and which could you have seen them would have given me double pleasure ;---but no matter---they are VANITY--While I remain, with an affection that is not vain,

Your's,

R. C.

LETTER IV.

MY DEAREST LOVE--

Little James Street.

I AM just come home; and, having rested a little, it somehow or other came into my head, that I would sit down and write you a letter: not about NOTHING, as you proposed; but about something, even your very great kindness to me in my late illness. I am, indeed, not very apt to express my feelings, but I HAVE them very keen, both to good and evil; and the last to a great fault, for which I desire to humble myself very low before God, and very sincerely before you and all I know. But alloy belongs to human excellence: even the great GENEROSITY of your temper, and the exquisite TENDERNESS of your affectionate feelings, therefore, sometimes suffer an eclipse, that should very transiently appear in this letter. In THIS respect, I will write a letter about NOTHING.

I think I cannot see you before Sunday, without deranging my affairs; and therefore particularly request you and the children may be in town on Saturday morning. Though I miss your present society, which is always so pleasant to me; yet I rejoice that I part with it so much to the advantage of your health and spirits.

MY DEAR LOVE-

LETTER V.

As I told you I should write but once a week, I don't know whether you expect a letter so soon; but I always wish to be better than your expectation.

You know I am a very bad out-of-doors man: and therefore have always wanted to come back the first day; and, after that, counted the number of days till I expect to return. It is exactly so now: for, though I have had fine weather, and nothing unpleasant has occurred, and I have spent this day in new and most pleasant company, and we have been seeing fine sights: yet I tell you my dispensation is so far from being at an end, that I still view every thing under a melancholy aspect, and read nothing but a sentence of death written on every thing, because deeply impressed on my mind. But nobody here, I am sure, discovers it: yet I feel it some relief to say it to you,

This sentence of death, I am compelled to say, works well. It works with me, as the Apostle tells us it did with him---That we should not trust in ourselves, but in God. I perceive clearly, that the REFINER sits watching his gold during the process, and makes the fire merely purifying. I am only sorry, that, while I see no end to this process, I should so much wish to see the end. I do not yet take pleasure in infirmities and distresses, as St. Paul did; but I am trying to learn.

It was with much difficulty we reached here on Tuesday. At Royston we heard of a curious Cave, which we stopped to see. It was made by a pious Lady, several hundred years ago; who thought, like a pious friend of ours, that it was better to shut herself up in a hole than enjoy the fresh air. She therefore got down by a long ladder into this subterraneous Chapel; and, with her own hands, has carved the walls all round into saints, crucifixes, and scripture histories, and was buried in the midst of them.

Tell brother whom you will see in a few days, I have read the letter. It is a flagrant attack, that has been made upon him; it will disturb him---but labour, want, and pain are the beaten roads to greatness. The Lord said to Abraham, Get out ---get out, to a land that I will shew thee!

I have been much with Mr. He is a very extraordinary man---for sense, learning, and piety. He talks away upon the immense satisfaction, which a pleasant wife affords her husband

đị

and undertook to say to-day, that I should not hesitate a moment to give up a kingdom to retain mine. Now a kingdom is so poor a thing, that I think he might be right---but what would it have been, have he said a PINE-APPLE?

Thursday morning-I thought it best to leave off last night, when a vein of nonsense was opened; and therefore begin again this morning to add a line before we set off. I have had a good night, and now feel willing to go on. This shews how things are to us, as we are in ourselves. I have been thinking of many expressions of Rutherford's this morning, before I was up. I feel one the burden of the song---" I lay my head to rest on the bosom of Omnipotence!" While I can keep hold of this, it shall be a fine day, whether it rains, hails, or shines

LETTER VI.

MY DEAR LOVE

I REALLY cannot believe I am under a moral obligation to write on Wednesday, that you may read on Thursday, when I hope to see you on Friday. But, please to remember that this is among many other things, which I have done; not according to mine, but according to your opinion and desire. I say-set this down as one among others, that I may not so much stand in the book as a DEBTOR but CREDITOR.

got down better than I expected, though not well. I have been to see your sister, who is very thankful that the Gospel is likely to meet her so advantageously in the Church. Indeed I hope it will be highly beneficial to many.

Tell my little daughter I have given her a great character, which she must strive to maintain. Also tell her MAMMA, that I have been describing the lamentable state of idolatry in her heart-old idols---new idols---and which there is now every opportunity of enjoying while I am away to make room. But, while I am away and make room, and leave more leisure, I pray

that you may be able to improve it by praying for yourself and for me. Time is short, and every real and imaginary idol will soon be taken away; and then let us seriously consider WHAT WILL BE LEFT: or, as the Prophet asks, What will ye do in the end thereof?

LETTER VII.

MY DEAREST LOVE

THOUGH you have two letters of mine unanswered, and though I have nothing to say, yet I will take a few moments, which ought to be embraced for RECOLLECTION, to write to you. So that you will do well to recollect, that THIS letter comes neither from a sense of duty, nor a matter of business—but from a pure desire of pleasing you: and you will recollect, that I would rather preach two Sermons, than write one letter.

And now what shall I say?---I think what I began with is the best subject--RECOLLECTION. Martha---Martha---thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is NEEDFUL; and that one, needful as it is, will be forgotten, if we do not set aside a portion of our time for the purpose. I feel that all I know and all I teach, will do nothing for my own soul, if I spend my time, as most people do, in business or company---even the BEST company. My soul starves to death in the best company; and God is often lost in prayers and ordinances. Enter into thy chamber, said he, and shut thy door about thee! Some words in Scripture are very emphatical. Shut thy door means much: it means---shut out, not only nonsense, but business---not only the company abroad, but the company at home: It means---let thy poor soul have a little rest and refreshment; and God have opportunity to speak to thee in a small still voice, or he will speak in thunder.

You and I, my Love, ought to understand this, who have heard the loud voice so often, in so many ways. I am persuaded the Lord would have spoken more softly, if we would have

shut the door: nor do I believe the children would have fallen into the fire nor out of the window, in the mean time. Let us, I say, think of this: for who can tell what the next loud call may say? It has called for our children already, and it may next call for us.

But I will not press this subject, for I recollect your spirits are weak. However, go into thy chamber, and shut the doorand pray for me, that, after I have preached so often to this people, I may not be left to undo in private, what I am labouring to do in public.

Be sure, while I ask you never to forget me in your prayers, that you are never forgotten in mine-such as they are (and which I often fear are more calculated to affront God than please him:) but pray I must, and I KNOW that I do not pray in vain, nor can you

LETTER VIII.

MY DEAR LOVE--

I KNOW you will be most happy to hear that my health keeps improving. You know I am subject, at the best (especially after studying hard) to feel sinkings and distressing depressions, that are quite foreign to my natural animation: but I know nothing of them, since I have been out of town. This is a complete argument, that I am better for coming. This help to my spirits is also increased, by the satisfaction I have in my mind, at all times, that it was the will of God I should come

This a beautiful place, and has fine air: but as for study, which I promised myself in so still a place and with such a good library, it is impossible. My determinations are as strong as most men's, as you know: and, if I lived CONSTANTLY here, I would put them in full execution, whatever was the consequence; but, for a sojourner of two or three weeks, he has but one part or project, and that is to be packing up, and getting off as fast as he can for his poor soul's sake,