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218 . LETTERS.
in the winter’s night,” and one day also you will verify
this.
15th October, 1841.
I do not know whether, at this moment, you are inclined
for any deeper meditations. A suffering mind is¢often
more pained than soothed by contemplating abstract sub-
jects. But I will lay before you only one reflection, which
I think is full of consolation. You spoke last of the
“natural religion,” and of your intention to adhere to it, as
the true one. But tell me, dearest Frances, what comfort
could you derive from it in the present case? What
answer could it give you to your questions about your little
child? Would it not answer: God is great and wise.
He has in his wisdom ordained, that a certain number of
individuals shall be born and that a certain number shall
die every year amongst the species inhabiting the earth,
be they sparrows or human beings; because for the main-
tenance and improvement of the species the individuals of
each must be sacrificed; for the benefit of the whole the
individual must give way. ‘ God is great!
Hear now revealed religion in the words of Christ : —
God is great and good. His eternal laws of order
govern the world in the great as in the little; in the gen-
eral as in the minute. While generations are continued
upon earth, the individuals disappear from it, but not from
the kingdom of God’s love. “ No sparrow falls to the ground
without your Father’s will and knowledge. And man
is of more value than many sparrows. But the very hairs
of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore
misery or death, for God is love.”’ Oh! my dear Frances,
is not this a more consolatory doctrine and more worthy
our higher notions of God? So also is every thing in re-
vealed religion, which is the fulfillment and perfection of
the natural religion.
jth November.
Suffering and anguish have long appeared to me as the
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