mystery of my base original, and cry down free agency all the day long.

The various changes that go over my soul, teach me how to speak to the children of God; for "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."

The plague of my own heart prohibits my placing any confidence in the flesh. The hatred of the world stands as a sentinel, to keep me within bounds, and strictly forbids my holding communion with the wicked.

The temptations of the devil make me cry and pray for help; while my manifold imperfections teach me to preach down all perfection in the flesh.

Every murmuring thought against the cross, teaches me that I am a debtor to immutable grace; and my daily infirmities teach me that I am an unprofitable servant. Thus, my friend, every where, and in all things, I am instructed.

I find by happy experience, that all things do work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose. God's rod brings me into humility, and fills my soul with heart-felt contrition; and thus God prepares his own residence. I will dwell with him also that is of an humble and a contrite heart, and will revive the spirit of the contrite, Isai. lvii. 15.

We must be subject to the Father of spirits, that we may live. His rods and reproofs give wisdom; but a child left to himself will fall. God often afflicts his dear children with a bad state of health, that they may seek him who is the health of their countenance and their God.

If we are disappointed in our earthly expectations, it is that we should make Christ our earnest expectation and our hope; and then our expectations will not be cut off.

If my soul can find no rest in temporal enjoyments, it teaches me that this is not my rest, because it is polluted; but in Jesus the weary shall for ever be at rest. Look forward, O my soul! for there remains a rest for the people of God, Heb. iv. 9.

If God keep his children poor, it is to keep them from trusting in uncertain riches; and to lead them to live by the faith of his providence; and to lay up treasure in heaven, that their hearts may be where their treasure is.

Manifold infirmities make us look and long for heavenly perfection; and when we are truly sick of this world, we shall not be loth to leave it.

A continual war with sin makes us long for a cessation of arms; but this being denied, we must be satisfied with now and then a parley. We must expect no discharge from this war; nor can we be crowned with victory, till we are conquered by death,

Death is the sentence of God, the issue of sin, and the torment of devils. But every believer may view death as a mysterious hand of Christ, by which he goes down into his garden and gathers lilies, Song vi. 2. Dear sister, adieu.

Thine to serve,

W. H. S. S.

LETTER V.

Winchester Row, June 6, 1784.

DEAR MADAM,

YOURS I received; and return you my best wishes, with the ancient blessings in their gospel significations, namely, that of grace, mercy, and peace, be with thee, from him who ever lives, and ever loves. I have also returned your tribute of thankfulness to your greatest creditor, knowing that you are a debtor to grace.

I find a degree of gratitude to God, for his condescending to own any feeble attempt of mine, to the refreshing the bowels of his saints.

willing, Madam, to entertain you with a second epistle on the pleasing subject of gospel faith, if I can get my cruse to spring again. But you know I live upon divine alms myself; and I doubt you will be more earnest in petitioning at second hand, than I am at the first. I find by daily experience that it is an easy matter for a thirsty inquisitive soul to drain a preacher dry; but truth hath said, “He that watereth, shall be watered also himself." Faith is not only an eye, by which our forefathers saw the promised seed at a distance,

but the encircling arm, by which they embraced the promise; and that soul-emptying God-honouring, and victorious grace, by which they went from one nation to another, without suffering harm.

Faith led their hearts and affections from the vanities of time and sense, so that they had no desire to return to that country from whence they came, though they had an opportunity.

Faith led them to trust in God, and to walk before him as in his immediate presence; and to place their confidence in him as their shield, and their exceeding great reward. Faith thus purifying their hearts, and overcoming the world in them, led them to seek a better country, that is, an heavenly; and often reminding them, that this was not their rest; sweetly led them to look for a continuing city which hath foundations, whose maker and builder is God.

Thus faith led them to credit omnipotence for protection, strength, and safety; and to look out for a glorious accomplishment of the promises; persuading them that he was faithful who had promised.

Under faith's influence, they confessed themselves strangers and pilgrims upon earth; strangers, because none knew their birth or nativity; pilgrims, because they viewed not themselves at home on this side the grave; foreigners, because their birth was from heaven, and heaven was their journey's end.