Petersburg, Va.
Sept. 13th 1862
Gen Jno H. Cocke
My Dear Bro
Your very kind letter of the 6th inst reached
me, and I cannot deny myself the desire to reply. I was truly glad to hear
from you, & thankful that it is as well with you as it is. The kind providence of
God has been over you , and you are still a monument of his mercy.
I doubt not, that we shall be deeply impressed hereafter, that we have
not been more deeply impressed with the goodness of God, even when
afflicted. You have seen and experienced much of his goodness and
mercy. amid all your afflictions, you can say with the Ps, when
he exclaimed, why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in
God for I shall yet praise Him–Here is the antidote for all our
trials, sorrows and afflictions in this life. This is the grand point
of difference between the experience of the saint and the sinner.
The blessed Gospel does not save us from the sorrows & disappointments
of this life–the christian often feels more keenly and more deeply
the adverse providences of God in his history. But he can
realize the precious promise, “As thy days are, so shall they strength
be.”—–I agree with you, in the intimation of your letter, that
great events are at hand, that the present movement will develop
other revolutions, the end of which, we may not be able to see at present.
Yet God will take care of his own elect children and the great
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purposes he has for his church. The present revolution is wonderful
in all respects. to see this one might Empire, this great and
all powerful nation divided and embroiled in civil war,
is marveleous[sic] indeed. that it will end with the mere establishment
of our Confederacy, I have not for a moment believed. I cannot
doubt, like you, & never have doubted the ultimate results, so
far as it regarded the success of the South, but I have seen,
I think, moral results rising out of this great struggle, that
will most deeply affect the condition of the religious world.
One of these grad results will be, in my humble judgment,
in bringing into a closer and more harmonious relation and
union, the different branches of Christs spiritual body.
I cannot think, as we advance towards the end of all things,
that we will diverge farther from one another. In the
providence of God, we have, as a people, been thrown fully
together in our sympathies, plans, purposes and aims.
And I am truly thankful to observe, that there is pervading
our Rulers a spirit of piety, and a desire to recognise
the Infinite One in human events–Like Nehemiah, they
seem do make their prayer unto their God, for our God will
fight for us (Nehemiah 4 chap). If then, we are one in
temporal things, beyond what we ever been before, and
our God is moving upon our hearts in this great
work, I cannot but believe, that, as he desires his people to be one
in a more important sense, We will put it into our
hearts to draw nearer to each other with greater fellowship
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christian love–O if this shall be the result of this great struggle,
we may feel assured,that God is in the work.============
I am happy to say, that the work of conversion is still progressing in
our Hospitals. I think, that almost every day, we can hear of some
one being converted to a saving knowledge of the truth. The influence
of Yr acts is greatly felt – “The Evangelical Society of Petersburg” is doing
a great and good work. This Society is represented by the different
churches and denomanations[sic] –nothing denomanational
is allowed to be circulated, nothing but christian truth, such
as we all believe–It is very much like the Am Tract Society.
It is not known much in the South–It seems to work its
way into all classes with good effect. Its tracts are cheap,
and largely does it give away to the Army. Its funds are
limited–Yet it is gathering friends, who contribute funds
that it may more effectually publish and circulate Tracts
in the army.=====
I hear of still further devastation in my community,
Williamsburg–The people are suffering very much–
I hope they will soon be relieved–It is altogether likely
that I shall never return to settle there again.
Circumstances are such as to forbid it–
I have been thinking much about a change.
I know not however where I may be settled after
the War, or even before–I am fully satisfied that
it will be my duty to settle int he Pastorate, whenever
God in his providence may open a field of labor.
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How are the churches in your section? Are they
supplied? Your section has occured to my mind.
Perhaps you could give me some advice on
the subject, which I would most gladly receive–
Should you desire to make a small
contribution to this Society to aid it in the work
of distributing tracts, you could send it to your
friend Mr McCandish, or myself, and a
receipt for the same would be sent to you–
Mrs Young desires to be kindly remembered to
you, and would be glad to see you once more,
as well as myself–I shall be most happy to
hear from you at any time–
Your Friend & Bro
Wm. M. Young
MSS 640