desertions, and kisses for strokes; then the time is come that we desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and we desire in vain. Nevertheless faith holds her own. My dearly beloved Children in faith and hope, I AM safe arrived without any accident. Poor Mrs. Mis much better, only given up much to pensiveness, and sits solitary;. sitting up late at night, and rising late in the morning, which I do not like; yet I think she will come out bright in time. Here are not a few in soul-sufferings, and who need the -great Physician; and I have hope that he will heal as well as wound. The farmers here are very rich, and live somewhat like the London citizens; but I envy them not, for all seem to walk upon a snare. Traps are set for them in the ground during this famine, and the gin takes them by the heel; while the poor in spirit by their cries to God tread them down, and the steps of the needy crush them; but they are not in this secret. They are not in God's privy council, nor does he commit himself unto them, because they are not the Bridegroom's friends; he knows them, but it is with a knowledge of reprobation, disdain, and disapprobation. We are the folks notwithstanding our being turned over into the hand of the oppressor; it is the grinder's harvest, and ours also. Their sudden destruction must be at hand, or God would never suffer them to ripen so fast. Every sinner must fill his measure; and there has been more put into that cup these five last years, than there was in twenty years before. Sure I am that the poor saints are all on their watch-tower; God has drawn all their eyes upon himself and upon his works, to see what he is at, and where it will end; and I still have a pestilence before me: I may be wrong, but nothing but time can convince me. Strange things will soon appear in the world; our hopes and expectations will not always lay in suspense; wisdom will direct us, and divine goodness will provide: judgment must return and vindicate the righteous, and destroy the wicked, that the upright in heart may not be at a loss which course to steer. The insensible is swimming in red port, and often alarmed by the death of one or another, and ། when sick has a whole tribe of attendants; and though he denies the Bible, he claims heaven. as his own but we never should have known that there had been a heaven, if divine revelation had not made it known; and how any can expect such a country, and deny the authority of the book that brings it to light, is a mystery. But the ways of the wicked are crooked, and they froward in their paths. Here is a little flock in this place all waterfolks, three of which have visited me, but they are not unctuous. I believe old Providence is not inferior to any other churches, far from it; but the day of accounts, will shew all this. Our bitterness is better than this world's honey, our sorrows far beyond their joys, our poverty better than their wealth, our cross is better than their crown, our afflictions are better than all their comforts, and our appetites and hunger better than their entertainments and fullness. "The wages of sin is death;" but, if we suffer we shall reign; if we die to this world we shall live. This world is a good servant, but a bad master; a very good inn, but a sad home; a comfortable bever, luncheon, or bait, but a sad inheritance. Dear souls, adieu! God bless you all. W, H. S. S. Beloved, LETTER XXXVII. TO THE SAME. I AM now within twelve miles of Castle Howard, the seat of Lord Carlisle, and shall pass it on Monday next in my way home. My success seems to be exceeding great, and I have no doubt but God sent me here. I am now at Helmsley Blackmoor, in the north riding of York, and twenty four miles beyond the city of York. I find many here poor and needy in soul, and these are blessed indeed. One poor old farmer has followed me more than two hundred miles, and last night he dropped his chains. This morning he came to visit me with the rays of the sun on his face, and the wings of a dove on his back; and no less than three more have heard the jubilee, and felt their release. I have no call to tell you that the eyes of these seeing me, bless me; and their ears hearing me give witness to me. I have invitations from all quarters, and might soon become a Bishop at large. I preached first at Grantham on Friday night, and was almost melted; on Sunday twice, on Monday evening at Newark, and on Tuesday evening at Retford. On Wednesday I went to Sherborne, but finding but one professing man, the man who invited me, and being informed that the little town was stuffed with empty eritics and hypocrites, I fell into a bad humour, and finding there were none poor and needy, or that wished to hear me, I sent six miles for a post chaise, and reached Elvington, six miles below York, that night. I then sent the poor old farmer before to Helmsley, to inform them that I would preach to them on Thursday and on Friday evenings; and he reached Helmsley about ten o'clock in the forenoon. I arrived about four hours after, and preached to not less than six hundred, as it was conjectured, and last night to a full house; to-morrow I intend to preach twice, and on Monday set off for Newark, Tuesday evening, Wednesday, and Thursday night at Grantham; on Friday I steer my course to Ely, Downham, and Littleport, and then for Cricklewood if God permit. I am at a farm-house on a pleasant and beautiful hill; my host has been in irons, so we agree well, but I have a mile to walk every night after I have done, and the way almost all up hill; this tires me beyond measure, but the cross must attend us. Kind love to Peg and James. So concludes The servant of servants, |