versal revival of primitive Christianity, when all shall be of one heart and one soul, and grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied every where.

My ideas respecting the duty of impenitent sinners correspond with yours. It is important that our sentiments be scriptural, and that we should meekly counteract the multiplied errors which abound in the present day. Wishing you a seat at the feet of Jesus, I am yours, with sisterly affection, F. WOODBURY.

LETTER TO MISSES B. K. AND R. K. OF BRADFORD, MY DEAR BETSY,

WHEN We meet with afflictions, we feel most sensibly. the insipidity, vanity, and instability of sublunary things, and the insufficiency of all created good to ensure felicity or tranquillize our distressed souls. But religion shines. with peculiar refulgence in the darkest night of adversity. Its sublime and heavenly consolations penetrate the deepest gloom, disperse the thickest clouds, and bind up the bleeding heart, while the aspiration to heaven ascends, "Not my will, but thine be done." Possessed of this invaluable treasure, we might smile even under the pressure of the most complicated disappointments, sorrows, and calamities. Though deprived of friends and health, and banished to Siberia's frozen clime, or groaning under the galling yoke of an Algerine despot; yet, in the enjoy ment of God, our hearts would vibrate with rapture and gratitude, and dictate songs to Immanuel's name. How many of the eminent servants of God, of whom the world was not worthy, have wandered about in dens and caves of the earth, and been conversant with scenes of the most heart-rending anguish; yet have experienced an over

balancing joy and peace., How many immured in dun. geons, have found their prison walls could be no barrier to communion with God, and the illuminating rays of the Sun of righteousness. How many, who have embraced the martyr's stake, have had a vision as it were of the third heavens, and of the stupendous glories of the slain Lamb, causing them to triumph over agonies, flames, and death, and filling their souls with glory unutterable. Surely if we compare our trials with the trials of these il lustrious champions of Christianity, they so dwindle into insignificancy; that they scarcely deserve the name. The apostle Paul stiles all his acute hardships, dangers, and sufferings, light and momentary. And shall we sink and despond under our more trivial griefs? If we are Christians, though subject to painful vicissitudes and diversified afflictions, yet with our expiring breath we shall bid them all an everlasting farewell. When we land on Canaan's peaceful shore, and unite with the blessed around the throne, our bliss and glory will be equal to the capacities of our immortal souls, and durable as the perfections we celebrate. O with what admiring gratis tude and rapturous wonder shall we perceive the deve lopement of all these mysterious dispensations of him, whose way is in the deep; causing us joyfully to exclaim, "He hath done all things well!" O with what delightful and amazing extacy, shall we expatiate on the emanating sun-beams of Deity, and gaze on the superlative beauties and unparalleled excellencies of the purchaser of our salvation! And how shall we incessantly advance in wisdom, grace, and felicity, and make increasing assimilations to the fountain of light, stretching from glory to glory, and that (O transporting thought!) through eternity itself,

Sabbath eve. Do you not think, my dear Rebecca, it is a great thing to be a Christian? To be called out of nature's darkness into marvellous light; to be united to Christ, and an heir of glory? How many refuges of lies are there, by which immortal souls are ensnared, and ultimately destroyed, even while their delusive hopes of heaven are firm and bright? Alas! how many, who were never transformed by the renewing of their minds, attempt a coalition between God and mammon, Christ and Belial, light and darkness. But if our treasure is in heaven, we shall rise above the smiles and the frowns, the blandishments and the temptations of a wicked world; live as strangers and pilgrims here, and evince by our holy lives and conversations that we are candidates for an" inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." What though we meet with the burlesque, obloquy, and hatred of our fellow mortals, and many great trials, fears, and perplexities; yet we must perseveringly press through them all; remembering, that it is through much tribulation we must enter heaven. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." No indolent wishes, mere forms, and orthodox opinions, will ever secure the salvation of our souls, but only that living faith in Christ which expands the heart with love, purifies the soul, and is prolific of good works. When I think what Christians ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ready to every good word and work, and then think what I am, I am filled with confusion, doubts, and fears, and am ready to conclude myself a persumptuous hypocrite.

I am delighted with the plan you contemplate in Bradford, of employing intelligent and pious females to instruct poor children, and am very solicitous to hear what is de

termined. Why was it not thought of before? O why does self, this wicked self, so predominate? How much good might we do, if we had but hearts, and did but diligently improve the opportunities that occur? And how ought we to seek out ways of doing good, and exert ourselves with holy ardour to stem the torrent of abounding iniquity, and advance the interests of our Lord and Saviour.

May you, my dear friend, be watered with the dews of divine grace, and flourish like a cedar in Lebanon, and be an instrument of extensive good to a world lying in wickedness. Pray for your stupid friend,

JOURNAL, 1813. ·.

FANNY,

April 4. The memorable, mournful day is about te close, in which our dear pastor has for the last time addressed the church and society in this place. The con flicting passions, painful anxieties, and tender feelings, which have agitated my breast this day, are known only to God and myself. With what indescribable sorrow did my mind recur to past years, when, like a little band of brothers and sisters, we encircled the table of our dying Saviour! when love, peace, and unanimity bound our souls together in the most tender ties. But ah! those sweet and endearing scenes live only in remembrance.

more.

I have probably seen his face for the last time in our sacred desk; and from thence shall hear his voice no O that rich grace may prepare us both to mect in the heavenly world of love and peace, where friendship knows no alloy, and where "a eus and farewells are sounds unknown." May the Lord make him extensively useful in some other part of his vineyard, and give him

many souls as the seals of his ministry, and crown of his rejoicing. May this dear church be established on the Rock of ages, and enriched with large additions to its graces and its numbers. May it be watered with the dews of divine grace, be preserved from hirelings and wolves, and united in the most cordial love. O that the dear members may be of one heart and one soul, and cleave to and support each other, in this time of danger, and earnestly plead for each other, and the enjoyments of gospel preaching and privileges. May they all be ornaments to their Christian profession, and by their holy and useful lives evince their attachment to their divine Master. O that they may be preserved in this critical time from every snare and temptation, be daily conversant with their hearts and their God, and grow in love, and grace, and felicity, till they reach the summit of Zion's hill, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

May the Lord regard the afflicted state of this society. O that one and all may arouse from their slumbers, and use every exertion to procure an evangelical, faithful, and rousing preacher, who will love this little flock, and feed them with knowledge and understanding. O that there may be a shaking among these dry bones, and a flocking of souls to Jesus Christ. O that this lowering cloud may be dispersed by the genial rays of the Sun of righteousness, and this dark and gloomy night be succeeded by the auspicious resplendence and smiles of the bright and morning Star.

April 8. Fast. I desire this day to mourn over my stupidity, my deadness, and my iniquities; to lament the low state of religion in this church; to sigh and cry for the abominations and ungodliness which occasion all the calamities of our land, and which are so provoking to the