but I have had no gracious answers to prayer, no promise applied. I administered the Lord's Supper last Sunday night, and I had a very good time, as I also had, in speaking from "The Son of man came to seek and to save that which is lost." Wednesday evening, also on Thursday evening, at Dudley, I had a good time, and there were many to hear, and some were refreshed. Indeed, I have no more fear of prospering in this place-if I might have a fair opportunity-than I have of dipping this pen into the ink; but I am most sorely afraid they will not let me try. I have been much cast down to-day, and had I given way to sense and reason, I should have said, "All these things are against me." Yesterday these words were a little sweetened to me-"Be still, and know that I am God." May the Lord enable me to stand still, and see the salvation of God. Who can tell what the Lord may do? I am satisfied that we could live here on less than at Potton. I try to pray for you all several times a day, and now send you-all I have a husband's and a father's love. bless you all! So prays Your affectionate husband, God EDWARD BLACKSTOCK. MR. BLACKSTOCK, to a Friend. Potton, April 1834. I HAD a few precious hours yesterday. and I had the best season that we have had for months. I should have had no objection had you been there; it was not like that time which the two disciples had at Emmaus, it was solid and sweet, rather than rapturous. I think I may say the world was riven out of our hearts; I seemed like a man standing upon a rock, and viewing the world at a distance, the bubble was burst, the spell broken, the cheat was discovered, and I felt as if I could like to have said, "Adieu, thou world so vain." I was ready to call myself a thousand times a fool, for ever being enamoured with it. To the believer, the world is only a painted courtezan; still my bad heart delights in this Delilah. "Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech." The toy-makers would find rattle-making a poor trade, if children were not pleased with them! Now, the world is the devil's rattle ; not to please him, but to please us fools withal, he jingles this plaything in our ears, and we are pleased with the sight and sound, and our foolish hearts dance to the tune. Then out comes our loving Father, with his rod, to drive a little of this foolishness out of us." Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." Never did I see into that Scripture, as I saw into it yesterday. I believe that had I been in the pulpit, our people would have had a little bit of a lecture, whether they had profited by it or not. I am sorely afraid that as it respects some of our great people, they worship God just the same as if he were a wooden god, whilst they serve mammon in spirit and in truth. O what I have suffered upon this score since I have been at Potton! I do not say it to reproach anybody. I know I should be as bad as Saul, Haman, Judas, Demas, or indeed any other muck-worm. But for the grace of God, my neighbours might point at me and say, "There goes Nebuchadnezzar the great!" O bless the Lord, my soul, for taking such pains to correct me. I assure you, I could not do without the rod of correction. God's method of discipline with me is thisplagued all the day long, and chastened every morning. Without these, he would neither have prayer or praise from me, not a breath of either. But why should I spend so much time in telling you how bad I am, unless it be to show a little of the Lord's power, grace, and goodness? Whatever he has been to others, he has been a good God to me! "O that my soul could love and praise Him more, Live near his heart, upon his bosom lean, May you and I enjoy the incomparable sweetness of walking with God. His is the best friendship. O how sweet it is to hold Jesus in the galleries of his grace; but how much sweeter will it be, to be clasped in his arms for My soul longs to be in Abraham's bosom.— ever. "Then in a sweeter, nobler song, May we reach that delightful land, and raise a still loftier strain than Gabriel sings. May the dear Lord be a Father to the fatherless, and a Husband to the widow. Yours affectionately, in Gospel bonds, E. BLACKSTOCK. MR. BLACKSTOCK, to a Friend. Potton, May, 1884. My wife and I have this morning presented ourselves at the throne of grace, to thank our heavenly Father for the very handsome present you sent. My wife shed tears at the contents of your letter,-they were tears of gratitude. May God bless you all, and restore into your bosoms tenfold. It came in a time of need; we were about setting up a new bed, which was required for the increase of family; and although we wanted neither food nor raiment, our little twins wanted a bed. I believe we had both been to a throne of grace; I had been very unbelieving and depressed in spirit, for I have been heavily tried in mind, in providence, with the church and congregation; so that I have been greatly afflicted, and for many days have been, like Hannah of old, of a sorrowful spirit. Years ago I thought myself a man endued with strong confidence; but now I am weaker than helpless infancy, and what is worse, a fool, and slow of heart to believe. Yet this morning I can sing of mercy and judgment. Oh! when shall I be more steadfast in believing-more loyal to my great Master? I feel that the publican's prayer belongs to me, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Still, my anchor is within the veil; I know in whom I have believed, I know that I am part of his body_mystical, somewhere about the feet, I believe, for I am ever and anon flooding in tribulation, mud, and mire. 0 what a mercy it is that the dear Redeemer will not, and cannot do without me, "for the head cannot say unto the feet, I have no need of you." I am O wonder of wonders, that ever such a sinner as should be permitted to stand in his eternal favour! ED. BLACKSTOCK. MR. BLACKSTOCK, to his Wife. Lakenheath, July 1834. I HAVE been spending the forenoon with Mr. and Mrs. and have had a very comfortable morning. How sweet is the communion of saints, when the love of God in Christ is shed abroad in the heart! I have a great desire, and some hope, that God will bless this visit. Mrs. a very aged woman, was sweetly set free on Lord's-day, under the word, and could not sleep the night after for praising and blessing God. The second time I was here, a wicked young man was first awakened (as I learn) under my preaching. I have been struck this morning by the account which Mrs. has given me of It was very great. Bless it, and wish you had been present to hear it. "A crumb of mercy, Lord, I crave, With dainties, such as angels have, Yet the Lord thinketh upon me, blessed, for ever blessed, be his name. I shall not die, but live and praise the name of the Lord. ED. BLACKSTOCK. CHAPTER XVIII. [1834.] TRIALS AT POTTON-INVITATION TO WOLVERHAMPTON FOR SEVEN WEEKS AT LAKENHEATH-BLESSING ON LABOURS-RELATES TWO CASES-LETTERS. THE troubles to which I have alluded were not unblessed; they drove me to a throne of grace, made me cry louder to Him who knoweth all things, and who alone could deliver, and my cry came in before his holy temple. I was going to Muggerhanger one evening to preach, and, oppressed with the weight of my burdens, I cried to the Lord; I found I was helped in doing so, and on passing through the plantation near Sandy, the Lord broke in upon my soul, and favoured me with nearness to, and power with Him, and there comforted my soul as one whom his mother comforteth. In that walk, I believe, the Lord applied to my heart from twenty to thirty Scriptures. He knoweth that I lie not. At last an unpleasant affair respecting the rejection of an approved candidate for admission into the church, caused an open breach between the pastor and some of the principal friends. This matter I leave in the hands of Him to whom I have long since committed it,-who is a God of knowledge, and by whom actions are weighed. From this moment I felt that my quitting Potton was an event certain, and not far off. At this juncture, (August 1834,) I |