June - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

To a Fl'iend in SOttl Distl·ess.65To a Friend in Soul Distressby the late Rev. vVrLLTA~'f S~'EWAR~'," Lochee, Dundee.I desire to sympathise with you in your present distress, and- would be happy to ba in any meusure instrumental inestablishing: and comforting your soul in the truth as it is inChrist. I am happy to learn that you have seen such a beautyin the 88th Psalm; none but exercised souls can understandor rC'lish it, and the most of Christian professors are entirestrangers to what it contains. There is only one way to heaven,and we may see from the 'Vord of God how Old an d NewTestament saints were led. If our exercises and experiencescoincide with these, we may conclude that we are on the roadto heaven; but if otherwise, we are on the way to hell. Thereare many in the present day who grasp at the privileges ofGod's ehildren, thoug'h they do not possess the character of such;but a sincere soul will not take the privilege without thech arnctC'l', They who are taught by the Holy Spirit, Ul'e madesensihle that thC'y are by nature children of wrath, like to thede~il, and meet for hell, and that they can do nothing to recoverthemselves; although Christ is freely offered to them in thepreaching of the gospel, yet they cannot embrace Him till theSpirit enables them. They know experimentally the redemptionwhich Christ purchased will be but a sealed fountain to themin time and eternity, unless tile Spirit apply it. The faithwhich unites the soul to Clll'ist, is the fruit of the Spirit ofGod-the result of His regenerating grace. (See John i. 12,13.) Christ by His Spirit takes the first hold of the soul, andwll('n 1.11(' Spirit enters into the dead soul, He imparts life to itby i'111 iglt1;ening the understanding, und renewing the will, andthe first :1