January 5th 1884

Last night Flavel's sermons were sent here unexpected of me, and I truly feasted on them, especially where he treats on the providence of God, and also gives a clear view of temperance and drunkenness. O to put off the old man with his deeds, and to put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him! Blessed is the man Thou chastenest and makest him to learn Thy law. Poor, foolish children require sharp chastening ere they learn or lay to heart the holiness of Thy law. It may be under the shadow of death, or at the gates of death, that they begin to discover how far they are from being holy as He that called them is holy. But they will see that the law is holy, and they carnal. O wretched man that I am! how I have slumbered away my precious opportunities. O boundless mercy, He may bring them from thence to praise Him in the gates of Zion. Eternal glory and praise be to our Triune Jehovah.