know what compassion and what sweetness are in thee, if we did not find ourselves in a weary land, toiling and fainting under the burning heavens. But our necessities and burdens drive us to thee; and in thee we find a Rock whose shadow affords effectual and sweet relief from all the evil there is in the world, and in ourselves. It is a beautiful figure! Christ is a Rock,-immutable and beneficial. On that Rock may my faith rest; may my house, my interest, and my salvation, be built! and then I may smile at gathering clouds, and fear no evil from rains, or storms, or floods. An inhabitant of that Rock I would daily be; and to the clefts of that Rock, with the trembling dove, I would flee when tempests rage! Happy Israelites! what relief did they find in a weary land. When they all drank of that spiritual Rock, their peace was like a river, a river in a sandy, sultry desert, and yet undiminished, Precious Saviour! "It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Myriads have here been refreshed, and it is yet abundant ! My soul adores the mercy that enables me to "Of his fulness have we received, and grace say, for grace!" Unhappy multitudes! who say to the riches, the honours, and the pleasures of this world, "Ye are our gods." Let me rather be classed with the fatherless, who find mercy in him. Yea, let me account all things but loss, and reject them "as dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him.” Unhappy men! when the day of the Lord cometh,

"Is there not a lie in

they will in consternation cry, our right hand?" will cast away their idols to the moles and to the bats, and go into the clefts of the rock; nay, and cry to the rocks to fall on them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. Miserable creatures! Nature has no rocks that can extinguish their being, or shelter them from the wrathful storm, or deliver them from the horror with which they shall eternally behold this spiritual Rock falling upon them, as if it would grind them to powder. Happy believer! to whom Jesus is a "Rock of Salvation." In how many respects he finds him precious! "I sat under his shadow with great delight," sweetly relieved from the burden of guilt and wrath. And how is a Saviour endeared to me when I think, whence is this benefit, and how comes it to pass that he affords me a shadow and a rest so refreshing! Wondrous truth! wondrous grace! My Surety undertook my cause, and bore the full vengeance due to my transgressions, Joyful assurance! he was able to bear it." Ascribe ye greatness to our God; he is the Rock; his work is perfect." God manifested in the flesh, redeemed the Church with his own blood. He was made a curse for us; and now there is no more death, no more evil, no more condemnation; there is full security's sweetly refreshing shadow, to them who are in Christ Jesus. In his Name, repentance and remission of sins are preached; and myriads of saved sinners on earth and in heaven, being justified by faith, have

peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. How many a trembling conscience has here been relieved from overwhelming distress, when the wrath of God was abiding upon him! And how many

of God's own dear children have found a sanc

tuary here, when they were saying, Day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer!" In how many seasons of grievous temptation, or outward distress and trouble, and cruel persecution have they found sweet refreshment beneath this Rock. "Death cannot make our souls afraid, if Christ be with us there." Nay, and amidst the wreck of nature, and the tremendous glories of the last day, this will enable us to lift up our heads with composure and joy. Oh! that the admirers of the world, and they who trust in themselves that they are righteous, could see the transcendent excellency and preciousness of Christ! What can we do for ourselves, or what can the whole creation do for us, compared with what believers find in this Rock. This, then, it is, that constitutes a Christian. It is coming to this Rock, and truly seeking salvation in Jesus. But who are they who come? Rarely they who enjoy pleasant and plentiful circumstances in the world not they who are hardened in sin, and have no alarming sense of wrath, or who can satisfy an awakened conscience with promises of amendment, but they who have outward trouble and soul trouble; who tremble before God, and find there

is no help in themselves. To such weary souls, in a weary land, rest will be sweet-Christ will be precious. Blessed troubles! that compel the soul to seek refreshment here. Glorious Redeemer! how abundant thy sufficiency, and how rich thy grace, who art so freely, so sweetly inviting sinners of every description under thy shadow! What multitudes are already gathered! how every heart and every tongue unites in saying, "How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God!" "And yet there is room." "Salvation in abundance flows like floods of milk and wine." Who can estimate the present and future happiness of the man who abides under this shadow? And who can describe the misery of him who shall be found out of Christ? for "behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven," &c. the overflowing scourge that shall sweep away the refuges of lies. May it be your happiness, my dear children, and mine, in that day, to be found in Christ! The blessing of God be with you!

I remain, with truest affection, dear children,

Your father,

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XVII.

TO MR. AND MRS. W

-B

MY DEAR W- AND M―,

Tooting, Feb. 1803.

YOUR letter of the 5th instant gave us much pleasure, and awakened sentiments of gratitude. Blessed be God! whose everlasting mercy blotteth out the cloud of affliction, and sweetly says, "Your sins will I remember against you no more!" My dear W's partial recovery, I hope, if consistent with God's wise and gracious and holy will, we shall soon hear is perfected. But, ah! the uncertainty of life, the precarious nature of health, and our dearest connections here!-how proper, how profitable, how good is it to be dying daily, to be trimming our lamps, (that is, cleaning and enlivening them, and providing them a fresh supply of oil);-to be laying up treasure in Heaven; that is, making sure our interest in the infinite treasure already laid there, and, by active piety and the fruits of faith, providing for an abundant recompense of reward! How can we contemplate, but with grateful wonder, the condescension of the Most High God, in suffering himself to be represented as a debtor to sinful dust and worms! "God is not unrighteous to forget your work of faith and labour of