would not wish to shun so glorious a cross. The bible, my beloved Judith, is only our outward rule, and is no doubt the book of books, but there is "a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto we do well that we take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place:" this we may have without a word being said outwardly, and is to be found by retiring into the temple of God, which we are; as He saith, ye are the temples of the Holy Ghost; and there He will not fail to manifest Himself unto us, as He doth not unto the world; for He is not in the boisterous wind, nor in the earthquake, but in the small still voice; and though we can receive more comfort in thus waiting upon him in outward silence, yet He does not refuse it to us when we are engaged in business, as we turn our minds inward and seek his direction, even with an aspiration; we shall feel our doubts vanish and our souls strengthened, and be enabled to follow our dear Lord whithersoever He goeth; this is what the prophet meant when he said, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard beside thee, O God, what thou hast prepared

for him that waiteth upon thee:" in short, there are more promises made to quietly waiting than any other duty. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." The Psalms are full of the same: and I can say from certain experience, that I have received more happiness from this waiting on my heavenly Father, than I can express with pen and ink. One night when doubting on my not receiving an immediate answer that my sins were forgiven, and fearing they separated me from Him, these words were in the strongest manner sweetly applied to my soul; "I have blotted out thy transgressions, and as a thick cloud thy sins."

Try this method, and may you feel the comfort of it.

LETTER IX.

To her Sister Judith.

Jan. 11, 1796.

SINCERELY do I sympathise with my dearest Judith, in her very unpleasant and trying situation; but you have this comfort, that whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and that it is when He brings us into the low valley of humiliation, He gives us of His best cordials; it is then He brings us into his banqueting house, and His banner over us is love: and, fear not, my dear sister, for you will be delivered from all your adversaries, inward as well as outward; they will, I trust, rather be of use to you, and

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draw you still nearer to Him in whom are hid all the treasures of the God-head bodily. I would caution you, my love, from imbibing from your favourite Hervey the idea of imputed righteousness; remember, "without

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holiness no man can see the Lord." If actual holiness is not expected, of what use was our Lord's sermon on the mount, when he says, "Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven?" for not to the willing only, but to the obedient is the promise made. He says in another place, "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you :" " If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them;" for "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed! What is He to free us from! He is called Jesus, for He is to save his people from their sins. I fear it is a very dangerous belief, and makes some too secure in what is no where promised, that it is not possible for them to fall off, making them too easy and careless, not considering, that He did not come to save his people in their sins, but from their sins, that they are to take up their cross daily, and follow Him, and that not imaginary, but real holiness, is what He meant when he said,

Be ye holy for I am holy:" but think not, my Judith, that I mean that our works can save us, for very far be such a thought from me; for in us, that is in our flesh, dwelleth no good thing, but we must take care to distinguish between those works wrought in our wills and those wrought in us, by Him who condescends to dwell in us, and makes the hearts of his people his temple. The life of a Christian must be a continual warfare; there must be a perpetual variance between the old man and the new; but blessed be the name of the Lord, He will never withhold his gracious assistance from those who seek direction and strength from Himself only. My mother has, I believe, told you how much mistaken you were when you thought we were enjoying peace and quietness our portion outwardly is very different; but glory be to Him, we have a comfort and happiness that the world knows not of, and that it can neither give nor take away. How do I pity those, little do they know what they lose, who are pursuing vain phantoms that clude their grasp, and only

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