of

us,

and therefore we charge thee not to think but to avoid the fnare which is laid for thy virtue. Beware of pitying us: It is not fo bad as you have perhaps been told. All things will yet be well, and I fhall write my child better news.

I have been interrupted. I know not how I was moved to fay things would mend. As I was going on I was startled by a noife of one that knocked at the door, and hath brought us an unexpected fupply of a debt which had been long owing. Oh! I will now tell thee all. It is fome days I have lived almoft without support, having convey'd what little money I could raise to your poor father ---Thou wilt weep to think where he is, yet be affured he will be foon at liberty. That cruel letter would have broke his heart, but I have concealed it from him. I have no companion at present befides little Fanny, who ftands watching my looks as I write, and is crying for her fifter: She fays fhe is fure you are not well, having difcover'd that my prefent trouble is about you. But do not think I would thus repeat my forrows, to grieve thee: No, it is to intreat thee not to make them infupportable, by adding what would be worfe than all. Let us bear chearfully an affliction, which we

have not brought on ourselves, and remember there is a power who can better deliver us out of it, than by the lofs of thy innocence. Heaven preserve my dear child.

Thy Affectionate Mother, ****

The meffenger, notwithstanding he promised to deliver this letter to Amanda, carry'd it first to his master, who he imagin'd would be glad to have an opportunity of giving it into her hands himself. His mafter was impatient to know the fuccefs of his propofal, and therefore broke open the letter privately to fee the contents. He was not a little moved at fo true a picture of virtue in diftrefs: but at the fame time was infinitely furprized to find his offers rejected. However, he refolved not to fupprefs the letter, but carefully fealed it up again, and carried it to Amanda. All his endeavours to see her were in vain, till fhe was affured he brought a letter from her mother. He would not part with it but upon condition that the fhould read it without leaving the room. While fhe was perufing it, he fixed

his eyes on her face with the deepeft attention her concern gave a new foftness to her beauty, and when fhe burst into tears, he could no longer refrain from bearing a part in her forrow, and telling her, that he

too

too had read the letter, and was refolv'd to make reparation for having been the occafion of it. My reader will not be difpleased to fee the fecond epiftle which he now wrote to Amanda's mother.

MADAM,

I am full of fhame, and will never forgive myself, if I have not your pardon for what I lately wrote. It was far from my intention to add trouble to the afflicted; nor could any thing, but my being a stranger to you, have betray'd me into a fault, for which, if I live, I fhall endeavour to make you amends, as a fon. You cannot be unhappy while Amanda is your daughter: nor fhall be, if any thing can prevent it, which is in the power of,

MADAM, Your most obedient

Humble Servant ***

This Letter he fent by his fteward, and foon after went up to town himself, to compleat the generous act he had now refolved on. By his friendship and affistance Aman da's father was quickly in a condition of retrieving his perplex'd affairs. To conclude, he marry'd Amanda, and enjoy'd the double fatisfaction of having restored a worthy family to their former prosperity,

and

and of making himself happy by an alliance to their virtues.

A

HYMN XII.

For Good-Friday. By Dr.Watts.
Windfor Tune.

ND now the scales have left mine eyes,
Now I begin to fee;

Oh the curs'd deeds my fins have done!
What murd'rous things they be!
2 Were these the traytors, deareft Lord,
That thy fair body tore?

Monsters, that ftain'd thofe heav'nly limbs
With floods of purple gore?

3 Was it for crimes that I had done
My deareft Lord was flain,
When justice feiz'd God's only Son
And put his foul to pain?

4 Forgive my guilt, O Prince of peace,
I'll wound my God no more;
Hence from my heart, ye fins be
For JESUS I adore.

gone,

5 Furnish me, Lord, with heav'nly arms

From Grace's magazine,

And I'll proclaim eternal war

With ev'ry darling fin.

HYMN

HYMN XIII.

་

Repentance at the Crofs. By Dr.Watts. To Martyrs Tune; or, as Pfalm 15.

If my foul was form'd for woe,
How would I vent my fighs!
Repentance should like rivers flow
From both my ftreaming eyes.
2 'Twas for my fins my deareft Lord
Hung on the curfed tree,
And groan'd away a dying life
For Thee, my foul, for Thee.
O how I hate those lufts of mine

3

That crucify'd my God,

Those fins that pierc'd and nail'd his flesh Faft to the fatal wood.

4 Yes, my Redeemer, they fhall die,
My heart has fo decreed,
Nor will I fpare the guilty things
That made my Saviour bleed.
5 Whilft with a melting broken heart
My murder'd Lord I view,

I'll raise revenge against my fins,
And flay the murd❜rers too.