kind providence; since then his hand is fast closed, nor can all the faith of which I am possessed open one of his fingers; but I keep looking, and will do so until I die, for I will not be shaken off. He has smitten, wounded and killed me; divorced me from the law; wooed, won, and wedded my soul; and, knowing when I am well off, I will not be turned adrift. It is to have and to hold-for better for worsefor richer for poorer; neither shall death us two part.

I rose early this morning to write to poor Tom, and I believe Satan is offended at it, Kind love to Nan.

Fellow lime-burner, adieu.

W. H. S. S.

CCCCXVII...

March 7, 1800.

IF

Finy dear Tommy knew the respect and concern that I have for him, and the anxiety that I feel for his welfare, I think he would have sent me a few lines before now. But he seems ignorant of the weight with which a young christian lies on the mind of an old soldier, who cannot excuse his long silence for want of

time, nor yet for want of matter; for, whether he is joyful or miserable, the heart is full, and it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh. I have been confined twelve days to my room, by a cold and fever, during which time I have had various changes pass over me. Sometimes hopeful and meek, at others sorrowful and sad; and Satan not idle, but busy enough in helping forward the calamity; but I am not altogether ignorant of his devices; he has laboured at me so hard and so long, that he can bring nothing new.

I expected to have seen thee before now: but I suppose you are on the top of the mount, and, like the Corinthians, can reign as a king without the assistance of old invalids. Or is it otherwise? Have you hugged the new man; have you nourished and admired him, wept over him, melted and dissolved under his influence; talked to him, smiled at him, and wondered at his operations and influences, till you have lost him? Yes,' say you, ' faith and the word were bound to my heart, and tied about my neck. When I walked they led me, when I slept they kept me, and when I awoke they talked with me;' Prov. vi. 21, 22. 'Yes,' say you, I have felt it just so indeed.'

where are they now?

me. Is this true?

Well, and

All gone. He has left

Yes, he came to me, he

forced his loving kindness upon me; he made

so free with me, and encouraged me to such familiarity with him, that I confessed my vileness and unworthiness; but he kept wooing and winning my soul, till he gained my whole heart and affections entirely to himself; and,' when he had done this, then he left me, till I became a mere carcase without a soul—a machine—a mere cuckoo clock. This world ap-' pears dismal, all is dark and gloomy; such joys as I never felt before are now fled; and I envy the happiness of every child of God, yea, of every carnal man that seems happy, and event the birds when they sing, and the sun when it shines.'

Ah, Tommy, I have done more business in these deep waters than ever you did, or than ever you will do. If he goes a hundred times, Tommy, he will come back again, and do the whole work over and over again and again. This is true, Tommy; and time shall tell thee whether I am a true or false prophet. He hath chosen us in the furnace of affliction; there is the fire of divine wrath, of inbred lusts, the fiery darts of Satan, the scorching sun of persecution, and the smoking flames of cruel jealousy; all which are often stirred up when the bridegroom withdraws himself from us. And now let me shew you, by the word of the Lord, where all this stands. Read Isaiah xlii. Former prophecies are come to pass in the be

1.

liever when he declares these new things-gives us a new heart, a new spirit, and a taste of the new wine; verse the 9th.-This makes the poor gentiles and islanders sing, verse 10.-When we get into the rock Christ, and ascend the mount, this adds to our song, verse 11.-Such vessels of mercy give glory to him, and declare his praise, verse 12. When any great warrior or potent king starts up in the world-such as David was all other kingdoms and states are jealous of him, and afraid of losing their kingdoms; and so it is here-" The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war," verse 13. This fills the devil and wicked kings with madness; and the poor believer, who is just brought to enjoy the kingdom of God, and the righteousness, peace, and joy thereof, when he loses his joys the devil and sin harass him, and he is filled with jealousies. But the Lord shall cry, roar, and prevail against these enemies, verse 13. His powerful voice among his people shall throw them into labour, like a travailing woman, and those that persecute his poor travelling people shall perish at once, verse 14. Satan, sin, and other powerful mountains of obstruction shall be made low: he will dry up the sweet scent of the pharisees; and even in the floods of Satan's temptations his people shall find islands to rest upon. All the puddles of.

the doctrines of men shall be dried up, and he will put a spring of living water in the hearts of his saints, verse 15. "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, &c." verse 16.

This is the way, Tommy; it is all laid down in this forty-second chapter of Isaiah; and, should any thing among these scraps suit thee, give the glory to God; and, if thou art in any trouble,. let me see thee, as God hath sometimes comforted his people even by a coalheaver, and he can do it again if he will. The Lord tempted Abraham, kept him long hoping and praying for a son, and then bid him offer him up as a sacrifice: and so he often reveals his dear Son to us, and then calls us to give him up, with all the comforts attending him; and this is a strange thing that happens unto us; but he only tempts us, or tries us; for he will never give us his best gift, and then take him away again: No;. "blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown." --God bless thee and thine.