbelief would tell me that it is not so done in me; however, he knows the thoughts of my heart, and the desires of my soul; he knows the way that I take, and when I am tried, I hope I shall lose some dross and some tin, and if I do the gold will shine the brighter. We have get two hundred pounds for the poor young man at Brighton, and I have no doubt but we shall gather enough to finish the chapel, by the assistance of our friends at Lewes. He is gone home in high spirits, but rather concerned for the Coalheaver. Last night the old disciple with whom you lodge in town, came and took a dish of tea with me. Dear Mary, adieu.
Your's to serve,
W. H., S. S.
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