and seem to think they can semehow merit it. I should like to write much more; for I have not yet satisfied the demands of your letter, I have amplified so much on other subjects. I should be mnch gratified with a visit from you ; but if that is impracticable at present, substitute frequeut epistles to your obliged, FANNY.

NOTE TO MISS E. S. OF BEVERLY.

MY MUCH LOVED FRIEND,

Beverly, Feb. 4, 1813.

think of the O may their

I IMAGINE you have had information of Mr E. K.'s sudden and untimely death by suicide. Does not your heart ache, and your tears flow, when you forlorn widow, and the fatherless children? souls, tortured with poignant anguish, rest in God. May they find him a refuge in time of trouble, a shelter from all the storms and tempests of this desart world.

I think of writing a word of consolation to my dear Betsy and Rebecca, and should be happy to hear of an opportunity to send.

Afflictions are more or less the common lot of the chil dren of men. But thanks be to God, the bitter waters of Marah may be sweetened with many a pleasant ingredient. The precious promises of the gospel, and the smiles of approving Heaven are adequate to the most acute and complicated trials and sorrows. O my sister, bless the Lord for a religion that can tranquillize the distressed soul, calm the heart-rending sigh, repress the rising tear, and diffuse a placid serenity over the bleeding bosom. O my beloved, value this religion more than all the things of time and sense, more than millions of worlds like this, and let it be your heavenly guest, the harbin

ger of immortal glory. Never, never, let us be ashamed of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. No, we will rather glory in it. Though nominal Christians and daring infidels censure us as enthusiastic, superstitious, and hypochondriac, yet will we advocate religion, we will delight to converse upon it at all proper times, and conduct ourselves as pilgrims and strangers here, looking for an inheritance beyond the swellings of Jordan," in that land where the "wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest," to which may we be received through infinite grace, when our wanderings in the wilderness are terminated. Yours, with growing affection,

E.

LETTER TO MISSES B. K. AND R. K. OF BRADFORD,

MOURNING FRIENDS,

Beverly, Feb. 1813,

IN the late distressing catastrophe, which has involved your once cheerful family in the deepest gloom, the tear of condoling friendship has wet my cheek, and the tenderest feelings of my heart have sympathized with you. Though I cannot know the poignancy of your grief by bitter experience, yet the affectionate love I bear you constrains me to send you a line of consolation, depend◄ ing on your candour to excuse the inaccuracies and deficienees of my well meant endeavour.

You mourn the death of a beloved father, attended with circumstances peculiarly trying; which must agitate your souls with the most agonizing reflections. But God has done it. This trial, with all its complicated aggravations, was sent by his holy hand, and directed by his infinite wisdom. I trust you recognize his justice and goodness, and acquiesce in his will. He is an almighty Friend,

an ever present Helper, a Refuge in times of trouble. May his presence and smiles sweetly tranquillize each heaving sigh, wipe your falling tears, and diffuse an inexpressible serenity in your bleeding hearts. "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you," and communicate strength adequate to your day, causing you to sing of mercy as well as of your judgment. No drooping soul, but he can invigorate ;-no night of adversity but he can illumine. He has promised that he will never forsake his humble followers, and that all things shall work together for their good. Be assured, he knows your infirmities, your groans, and your tears; and all his dispensations are just and right, conducing to your good and his glory. This affliction may be sent for your bene fit; and though no chastening seems joyous but grievous, yet hereafter it may yield the peaceable fruits of righte ousness, and redound to the glory of God. Then may you adopt the language of the psalmist, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." Sanctified " afflictions are blessings in disguise," the value of which we rarely appreciate as we ought. The most eminently holy and useful servants of God have commonly been most inured to trouble, and trained up in this important school for the most arduous and honourable stations. You will not fail to look through all secondary causes to the grand procur ing cause of all your woe. Sin has changed this once Paradisaical garden into " a waste howling wilderness.” All the evils which abound may be traced up to this hy dra monster as the great original. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ, whose immaculate obedience and meritorious death have purchased the salvation of our souls, every comfort and every privilege which smooth the rugged path of life, and "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled,

and that fadeth not away." Come, my dear sisters, direct your weeping eyes to yonder peaceful world of light and love. There all sin is forever excluded, and consequently all trouble. There, on a refulgent majestic throne sits the King of kings, infinite in perfection and glory, and communicating emanations of the same to his surrounding blissful worshippers. There angels and archangels, and all the bright company of the redeemed, harmoniously coalesce in one universal and melodious concert of praise to Immanuel. There those who were poor and afflicted in this world, who were despised, hated, and ridiculed by men, friendless, helpless, and forlorn, but rich in faith, are exalted to an equality with angels, their heads encirled with crowns of glory, their hands graced with unwithering palms, and their souls satisfied with durable riches, unalienable and substantial, as Omnipotence can make them. There, my dear sisters, when your wanderings in this wilderness are terminated, there may you shine as stars of the first magnitude, find a sweet release from every woe, and tune your golden harps to Immanuel's praise. "Therefore comfort one another

with these words."

You will recollect that striking passage of Young, "For us they languish, and for us they die." Such monitory calls speak emphatically to our inmost souls, "Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."

I commend you to God, the Father of the fatherless, the fountain of living waters. May he comfort snd support you under all your trials, calm the bursting sigh, check the swelling tear, and be your immutable ever pre◄ sent refuge in time and eternity.

Present my respects to your remaining parent, accom

panied with my best wishes for divine strength and enjoyment in her heart rending trial.

Do, my dear friends, each of you write me a long letter, and be assured I should esteem your friendship, your prayers, and your correspondence, a valuable acquisition. Yours, with sympathizing affection, F. WOODBURY.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO MISS N. J. OF BEVERLY.

March 5, 1814.

You ask how we may know that we love Christians aright? and, if we love them in subordination to God, whether we can love them too much? Though I do not feel myself qualified to decide, yet I offer a few thoughts. I apprehend we love Christians aright, when we love them in a peculiar manner, with a love of complacency, different from that love of benevolence, which we ought to bear to all mankind;-when we love them because they are disciples of Christ, bear his image, and belong to his holy kingdom. And when we feel most attached to those who are most heavenly, and display most the fruits of the Spirit, have we not encreasing evidence, that we love them from evangelical motives? If we give God the first place in our hearts, love him supremely, perhaps our love to Christian friends may not be inordinate. But alas ! as Mr Newton says, we are prone to undervalue or overvalue all our mercies and enjoyments. I do think, that among professing Christians this love does not prevail as it ought. Is it possible that Christians can censure, injure, and hate one another; and, instead of opposing the common enemy, turn their arms against each other? O, these things ought not so to be. When shall it be said, See how they love one another!" I long to see a umi

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