XXXX-XX-XX_Letter-F_Sermon

The Experience of a Christian (whom we call [A?]) of the 1st Century And also of one (whom we call [B?]) of The 19 ^th century

B. Brother [A?], as you lived in the apostolic age, & I live at a time when the Church has just emerged ^[or?] partly so^ from past corruptions, suppose we relate our Christian experiences, & compare our attainments of faith [?] see how far we agree, and wherein we differ.

A. With the greatest pleasure brother B. and I will begin by saying that in my natural State I was alive without the Law once ([feel?] that all was well) but when the commandment came sin revived & I died" the command-ment which was ordained to life I found to be unto death" ie death to me as a sinner, I was then convinced that the Law is spiritual but that I and all mankind, by nature, are ''carnal, sold under sin'' see 7^th Romans. In proof of this carnality, death & bondage to sin, Read from Romans 7^th 15^th to 24^th verse inclusive, for there you have my true experience as a convicted sinner, struggling to do good & obtain salvation by the works of the Law, but eventually became discouraged & was constrained to cry out "Oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" This, you will percieve, was my second state, or ^legal^ experience, I was a "bruised reed, smoking flax" looking ^around^ for deliverance. Father Paul directed me to "Look to Jesus" that he was delivered for my offences & raised again for my justification" [&&&?]. "I attempted to do so, & was somewhat encouraged, was fearful that [tho?] he might have died for some good men, yet not for me— was told that he died for the "chief of sinners" tasted death for every man" [&?] I began to have some hope, & "a degree of faith that at some future time he would deliver me from "this body of sin & death" & I should attain happings & Heaven. (I was a little selfish) so I felt in some measure to "thank god (for my future prospects of being delivered) through Jesus Christ our Lord "& This was my third state of experience for I saw the Kingdom of Heaven at a distance, & had a hope of attaining it.

B. you have so completely described my own experience ^brother A.^ that I will only add that I feel very thankful that the apostle has left us such a correct standard of Christian experience as I find in the 7^th of Romans; for I often feel the workings of a carnal mind—find in myself a "body of sin & death" feel to cry out "Oh wretched man that I am" I can also say "I am the chief of sinners " but then I call to mind, that the most holy of men, the great Apostle Paul, had to [pass?] through the same trial

2^d. Oct. 1^[st?] 4^th

partakers of the divine nature". "search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, & they, are they, which testify of me". I did so, & found as follows "the Lord shall circumcise thy heart & of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart" (the very words of the Law itself.) why should I doubt his willingness to do it? "I will sprinkle clean water upon you & ye shall be clean from all your filthiness [&?]" why should I doubt it? [&&&?]. I went to Christ & the Apostles & was told that the Object of Christ was "that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear. I supposed unbelieving fear) in holiness & righteousness all the days of our life" Luke [1?]^[st?] Paul also told me Rom 8^[thd?] 3 [or?] 4^[th?] "that what the Law could not do (as we see in 7^th Chapter) "god sending his son [he?]" did, that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us" [&?] & he besought us Chap 12^th—"to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy & acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service". I thought within myself it could not be reasonable unless it was possible. he prayed for us,— "And the very God of peace sanctify us wholly—preserve our spirit soul & body blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ " did he not pray in faith [theright?] [J?]? certainly, because he added "Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it" what [in?] this life? certainly, for when could he preserve soul body & spirit blameless if not in this life?. Father Paul also said "that he warmed every man & taught every man that he might [prescut?] every man perfect in Christ Jesus" Our Saviour had required us to "be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, [S.?] John taught us that "if we confessed our sins (instead of denying them) God was faithful & just to forgive us our sins (and in present tense) to cleanse us from all sin, all ^[not?]^ unrighteous" [Now?] why should I not believe what Christ & the Apostles told me? Why should I not believe with my whole "heart (instead of a part of it) unto righteousness" Why should I not beleive the promise [Jer?] 29^th 13^th "And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart" or, 24^th 7^th—return unto me with their whole heart" [See?] [here?] is water said the [Eunich?], what hinders me to be baptized and Phillip said If [there?] believes) with all thine heart thou mayest" Here then I perceived I had not sought the Lord with all my heart, or I should have been imme-diately set free from the Law of sin & death fully "[srashed?] sanctified & justified in the name of the Lord Jesus & by the Spirit of our God" Cor 6^[th?] "to Here then I was brought to ponder the Subject, to "count the cost" & say within my own heart, [Can?] I exercise sufficient faith, confidence, reliance & trust in the ability & willingness of the Lord Jesus Christ too as to forsake father & Mother Sisters & Brothers Houses & Lands & all I have, even to my own life if [required?] & throw myself soul body & spirit for Time & Eternity [into?] his hands, without a shadow of doubting that he will supply all my necessities both spiritual & temporal", will be unto me "Wisdom, Righteousness, [Sanctification?] & Redemption"