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Ephraim felt, when, "after he was instructed, he smote upon his thigh, when he was ashamed," &c. In active service likewise, you must be solicitous to have your eye directed to God, and to his glory as the end you are to pursue. O! blessed attainment! to rise above self, and with singleness of heart to serve our God; to have the mind of Christ, who "pleased not himself, who came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister." We shall then be less solicitous about the manner and the exterior circumstances of the service we perform, and even its success, than about the principle by which we are actuated; we shall then be less concerned about the smile of the world, and the praise of men; we shall derive satisfaction from the omniscience of God, and labour to be accepted of Him. Now you are entering the field of labour, and of conflict; for such has the way to God been ever found: but the life you are called to live in the flesh is a life of faith-precious faith! which embraces the promise, which looks within the veil, looks unto Jesus, beholds his glory, and beholds him near. O! there is light, there is strength, there is "all joy and peace in believing." May you be ever seen coming up out of the wilderness, leaning upon this blessed Immanuel! Give yourselves wholly to him, accept your all from him, and maintain daily nearness to him: then you need "be careful for nothing, but in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make known your requests unto God:" then, what

ever griefs attend you, whatever losses you sustain, whatever separations death may be permitted to make among your dearest connections, you will find in the presence of your Saviour, and the assured prospect of your heavenly Father's home, a sweet antidote to excessive grief, and a source of joy unspeakable.

I pray God to give you increasing favour in the religious society with which you stand connected; to bless you, in that connection, with hearts affectionately desirous of promoting the welfare of each individual; to honour you in his service, and to make you blessings. I have no doubt but you will experience much real friendship from them, and I think your wisdom will lead you, in the intercourse of friendship, to seek to please others rather than yourselves; to make many a sacrifice of what may relate to your own ease and indulgence, in order to demonstrate your friendship to others.

I am, &c. &c.

J. BOWDEN,

LETTER XXXV.

TO THE REV. D

W

Jan. 21, 1812.

My dear Son, my Brother and Companion in tribulation, and in the " kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,"

I AM prepared by the painful trials which I have endured, to sympathise in your sorrows; and by the wonderful supports I have found, and by the special consolations I have been favoured with, to say to you, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer." Fear yourself, your own heart, lest you should let go your hold of the promise; lest you should have recourse to any sinful shifts to avoid evil; lest you should value the smile of the creature more than the favour of God; lest you should be enfeebled and unfitted for the discharge of your duty: :- but fear none of those troubles, which put you upon fleeing unto God; which excite a dread of grieving his Spirit; which, put you upon closer self-examination; which revive the spirit of prayer in you; and which render the promises, the ordinances, and the special presence of God, more desirable and more sweet unto you. Under these circumstances, to yield to slavish fear, would be to idolize the creature, and to disparage the power and promise of God: it were

to undervalue his fatherly love and promised care of his tried people. He knows their sorrows: graciously he says, "I have seen, I have seen, the afflictions of my people." He is with them to help them, to bear them up under their various sorrows, and to render those sorrows beneficial. Indeed, his most gracious visits are often made to them in the darkest vale of suffering: the richest grapes of Eschol are pressed into the cup of the Israelite indeed, when the labours and trouble of the wilderness are most severe. What if all men forsake us, if we can secure the presence of God, and a good conscience: with these, we may travel the wilderness through, and want nothing, and fear nothing. With these companions, Paul felt "ready to be offered;" and his great Master, opposing the all-controuling sovereignty of his heavenly Father to the power and pride of men, thus preserved his soul in perfect peace: "Thou couldst have no power against me, except it were given thee from above." All your concerns are in a Father's hand, and every wind that blows is subject to his sovereign controul: then, " Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" Why is not the righteous bold as a lion? Why does he not in imagination seem to grasp the prize, even while sustaining the severest conflict? O let us run the arduous race," looking unto Jesus:” his eye is ever on us, and will be till we quit the field; and then will he look with the smile of congratulation, while, with all the saints, we rest on our beds, and enjoy the glory (now set before us) at an eternal

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banquet. We rejoice in the prospect open before you; we trust that it indicates that God has begun to deliver and to provide. If it be the will of God, you will have no occasion to make haste; he will carry on and perfect that which concerns you. Be still you will hear his voice; you will see his goings; you will be furnished with a lamp to direct your steps. As for ourselves, the clouds are returning after the rain; only there is seen a bow in the cloud, and it is inscribed with, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Blessed be God, his promise is precious. and as powerful as ever. "They looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed;" nor shall any be ashamed who trust in him. The Lord be with you, to bless you and yours!

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XXXVI.

TO MISS R

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I FEEL reluctance in addressing you in a way of Christian counsel, on no other ground than the consideration of the invaluable opportunity of pastoral assistance you enjoy, within the pale of your own communion. Yet if I write, while your good. pastor speaks, it may be some satisfaction, perhaps, to you to find the same truths attested, and the

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