this establishes the reputation of a servant of Christ out of the reach of scandal.

Some few years ago a newspaper that was then published made me the subject matter of its columns, until it made its way and established itself, and then I was dropped. Within these three months there is another out, and the reproach and contempt cast upon me are its only preface and recommendation. But I am fully persuaded that the whole will be found at last to be thrown upon the most holy and eternal Spirit of God, who will in some future period fill my soul with joy unspeakable, when lamentation and wo will be the portion of their cup.

Live in the country, Pen, if you can; the sweetest of all religions, and the quintessence of all happiness, lies between Christ crucified and a broken, contrite heart. This peace and quietude, life and light, love and joy, faith and hope, meekness and patience, the world knows nothing of, though they bear us up and bring us through.

Remember me to your Sister, Tom, old Sarah, Fan, the Justice, and all the seed royal.

DCIV.

September 25, 1807.

The Coalheaver to his old weather-beaten Sister, wishing grace, mercy, and peace, through Jesus Christ.

Beloved,

EVERY one of God's family do not meet with so many crooks, roughs, eclipses, fiery darts, and perilous hours, as have fallen to our lot; but all work for good. Had we remained ignorant of the stubbornness and rebellion of our perverse wills, we had been freewill-mongers to this day. The filth and foulness of our nature have made us sick of sin, and loathers of self; have sapped all trust in our own hearts, and driven us from all confidence in the flesh; and thus these very things have wrought together for our good. In God's light we see light, in God's life we feel sin, in God's faith we overcome it, and in God's love we hate it. Sinless perfection, human power, and self righteousness, may feed the proud, the presumptuous, the insensible, the worldly wise, and the self

husks. Let us not envy them; all this stock is theirs but Christ, a whole Christ, is ours. They have got the lamp, but we the oil; let them boast, but let us beg; and the time shall come when they shall beg and we shall boast. "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out."

There are such things as natural confidence, natural hope, natural love, and natural joy we are all born with this stock in trade, and God's furnace is intended to consume this dross, that we may buy of Christ gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich. And there is a deal of difference between Christ's gold and man's dross. Let me be a bankrupt, and an insolvent debtor, trusting alone in the Surety; let me be naked, trusting alone in the best robe; let me be poor, trusting alone in the unsearchable riches of Christ; let my soul have no bread but the bread of God, no provision but what is obtained by begging, no treasure but the alms of heaven. Not those who are rich in themselves, but" Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God." And it is our heavenly Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom. It is not to be merited or purchased by the dead works of self-con

4

great, too glorious, too weighty, and too permanent, to be procured by the imagined merit of fools.

Be constant in your approaches to God; all good frames are God's gifts; and, if in bad frames, still the incense should be offered twice a day, morning and evening, by a statute for ever. Be watchful of his providence and grace. "He that will observe these things shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord."

My love to Mr. P. Jacob was known by his voice, and Esau by his hands, but my name is

1

Q in the Corner.

this establishes the reputation of a servant of Christ out of the reach of scandal.

Some few years ago a newspaper that was then published made me the subject matter of its columns, until it made its way and established itself, and then I was dropped. Within these three months there is another out, and the reproach and contempt cast upon me are its only preface and recommendation. But I am fully persuaded that the whole will be found at last to be thrown upon the most holy and eternal Spirit of God, who will in some future period fill my soul with joy unspeakable, when lamentation and wo will be the portion of their cup.

Live in the country, Pen, if you can; the sweetest of all religions, and the quintessence of all happiness, lies between Christ crucified and a broken, contrite heart. This peace and quietude, life and light, love and joy, faith and hope, meekness and patience, the world knows nothing of, though they bear us up and bring us through.

Remember me to your Sister, Tom, old Sarah, Fan, the Justice, and all the seed royal.