penny a day for pin money, but no purse independent of him.

And Lastly, That he had prepared a mansion house for you, and has settled a jointure on which you shall surely possess if

you, faint not.

you

And now, Dear Mistress, I beseech you to accept of these lines from the hand of your servant, and when it is well with you remember Joseph; while I remain,

Your dutiful servant to command,

LETTER II.

TO MRS. H.

W. H.

Gainsborough.

DEAR partner in life and in covenant love, grace be with thee and thy little troop. I am at present very well in health, I have enjoyed more of the powerful presence of God than usual, the enjoyment of him has been sweet to my soul.

I often take a solitary walk by the river Trent, and muse on the wonderful scheme of everlasting love. My soul is more dead to the world than ever, all indeed is vanity and vexa

tion of spirit, but in my God solid peace and everlasting felicity. I know not why heaven should stoop so low as to look on such mortals, but it is the most high God's doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes. I envy no man's happiness; mine all lays in a bleeding Saviour, he is and shall be the portion of my soul in this house of my pilgrimage. The rich, the gay, the polite, the wise, and all pass me on the road, and pass me in silence. I am out of the world and not worthy of this world's notice, and indeed this world is dead to me.

My mind is kept remarkably pure, and all my happiness is alone in my God; indeed I think this will be the happy and undeserved end of my worthless, soul-all glory be to the free and sovereign grace of my most blessed. Father. The very nights are sweet to me, and no company like that of my God. Why I am so highly favoured I know not, I have done nothing worthy of this his notice, but he will be gracious to whom he will be gracious. I am in a place where there are many professing people, still I find but very few who see what I see ; I much fear many in the end will meet with the disapprobation of my Lord and Master. Few, indeed very few, understand the good fight of faith, heaven is easily obtained by them; but the real saint must take it by force, and if

these do not I doubt they will cry, Lord, Lord, when it will be too late.

I do not enjoy my comfort alone, I call you and the little ones up with me to prayer in my faith, and surely my desire is that you and the little ones may be saved. I keep close to my study, and commune alone with my own heart. I sit from morning till night in my own room, except when I eat my meals, or walk by my highly favoured river, the Trent. Give my love to Ruth and Naomi, and all, if they can read this. If you choose you may write me a line, use your own liberty in it, as I know not when I shall return home; but I shall not write to you any more except I hear from you. Fare you well, grace be with thee and thine; from

Your affectionate husband in Christ,

LETTER III.

ΤΟ

W. H.

Dear Sir,

I RECEIVED yours and read it with pleasure, for God has been your Guardian and Banker as well as mine, and I must confess that the children of God's providence and grace are the greatest wonders to me in the whole creation.

It has been my daily and hourly employ for upwards of thirty years, to watch the hand and handiworks of the Almighty in directing my steps, supplying my wants, fixing my residence,supporting my soul,instructing my mind, shining upon my way, and delivering me out of innumerable adversities. He hath caused his goodness daily and hourly, constantly and invariably to pass before me, while I have followed him believing and hoping, watching and waiting, weeping and wondering, trembling and rejoicing, confessing and acknowledging, blessing and praising; and with astonishment at his undeserved goodness asked him where he would lead me to.

These things in our days are matters of jest and ridicule, but I am at a point, yea more than sure, that all short of God and the fear of him is destruction and misery, vanity and vexation of soul. You may believe me when I say, despicable and despised as I am, God knows that I envy not the angels of God in heaven; nor is there a human being in existence whose felicity I crave, whose state I covet, or with whom I would exchange my hope. My poor prayers have already been, and shall be, that you may share in this blessed portion of God from above, and in this blessed inheritance of the Almighty from on high, Job, xxxi. 2; for

such shall rest, and stand in their lot at the end of the days, Dan. xii. 13.

The passage you allude to in Isaiah can by no means be applicable to you; you do not live in pleasure, dwell carelessly, much less deal in sorceries and enchantments: The contents of the whole chapter is levelled at Babylon in Chaldea, and will have its final accomplish ment in mystical Babylon or Rome, but is by no means to be understood of any individual person. Nor does the Lord ever threaten poor sensible sinners, who look to his dear Son for pardon and acceptance, with evil, mischief, and desolations. God dearly loves all poor penitents who come to Christ, and declares there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents-Repentance leads to life and salvation, not to evil and mischief. Make the Lord thy refuge, and no evil shall befall thee, Ps. xci. 10.

Let my unknown friend take the advice of a fool, Give thy mind to reading divine things, meditate on them, and with all simplicity crave God's help, guidance, and assistance through a Redeemer-then watch the displays of his power, and acknowledge his care, and the bounties of his hand. Nothing, no nothing ennobles the mind, enriches the soul, or fortifies the man, like a hope and trust in God through Jesus Christ.