how infinitely preferable an interest in the Divine favour!

One such day, indeed, as many of those which you have lately passed, may serve better than a thousand arguments to convince you of this fact. How has the accident of a moment impaired your relish for many entertainments, which were before exceedingly agreeable! Those things, in which the greater part of mankind place their supreme happiness, are little or nothing in these afflictive moments. The delicacy of food, the ornaments of dress, nay, even the conversation of friends, are not now what you esteemed them a few days ago! But you find, madam, that your God is still the same; and that the thought of your interest in him grows more and more delightful, in proportion as the charms of created objects fade and disappear. Yet, when your health and strength are completely restored, as I pray they may speedily be, may not created vanities again grow too charming, and tempt your heart to a forgetfulness of God. But then, madam, I hope you will recollect the view in which they appeared in the days of weakness and of pain; and the more carefully you attend to such considerations now, the more likely will you then be to recollect them with advantage.

6. In your present affliction, it is peculiarly proper for you to think of that heavenly world, which is, I verily believe, the great object of your hope, and may, through grace, be your eternal inheritance.

All the storms and troubles of life should but force us into that blessed harbour. And I am per

suaded that our views of heaven would be more affecting, if we were to consider it as a place, where we shall be free, not only from afflictions in general, but from that particular affliction, which at present lies so heavily upon us, and is therefore apprehended in all its aggravations. It is indeed delightful, under such sorrows, to reflect upon that world where pain shall never come. "O my soul! dwell upon the thought, and in that view breathe after it, and rejoice in its expectation."

If these thoughts, madam, which appear so proper in your present circumstances, be seriously attended to and pursued, you will soon perceive their advantage. Your heart, which is already so pious and excellent, will come like gold out of a furnace of fire, "purified seven times;" and, upon the whole, you will reap such happy fruits, both for time, and for eternity, from this calamitous event, that you will no longer have room to question, whether it be not the proper object of your praise.

I am surprised to see, that, before I was aware, my letter has swelled into a sermon. But I find, madam, in this, as in other instances, that it is easy to speak out of the abundance of the heart; which I am sure I ever do, when I give an utterance to my sentiments of friendship towards you.

There is perhaps a plainness and freedom in what I have written, which to some other persons, I might think it necessary to excuse, but I will not make any apology to you, for I am sure you have so much

good sense as to see, and so much candour as to believe, that this freedom proceeds only from that respect and tenderness with which

I ALWAYS receive your letters with pleasure, but found a particular satisfaction in the perusal of your last, which contained some very important hints, of which I was not before aware; but which have now entirely determined me to decline taking any steps towards the removal which I then consulted you about. I had no need to have been in such a hurry about the affair, for Mr. Wright only thought of it at a distance, and Mr. Hughes had mistaken many of the circumstances in the representation which he made to me.

As to the slight thoughts which I entertained of renewing Mr. Jennings's academical course, I find, on a closer review, so many formidable things in such an undertaking, and perceive that it requires so great a furniture beyond what I can ever hope to possess, that it is highly probable I should never

have mentioned it to you, if I had not been engaged to do so by a sudden emergency. There are some persons of considerable character in these parts who have urged it very warmly, and particularly Mr. Thomas Saunders, minister of Kettering, who has been very importunate with me, to take his brother, whom he designs for the ministry, into the house with me, and to go over Mr. Jennings's course with him but this I resolutely refused, as you may very well suppose. Upon the whole, sir, the most that I shall do this way will be, at some leisure time, to draw up some essays on the subject of education, with regard to the conduct of tutor and pupils; to form a particular account of what was most remarkable in Mr. Jennings's method, and in his manner of treating his pupils: and if God should spare my life any considerable time longer, to write out a new copy of some of his lectures, with the improvements they may receive, from what I may have met with in reading or conversation; and, perhaps, to prepare lectures on some other heads, of which he had only formed a general scheme. Such papers I may, perhaps, put into the hands of some young person of remarkable genius and learning, who may be equal to the great undertaking, and who may use them to much greater advantage than I should ever be capable of doing. In the mean time, the view of preparing these papers will engage me to study with greater attention; and to digest my thoughts into a more exact order. I mention the scheme to you as expecting very considerable assistance in the

prosecution of it from your well known abilities and friendship. I intended to pay you a visit at St. Albans toward the beginning of some month in this winter, but many concurrent accidents oblige me to delay it. Mr. Palmer, of Wanlip, a gentleman of about fifteen hundred pounds a year, but vastly richer in wisdom and goodness, than in estate, has engaged me to come and take my turn one Lord's day in eight weeks at his seat, where he supports preaching every fortnight by a very handsome allowance (considering that it is in Leicestershire). Mrs. Jennings intends a journey to London about May, and therefore I think to wait upon you about that time, that I may have an opportunity of serving her by carrying her agreeable daughter behind me as far as St. Albans, which will save her some money. I persuade myself that I have so much interest both with Mr. Clark and his good lady as that I may presume to introduce little Miss to your house, to be your guest for one night; and, as for myself, if there be not room for me, I can lie at Mr. Wood's. It is hardly possible to express the admiration which Mr. Hughes meets with whereever he goes. Persons of all ages, educations, tastes, and opinions, extol him as one of the first of The people at Leicester are struggling hard to get him in for an assistant there, in which they have the hearty concurrence of Mr. Gee; and they prefer him at Nottingham to all whom they have yet heard, though they have called in all the most celebrated men in the county; and though they are