Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/89

Rh friendship is now established between both families which will last for ever, God for ever bless you for comforting her. Ever your most affectionate friend and brother,

" — I received your dear, welcome letter on Sunday morning when I was on the castle guard. I intended answering it last night, but from having been on guard one day, and on regimental duty the next, I felt rather tired. My heart is warmed with deepest feelings of gratitude and affection towards you, and never imagine that either time, or absence, or anything else will ever cause it to diminish: and what a blessing that the anchor of our love is firmly fixed beneath the cross of Christ, for such a friendship is sure and lasting, not merely held fast by the 'silver cord' of life, which may be snapped in a moment, but imbedded in the cleft of the rock for ever. God grant, dear friend, your love for Christ and devotion to his service may be blessed, not only in winning fresh jewels for the Saviour's crown, but in imparting stronger faith and more earnest zeal in the hearts of those who have been already visited by the Holy Ghost, and melted by the Redeemer's 'agony and bloody sweat, and by his cross and passion.' I can never repay you for that onward and steadier progress which I feel that you have been instrumental, through the grace of God, in imparting to my Christian course. I should find it difficult to tell you what solid peace and elevated enjoyment I have derived from communion with my best of all earthly friends. May the gladness and sunshine of the Saviour's presence ever more and more be inwardly experienced by yon in all its glowing, quickening power and heavenly delight, as a rich foretaste of those pleasures 'which eye hath not.