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Reading the word of God in a family has been productive of essential good; and if you will take my advice, I am sure you will never have reason to repent, either of praying with your family or reading to them. I do not give it only as my opinion on the subject; but as a doctrine received from the New Testament, wherein men are exhorted to make supplication, and to search the scriptures.-I am fearful you will think this epistle altogether unsuitable to your present circumstances; but a sense of the propriety of such an address impressed my mind, as I earnestly wish you to begin at the very first, as you mean to go on; which I sincerely hope may be, by a steady acknowledgement of GOD in the duties above-mentioned.

Many others might be named, but the word of God, if attended to, is perfectly adapted for your further instruction.

Your affectionate, &c.

M. B.

TO MR.

May this find my dear

March 12, 1793.

and

in a manner happily resigned to the divine will in the late solemn, and, I make no doubt, trying, affliction with which you have been exercised.-May you be taught by it, to see the vanity of all earthly enjoyments, in as much as we are totally incapable of retaining any one of them a moment longer than the LORD's time. In his dealings in providence, as well as in grace, he shews himself to be a Sovereign.—A short time has evidenced in our own family, that length of years and fewness of months, are the same to him. The hoary head and infant babe have alike shared the sentence justly due to fallen man. "The wages of sin is death." Certainly temporal, and, if grace prevent not, eternal, death to both body and soul. This is awful indeed!-be thankful you have not to reflect on this painful subject with

respect to your dear child. He is gone from you, whence he shall no more return; but sorrow not, I pray you, as those without hope: but rather rejoice that he is taken from the evil to come. Perhaps too, as was the case with one of old, Your "life was "bound up in the life of the child." The LORD has therefore seen fit, in infinite wisdom, to take away this idol, the desire and delight of your eyes, with an unexpected and an unprepared for stroke. Hear then this voice of Providence, this rod of affliction, and him who hath appointed it.

The earnest wish of her who, now addresses you, is that this affliction may be sanctified: be assured that same death which has cut off the child, will in a little time at longest, snatch the parents also into an eternal unknown world. Oh, that you may, indeed and in truth, be prepared for that certain and solemn event! Hear then the language of pure affection to your precious and

immortal souls, when I inform you from the word of God; (3d chap. of St. John) that except we are born again of his Spirit, we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Understand by this a change from nature to grace; for it is declared, "that we are dead "in trespasses and sins," and also," that "without holiness no man shall (acceptably)

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see the LORD." How unreasonable, how unscriptural then, is it to suppose, that any one dying in this state, loving sin and this present evil world, shall enter into the presence of that Being who is infinitely holy, and of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, but with the greatest detestation and abhorrence!

May you by this late warning, be enabled to flee from the wrath to come, to lay hold on JESUS CHRIST, that only way of access to, and acceptance with,.a righteous GoD: for "there is no other name given under "heaven but this, whereby the sinful race

"of Adam can be saved." In vain then are

all our expectations of any other mercy from quarter. I request you to read with attention what I have imperfectly written, and may the LORD the Holy Spirit give his blessing to it, and enable you while reflecting on this affliction to say,-" The LORD gave, "the LORD hath taken away, and blessed be "the name of the LORD;" those words were spoken by Job, that eminent servant of GOD, when under a far more calamitous trial than the one with which you are exercised. I would conclude the whole, by offering my very sincere wishes, that every consolation. may be afforded, which your present situation calls for; and indeed that an abundance of blessings may be granted you through time and to all eternity. I cannot wish you more than this, which may the LORD in mercy bestow on you both, for his dear Son's sake, Amen and Amen.

Affectionately Yours,

M. B.

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