His own time, deliver them out of all. May my Eliza feel under the chastening rod of her tender Father, which is sent in love, the great I AM's supporting staff secretly strengthening and comforting her precious soul, is the ardent but feeble breathing of my soul for you; for He is the staff of living bread with which I believe He will feed you himself, and give you of the living waters of the heavenly fountain to drink, in great measure, and will never leave you nor forsake you. I trust that seeing my beloved mother and Lucy, and their dwelling with you for a time, will be made a means of comfort to you, for truly I find their company salutary and delightful unto my poor mind, which has of late been much tossed on many hidden as well as visible things, the prospect of a separation from such truly valuable friends, has for some time been very painful to me, and unless a portion of inward strength is secretly handed unto my soul, I fear I shall not part with them with that resignation unto the divine will (by whose immediate appointment believe we are thus to be separated) with which I desire to be supported, through all the appointed or permitted trials which may fall to my share, while passing through this tribulatory life; and may we under every dispensation be enabled to say, "Father, not my will, but thine alone be done." I do not wish to tire my beloved Eliza, therefore I will abridge this letter: give my dear love to my aunt; may you both feel that He who is the

pure light of the spiritual soul, is your secret supporter and never failing help in every time of need; your trials may be great, but I believe they never will exceed the strength administered to bear them with christian patience. My pen would run on, but I must retard its progress with committing you to the care of Him who careth for you. From your unworthy sister, who loves you more than in an affectionate manner,

JUDITH USSHER.

LETTER XIII.

TO MARY WATSON.

July 12, 1796.

I take up my pen to salute my dearly beloved friend, whom I was in hopes of seeing this day at meeting, and afterwards spending an hour with; but from outward circumstances, and from what I can gather from inward feeling, I shall be, I apprehend, in my place by staying this day. Though apparently separated from you, my mind often pays you a secret visit, and sweetly remembers the few minutes that I was favoured to spend in your company when last in town, which were too sweet and salutary to be soon forgotten.

I could have staid, and in the evening I scarce knew how to part. There is much to be felt from the influence of other spirits, which I have of late been led

to consider as particularly dangerous unto me in my present state, and, of course, requires a continual guard over thoughts, words, and actions. Ah! how weak and unstable am I, to be placed in so perilous a situation; may I then be enabled to get up into my watch tower, and remain there during all the various vicissitudes of this wintry season; for surely the Lord is a strong tower of defence unto the weak and weary soul, that flies to him for refuge from its destroyers, as David did from the hand of Saul. I have renewedly likened my present travel to the Israelites journey through the barren wilderness, to which my feelings incline me to believe it bears some small resemblance: but, ah! saith my soul, may it not through disobedience be cut off there, but pass forward, without murmuring, and be content to dip deep in the baptizing waters of Jordan; and even, if it is seen meet by the great Master that it should pass through the furnace, so that it may be cleansed from all dross and the filth of the flesh with which I feel so encumbered, that my soul secretly mourns, and feebly breathes unto its beloved, for the refining influence to pass over it, that it may be fit for the Master's inspection, and in due season enter the promised land. While my fears are continually, in some measure, raised for myself; and the watchman, as it were, sounding the alarm in mine ears, in this land of spiritual drought, my soul is, at seasons, secretly exercised for my be

and

loved, of their soul's happiness should beguile them as he did Eve, and take the word of life out of their hearts, and plant therein thorns and briars: ah! that on the contrary, they may be as engrafted branches in the heavenly vine, bringing forth much goodly fruit to the praise and honour of Him who is the head.

lest the ever watchful adversary

I received a letter this morning from my beloved mother; she seemed thankful to our blessed Lord for a delightful voyage of seventeen hours; they were then going to a little meeting, it being first day: she said, I must not expect favorable accounts of our dear Eliza, which indeed, from the commencement of her illness, I had but little reason to hope for, knowing the sweet frame of her mind, I think I could, in some measure, patiently resign her unto her dear Lord, with whom, I believe, her precious soul will, on its exit from mortality, ever after reside, &c.

LETTER XIV.

TO HER MOTHER.

July 15, 1796.

My dearly beloved mother's letter conveying the pleasing intelligence of her safety, and my dearest Lucy's, was truly acceptable unto me; I trust you have by this concluded your journey with equal cause

for gratitude to the great unerring disposer of us unworthy worms: may we be sensible of his favours so unmerited, and render unto Him his due tribute of grateful praise. Ah! how sensibly am I grieved, when my thoughts are engaged in a retrospective view of the infinite mercy of our heavenly Father unto my soul, in redeeming it from the bonds of Egyptian slavery, and his condescending goodness in renewedly feeding me with such portions of food as he sees best and most convenient for it, still to find therein so much of the adamantine nature which has not yet been penetrated by the softening rays of the sun of righteousness. May you be preserved, my beloved mother, through all the various trials that are in infinite wisdom allotted to you; yea, and though you may renewedly have to pass, as through the fiery furnace, I do believe you will be upheld by an Almighty hand. An inward, comfortable persuasion has attended my mind, which, though I am fearful of mentioning, I believe I shall not find peace in my mind unless I write it to you: though the Lord may please to cause you to pass through the burning, fiery furnace, and the flames so hot, that you may be encompassed with fear lest you should suffer in the best sense-yet fear not; as certain as he accompanied the three children He will be with you, and not suffer those robes with which he has clothed you, to be either singed or scorched by the flames.