I said, we will not abandon: But how poor and cold the consolation arising from this succour ! What are we? impotence, misery, sin! I believe he loves the Lord Jesus, flies for refuge to the hope set before him (Heb. vi. 18.) in the everlasting righteousness, and perfect atonement of Christ. He may therefore boldly say, and apply to himself those glorious promises-I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee: The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me, Heb. xiii. 5, 6. Present my tender and affectionate compliments to him.

I am glad you have invited to your house that eminent friend of God, and dear friend of yours, the Rev. Mr, (for such I know he is.) In so doing, you certainly act the ro sorts, and I cannot but think the To πg, even in the judgment of the world. Thus doing, you are in the fashion; for it is a reigning maxim at court, (the court of the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords), "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers." And can there be a more worthy stranger? Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." You know who it is that says of his faithful ministers, "He that receiveth you, receiveth me." Gracious and adored Redeemer! shall we not receive thee into our houses, who, for our sakes, hadst not where to lay thy blessed head! wast an exile in Egypt; a prisoner at the bar; a corpse in the grave! Pray for me, dear friend, that I may bow my poor head in dutiful resignation to the divine will; that I may bless the hand and kiss the rod that chastises; and love the Lord who takes away the strength of my body, but has given me the blood of his Son. I beseech Mr to unite his supplication with yours; for I am fearful lest I should disgrace the gospel in my languishing moments.

Upon a repeated review of the Hints you have wrote to promote the cause of religion, I do not see how to improve them: only exercise your talent; stir up the gift of God by a zealous use, and you yourself

will be the best improver of such hints. O! let us work while the day lasts; the Judge is at the door, and eternity at hand. May we watch and pray always, that we may be found worthy to stand before the Son of man at his coming. I am ever, and most affectionately yours.

LETTER LXI.

MY DEAR FRIEND, I AM quite ashamed to be found so dilatory in acknowledging your welcome letter; made doubly valuable by bringing with it the judicious observation of Mr Your late favour

has hinted a consideration, which will always pass for some excuse with my compassionate friends; and which, so long as this earthly tabernacle is upheld from falling into the dust, I shall always have to allege: I mean, a very languid and disordered state of body. And as I number you amongst my truly compassionate friends, I look upon myself to be acquitted as soon as arraigned.

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in his remarks on

I entirely agree with Mr my lord bishop's well-meant and pathetic letter. It is pity, and it is strange, that in an earnest exhortation to repentance, no regard should be had to Christ Jesus. Is it not his gift to impotent sinners, who is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins? Is not his precious, but bitter passion, the exciting cause of evangelical repentance; according to the testimony of the prophet, They shall look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn? And can our poor imperfect repentance find favour in the sight of the Lord, unless it be accepted in the Beloved?

I am as much pleased with that ingenious writer's observations on my own little volumes. Let the righteous smite me friendly, and reprove me. With thankfulness I shall receive, with readiness submit to correction. I am very far from thinking Mr-—— a sour critic. On the contrary, I admire his candour in transmitting the mistakes to the author himself,

and not trumpeting them abroad to the discredit of the work. I have so high an opinion of his judgment, that if the Father of lights should enable me to finish the small piece I am attempting, I should be extremely glad to have every sheet pass under the correction of so wise and penetrating an observer.

To call Sisera's mother a Midianitish lady, is a most undoubted and palpable blunder. If the divine Providence pleases to give another edition to the book, it shall certainly be altered.

As to the frontispiece, there was great doubt whether I should have any at all. It was first drawn with a direct crucifix, such as is represented in the Romish churches, and almost idolized, I fear, by the Christians of that communion. For this reason, the decoration, though sketched out by my very obliging draughtsman, was wholly omitted in the second edition. Then it was suggested, that a piece of machinery might succeed-be equally expressive, and yet unexceptionable; which is the import of the present figure; our Lord, not pourtrayed in the window, nor exhibited in imagery, but rising from the spot, or miraculously appearing in the place.

With regard to my calling those persons who took up arms against King Charles 1. rebels; you know it is the avowed tenet of the Church of England, and the declared sense of our legislators. If I was to alter that expression, especially since it has stood so long, it might probably disgust readers who are in a contrary way of thinking; at least it would give occasion for speculation, and stir up the embers of mutual animosity, which, I hope, are now sleeping, and upon the point of being extinguished. For my part, I look upon King Charles as one of the best men that ever filled a throne; and esteem the Puritans as some of the most zealous Christians that ever appeared in our land. Instead of inveighing against either, I would lament the misfortune of both; that, through some deplorable mismanagement, they knew one another no better, and valued one another no more. Otherwise, how happy might they have been! they,

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in so devout a sovereign; he, in such conscientious subjects.

Washing away sins by baptism, is a scriptural expression: "And now," says Ananias to the converted persecutor, "why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins." Where, I suppose, washing with water, which is the sign, is put for the application of the Lamb's blood, which is the blessing signified. This, I apprehend, extends to native impurity, as well as committed iniquity, since they both render us children of wrath. Not that it implies an extirpation of original corruption, but refers to its condemning power; which is done away, when the atoning merits of Christ's death are applied and sealed to the soul. Upon the whole, I think the expression is justifiable. Yet, if Mr's remonstrance had come sooner, it should have been more explicit in its meaning, and more guarded from possibility of mistake: And was I called upon to explain my sentiments, I should take leave to borrow Mr 's words.

Please to present my most affectionate compliments to him; and let him know, I acknowledge myself obliged to him for his valuable remarks; and shall be still more obliged, if he pleases sometimes to remember me in his effectual fervent prayers; that I may, though weak in body, be strong in faith; giving glory, by a thankful resignation, and comfortable hope, to God our Saviour. I hope he intends to publish his discourse upon the Christian Sabbath. I think such a treatise is not a little wanted. I have seen nothing upon the subject that has given me satisfaction.

Transmit my most cordial affection to good Mr

; I dearly love him, and rejoice in the expectation of meeting him in the everlasting kingdom of our glorious Redeemer. How inconsiderable, what a perfect nothing, is the difference of preaching in a cloak or in a gown, since we both hold the Head, both are united to the same Saviour, and have access by the same Spirit to the Father. I assure him, his

name has been constantly mentioned in my poor intercessions, ever since he favoured me with his friendly and edifying epistle. Tell him, I am making some faint attempts to recommend to the world a doctrine which is music to his ears, and better than a cordial to his heart-The righteousness of Immanuel, freely imputed to wretched sinners, for their complete justification, and everlasting acceptance. I would also represent, in an amiable and endearing light, that other precious privilege of the gospel, sanctification of our hearts, and newness of life, through the power of the blessed Spirit; and give, if the Lord should enable, a pleasing picture of death, stripped of his horrors, and appearing as an usher, commissioned by the court of heaven, to introduce us before the Prince of the kings of the earth. Beseech my worthy friend to assist me with his prayers to the Father of mercies and Fountain of light, that if I write, it may not be I, but the Spirit of the Lord Jesus that writeth by me, enabling blindness itself to find out acceptable words, and to hit the avenues of pleasure and conviction.

I am glad to hear that the second part of Sunday Thoughts is come abroad. Pray do not fail to let Mr have six sets for me before Thursday morning; because he has another parcel to transmit to me this week, in which those may with convenience be enclosed. You have paid me an obliging compli-. ment: beg of the blessed God, dear sir, that I may not be puffed up with vain conceit of myself or my writings. O that earth and ashes, that guilt and sin, should be proud! What so unreasonable? yet what so natural? May the Lord of glory rebuke this arrogant spirit, and teach my soul to be humble, to be ever-more dependent on his aid, as a weaned child.

As to your entering into holy orders, I have no manner of doubt; by all means do it. It is what I have been praying for these several years; it is what all the disciples of Christ are directed to implore at the Lord's hand, that he would send many such