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this will continue till death in every saint. But by dross and tin are principally meant our self-righteousness, high and vain thoughts of ourselves, carnal reasonings, self-conceit, supposed wisdom, natural and acquired abilities, rank in life, self-admiration, false notions of God, of his law, and of our own hearts. God will stain the pride of all this glory. The wise shall not glory in their wisdom, the strong in their strength, nor the rich in their riches; for God will exclude all boasting. This dross and tin are effectually consumed in this furnace; and so it follows, "I will bring the third part through the fire, and will purify them as silver is purified, and try them as gold is tried; and they shall call upon my name, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people, and they shall say, The Lord is my God." This, my dear sister, is God's promise, and he will make it good in his own time.

I long and hope to see you enlarged before I go hence, having remembrance of thee continually in my poor petitions. Tender my kind love to your spouse, your mother and brother; and likewise to your patient, suckling, charge, or whatever name she may bear. That God may bless you all is the constant and unfeigned prayer of

DCXXXVI.

May 13, 1801.

DEAR MOTHER,

I LONG to know how you got home, for I am afraid the long journey was too much for you in your old age. But it is never too late to seek the Saviour of mankind, who promises to be found of all that seek him when they seek him with all their heart. I think the Lord has stirred thee up from thy false security, and will not let thee settle upon thy lees; for by his giving thee a love to the truth, and to those that preach and profess it, it is a good token in thy behalf; for by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." It is a pleasure to my soul to see the work of God going on at that little place called Downham; where you are in number sufficient to stir each other up, and to keep each other from getting dead and lifeless. In this way the Lord often carried on his work in the hearts of poor sinners in the days of old.

ing but the conversation of each other. Sometimes they comforted and sometimes provoked each other to jealousy, and then they prayed to God for help. One sister wrestled with another, and prevailed. Leah envied Rachel her beauty, and Rachel envied Leah her fruitfulness; and God answered the prayers of one, and then of the other. "God hath heard that I was hated," said Leah, "and therefore gave me this son." God, says Rachel, shall add to me another son. And in this way were their souls tried, humbled, and built up; and there is not a little of this work going on to this day in our country, especially in places where ministers who pretend to preach know nothing savingly of Jesus Christ. These poor souls stick and cleave to one another, and get more comfort and encouragement from each other than they do under the cold and lifeless ministry of those who know nothing but what they know naturally, for such are enemies to the life and power of godliness, and are provoked to wrath at the sight of it.

I shall often, if the Lord permit, write to Downham, and I would advise you now and then to go over, and stay a few days with them, when you can hear my letters read,

among them. They will grow, and go on, and God himself will teach them, as the minister cannot; for the promise is, that they shall all be taught of God.

Dear mother, farewell; mercy and peace be with you, which shall be the constant prayer of thy willing servant in Christ,

W. HUNTINGTON, S.S.

ing but the conversation of each other. Sometimes they comforted and sometimes provoked each other to jealousy, and then they prayed to God for help. One sister wrestled with another, and prevailed. Leah envied Rachel her beauty, and Rachel envied Leah her fruitfulness; and God answered the prayers of one, and then of the other. "God hath heard that I was hated," said Leah, "and therefore gave me this son.” God, says Rachel, shall add to me another son. And in this way were their souls tried, humbled, and built up; and there is not a little of this work going on to this day in our country, especially in places where ministers who pretend to preach know nothing savingly of Jesus Christ. These poor souls stick and cleave to one another, and get more comfort and encouragement from each other than they do under the cold and lifeless ministry of those who know nothing but what they know naturally, for such are enemies to the life and power of godliness, and are provoked to wrath at the sight of it.

I shall often, if the Lord permit, write to Downham, and I would advise you now and then to go over, and stay a few days with them, when you can hear my letters read,

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