the uncertainty of this state of things, and the emptiness of all creature good in comparison of the light of God's countenance, which is better than life. How different, for the most part, is the appearance between a wedding-day and a dying-day; yet, however long the interval may be between them, the latter must come, and then the space, which in prospect might seem long, will affect us no more than the remembrance of a morning dream. Could I have been told when I married, that Mrs. N**** and I should live together more than twentythree years; that our affection should increase as we went on; that the Lord would favour us with a path remarkably smooth, and exempt us from nine trials out of ten which are ordinarily found in wedded lite; how would my poor vain heart have heen elated! Well, all this and more has happened. For almost twenty-four years past, I have never seen a single day or hour in which I wished to change my situation with any person upon earth; and we are still spared to each other. But now, shall I tell you what I see when I take a review of past times. Forgetful as I am, I can recollect innumerable instances of the Lord's mercy. We set out in life like two strangers who had a wilderness before them, and knew not a single step of the way; but, oh! how wonderfully has He led us! I can recount likewise innumerable evils, snares, sins, trials, and inquietudes, which, if put together, would make a large abatement of what, if viewed in the lump, might seem a uniform course of happiness and satisfaction. And as to all the rest, it is gone beyond recall; the shadows of the evening are beginning to advance over us, and how miserable should we now be if our hope was only in this life! May the Lord write upon your heart, while

you are young, a conviction, that communion with him, and grace to glorify him and serve him in the world, are the only things which make life, in its best estate, valuable or desirable.

Pray for me, and believe me to be,

WE were very glad to hear so favourable an account

of your health, but your letter to Mr. ****, (we were with him when it came to hand,) rather balked the hope we had entertained, that you would be well in a few days. Therefore we shall be glad to hear from you again, for we sincerely feel ourselves much interested in all that concerns you. However, I know that you are in safe and merciful hands, and that the Lord loves you better than we can do. Though we may mistake in estimating particulars, we are sure that the sum total of all dispensations will be good. Health is good while the Lord preserves it, and sickness is still better when he appoints it. He is good when he grants our wishes and multiplies our comforts; and he is good when he sends us trials and crosses. We are short-sighted, and cannot see how many and what important consequences depend upon every turn in life; but the whole chain of events are open to his view.

When we arrive in the land of light, we shall have an, affecting retrospect of the way by which the Lord our God led us in this wilderness. We shall then see that whenever we were in heaviness, there was a need be for it. We shall then, I doubt not, remember, amongst our choicest blessings, those things which, while we were here, seemed the hardest to account for, and the hardest to bear. Perhaps we were sinking into a lukewarm formality, or spiritual pride was springing up, or Satan was spreading some dangerous snare for our feet. How seasonable and important at such a time is the mercy which, under the disguise of an affliction, gives an alarm to the soul, quickens us to prayer, makes us feel our own emptiness, and preserves us from the enemy's net. These reflections are applicable to all the Lord's people, but emphatically so to his ministers. We stand in the fore-front of the battle. The nature of our employment exposes us to peculiar dangers; more eyes are upon us; our deviations are more observed and have worse effects, both with respect to the church and the world, than if we were in private life. By our own sufferings we learn likewise, (the Lord sanctifying them to that end,) to sympathize with the afflicted, and to comfort them from the experiences we have had of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to ourselves. I trust you will be thankful for your late: exercises, and that we in due time shall have to join you in thanking the Lord for restoring you to health and strength, and that you will come forth, under the fresh anointings of his Holy Spirit, to publish the glad tidings of salvation, and win many souls to the knowledge of Jesus.

I mentioned having been at Mr. ****'s. We went on Tuesday morning, and did not return till Saturday

evening. Had not the Sabbath service called me home, I believe we should have staid longer. It was a happy opportunity; I believe mutually so. We talked of you, and should have been glad to have had you with us. I have seldom been in a family where I thought myself more at home, or where I have been more satisfied that the blessing of the Lord dwelt. I returned in some measure thankful and refreshed. I have great reason to be thankful that my spirit is not confined within the paper walls of a denomination; for I have had frequent proof that the Spirit of the Lord will not be restrained within such narrow bounds. May my soul be ever free to unite with all that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, without regarding those lesser differences which will soon be done away.

Your prayers and kind wishes for me and mine I heartily thank you for, and hope we shall repay you, (as we are enabled,) in kind. Many here have, indeed, Lord. He has been very

reason to speak well of the gracious to us. But, alas! most of us may complain of ourselves. But unworthy as we are, he bears with us; he multiplies pardons, and keeps us upon the whole in a persuasion that his loving kindness is better than life. The workings of a corrupt nature, and the subtilty of our spiritual enemies, cause us much exercise; but we find one with us who is greater than our hearts, and greater than he that is in the world. When I look at some of my people, I am filled both with joy and shame; joy, to see that the Lord has not suffered my labour among them to be in vain; shame, to think that I have preached so much more effectually to them than to my own heart. It is my mercy that I am not under the law, but under grace. Were it not for this thought,

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