LETTER IV.

MRS. C.

Dear Friend,

THE priviledge of a child is to carry every complaint to its parent, there I hope to carry yours. Burthens, offences, cares, and perplexing entanglements, are appointed as a task for faith to perform, and for the energy of the Spirit of prayer to discover itself in. It is the business of faith to carry matters to God, and the business of prayer to try what interest faith has in him; and when faith and prayer have tried the faithfulness of God and prevailed, then depend upon it God will try faith. Troubles are intended to keep grace in exercise, and the soul from settling upon its lees; and the whole of it is sure to terminate in the honour of God, and our good.

I believe God has laid upon thee a burthen sufficient to try thee, and in his behaviour you will read your former folly, and loath it, and yourself on the account of it; but I have no doubt but you will grow under it, and find the Lord most precious when the outward cross lays the heaviest. That trouble is sure to be a friend that makes us pray, and we are sure to

have the most profit by those troubles that im bitter earthly vanities to us. All trials are intended to drive us from the creature to God, and this wicked world is a hell where there is no God to be enjoyed by the sinner. Let me have communion with God, and I can bear every thing, but when this is lost, I can take no pleasure in neither wife nor child.

Happy, yea, eternally happy is that soul that has got the God of Jacob for its refuge. It is but to receive a burthen from the creature, and carry it to the Creator, while he displays his tender care and fatherly love in taking it off. All is intended to carry on the sweet and heavenly intercourse, and to wean the soul from earthly enjoyments, and endear the God of Israel to the soul. God is jealous of his own glory, and jealous of his spouse's affections; this I can feel in my own soul, and I find a deal of tenderness toward the honour of God; for I can find my soul sensibly touched if any body comes and gives any honour to me, after I have delivered a discourse with some degree of comfort.

I hope God will give thee patience to bear what may fall to thy share, and lead thee to see that there is a needs be for all these things. We shall have no more of them than are appointed in the eternal decree, and when this transient life is ended, we shall have something

to look back upon and say, "He hath done all things well; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." Oh! how has my soul longed to be there. But I must wait mine appointed time till my change come. Dear Friend, adieu!

Thy willing servant and affectionate Pastor,

My Dear Ruth,

LETTER V.

TO R. H

W. H.

Plymouth Dock.

SHOULD your money run short before I come home, Mr. B. will supply you with what you want. I am very well, and am very kindly received, but the people here are not the people at Providence Chapel, in power, grace, and knowledge. Here are thousands of hearers, but I seem to be a barbarian to them, though I come down as low as I can, and feed them with milk and not with meat. The good Lord, my only and everlastingFriend, portion, and reward, is my present comfort and happiness, and this makes me feel myself at home in every place.

I shall preach here three Sundays more, and on the Monday following set out for Paddington. I am to break bread with the people here

to-morrow week. Tender my love to Mr. B. Gad, Eb. and Naomi; and let my dear Ruth accept the same from

Her affectionate Father,

W. H.

P. S. My little table and conveniences for writing here, are nothing like my own study, but quite the reverse. God bless thee, and all friends.

LETTER VI.

TO THE SAME.

I WISH to know how Ruth is, hoping by this time she is somewhat better. God brings down and lifts up, he wounds and his hands make whole. It is often seen that, under the infirmities of the body; God gives health to the soul; the outward man, says Paul, decays, when the inward man is renewed.

There is no sensible sinner that perishes, who is looking and longing for the promised salvation of Jesus Christ. His grand errand into this world was, and still is, to seek and save the lost; and whosoever cometh to him he will in no wise cast them out. God hath already spoken unto thee, and given thee a hope and

an expectation, and that hope and expectation will live and never die. Pray let me know by a line how you are, and whether you wish to see me; if you do, I will come.

God bless thee.

W. H. S.S.

Dear Friend,

LETTER VII,

TO MRS. P.

I CALLED a few days ago in Wigmore Street, and going into the parlour to ask how you did, I was informed you was moved to Hammersmith for the benefit of your health. I doubt not but my Friend's illness is in a mea sure owing to the distress of her mind. I have often thought that you laboured under some temptation, some feeling sense of sin, or a consideration of some parts of the scripture. I have not a single doubt but satan keeps perpetually injecting something or other into your mind, and then tempts you to keep that secret for him; this I think is the grand cause of your present trouble of mind, which will at times affect the body also. You are best able to judge whether I have hit the right nail on the head.