the grave knows. I have been many times, since I saw you, that I have besought the Lord to loose her out of the body, and to take her to her rest. I believe the Lord's tide of afflictions will ebb again; but at present I am exercised with the wrestlings of God, being afraid of nothing more than this, that God has let loose the tempter upon my house. God rebuke him and his instruments. Because Satan is not cast out but by fasting and prayer, I entreat you remember our condition to our Lord, and entreat all good Christians, whom you know, but especially your Pastor, to do the same. It becomes us still to knock, and to lie at the Lord's door, while we die knocking. If he will not open, it is more than he has said in his word; but he is faithful. I look not to reach my home without wounds and blood. Welcome, welcome cross of Christ, if Christ be with it. I have not a calm spirit in the work of my calling here, being daily chastised; yet God hath not put out my candle, as he does to the wicked. Grace, grace be with you and all yours. Yours in his Lord, S. R. Anwoth. To MARION MACNAUGHT. (12.) Mistress, My love in Christ remembered. At the desire of the bearer, whom I love, I thought to request you, if you can help his wife with your advice, for she is in a most dangerous and deadly-like condition; for I have thought she was far changed in her car riage and life this some time past, and had hope that God would have brought her home; and now by appearance she will depart this life, and leave a number of children behind her. If you can be entreated to help her, it is a work of mercy. My own wife is in exceeding great illness night and day. Pray for us, for my life was never so wearisome to me. God hath filled me with gall and wormwood; but I believe (which holds up my head above the water) "It is good for a man," saith the Spirit of God, "that he bear the yoke in his youth." I do remember you: I pray you be humble and believe. The grace of Jesus be with your husband and children. Yours in our Christ, Anwoth. S. R. TO MARION MACNAUGHT. (13.) Well-beloved Sister, My love in Christ remembered. My brother writeth to me of your heaviness, and of temptations that I am content it be so; you press you sore. bear about with you the marks of the Lord Jesus: so was it with our Lord's apostle, when he was to come with the gospel to Macedonia, 2 Cor. vii. 5. His flesh had no rest, he was troubled on every side, and knew not what side to turn him to; without were fightings, and within were fears. In the great work of our redemption, your glorious friend, and well-beloved, Jesus, was brought to tears and strong cries, so that his face was wet with tears and blood, arising from a holy fear and the weight of the curse. I wonder many times, that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them. Therefore I request you in the Lord, pray for a submissive will; and pray, as your Lord Jesus bids you, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." And let it be that your faith be tried with temptation; believe you, that there is a tree in our Lord's garden that is not often shaken with the wind from all the four quarters? surely there is none. Rebuke your soul, as the Lord's prophet doth, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul! why art thou disquieted within me?" In your temptations, run to the promises. Faint not, you shall see the salvation of God; else say, that God never spake his word by my mouth: and I had rather never been born, ere it were so with me: but my Lord hath sealed me. I dare not deny, I have also been in heaviness since I came from you, fearing for my unthankfulness that I am deserted; but the Lord will be kind to me, whether I will or not. I repose that much in his rich grace, that he will be loath to change concerning me. As you love me, pray for me in this particular. I recommend you to the Lord's grace, and your husband and children; the Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Yours in the Lord, S. R. Edinburgh. Mistress, A POSTSCRIPT. I HAD not time to give my advice to your daughter Grissel, you shall carry my words therefore to her. Show her now, that, in respect of her tender age, she is in a manner as clean paper, ready to receive either good or ill; and that it were a sweet and glorious thing for her to give herself up to Christ, that he may write upon her his Father's name, and his own new name. And desire her to acquaint herself with the Book of God; the promises that our Lord writes upon his own, and performeth in them and for them, are contained there. I persuade you, when I think that she is in the company of such parents, and hath occasion to learn Christ, I think Christ is wooing her soul; and I pray God she may not refuse such a husband; and therefore I charge her, and beseech her by the mercies of God, by the wounds and blood of him who died for her, by the word of truth, which she heareth and can read, by the coming of the Son of God to judge the world, that she would fulfil your joy, and learn of Christ, and walk in Christ. She shall think this the truth of God many years after this; and I will promise to myself, in respect of the beginnings that I have seen, that she shall give herself to him that gave himself for her. Let her begin at prayer; for if she remember her Creator in the days of her youth," he will claim kindness to her in her old age: it shall be a part of my prayers, that this may be effectuated in her, by him who is able to do exceeding abundantly. To whose grace again I recommend you and her, and all yours. wwwwwww To MRS. CRAIG, On the Death of her hopeful Son, who was drowned washing himself in a river in France. Mistress, You have so learned Christ, as now in the furnace, what dross, what shining of faith may appear, must come forth. I heard of the removal of your son Mr. Thomas; though I be dull enough in discerning, yet I was witness to some spiritual savour of the new-birth and hope of the resurrection, which I saw in the hopeful youth, when he was, as was feared, dying in this city. And since it was written and advisedly appointed, in the spotless and holy decree of the Lord, where, and before what witnesses, and in what manner, whether by a fever, the mother being at the bedside, or some other way in a far country, (dear patriarchs died in Egypt, precious to the Lord have wanted burials, Psal. lxix. 3.) your safest will be, to be silent, and command the heart to utter no repining and fretting thoughts of the holy dispensation of God. 1. The man is beyond the hazard of dispute, the precious youth is perfected and glorified. 2. Had the youth lain years and days pained beside a witnessing mother, it had been pain and grief lengthened out to you in many portions, and every parcel would have been a little death: now his holy Majesty hath, in one portion, |