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beloved, and love him who first loved them. I shall add that charming declaration of the beloved disciple, and earnestly wish that we may learn by happy experience, and feel in our souls what it means, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us." Let me beg my dear friends to remember at the throne of grace your affectionate friend, &c.

LETTER LXXXV.

DEAR SISTER,-I HAVE taken my pen in my hand to write but what shall be the subject? News I have none; or, if I had, my brother would communicate it in his conversation. Let me imitate a royal example. It was once said by a renowned king, My song shall be of mercy and judgment: of the same let my letter treat. The former was very lately the topic of some agreeable discourse with a young gentleman. We observed how necessary it is to be firmly persuaded of the infinitely rich mercies of God in Christ Jesus. This will make us delight to think of him, and encourage us to fly to him: Whereas, if we have a jealousy that he bears us ill-will, or designs our ruin, we cannot take pleasure in him, or place our confidence in him. Therefore the condescending God has given us repeated and solemn assurances of his pity, his grace, his tender mercy in Christ Jesus.

Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. He makes it his very name. Intimating, that a man may forget his own name, before the blessed God can cease to be merciful to them that fear him.

Ezek. xxxiii. 7. 11. He confirms his divine goodwill to us by an oath. He swears by his very life, that he desires our happiness, and seeks our salvation. Here are two immutable things, the name and the oath of God. Can we have stronger confirmation of his loving-kindness?

I think, if it be possible, we have. He has so loved us, saith the Scripture. How hath he loved us? So

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as no words, no, not of his own all-wise Spirit, can express; nothing but the unspeakably precious effects; so as to surrender his own Son to die, that we might live; to be made subject to the law, that we by his obedience might be made righteous; to become a curse, that we might inherit the blessing. Read what the wife of Manoah very justly alleges, and apply it to the point before us, (Judges xiii. 23.) for I can no more; I hear the coach coming to carry me out on a visit. Yours, &c.

LETTER LXXXVI.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-I AM glad to find that the beloved traveller called at your house, and gave you so much of his company. Cold as the weather was, did not your heart burn within you? burn with zeal and love for that all-glorious God, whom he (excellent man) so faithfully serves in the gospel of his Son? May Mrs increase in humility, be more convinced of guilt, more sensible of depravity; and then she will grow in every other grace. Proud minds suffer the curse imprecated on the mountains of Gilboa; while humble souls are like the valleys spread forth by the rivers, or as a field which the Lord hath blessed.

I think you should not have shewn her the free remark which I made; it was well-meant, and she is well-disposed, but human nature is very, very depraved. And perhaps there is no greater instance of it, than our proneness to take offence at the least disparaging hint; nay, sometimes to fancy ourselves wronged, if we are not extolled to the skies. I heartily wish the blessed Jesus may give this young lady the ornament of a meek and humble spirit; that being lowly in her own eyes, she may be exalted by the great God.

I see so much indigence, and so many distressed objects, that I begrudge myself all unnecessary disbursements of money. Who would indulge too

much, even in innocent and elegant amusements, and thereby lessen his ability to relieve, to cherish, and comfort the Lord Jesus, in his afflicted members?

I wish you could have preached at Collingtree. My poor people long for the sincere milk of the word. You would have a congregation, all of them honouring you, most of them attentive to you, and many of them edified by you. It grieves me, it pains me at my very soul, that I am dismissed, or rather cut off from the honourable and delightful service of the ministry. But to be resigned, perhaps, is better than to labour; and an adoring submission, for me at least, more proper than a zealous application. O may I bow my head, and dutifully stand in the lot which the almighty Sovereign pleases to assign!— Ever yours, &c.

LETTER LXXXVII.

London, Saturday night. MY DEAR FRIEND,-I CONGRATULATE you on 's recovery. Why do you call her? It is a strong temptation to vanity. She must be deeply ballasted with humility, not to be puffed up at such a title, which assimilates her to one of the most lovely and accomplished characters that ever was described.

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O that we all may be recovered from that lethargic indolence which deadens our attention to the one thing needful! What a God have we! how immensely glorious, and how little do we reverence him!What a Saviour! how unutterably gracious! and how little do we love him!-What promises! how inviolably faithful! yet how feeble is our affiance in them!-What a heaven! how transcendently delightful! yet how languid are our desires of it! O that the blessed, blessed Redeemer may baptize us with the Holy Ghost, as with a flaming fire, to quicken, animate, and kindle into a glow of devotion, these benumbed souls of ours! I must add no more, only

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that I am, with great sincerity, though in great haste, inviolably yours, &c.

LETTER LXXXVIII.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-I AM surprised at what you say relating to dear. What evil hath he done, or wherein has he offended, that disesteem should be his lot? Yet what are such instances of contempt, compared with the reproaches and insults offered to the all-glorious Redeemer? God, I trust, will bless his sermon; and so much the more as it is regarded by some people with an evil eye. O what a comfortable consideration is it, that the success of our discourses depends not upon our own ability, which is as nothing; depends not upon the favour of men, which is very capricious; but depends wholly upon the influence of that almighty Spirit, whose presence is unlimited, and power uncontrollable!

My father had engaged Mr to supply at Collingtree: I hope he grows in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Adieu, my dear friend, adieu.

SIR,-Mr

LETTER LXXXIX.

and Mr

London, Feb. 23. may have tried,

and may repeat their attempts, to alienate the affections of my Collingtree hearers. I am under no concern with regard to myself. Fragile cupiens illidere dentem, offendet solido, will, I believe, be the issue of their endeavours. I am only sorry, for the people's sake, that they should squander away their ministerial talents and ministerial labours to so poor a purpose. Let them be more incessant in warning every man, and teaching every man, that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Thus let them seek to win their affections, and I do

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rejoice, yea, and will rejoice, in their success. sir, the way to secure the love of others is, to love them, to pray for them, and with a willing assiduity to set forward their true happiness. This, whenever I was amongst them, my people will confess, I did not cease to do. And the God of heaven knows I daily bear them on my heart, and often recommend them to the tenderest mercies of our everlasting Father. Never, therefore, be apprehensive of my losing either their esteem with regard to my conduct, or their affection with regard to my person. O that their precious souls were as firmly united to Christ, as their favourable opinion is secured to me! Well, should neighbours undermine us, and friends forsake us, the adorable and all-condescending God is faithful. He changeth not. His word of grace endureth for ever. He loves his people with an everlasting love. And O what worms, what dust, what mere nothings, are all men, are all creatures, before that infinitely blessed Author of all perfection! What a sense had the .Psalmist of this weighty truth, when he poured forth that rapturous exclamation, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none, there is nothing on earth, that I desire in comparison of thee !" May this, my dear friend, be the continual language of your heart; and of his, who hopes to be, both in time and to eternity, affectionately yours, &c.

LETTER XC.

Wednesday morning, Mile's-lane. DEAR MR NIXON,-YOUR obliging letter found me at my brother's in Mile's-lane, where I propose to abide to the end of the week: and here your entertaining and improving company would be a favour, not to myself only, but to the whole family.

I am indebted to your good-nature for so candidly accepting the small but free observation made in my last. I am going to run myself farther in debt, by

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