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lieve it; at present I feel afraid to indulge the love I feel for you, yet my heart fondly hopes that I shall one day welcome and embrace you at Margate. In the mean time give me this single proof that you love me, write to me fully, freely, and frequently.

Your's, &c.

M. C.

LETTER IV. ·

Margate, 14th August, 1801.

last

How are you my very dear friend?— Better I hope than when I received your letter, and much better than when you last wrote to our good friend: I was grieved indeed to hear so bad an account of both body and mind.—Oh that I could but as easily alleviate, as I can sympathize with you in, all your troubles!-Your case, I have told you before, lies very near my heart; I feel myself to be

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deeply interested in all that is transpirWhat a mercy, "The LORD reigneth!" then it well becometh us to be still. I hope I have felt something of this spirit within the last week.-The more you know of me, my dear, the more you will discover that I am a very hasty impetuous sort of being, and require much discipline to keep me quiet under the rod.-I feel this easily besets me, particularly when in the first stages of any affliction.-With me all seems wild hurry and confusion; so that I have learned to esteem composure (not to say comfort,) of great value.-You perhaps, my dear, seem at present to be a stranger to all that bears but a faint resemblance of consolation; but wherefore shall it be always dark? Is not light sown for the righteous? No doubt you have had an abundant sowing time of tears; be of good cheer, you shall reap in joy; a glorious harvest will, I trust, amply repay all your troubles and afflic

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tions.-They say 'tis always darkest near the

break of day. Fear not, I hope the day

now begins to dawn upon our prospects, and that very soon the sun of prosperity will shine forth, and dispel all those dark clouds that have been hovering about, and threatening the darkest night to our earnest hopes and expectations.

I trust I know indeed, that the LORD has often met with, and blessed my soul under the ministerial labours of To his name be all the glory!-I often wonder why such an unworthy and ungrateful creature as I am, should be so highly favoured; it surely is because the LORD will magnify the riches of his Grace, in thus bestowing good upon the most undeserving! but I must not fill a sheet about that uninteresting subject, self, do, my dear

for I long to know how you do, Do not be so cast down.-"Oh that the

hands may be lifted up

which hang down."

GOD almighty bless and comfort you.Think not that you are the only one who has been so perplexed and burdened; endeavour, my dear, to keep up your spirits.-We do not know the injury we ensure to ourselves by fretting and uneasiness.

I write this on Thursday night, near twelve o'clock. Let me hear from you whenever your dejected spirits will let you write; but do not trouble yourself to write to me when you are poorly this I do not wish, though it gives me real pleasure to hear from you. your last letter? If I

Did I thank you for

did not, I meant it.-Accept our kind love,

and believe me, my dear

Your sincere,

And truly affectionate friend,

M. C.

P. S. Through mercy my good husband and children are well, I am much better indeed and better in spirits-Oh, that it were so with you!-Farewell, my dear

the

LORD bless, support, and if it be his heavenly will, cheer you with his gracious

presence!

LETTER V.

Margate, 12th Sept. 1801.

You will not, I am persuaded, my dear -; think me unkind, should I not lengthen out my scrawl to the more than merely filling of a sheet, when I tell you that I have been engaged till this time (near half after nine o'clock,) and no supper yet! but I had promised myself that I would drop you a line this evening.

I have been very indifferent in health this week through mercy I am now much better. I hasten to a time of need-shall I not have one more to pray for me than I have ever had before on a similar occasion ?-I know you will remember me, (will you not,

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