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ment, though not of my feelings, that if the Lord had any thing for my children to do they might be spared but that they might not live to be the sorvants of sin, and to treasure up wrath and I trust this prayer has been, or will be, fully answered, You remember to have heard me, tell of the time, When you were the only survivor of three children, and were dangerously ill of the same fever of which your sister had died; how my heart was almost broken: but I am persuaded this time of distress was peculiarly useful to me; and I often look back tol it with admiring gratitude, when I reflect on the answer to my many prayers, which, with many tears, I then offered for you. And I doubt not that you will hereafter look back on your present trial, sharp as it is, in the same manner. Really believing that every human being will exist to eternal ages, and that the children, at least of believers, dying before they are capable of committing actual sin, have the benefit of the new covenant; I consider the circumstance of being instrumental to the existence of those who shall be eternally happy, as a high privilege and favour; even though they be speedily taken from us and I look forward, sometimes, with pleasure to the period, when I hope to meet again those who were early taken from me, as well as to be followed by those that survive me. Cessig loanbom to burd

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A variety of circumstances are often permitted to increase the anguish of our feelings on such, occasions; and especially the reflection on something that either we or others have done wrong, which proved -¿buj, otsrudilib yar to them out ard of boen rozety

the occasion of the affliction. But, though we may have reason to blame the misconduct of others, or to regret any mistake we may suppose that we have! made, and hence may learn something useful for the future yet the hand of God should be viewed, even in those events which take place by the folly and faults of men and He has wise, righteous, faithful, and gracious reasons for what he did, and for what he permitted.

It is not to be expected that parents should not feel and grieve much, on these occasions; and indeed the very end of the providential dispensation would fail of being answered, if they did not but I would remind your wife, especially, that grief ought nó more to be indulged than any other of our passions. Every thing in our nature wants regulating, moderating, and subordinating to the will of God and natural affection as well as the rest. Several particu lars, in which faith and submission to God greatly consist on earth, will have no place in heaven. Of this kind is patience under sharp afflictions. This is very honourable to God, edifying to our brethren, and profitable to ourselves: but without sharp affliction we should have no opportunity of exercising it. This is, then, an opportunity given you of expe riencing and manifesting the power and excellency of your principles; which may eventually be of great importance in various ways. In reading of our Lord's miracles, the reflection often occurs to me, would not those who endured the sharpest sorrows, (Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, for instance,) with the full view of all the honour to Christ, and all the

good to mankind, which arose, and still arises, and shall for ever arise, from their exquisite anguish of heart; have been willing to go through the whole again, if again such vast advantage might result from it? At least, they would not on any account have escaped suffering what they did, now that they see all the reasons why they suffered. Yet, at the time, they had no idea of the ends to be answered by their distresses: and the same wisdom and love order our troubles, both as to the nature and the result of them, which ordered theirs. What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. All these things are against me! But what does Jacob now think of these transactions? ...

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"All this, however, you know, and I trust, remember. I would also hint, that you should be careful not too much to indulge the fond remembrance of endearing circumstances; for this feeds a kind and degree of grief, not consistent with submission to the will of God.If I may judge by myself you will find this dispensation, in the event, greatly subservient in helping you to realize an unseen world, and in exciting earnestness in prayer. As a minister, you will often have occasion to counsel and comfort others in similar circumstances; and you will do this both with more feeling, and more influ ence, as having experienced the painful trial your self. Perhaps many trials are allotted us on this very account: (2 Cor. i. 4-6) and this suggests an important plea, in prayer, for wisdom and grace to bear and improve the trial in a proper manner. + We are apt to say of this or the other creature,

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This same‹‹‹shall comfort us and thus the gifts of our God insensibly draw our hearts from him; and then it becomes necessary, almost, for him to wither our gourds. He does so in love and we shall know, at length, that we have cause tos be thankful. When I think of the manner in which Aaron lost his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, (Lev. XI) and David his, Amnon and Absalom; and of many other instances of this kind; I am ready to say, How light, comparatively, would the trial have been, had they lost them when infants! And yet they would have felt, in that case, the same things that you now do brod att

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I have written a great deal, of what, in some cases, might be called common place; and, not being very well, I seem to have little energy in writing: but, in affliction, a bint suggested to memory is often welcome and useful. I shall only add that if Frances should give way to grief, so as not to take proper care of her health, she would show love where it must be useless, and fail in it where it may be essentially beneficial; as well as in submission to God-I write on the supposition that the dear child either is gone, or will not recover: but perhaps the Lord may have heard prayer for her recovery.” ĐỊ py, and bozont Some other short extracts may show the warmth of his affection not only to his grandchildren, who were the immediate objects of them, but towards some whom he had long since lost, but never ceased to remember with tenderness. maitre.od of

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L“ July 28, 1805. I feel for my poor dear Jane,

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who, I suppose, hardly remembers me but her name,” (she was called after her grandmother,)" and every thing, makes me feel tenderly for her." it has IN " January 11, 1807. As I am rather dry in my manner, I do not know whether you were aware, how much was my favourite, when I was at Hull. The account of her sickness and suffering, and all respecting her, affected me more than you would probably suppose: and the thoughts of my ever dear Anne came into my mind, with a force that I have not felt for some years.-Well, I began to be comforted under the idea, that, if poor should be taken from you and us, the Lord would prepare her, or was preparing her, for a happier world. But other things followed which more deeply affected me. However, after all, I hope that God will hear prayer, andus the dear child; and spare her for good and overrule the whole for good to you all, old and young. I am sure our prayers are not wanting." 1: Writing from London to Aston, April 22, 1806, he says: "O home, how I love thee! because I love those at home. If my prayers are answered,, and , and ——, and and, &c. &c. will be this mob.

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very happy, and great blessings."

When the distance to which some of us were removed from him, was complained of, he wrote as follows, t

"I am sure I regret as much as you can do, the distance at which we are placed; yet we must not let this consideration have undue weight. I do love to be with my children, and to have them about me: but every one has his place, and ought to have; and