miserably and emphatically wretched, who have such a one for their enemy and avenger! Oh ! how can our feeble frame, that shrinks at a little light affliction, that is but for a moment, how can it bear the never-ending vengeance of that prodigious arm which stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and poured out the waters of the mighty deep!

I have been about twenty or twenty-six miles into Cornwall, and seen wondrous workmanship of the all-creating God; ragged rocks, roaring seas, frightful precipices, and dreadfully steep hills. At Biddeford, a market town about fourteen miles off, I am pretty well known, and am a little esteemed. It is strange to tell, but let it be to the glory of God's free and undeserved goodness, though I am worthy of shame and universal contempt, yet I find favour and good understanding almost wherever I go.

Mr -'s house is situate in a fine vale. It is an ancient structure, built for the use of religious recluses, and has an antique, grave, and solemn aspect: before it is a neat spot of ground, set apart for the use of a garden, enriched with fruits, and beautified with flowers. This leads into a curious sort of artificial wilderness, made of elms and limes, planted in rows, cut into form, and uniting their branches. In the midst is a fountain large enough to swim in, and a little engine playing the waters. On each side are arbours for shade, in various parts seats for rest: on the right hand runs parallel to it a clear purling brook replenished with trout; on the left, a thick grove hanging from the side of a hill: the one serves for a watery mound, the other is a leafy shelter from the north wind; and both, I think, greatly ornamental. This, you will say, is pleasant; but how unworthy to be compared with those blissful mansions fitting up for the righteous in the heaven of heavens! This, and if there be any other spot a thousand times more delicate, is no better than a howling wilderness, if compared with the regions of

paradise. I wish my dear sister would earnestly seek for God's grace to draw off her affections from earthly delights, and fix them there, where real, substantial, and eternal joys are to be found, viz. on the blissful vision of God, and the fulness of joy that is in his presence for evermore. Your, &c.

LETTER XI.

Biddeford, Dec. 10. 1740.

DEAR SISTER,-THOUGH I am so backward in my compliments, I am most hearty in my wishes, that your spouse and yourself may enjoy abundance of happiness in the married state. I congratulate late, but I shall ever pray that you may find blessings twisted with the matrimonial bands, and not only live lovingly together as one flesh, but live holily together, as fellow-heirs of the grace of life.

I hope you will both remember the eternal world, which must very shortly receive you: That, ere long, the nuptial bed must be resigned for a lodging in the grave; and the ornaments of a sparkling bride be exchanged for the dressings of death. And if, under the frequent view of these serious truths, you study to further each other in faith and holiness,— then will you be true help-meets one to the other; then will you come together, not for the worse, but for the better; then may you trust, that when death shall dissolve the union below, Christ Jesus will bid it commence again above, and continue to endless ages in the midst of unspeakable delight. Please to present my humble service to the several Mr and Mrs that still remain in your town; to Mrs and her daughter; Mr and his spouse, and Mr Remember me also in the kindest manner to your poor neighbours, particularly those who have Mr's books. May God Almighty give them grace to make a proper and practical use of them! May he sanctify the attentive and diligent reading of them, to their increase

9

in godliness, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

and

;

When you see my Collingtree relations and acquaintance, salute them affectionately in my name. I suppose you will soon see my present my duty to them. I should rejoice to see them again in the flesh, before any of us go hence, and are no more seen. May the Father of our spirits, and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ our righteousness, prepare us for a happy meeting in the regions of glory, and for the blissful vision of his own adorable self.

There is at Biddeford, and has been for a considerable time, a townsman of mine, a middle-aged man, born at ; his name is I little thought to find such a person in these remote parts. It puts me in mind of heaven, where people of every kindred and tongue, of all nations and languages, will form one general and glorious assembly. May you and I, dear sister, one day be numbered with those children of God, and have our lot, our delightful and everlasting lot, among the saints. I am, &c.

LETTER XII.

June 2. 1747.

Reverend and DEAR SIR,-CAN you accept the will for the deed? It was in my heart, long before this, to have made you my best acknowledgments; and not in my heart only, but actually attempted. In Buckinghamshire I remembered my kind and obliging friend, and was with delight set down to give vent to my grateful thoughts. But company on a sudden coming in arrested my pen, and engaging me till I returned from that place, prevented the execution of my design. Now, sir, my heartiest thanks for your welcome assistance desire your acceptance; and if the utmost sincerity can atone for the delay, my conscious heart assures me they will not be rejected. My father is wonderfully recovered.

Had he lived in the times of superstition, for ought I know, his uncommon disorder might have been ascribed to witchcraft, and his speedy recovery passed current for a miracle. The grave seemed to have opened her mouth for him. We thought him to be on the very brink of death.

Quam pæne furvæ regna Proserpinæ,
Et judicantem viderit Æacum,
Sedesque descriptas piorum!-

But now God has turned and refreshed him; yea, and brought him from the depth of the earth again. He lives, and regains his strength daily. Last Sunday he read prayers in his church, and intends next Sunday to fill the pulpit.

Mrs, I hope, is very well; to whom I beg my humble service may be acceptable. Your dear little ones too, the olive plants about your table, I trust are in a flourishing state. May the good Lord fulfil his precious promise to them, and the children of your honoured neighbour. May he pour his Spirit upon your seed, and his blessing upon your offspring, that they may grow up (in knowledge and grace) as willows by the water-courses. I am just now going to our visitation, held at Northampton. I shall appear as a stranger in our Jerusalem! knowing few, and known by fewer. Methinks there is something august and venerable in a meeting of the clergy; especially if one looks upon them as so many agents for the invisible God, and envoys from the court of heaven. I hope to be put in mind of that awful day, when the Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, and Bishop of souls, will make his entrance in the clouds of heaven. Then, at that great, final, and decisive entrance, may my dear friend receive the approbation of his Judge. May he then be rewarded, for his kind offices to myself and others, in everlasting honour and joy. I am, &c.

LETTER XIII.

Biddeford, July 7. 1741. DEAR SISTER, AFTER a very sultry journey, I arrived safe at Biddeford. Here I have been one whole week. At Bath and Bridgewater I made a considerable stay. I tarried at each place a couple of nights; was entertained with abundance of civility.

There is a general prospect of a plenteous harvest. The valleys stand so thick with corn, as makes the traveller rejoice, and the husbandman sing. There is great want and scarcity of many things, but there is plenty of fish. Now the dry land is so barren, the waters yield the larger increase. It is observed, to the glory of God's good providence, that, now flesh is so dear, fish is uncommonly cheap. Thus graciously does the Almighty, when he locks up one, open another fountain of his beneficence. During my absence from Biddeford, a lusty man, in the prime and vigour of life, was carried off by my father's disorder. It is therefore a distinguished mercy that our father has enjoyed; such as has been withheld from others, while it has been vouchsafed to him.

I am now far from my dear relations. Friends I have indeed, but not one of my kindred near me. O that God may be my guide, my protector, and my portion here and forever. If the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, be my shepherd, I shall lack nothing. Unworthy, altogether unworthy of such an inestimable favour, I desire to lie at the feet of his free unmerited grace; seeking what he is ready to give, though I, alas! am most undeserving. And surely we have good reason to hope, and the very best encouragement to seek. For if he gave his life, and spilt his blood for us, will he not much rather give us pardon of our sins, and justification through his righteousness?

I hope my brother

is in perfect health. I