I had an eager thirsting after progress in these things, which put me upon pursuing and pressing after them.  It was my continual strife, day and night, and constant inquiry, how I should be more holy, and live more holily, and more becoming a child of God, and a disciple of Christ.  I now sought an increase of grace and holiness, and a holy life, with much more earnestness than ever I sought grace before I had it.  I used to be continually examining myself, and studying and contriving for likely ways and means, how I should live holily, with far greater diligence and earnestness than ever I pursued anything in my life; yet, with too great a dependence on my own strength—­which afterwards proved a great damage to me.”  “Mrs. Edwards had been long in an uncommon manner growing in grace, and rising, by very sensible degrees, to higher love to God, weanedness to the world, and mastery over sin and temptation, through great trials and conflicts, and long-continued struggling and fighting with sin, and earnest and constant prayer and labor in religion, and engagedness of mind in the use of all means.  This growth had been attended, not only with a great increase of religious affections, but with a most visible alteration of outward behavior; particularly in living above the world, and in a greater degree of steadfastness and strength in the way of duty and self-denial; maintaining the Christian conflict under temptations, and conquering, from time to time, under great trials; persisting in an unmoved, untouched calm and rest, under the changes and accidents of time, such as seasons of extreme pain and apparent hazard of immediate death.”

You will find accounts of similar trials and struggles in the lives of all eminent saints.  This is what we may expect.  It agrees with the Christian life, as described in God’s word.  It is “through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of heaven.”  This is the way in which you must go, if you would ever enter there.  You must make religion the great business of your life, to which everything else must give place.  You must engage with your whole soul in the work, looking to the cross of Christ for strength against your spiritual enemies; and you will come off “conqueror at last,” through him that hath loved us, and given himself for us.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER II.

The Importance of a thorough Knowledge of the Doctrines of Christianity—­means of obtaining it.

“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.”—­John 17:17.

MY DEAR SISTER,