To a Person of Quality.
_Madam_,
THERE is nothing more plain and simple than the way of religion. But piety makes little progress till it has no schemes of its own, no thoughts or contrivances to be any thing, but a _naked penitent_, left wholly and solely in _faith_ and _hope_ to the divine goodness.
Nothing but the life of God, wrought by his Holy Spirit within us, can be the renewal of our souls, and we shall want this renewal no longer, than whilst we are seeking it in something that is not God. The faith that ascribes all to God, and expects all from him, cannot be disappointed.
Nothing could hinder the Centurion from having that which he asked of Christ, because his heart could thus speak, _Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed_.
He that has _this sense_ of himself, and _this faith_ in God, is in the truth of religion: if we knew the goodness of this state, we should be always content with the simplicity of it, and let every thing else come and go, as it would; all is well and safe so long as the heart rests all upon God alone.
I do not wonder that the audience of Mr. ―――― is so much increased, since he has preached the doctrine of regeneration among them. All other preaching passes away as a tale that is told, and indeed is nothing better, till it enters into the things within man, brings him to a sensibility of the state of his heart, and its want of God’s Holy Spirit therein.
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