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careful and diligent reading these and other books, the productions of men full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, I would, with far greater earnestness still, advise a constant, careful, assiduous attention to the Scriptures. If a minister would be truly eloquent and eminently useful, he must be mighty in the Scriptures, he must take much pains in reading them, so that the Word of God may dwell in him richly. There is no treasure so enriching; there is no spring of consolation so effectual. A superficial reading leaves the mind destitute of a rich variety of sublime and precious truths, on which, by careful and diligent reading, we might feast with great delight. For my own part, I read the Scriptures more than ever, and my esteem for them, and delight in them, increases more and more. I find far more in them to gratify and solace the mind than ever I did; and I grieve that I have not, in my youth, taken more pains to acquire excellent knowledge and spiritual entertainment in this way. The practice of expounding the Scriptures you will find helpful in these respects; and your people would be likely to derive from that mode of instruction, occasionally adopted, more improvement, perhaps, than from sermons. There needs, indeed, the useof every probable expedient to win souls to Christ, and, in order to that, to remove the natural blindness of the mind, and communicate the saving truths of the Gospel to the understanding and the heart. We know, and are assured, that the power belongeth

unto God: but the means are in our power; and a fervent solicitude to secure the salvation of men, through the effectual blessing of God, will appear in the choice, and sometimes in the change, of the means. May the smile of God, all-sufficient, be ever upon you!

I am, my dear R—,

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My heart is made glad by the representation of the blessing that attends your labours, and can well enter into the joy you must feel, when a company of young inquirers after Christ and salvation are associated to receive instruction and encouragement from your lips. This dissipates the mournful cloud which so often hovers over the ways of Zion, and changes the sorrowful accents of complaint into songs of joy and of praise. May the dews of heavenly blessing continue to descend! May the arm of the Lord be still more gloriously revealed, and the voice of rejoicing and salvation be long heard amongst you! May the Lord command the sun long to stand still,

under its welcome light and influence! May the victories of Gospel-truth be multiplied, and the pleasure of the Lord abundantly prosper in your hands! The Lord keep us in the arms of his almighty grace, and feed our strength from day to day, by fellowship with himself, lest the sons of Zeruiah should be too hard for us! O the advantage of daily fellowship with Jesus, to find a burning glass in devout meditation on his glory, from time to time to kindle our lamp afresh by the collected rays of that heavenly sun! But a continued succession of light and cheerful days, we are not warranted to expect in this present fluctuating and cloudy state, Our Lord will be training us up to live more by faith, and less by sense and sight. It is not always we can say, "While I was musing, the fire burned." We sometimes read his word, when we do not perceive the small still voice of a loving Saviour there. We come to the altar of God, when no fire from Heaven descends to enflame the sacrifice. We come to his house, and return, without that vision of his glory, that en livening fellowship, which at some seasons have filled us with all joy and peace in believing. While our sky is bright and clear, we should call to mind what a changing climate we live in, nor wonder or be dismayed when clouds arise. The best evidence of great grace, and the best security of Divine consolation, is deep humility: the highest archangel is the humblest too, and lies in the deepest prostration at the feet of Jesus. The

Lord grant, that in this most prominent feature of true excellency, we may shine brighter and brighter! Oh to be willing to be abased, and even neglected, that Christ may be the more exalted and admired; -to be willing to serve our Lord faithfully and perseveringly, even though he should not continue to distinguish us amongst his servants; and willing also, for his name and glory sake, to wear a vail before our fellow-creatures, when he is pleased to put honour upon us! Praying that the abundant dews of heavenly blessings may be showered on you abundantly,

I am, my dear R—,

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XXXI.

TO REV. T― AND MRS. W

ON THE DEATH OF A CHILD.

MY DEAR SON AND DAUGHTER,

AMIDST the clouds and darkness that obscure the events of the present state, what a mercy it is that faith can trace seasons of rejoicing which are far beyond the sphere of sense! Sense cannot otherwise than very painfully feel, when the dear partakers of our own flesh and blood are committed breathless to the tomb. But how sweet the relief which faith sug

gests, while she sings, "The sufferer is released;" the heavy laden captive is "sent forth from the pit wherein is no water;" and points to the happy spirit, no longer oppressed, but exulting in the glorious liberty of a child of God! Well, it is enough for you to know, that you shall go to him, though he shall not return to you. Such a hope may well reconcile you to a temporary separation, though that separation may sometimes provoke you to cry,

Haste, my Redeemer, fetch my soul

Up to thy courts above!

The sufferings of this dear child are now as a dream when one awaketh. Scarcely can he realize a parent but in his God, a home but in heaven; while Divine munificence mingles grace and glory, to render that home delightful, to the exclusion of every idea of deprivation. Think of him as gone to a better country. Oh how much better than this, of which our foolish hearts are so strangely fond! What less than wretchedness itself, would our condition here be, were it not for some transient correspondence with Heaven; some beams of glorious light, which now and then pierce the thick darkness that intervenes; some hope of one day receiving permission to put off this earthly house of our tabernacle, and rise and dwell above:

Shew me in Christ, that thou art mine,

For there's my only rest;

Then calmly I my breath resign,

And smile to be undrest.

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