tender ay un al in my God for help. He did

the go to the rest lengi or his chain and would I have no doubt he had been permitted, have torn me to pieces, soul and body. What Goda leo on God? O that I could be assured that I should never more entertain one hard thought of him respecting any of his dispenestions torrás me! But I=ast conclude, which I do with wishing you prosperity both of soul and body, with much of his presence who is the Lealth of both: and believe me to remain

Your affectionate friend and sister

are they that endure temptations, for when they are tried they shall receive the crown of life,” which he hath promised to them that love him. Thou didst say, O thou of little faith! I shall not see him; yet judgment was before him, and he hath brought thee forth to the light, and thou

hast beheld his righteousness. How sweet and endearing are his visits after his long absence! How welcome are his returns after our souls have sat solitary, as a woman forsaken and grieved .n spirit, as a wife of youth refused and deserted! But he soon makes us forget the shame of our youth, and the reproach of our widowhood; and the adversary that saluteth us with a "Where is now thy God?" sees it, and vanishes, inflamed with rage. But he only departs for a season. Nevertheless the armour of God is sufficient to repel the force of all his artillery. God hath planted his fear in our hearts that we may not depart from him. He hath renewed, enlightened, instructed, and influenced our consciences by his Spirit, that he may cheek and reproach us for all that is wrong, and approve of all that is right; and we must exercise ourselves day and night not to offend him. We are favoured with the witness, seal, and firstfruits, of the Spirit, and are commanded not to vex or grieve him, lest he suspend his freedom, his consolations, and his much-needed assistance, in prayer. The Redeemer has left us also his last legacy, I mean peace: and we have the promise of the enjoyment of it, unless we make to ourselves crooked paths. We have the promise of his presence, and of the light of his countenance likewise, unless our sins hide his face from us, or cause him to return to his place, till we acknowledge our offences, and seek him early. We have also that faith that is of the operation of

the Spirit of God; and nothing can unsettle, weaken, damp, or deaden the vigorous actings of faith like our misconduct. Besides these things, we have the helmet of hope, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, and all sorts of prayer; and these things are more mighty bulwarks against Satan than all the fears of death and wrath, yea, than all the horrors, terrors, threatenings, and curses, of a broken law, which the disciples of Moses pride themselves so much upon. Let my dear sister pay due attention to these things which accompany salvation, and she shall have rejoicing in herself alone, and not in another, and shall praise her God with joyful lips. Moreover, as God hath restored her again to the joys of his salvation, let me admonish her not to act the part of a hawking pedlar, lest they get weary of her; but let her entertain her beloved with praises and thanksgivings, as he entertains her with the discoveries of his love. My kind love to the good man of the house, and tell him I have remembrance of him in my poor prayers. Excuse haste, as I am a servant to many. Dear sister, adieu.

Ever thine in the brotherly covenant,

The Desert.

NOCTUA AURITA.

A PORTION TO SEVEN

AND

ALSO TO EIGHT.

GIVE A PORTION TO SEVEN, AND ALSO TO EIGHT; FOR THOU KNOWEST

NOT WHAT EVIL SHALL BE UPON THE EARTH.

ECCL. XI. 2.

bring us to his feet! And I am sure that nothing else will do it; though in seasons of desertion Satan is as busy with me as ever he can be with any poor soul, to stir up in me hard thoughts of my kind and gracious God and Redeemer. But I find that afterwards these things make deep furrows in my soul, when contrition of heart and godly sorrow operate under the influence of the blessed Spirit. I think I never did before see the distinction so clear between the old man and the new, or what Paul calls flesh and spirit, as I do now. This knowledge I have got in my last conflict, and by experience, which has been truly bitter to my soul; therefore I hope it will abide. My mind seems at present much impressed with a sense of the goodness and lovingkindness of the Lord to me. I believe he will not let me run away from him, because, when I am bent on going on in ways that are not good, he lays his rod on me to stop me. How oft has he called back my wandering feet! I may well say, Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all my days to this present moment; though Satan has often stirred up such rebellion in my heart that I have even called God's ministers liars when they have prophesied good concerning me. But, notwithstanding this, the Lord has put in my heart some good thing, which will not find satisfaction in any thing short of his blessed presence; and, as this is his sweet work, he will accept it. I was long looking for some good thing in myself to re