The prayer of faith availeth much-to keep you, as you are, still full of complaints, but improving them in a free spirit to the glory of the Saviour; a child of Adam, deserving hell; a believer in Jesus, an heir of heaven. May he keep you by his mighty power till he bring you safe to his promised heaven. Thanks for your many favours, and the love that sends them. Our real love to your sister, brother B. and to the household of faith. Mrs. R. joins

W. ROMAINE.

My dear Friend,

LETTER XIV.

TIVERTON, Sept. 5th, 1794.

THE will of the Lord be done. He does all things for the best, and he is teaching you not only to say it, but also to feel it; I know it, for his compassions fail not. And he will make you sensible, that all his dealings with you are in loving kindness and great tenderness. Look back, see and admire in what a gracious way he has led hitherto all your steps. O what distinguishing favours-to call you by his grace -to make you obedient to his call to teach you his gospel, in a manner vouchsafed to very few-to keep you by his own power for so many years, that you have not fallen, nor disgraced your profession of our most holy faith, and that to this hour he preserves you, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life. Indeed, my dear Sir, these are sovereign blessings, and I verily believe, that you are well taught how to apply them on the present occasion: nay, thanks be to him, I have it under your own hand, that he has enabled you to submit to his will. He has taken away a sister but she is with him. You have lost a friend, but he has found her. She is dead, but she liveth. O most blessed change. She is gone from sin and suffer

ing to live with God for ever. I am ready to say, notwithstanding she will be so much missed in your family, from my very heart I praise and worship him, that he has taken her into his heaven and glory. He did it too in a way which was singularly kind to her surviving relations, I mean those hidings of the Lord's loving countenance, and those desertions and darkness, of which she complained. * You cannot think what a great refreshment this was to my spirits, and what a testimony it was of the soundness of her faith, and of her experience. On all these accounts let your sorrow be turned into joy. Survey your mercies, personal : look at your family; where can you shew me so many chosen and called? Let B. speak. Let Mrs. T. speak. Let all that love H. speak, and say, he is good to them indeed, for his mercy to them endureth for ever. Blessings on him; he is good in what he gives. He is good, yea blest of all, in what he takes away. Strew her hearse with praises; and if a tear be shed, let sorrow be turned into joy: for what we deposit of her we commit into his care and keeping, who will make it one day shine like his own most glorious body.

I thank him, therefore, for the good news which you sent me and with my thanks I join my prayers for your profiting from this providence. It warns you to be ready. You are in the last stage of your journey; He can make it the best. He has promised it; and he cannot break his word. He has a marvellous skill, and an equally marvellous love, in making the infirmities of age so many motives to trust him more. Less of sense, more of faith. Less of self, more of Christ. An infirm body, a sound mind. Nature failing, grace reigning, and that unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. May you find every day, and for every thing, that he is with you-keeping your conscience in his peace-your heart in his love-your life in his hands—and your hope in his glory. Whatever

* After this season of darkness, she was enabled to rejoice in God our Saviour, and departed in full assurance of faith.

interest I have in him, is yours: and I trust he will make the prayer of faith, which is fervent for you, effectual also. Your letter of August 26th did not come to my hands till September 5th. We are in Devon

shire at my wife's sisters, from whence we remove next week to Mr. Ireland's, Bristol, for the remainder of this month. Mrs. R. is not behind me in best wishes for you and B. and Mr. and Mrs. T. if with you. It is no small part of my happiness, that brotherly love continues. I thank him who gave it—who keeps it-who will keep it unto the end. May he bless you with the choicest of his blessings, and give you to pray for W. ROMAINE.

LETTER XV.

CLAPHAM, Sept. 30th.

My good Friend,

I WAS made to believe that I should have the pleasure of seeing you to-day; but I am sadly disappointed. I wanted to thank you for past favours of this year, as well as many before.

I wanted also to inform you, that no person living ever heard me speak a word against M's doctrine. As far as I know he is sound in the faith; and I esteem him for the truth's sake.

It would have been a real favour done me, if I had an opportunity personally of wishing you a good journey. The 121st Psalm be your viaticum: fulfilled in every day's travel; and the last verse made good to you as long as you are upon faith's ground, and then for ever. My love to my dear brother B. I hope he has an Hebrew bible, and will translate the psalm. I set out after church to Clapham. To-morrow we go to Southampton. God be with you, and guide, and keep you. So prays W. ROMAINE.

LETTER XVI.

Feb. 7th, 1795.

Dear Sir,

IN some former wars this treatise met with your approbation, and it pleased God to own it, and to bless it: at the desire of my friends I have reprinted it, in hopes it may, through the divine favour, bring his people again upon their knees. You know well, that prayer has dispersed blacker clouds than the present. And if we are humbled under his mighty hand, God is never at a loss for ways and means to grant us our requests. Please to communicate this to my brother B., and tell him, that I believe he will meet some of the best company in the kingdom, at eight o'clock, on Sunday evening.

I am, with great respect,

Your Friend and Servant in the Lord,

LETTER XVII.

To A. S. Esq.*

W. ROMAINE..

March 14th, 1774.

Dear Sir,

I WANT no argument to convince you of the friendship of Mr. S. to W. R. or vice ver. I believe

This Correspondent first heard Mr. Romaine on Luke i. 74, 75. in March 1762; but their personal acquaintance did not commence till late in the year 1764. From this period to the year 1774, both living in or near London, there was no occasion for epistolary communication. Upon the departure of this Correspondent from the metropolis to America, and then on his return to the country, the letters which follow, among others, were written to him by the author.

it is of his making who ties eternal bonds. Whenever I think of you, I have only one thing to blame myself for; which I am to try to make amends for the firstopportunity. I have in person.

Your letter has warmed my heart with a fresh proof of your friendship: I do not think it right to take any steps in it myself, but leave it to the great Lord.

Poor R. It is the worst day that town ever saw. But remember, my good friend, neither you nor I love Christ's flock, nor can love them, as he does. I am afraid, the called are called-and the called shall be well taken care of. They cannot perish. Mrs. T. is amazingly supported. But I am running on I know not whither; and Sunday evening, People are coming in, My work begins. Adieu, your's in our dear, common dear Lord,

My blessing on your children.

W. ROMAINE.

LETTER XVIII.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, July 1st, 1774.

My very dear Friend,

I AM forced to make my apology for not coming to appointment. I shall not be in town till the tenth instant; God willing I shall call at K. on the 11th, and shall be happy to meet with you. Do not forget to pray for

W. ROMAINES

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