think you would be in your element in this study, with the advantages of learning, &c. I begin now to have a little idea of Geography; know more Latin than before, and study every day Locke's Conduct of the Understanding, and Doddridge's Lec- · tures; besides a deal of cursory reading, &c. for here is a very nice library, to which I have free access. I told you in my last to let me have Mr. E-'s address. Hope you will remember me to all our friends. Give my respects to Mr. J. Fand T. E- As I do not remember any thing else that I have to say, I conclude with subscribing myself, yours, by all the tender ties of friendship, “THOMAS SPENCER.” No. 10. 66 MY DEAREST FRIEND, Harwich, April 4, 1806. "I received, with the greatest pleasure, your letter of the 29th of February, together with my father's; and, as I was sorry you did not write to me before, so was I equally grieved at the cause: I sympathize with you in your afflictions, and hope that you are now quite recovered and the rest of the family. I believe you when you say it affords you so much pleasure to hear of my welfare. 0! Thomas, pray for me that my very comforts do not become snares. I should like to have had more of the heads, texts, &c. of the sermons you have heard in London; and hope that you find the ministry of Mr. K― and those you hear at Hoxton bene ficial to your soul; for it is my earnest desire that, under the influences of the sacred Spirit, your sout may be like a well-watered garden. I (of course) hear Mr. H. three times on the Sabbath day, and I think I can say it has been to my profit: his sermons are indeed very judicious, experimental and practical, and I find it to be just the preaching F want. I keep a book, in which I put down the heads of most of his sermons, which, when it is full, I intend (if you would like) that you shall see. I suppose of an evening we have not less than four hundred and fifty people; in the day time not quite so many. There is a band of singers in the table pew, generally a bass viol is played, and Mr. H. preaches in a gown, and I think the people are more attentive than any I ever saw. Once in a fortnight Mr. H. preaches at the Work-house: I have been twice, and I like it very much. In the week day I go to the Methodist chapel, and sometimes hear a good sermon there. I find by the Magazine that Mr. S is at Spa-fields chapel. I have spoken often about him to you, and have mentioned him in my letters (though by the bye I spelt his name wrong.) He is a Cheshunt student-has preached very frequently at Hertford chapel. I would advise you, if convenient, to go and hear him, for he is a very bold and very faithful preacher. If you do, give me a little account of the sermon, &c. If I were you, I would try to hear Mr. B's missionary sermon. "I am very glad that you informed me of Mr. F.'s and Mr. W.'s conversation. I liked it all very well, except that about my preaching, and indeed I had much rather that Mr. F. had not mentioned that for various reasons. If you have heard any more, pray tell it me. He must not be put too forward.' "But you have raised my curiosity very much about the certain minister, who has, unsolicitedly, offered you his recommendation for Hoxton. But why this reservedness? I shall expect a friendly, satisfactory reason for your not telling me his name, &c. Do you think that I would abuse your confidence? I hope not, I think I should know better. As the month is expired, you must tell me in your next more about it, as whether you have seen this certain minister? what he said to you? &c. &c. I hope I have obeyed your request, and prayed for you; may God grant us both more of a praying spirit, and may he answer our petitions, one for another. I thank you for Mr. E.'s address. I have not yet wrote to him-must-though, Thomas, I think now I should be completely unhappy, were I again to have any thing to do with business, and I feel for you, as you say your time is wholly taken up in it every day from six in the morning to eleven at night. I hope that while your aversion to the cares of the world increases, your spiritual affections are more animated, and your whole soul, from day to day, transformed more into the likeness of our lovely Jesus. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.-You seem peculiarly pleased with this passage, observe therefore, 4st. That it is the righteous God regards ;—those who are redeemed by the Son's blood;-loved by the Father's grace ;--sanctified by the Spirit's influence. Those who are weaned from the vanities of earth and time,-whose affections are set on things above;-in a word, who are born of God, and bound for heaven. 2d. That they must pray.-Prayer is the breath of the new-born soul, a believer cannot live without it, for Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw; Gives exercise to faith and love, And brings down blessings from above.' NEWTON 3d. They must pray fervently. Cold prayers, saith one, do but beg a denial.' In vain we offer up lifeless devotion to a heart-searching and rein-trying God. 4th. These prayers are effectual, and avail much; they avail much in the sanctifying of our souls, and forming Christ there. "Pardon this digression, as these thoughts have just sprung from my own mind. "I hope you continue to enjoy your Sabbaths more than ever? How delightful it is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in his temple.That was Mr. H.'s text last Sabbath day morning and afternoon. In the morning he applied it to the church here below; showed what was meant by beholding the beauty of the Lord, and inquiring in his temple, and how desirable it was, &c. In the afternoon, he applied all (with the greatest propriety) to heaven. Two very excellent sermons. "I cannot yet give up the thought that we shall soon live together again; if we are to be so favoured, how thankful should I be; if not, we must learn to know no will but God's, and acknowledge that the Judge of all the earth will do right. As yet let us not despair, but commit all our concerns into the hands of our covenant God and heavenly Father. We know he will do all things well. My situation is as comfortable, or more so than ever, and I am considered like one of the family. We have a nice house, and here are only Mr. H. Mrs. H. the little child about eight months old-a sweet babe he is, the servant and myself. I read Virgil in Latin now, and what I do learn of any thing serves to show me more of my ignorance. May the Lord keep me humble. I have theological questions to study, such as, Wherein appears the possibility of a divine revelation? Why is it desirable ' &e. "I may consult books upon the subject, and here is a very good library. You will not forget your prom ise to write in your next about grace thriving in your heart. As for me it is with tardy steps I creep, sometimes joying, and sometimes sorrowing. And yet without boasting, I think I can say I have known more of heart religion since I have been here than before; but it is very little altogether. I have experienced many happy moments in secret, such times as remind me of our last Sabbath afternoon together. But O! what a deal of pride, rebellion, care. lessness, and all kinds of wickedness is there in my heart; 1 tremble to think of what I deserve for my |