I

of the passage; and, with his, give me your own. know not what to do about publishing. May the Father of lights direct me! and not suffer me, either to write improperly, or to print precipitately! With thanks for your letter, and with prayers for your increase in faith, in love, and holiness; or in that "kingdom of God, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," I am ever yours, &c.

LETTER XCIX.

Mile's-lane, 1752.

DEAR MR NIXON,-I AM obliged to you for the favour done me by your letter, and for the honour done me by your verses to be engraved under my mezzotinto picture. I should have acknowledged both these obligations sooner, if my printseller had not been dilatory in publishing the picture; which is now transmitted to Dr Stonehouse, and desires your acceptance.

I cannot forbear thinking that what is called honour is a little capricious and whimsical. I, for my part, had taken my final leave of her; expected none of her favours, and was become familiarly acquainted with contempt. How is it then that she singles out a person whose name has long ago been struck out of her list; and bestows her caresses upon a mean creature, that has been used to sit on the dunghill? Oh that it may be for the glory of Christ's grace, Christ's wisdom, Christ's power! May I serve to the Sun of Righteousness as a cloud is subservient to the sun in the firmament, which, though all-gloomy in itself, exhibits a rainbow; and thereby shews the world what beautiful colours are combined in that magnificent luminary.

You are pleased to inquire after my little work; dear sir, add to your kind inquiries a prayer to God, that it may be executed under the anointings of his Spirit, and appear (if ever it appears) under the influence of his blessing. My late sickness laid an ab

solute embargo upon it for a considerable time; and has so shattered my feeble constitution, that I proceed like a vessel that has lost its rigging, and is full of leaks. However slowly I advance in this essay, may I grow daily in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and meet you, dear sir, in that happy, happy haven, where we both would be. Till then be pleased to rank in the number of your sincere and affectionate friends, your obliged humble servant, &c.

LETTER C.-TO HIS MOTHER.

April 6. HONOURED MADAM,-I RECEIVED your favour of the 4th instant. Am very sorry to find my father is so ill. Hope and earnestly pray that the great eternal Lord of life and death will rebuke his disorder, and restore him to health. You need not doubt of being remembered in my supplications to the throne of grace: O that they were better! O that they proceeded from firmer faith, and were accompanied with greater fervour! Poor and weak as they are, they are often put up in behalf of my honoured parents, that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may strengthen them with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; may give them an humble resignation to his blessed will; enable them to rejoice even in their tribulations, and make all things work together for their good, their exceeding great and everlasting good.

I have, in obedience to your orders, put my affairs in readiness to leave the city; but hope there will be no occasion for such a speedy removal. But if I should come, alas! what can I do? My weakness is inconceivable. None can know it but the allsearching God. I am evidently worse, now the milder weather is advancing.

I am glad to hear my sister holds well. God al

ways mingles our cup of affliction with some sweetening drops. None but Christ, that dear and adored Redeemer, none but Christ had gall without any honey, and vengeance without any mercy. Blessed be his most holy name for enduring all kind of misery, that we might want no manner of thing that is good. I am, &c.

-

LETTER CI.

Tottenham, Oct. 18. 1751. DEAR SIR, WHAT shall I say, or how shall I excuse myself? I seem to be in the condition of Pharaoh's butler, who remembered not his good friend Joseph, but forgat him. Yet be assured, dear sir, that I have not forgot your kindness; I have retained a warm sense of gratitude in my breast. The reason of my not acknowledging your favour sooner, was this, I proposed to have transmitted my piece to your hands, (that part of it at least which was to be enriched with your own thoughts), that it might have the advantage of your critical revisal, and judicious corrections.

But extreme weakness of body has retarded me in accomplishing, has almost rendered me incapable of prosecuting the work; to all which infirmities, the providence of our all-wise heavenly Father has been pleased to superadd a violent fever, which confined me for eight weeks, and brought me to the very brink of the grave. I beg of you, dear sir, to accept my best thanks for your letter, and its valuable contents; though late in their arrival, they are very sincere in their tender. I hope you will give me leave to be obliged to you for one favour more. ever the Divine goodness shall enable me to complete my design, allow me to put it under your examination; I shall send it abroad into the world with much less trepidation, with much greater satisfaction, if it has undergone the scrutiny of your judgment, and received the correction of your pen. I am, at least I wish to be, sensible of my own incapacity for

If

handling the glorious, the divinely excellent truths of God's everlasting gospel. If the apostle, who had been caught up into the third heaven, could not forbear crying out with so much vehemence, "Who is sufficient for these things?" what, O what shall I say! Indeed, I have much fear and trembling of heart, lest I should give some wrong touch to the ark; or by any imprudent, though officious kiss, betray my divine Master to his enemies, rather than recommend him to the world. Good sir, assist me with your prayers, that if I write, I may be anointed with that unction from the Holy One, which may teach me all things, and lead me into all truth, which may furnish me with the tongue of the learned, and. give me the pen of a ready writer.

Have you seen Mr Taylor's late Treatise on the Sacrifice and Atonement of Jesus Christ? If you have, I should be glad to know what remarks occurred to your mind on the perusal. As you are a lover of natural philosophy, I wish you would consider the blessing of Joseph, Deut. xxxiii. 13-16. and favour me with your sentiments upon that beautiful passage. I should not make either this or the preceding request, if I had not the highest opinion of the freedom and fidelity of your temper, and the accurate discernment of your understanding. As the blessed God has been pleased to deaden your sense of hearing, may he daily quicken your spiritual senses to discern both good and evil. May he give you to hear the sweet and still voice of his good Spirit witnessing with your spirit, that you are the child of God and an heir of glory! And would you implore the same blessing for your unworthy friend, it would be a kindness most gratefully to be acknowledged by, dear sir, your much obliged and affectionate servant, &c.

P. S.-We have put one of Mr Moses Browne's children apprentice to a handsome business; and it will be a pleasure to do so worthy a man all the service that lies in my power.

LETTER CII.

London, Mile's-lane, Dec. 22. 1751. DEAR SISTER,-YESTERDAY, in the afternoon, Mr and his mother called upon me: he offered to convey a letter, or any message, to Weston. I could not neglect this opportunity of sending you my best wishes, and the congratulations of the season.

Please to thank my mother for her kind letter. The wine was to have come last week, but my brother forgot to give the necessary orders, until it was too late. I hope no such disappointment will happen, if we live to see the end of this week. I wish you much of the divine presence, and joy of the Lord in using it. May we all drink of those living waters which Christ Jesus has promised in his gospel, of which they who drink shall thirst no more; but they shall be in them a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Pray let me know, what those living waters mean?

I have no present to make you this Christmas, unless you will accept one from God's holy word. In the 9th chapter of Isaiah it is foretold, that poor sinners shall not only have a good hope, but shall even rejoice before God; rejoice with exceeding great joy; such as the husbandman feels, when he gathers in his harvest, and receives the reward of all his toil; such as the soldier experiences, when he has conquered his enemy, and is dividing the spoil.

What shall be the source of this joy? their worldly wealth? Alas, riches make themselves wings, and fly away. They profit not in the day of wrath.Their carnal pleasures? These are always froth, and frequently gall. To be enamoured with these, is death. Their own good deeds? These are a broken reed, a filthy rag; and should cover us with confusion, not fill us with conceit. Whence then is this joy to flow? From Christ, wholly from Christ: he is the rich gift of God, he is the pearl of great price;