DCXVI.

My dear Sister in Christ Jesus,

September 23, 1799.

You have, no doubt, wondered at my long silence, which has not been through forgetfulness or disrespect. Not through forgetfulness; for God will never suffer me to forget thee in my prayers, whether at home or abroad, by day or by night. And sure I am that God will never set me to beg of him what he never intends to give, for that is not the way in which he hath ever dealt with his poor servant, who he knows loves him. Nor will the Spirit of supplication make intercession contrary to the will of God, but agreeably to it; for he searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God; and lets us know the things that are freely given us of God. The cause of my silence is this-I have been ill; and for six weeks so inwardly weak as not to be able to speak loud enough to be heard. Indeed, I expected a discharge from the field of action; but was strongly advised to take a journey by the sea-side;

Sussex, where I frequently preach in a barn; and my health is at present much better. And I am now coming to see how my poor sister gets on; whether she is still in the furnace, engaged with the world, the flesh and the devil, with all her sins before her eyes, and the accusations of law, conscience and Satan, to resist her; and whether she is still obliged to look to God for help, with nothing but hardness of heart, rebellion, enmity, and hard thoughts of him. This is fighting the good fight of faith, in order to lay hold on eternal life. And sure I am that the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Go on, my dearly beloved in the Lord, for we shall surely reap in due time. One glimpse of the blessed face of Jesus will make amends for ten thousand struggles and conflicts with Satan. And I am fully persuaded it is the will of my God that thou shouldest see that Just One, and hear the voice of his mouth. God, by his law on thy heart, is preparing thee for this; and when it is done, the Desire of all nations shall come. Behold, "His reward is with him, and his work before him." And his work is "To comfort them that mourn, to set at

the prison doors to them that are bound." This is the work that is before him. And his reward is with him; for when he comes he brings pardon, peace, righteousness, strength, faith, hope, love, meekness, godly sorrow, repentance, contrition, compunction, humility, self-abhorrence, and every other grace, blessing and benefit with him. So he dealt with me, and so he will deal with thee. This I firmly believe; and I know that God "will confirm the word of his servant, and perform the counsel of his messenger."

Come, Becky, be of good cheer, for I am most assuredly sent unto thee with good tidings. The work of God upon thee and me is to be wonderful. We are to know the pains of hell and the joys of heaven; the malice of devils, and the love of the Trinity; the goodness of God and his severity; that we may sing of mercy and of judgmentof judgment past and mercy come.

That the Lord of all lords may bless and keep thee; be gracious unto thee and give thee peace, is the confidence and the prayer of thine affectionate friend, servant and brother in the Lord,

DCXVII.

1805.

Do, my beloved sister, send me word how far it is to Downham, how far your mother lives from you, and whether my coming would be agreeable. My last journey was most certainly of God, in answer to the prayers of some poor souls; and, though the weather was mostly wet, I caught no cold, though subject to many infirmities. A poor, distressed woman at Grantham, who had been in bondage for many years, by sitting under an erroneous man, was raised to hope in the mercy of God under the first sermon I preached there. And her husband's sister, who had been bowed down for upwards of seven years, was perfectly delivered at the same time. Another of the same family, too, who knows God, but was got into a cold and insensible frame, for want of means, was restored, raised up and established, with brighter views and sweeter frames than she ever knew before.

I preached four times to them, and con

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the prison doors to them that are bound." This is the work that is before him. And his reward is with him; for when he comes he brings pardon, peace, righteousness, strength, faith, hope, love, meekness, godly sorrow, repentance, contrition, compunction, humility, self-abhorrence, and every other grace, blessing and benefit with him. So he dealt with me, and so he will deal with thee. This I firmly believe; and I know that God "will confirm the word of his servant, and perform the counsel of his messenger."

Come, Becky, be of good cheer, for I am most assuredly sent unto thee with good tidings. The work of God upon thee and me is to be wonderful. We are to know the pains of hell and the joys of heaven; the malice of devils, and the love of the Trinity; the goodness of God and his severity; that we may sing of mercy and of judgmentof judgment past and mercy come.

That the Lord of all lords may bless and keep thee; be gracious unto thee and give thee peace, is the confidence and the prayer of thine affectionate friend, servant and brother in the Lord,