It is well, when the burthen of sorrow and of sin, which here so heavily oppresseth us, is made to excite in us a strong desire to lay entirely aside every weight, and to lay hold even now of eternal life. Yet it may be our Lord's will that we should still serve him here, and be kept under tutors and governors a little longer: and his time is the best time: his will be done in us and by us. The Lord comfort and bless you!

I am, my dear children,

Your affectionate father,

J. BOWDEN.

LETTER XXXII.

TO MR. AND MRS. N

UPON THEIR MARRIAGE.

I HAVE accompanied your entrance on the world with many a careful solicitude, many a fervent supplication, and many a grateful reflection. When I think what a field of conflict and distressful suffering the world has proved to many, and what a dark and dismal night may again overspread our favoured country, I find it no easy matter to repress the crowd of anxious cares that creature-love induces. I think of myself as hidden in the grave, or as exulting in heaven. I consider my dear children, at least some of them, as tossed with waves on the

stormy sea, or combating the horrors of a dreary waste, while

A thousand savage beasts of prey

Around the forest roam.

But let us never indulge in apprehensions of this nature, without bearing in mind, at the same time, the sweet promises of the grace of God, and the memorable experiences of his suffering people. I had rather you should fear the corruptions of your own hearts, and be afraid of the snares of sensual gratification and worldly prosperity. I believe there is a way where danger never comes; where there is perfect security from all real evil, and the sweetest enjoyment of creature-good; and that is, "the way of holiness." In this way you will escape, my dear children, a thousand snares and defilements. You will possess sweet repose amidst many occasions of fear and disquietude. You will find a blessed harbour amidst stormy trials. "Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." This is the way wherein the redeemed find great peace and perfect safety. "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast go up thereon." This is a way cast up and prepared at a vast expense of labour and of blood. ONE has gone up before you, who has cleared the way of impediments, paved it with love, opened numberless springs of consolation, and caused many a renowned pillar of remembrance to be erected there. The beams of abundant grace, communicated from his unmea

surable fulness, have often relieved the pilgrim's toil, and filled him with joy and peace in believing. Take heed to keep in this way;-to "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." Let his word and his example be your rule, his love your principle, and his glory your end. Search the Scriptures; observe his providence; watch the motions of his Spirit; that you may clearly know his will. Set the Lord always before you, in all the wonders of his dying love, that this living spring may be ever flowing, and the love of Christ sweetly and abundantly constrain you. Let your eye be fixed upon Him in his word, in his ordinances, in his providences, and in his people. Whatever medium you have heretofore found the vehicle of light, life, or love, let your soul wait upon him, and wait for him therein. Take care your expectation be not from the creature, from ministers and means, but from Christ. Wonder not if your expectations sometimes fail: perhaps it is in great mercy that you are disappointed; it is to rebuke your creatureconfidence; it is to teach you to look to the Lord alone. A change of situation may be attended with a considerable variation in privileges, duties, and temptations. As to your privileges, be afraid of a carnal mind: regard not so much the vessel, as the treasure it contains; not so much the messenger, as his message and his Master: "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee." If he make choice of a mean

and lowly vehicle, it is in condescension to our frailty, that our admiring and believing eyes may. be fixed on the Lord alone. Let Let your desire be to see Jesus: let your soul go forth to meet him, and you will not often find disappointment.

He will prove to you, not like a brook in summer to the weary traveller, but like the rock in the wilderness, that flowed in refreshing and abundant streams in a dry and thirsty land. A change of situation will be attended with new calls of duty, and with new and important trusts. Endeavour to know.

the duty of your situation, and be solicitous to approve yourselves to Him, who has been pleased to lodge a talent in your hands. You are born for society be ambitious, in some forin or other, to do good and to communicate: remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Endeavour to unite industry and frugality with generous goodness and brotherly love. Mind your own things, but especially mind the things that are Christ's. In order to this, be conversant with his people, be familiar with them, be kindly affectionate towards them; under their peculiar trials afford them the aid, at least, of sympathy. Remember that yourselves also are in the body. Endeavour after uninterrupted Christian fellowship, though it be but with few; and the better to secure it, indulge no highly raised expectations from the creature; reckon upon infirmities; have no apo

logy ready for real errors; but rise above noticing any little occurrences that little minds would consider as slights, and occasions of distance and interruptions of friendship. I know, that "a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above: therefore my prayer for you is, that God would "bless you and make you blessings!" that he would so fill you with his Spirit that your light may shine before men, and your temper and conversation reflect the lovely and enlivening beams of his grace; that every year may be signalized by his abounding goodness, and by your gratitude!

MY DEAR SON AND DAUGHTER,

You have, it seems, already learned by ex-. perience, what you were long since taught in theory; that this world, to every one that is bound for heaven, is a wilderness, in which wants, and griefs, and dangers abound. You had gone but a stage or two together in your pilgrimage, when you found bitterness mingled with your dearest delights, and