Spiritual Progress

And now, beloved reader, one word in conclusion, from the love of God
to you. God has led you, in his Providence, to open this book that He
may do you good. If through his infinite mercy you have had a personal
experience of the matters herein written, your heart will be filled
with thanksgiving and praise as you read. What hath God wrought! If
not, you will find many things strange, and it would not be surprising
if you should be ready to pronounce some untrue. But ah! beware of
being wise in your own conceit! The Spirit of God that searcheth the
deep things of God, alone can decide.

Do not distrust the reports of these spies whom God has sent before you
into the promised land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey; true,
the children of Anak are there, in whose sight we are but as
grasshoppers, but they are bread for us. The Lord God, He it is that
shall fight for us, and He will surely bring us into that exceeding
good land.

The natural man receiveth not the things of God, for they are
foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. If, then, you have not experienced the things
that follow, think it not strange that they should seem foolish and
false; in God's own time they shall be perceived, if you follow on to
know.

If you will be advised by one who knows nothing, and who is least in
the household of faith, you will deny nothing--reject nothing--despise
nothing, lest haply you be found fighting against God: you will receive
nothing but what is accompanied by the Amen of the Spirit of God in
your heart; all else shall be as the idle wind. Reading thus, in
absolute dependence, not upon man's wisdom or teaching, but upon the
utterances of the blessed Spirit within, you shall infallibly be guided
into all Truth. Such is the promise of Him who cannot lie. And may His
blessing rest upon you!