However, I have been instrumental of conveying deliverance to many such, and I know you feel your need of deliverance also; and your reservedness is a bar to keep you in your present strong-hold, and this conscience has often told you. I should be very glad to be of service to my Friend if she thought it worth her acceptance. I have had a deal of heavy work myself, and therefore understand something of it. I shall be at Richmond next Thursday, and will call on you in my journey thither, either to have a lunch with you or dinner, and then I shall see what sort of a house you keep in your country retirement. I know your residence, I have visited the sick there before. Farewel, the Lord bless thee. Excuse my liberty, as it proceeds from gospel affection, and believe me to be

Your most obedient and

willing servant in Christ Jesus,

W. HUNTINGTON.

LETTER VIII.

TO THE SAME.

Dear Sister in Christ Jesus,

I AM Sorry to hear you continue so very ill. I did intend to have called on you this

week if I had gone to Richmond, but I have provided another in my room, having lately preached for him. I was very sorry when your spouse informed me of your continual weakness, which it seems still increases on you; but I hope our blessed Saviour. will fortify your mind with spiritual strength, as bodily strength decays in you. My Dear Sister knows that our life is in the hand of the Lord, and that the number of our months are with him. He sometimes cuts short a work of grace, and perfects it in righteousness, so that a babe in grace dies an hundred years old. Isa. lxv. 20.3.

Sometimes he brings down to the grave and lifteth up again, to shew his power, and make it known. Give not way to fear. The Lord's eye is over all the poor in spirit, and a present help to all that call upon him in the time of trouble. If thou simply let thy request be made known unto him, he will grant thee the desire of thine heart, and if thou trust in him he will bring thy wishes to pass. Thou hast a precious Saviour to plead, whose blood cleanses from all sin, and who perfects our imperfections; and as a Mediator intercedes for us, and sends our requests pure to the Father of all mercies. In him God can view a poor sinner with acceptance, and save him to the glory of his own grace; and indeed he takes pleasure in all that trust in his dear Son. It is a simple

looking to Christ that calms our consciences, sweetens our untractable spirits, disarms our souls of fear, and brings us humbly to hope and submit to the will of God.

I think thou lookest too much within thee, and porest upon thy hard fate too much; you inwardly think that none are tried like you; you view your trials as severe judgments from God, and think all these things are against you---this is making the worst use of it, and has a tendency to bow us down. But if you read the scriptures leisurely, you will see the end of christians trials have been for their profit. I. will call on thee next week, but not to dine; therefore I shall not let thee know what hour I shall call on thee. Farewel.

Thy willing pastor, and willing servant at command in Christ Jesus.

W. HUNTINGTON.

LETTER IX.

TO MRS. M.

Dear Sister in the Lord,

I HAVE been very poorly, laid aside for a whole week, and am still very weak and feeble. Many warnings come about quitting this clay cottage, and much daubing, plaster

ing, and new materials have been spent upon it; but the plague is in the house, the leprosy is in the walls, and the sad infection has spread itself, and therefore it must come down. The priest has looked at it again and again; it has been often shut up and opened again, still 'tis unclean, yea utterly unclean, the plague is in the head, Levit. xiii. 44.

Old Adam, the old man, the plague of the heart is still within; but the new man of grace shall reign to eternal life, hence Peter calls grade, "The grace of life;" and it is a truth, that every grace from the Lord's fulness hath eter, nal life in it. Quickening grace gives life to the dead, and brings us forth from insensibility, and from the sleep and cold chill of death, Hope is called a lively hope, because it looks out, labours after, and expects the good things promised to hoping souls. The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, removes the sting of death, "Oh death where is thy sting?" Being justified freely by his grace, is called justification unto life; surely if God circumcise our hearts to love him, it is done that we may live, and every body knows that faith is no less than eternal life in hand, for, "The just shall live by faith."

Mary may see in all this, that I am mustering up all the evidences that I can, for indeed at present I am very cold, dry, and barren; so

that can I fetch no comfort from his countenance, his presence, his throne, nor from his promises but I can fetch it from some past experi ences of his life-giving power; "This is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me." We have the promise of being watered every moment---but what that moment means in the Holy Spirit's sense of the word, I know not. My unbelief would tell me that it is not so done in me; however, he knows the thoughts of my heart, and the desires of my soul; he knows the way that I take, and when I am tried, I hope I shall loose some dross and some tin, and if I do the gold will shine the brighter. We have got two hundred pounds for the poor young man at Brighton, and I have no doubt but we shall gather enough to finish the chapel, by the assistance of our friends at Lewes. He is gone home in high spirits, but rather concerned for the Coalheaver. Last night the old disciple with whom you lodge in town, came and took a dish of tea with me.

Dear

Mary, adieu.

Your's to serve,

W. H. SS.