secutions for the present are grievous, yet they yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to you who are exercised thereby; and though "the bud may have a bitter taste, yet sweet will be the flower," only let us follow on to know the Lord.-My dear mother, may the Lord return all your love to me, unworthy me, into your own bosom: he loves you better than I can, and I am happy in believing you are in his hands, who will keep you as the apple of his eye.-Farewell my dear beloved parent, and my sweet Lucy, I bear you on my heart before my dear Redeemer; but what is better, He bears your name himself before the throne.Your's in the sweet bonds of Jesus.

LETTER XVII.

To her Mother.

1795.

I AM obliged to my dear Lucy for her elegant work may her dear heart and ours be stamped with the image of Jesus, as the paper is pricked into an Edwin and Angelina; our hearts were as much a blank to any good impression, as that paper was, but our Artist is divine, both God and man! O may he keep you, my dear mother, from error, and give you the teachings of his good Spirit, which always testifies of Jesus our Advocate, in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and though it is most delightful to walk in the comforts of the Holy Spirit, yet we must not forget from whence they flow; that they have been dearly purchased for us by Christ; are the effects of the Father's love given us through the agency of his blessed Spirit.-Oh! what

manner of love is this that our God has taken upon him in this wonderful manner to save poor sinners, and that he stands engaged in covenant for their good by these three offices, of Father, Saviour, and Comforter! O may the Spirit of truth lead you into all truth. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." I am sorry for the account of your poor health what can be dearer to my heart than my dear mother's spiritual and temporal health! O may He, who alone is dearer, give you both, and if best for you he will give you health: all his dealings with you are in love infinite, unchangeable may he give you and me, in the darkest hour of his providence, to see it so, that we may like Sampson get honey out of the lion's carcase.

LETTER XVIII.

To her Mother.

1795.

My dear mother, I am not prejudiced

against any sect; indeed I am not my Lord has enabled me to love all that have the mark of the Lamb on their foreheads; all that love the Lord Jesus, must have been first loved by him and shall I not love those whom Jesus loves, brethren and sisters for whom Christ died, all one happy family whose names are written on Emanuel's bosom? O yes! my heart warms to them, and would bring others if I could, to join them; but human means, are only means; but he says, if ye love me, keep my commandments, we shew our faith by our works, the very thought is sufficient to make me blush, I do so little; your letters shew the sweet frame of your mind, and my dear Saviour has promised to keep him in perfect

peace, whose mind is stayed on him, and I trust he will bring you to his banqueting house, and his banner over you will be love.

Tell my dear Lucy, I am obliged for her elegant work. I have seen several pieces from Italy, and I think her's preferable, I send her something, though in a different way, but before she looks at it, I request her to read a few lines I send with it: the worst of these amusements is, they engage too much time and thought; while our hands are at work, we should endeavour, at the same time, to delight our hearts in thinking of the love that bought us.