and refpect, reverend Sir, your most obedient humble fervant, JONA. BELCHER. P. S. My fervice to the Rev. Mr. Price. LETTER DEAR SIR, II. Bofton, Nov. 29, 1736. IN June laft came to my hand your favour of the 28th of February, when I was forry to find Mr. Belcher difappointed of the pleasure of your conversation in the city by your confinement at Newington, where I hope he foon waited on you. I defire to own it, with the humblest and highest fenfe of gratitude to my gracious God and Father, that I have continued accounts of my fon's fobriety and diligence, and I am the more pleased with what I formerly wrote him on the score of his ftanding a candidate, fince you fully agree with me in those sentiments; yet, as I then hinted, if God fpares his life, and opens a fair door, I should be pleased he might find a feat in St. Stephen's Chapel at the next election, but that is at a great distance, and it is not worth while to be anxious about it. From From the arrival of one ship after another, I find Governor Shute gradually decaying; may his laft days be his best, and when numbered and finished, may he receive a crown of life. Governor Holden gives me the account of the miscarriage of the repeal of the teft: confidering how cold the miniftry were in the matter, it is a pity the attempt was made yet; when it will be a convenient season is hard to say. My best respects always wait on the good Lady Abney. I thank your kind condolence on the death of my late dear fifter Oliver, who did worthily in her generation, and I doubt not but, through the mercy of God in Chrift, fhe is become a member of the "general affembly and church of the first-born, and now lives with the fpirits of the juft men made perfect." I am much pleased with your ingenious little book, the Redeemer, Sanctifier, &c. and forry there fhould be occafion for it in this part of the world. "God planted this land with a noble vine, wholly a right feed ;" and juftly now complains, "How art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine! And how is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! Yet I will not despond, for the residue of the fpirit is with God, and he can revive his work work in the midst of the years." This we must always pray for in the name of his well-beloved fon, our exalted Redeemer, and powerful interceffor. I thank you very kindly for your good wishes to my government, to myself, and to my family. I am now, Sir, with a faint voice, and with a trembling hand, to acquaint you of the death of my late dear wife, on the 6th ult. God has removed the defire of my eyes with a stroke; fhe, who had been the faithful divider of all my cares, and the doubler of all my joys. I defire now to remember, that "Affliction does not fpring out of the duft, nor does God willingly afflict, or grieve the children of men; I would therefore bow down and adore, and fay, I have finned, what fhall I do unto thee, O thou preferver of men? And, wherefore doth a living man complain? A man for the punishment of his fins ?" Efpecially fince, in this judgment, God gives me great reason to fing of mercy; for fhe had the full ufe of her reafon till the last moment, and died in great peace and ferenity; and while I tell you fome of her last expreffions you will charitably hope fo. She died on the Wednesday, and on the Monday before, as I was fitting with her on the bed, I faid to her, "My dear, you draw nigh to the grave." She replied, I know it, my dear. I then faid, "It is a great great work to die." She answered, So it is, but Christ Jefus died for the chief of finners, or I should die without hope. She then went on; He is an almighty Saviour, and faves to the uttermoft thofe that come unto him; therefore, my dear, I am not afraid to die. And again, with a loud voice, fhe faid, He is a lovely Saviour, and I love him with my whole foul; and could not love him, if he had not loved me firft. She has trod the dark valley, whither I must foon follow her; and the voice of God to me in this providence is, "Be you therefore ready alfo." Let me then, fir, ask you to join your prayers to mine, that by the affistance of the holy spirit of God I may" ftand with my loins girt, and my light burning, that whenever the fon of man comes I may enter into the joy of my Lord." May you and I meet and dwell for ever there, through infinite riches of grace and mercy, in Jefus Chrift. Amen. Reverend Sir, your affured friend, and most obedient fervant, J. BELCHER. P. S. Your Packets under my cover were all carefully delivered. LETTER LETTER III. MY MUCH ESTEEMED FRIEND, SIR, Bofton, Aug. 1, 1737. YOUR religious kind letters of the 3d of March, and 2d of April, I have read once, and again with much pleasure, and they are now open before me for an answer, which I return with the most fenfible gratitude, for the great respect and honour you do to the memory of my late dear Mrs. Belcher, as well as for the ingenious, pious hints you fuggeft for my profitable reflection and meditation; fhe was, Sir, much my crown and glory, and I have great reafon to believe from the course of her life, as well as from her ferenity at death, that my irreparable lofs is her eternal gain. I may and ought to mourn my own lofs, even to the latest period of life, and the voice of God to me in this melancholy providence is, that I be "working out my falvation with fear and trembling" and then I fhall not mourn for myfelf, "as one without hope;" God has done his pleasure, at which I dare not murmur, but would lie proftrate in the duft before him, for my fins have exceeded. How dreadful muft the cafe of that man be, who has not a God to repair to, when such scenes are drawn for his entertainment? Dear Sir, the prayer you |