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sons of my father's sentiments really lay the stress, privately as well as in public.

To myself he wrote at this period: "As I am now in my seventieth year, it might not be amiss to come with part of your family each year, as long as I shall be with you. My prayers might be quickened and encouraged at least, which is almost all in my power: and, as my staying at home saves expense, I might contribute to that of your journey."

As my object is, to display fully the spirit of him concerning whom I write, I make no apology for such familiar extracts: and I apply the same remark to that which follows from a letter of my sister's.

"May 22, 1816. I think we should break through almost any inconveniences for the benefit and pleasure of our dear father's company. Alas! we must not expect this high privilege long. Let us enjoy and improve it, while we possess it! He preached a most affecting sermon on Thursday from, I am in a strait betwixt two, &c. The description of heavenly happiness was, I think, superior to any thing I ever heard or read: and at the same time he made life appear more desirable than I ever before felt it.—I must own I was disposed, like you, to be very averse to a new pupil at Aston; but his coming was entirely my father's own proposal. He wished it so much, that neither my mother nor myself could oppose it."

Hence it appears that, though my father had for some time been relieved from the care of the missionary students, he had not quite given up the labor of preparing young men for the church.-On the subject of this additional pupil he says, "My new pupil does not teaze me; for I am competent to teach him. My old one teazes me more, for I cannot keep before him. But I feel much comfort in the hope, that great good may hereafter accrue from each of them being so unexpectedly brought under my roof."

Soon after this I visited Aston, as my father had desired, with part of my family, and had the pain of finding my brother's family in distress, from the death of an infant daughter, which had taken place at my sister's house, a few miles from Aston. I mention these circumstances for the purpose of introducing a note of my father's, which, though very hastily written, I think worthy of insertion.

"June 31, 1816. I neither object to, nor care about, interment in the church, or church-yard: but I make allowance for the feelings of others. I never mean to give any directions, in this respect, about my own funeral. . .. . If

the dear babe is to be interred here, I shall vastly prefer performing the service myself; and should take occasion to speak on the subject; and I really could wish (though I stop there,) that you and Euphemia too would be present, as something might be said profitable to all, and comfortable too. An old fashioned man, I feel no approbation of the fashion of near relations absenting themselves from the funeral. I think, instead of preventing the effects of grief, it is shrinking from that which soon would tend to comfort: and it gives others an idea, that we are afraid of looking the matter full in the face, so to speak.-Depend upon it, this loss of a babe, who never actually sinned, and is doubtless interested in the covenant, will eventually (though exquisitely painful at present,) be the source of fature sweetness. She is gone to join her grandmother, and her aunt and two uncles (that would have been,) &c.; and I feel a peculiar comfort in thinking that I have another descendent in heaven, whom I shall shortly join.-But enough!"

In the course of my visit he made the following contribution to a letter to his eldest grand-child.

"July 25, 1816. From the letters which you write, I am disposed to think of you, and write to you, as becoming now a woman, not as a child. God has very bountifully dealt with you, in hic providence, in giving you a sound and good understanding, and very valuable opportunities of cultivating it; which, duly improved, will do more for your respectability and comfort in this present life, than either riches, or those showy accomplishments, which you see, and perhaps are tempted to envy, in some of the children of your superiors. But to be capable of doing something useful for ourselves and others is a far better preparation for the future, than the habits of a genteel and useless life. Learn something every day. Every young person who knows how to do something in the evening, which was unknown in the morning, has made an acquisition which nothing can take from him, or her, except by incapacitating either body or mind for its functions.-But you have a far more important advantage afforded you, in the religious instructions and example set before you, and the many fervent prayers poured out for you; and in all your great privileges in this respect. But be sure, my dear Jane, do not rest in these things; nor in notions, nor decency of conduct, nor in a form of religion. Be all in earnest in secret prayer, and often in meditation on what you hear and read, and comparing all with the scriptures, Beg of God for his special converting

grace, to change your heart, and, as it were, to graft the tree, that it may bring forth good fruit. O consider your soul-eternity-judgment: consider the anxious desires, and prayers, and hopes, and fears of your dear parents on your account. What delight will it give them, to be satisfied that you have chosen the good part which shall never be taken from you! how will it be abundant in many thanksgivings to God; and rejoice their hearts under every difficulty! How would it gladden my heart, under all my infirmities, to hear of it before I die! What a blessing would you then be to your brothers and sisters! I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing. May God bless these hints! May he bless you, and them all!"

The impression made upon my own mind by what I witnessed, I could not forbear thus expressing in the same letter: "How exciting is it to see him, amid infirmities and indisposition, so elevated in mind, rousing and animating all about him, in a manner quite sublime. How delightful is such a latter end!"

After hearing of our safe arrival at home, he wrote as follows:

"August 23, 1816. When we consider what may happen, and is continually happening, we ought to regard these (safe journies, &c.) as calls for cheerful gratitude; and, in such a world as this, (made such by sin, of which our sins form their full proportion,) we ought to be always on the look-out for something to cheer us, and to excite gratitude to God, and confidence in him for the future. We should determine, and pray to be enabled, to dwell on the bright side of the Lord's dealings with us, and dispensations towards us, and towards all connected with us: with how many unmerited mercies we are favored, and from how many deserved evils we are exempted:-and we should carefully turn away our thoughts from the dark side, as it appears to us; only considering who and what we are, have been, and have done, that we may wonder and be astonished, that things are so well with us as they are. The same reflections, extended to our whole apostate race, would lead us rather to admire that the earth is so full of the goodness of the Lord, than that it is so full of sorrow and suffering. "I, also, felt low and gloomy for some time after you leit us: but I afterwards rejoiced that I had been favored to see you and yours once more, &c. Gen. xlviii, 8-11........ You lay too much stress on place and distance. When further

advanced in the school in which St. Paul was taught contentment, you will rise above all this; and you should endeavor to do it now.........

"Tenderness of conscience (a healthy state) degenerates, in many instances, into a morbid sensibility, so that the consciousness of rising sinful thoughts and desires mixing with more pure motives, while it ought to produce humiliation, proves also the source of dejection; as if there were any saint on earth, or ever had been, who was wholly delivered from these things: or as if it could be otherwise, than that the keener our vision, the greater our watchfulness, and the deeper our hatred of every sin, the more quick must be this sensibility, and the more acute the pain which attends it, till all sin be extinguished.........We must not stop at the words, O wretched man that I am, but adopt the apostle's thanksgiving also, and so accompany him to the end of the chapter, and forward into that which follows it........We may expect too much from our intercourse when we meet, and thus, through the partial disappointment, fail of the comfort and benefit we might otherwise receive. It reminds me of Mr. Newton's remark: 'If, when we meet together, we expect good from one another, and not from God by means of one another, we resemble empty pitchers attempting to fill each other.'-As to myself, I am a poor creature, at best; and it cannot be long that I shall be able to communicate even counsels, or words of encouragement, to you. You must look above me and all others, to the Lord alone. Trials and temptations must be struggled through by frequent, fervent, wrestling prayer. You must say, Truly my soul waiteth upon God; from him cometh my salvation. (Psalm Ixii, 1, 2, 5-8.) When Mr. Newton left Olney, I seemed to have lost my counsellor: but, carrying my difficul ties immediately to the Lord, I believe I was eventually no loser."

A few months after, he was called again to address his northern correspondent on a melancholy occasion,-the death of a married daughter. He expresses deep sympathy with her, but deeper still with the bereaved husband: yet excuses himself from writing to him. "I always," he says, "look upon the loss of a beloved and suitable wife, as one of the greatest afflictions that can be endured upon earth. Were he therefore ever so nearly related to me, and acquainted personally, I should find more difficulty and incompetency in writing on the subject, than on almost any

other.........Even faith, and prayer for submission, will not produce their full effect, in calming and reconciling the mind, till time, gliding on, has, so to speak, abated the irritation of the painful wound........I am obliged to you for your particular account of your children, as it is suited to direct my prayers for them: but I must not engage in any fresh correspondence.......They have the means of grace, &c.........Prayer, connected with occasional converse with them on the concerns of their souls, (not too frequent,) with a general tenor of discourse and conduct impressing their consciences that you deeply mean all you say, are your part. My children generally say, that what I spoke to others, in their presence, on religious subjects, impressed them more, than when I directly, as it were preached to them.—The Lord has been very gracious to you in respect to several of them: while you thank him for them, it will encourage prayer for the others; and at length you may perhaps live to see the last brought home: or you may join with the inhabitants of heaven in rejoicing over the repentance of that one or more, whom you wept and prayed over, as unconverted and impenitent, while you lived on earth.—I feel considerable interest in your family and connexions. These seem a plantation in a far country, springing up from seed which I was the instrument of sowing at Weston-Underwood; and which I have since done but little to tend and water. I have great cause for thankfulness in this and very many respects, that God hath made, and is making me, an instrument of good to others. Pray for me, that I may finish my course with joy, for I am still a poor, weak, sinful creature."

His only surviving sister, Mrs. Webster, was now far advanced in years, and laboring under increased infirmities; which drew from him repeated portions of letters, strongly expressive of sympathy, and adapted to her situation.

"December 3, 1815. It is of liftle use to retrace the past, except for the purposes of exercising humiliation for what we have done wrong, and gratitude for God's unmerited and numerous mercies: and, amidst all our pains, and sorrows, and infirmities, comparing all the Lord's dealings with us with our own deservings, we must still say, Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life: and, if we can add, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, we may well say, It is enough: I have waited for thy salvation O Lord! The apostle, who had his full share of tribulations from every quarter, exhorts the Thessalonians,

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