Chapter I: AM rejoiced, and bless God that your mind was in so happy a state,

while your body was in the midst of folly and confusion. You observe very justly, that those diversions are _absolutely_ unfit for _one_ who is seeking _salvation_. Nothing indeed can be more contrary to the _spirit_ of the _gospel_, than what the _world_ calls _polite_ amusements. What can be more absurd than for one who desires to be a _Christian_, who desires the _mind_ which was in _Christ_, who desires that _justification_ by _faith_, which alone can produce in the _heart true_ humility and meekness, deadness to the world, constant resignation to God, and fervent desire to do his will: than for such a person (_in all the_ extravagance and glare of dress) to be _swimming_ or _skipping_ about a room, and wishing to draw the attention and admiration of the most vile and profligate part of the human species? What absurdity for such a person as this to sit in that house, which is as much devoted to the devil as the church is to God, for three hours together, to hear obscenities, at which a virtuous Heathen would have blushed?――If you ask twenty of the people who do these things, whether they are Christians, nineteen of them will answer, they are Christians _to be sure_! What do you think of them? Or if they are not now quite so good as they ought to be, they hope to be better by and by! But can a soul which _truly_ seeks after salvation do these things? No certainly. And when the Spirit of God has wrought in a soul this hatred of the vanities it used to delight in, it has reason to rejoice _indeed_. What greater mark of the love of God to us, than his having thus drawn us to delight in himself? If we love a friend, we desire and strive that this friend may return our love, and joy and delight in us: and, amazing condescension! will the Creator of all things visible and invisible, the _God_ who called _angels_ and _archangels_ into _being_, thus deal with us _poor sinful_ worms? What heart can withstand such love? What heart but must at this thought sink into the dust, and lose itself in wonder, joy, and adoration? I have time for no more. _Adieu._

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BLESSED _are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted! Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled._ These are the words of the God of truth: and can you then, my dear friend, be discouraged because you are now mourning after this God, who only hides himself from you, that you may _more earnestly_ seek him?――Heaviness may endure for a night, but _joy_ cometh in the _morning_. There certainly is no heaviness like this heaviness: when a soul has been sensible (though in the _least_ degree) of the influences of the sun of righteousness, and finds his all-cheering beams withdrawn, how _painful_, how _heavy_ is the darkness! This is indeed _darkness_ that may be _felt_: but when the joy returns, what peace! What happiness! Look, my dear, on the material sun, observe how all the creation around you is _brightened_ and _gladdened_ when he shines; and be assured, that on your earnest seeking after Christ, he will in like manner shine again on _your_ soul, and make it _glad_ with the _light_ of his countenance.

_Your ever affectionate_

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_Wednesday Night, April 1754._

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_July 19, 1754._