fore, 1 desire to point you and myself, in the person of Jesus Christ. This incarnate God receives weary, perplexed sinners still, and gives them solid rest He teaches, as no man ever taught; his words have spirit and life; nor can he possibly mistake our case. I am, madam, your fellow-servant in the patience and kingdom of Jesus. J. F.

LETTER XL.

Madely, March 14th, 1763.

Rev. Mr. Fletcher to Miss Hatton.

Dear Madam,

I am very glad you persist in taking up your cross, and following the captain of our salvation. You must expect many a difficulty: Some of your greatest trials may come from your dearest friends without, and your nearest part within. I always found it profitable to expect the worst, for a temptation foreseen is half overcome. Let us count the cost daily, and learn to value all outward things as dung and dross, that we may win Christ.

My heart is at present full of an advice, which 1 have just given, with some success, to the Israelites in the wilderness, about this place: "Spend, in feeling after Christ, by the prayer of such faith, as you have, whether it be dark or luminious, the time you have hitherto spent in desponding thoughts, in perplexing considerations upon the badness, or uncertainty of your state, and come now to the Lord Jesus with your present wants, daring to be"Christ lieve that he waits to be gracious to you." is the way, the highway to the Father, and an highway is as free for a sickly beggar as a glorious

prince. If it is suggested, "you are too presumptuous to intrude without ceremony upon him, that is glorious in holiness, and fearful in praises; answer, in looking up to Jesus.

"Be it I myself deceive,

Yet I must, I must believe."

Mr. M-d-'s reply to Mr. Wesley's answer seems to me just in some points, and in others too seyere. Mr. Wesley, is perhaps, too tenacious of some expressions, and too prone to credit what he wishes concerning some mistaken witnesses of the state of fathers in Christ. Mr. M- perhaps, esteems too little the inestimable privilege of being perfected in that love, which casts out fear: but, in general, I conceive, if I do not presume of myself in answering your question, that it would be better for babes, or young men in Christ, to cry for a growth in grace, than to dispute whether fathers in Christ enjoy such or such privileges. I am, with sincerity, &c. J. F.

LETTER XLI.

Madeley, July 17th, 1766.

Rev. Mr. Fletcher, to Miss Hatton.

My very dear friend,

I want to hear of you, if I cannot hear from you by a line. The last account I had of your state of health was a very poor one. What hath the Lord done for your body since?

My dear friend, we are all going the way of all flesh; and though you are more sensible of the journey in your body than I am at present, yet I

follow you, or perhaps you follow me. I often feel a desire to bear your load for you; but the impossibility of this makes me rejoice, that Jesus, who does not faint as I might do, will and does carry both you and your burden. By a firm unshaken faith, you know, we cast our souls upon Jesus, and by that power, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself, he receives and bears that which we commit to him.

That this faith may be the firmer on our part, let it be rational as well as affectionate; affectionate as well as rational. God is good: he does not want us to take his word without proof. What expectations of the dear Messias from the beginning of the world! What amazing chains of miracles and wonders were wrought in favour of that people and family, from which he was to come! What prophecies fulfilled, that we might rationally believe! What displays of the Godhead, in that heavenly Man, Christ Jesus! In him dwelt, of a truth, the fulness of the Godhead bodily. You see the power of God in his miracles; the goodness of God in his character; the justice and mercy of God in his death; the truth and faithfulness, and glory of God in his resurrection, in the coming of his Spirit, and the preaching of his everlasting Gospel. O, my friend, we may believe rationally; we may, with calm attention, view the emptiness of all other religions, and the fulness of assurance that ours affords. And shall we not believe affectionately also? Let us stir up ourselves to love this Jesus, who hath given himself to us with all his blood, all his grace, and all his glory. Come, give him your whole soul, my dear friend, and take him with all his pardons, all his love, all his

strength. If he wants you to embrace him in his faint, bloody sweat, or in his racking tortures on the cross, draw not back-love him-love him, and let not the grave frighten you: it is good to drop our clay in his quiet sepulchre, and to follow him on the wings of faith and love, without a clog of sickly flesh, to heaven.

"He died for us, and rose again, that, whether we live or die, we might be together with him: to us to live is Christ, and to die again. He hath blotted out"

I am happily interrupted by your kind letter. Blessed be God for the prospect of recovery you mention! All is well that Jesus does: sick or well, living or dying, we will be Jesus's.

With regard to your complaint of slothfulness, your body cannot bear the strong exertions of a wrestling faith; therefore, you are called, I apprehend, with a calm consent, to accept of the Gospel tidings, and, with the quietness of a child at the breast, to suck the milk of divine consolation. Inward, loving, believing recollection and resignation is the path, into which our dear heavenly Friend wants now to lead you. Be faithful, be bold to follow, where he leads: make no wordsno unbelieving words-and all will be well. Farewell in body and in soul. J. F.

LETTER XLII.

To one who had some desire to serve God but not the courage to begin.

I much rejoice at the desires you have to please our Lord, but I am in pain to consider your back

wardness in executing the same. For I hold it strange that one should presume to remain in the vanity of this life, and not presume to make a new match with God, confiding in the same God. For what man was there ever, who hoping in God, and desiring to live according to his command, was forsaken by him? Who ever invoked him with an entire and presevering heart and was not heard by him? Nay, he goes seeking us, and inving us to serve him. What possibility therefore is there, but that since he is good he must come forth to meet and cast his arms about our necks, when we make towards him? He will, infallibly he will, and that far more completely than we know how to think.

Begin, thou servant of God, cast yourself upon him, and confide, that he who gave you the desire; will give you strength to work, and courage to make an end. For he calls not upon such as sleep to awake them, but that he may do them many favours when they are awake. Begin with diligence and fervour, yea, and with a kind of strife; for there is not a worse thing than a faint beginner, who still takes care to regale himself, and content the world. Shut your eyes against both human praises and dispraises, for you shall quickly see both the praiser and the praised turned into dust. And we shall all stand before the tribunal of our Lord, where the Mouth of Wickedness shall be stopped, and virtue shall be highly exalted. In the mean time, lay fast hold on the cross and follow him who was dishonoured, and lost his life for you. And hide yourself in those wounds, that when our Lord comes for you he may find you there; and may beautify you with his graces, and may