worldly interest in choosing their own places, but with an upright heart and view, refer themselves to him that knows best how to dispose of them; then it might be hoped, that God would be in a more signal manner with them. To be found willing and qualified, to be able, and faithful, is what we should busy ourselves most about, and wait on God to direct our labour, and to assist and prosper us in it.

But, dear Madam, it is with great grief and lamentation that we have to consider, how much this godly simplicity and singleness of heart, how much this zeal and regard for God, is now lost among us! The success is wont to be accordingly. The ministry produces little or no fruit. Most men seek their own, and not the things of Jesus Christ. It is in their own things they desire and obtain success; which yet is surely a very poor success, since it cannot but be attended with a divine curse. This is too melancholy a consideration to entertain you with any longer. I am apprehensive in some degree, how much my heart should be afflicted with it. The Lord assist and teach me in the use I ought to make of it. Dear Madam, may the solemn occasion of the present festivals afford you in your retirement very entertaining, edifying, and refreshing delights: and, for the sake of your good offices to others, may you live happily to see the revolution of these times for many years.

XXIV.

The honour of being employed by God to do

good.

1735, MARCH 26.-It is my duty to be more

deeply sensible of the obligation, that I and others are under, to thank God for blessing you with great zeal and abilities to be so exceedingly useful; and I persuade myself, that you cannot but see how great favour it is to be chosen of God, for the purpose of being employed by him as instruments of good to other people, which is next to our being reconciled to him. I count it the greatest honour upon earth, that the King of heaven should select some from the numerous croud of unthinking sinners, for his own use and service, to do good, to bear his image, to support his cause, to advance his glory, to shine as lights in a dark world, to promote his interest, and to be as witnesses for him amidst a perverse and unbelieving generation. What is the honour of those that are preferred by kings of the earth to their services, to be compared to the honour of them who are raised up and engaged in employments as much more noble and honourable, as heaven is higher than the earth, or as God is greater than man. Blessed are they that are thus highly favoured; they are true followers of their Lord, who was always ready to do some good or other, as occasion served, in all the places he went to. As true children to their heavenly Father, they imitate the divine bounty, and embrace all opportunities to promote the happiness of all that are about them. This is the true and only way to the highest honour, and to the enjoyment of the greatest treasures, which will be found solid and lasting, and will continue to be the crown and joy of the saints for ever in heaven; whilst other things, which men set their hearts upon here below, are but fleeting shadows, and which will soon take their final leave of us. The consciousness of our behaviour here, the works we do, toge

ther with the principles from whence they proceed, are the only things that will go with us hence to eternity. That God has blessed you with so large a measure of his kindness and given you wisdom and faithfulness to abound in your desire of doing good, is now very much to the advantage of others, and will hereafter, together with the presence of your dearest Lord, be your comfortable attendance in your last passage.

XXV.

Christ's tender love to his people.

1735, JULY. 25.-It cannot be in our power to deny, without uncommon hardness, the obligation we are under for every kind of mercies, for multitudes of them without number, and which come afresh too every day; but more especially, for the divine condescension towards those who are received into particular favour. What sweet intercourse of love does sometimes pass between them and their dear Lord in their affectionate and mutual communion with one another. In what endearing expressions is this represented in scripture; so much so, that there is hardly any term of tender love and fondness used in our language that Christ does not use towards his people, to encourage their love to him, calling the weak believing soul, that can hardly do any more than turn a wishful look towards him, my sister, my spouse, my love, my dove, my undefiled.

It is amazing to consider how low he vouchsafed to descend to take such as we are, into so near, dear, and sweet relation to himself! He disdained not to become a husband, a

friend, a brother and a beloved to us. Among all those to whom we stand related in this world, there is none who bears such love and affection to us, nor any that deserves such love and affection from us, as our beloved Christ.

And what can be compared with the benefits, that flow from his kindness? When other friends that men choose for themselves, prove as a broken tooth, or empty cistern, unfaithful or unable to help, the Lord will not fail us, but will be an overflowing fountain of comfort, and an everliving Intercessor for us at all times, in all conditions of life and death, in distress, fear, and troubles, and even under desertions, when he seems to withdraw and hide himself from us. This is a strong reason why we should study gratitude and returns of love. Nothing can do us more good or afford us more assistance in our way home, than this: for divine love, is the queen of graces, and is the governor of all our affections and of all our actions. Could we keep this fire of love always burning in our breasts, it would be a solid foundation of comfort, and the most powerful instrument of holy living; and it would make the several acts of virtue and piety easy and pleasant to us.—

XXVI.

Praying for revival-mutual prayer.

1735, Aug. 10.—It is with a great sense of thanks that I acknowledge your favour. I rejoice much that things look promising towards securing Llanllwch. He who inspects the affairs of the universe and overrules the designs of men, will espouse the zeal of those who concern themselves for his honour and holy religion,

and will not fail to open a way for their labour of love, either that which they desire, or another, and a better way, which his providence shall choose for them. Our God bestoweth not his grace in vain. When he fills the soul with a fervent desire of doing good, he will give both the ability and the opportunity for the doing of it: and it is to be hoped too, that success will not be wanting, which may be to the benefit of some, if not, of many.

Whether any one soul received so much benefit at Llanllwch as to be sensible of the thanks due to you, I know not: but I am sure I ought to thank you for your zeal in attempting the benefit of many, and for opening a door for conveying it. I know also that I owe you great thanks for the assistance of your prayers. -My conscience tells me, that however weak I perform any duty, I should yet do worse, were it not for divine assistance. We wrong our kind Benefactor, when the consciousness of our own corruption and weakness is allowed to smother the gratitude we owe to him for his help. We are great losers for want of considering the goodness of God towards us: for, as reflecting on our own sins tends to humble and shame us, and set us on crying for grace, so the consideration of the several instances of divine goodness would increase our repentance, faith, and love to God.

If our minds dwelt much on the contemplation of these five things, we should find the thoughts of God much endeared to our souls; the things, I mean, are these-The riches of redeeming love, the kind dealing of divine Providence with us, even while we were yet without understanding, without spiritual light and knowledge,-his wonderful readiness to