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promise me to be better for the future, and do let me have long letters from you. It is indeed one of the greatest earthly comforts conferred on me, to be acquainted with the welfare of those I much love.

Truly, as you notice, there is a very great danger of cleaving too close to this world. The great antidote against it is to set our affections on things above. The Christian stands indeed in the most imminent danger, when his treasure is placed in earthly vessels. What a blessing it is, that in condescension to our weakness and instability the LORD has declared that "he knoweth our frame, he "remembereth we are but dust." Numerous as the promises are to the children of GOD, how frequently are we apt to depend on any bruised reed, rather than on the eternal Rock of ages! No doubt you can with me experimentally answer in the affirmative. Well-but a short time, a few more years elapsed, and we shall be con

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formed to the glorious image of our blessed Pattern. When he who is our Life "shall 66 appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is," without a veil between. No interposition, not a shadow to eclipse the view of him "whom now not seeing we "love." When I talk or write of this, I am as if I did not know how to leave off; but when I reflect on the time of night, that it is now after eleven o'clock, I must refrain. I knew if I did not answer your obliging favour to-night, I should not have an opportunity for some days; and you would then have reason indeed to accuse me of negligence.

Now do, pray do, my dear friend, write me a long letter, and very soon. I receive it almost as the greatest testimony of love you can confer on me. Believe me

Ever yours unalterably,

and in strict affection,

M. B.

LETTER II.

Margate, August 23, 1802.

Concluding that by this time, my dear friend may be allowed to read a scrawl, containing sincere congratulations on the happy event of the 8th, I venture to take up my pen, and will endeavour not to be tedious. What has GOD wrought! may again be said, and another Ebenezer raised to the praise of With fresh merciful deliverances

his name.
may my dear Mrs.

feel renewed devotedness and gratitude to the kind Author of them all! Oh that the life-spared and the

life-given may be the LORD's as long as life shall last!

Your dear girl is, I hope, all that

your fond heart can wish for, as it respects promising appearances of health and strength; and allow me to join the general wish of your

friends, that she may grow up to be a comfort and reward to (I must say) the best of mothers.

I am my dear Mrs.'s

Affectionate and obliged friend,

TO MRS.

M. C.

No. I.

Feb. 21, 1792.

Many are the changes I have experienced since I last wrote to you. Oh my dear is it possible that a few weeks can have made such an alteration in my circumstances! In many respects I am not like the same person; I mean, as being the subject of different joys, fears, &c. You see I am under no restraint. In making a matter of this sort known, it might probably have been requisite to have ushered it in with

a train of apologies, had I not been assured that I was writing to one whom I look upon as a sincere friend: and it is wisely said that "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak." I have many, very many things which I would wish to communicate to you; but feel a reluctance in committing some of them to paper. I should prize an hour's conversation with you at this juncture; but as this is not attainable at present, must content myself with this mode of holding intercourse with you: and the more readily, because I do hope you will favour me by writing your sentiments, and that freely, upon my present situation. I am sure of this one thing, that I never stood more in need of counsel and instruction than at this time; and most gladly would I receive any advice which you could give me.

I have great reason to lament that I do not find myself so submissive to the LORD as it is my duty to be, from a profession I make

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