cheering constant light of the noon-day sun exceeds the short-lived glare of a flash of lightning, which leaves the night more dark and gloomy than before. Having found that good I had long been seeking in vain, I was desirous to tell all I loved, in proportion as I loved them, what the Lord had done for me, and how he had had mercy on me; that they might find, what I knew they too were seeking, true happiness. Come, taste and see how gracious the Lord is, and how blessed they are that put their trust in him, was the language of my heart. But, for want of experience and prudence, forgetting my own principle, that none can come to Jesus except he be taught of God, (John vi, 44—46,) I was much too earnest, and in a hurry: said too much, and went too far: and thus, out of my abundant love, surfeited you. Forgive me this wrong! It was well-meant, bat ill-judged, and worse received. O my dear sister, I wish you as happy as I am myself, and I need wish you no happier in this world. To call God my father; to confide in his love; to realize his powerful presence; to see by faith his wisdom choosing, his love providing for me, his arm protecting me; to find him (my sins notwithstanding,) reconciled to me, and engaged to bless me; to view him seated on a throne of grace, bowing his ear to my poor prayers, granting my requests, supplying my wants, supporting me under every trial, sweetening and sanctifying every trouble, manifesting his love to me, and comforting me by his Holy Spirit; to look forward to Heaven as my home; and to be able to say at night, when I go to rest, if I die before morning, I shall be with my gracious Lord, to enjoy his love for ever: This is my happiness: and what is there in the world worth comparing with it?

'Let worldly minds the world pursue,

It has no charms for me;

Once I admir'd its trifles too,

But grace has set me free.'

-Peace with God, peace of conscience, peace in my family, with all around me-these are the blessings of peace peace which God gives his people. May God give them to you! -I say no more upon doctrines: only search the scriptures, and pray to be taught of God—If I have said too much this time on the subject, I will say less next letter. Only acknowledge me as a brother, and do not quite disown me as

an incorrigible fanatic, because I believe the scriptures, and exhort you to read them, and pray to understand them...

"I have written a book, now in the press, which will be published in three weeks time, giving an account of the grounds and reasons of the change you so much wonder at; chiefly for the use of my former friends. As you used not to consider me as a fool, do not condemn my book as foolish, without reading it, and that attentively: and, where we differ, do make it a part of your prayers, that whichever of us is mistaken may be directed to the truth."

Writing to Mr. and Mrs. Ford jointly, September 28th, after allowing the truth of their position, "that it is possible for a person, engaged in the concerns of the world, so to spend his time in his business, as to be doing his duty to God and man," he makes the following remarks: "However, by the way, observe, that very few thus manage their worldly business. Of this you may judge. He, who thus does his worldly business, has it sanctified by the word of God and prayer. He goes about it because it is the will of God he should do so. He orders it all in conformity to his revealed will, as far as he knows that will; comparing his conduct continually with the word of God. He depends upon the Lord for a blessing in his undertakings, and seeks it in prayer. What the Lord gives, he receives with thankfulness; as a gift undeserved; as a talent committed to his stewardship; and aims to use it to his glory: not with the miser, as a talent wrapped in a napkin, or buried in the earth: not as provision made for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, with the prodigal: but in temperance, moderation, and a liberal, compassionate beneficence. When the Lord crosses him, he submits, and says, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good: and, when things look dark, he does not murmur or distrust, but says, the Lord will provide."

Another series of letters may also here be adverted to, extending from the year 1778 to 1785, and addressed to the husband of my mother's sister. They are almost entirely religious, but being chiefly occupied in urging first principles, they will not furnish more than a few extracts in this place, illustrative of the writer's zeal, faithfulness, and spiritual wisdom.

"August 11, 1778. Religion was so much the subject of conversation with us when you were in Bucks, that I hope it will not be a disagreeable subject of correspondence.

I am so deeply sensible of the importance of religion, that is, of the concerns of eternity, the interests of our immortal souls, and the way and manner wherein we may be accepted by a just, holy, almighty, and eternal God, that I am naturally led to think every one as much impressed with the sense of these things as I am, though I have abundant evidence that there are but very few, who pay much regard to them: and, of those who do pay some regard, most are so much blinded and prejudiced by the world, by Satan, and by sin, that their religion is one of their own making, and they know little of that religion which the word of God proposes to us. You may remember that, though I told you my views of religion over and over, yet I laid little stress upon that. I told you withal that I did not want you to believe them because I taught them, but because the Lord taught them. The Bible being the word of God, his message to us, able to make us wise unto salvation, the great point I labored to impress upon your mind was, the absolute necessity of taking our religion from that book alone, and the obligation we are under to search the scriptures daily to know what indeed they do contain; to receive what they contain as certain truth, however man, even learned men, and preachers, may contradict them, and however contrary they may be to our former notions and conceptions, and how mysterious soever some things in them may appear. The next thing I labored to impress was, the necessity of prayer in general for whatever we want; but especially when we read the word of God, that we may be enabled by the Holy Spirit to understand it."

"January 15, 1779. Whether you know it or not, (I hope you will know it,) before you can serve God with comfort and acceptance you need these two things. First, forgiveness of sins. You have been sinning against God in thought, word, and deed, all your life; as we all have. Your sins of heart and life, of omission and commission, stand against you, and, till they be accounted for and forgiven, your services cannot be accepted. Every duty you do is short of its perfection, and as such adds to your sins and needs forgiveness. In this case the Gospel reveals forgiveness, through the blood of Christ, freely given to every sinner who believes. Believe, and thou shalt be saved. Accept this freely, as it is offered, and seek, by prayer, for faith to believe this record which God gives of his Son: and then, your sins being forgiven, you will no lon

ger look upon God as an austere master, or severe judge, but as a loving father, and will with acceptance and comfort pay your services, though imperfect. For, secondly, you need moreover a willing mind, and strength to resist temptation. Hitherto, I dare say, you have constrained your inclination in what you have done in religion: but, if you are brought to faith, living faith in Christ, he will give you other inclinations, a new heart, and a new spirit, a new nature. Then his yoke will be easy; his commandments not grievous; his ways, ways of pleasantness."

"Nov. 2, 1780. May I conjecture the reason of your silence? If I am mistaken, I hope you will not be offended, as I am solicitous about you, and fearful lest by any means the tempter have tempted you, and my labor should be in vain: which to lose would be a great grief to me, to you an I cannot express what!-Is not the case thus? When you had got home, and engaged afresh in worldly business, and got again among former companions, were you not carried away with the stream? Your impressions gradually wearing off, and conscience making fainter and fainter resistance, hath not your goodness proved like the morning dew, that passeth away?....Oh how glad should I be to find myself mistaken in this! for God is my record how earnestly iong after you in the bowels of Jesus Christ: that I do bear a truly brotherly affection towards you, long for your welfare, and not wholly forget to pray for you, and still hope that my prayers shall be answered."

"January 11, 1781. I rejoice exceedingly at what you tell me concerning yourself. I would not say too much in the way of encouragement....I have seen hopeful awakenings wear off: therefore be jealous of yourself: be not high minded, but fear: press forward, forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to the things that are before. But I will venture to say, that your last letter has made my heart leap for joy, and makes me confidently hope for a happy issue, an effectual answer to the many prayers I have, and your sister has offered for you....You speak of the reproach of the world: rejoice in it. What, are you unwilling to be put upon a footing with apostles, and prophets, yea with your master himself?"

I flatter myself I need offer no apology for extracts presenting so lively and affecting a picture of the writer's mind, and exhibiting in him already so strong a resemblance of what he himself has described, as St. Paul's temper, in the

opening of his treatise on 'Growth in Grace.' "The apostle Paul," he says, "was evidently a man of strong passions and peculiar sensibility; and being by divine grace exceedingly filled with love to the Lord Jesus, and to the souls of men, his mind was affected with the most lively emotions of joy or sorrow, hope or fear, according to the tidings he received from the several churches of Christ. At one time he complains that he has no rest in his flesh, is filled with heaviness, and can no longer forbear; and that he writes out of much affliction, with anguish of heart, and with many tears. At another he declares that he is filled with comfort, and is exceedingly joyful in all his tribulation, being comforted by the faith of his beloved children: for now, says he, we live if we stand fast in the Lord."—He understands the apostle, indeed, to "intimate, that these were things which concerned his infirmities: and doubtless," he says, "this sango e disposition requires much correction and regulation by divine grace: but, when it is thus tempered and counterbalanced by proportionable humility, wisdom, patience, and disinterestedness, it may be considered as the mainspring of a minister's activity. And, as these united qualifications certainly conduced very much to the apostle's extraordinary usefulness, so they render his epistles peculiarly interesting to us, in all our inquiries concerning the best methods of promoting the enlargement and prosperity of the church, and the edification of all the true disciples of the Lord Jesus."

CHAPTER VII.

FROM THE FIRST PROPOSAL OF THE CURACY OF OLNEY TO THE CLOSE OF HIS MINISTRY THERE.

"IN 1780* Mr. Newton removed to London. When he had determined on this step, he proposed to me, with considerable earnestness, that I should succeed him in the curacy of Olney, which he had sufficient influence to procure for I felt great reluctance to comply with the proposal, both because it would remove me from Ravenstone,-hith

me.

Mr. Newton's first sermon at St. Mary Woolnoth's was preached December 19, 1779.