Memoir of the Chisholm

34 HIS LETTERS, &C
great deal of trouble and anxiety, on account
of the great responsibility which it entails ;
yet it is by no means a thing not to be de-
sired. I think, as in a case like this, it is a
great pleasure and privilege to consider your-
selves as the channel through which the
streams of Almighty goodness so frequently
flow to mankind. It is also the peculiar pri-
vilege of the Christian to know that, even in
matters of comparatively little importance,
the eye of his God watches over him, and
observes his motions, and that He is always
willing, if he prays to Him, to guide his steps.
I have been reading a passage which I think
I may say gave me comfort on that score ;
it was in the 5th chapter of the 1st Epistle
of St. John, and the 14th or 15th verses,
where we are told that we may have such
confidence in God, that whatsoever we ask
we may believe that we shall receive it. I
very much doubt whether we always feel in-
clined to place such confidence in Him. But
however, for once at least, when I had found
an opportunity, I retired, and read these
verses, and prayed to God for encourage-
ment. I began to write my letter ; and I will