Sabbath Morning

            Jan 5. 1862

 

Dear Sir

                        I was very much gratified at the receipt of your fav of 24^th ult & and to know that the books came safe to hand and gave you pleasure. I entirely approve of your disposition of them.

 

            It is comparatively little that we who remain at home can do in any way to compensate the immense sacrifices of comfort and the dangers which are so freely incurred by the noble bands who have gone forth to do battle in the cause of our country. Perhaps it may be a gratification to you who are thus voluntarily perilling your lives to know that these sacrifices are appreciated by the Christians at least of our nation and that so much prayer is continually ascending for Gods protecting shield to be extended over you and especially / that you may be the recipiants of that Salvation which Our Dear Saviour died to win for you. Believe me My Dear Sir if my unworthy prayers can avail, heavens richest blessings will become the portion of our brave defenders and especially so in reference to yourself and associate officers and men of the 3^d Regiment for whom for some cause I feel more than ordinary interest. And now My Dear Sir in reference to yourself I am gratified with the expression you make of your desire for the faith and life of the Christian, and now let me ask why not make that "hope" you express an assurance a present experience, an experience of "joy unspeakable and full of glory"—You have only to turn your back on all you see to have been sinful in your past life and in sincere and heartfelt repentance accept of Jesus as your only ground of salvation & / he will receive you and grant you the full assurance of hope which is the portion of the true believer. Will you not My Dear Sir from this hour seek earnestly by prayer for the special influences of the Holy Spirit to enable you to see in his holy word all your duty and cheerfully to perform? Determine to be a Christian to day which is the only time you can call your own—Oh how I would rejoice my heart to learn that you had settled this great question and were rejoicing in a well grounded Christian hope. For this I will continue to pray. May Our Heavenly Father for Jesus Sake keep you as in the hollow of his hand and in due time return you in safety to your home a humble follower of Jesus is the sincere prayer of Your true Friend

Benjamin Dyer /

 

            I enclose a few incidents from the report of the Fulton St Prayer Meeting which may aid you in the settlement of this important question—

 

            I am aware your time must be much occupied and I do not wish you to feel under obligation to reply to this tho when perfectly convenient it will always give me pleasure to hear from you. Please make my kind regards to Col Brown with an expression of my interest in his temporal & Eternal Wellfare—

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