
know,
is not to
feel;
and that
Argument
and
Inclination
are, often, as opposite, as Adversaries that refuse all Means of Reconcilement.
I will suppose you, for Instance, in the Depth of your Knowledge and Extent of your Genius, the most comprehensive of all Creatures, and the widest Discoverer of the Attributes of Infinity. But what will this do for you, my
Hammy?
You may contemplate these great Objects, as Matters with which you are no way connected. You may yet repine, and curse, in secret, the particular Dispensations of that Providence; whose general Wisdom and Propriety your Philosophy admits.
GOD, with all his Omnipotence, can, no otherwise, make his Image in our Humanity happy, than by connecting us with himself; since from Him we derive our Existence, and in Him that Existence can alone be continued. And this Connection can no Way be formed, but by our Dependence upon Him. And this Dependence can, no way be made, but, by our Confidence in Him; by feeling that, in ourselves or the World around us, there is neither Footing nor Hold to save from finking for ever; and by catching at God alone for the Support of that Existence which his Bounty bestowed.
It is this Confidence, my dear Husband, which is called by the Name of FAITH, throughout the Gospel; which strengthens all Weaknesses; which heals all Diseases; which enlightens all Blindness; which may be capable of Omnipotence, by its Connection with God; and, in his Power, can perform all Manner of Wonders. At least,
Hammy,
we ought to have such a Portion, of this Faith, as might enable us to say, to the Worst that can befal, what the three
Jewish
Captives said to the King of
Assyria; Our God is able to deliver us, and he will, in Time, deliver us from all these Afflictions. But, though he should not deliver us; we will not forsake our Hold and our Confidence in him; neither bow to any Temptation that Guilt can set up.
From the Beginning to this Day, the World has ever proved a Traitor to those who trusted in it. And O, my
Hammy,
that you would join with me, in looking only to the Principle, from whence Salvation can come to a poor and impotent Creature. For all Creatures, are poor and impotent in themselves. Even the Cherubim and Seraphim, the mightiest and most exlated of the Works of Omnipotence, would be reduced to a State of Nothingness by an Independence on their Creator.
Since God,
