st others. I believe he spoke
truth when he said, 'I delivered the poor that cried, and the
fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him
that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart
to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not, I searched
out.' God allowed the weight of the trial to be upon his spirit, with
the conviction of his presumption, till he brought him to his feet.
'Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee?' 'I will lay my hand
upon my mouth.' 'I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' These
things were written for our example and profit.

"This afflictive providence is now finished, at least so far.
What you now possess is the allotment of your God. Set all instruments
aside and listen to the Holy Ghost: 'Humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, and he shall exalt you in due time.' In order to
this, I would recommend to you to take a close, retrospective view of
your past life, with earnest prayer that God would search you and try
you, and show you what wicked ways have been or now are in you. Go
back to the days of your youth; take a close view of the use you made
of affluence and influence; not comparing yourself with others, but
judging yourself by the law of God, the only standard of right and
wrong, truth and error. Seek for humbling views of yourself in
yourself. If the Holy Ghost enlighten, you will find sufficient
grounds. Seek for consolation in the free promises of God, through
Jesus Christ, of which there are also abundance, even to the chief of
sinners. What I recommend to you has been my own practice, especially
in times of trial; and if health will admit of it, add fasting,
because I think it is the Lord's ordinance. 'The days shall come when
the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then shall they fast in
those days.'

"Read the third chapter of Jeremiah's lamentations; endeavor to
come under the feelings of contrition on account of your sins, and
derive consolation from faith in God's great mercy; ever keeping in
view the only channel through which mercy can flow to sinners of
Adam's race. Take also a view of God's dealings with his elect nation,
in the wilderness: they had nothing but manna, and were punished for
murmuring; while at that very time the nations in Canaan, the
Egyptians, and Assyrians, were living in all manner of luxury. Wh