not small, bleffed be God, but I get old, and withering day by day; and the sooner dried

up,

the better for me.

Ever yours,

W. H.

LETTER XLII.

I HAVE at laft obtained a line from the excellent one. His outward man decays: this I feel, and doubt not but it is true in him: but the inner man is renewed day by day; this I see in him, nor is it otherwife in me alfo, in a fmall measure. Death now will work in him, but life in the flock, and he will build them up, as God pulls him down. The infirmities of the body, and the revivals of the foul, will keep pace; and the house above will appear clearer and clearer, as the earthly houfe of this tabernacle decays; I mean the building not made with hands. Every grace, from faith to fear, has the promife of glory annexed; and this is no fmall encouragement to old weather-beaten, and invalid foldiers, who live in expectation of a discharge. I always thought, and have often faid, that you

would be the best man, when at the worft; the ftrongest man, when moft weak; and the most lively in death. That health would appear in your fickness, the swifteft pace would be at the goal, and you the most robuft on the bed of languishing. Your hardest birth throes have been in imagination, and your fharpest pains in the midst of health; and what has been feared and imagined will appear ten times worse than what will be felt when it comes in reality. No lepers were pronounced clean but thofe covered with fcurf; and fure I am that they are most alive who die daily. Communion with God is always attended with felf-loathing: the more felf is exalted, the fartheft from God: lovers of God, and lovers of themselves, divide the world. Every one of God's family cannot bear enlargement; too much new wine would burft the bottle unless well foftened, meekened, and fupplied-by affections; nor will trials do without godly forrow and contrition to fanctify them: Paul's fharp thorn was to prick the bladder that was puffed up, that it fhould not fwell. The beft of men have a fleshly mind: and this, above measure overblown, must burft. Many that have bemoaned, lamented, and pitied his Excellency in his former conflicts, will envy him on his deathbed. The best wine of the marriage feaft will come forth at last, and perhaps the groaning caudle at

"

the hour of death. You are nothing but a riddle, and so I have sent you a paradox.

I AM glad at my heart that any help or support should be conveyed by any scrap from me. Who hath despised the day of small things? God has not, nor fhould we. The bruifed reed is as near to him as the well-tuned harps of Zion, filled with thanksgiving and the voice of melody. The lambs in the arms and bofom, and the rams of Nebaioth, that minifter, are both alike to the good Shepherd. "There is joy in heaven over one penitent, more than over ninety and nine who need no repentance." If there was not much drofs, there would not be fo much fire; but remember this, his fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerufalem, not in the world. The body and the foul are the work of the Saviour's own hands, and every grace, life, and light are his own treasure; fo that he only purifies his own

property; and he is the ftrength of the heart, the life of our grace, and the length of our days our times are in his hands. Chrift is Lord both of life and death; he can lengthen out his work, or cut it fhort. Death shall not invade till the people (of old prepared) be made ready for the Lord, Luke i. 17. It is not the furnace of affliction, nor the fiery trial, that can take away or purge our fins, our dross, our tin; nor is it intended fo to do, but to discover all these. It is by mercy and truth iniquity is purged; the mercy of God in regeneration is that which washes us this is the clean water that cleanses us from filth and from idols. And truth refpects the covenant of promife, in which God promises forgiveness, and Chrift is the truth, being the fulfiller and the fulfilment of the promife, for in his crucifixion the fountain is opened, and the best robe is brought in. This is the mercy and truth by which iniquity is purged. The furnace is to fearch, to try, to ftir up, and to make manifeft the counsel of the heart, that we may fee it and feel it, and be fenfible of the need of Chrift; seek him, call upon him, and truft in him, and be thankful for him. Meeknefs, patience, fubmiffion, humility, and love, are all by the Spirit alone; and whenever these are produced in us, the work is done at once. But we are not to go unpunifhed; for if we are ignorant of our fearful fall, we shall not prize the

K

great falvation, nor give all the glory of it to God. Befides, God will be waited on, and waited for; nor is a stubborn mind, and a hard heart, a proper foil to receive feed, nor a good flock to graft upon; hence the word is called a hammer, a fire, a fword, an axe, a plummet, to cut, to wound, to break, &c. and by forrow of heart the spirit is broken; and this God will have. I have no doubt of your falvation, for I have you ftill in my heart, and in all my prayers. I have of late been indulged with a praying frame, and for a few days past been much engaged; for God has bent my mind, and fixed a full purpose in my heart, to cleave close to him, and to prefs forward, though it be through many difcouragements. And I am fully perfuaded that you are chaftened for your good; and though you kick. at it, yet I am fure that if the Lord was to take away his rod, and all afflictions from you, and give you up to dead floth and carnal ease, and to a judicial hardnefs of heart, fo as to have no more pain, forrow, or concern, you would be glad to get back again into the fame furnace where The Lord knows that you

you are now.

are a Welchman, and no finall man, and fo do I; and he is at no lofs for

means, to pull thee down.

power, nor ways, nor Give my love to all

friends; and be affured that you will fhare in

my petitions.

W. H.