path than in time past, by attending more conftantly to the divine prefence in my foul: "My fheep hear my voice," faith Jefus. In order to this end, the mind must be kept in filence, and divefted of every other pursuit but that of knowing, doing and fuffering his holy will. When this is effected, with what pleasure and alacrity doth it press forward to the complete fruition of God? anticipating that moment, when it shall drop this tenement of clay, and behold Him face to face, without a veil between! I hope to have an account of feeing you foon, which will be thankfully received by your obliged Servant, LETTER A. BOLTON. CCCCXIX. [From Mr. Henry Brooke, to the Rev. J. Wesley.] Rev. Sir, Dublin, Aug. 6, 1774 Received with true gratitude your very kind letter. It was indeed a dear, and precious token of your remeinbrance; and fhould have been anfwered immediately, but that I waited in hopes my dear Uncle would have been able to answer for himfelf. His health is greatly impaired, and he is but in a declining flate. A kind of vertigo, or megrim, continues not only to enfeeble his limbs; but to interrupt his ftudy and writing. However, I trust, as his outward man decays, his inward man is renewed daily. He is deeply fenfible of your very kind offer, and moft He has defired me to exprefs the cordially embrace it. warmth of his gratitude in the ftrongest terms, and fays, he moft cheerfully yields the volumes you mention to your fuperior judgment, to prune, erafe, and alter as you please. * Author of Henry Earl of Moreland. He He only wishes they could have had your eye before they appeared in public. But it is not yet too late. A fecond edition will appear with great advantage when they have undergone fo kind a revifal. But he is apprehenfive your time is fo precious, that it may be too great an intrufion upon it, unless made a work of leisure and opportunity. Yet as you have proffered it, he will not give up the privilege; but hope leifure may be found for fo friendly and generous a work. Bleffed be God, our united family continues to live in peace, harmony and love! We have four divifions of it, in one houfe, and fome fmall branches befides; and yet no jarring, no difcord, no difcontent or jealousy! We have heard lately from my brother in the Indies. He is restored to health, and has made his fortune; and only waits for an opportunity to retire, and leave his command with honour. He wifhed not for a Nabob's fortune: and though in the high road to station and wealth, yet he abandons all to live in retirement, and the endearments of friendship. As to myfelf, I am indeed as much united to the Methodists as ever, and meet with my brethren as regularly as moft. But I cannot attend the preaching fo frequently as formerly. Yet my brethren are not offended: they know how to make allowance for me. I blefs God I feel the happiness of living by faith! My heart enjoys much of that peace which palleth all understanding; and notwithstanding all my wretchednefs and vilenefs, I experience a fenfe of the love of God daily. May the bleflings of the former and latter rain be yours! the rule of Satan fall continually before you! and the kingdom of Chrift be exalted by your means! I am, Rev. Sir, your most affectionate Friend and Brother, H. BROOKE. VOL. X W LETTER. 4 I [From Mr. John Prickard, to the Rev. J. Wesley.] Rev. Sir, Brecon, Aug. 8, 1774 Have taken this opportunity of writing to you concerning my being a travelling Preacher. When I wrote to you laft, Mr. C. and others had prevailed on me to decline it. But by the advice of Mr. B. I have reconfidered the matter very seriously. And, firft, I fee plainly that preaching conftantly in one place would not be so profitable either to the people or myself. Secondly, as my health is impaired, I believe that riding will be of fervice to me. Above all, I find a defire to be wholly given up to the bleffed work of calling finners to repentance: compared to which, gaining the whole world is not worthy a thought. If therefore you think it beft that I should travel, I am at your difpofal. I thank God my mind is perfectly refigned at prefent to his will, whatever it may be. May God direct you in this and all things, which is the unfeigned defire, Rev. Sir, of your Son in the Gofpel, J. PRICKARD. P O E T R Y. W LIBERT Y. PART I. ITH fwift defcent the flaming fun The western clouds, enfringed with gold, Spontaneous all their pomp unfold, And ufhered in the night. Powdered Powdered with flars, the vaulted blue, Not even a breath encurled the stream, The gliding Shannon, by my fide, A form in light arryed. With filent tread, and heavenly state, No female arts abufed her form, Her looks and robes combined to fcorn Corinna's dress and leer. "Mortal, fhe faid, I'm Liberty, Which all purfue, yet millions flee, So ftrange a bubble man! The court, and camp, and fenate rise, "To moft I'm nominally their's, And loose me in the ftrife. "With anger fired, or envy pinéd, W 2 Enervating Enervating the powers: Can flaves, like thefe, of freedom boast? In bondage all their hours! "The numerous crowd all point at me, Affairs of councils, nations, ftates, Through all the clamorous sphere. "But, ah! how little do the crowd A war, 'gainst wisdom, goodness, truth, "Sin! dreadful Conqueror, ties the chain, Though pride, felf-will, and bafe defire, 'Tis Sin that holds the poifonous bowl, "See the Affyrian Monarch ftand, And |