from sin, and sinful apathy in particular, for really my heart must be wickedly fertile, to find out opportunities of moral transgression. Food and raiment are mine, without care; my children under God, care for me. I have my dear little room, my Bible and books founded on it. I have a dear Pastor, and Christian friends, lively ordinances, and also much of the Lord's presence at times; my cup runs over with blessings, but my gratitude bears no proportion; my zeal for the glory of God, and the good of my fellow-sinners, buried under self-indulgence and apathy. O that the goodness of the Lord may lead me to repentance!

And now; my dear friend, let me know how it is with you and your dear family. The severe winter is past; how have you got along? with what temporal comfort, and how has the Lord dealt with your soul? Has the barrel of meal, or the cruise of oil failed? Does the opening spring cheer your spirits, and furnish a song of praise? Does it find you in a situation to dig your garden, sow your seeds, and make provision for future comfort? Has the Lord turned your captivity, and dried up the bitter waters that flowed against you? How are your dear eyes, after all the briny tears that have steeped them? How are your poor nerves, after all the shocks that have agitated them? All these things have been on my mind; but from my long silence, you cannot believe it. What are we all, but broken reeds, which pierce the hand when laid hold of, for support? There is but one Friend to poor, fallen, miserable man, in the universe. He is mercy; He is goodness; He is Truth; He is wisdom; He is unchangeable, and never will fail you; take him to your heart; give it all to him; he only is worthy, no other is.

June 27, 1811.

I RECEIVED my dear friend's letter this day week, and have been answering it ever since. Never was I in such a strait. It contains the effusions of disappointed hopes and anticipations of sore evils; indicates a soul deeply wounded, and taking in Christian principles, under temptation. Where shall I begin? I have laid it before our compassionate High Priest, I have requested direction. Assist me, O thou blessed Comforter! whose office it is to convince of sin, as well as to minister consolation! Do both, from the heart, and by the pen of thy handmaid.

It appears to me salutary, to call your attention first to the sovereignty of God. The silver and the gold are his, and the cattle on a thousand hills; he gives them to whomsoever he pleases; he setteth up one and putteth down another, doing whatsoever pleaseth him in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of this earth; none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou? He attributes to himself all events; men and other creatures are but instruments. Men's wicked hearts impel them to commit evil, but the events are of the Lord, which he over-rules for his own glory, and for the good of his people. Him being delivered by the foreknowledge and counsel of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified him. Joseph said, ye meant it for evil, but God for good, to save much people alive, as at this day. The Lord does not often, at the time, give his people reasons for afflicting them, though they can often read them at an after period.

Job was a holy man; his afflictions from God's own hand were very deep; the teasing unkindness and injustice of his friends made great part of the temptation, and he spoke unadvisedly with his lips. When God

did appear, he did not answer his cavils, nor give him one reason why he had dealt with him thus; but silenced him with views of his majesty, power and wisdom; of his own meanness and vileness, though comparatively correct in his conduct, beyond most others. I believe he spoke truth when he said, I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and the cause that I knew not, I searched out. God allowed the weight of the trial to be upon his spirit, with the conviction of his presumption, 'till he brought him to his feet. Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth, &c. I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. These things were written for our example and profit.

This afflictive providence is now finished, at least so far. What you now possess is the allotment of your God. Set all instruments aside, and listen to the Holy Ghost-Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and he shall exalt you in due time. In order to this, I would recommend to you to take a close retrospective view of your past life, with earnest prayer, that God would search you and try you, and show you what wicked ways have been, or now are in you. Go back to the days of your youth; take a close view of the use you made of affluence and influence, not comparing yourself with others; but judging yourself by the law of God, the only standard of right and wrong, truth and error. Seek for humbling views of yourself in yourself. If the Holy Ghost enlighten, you will find sufficient grounds. Seek for consolation in the free promises of God, through Jesus Christ, of

which there are also abundance, even to the chief of sinners. What I recommend to you has been my own practice, especially in times of trial, and if health will admit of it, add fasting; because I think it is the Lord's ordinance. The days shall come when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, then shall they fast in those days.

Read the third chapter of Jeremiah's lamentations; endeavour to come under the feelings of contrition, on account of your sins, and derive consolation from faith in God's great mercy; ever keeping in view the channel through which mercy can only flow to sinners of Adam's race. Take also a view of God's dealings with his elect nation, in the wilderness; they had nothing but manna, and were punished for murmuring; while at that very time, the nations in Canaan, the Egyptians, and Assyrians, were living in all manner of luxury. What was their whole history but backsliding, threatening upon threatening? then chastisement, turning, repenting, pardon, reconciliation, and the same round again, every chastisement severer than the last; while worldlings in general, have their day to the end; then, says David, they are cast down suddenly to destruction. I wish you to take a particular view of God's dealings with them, before Nebuchadnezzar sacked the city of Jerusalem. The decree was past, after many warnings, and much long suffering. How many pauses, as it were, did the merciful Lord God make before he gave them finally up to their enemies ; and when the decree was irrevocable, and the chastisement to take place, still he followed them with mercy. See Jeremiah xxvii. 12, and chap. xxix: the letter which God commanded Jeremiah to write to those who had been carried away captive with Je

hoiakim, advising them to build houses and plant vineyards, and to make the most of their situation. Those at Jerusalem were commanded to submit to the king of Babylon, as in that case he would not destroy the city but no, they stood it out, and the threatened vengeance overtook them.

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The poor were left to take care of the vineyards, &c. Jeremiah remained with them in preference to going with the king of Babylon to be promoted to honour. God offered to take them under his protection, and be their God: but no, they would go to Egypt, and put themselves under the king of Egypt's protection. Jeremiah told them from the Lord, that Egypt itself should soon go into captivity. But to Egypt they went, and carried Jeremiah with them. Isaiah's prophecy on this occasion, chapter xxxv. 31. Now look at chapter lxii. 24: there you see God's judgment and chastening; follow him in the beginning of chapter lxiii. and view his mercy; in the end of the same chapter, again, see his charge against them: but O, it is followed with mercy, not judgment. Thus we learn the character of God. Thus we learn his dealings with his people. They are not called to earthly comfort and prosperity. They ever have been, and still are, a suffering people; they are all sinners-sin brings suffering, and God overrules suf- / fering, so as to make it profitable to them. Though redeemed by the life and death of Christ, being justified by faith, they have peace with God: yet the Lord has not pleased all at once to qualify them for the purchased possession. They receive a new birth, new life, and are called to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, with this consolation, that God worketh in them, both to will, and to do, of his good