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vour to cast your burden on the LORD; he has promised to sustain you. Remember that he is the GoD of all consolation, and able to make all grace abound to your soul's comfort. It is a great mercy, if not enabled with the apostle to glory in tribulation, to be, with the Psalmist, patient under his hand-to be dumb with silenceto be kept from murmuring or repining with our lips, because it is his stroke. It is the rod indeed, but in the kindest hand. He has said that, though "not joyous, but griev"ous," yet sanctified afflictions "do afterward "yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to "those who are exercised thereby." If the LORD's presence be but with be but with you, which I trust, and am indeed persuaded, is the case, supporting, strengthening, and consoling you, it will cause you to say, "It was good for "me to be afflicted." But if not now enabled so to say, endeavour to stay your dejected mind upon him. What my dear

knows not now, she shall know hereafter. She has abundant cause for thankfulness and strong consolations, on the most important of all accounts; but on which I feel I cannot touch.

Ere long, my dear

time to us shall

be no longer. Then shall we see, that in comparison with the eternal weight of glory which we shall feel, our afflictions, however accumulated and almost heart-breaking, have been but light-but short-but for a moFor a small moment in a little "wrath I hid my face, but with everlasting "kindness" (Oh consider the phrase!)" will "I have mercy on thee," saith the LORD. This takes in all situations, circumstances, times, and places. Well, my dear

ment.

he

is the same GoD yesterday, to-day, and for ever. He hath delivered you times without number. Call to mind seasons of distress and deliverance. Think not, because it seems a more difficult task to flesh and blood, that

therefore it is so with him; but rather, is any thing too hard for the LORD? Nay, he can by the word of his power, as easily reconcile the mind to the most trying and afflictive providence, as to the most trivial painful occurrence of life. The LORD grant that you may indeed find it so! If there were any thing I could say or do, wherein I could assist you, how willingly would my hands, and all indeed that I have, be employed in your service! My prayers have not been, shall not indeed be, wanting. If I could hear from any quarter how it is with you, I should rejoice.

I have neither written, nor done any thing indeed, as I wished and hoped I should have been enabled to do: but excuse me; I have felt much in what I have already written. Accept out kindest love to you all; and believe, that with every feeling of pathy, and many prayers for you,

I remain yours, &c.

sym

M. C.

LETTER VI.

March 27th, 1798.

No, not one minute shall elapse,

but (though indeed with a trembling hand and an aching heart) I will address my dear

Your letter silences and confounds

all that I could say by way of apology for not writing before, when I consider the task which I am sure writing must have been to you. Surely you will hardly credit me, that this, and this only has been my hindrance: it was not that I have not loved you, or sympathised with you, the LORD is my witness; but I have always felt so disheartened and discouraged, that in every attempt I have been hitherto unsuccessful. But there must be a beginning; and I will endeavour to forego my natural feelings and inclination, and at all events drop you a few lines; and if the LORD condescend to guide my pen by his

Spirit, may they be made a blessing to you! And should I be one of the last to shew you this outward mark of respect (for I am sure that my first letter was so incoherent, as not to deserve the name of one) be assured, my dear there is no one who has felt more inward sorrow and pain of heart on your account than myself. I have walked with you in the dismal path, and have endeavoured to make your feelings my own; but this is impossible. I have, however, mingled secret sighs and tears with yours; and your afflicted case has always been brought with our own before our Father's throne of grace. So, indeed, have I felt for you by night and day, as I never did in all life for any other. After these frank acknowledgements,

I hope my dear

my

will not once think

herself slighted by my silence. I bless the LORD with you for his gracious kind support, vouchsafed in the day of your trouble. Has he not proved to you, that with him all

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