About eight or nine years ago fhe first heard me, and has followed in chains for the moft part ever fince. Her husband is a very useful man, and the farmer would not part with him, but brought him with him when he moved to Ringmer; they are well to do in the world, having been trufty fervants for years. About two or three weeks ago I heard by Mrs. T. Hooper that he was finking very low, almoft in defpair. I felt much for her, and never ceased to mention her; and the Sunday before the last she came to the vestry with a fhining countenance, and said that Satan was put to flight, by the application of that paffage," and fhall not God avenge his own elect?" &c. Another in the net; whether he will break the net or not God knows.

J. J.

LETTER VI.

THIS goes with my best remembrance to my dearly beloved in the Lord. Mrs. D. came to see me one day this week, together with Mrs. Hooper; and when they had spent the day, before Mrs. D. went away, the left me a ten pound

bank note; and she happened to be here when my letter to you was going to the poft-office; and as she expreffed a wifh fhe might carry it to you, that the might have it as an errand to wait on the Doctor, I fend this by her hands. My deafnefs ftill continues, and I think worfe; fo does my weakness: but bleffed be God the beft friend has not turned his back on me; he met me last night again at chapel, and my hope is that he will never forfake me. O that I could hold him faft! I dread his departure more than lofing my life. life. Will my friend be fo kind as juft to put down his movements before he fets off? as it will be fome confolation to me to know where you are; for I fhall be prefent with you in the Spirit, go where you will. I think if I was to hear you now, that I fhould understand you better than ever. My hand is uncommon weak today; you may perceive that it is with difficulty I can guide my pen any how. May God for ever blefs the Doctor! is the prayer of

THE POOR VICAR.

LETTER VII.

Dearly beloved in the Lord,

YOUR laft favour is now by me: when I had read it, I thought that I would not immediately write, but keep that by me, and peruse it every day; which I have done, more or lefs, fince I have received it. I have fucked much out of it, and there is a deal more in it yet. My fecond reason for not writing fooner is, that it is not my defign nor defire to vex you, or, by my continual coming, to give you trouble. I well know how much you have on your hands, and am very fenfible that I ought, by this time, to be able and skilful to forage for myself. You have long fed me with milk, for hitherto I have not been able to bear ftrong meat, neither yet now am I able, you may rightly judge. But, fince at at this time of life I cannot provide for myself, I ought to fuffer; but fo it is. A third reafon is, that I hear that Mrs. H. is fo ill that the is not likely to live but a little while; and if that period fhould be near, I fhould be forry to crowd so many things on your mind.

As to my health, through the goodness of God,

it is of late fomewhat better than it has been; though I cannot fay that I am any thing like well, two days together, at any time; and indeed I do not wish for uninterrupted health and ftrength, for a creature given to trespass, as I find myself to be, ought continually to be encompaffed with a hedge of thorns. You say in this letter, after mentioning the cafe of Jeremiah, and others, "This is your portion, take it." And I verily believe it must be while I am in the world. My present grievance is my darkness, ignorance, and the unprofitableness of my understanding in the word of God; often do I preach on the last text that I can find in his book. As for my head, I verily believe that the head of an ass would be equally as ufeful. God blefs my dear friend. My poor Nan has been very ill, and I was afraid I fhould lofe her; but have this comfort, that I have reafon to hope that there is a good thing begun in her foul. To Mrs. T. Hooper and Nancy Diggens fhe will talk a great deal, I find.

Farewell!

J. J.

LETTER VIII.

I DO greatly long to hear from my dearly beloved. In my laft I know I defired him not to put himself in a hurry, or to any inconveniency, but to take his leifure time to write to me, but now begin to feel it a long time fince I have heard from him; but do often conclude, that I am not really worth his pains, for I know of none more hopeless than myself, and do, indeed, wonder that you are not tired of me, and fhould not at all marvel if you had given me up; for what can be more disheartening than to beftow labour where there is no return, nor any expected, as far as I can fec? for I know, from my own difappointments, that I must have often disappointed you. But trying as these must be to you, they are more to me: one time talking of great enlargements, then the next day curling myself like a hedgehog (for I can compare myself to nothing elfe) then shooting my prickles at every one that comes nigh. But I am a greater puzzle to myfelf, I believe, than to any body elfe, for God knows I do not know what to make of fuch fudden changes; concluding at one time that I have the beginning of heaven on earth, then