savour the things of God, but those that are of men. But, when the soul is quickened, and life is conveyed to the conscience, it feels its sentence, and hungers and thirsts after righteousness; it feels its sin and guilt; and to such the blood of Christ is drink indeed; it feels the curse of condemnation and death, and is in bondage to the fear of both; and to such souls the flesh of Christ is meat indeed, or the true bread of life.

Such hungry souls are pronounced blessed, and God says they shall be filled. They are not only blessed, being hungry and thirsty, but such are truly poor, called Zion's poor; and "God will abundantly bless Zion's provision, and satisfy her poor with bread;" and we know of none more poor than those who are in want of bread. Such souls are literally poor; and those who are poor in soul, or spiritually poor, are such as, like the prodigal, are starving for bread; they want a robe of righteousness to cover their nakedness, sin, and shame; and, according to our Lord's parable, the fatted calf and best robe are provided for such.

Kind love to Henry and his mother.

DCLXXXIII.

DEAR MOTHER,

Grace and peace be multiplied through Jesus Christ our Lord.

HAVING

VING a few minutes leisure upon my hands, I take the opportunity of sending a line to you, hoping that Jesus Christ and his great salvation are uppermost in your mind; for this is the one thing needful, it is the better part that can never be taken away from us; when all other portions and inheritances fail, this abides. The believer takes all his property with him.-Everlasting light, eternal life, everlasting righteousness, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and the love of God in the heart, together with everlasting consolation. All these we shall take with us, for none can rob us of these heavenly treasures. The grace of God shall reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Let my dear mother seek and follow after these things, which are the things that

manded to covet earnestly the best gifts. To covet them is to desire them, to beg them of God in Christ's name, to read them, to meditate upon them, and to seek them as the chiefest good. "For all these things (says God) I will be inquired of by the house of Israel, that I may do these things for them." And remember that God hears the heart as well as the mouth.

hunger and thirst

"Blessed are they that

after righteousness, for "When the poor and

they shall be filled." "When the

needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them; I will open springs in the wilderness and streams in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen." The Lord hears the groanings of the prisoners; and "because of the deep sighing of the poor, now will I arise, saith the Lord, and set him in safety from him that puffeth at him."

These, my dear mother, are great encouragements to sensible sinners, who feel their need of Jesus Christ. And the Saviour promises that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out. Faithful is he that hath promised, and able to save to the

I have this day sent a letter to poor Becky, who I find is still in the furnace of affliction: but the Lord promises to bring us through fire and through water, out into a wealthy place. The more she is oppressed the stronger she will grow, and the more she is opposed the more zealous she will be. "1 will work (says God) and none shall let it." And sure I am that none ever fought against him and prospered. But we must all be tried, to purge away our dross and take away the base metal of the corrupt heart, that we may be vessels of honour, meet for the Master's use.

Dear mother, farewell. Peace and truth be with thee, while I remain,

Your willing servant in Christ Jesus,

W. HUNTINGTON.

DCLXXXIV.

October 8, 1807.

१

DEAR GRANNY,

I was glad to hear by poor Becky that you and Henry were in tolerable health. For some days, I have had a cold, but am now better; though rheumatic pains attend me constantly in change of weather, and always in the cold winter seasons; but even this keeps us from putting far away the evil day; it constantly informs us that we are tenants at will, and must quit at the time appointed by our great Landlord; then we must put off our earthly house of this tabernacle. But the grace of God will never be turned out; the fruits of the Spirit, the better inhabitants, will never be rejected from the soul; it will possess them in substance for evermore. Life and light, rest and peace, love and joy, mercy and truth, shall be with us for ever.

These, mother, are the true riches, the better part, the more enduring substance,