she was to be made very like him: and she is now like him, for she sees him as he is, and shares in his glory. Her lot here was humble, but her place now is not so; the Lord will honour her humble sufferings, patience, and love, as highly as those of saints who move in a higher sphere. I had often wished to be near her at her departure, but that honour was reserved for you. I rejoice to hear that your children are promising; I think it is the greatest comfort a parent can enjoy in this world. I have a large share of it, in my three daughters: but my prodigal is not come to himself: he still feeds on husks, nor thinks of the plenty in his Father's house. I had great hopes last winter: I heard he had been very ill, in consequence of very severe treatment from his captain. The Lord has been emptying him from vessel to vessel, and I have been waiting the issue: but mine eyes almost fail, and my Spirit frets, because I know the Lord can, and no other can. I I have great hopes, too, that God's time will come. I am also satisfied that it will be the best time; but still I cry, O, how long! My dear friend, I think I would recommend it to you to keep your children about you. No other had ever the influence over him that I had; and I regret that I did not bring him with me. Mrs. Stevenson (Jessy), who was so very delicate, is much under the rod; but she kisses it, and turns to Him who appoints it. My two young ones are sweet, obedient, diligent girls, my word is as much a law, as when they were seven years of age. This also is of God! and to him I look for their continu ing, and for my prodigal's return. Our young Timothy, J. M-, is a perfect champion for the Gospel of Jesus: the Lord has well girded him, and largely endowed him he walks closely with God, and speaks and preaches like a Christian of long experience: he was ordained about two months ago in his father's church, and a few weeks after married a lady of eminent piety, and preached all the day, both the Sabbath before and after: no levity appeared in word or gesture; which is not always the case with the best at such times. There is not a church in New York whose discipline is as strict, nor one which has so many communicants. He is reckoned a youth of great talents and an orator; and many of even the idle and careless, go to hear him. A few Sabbaths ago, he preached from these words, "I am determined to know nothing among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified." After proving that all the Scriptures, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelations, pointed to Christ and his great work of redemption; and asserting that that sermon could not be called the Gospel, of which He was not the Subject, he spoke home to his audience, and told them that this, through the aid of Divine Grace, was his firm purpose— to dwell on redeeming love. He was sure no subject would be welcome to any Christian, where Christ was not to be found; nor would any such subject ever convert a sinner; and therefore, if any were about to take their place there, expecting to hear any new or strange thing, let them not disappoint themselves? O for a thankful heart! The Lord has indeed done wonders for me and mine; and, blessed be his name for this mercy also, that in a remarkable manner, by a strange concurrence of circumstances, he hedged me in, to become a member of this congregation, where I am fed with the same truths which nourished my soul in Zion's gates, at Edinburgh; and I am enabled to sing the Lord's song in a foreign land. Often have I been tempted to hang my harp upon the willow, when I thought on Zion: but this was, and sometimes still is, my sin and ingratitude; for I ought to build houses, and : plant vineyards, and seek the good of the land; for he has a small vineyard here, which he waters and cultivates, and I ought to labour therein, and do whatsoever my hand findeth to do with diligence; and say, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; heaven is his throne, the earth his footstool," and he fills all things, and all places."What aileth thee, Hagar?" O what a God of mercy is our God! Often has he hailed me in some such language: "What aileth thee?" why is thy countenance sad? Am not I better to thee than ten friends? Then has he turned my heart to him, made me feel myself close to him he has suffered me to lean on his bosom, hang on his arm, and lisp out Abba. At such blest moments, I have thought the whole earth but one point, and from that to heaven but one step, and the time between but as one moment; and my company here sufficient to satisfy me by the way. At such blest moments, I have felt entire satisfaction with all that God is, all that he does; and could trust him fully with all my concerns, spiritual, temporal, and eternal. But, alas! by and by, like a peevish child, I begin to fret; wish this, wish that; grieve for this, grieve for that; fear this, fear that; stagger, stumble, fall! O what a God of patience and long-suffering! And O how rich that well-ordered covenant, that provides suitable grace for all these unsteady seasons! It is my great est consolation that the Lord knows it all. There are times when I cannot see him; but every moment he sees me. I should fall off, and leave him; but he holds me fast, and never leaves me. O blessed plan, where God secures us in safety, even from ourselves. We have not only destroyed ourselves, and he has been our help; but we are ever destroying ourselves, and still he renews this help. Well, what shall we say? Father, glorify thy name, and let us lie in thy hand, as clay in the potter's, till thou finish thy workmanship, and fit us vessels of mercy, to be filled with happiness, when thou shalt have done thy good pleasure in us, and by us in this world, through the grace that is in Christ Jesus, who loved us, and gave himself for us; to whom be glory, honour, and praise, in the church below, and in the general assembly above, now and ever. Amen. My love, my heart's love, to my dear Mrs. D. I am ever, your affectionate friend, ISABELLA GRAHAM. TO MRS. O EDINBURGH. New York, 1793. I RECEIVED both my dear friend's letters, and I thank you for remembering me. You cannot but know, that any thing, however trifling, from a friend at a distance, is pleasant but it is no trifle to learn, not only that you are well, but that you are still of the same mind with regard to your heavenly course and prospects. My dear friend, you and I have advanced a great way through the wilderness, since we parted, and I know, and am persuaded, that we are both, in exact proportion, near the haven of our hopes. This persuasion is not founded upon any confidence I have in myself, or in my purposes of holding on. No, my friend, the longer I live, the more I am convinced that I stand by grace; and, could I believe that the Lord would ever let go his hold of me, and let 66 loose my own corruptions, and the enemy to traffic with them, and deceive me by them, I believe that I could lie, steal, commit murder, and do all that human wickedness. ever practised; but, blessed, ever blessed, be our divine Shepherd! He is our Keeper, who has promised that "sin shall not have dominion over us :" and for this very reason, that we are not under the law, but under grace." Here is the ground of our confidence, that we shall persevere, and finish our course safely, and perhaps honourably too, before the world; though this is not always the case. My dear friend, let us ever keep sight of our Keeper and Leader, and fear nothing. I will tell you something for your comfort, and for your encouragement; it may also serve for your confirmation; I tell it you in confidence.. It is now, I think, thirty-five years since I simply, but solemnly, accepted of the Lord's Christ, as God's gift to a lost world. I rolled my condemned, perishing, corrupted soul upon this Jesus, exhibited in the Gospel as a Saviour from sin. My views then were dark, compared with what they now are; but this I remember, that, at the time, I felt heart-satisfying trust in the mercy of God, as the purchase of Christ; and for a time, rejoiced with joy scarcely supportable, singing almost continually the 103d Psalm. I took a view of the promises of God, and wrote out many of them, and called them mine; and among the foremost was that in the 89th Psalm, and 30th verse; and well has the Lord kept me to it, and made it good; for, my dear friend, never was there a more unsteady, unwatchful Christian; never did the children of Israel's conduct in the wilderness depict any Christian's heart and conduct, in Gospel times, better than mine; and just so has the Lord dealt with me. When he slew me, then I trusted in him; when he gave me carnal ease and comfort, I forgot my |