Jesus has called on you to relinquish your expected enjoyment of this dear babe, that he might be immediately with himself, where he is, to behold his glory. He wants not the tender offices and the fond endearments of earthly parents. He has found a blessed repose in the bosom of Infinite Love. O! it was mercy. The affection by which nature united and endeared him to you, will constrain even your bleeding hearts to call that dispensation mercy, by which your babe, instead of being placed in this world of sin and sorrow, was caught up into heaven; instead of being suffered even to taste the bitter fruit of sin, was called to know, to enjoy, and sweetly sing, the love of Christ. Take heed, my children, that you do not indulge one unpleasant reflection on this circumstance, or the other, which you apprehend might have been the immediate cause of this event, and of your severe suffering. Rest assured, it is God who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; and he doth all things well, because he doth all things that concerns his people in wisdom, in love, and in very faithfulness. There is, therefore, a commanding power in that word to all who know his name, "Be still, and know that I am God!" It is not so much an assertion of sovereign right to do what he will with his creatures, as it is an assurance to his tried people, that his attributes are, like himself, unchanging, because they are infinite. Oh! be it our concern to yield ourselves to God, with

out one wish to change what he appoints; well pleased with all he does, because he has assured us, that "this is his will concerning us, even our sanc tification." We do not expect victory without conflict, or the crown without the cross. We do not expect to see all the mysterious dispensations of Providence unfolded in the present world; but the Word of God is tried, and there is a Rock for our faith to rest upon a Rock that flows in sweetly refreshing streams; so that "believing, we rejoice." Ere long the books will be opened, and then shall we, with wonder and joy, behold those passages written in the fairest characters of wisdom and love which here are wrapt up and sealed in cloudy darkness. Griefs will then be exchanged for joys; and, with admiring multitudes, we shall cry, "What hath God wrought!"

I am

Your truly sympathising father,

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XV.

TO MR. AND MRS. WB

MY DEAR W- AND M→,

It is an occasion of pleasure to me to find that God is with you. "Truly, his loving kindness is

better than life."

How it relieves the cares, the

burdens, and the sorrows of life! How it sweetens its enjoyments, and brightens its prospects! In the short period of your lives, how many expressions of God's loving kindness you may trace! What a kind and constant Friend has he been! How great is his goodness! how cordial his endearments! His dispensations, how full of grace! his promises, what a goodly heritage! Some of his choicest favours have been sent you through the medium of afflictions: amidst the thickest cloud, you have heard the welcome voice of mercy; you have found stormy winds have fulfilled his word, and conveyed to you the promised mercy: you have revered, admired, and rejoiced. Bless God, my dear children, for the instructions these visitations have afforded you. Some humbling lessons, I doubt not, you have learnt; and some discoveries you have made, which revive your gratitude, your love, your zeal, and compel you to cry, "What shall I render to the Lord?" You feel, in some measure, as the Apostle felt, and as he would that all the ransomed of the Lord should feel, when he said, "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God," &c. May you have more and more of this sacred fire glowing in your breasts! It is fire which God's royal priesthood should daily feed; it is fire that should never go out. How happy are we when the incense of prayer is kindled, and every sacrifice we present, is inflamed by it! I rejoice in the work of God, manifested in the places and circumstances you men

tion. May the Lord be pleased to honour your endeavours to instruct poor perishing sinners in the great things of the Gospel! We here see reason to bless God that he was pleased to put it into our hearts to endeavour to spread the Gospel in the villages through our own county. I have lately visited five of those villages where the Gospel has been introduced, and am greatly encouraged. At W, there is a family lately called of God, (father, mother, and daughter), who have undertaken the education of the poor children, and of others who are willing to learn to read. I found a great deal of pleasure in addressing these young ones, after the public service. We have reason to rejoice over some in every place where we go, who have received the truth in the love of it. The enemy, indeed, has resisted us. We do not expect to find success every where; but the Great Shepherd knows his sheep, and where to search them out. Our joy is, that salvation is God's work; that His is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. May God be with you all, to bless you, and fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his goodness, &c.

I am, in dearest affection,

Your father,

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XVI.

TO MR. AND MRS. W— B

Tooting, August, 1800.

MY DEAR WAND M—,

*

I AM now preparing to accomplish a purpose, long since formed, and in which I seek my own gratification at least equally with yours. I truly rejoice in you, and in the favour which God is pleased to manifest toward you. We have to rejoice too in that mercy that has appeared in the happy recovery of your sisters. Mrs. Bremains very poorly, not suffering quite the extremity of pain as before; but very weak, still declining, weary of life, but longing rather for release from suffering than to be with Christ; yet I would hope, that, amidst much darkness, she has built upon the Rock. Poor Mrs. W, if her mind be awake, how false and how vain must the world appear, and what anxiety must her spirit feel! How happy, if the kind Shepherd of Israel should gather the trembling lamb in his arms, lay it up to rest in his bosom, and open its tender mind to a satisfying and saving view of his glory!

These are bitter waters in her dear Father's cup, but bitter waters are often the most salutary. There is a tree that can heal them, nay, and make them pleasant and refreshing. Miss A—— is in similar