1803 Circular Letter of the Philadelphia Association

HOW COMFORTABLE must the reflection be to the Christian, that all the changes he meets with in this world, whether in spiritual or temporal things, are closely connected with his sanctification! To this we must attribute sickness and pain, poverty and disgrace, personal and relative afflictions, severe temptations, spiritual desertions, trials which faith and patience meet with; and, what seems most of all astonishing, that even their very backsliding, by being made the instruments of their correction, are made use of by the divine Spirit, who brings light out of darkness, order out confusion, and causes “all things work together for good to them that love God, (Rom. viii. 28.)”