་

with us. I am quite tired with writing, neverthelefs, I cannot lay by my pen, without defiring my beft Chriftian love to all my dear companions in tribulation and neighbours in Shropfhire; efpecially to Mrs. York, Mifs Simpfon, Mrs. Harper, Mr. Scott when Mr. York fees him, Winny Edmunds, and all enquiring friends. Thank Molly for her good management; and tell her, I recommend her to our common heavenly Mafter; and that if she wants to go to London, or come to Briftol, I fhall give her fuch a character as will help her to fome good place, by the directions of a kind Providence. I heartily thank Daniel both as church-warden and as receiver and houfe-fteward, and I beg Mr. York again to pay him a proper falary. I am in the beft bonds, your affectionate neighbour, friend, and minifter, I. F.

Mr. Jehu.

Bristol, Nov.

My dear Brother,

I

1777.

Thank you for all your care and love. Beware of an infnaring world. You may keep the few things I lent you, as long as you ftay at Madeley; when you remove, please to give them, or the amount to fome of our poor brethren. Farewell in Jefus. Life and death are both of them a bleffing. I rejoice in the will of God every way; and fet to my feal, that he is good, faithful and gracious to the chief of finners, and leaft of all believers, even to your affectionate friend, I. F.

Bristol,

Mr. William Wafe.

Bristol, Nov. 1777.

My dear Brother,

PARDON the trouble I have given you in my temporal

concerns; it is more for the poor and the Lord than for me. O! my dear friend, let us go through the things temporal, fo as not to lose the things eternal. Let us honour God's truth, by believing his word, Chrift's blood, by hoping firmly in divine mercy, and all the divine perfeftions, by loving God with all our hearts, and one another, as Chrift loved us. My kind love to all the brethren on both fides the water.

Go from me to Mrs. Cound-tell her, I charge her, in the name of God, to give up the world, to fet out with all speed for heaven, and to join the few that fear God about her. If fhe refufes, call again; call weekly, if not daily, and warn her from me till she is ripe for glory. Tell the brethren at Broseley, that I did my body an injury the last time I preached to them on the green; but I do not repine at it, if they took the warning, and have ceased to be neither hot nor cold, and begin to be warm in zeal, love, prayer, and every grace.-Give my love to Geo. Crannage; tell him to make hafte to Chrift, and not to doze away his last days.

The phyfician has not yet given me up; but, I olefs God, I do not wait for his farewell, to give myself up to my God and Saviour. I write by ftealth, as my friends here would have me forbear doing it, and even talking; but I will never part with my privilege of writing and fhout

ing,

ing, Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory over fin, death and the grave, through Jefus Chrift! To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Tell Mr. York, I embrace him in fpirit, and fhall, if it please God, find an opportunity to fulfil his kind requeft by Mifs Simpson, whom, together with my dear friend and good nurse, Mrs. Harper, I falute in the Lord. God bleís you and yours. I am yours in the love of Jefus, the beft of bonds, I. F.

Bristol, Nov. 26th, 1777.

To the Brethren who hear the word of God, in the parish church of Madeley.

My dear Brethren,

I

Thank you for the declaration of your af

fectionate remembrance, which you have fent me by John Owen, the messenger of your brotherly love. As a variety of reafons, with which I fhall not trouble you, prevent my coming to take my leave of you in perfon, permit me to do it by letter. The hopes of recovering a little ftrength to come and serve you again in the gospel, make me take the advice of the phyficians, who fay, that removing to a drier air and warmer climate, might be of great fervice to my health. I kifs the rod which smites me. I adore the Providence which lays me afide; and beg that by this long correction of my heavenly Father, I may be fo pruned, as to bring forth more fruit, if I am fpared.

I am more and more perfuaded that I have not declared

declared unto you cunningly devised fables, and that the gospel, I have had the honour of preaching, though feebly, among you, is the power of God to falvation, to every one who believes it with the heart. God grant we may all be of that happy number! Want of time does not permit me to give you more directions; but, if you follow thofe which fill the reft of this page, they may fupply the want of a thoufand. Have, every day, lower thoughts of yourselves, higher thoughts of Chrift, kinder thoughts of your brethren, and more hopeful thoughts of all around you. Love to affemble in the great congregation, and with your companions in tribulation; "but above all, love to pray to your Father in fecret; to confider your Saviour, who fays Look unto me, and be faved; and to liften for your Sanctifier and Comforter, who whispers, that he stands at the door, and knocks to enter into your inmoft fouls, and to fet up his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy, with divine power, in your willing breafts. Wait all the day long for his glorious appearing within you; and, when you are toge ther, by fuitable prayers, proper hymns, and enlivening exhortations, keep up your earnest expectation of his pardoning and fanctifying love. Let not a drop fatisfy you; defire an ocean, at leaft a fountain springing up to your comfort in your own fouls, and flowing towards all around you, in ftreams of love and delightful inftructions, to the confolation of those with whom you converfe; especially your brethren, and thofe of your own households, Do not eat your morfel by yourselves, like selfish, niggardly people; but whether you eat the meat that perisheth, or that

which endureth unto everlasting life, be ready to fhare it with all. Caft your bread upon the waters, in a temporal and fpiritual fenfe, and it will not be loft. God will blefs your feed fown, and it will abundantly increase. Let every one, with whom you converfe, be the better for your converfation. Be burning and fhining lights wherever you are. Set the fire of divine love to the hellifh stubble of fin. Be valiant for the truth. Be champions for love. Be fons of thunder againft fin; and fons of confolation towards humbled finners. Be faithful to your God, your king and your mafters. Let not the good ways of God be blafphemed through any of you. Let your heavenly mindedness and your brotherly kindness be known to all men; fo that all who fee you may wonder, and fay, See how thefe people love one another!

You have need of patience, as well as of faith and power. You must learn to fuffer, as well as to do the will of God. Do not, then, think it ftrange to pass through fiery trials: they are excellent for the proving, purifying, and strengthening of your faith. Only let your faith be firm in a tempeft. Let your hope in Chrift be as a fure anchor caft within the veil; and your patient love will foon outride the ftorm, and make you find, there is a peace in Chrift and in the Holy Ghoft, which no man can give or take away. May that peace be abundantly given to you, from our common Father, our common Redeemer, and our common Sanctifier, our Covenant God; the gracious God of Chriftians, whom we have so often vouched to be our God and our all, when we have been affembled together in his

name.