s war would
never have been commenced. If I had been allowed my way, this war
would have been ended before this; but we find it still continues,
and we must believe that he permits it for some wise purpose of
his own, mysterious and unknown to us; and though with our limited
understandings we may not be able to comprehend it, yet we cannot
but believe that he who made the world still governs it."

Somewhat later President Lincoln wrote again to Eliza P. Gurney
requesting her to exercise her freedom to write to him as he felt the
need of spiritual help and reinforcement. Her letter of reply so closely
touched him and spoke to his condition that he carried it about with him
and it was found in his coat pocket at the time of his death, twenty
months after it was written. In the autumn of 1864, President Lincoln,
still impressed by the message which he had received, wrote a memorable
letter to Eliza P. Gurney. It was as follows:

"I have not forgotten--probably never shall forget--the very
impressive occasion when yourself and friends visited me on a
Sabbath forenoon two years ago. Nor has your kind letter, written
nearly a year later, ever been forgotten. In all it has been your
purpose to strengthen my reliance on God. I am much indebted to the
good Christian people of the country for their constant prayers and
consolations; and to no one of them more than to yourself. The
purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we
erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We
hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before
this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet
acknowledge his wisdom, and our own error therein. Meanwhile we
must work earnestly in the best lights he gives us, trusting that
so working still conduces to the great ends he ordains. Surely he
intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no
mortal could make, and no mortal could stay. Your people, the
Friends, have had, and are having, a very great trial. On principle
and faith opposed to both war and oppression, they can only
practically oppose oppression by war. In this dilemma some have
chosen one horn and some the other. For those appealing to me on
conscientious grounds, I have done, and shall do, the best I could
and can, in my own