We thank you for your kind condolence. | you, we almost forgot you for a moment, There is a pleasure in the pity of a friend; when we thought of your next-door neighbut the Lord alone can give true comfort. I bour, and the circumstance she was in, so unhope he will sanctify the breach, and do us fit to bear either a fright or a removal. We good. Mrs. exchanges forgiveness with shall be in much suspense till we hear from you about your not meeting in London; that you. God grant that you may be able to is, you forgive her not coming to you, and she send us good news, that you are all well, forgives you entertaining a suspicious thought at least as well as can be expected after such of her friendship (though but for a minute) a distressing scene. If what has happened on account of what she was really unable to should give you more leisure, or more inclido.-I am, &c. nation to spend a little time with us, I think I need not say we shall rejoice to receive you -I am, &c. LETTER II. September 1, 1767. MY DEAR MADAM,-I shall not study for expressions to tell my dear friend how much we were affected by the news that came last post. We had, however, the pleasure to hear that your family was safe. I hope this will find you recovered from the hurry of spirits you must have been thrown into, and that both you and your papa are composed under the appointment of him who has a right to dispose of his own as he pleases; for we know, that whatever may be the second causes and occasions, nothing can happen to us but according to the will of our heavenly Father. Since what is past cannot be recalled, my part is now to pray, that this, and every other dispensation you meet with, may be sanctified to your soul's good, that you may be more devoted to the God of your life, and have a clearer sense of your interest in that kingdom which cannot be shaken, that treasure which neither thieves nor flames can touch, that better and more enduring substance which is laid up for believers, where Jesus their Head and Saviour is. With this view you may take joyfully the spoiling of your goods. LETTER III. September 17, 1767. MY DEAR MADAM,-The vanity of all things below is confirmed to us by daily experience. Amongst other proofs, one is, the precariousness of our intimacies, and what little things, or rather what nothings will sometimes produce a coolness, or at least a strangeness between the dearest friends. How is it that our correspondence has been dropt, and that, after having written two letters since the fire, which removed you from your former residence, I should be still disappointed in my hopes of an answer? On our parts I hope there has been no abatement of regard; nor can I charge you with any thing but reInissness. Therefore, waving the past, and all apologies on either side, let me beg you to write soon, to tell us how it is with you, and how you have been supported under the various changes you have met with since we saw you last. I doubt not but you have met with many exercises. I pray that they may have been sanctified to lead you nearer to the Lord, the foundation of all consolation, who is the only refuge in time of trouI think I can feel for my friends; but for bles, and whose gracious presence is abunsuch as I hope have a right to that promise, dantly able to make up every deficiency and that all things shall work together for their every loss. Perhaps the reading of this may good, I soon check my solicitude, and ask recal to your mind our past conversations, myself, Do I love them better, or could I and the subjects of the many letters we have manage more wisely for them, than the Lord exchanged. I know not in what manner to does? Can I wish them to be in safer or write after so long an interval. I would hope more compassionate hands than in his? Will your silence to us has not been owing to any he who delights in the prosperity of his ser- change of sentiments, which might make such vants, afflict them with sickness, losses, and letters as mine less welcome to you. Yet alarms, except he sees there is need of these when you had a friend, who, I think you bethings? Such thoughts calm the emotions lieved very nearly interested himself in your of my mind. I sincerely condole you; but welfare, it seems strange that in a course of the command is, to rejoice always in the Lord. two years you should have nothing to comThe visitation was accompanied with mercy.municate. I cannot suppose you have forNot such a case as that of the late Lady Molesworth's, which made every one's ears to tingle that heard it. Nor is yours such a case as of some, who, in almost every great fire lose their all, and perhaps have no knowledge of God to support them. Though our first apprehensions were for gotten me; I am sure I have not forgotten you; and therefore I long to hear from you soon, that I may know how to write; and should this likewise pass unanswered, I must sit down and mourn over my loss. As to our affairs, I can tell you the Lord has been and is exceedingly gracious to us; our lives are preserved, our healths continued, | reason to say the Lord Jesus is a good master, an abundance of mercies and blessings on and that the doctrine of free salvation, by every side; but especially we have to praise faith in his name, is a doctrine according to him that he is pleased to crown the means godliness; for through mercy I find it daily and ordinances of his grace with tokens of his effectual to the breaking down the strongholds presence. It is my happiness to be fixed of sin, and turning the hearts of sinners from amongst an affectionate people, who make an dead works to serve the living God. May open profession of the truth as it is in Jesus, the Lord give my dear friend to live in the and are enabled, in some measure, to show power and consolation of his precious truth! forth its power in their lives and conversation.I am, &c. We walk in peace and harmony. I have! LETTERS ΤΟ LETTER I. March 18, 1767. I CAN truly say, that I bear you upon my heart and in my prayers. I have rejoiced to see the beginning of a good and gracious work in you; and I have confidence in the Lord Jesus, that he will carry it on and complete it, and that you will be amongst the number of those who shall sing redeeming love to eternity. Therefore, fear none of the things appointed for you to suffer by the way; but gird up the loins of your mind, and hope to the end. Be not impatient, but wait humbly upon the Lord. You have one hard lesson to learn, that is, the evil of your own heart; you know something of it, but it is needful that you should know more; for the more we know of ourselves, the more we shall prize and love Jesus and his salvation. I hope what you find in yourself by daily experience will humble you, but not discourage you; humble you it should, and I believe it does. Are not you amazed sometimes that you should have so much as a hope, that, poor and needy as you are, the Lord thinketh of you? But let not all you feel discourage you; for if our Physician is almighty, our disease cannot be desperate; and if he cast none out that come to him, why should you fear? Our sins are many, but his mercies are more: our sins are great, but his righteousness is greater: we are weak, but he is power. Most of our complaints are owing to unbelief, and the remainder of a legal spirit; and these evils are not removed in a day. Wait on the Lord, and he will enable you to see more and more of the power and grace of our High-Priest. The more you know him, the better you will trust him: the more you trust him, the better you will love him; the more you love him, the better you will serve him. This is God's way you are not called to buy, but to beg; not be strong in yourself, but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. He is teaching you these things, and I trust he will teach you to the end. Remember the growth of a believer is not like a mushroom, but like an oak, which increases slowly indeed, but surely. Many suns, showers, and frosts, pass upon it before it comes to perfection; and in winter, when it seems dead, it is gathering strength at the root. Be humble, watchful, and diligent in the means, and endeavour to look through all, and fix your eye upon Jesus, and all shall be well. I commend you to the care of the good Shepherd, and remain, for his sake,— Yours, &c. LETTER II. May 31, 1769. I was sorry I did not write as you expected, Id but I hope it will do now. Indeed, I have not forgotten you; you are often in my thoughts, and seldom omitted in my prayers. I hope the Lord will make what you see and hear while abroad profitable to you, to increase your knowledge, to strengthen your faith, and to make you from henceforth well satisfied with your situation. If I am not mistaken, you will be sensible, that though there are some desirable things to be met with in London preferable to any other place, yet upon the whole, a quiet situation in the country, under one stated ministry, and in connexion with one people, has the advantage. It is pleasant now and then to have opportunity of hearing a variety of preachers, but the best and greatest of them are no more than instruments; some can please the ear better than others, but none can reach the heart any farther than the Lord is pleased to open it. This he showed you upon your first going up, and I doubt not but your disappointment did you more good than if you had heard with all the pleasure you expected. The Lord was pleased to visit me with a slight illness in my late journey. I was far from well on the Tuesday, but supposed it owing to the fatigue of riding, and the heat of the weather; but the next day I was taken. with a shivering, to which a fever succeeded. I was then near sixty miles from home. The Lord gave me much peace in my soul, and I was enabled to hope he would bring me safe home, in which I was not disappointed; and though I had the fever most part of the way, my journey was not unpleasant. He likewise strengthened me to preach twice on Sunday; and at night I found myself well, only very weary, and I have continued well ever since. I have reason to speak much of his goodness, and to kiss the rod, for it was sweetened with abundant mercies. I thought that, had it been his pleasure I should have continued sick at Oxford, or even have died there, I had no objection. Though I had not that joy and sensible comfort which some are favoured with, yet I was quite free from pain, fear, and care, and felt myself sweetly composed to his will, whatever it might be. Thus he fulfils his promise in making our strength equal to our day; and every new trial gives us a new proof how happy it is to be enabled to put our trust in him. I hope, in the midst of all your engagements, you find a little time to read his good word, and to wait at his mercy-seat. It is good for us to draw nigh to him. It is an honour that he permits us to pray; and we shall surely find he is a prayer-hearing God. Endeavour to be diligent in the means; yet watch and strive against a legal spirit, which is always aiming to represent him as a hard master, watching as it were to take advantage of us. But it is far otherwise. His name is Love; he looks upon us with compassion; he knows our frame, and remembers that we are but dust; and when our infirmities prevail, he does not bid us despond, but reminds us that we have an advocate with the Father, who is able to pity, to pardon, and to save to the uttermost. Think of the names and relations he bears. Does he not call himself a Saviour, a shepherd, a friend, and a husband? Has he not made known unto us his love, his blood, his righteousness, his promises, his power, and his grace, and all for our encouragement? Away, then, with all doubting, unbelieving thoughts; they will not only distress your heart, but weaken your hands. Take it for granted, upon the warrant of his word, that you are his and he is yours; that he has loved you with an everlasting love, and therefore in loving-kindness has drawn you to himself; that he will surely accomplish that which he has begun, and that nothing which can be named or thought of shall ever be able to separate you from him. This persuasion will give you strength for the battle; this is the shield which will quench the fiery darts of Satan; this is the helmet which the enemy cannot pierce. Whereas, if we go forth doubting and fearing, and are afraid to trust any farther than we can feel, we are weak as water, and easily overcome. Be strong, therefore, not in yourself, but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Pray for me, and believe me to be,-Yours, &c. LETTER III. March 14, I THINK you would hardly expect me to write if you knew how I am forced to live in London. However, I would have you believe I am as willing to write to you as you are to receive my letters. As a proof, I try to s nd you a few lines new, though I am writing to you and talking to Mrs. both at once; and this is the only season I can have to change a few words with her. She is a woman of a sorrowful spirit; she talks and weeps. I believe she would think herself happy to be situated as you are, notwithstanding the many advantages she has at London. I see daily, and I hope you have likewise learned, that places and outward circumstances cannot of themselves either hinder or help us in walking with God. So far as he is pleased to be with us, and teach us by his Spirit, wherever we are we shall get forward; and if he does not bless us and water us every moment, the more we have of our own wishes and wills, the more uneasy we shall make ourselves. One thing is needful; an humble, dependent spirit, to renounce our own wills, and give up ourselves to his disposal without reserve. This is the path of peace, and it is the path of safety; for he has said, The meek he will teach his way, and those who yield up themselves to him he will guide with his eye. I hope you will fight and pray against every rising of a murmuring spirit, and be thankful for the great things which he has already done for you. It is good to be humbled for sin, but not to be discouraged; for though we are poor creatures, Jesus is a complete Saviour; and we bring more honour to God, by believing in his name, and trusting his word of promise, than we could do by a thousand outward works. I pray the Lord to shine upon your soul, and to fill you with all joy and peace in be lieving. Remember to pray for us, that we may be brought home to you in peace.-I am, &c. LETTER IV. London, August 19, 1775. You see I am mindful of my promise, and glad should I be to write something that the Lord may be pleased to make a word in season. I went yesterday into the pulpit very dry and heartless. I seemed to have fixed upon a text; but when I came to the pinch, it was so shut up that I could not preach from it. I had hardly a minute to choose, and therefore was forced to snatch at that which came first upon my mind, which proved 2 Tim. i. 12. Thus I set off at a venture, having no resource but in the Lord's mercy | complain; and to those who seek him, his and faithfulness; and, indeed, what other can sovereignty is exercised in a way of grace. we wish for! Presently my subject opened, All shall work together for good; every thing and I know not when I have been favoured is needful that he sends; nothing can be with more liberty. Why do I tell you this? needful that he withholds. Be content to Only as an instance of his goodness, to en- bear the cross; others have borne it before courage you to put your strength in him, and you. You have need of patience; and if you not to be afraid, even when you feel your ask, the Lord will give it; but there can be own weakness and insufficiency most sensibly. no settled peace till our will is in a measure We are never more safe, never have more subdued. Hide yourself under the shadow reason to expect the Lord's help, than when of his wings; rely upon his care and power; we are most sensible that we can do nothing look upon him as a physician who has grawithout him. This was the lesson Paul ciously undertaken to heal your soul of the learned, to rejoice in his own poverty and worst of sickness, sin. Yield to his preemptiness, that the power of Christ might rest scriptions, and fight against every thought upon him. Could Paul have done any thing, that would represent it as desirable to be Jesus would not have had the honour of doing permitted to choose for yourself. When you all. This way of being saved entirely by cannot see your way, be satisfied that he is grace, from first to last, is contrary to our your leader. When your spirit is overnatural wills; it mortifies self, leaving it whelmed within you, he knows your path; nothing to boast of, and through the remains he will not leave you to sink. He has apof an unbelieving, legal spirit, it often seems pointed seasons of refreshment, and you shall discouraging. When we think ourselves so find he does not forget you. Above all, keep utterly helpless and worthless, we are too close to the throne of grace. If we seem to ready to fear that the Lord will therefore get no good by attempting to draw near him, reject us; whereas, in truth, such a poverty we may be sure we shall get none by keeping of spirit is the best mark we can have of an away from him.-I am, &c. interest in his promises and care. How often have I longed to be an instrument of establishing you in the peace and hope of the gospel! and I have but one way of attempting it, by telling you over and over of the power and grace of Jesus. You want nothing to make you happy, but to have the eyes of your understanding more fixed upon the Redeemer, and more enlightened by the Holy Spirit to behold his glory. O! he is a suitable Saviour! He has power, authority, and compassion, to save to the uttermost. He has given his word of promise to engage our confidence, and he is able and faithful to make good the expectations and desires he has raised in us. Put your trust in him; believe, as we say, through thick and thin, in defiance of all objections from within and without. For this Abraham is recommended as a pattern to us. He overlooked all difficulties, he ventured and hoped even against hope, in a case which, to appearance, was desperate; because he knew that he who had promised was able to perform. Your sister is much upon my mind; her illness grieves me; were it in my power, I would quickly remove it. The Lord can, and I hope he will, when it has answered the end for which he sent it. I trust he has brought her to us for good, and that she is chastised by him, that she may not be condemned with the world. I hope, though she says little, she lifts up her heart to him for a blessing. I wish you may be enabled to leave her and yourself, and all your concerns, in his hands. He has a sovereign right to do with us as he pleases; and if we consider what we are, surely we shall confess we have no reason to LETTER V. I PROMISED you another letter, and now for the performance. If I had said, it may be, or, perhaps I will, you would be in suspense; but if I promise, then you expect that I will not disappoint you, unless something should render it impossible for me to make my word good. I thank you for your good opinion of me, and for thinking I mean what I say; and I pray that you may be enabled more and more to honour the Lord, by believing his promise; for he is not a man that he should fail or change, or be prevented by any thing unforeseen from doing what he has said. And yet we find it easier to trust to worms than to the God of truth. Is it not so with you? And I can assure you it is often so with me. But here is the mercy, that his ways are above ours, as the heavens are higher than the earth. Though we are foolish and unbelieving, he remains faithful; he will not deny himself. I recommend to you especially that promise of God, which is so comprehensive, that it takes in all our concernments, I mean, that all things shall work together for good. How hard is it to believe, that not only those things which are grievous to the flesh, but even those things which draw forth our corruptions, and discover to us what is in our hearts, and fill us with guilt and shame, should in the issue work for our good! Yet the Lord has said it. All your pains and trials, all that befals you in your own person, or that affects you upon the |