Irim? It may hereafter furnish us with an agreeable conversation, when we take a retrospective view of the foot steps of his Providence, and be the occasion of our mutual thanksgiving.— In hopes that this will be one (and the most material) of my latter day temporal blessings, I will venture to subscribe myself, "Dear Madam, 66 66 Marlborough, Your's, &c." "MY VERY DEAR, EVER DEAR FRIEND, "PERHAPS you would smile to yourself if you did but know how the parson was tricked last night. Though his strength was as exhausted as usual with the duties of the day, in hopes of meeting with one he most sincerely loves, he gave an elastic spring and with his mind formed for conversation trotted away to Mr. Merriman's, but to his great disappointment the dear object of his affection was not there. This event preached a better sermon to him than he had preached to his congregation, though he had been three times engaged. It brought conviction that covered him with shame. It made him reflect with humiliation, how stupid and inactive his powers are when they ought to be vigorously exerted: in pursuit of the dear Lord Jesus.-I hope he will take from you, your present aversion to a situation in town, seeing it is his good pleasure to deny us the opportunity of an habitation out of town. I am persuaded a little time will make it familiar to us. It should become a matter of great indifference what our neighbors have to say or think concerning us, while we study to approve our selves unto God. For my own part I should be glad to have matters settled soon, and as the first necessary step, should be glad if you would come and see the house and give me your thoughts about it. We must not expect the advantages of a paradise while we are here; >every gratification will have its alloy, every habitation its inconvenience, every friend his imperfection, and every change of situation something we shall be loth to part with, as well as something we shall be ready to come to. Think my dear love of this not to distress yourself, but to be fortified with such precaution as will be a check upon disappointment, and a means to reconcile you to the little inconveniences which will always attend us in this life. With this you will receive a small valuable pocket bible, which I beg your ac ceptance of, in testimony of your intention to make a present of yourself to me. It has been long a part of my small property, and I rejoice that I have it to present to you as the best signature of my love and in confirmation of my persuasion, that the rich and inexhaustible treasure it contains is all your own. I have not one of the same impression by me: but the quarto one, neatly bound in black calf, is of equal value, nor would I part with it upon any consideration, but that of a desire to testify to your dear sister what an affectionate alliance I wish to form with her through my union with you. I beg her acceptance of it with my love, and pray that its precious contents may be the joy, the desire, the guide, the support of her soul. It is the christianity of the bible, that only will stand the test; and all the profession of religion that will not admit of a trial by it, will be reprobated by God, the righteous judge in that day when every man's works shall be tried so as by fire. O that I derive all my doctrine from it; and that we may mutually agree to square our lives and conversation by its unerring and safe rule. Pray for me and believe me to be, may "Your's, &c." "Marlborough, January 11, 1779." "MY VERY DEAR, EVER DEAR FRIEND, "You must necessarily have been very much engaged and exercised by the death of your brother. It is an event that I hope will be much sanctified to you and your's. In consequence of it, I could not have said much to you upon our own concerns, if I had opportunity, but opportunity has been cut off, and my mind has been strangely bewildered, and I may add af flicted by the repeated aversion you have expressed against living in the town. While providence denies me the pleasure of frequent interview with you, it is impossible for me to act as I would, and unless you can conquer your little prejudice against a public neighborhood, I do not see how my strong desire of union with you can be accomplished. You have too much good sense to require severe asseverations in confirmation of what does not admit of a doubt. I shall therefore be content to say, if I could raise you a house of gold, on a paradisiacal spot of earth, it should be at your service, or if providence should abridge us of an habita-, tion so convenient as we would wish to enjoy, I could be content to dwell with you in mud walls. I have been in perpetual thought ever since last Monday about a house out of town, but in vain; and even though a spot could be procured to build upon, serious and deliberate reflection convinces me that it would be the most imprudent step we could take to attempt it. For instance nothing could be raised but out of your own stock and by a purchase made previous to the building itself. My continuance in Marlborough depends upon the affection and esteem of my friends, and the success of my ministry; either or both of these failing I must decamp, and then what good would a house do us merely suited in size, substance, and situation to our own conveníency? Mr. Hancock assured me it was not in his power to oblige us with a house by the meeting, and 1 am as far from approving of that in the Church-yard, as you would be if it was only because the rent would be too high. This difficulty on our first setting out is very seasonable, at least to me. In a day or two after I left Röckley, I wrote largely to some of my London friends, upon the amiable qualifications of the dear woman whom I told them the Lord had secreted and preserved to be a help, a delight, a principal temporal blessing to me. Nor can I yet alter my sentiment, while I think of the antidote against the cold, she so kindly sent me on Monday evening last, and which through the blessing of God, had its |