but I have felt the consolation arising from the receipt of a letter to be inexpressibly great; and have highly gratified a friend by the writing of one. Advice is often conveyed by correspondence, that proves a guide to our conduct; and remarks, applied to our own case, sometimes prevent hasty steps, of which, on reflection, we might have cause to repent. In my situation, hitherto described, letters with which I was favored from dear Mr. Berridge, were of great use indeed; an extract I will here insert from two of them.

"Pray frequently, and wait quietly, and the Lord will make your way plain. Jesus trains up all his servants to waiting, and if you are called to the ministry, he will exercise your soul before-hand with sharp conflicts. Joseph must be cast first into a pit by his own brethren, then into a prison by his master, before he rules the kingdom; and David must be hunted as a flea upon the mountains, before he gets the sceptre. How can you tell what others feel, unless you have felt the same yourself? How can you sympathize with a prisoner, unless your own feet have been fast in the stocks? How can you comfort those who are cast down, unless you have been often at your wit's end? Expect nothing but conflicts day after day to

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humble and prove you, and teach you to speak a word in season to one that is weary. This is indeed the high road to the kingdom for all, yet a minister's path is not only narrow and stoney like others, but covered also with bushes and brakes, and if you labor to remove them by your own hands, they will quickly tear your flesh and fill your fingers with thorns. Let your master remove them at your request, and remember it is always his work, as it is ever his delight, to clear our way and lead us on till sin and death are trodden down. Undertake nothing without first seeking direction from the Lord, and when any thing offers, that is plausible and inviting, beg of God to disappoint you if it be not according to his mind. You cannot safely rely on your own judgment, after God has told you,' He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.' This advice relates to all important changes in life. Go no where, settle no where, marry no where, without frequent usage of this prayer."

"I find your heart is yet looking towards America; this inclines me to think God will some time send you thither; in the mean while be thankful you have a pulpit in England to preach Jesus Christ in, and health to preach him. Be not in a hurry to go, least you go

without your passport, and then you go on a fool's errand. Do not wish to be any where but where you are, nor any thing but what you are. It is want of communion with God that makes our thoughts run a gadding. Daily be seech the Lord to make your way plain, then leave it to him to direct your steps. Wish not to do good in America next summer, but to do good in England every day you continue there." Oh that I had never swerved from the good advice of this truly apostolic man. My aim has been to have my conversation in the world' according to it.

I have diverted your attention from the Friendship, Captain Ball, on board of which, Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Smith, who filled up Mr. Wright's place, and myself, were left by the company who had made the most they could of Mr. Whitefield. I had nothing to do but to forget my own people-I had no father's house to forget-and to commit myself unto the Lord. We spent the former part of the day in looking over our stores, setting things in order and securing them from injury as well as we were able. As I dropped into leisure, I began to reflect upon the steps I had taken, and the leadings of divine Providence by which I was induced to take them. They all seemed satisfactory, and

though I compared myself to a sparrow alone upon the house-top, I had a conviction that I was not alone. The father of my mercies had been, was then, and blessed be his holy name, has been ever since with me.

Mr. Whitefield began to familiarize himself to his naval situation, to acquaint himself with the crew and passengers, and proposed to render them all the kindness in his power. Had the captain embraced the former day's wind, we had probably been favored with a speedy and prosperous passage; but by losing that opportunity we were greatly retarded. Against wind we went with the tide down the pool, and were several days getting to the Downs. Now I first began to know what sea sickness was, and supposed by my recovering when we anchored at the Downs, it was all over, but as we attempted to advance I found I was much mistaken. Here we were wind-bound three weeks, opposite Deal. Dr. Gibbons came on board during our stay to see Mr. Whitefield. His business was to ordain one of his pupils to a dissenting church of ancient standing in that town. The same day the young gentleman to be ordained, and the Rev. Mr. Bradbury, of Ramsgate, came on board, and after many pressing solicitations prevailed upon upon Mr.

Whitefield, contrary to his intention, to come on shore, to attend the ordination and preach in the evening. This was very agreeable to my inclination, and I hope I shall never forget the solemnities of that day. The wind being settled against us, and the captain giving us leave, upon Mr. Bradbury's repeated and urgent request, Mr. Whitefield was prevailed upon to go to Ramsgate. He preached there twice, and was to have stayed over the sabbath day, but not being able to overcome the uneasiness of his spirits, occasioned by a fear that we may stay too long, we took a chaise, and returned to our vessel, on board which, we had not been many hours, before the captain weighed anchor, and in the distant prospect of a favorable gale attempted to sail; but it only proved a conflict with the wind, to my no small mortification, for I was rendered incapable of every thing by the sea sickness.

After a second obstinate attempt, in which we were beating about Dungeness for a whole week without getting three leagues, and in which time I was not able to hold up my head, Providence was gracious, the wind was propitious, and we soon lost sight of land. It was a long while before I recovered; I plyed my book, and by the care that jointly fell upon me and