The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-04-04
FOR THE CENTRAL PREsBTTER1AS.
LETTERS TO AN INQUIRER.
BY REV. H d. HAYES.
No. /.

Ny Dear Sir.-Your condition, as repre-.
sented in your letter TO me, is that of very
many others. Therefore l take this public
way Of answering you, hoping thus, not only
to benefit you, but them also. What you
ssy they would also say. The difficulties il
your wsy-ar the same by which they are
halted.
And now beg that you will read patiently
and prsyerfully what may say. sm con
sCiOus of being responsible for my teachings.
Therefore be assured they will be given with
care. First of sll, | must tell you csndidIy
that your mind is full of misunderstanding ,
or rather misconceptions of what is needfal
for yOu. You speak of your dead soul, y
and of your hope that God will revive it
with spiritual life in his own good time. -
Now note this expression very sttentively.
And if your letter truly represents your
feelings, | sm warranted in telling you that
you hare no " dead soul" The motions of
spiritual life appear clearly. What you have
to do Is TO recognize this fact, and nourish
that life. Do not think / sm saying too
much. And do not fear to admit the fact
which exists. The testimony of facts is pos
tive and reliable. You may trust it fully.
What many sinners really need is, not further
and startling manifestations of Gods deal
iDgs with them, but attention to what He hal
actually done and is doing in and for them
Please read that sentence over again, and 6z
it in your mind. In your case the clear ev
licences are in your own admissions, as fol
lows: g have sought Christ" '' The great
est desire of my life is to be pure Christian
in heart and deed" g desire Christianity
above all things" 81 feel that an sssur
ance that God loves me; that l am in Hll
service and pleasing HIM, would be the
greatest JOY to me" Many other expires
siOns occur which l will not repeat.
Now see how your case stands. You say
that after praying for the Holy Spirit, you
do not think He has come to you. But you
are dissatisfied with sin, and with yourself al
sinner. Your own words testify of strone
desire to be saved from the guilt and power
of sin; and to become true follower of Je
sus Christ. Think of this. Do you never
ask where all these feelings came FRONT
They are not natural to you. You did not
could not produce them, No one can do il
If left to yourself you would never have ez
perieuced them. A dead body has no car
nor feeling. A gOul dead in trespasses an
sins has no motion of spiritual life.
dead body cannot produce feeling aud motto
in ITSELF Can you not appreciate this?
What then are these feelings of which 20
speak? Evidently the Holy Spirit has com
to you, aud impaired at least some spiritua
life The pulse may thrOb family. Th
heart may beat but softly. The breath ma
only stir the sofsest down upon feather
But with only such evidences, we say, 18th
body has life. Il may not be strong, heart
life, may not be what we desire. But it wi
be, after being nourished and cared for.
the beginnings of spiritual life may as yet
far short of what We desire. What We nee
to know is whether there be any life at q
Any motion or sign of life is hopeful. Che
ism what you have and it will strengthen.
your heart has any spiritual desires, al
lOngiUgs looking toward Christ, bless G.
for 80 much, and wait on Him for more