difficulties; indeed, I should soon make sad work of it without his continual help, and should have reason to tremble every moment, if he did not maintain in me a humble confidence, that he will help me to the end. He bid sme, "Fear not;" and at the same time he says, "Happy is the man that feareth always." How to fear, and not to fear, at the same time, is I believe, one branch of that secret of the Lord which none can understand but by the teaching of his Spirit.. When I think of my heart, of the world, of the pow. ers of darkness, what cause of continual fear, I am on an enemy's ground, and cannot move a step but some snare is spread for my feet. But when I think of the person, grace, power, care, and faithfulness of my Saviour, why may I not say, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. I wish to be delivered from anxious and unbelieving fear, which weakens the hands, and disquiets the heart. I wish to increase in a humble jealousy and distrust of myself, and of every thing about me; I am imperfect in both respects, but I hope my desire is to Him who has promised to do all things for me.

Your desire for the mortification of self, in every view and form, is, I hope, mine likewise. Yet I would regulate it by the word of God, so as not to expect more than is promised. I cannot properly expect a perfect exemption from conflict, because I believe it is the will of God I should have something to conflict with while I am here. To be sensible of the motions of sin in me, watchful against them, humbled for them, this I desire; and I believe the more I advance in grace, the more feelingly I shall say, "Behold, I am vile." But desirable and precious as sanctification is, it is not, I trust it will never be, the ground of my hope. Now were I as sinless as an angel in glory, could I have a better

ground of hope than I have at present. For acсерtance, I rely (oh that I indeed did,) simply, wholly, and solely, upon the obedience unto death of my surety. Jesus is my righteousness, my life, and my salvation. I am still a sinner; but he who knew no sin was made sin for me, that I might be the righteousness of God in him. This right to eternal life, by believing in the Son of God, is, in my view, equal in all who do so believe, and as perfect and sure when they first believe, as at the last moment of life; as perfect and sure in the thief on the cross, as in an apostle or martyr. An infant is as truly alive as a grown person, though all his members and faculties are in a state of weakness. Therefore with respect to my acceptance, I would put my graces as much out of the question as my actual sins. That word suited me at first, and will suit me to the end-"To him that work"eth not, but believeth on him who justified the " ungodly."

This morning (May-day) I preached for Mr. R a sermon to young people; it reminded me a little of my annual new-year's serinon at ; but though I had some liberty, I feel a difference between speaking to one's own children, and those of another. They were my own proper charge, and the concern of their souls was laid upon me with a peculiar weight.

I am, dear sir, &c.

MY DEAR SIR,

LETTER II.

Dec. 3, 1780.

THE Lord is risen indeed. This is his day, when we are called to meet in his house, and (we in this branch of his family) to rejoice at his table. I meant to write yesterday, but could not. I trust it is not unsuitable to the design and privilege of this day, to give you a morning salutation in his name; and to say, Come magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. If I am not mistaken, I have met you this morning already. Were you not at Gethsemane? have you not been at Golgotha? did I not see you at the tomb? This is our usual circuit, yours and mine, on these mornings, indeed every morning; for what other places are worth visiting? what other objects are worth seeing? Oh this wonderful love ! this blood of sovereign efficacy! the infallible antidote which kills sin, cures the sinner, gives sight to the blind, and life to the dead. How often have I known it turn sorrow into joy.

O thou Saviour and Sun of the soul, shine forth this morning, and cheer and gladden all our hearts. Shine upon me and mine, upon all whom I love, and on all who love thee! Shine powerfully on my dear friends at, and let us know that, though we are absent from each other, thou art equally near to, us all.

I must to breakfast, then dress, and away to court.. Oh for a sight of the King! and oh to hear him speak! for his voice is music, and his person is beauty. When he says, Remember me, and the heart hears, what a train of incidents is at once revived!-from the manger to the cross, what he said, what he did, how he lived, how he loved, how he died; all is marvellous, affecting, humbling, transporting! I think I know what I would be, and what I would do too if I could. How near would I get, how low would I fall, how would I weep and sing in a breath, and with what solemn earnestness would I recommend him to my fellow sinners. But, alas! when I would do good, evil is present with me..

Pray for me, and help me likewise to praise the Lord, for his mercies are new every morning and every moment.

I am your affectionate.

LETTER III.

MY DEAR SIR,

January 8, 1781.

IN my peregrinations to-day, I saw Mr. L, Mr. R, and Mrs. G; Mr. G called here while I was abroad, so that I missed hearing your letter to him, but he read it to my dear; and I have seen a copy of your son's letter.

I understand your views and feelings so well, that my letter will not have such an air of condolence as some people might expect on a like occasion. The first thing that strikes me respecting your personal concern in the late awful calamity, calls rather for congratulation. I see your beloved son preserved in the midst of general ruin; in his preservation I see the immediate, the wonderful hand of the Lord stretched out; I consider it as answer to your prayers; I humbly hope it is a token of further good respecting him, and that the restraining word, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, is applicable to his case. 1 find, likewise, that but one life was lost on your estate, which, to a mind like yours, I am sure is an alleviating circumstance. For the rest, I am sure you have lost nothing but what He, if he sees it good, can restore with a large increase; nothing that is directly necessary to your peace and comfort, even in the present life; nothing that is

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worth naming when compared to that which you love above all. You may still, and I trust you will, find the Lord as near, as gracious, and the light of his countenance as sweet, as cheering as ever. And you have an estate in a kingdom which cannot be shaken, out of the reach of earthquakes, hurricanes, and enemies. Indeed you do not think you have lost any thing in strictness of speech, because you have been taught of God not to consider any thing you possess as properly your own. You feel yourself the Lord's servant and steward, and whether he is pleased to enlarge or abridge the talents he has entrusted to your care, your chief solicitude in either case, is to be faithful to every inti mation of his will. I believe that if the whole pro. duce of Jamaica centred in your warehouses, the Lord would not permit you to forget that you are a stranger and pilgrim upon earth; and I believe if you were not to receive a pepper corn from it in future, he would still make you happy in himself,

I judge thus for what he has done for you already; he has given you a taste and a desire which nothing but himself can satisfy; he has shown you the secret of his holy religion; and by leading you to fix your dependence upon him, has raised you to a noble state of independence with regard to creatures and contingencies, which are all in his hand, and can do us neither good nor harm but of his bidding.

Barbadoes and Martinico, it seems, have suffered still more. It is observable, that during the whole summer, while we and the French had large fleets in those seas, the Lord would not permit them to do any considerable harm on either side. He was pleased to take the business into his own hands, and has shown us how easily he can strike such a blow as shall constrain even enemies to commiserate each other,