TO MISS

The voice of death has lately been heard in the habitation of her who addresses you: she can therefore with the most tender feelings, sympathize with you under the afflic tion which it has pleased Infinite Wisdom to lay upon you. Let me beg and intreat of you, my young friend, to cultivate honourable thoughts of God: repine not at the hand that smites you-many have learnt their best lessons in the house of mourning; and have had reason to bless God to eternity, for the stroke that seemed at the time to wither all their fair prospects, and under which they have been ready to say ;-since this dear object's gone, mine eyes shall no more see good.

That such sentiments as these will possess your breast is not to be wondered at, and that they will be a source of many fruitless and unavailing tears I am well aware of; but I

wish to remind you, that though that dear object has been taken from you, and on account of which my bowels yearn over you with pity and concern, yet there still remains a never failing Source of consolation.-That GOD, without whose commission death never comes, is able abundantly to make up this loss to you. Let me recommend you to make all your griefs known to him.-For your encouragement, I can tell you that under the late bereavement, with which I have been visited, I felt more composure of soul, when enabled to pour out my soul before him in prayer, than at any other time. Go then, my afflicted friend, and do likewise; this will be making the best use of this truly melancholy event, though the delight of your eyes, and perhaps the idol of your heart, is gone from whence he shall never more return.

TO MRS

By your sister,

St. Peter's, April 9, 1794.

for so I must still

call you, we were informed of your being married on Thursday. I shall heartily rejoice if it be the means of contributing to your happiness in this life, for which you shall have my frequent and fervent prayers.

I would still, however, have you bear it on your mind, that there is no solid happiness to be found any where but in GOD. May you, and he whom the LORD has now given you for a partner through this wilderness, be directed to "seek him while he may be "found, and to call upon him while he is "near:" be assured he is more ready to hear, than we are to ask of him. For your encouragement to look to him amidst all the changes of life, I can tel you, he is an unchangeable GOD, a very present Help in times of greatest need. Sometimes my soul

has been overwhelmed with perplexing cares and difficulties; and I have found unspeakable consolation in pouring out my heart's complaints into his ear. This has been a source of great comfort to me amidst many trials, that perhaps I could never tell to any creature. The LORD grant it may prove the like to you! and remember that whether our days here be joyous or grievous, they are at the best and the longest few and evil. Let a consideration then of the shortness of time and the uncertainty of life stir us up to our duty. I hope from my very heart,

that will continue in the good old way you of a strict attendance upon the house of GOD; you are sensible of your having been highly favoured in this respect, and I trust you will persevere in the same.

Your new relation, however, brings with it new duties; you have a family though but a small one, and need as much the kind providence of the LORD as if you were ever

so large. I earnestly recommend to you therefore, from the very first, to make a point of praying with each other, and reading the holy Scriptures daily; at the same time I would caution you against trusting in this or any other outward performance whatever for it is only in and through the merits of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that any sinner can be saved; and without an interest in his blood we have no right to expect happiness here or heaven hereafter.

I have been persuading myself while I have been writing, that you would be glad to hear from me, or I am greatly mistaken indeed. To you I stand indebted for very many and great kindnesses; my prayer to the LORD is, that not one instance thereof may go unrewarded. Oh! may neither you nor your's ever know the want of a friend.

That your mind was kindly inclined towards me, I esteem a singular mercy at the