"Rev. A. Nettleton." In another letter dated June 23d, 1827, Dr. Richards says, "Your review of Mr. Finney's sermon, has gone to the very core of the business, and will surely be effective in dissipating Much of the illusion which is connected with these mournful innovations. They call it severe, but I call it just, and as timely as it is just. I think you may greatly felicitate yourself, for having written just such a thing.

These and all else you can imagine, are but shadows and similitudes (as I myself heard one upon the rack of terror of conscience cry out, in a like comparison, These are but metaphors to what I feel), and indeed unto what the thing itself is. As to say of heaven, there are rivers of pleasures, a city whereof the streets are of gold, the gates of pearl, and such like, they are but metaphorical descriptions; for it is God himself that is the fountain of life. And oppositely it is said of the wrath to come, that 'God is a consuming fire,

Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer Chapter 5 The matter of our prayer respects the depravation of our nature, and our wants on that account: The darkness and ignorance that is in our understandings; Our unacquaintedness with heavenly things; Our alienation from the life of God thereby; The secret workings of the lusts of the mind under the shade and covert of this darkness; The stubbornness, obstinacy, and perverseness of our wills by nature; Our wills' reluctance toward and dislike of spiritual things; Innumerable latent guiles arising from this reluctance. All of these keep the soul from a due conformity to the holiness of God.

Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer Chapter 1 It cannot be denied that the work and acting of the Spirit of grace in and towards believers with respect to the duty of prayer, are more frequently and expressly asserted in the Scripture, than his operations with respect to any other particular grace or duty whatever. If this were called into question, the ensuing discourse, I hope, will sufficiently vindicate and confirm its truth. But hereby believers are instructed in the importance of the duty itself, and also in the use and necessity of the aid and assistance of the Spirit of God to rightly discharge or perform it.

"But the worst is not told. The spirit of denunciation which has grown out of the mode of conducting the revivals at the West, is truly alarming. We do not call in question the genuineness of those revivals, or the purity of the motives of those who have been the most active in them. You, doubtless, are reaping and rejoicing in their happy fruits. But the evils to which I allude, are felt by the churches abroad.

He is, as thus poured out, a 'Spirit of supplications;' that is, of prayer for grace and mercy. The word is formed from chen, as the other was — to be gracious or merciful. And expressing our act towards God, it is prayer for grace — a supplication; and it is never used except to express vocal prayer, either in the assemblies of the people of God or by private persons.

The unfolding of these words, "If any of you lack wisdom," will serve greatly to ease your heart concerning that trouble. The outcome is this: that the Apostle plainly supposes true believers may both actually, and especially in their own sense and experience, find themselves greatly lacking when it comes to patience in the face of trials. And this fact alone should afford you significant relief from the common discouragements that arise in such moments.