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LETTER IX.

Margate, Dec. 1, 1798.

The return of this season of the year, would, if it needed any thing

my dear

to bring it to my recollection, remind me afresh of your afflicted and bereaved situation. I am ashamed that I have not written to you before; but having deferred it so long, I thought I would now stay till it was probable you might receive it at a time when, with the blessing of the LORD, it might tend for a moment to dissipate a gloomy thought. I shall think of and pray for you, on the anniversary of that day, when you were called to part from flesh of your flesh and bone of your bone. I trust I shall have a heart given me, while I mourn with those who mourn, also to rejoice with you on many accounts. When I shall read

over your epistles of love, shall I not say, "Blessed be the LORD who alone doeth

"wondrous things?" I trust you will be enabled to call to mind his great and marvellous dealings of love and kindness, manifested to you in a particular time of need. And is he not the same GOD? In supporting and upholding you hitherto, he has given the best pledge of his kindest thoughts toward you for all future emergencies. By this time my dear - is, I hope, as comfortably situated as a state in this wilderness will admit of: shortly, I suppose, you will be favoured with the company of your dear children from school. May the LORD crown all your meetings with them, and your prayers and endeavours for their welfare, spiritual and temporal, with his blessing! That is a sweet consolatory thought you dropped in your last

"of a King's Son."

"

They are all the sons

Why should you fear?

Oh, may this thought ever be at hand to fortify your mind against all the perplexities you must meet with in training up so many young people, with natures propense to that which is evil; though the LORD seems mightily to restrain them by his power, and will, I hope and trust, incline their feet to walk in that path so admirably marked out in the life and conversation of one, whose memory I am sure is dear to their recollection, and which will best evince their real love and affection for you their dear and honoured parent. It rejoices my heart to hear so favourable an account of their filial duty and respect for you; and it will, I trust, always give me a real pleasure when I can hear of any thing that is likely to conduce to your comfort and satisfaction. Many thanks are due to my for all her kind letters. Through mercy, this leaves us well. I I was

dear

much afflicted during the indisposition of my

youngest boy, who through mercy is now

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my last of the 5th Dec. yet I have often been gratified by tidings of her welfare from one quarter or another; and I desire to be thankful on her account for all the good our GoD and Father is so liberally vouchsafing her in times of need and affliction. Oh, that it may be an encouragement to all who know him, to put their trust under the shadow of his almighty wings, to trust, and not be afraid what flesh can do unto them! My dear

's bereaved situation has called for extraordinary support, wisdom, consolation, and

all that à GOD of love has had to bestow. It rejoices my heart to find that he has dealt so amply with you in all these respects; and I earnestly hope that your faith and confidence may gain strength by frequently reviewing what he has done, and knowing him by very experience to be the same yesterday, "to-day, and for ever."

I am more than merely pleased also to hear so favourable an account of your dear children. The LORD grant that as they grow in years, they may be more and more assimilated to the likeness of him, their dear and honoured head, who has left us all a bright example of what was amiable and excellent. "The memory of the just is blessed." How dear is it to my recollection! How oft are my sleeping and waking thoughts with you! I was weeping much for you in my slumbers but the very last night; and this is not the only time by a great many.

As I know you love me, I am persuaded

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