nion with God, which we sometimes enjoy, have a sanctifying influence on all the concerns and duties in which we are engaged. But if the seasons which we set apart for secret prayer, are trifled away with frivolous and vain thoughts and desires; or if they are seasons of weariness, when the mind spends all its strength, perhaps, in labouring to feel; they will do us little good. Not that they should be omitted. Oh no. But God forbid, that we should be satisfied in such a state. God forbid, that we should ever live contentedly at such a distance from him, as will make our 66 prayers a

burden and a task."

How is your good husband? I trust the Lord has much for him to do in Boston Trials he will have. They will do him good. They will give him more singleness of heart towards God; and this is worth suffering for. Oh that he may enter into the labours of his beloved predecessor; water what he planted, and gather what he sowed; and when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, may they appear with him, and rejoice together over their mutual work!

TO ANOTHER FRIEND IN BOSTON.

Bridgewater, August 22, 1821.

I was unable to see you during your illness. I called at Mrs. 's while you were confined to your room, with the intention of extending my visit to your house; but learning from her how sick you were, and presuming that I could render you no service, I gave up the idea. But, though I have not seen you, I did not forget, or cease to love you. And it was with unfeigned satisfaction that I heard, from Mr. -> of the serenity of your mind in your, then, dangerous circumstances. Your hope of final salvation has, I trust, acquired a consistency and stability, from this recent trial

dosty c Two things we ought especially to be anxious to learn under, our trials; an humble, penitent, broken-hearted conviction of our sinfulness and unworthiness; and 2

a

al, quickening sense of the unspeakable" love of God, and of our obligations to eternally his. Surely motives are e us up to unremitted diligence in has called us to his kingdom and

MRS, SUSAN HUNTINGTON,

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But if the seasons #JÀ VU trifled away with my

or if they are so

all its strength, la us little

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is in heaven. He has gone to the Sa

said, "Father, I will that those whom thou

ven me, be with me, where I am." Amen. Lord

P those that remain to follow!

Evening. I go about from one room to another, but the places and things which once knew him, know him no more. I find not the object I seem to be seeking. My tears flow; my heart is full; I feel almost, as if there were no sorrow like my sorrow. My mind does not leave every thing here, and fasten itself on heaven, as it did when my dear husband died. I am not comfortless; but I have not the "strong consolation" which I then had. It seems as if Joseph were not, and Benjamin were not. But oh, let me not undervalue my remaining mercies--my pleasant children, my thousand, my unnumbered blessings !

8. I live, though death has smitten another of my number. Elizabeth was taken from all her sorrows and her sufferings, eleven days after my sweet babe. I have no doubt that both these little ones are in heaven. They were given to God; and they are not, because He has taken them. As it respects Elizabeth, I can see that the dispensation, which released her from a

of your faith, which compensates you for all that you suffered.

The Christian, in this world, is an unapt scholar. God has undertaken to prepare him for heaven. He has determined that this shall be done. But there is almost every thing in the way, to hinder and oppose the accomplishment of this benevolent purpose of the blessed God. Within, a nature wholly and inveterately inclined to evil, and without, every thing calculated to operate powerfully and successfully on the depravity of his nature. Alas! how could he get forward, did not the promise of God secure to him his sanctification as well as his justification? This, blessed be God! it does." The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." But this promise must be fulfilled by the instrumentality of means. And O, how kindly, how mercifully, how patiently, does our Almighty Redeemer chasten, and reprove, and refine, and purify, his children. Sometimes he pours upon them the temporal blessings of his providence. But if this turns away their affections from himself, he visits their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, his loving-kindness he does not utterly take from them, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail. Every stripe is intended to embitter to them that sin which He hates, that sin which cleaves to his chil dren while they live, and that sin which he is determined to destroy. And shall we not trust our whole souls with this blessed Being? Shall we not be willing that He should manage our concerns in his own way, if he will but make us like himself, and prepare us for himself? Oh, yes, yes.

Two things we ought especially to be anxious to learn under our trials; an humble, penitent, broken-hearted conviction of our sinfulness and unworthiness; and a

filial, practical, quickening sense of the unspeakable" goodness and love of God, and of our obligations to be entirely and eternally his. Surely motives are not wanting, to rouse us up to unremitted diligence in the service of Him who has called us to his kingdom and glory.

September 1. The hand of the Lord has again touched me. On the twenty-fifth of last month, I was called home to receive the last parting sigh of my dearly beloved Joshua. Thus the fond and cherished babe left me, at a moment's warning. It fell upon me like a thunderbolt.-But mind is comforted now. My child, my lamb, is in heaven. He has gone to the Saviour, who said, "Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me, be with me, where I am." Amen. Lord help those that remain to follow!

my

Evening. I go about from one room to another, but the places and things which once knew him, know him no more. I find not the object I seem to be seeking. My tears flow; my heart is full; I feel almost, as if there were no sorrow like my sorrow. My mind does not leave every thing here, and fasten itself on heaven, as it did when my dear husband died. I am not comfortless; but I have not the "strong consolation" which I then had. It seems as if Joseph were not, and Benjamin were not. But oh, let me not undervalue my remaining mercies--my pleasant children, my thousand, my unnumbered blessings!

8. I live, though death has smitten another of my number. Elizabeth was taken from all her sorrows and her sufferings, eleven days after my sweet babe. I have no doubt that both these little ones are in heaven. They were given to God; and they are not, because He has taken them. As it respects Elizabeth, I can see that the dispensation, which released her from a