he, in his wisdom, thought good for us, in order to keep us from that fatal mistake of reposing too securely in our pilgrimage tents, avoiding the cross, and trusting to the idol Flesh. I bless his name for all the instruction he has given me, though in the receiving of it it cost me many a pang; and my poor disobedient nature revolted greatly against it. May I but one day see his face, I shall not cease to praise him for what he has done. I am sensible that self is still my greatest idol, notwithstanding the many mortifications it has received, and I believe I shall never know the worst of this enemy; but this has been shown me that in myself I am lost; but that the Lord has saved me altogether. And now to know more of him, whom to know is life eternal, is all I want. In him also are all the sources we want, for the present life, of which we have had sufficient proof in every case. Why then should we murmur at any of his dispensations; our case could never bear comparison with that of holy Job, who in the space perhaps of a few hours, was stripped of his earthly possessions, children, servants, and his person stricken with

the worst diseases that the devil could invent; an outcast on a dunghill, a bed of "ashes." And "shall we receive good at the hand of God? and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips?"

The Lord, I doubt not, saw that it was for our soul's profit, to cause the worm to eat our gourd, our commerce to decay, our lands to lose their holdings, and to take away our earthly props, that He himself might be our all in all.

Plymouth, May 17, 1821.

LETTER XIV.

I MET with the loss of a dear and real earthly comfort, in the death of my beloved father; which took place about sixteen years ago, after twelve years labouring under the heavy affliction of palsy, which he sensibly took as from God, and bore with the greatest resignation. His spirits being undecayed, his company was cheering; he loved his Bible ever since I knew him, and for parental affection he deserved the best returns. His views of gospel truth were larger and clearer towards the decline of life than before, and he seemed to rest satisfied on God's everlasting love. He gradually grew weak and infirm, until his intellect became impaired; but I believe his soul always trusted in God. His active life was preserved until he was about sixty-three years of age, when he was suddenly smitten, and after that was ever unfitted for any active pursuits; but God had blessed him with abundant reward of his earthly toil, and he

was enabled to sit down perfectly content until he was called to his eternal home.

I can truly say, that if ever there was an honest man, my father was one; for many a time he injured himself to end a dispute, when, speaking after the manner of men, he might have acquired greater riches if he had acted as some of his professedly religious neighbours did. This I only mention as a child taking satisfaction from the conscientious deportment of a departed parent. His dying words I cannot forget-few, yet sufficient to prove the rich grace and goodness of God to his immortal soul: seeing that his spirit was departing, I asked him "if he could look up to God?" when he said, "He who has delivered me out of six troubles, will deliver me out of the seventh also." He laboured under great pain for several hours; I said to him again, "My dear father, you can say then with Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation?" He immediately answered, with great emphasis, "I have." I was quickly after this obliged to leave the room, as I could not bear the

scene;

so I saw him no more.

Whilst going

down-stairs weeping, I was led to contemplate the awful nature of so great a change; the pain of dissolution, parting, &c., this passage came with power into my mind, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words.' 1 Thess. iv. 18. (see the context); and it is remarkable that Mr. J. D. the same evening, preached a sermon from these words, without hearing of the circumstance.

Plymouth, May 25, 1821.