tions of the son of God, endured voluntarily for us; -from faith in him, a scriptural hope that our sins are pardoned, and that we are in a state of acceptance with God;-from peace of conscience, peace with God, submission to him, reliance on him, and realizing views of his unerring wisdom, almighty power, and faithfulness, engaged, through Jesus, to make all work for our good; together with the sweets of retired communion with him in the rarely frequented walks of fervent prayer and meditation. This is all that is wanted to make us satisfied, cheerful, and comfortable; rejoicing in hope of complete happiness in a better world. All beside, that our restless minds (restless unless and until they find rest in God,) can crave, could add nothing to us.... Riches, pleasures, diversions, the pomp and pride of life, are not only empty but ruinous; vanity and vexation. The Lord grant that we may esteem them such, and despise them. True happiness consists in being like God, loving him, and being beloved of him. All the rest is but a poor attempt of miserable man to forget his misery, and to find a happiness independent of the fountain of happiness: as if men, being deprived of the light and heat of the sun, should attempt to supply the irreparable loss by fires and tapers.... But believe me, dear sister, it is no small matter to be such a Christian. To deny ourselves, renounce the world, crucify the flesh, and resist the devil, though pleasant to him that has once got into the scriptural method, is too great a work for the most even of professors: most put up with either a round of devotions, in a formal way, or a set of notions. But, though there is much diligence and self-denial necessary, and

though the friendship of the world, and conformity to it, must be renounced; yet the present comforts of religion (I speak from sweet experience,) amply and richly repay it. May you and your's experience the same!"

In another letter, about a year afterwards, addressed to a young woman remotely connected with him by marriage, who had spent some time in his family at Weston, and who will hereafter be repeatedly noticed as his correspondent in Northumberland, he gives counsel and encouragement on the subject to which the preceding letter leads our thoughts,—the treatment of relations not yet brought to that religious state of mind which we could wish. At the same time we may trace in it the germ of that spirit of intercessory prayer, which so much distinguished the writer to the end of his days.

"We seldom, or never, have to repent of doing any thing which we have well prayed over, and then acted according to the best of our judgment.-I have been but little at home, and then have been very poorly in health, since I received yours: so that you must excuse my delay in writing. I do not quite forget you and your concerns when at the throne of grace, though I cannot say with Paul, always in every prayer. This is one among many things in this blessed apostle which I admire, that, amidst his manifold and important employments, he seems scarcely ever to have forgotten any of his churches or friends, but to have been constant, fervent, and particular in his prayers for them all and every one. The Lord help me to imitate him!—I can sympathize with you in your sorrow, but can give you no other

advice or comfort than what you already know. The Lord is sovereign and owes us nothing: and therefore we have abundant cause for thankfulness for what he hath, in a distinguishing manner, done for us, but none to complain of what he denies us. Be still, and know that I am God, is a lesson which all his people must learn experimentally. Wait the Lord's time, is another of the same sort. To love Christ even more than father and mother, and to desire his glory even more than their welfare, (which yet it is a duty to desire next to all,) is another very hard lesson which a true Christian must learn. But, when you have made proficiency a little in these lessons, you do not know what He who is rich in mercy, in answer to patient, persevering, believing, submissive prayers, may do for you. At all events you know he does hear prayer, and I dare venture to say, that your most earnest importunate prayers for your parents are as sweet music in his ears; and that he delights to hear them as offered through the intercession of Jesus. I lament much that there is so little of this spirit amongst professors of religion. If ever it become general, religion will spread in families and neighbourhoods, as fire in a sheaf. Where two agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them. Try the experiment. . . . Though it is very proper to drop a word now and then, yet I would advise you to be sparing in it, as it will be miscontrued into assuming and preaching. Meekness, attention, affection, and every expression of honour and respect; a mixture of seriousness and cheerfulness; (which be sure you aim at nothing prejudices more than an appearance

of melancholy;) now and then a pertinent text of scripture; a hint dropped, and opportunities watched, when people are more willing to hear than at other times: this, accompanied with many prayers, is the line I would mark out. But the Lord giveth wisdom ; and I doubt not he has been beforehand with me. I must conclude with wishing you success in the name of the Lord."

The following letters take a wider range. Besides explaining more fully the nature of his situation at Olney, they develop the views which he had now begun to take of the state of religious profession at that time, among many persons of the class frequently denominated evangelical; which views influenced the whole of his future ministry. Incidentally also they disclose the sort of sentiments which he had formed, and to which for substance he ever adhered, on church government, and some other subjects.

The first (dated April 29, 1783,) is to the Rev. Mr. Mayor, who has been already introduced to the reader.

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My very dear friend. . . . . . I would desire to bless God for, and to rejoice in the grace given unto you, and that he hath given you those peculiar views of the great things of the gospel, which alone can effectually prevent the abuse of them, and accomplish that glorious purpose for which they are designed. The moral excellency and beauty of divine things— the glory and loveliness of the divine nature, law, and gospel-spiritually discerned, are the grand preservative against every error and every abuse in re

ligion. This God hath given you, and given you to understand the use that is to be made of it, not only for the sanctifying and comforting of your own soul, but likewise for the work of the ministry. For this I bless God; and especially because in this day there is great need of it, and few I fear have a proper sense of it. Sure I am that evangelical religion is in many places wofully verging to antinomianism,-one of the vilest heresies that ever Satan invented: our natural pride and carnality being both humoured and fed by it, under the plausible pretence of exalting free grace, and debasing human nature. But, whilst antinomians talk of the grace of the gospel, they overturn all revealed religion."-He here proceeds to argue that there can be no more grace in the gospel than there is equity in the law, and justice in its penalty; that the whole scheme, which derogates from the honour of the divine law, cherishes the propensity of our corrupt nature to excuse self, extenuate sin, and cast blame upon God; and that "the conversion of the antinomian, notwithstanding all his good feelings, only leaves him tenfold more a hater of the God of the Bible, then he was before. This, my friend," he proceeds, "I am sure of, and see more and more clearly every day: and the enmity of loose professors against searching practical preaching, is full proof of it: and by God's grace, I purpose to spend my whole life in bearing testimony against it; and shall rejoice in having you for a helper. In this work we must expect no quarter, either from the world, or some kind of professors. But we need wisdom equally with zeal and boldness. Let us observe that some excellent men, far before us in every other respect, have been unintentionally betrayed into some mistakes of