begun on my foul, as it was all his own; and, bless him, he makes us pray for things which he defigns to give; for in every fermon you preached afterwards you brought forth the righteousness of Chrift, and made it appear plain that I had got it, and that I was safe in it.

must go a

I fhall tire you with reading my fcribble, but go a little further. In a few days after, when upon my knees begging of God to guide me and keep me humble at his feet, and telling him that I was not fit to be trufted by myfelf alone, thefe words flowed into my mind, I will inftrut thee, and lead thee in the way everlafting; which then was, and has been many times fince, a great fupport to me in times of trouble, and when under the hidings of the Lord's countenance.

Sir, I live among many who have a form of godlinefs, but I fear they are deftitute of the power; nay, I believe in my heart that fome of them hate it and them that speak of it. Sometimes I have found gratitude and thankfulness flow out to the Lord for choofing fuch an one as me out from among them, who am fo vile and ignorant, and while he hath left fo many behind that are fo wife and prudent; but they read the Bible to us, and put their own constructions on it, and speak against the doctrine that you preach, though I know it is the truth; this puzzles and frets me fo that I can fcarce bear to fit to hear it; but this I do know, that the Lord opened this door to me, and has bleffed me in it, fo that I

am

am afraid of doing any thing without feeing his hand going before me.

I have desired often to speak to you, but have been afraid to come. When I first began to write this, I was very happy in my foul, which comfort came under a difcourfe which you had preached. Then I thought I would tell you what the Lord had done for me under your ministry, but a fear of pride and prefumption feized me, fo that I gave over, and locked the scraps up; but finding the Lord precious to me foon after, I could not be fatisfied without letting you know it. I thought I would fend a few lines, but none of that which I had written before; but these words came to my mind, What I have written, I have written; fo then I began to join more to the old piece, and have blundered on thus far, but I fear in fuch a manner that you will not be able to read it; but it is the truth, and I hope you will pardon the liberty I have taken, and may the Lord bless

you and yours.

So

prays

Your humble fervant and fincere follower,

L. A.

LETTER

N 3

LETTER XXX.

To L-- A

MY SISTER AND DAUGHTER IN CHRIST JESUS,

THINE epiftle came fafe to hand-a love letter written under the influence of divine love, and is the bleffed effects of a love-vifit, and the comfortable. and fure tokens of the divine Wooer and everlafting Lover of poor perishing finners. Thou art in covenant with God, within the bonds of it, in eternal union with him. Upon the fervant, upon the handmaid, he hath poured out his Spirit. Say, Amen, and put thy feal to this-that he is true; and I fay God fhall confirm it, that the Coalheaver hath one more feal to his commiffion, one more fruit to his labour, one more jewel to his future crown of joy and rejoicing, and God fhall add to me another. daughter. Labour and travail in foul and body I do; and not a few children appear in the world as the bleffed effects of my labour in this miferable age of empty profeffion, abounding error, and fuperabounding iniquity. I have, by the good hand of my God upon me, met thee in the covenant Head,

in the unity of faith; and by the ties of love I am one with thee in the chief Corner Stone: and, if I never see thee in the flesh, I fhall meet thee with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God. Every member of the old man will annoy thee; many fnares, traps, and nets, will be fet and spread for thee by Satan. Beware of these—beware of men-but, above all, beware of the ministers of Satan, and of prefumptuous, arrogant, lascivious, and wanton profeffors, who are the filth of Zion, the chaff in the floor, the spots in our feasts, the hypocrites in the family, the allies of Satan, and the fuel of hell.-From all these may the Lord of all lords deliver thee-Amen, and amen, says

Thy willing fervant in Chrift Jefus,

Church-ftreet, Paddington.

W. H. S. S.

LETTER

N 4

LETTER XXXI.

To the Rev. Mr. HUNTINGTON,

MY DEAR SIR,

I RECEIVED your laft favour, and kindly thank you for it. I beg you would put yourfelf to no inconveniency on my account, though I much long to fee you, in hope of receiving a fecond benefit, yet I know the Lord's time is the beft. It is the greateft fatisfaction to me to hear from you, as I know not of any other friend and helper in the world befides; and truly glad am I to hear that you overcome and tread down their ftrength. Could I as clearly fee, and be as' fully perfuaded, that the Lord's hand will be feen towards me, as I am that it works for you, and will to the end, I fhould then be very happy; but unbelief makes me ftagger, and doubting the defired end brings me at times nearly to the point of giving all up, and to run away fomewhere, I know not where. But ftill here I am, moving on fo flowly that I cannot fee that I go at all; yet I can fee, by your writings, that I know more and more, and that I learn fomething daily. But furely it is light given to one whofe way is hid, and whom the

Lord