ment and concern have been great, but I cannot help it." The mortification of this excellent man was not yet, however, at its height; for the person whom his people actually pitched upon to succeed him was not yet in view, or at least was not known to him: for he forms other plans for them.-He concludes his letter in that strain of pious confidence in God which so much distinguished him. "What a satisfaction it is to know, that all things are at the Lord's disposal, and under his management; and that, in a way beyond our apprehension, he can and will overrule them for good. I can hardly now conjecture how I once lived, when I lived without God in the world. I was then in the situation of a ship at sea, exposed to storms, surrounded with rocks and quicksands, and without either pilot, rudder, or compass. Yet I was

so stupid that I apprehended no danger. But surely, with the views I now have of human life, I should be quite miserable, should soon sink under the pressure of care and anxiety, if I were not invited, and in some measure enabled, to commit my ways and concerns to the Lord, who has promised to care for me.—I rejoice in the assurance, that he is and will be your guard and comforter. My heart wishes you much peace and great success in his service. He is a good master, and his service, though not exempt from trials, is honourable and pleasant. So you find it: may you go on from strength to strength!"

彩

Another letter from the same hand, dated July 27, 1780, implies a return in some of the people of Olney to a better mind. "I am glad you have opportunity of preaching sometimes at Olney. I hear more and more from thence of the concern many feel for the

share they had in preventing your living among them. I hope the Lord will sanctify the present growing inconveniences which they complain of, to humble and prove them, to show them what is in their hearts, and to prepare them for a due improvement of a better supply hereafter."

This letter also contains the first allusion that I find to my father's visits to Leicester, where he contracted an intimate friendship with the late Rev. Thomas Robinson, and which town afterwards became to him a favourite place of resort. " I have lately had a visit," Mr. N. says, "from Mr. Ludlam, who brought me a letter from Mr. Robinson: so that I have heard of your visit to Leicester from others, as well as from yourself. I trust the Lord whom you serve is and will be with you, statedly and occasionally, abroad and at home."

I persuade myself that I shall meet with ready in-dulgence for introducing still further extracts from the letters of this justly beloved character, whose epistolary excellence is also generally acknowledged. February 17, 1781, after my father had accepted the curacy of Olney, Mr. N. writes: "Had the curacy of Ravenstone been at my disposal, I should not have given it to Mr.. But such is the Lord's pleasure, and therefore it must be right. We agreed that Mr. had done" (occasioned) "some good at Olney. We shall find he will be useful in the same way at Ravenstone.... We are shortsighted, but the Lord sees things in all their consequences, and has views worthy of his wisdom, of which we are not aware. How often should we spoil his perfect plan were we able: but it is our mercy, no less than his

right, that he will do ALL his pleasure. Stand still and wait, and you shall at length admire the propriety of his management in all things. What can we desire better than an infallible guidance?... In my Letters to a Nobleman you have descriptions of my heart's feelings. and exercises, to which I can add little new. I am kept, but surely it is by the power of God. pougovμévos (1 Pet. i. 5.) is an emphatical word: it well expresses our situation. We are like a besieged city: the gates of hell, the powers of darkness, encompass us on every side; but we are guarded, garrisoned by the power of God. The name of the besieged city is, The Lord is there. Our defence and our supplies are from on high, and therefore cannot be intercepted. Our enemies may, they will fight, but they cannot prevail. The captain of our salvation knows all their plots, despises all their strength, can disconcert and discomfit them, and, whenever he pleases, compel them to raise the siege in a moment. We have a good promise, Isa. xxviii. 5, 6. So likewise the whole of Psalm xlvi.... I am daily with you in spirit: your comfort and your success are near my heart, and I am doubly interested in you, as we are both connected with Olney... The season of the year, as well as more important reasons, puts Horace's words often into my mouth, O rus, quando te aspiciam? It must not be yet, but I hope the day will come, when we shall resume our walks, and revisit our favourite trees."

The following is characteristic of the writer, and at the same time conveys the information, which my father's narrative has not given, that, on his resignation of the curacy of Ravenstone, unsuccessful at

tempts were made to deprive him of that of Weston also.

«March 31, 1781. My dear friend, I had written to you and my letter was going off, when your's came, and made mine unnecessary, by what you yourself said of the subjects I had in view. I then thought I would wait till I could congratulate you and Mrs. Scott and myself on your removal to Olney, which I hope I may now do. May the good, the great Shepherd dwell with you, (be your glory and defence,) in your heart, house, and assemblies! I have been much with you in spirit of late. My love to you, if you were in another place, and to the people of Olney, if they had another minister, would singly excite my attention and best wishes: at present these motives are united, and strengthen each other.

"Methinks I see you sitting in my old corner in the study. I will warn you of one thing. That room (do not start) used to be haunted. I cannot say I ever saw or heard any thing with my bodily organs, but I have been sure there were evil spirits in it, and very near me: a spirit of folly, a spirit of indolence, a spirit of unbelief, and many others; indeed their name is Legion. But why should I say they are in your study, when they followed me to London, and still pester me here? I shall be glad, however, if your house be fairly rid of them. I am sure they were there once. I hope, likewise, you will have better company when you are there alone, more frequently than I had. I hope the Lord has sometimes favoured it with his gracious presence. I hope, if the walls have been witnesses of my com

plaints and shame, they have been likewise to my attempts to praise Him, and to many prayers which I have offered up for my successor, long before I knew who he was to be. May all, and more than all that I ever besought him for myself, be vouchsafed to you, and the blessings I have entreated for the people be afforded to them under your ministry!

"I understand the designs of those who would have deprived you of Weston have been defeated. It is therefore the Lord's pleasure you should keep it for the present. In this view I ought to be, and am glad of it, as I know it was much upon your heart. Yet, had he appointed otherwise, I should not have been so sorry, as you would probably have been at the first. However expedient and apparently necessary your serving Weston may seem, it may, perhaps, be the chief cause of inconvenience to you at Olney. When you are absent from home, the people will be under a continual temptation of mixing with those, who will do all in their power to prejudice them against you, at least against the church. Such a spirit I know is very prevalent. . . . It is possible likewise that the Weston people may not always be content with one service a day. But I know your views and motives are such as the Lord will bless. To day is ours: what is matter of future duty, He will make known in his time. I cannot doubt but your labours at Olney will be welcome and acceptable to the best of his people, and I cannot but hope he will raise you up a new people there, and cause you to rejoice in some over whom I have often mourned. You desired to follow his leading, and I cannot believe he