liberty, and that the Lord will reveal himself to me; and then I shall be happy, for, until that blessed moment comes, I shall be all fears. I repeat, that I do not doubt but the Lord is able and willing, but still I am all fears. The Lord enable me to have a good hope through grace: I am now going to the chapel; and shall, no doubt, find comfort there.

DEAR SIR,

FRIDAY MORNING.

I HAVE not been able to conclude this letter: and, if I had more time, I would not send it, to trouble you with my doubts and fears; for if you, sir, can be for a month without comfort, and shut up, as you was pleased to tell us on Sunday evening, how much more may I expect it! Never more, I trust, shall I fear, nor murmur, while I have such a friend and advocate with God as our dear Redeemer. I cannot sufficiently thank you for all your goodness in praying for me, for the comfort I have received from your letters, and likewise your fatherly care for my future conduct in life. I shall pray the Lord to enable me to observe all your directions, and will scrape no acquaintance with any one without informing you. I have very little time for company; Providence hath placed me at the head of many

worldly people, where I am very often obliged to work sixteen hours out of the twenty-four. I mention this, sir, lest you should think me neglectful in answering yours. I am very ignorant, but will write as the Lord shall enable me; however, it will not be in my power till Sunday.

I hope, dear sir, you will not be offended with me for deferring to send this before; but I did not mean to send the beginning of this letter after I came home on Sunday evening from the chapel, for God, by your mouth, had eased my mind: for if you, and such a great man as the apostle Paul, could be deprived of comfort, and straitened in spirit, well may I endeavour, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.

Dear sir, I long much for the jubilee days you mention; those love-tokens, and secret visits, from the Lord Jesus Christ. But I feel I am not worthy; never did I seem so little in my own eyes as now. I have been very proud; and the Lord hath done well in humbling me, for I have been a desperate sinner, but I never found it out till now. The Lord hath done great things for and I will, with his assistance, let you know all. But, dear sir, be not offended at me, that I do it not immediately, as it is not in my power; but on Sunday, between the hours of chapel, I will, if the Lord permits me, begin.

me;

I once more thank you, sir, for your goodness; and humbly beg the continuance of your fatherly

prayers, advice, direction, and attention: all which shall, in God's name, be punctually obeyed by

DEAR DAUGHTER IN THE FAITH.

I was joyful in heart, and grateful to God, at the reception of yours; joyful to find you so comfortable; thankful to God for giving a blessing to my last, and making me a fellow-helper of your joy. The excellency and power of religion is all of him; therefore your faith stands not in my wisdom, but in the power of God.

What I said touching your election I shall not retract; my conscience bore me witness, and my confidence was founded on the testimony of scripture: "Knowing," says Paul, "brethren beloved, your election of God." Paul knew they were

elected, because they were beloved of God; which love in God is the self-moving cause of election, and is an everlasting love. And Paul knew God's love to them by their love and attachment to him: "We love him because he first loved us." God's love to us is from eternity, ours begins in time; and it is his love shed abroad in the heart that draws forth ours to him.

Paul knew their election, because his gospel came not unto them in word only, but also in power: and if so, the kingdom of God was not only come nigh unto them, but was set up in them by the power that was manifested; for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power: and grace must reign through righteousness unto eternal life: therefore, where this power is experienced the kingdom of God is erected; and it is God's good pleasure to give us the kingdom; it is one of his gifts that is without repentance, and therefore shall never be taken from us, but must be enjoyed for ever; as it is written, "And in those days shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people," Dan. ii. 44; "But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever," Dan. vii. 18. things Paul perceived in those Thessalonian converts; and that his gospel was accompanied with the Holy Ghost, who enlightened them to see sin, quickened them to feel it, convinced them of the

These

evil of it, and gave them cutting conviction of it: and, having convinced them of sin, of the need of righteousness, and of the certainty of a judgment to come, he then wrought faith in their hearts, applied the promises with power, testified of Christ to them, and assured their hearts of free salvation in him; which was soon discovered to Paul by the work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope. The first work of faith is to lay hold of Christ, and bring him into the heart, that he may dwell there. The chief labour of love is to keep all beloved sins, and all the objects of inordinate affections, with every rival of Christ, out, that he may have the pre-eminence in us. "He that loveth father, mother, wife, or children, or even his own life, better than me, he is not worthy of me." The patience of hope consists in exercising patience toward the object we hope in; in bearing whatsoever cross or trial may lie in our way to the kingdom; and to persevere in the ways of his appointment, in expectation of the promised glory hoped for. These things the apostle took notice of in these Thessalonians; how they became followers of him, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, as you did; and how they turned to God from idols, as you have done from the host, images, angels, saints departed, dead men's bones, and all uncleanness, to serve the living God instead of these vanities; and to wait for his Son from heaven, with the glory that is to be revealed, in