lead them farther on in the path of error and vanity, and make their way back (if ever they return) more difficult. I long much to see you and enjoy your much loved society: O may you be kept as in the hollow of the great Shepherd's hand, and be led forth beside the waters of comfort, and be brought to us safe, that we may altogether feed beside the Shepherd's tent, and may know Him to be our teacher and never-failing friend in every time of trouble.

LETTER X.

To her Sister Elizabeth.

May 18, 1796.

KNOWING What anxiety my dearest Eliza is in, until she hears from us, I cannot be easy without telling her, we are all as well as she can expect after so recent a wound.* My beloved mother indeed suffered much in mind and body, but has experienced the everlasting arm of Omnipotence as a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, and as a great rock in a weary land; she is able to sit up and take nourishment, and I trust, in a little time, will be enabled to leave her room. I believe it will

*This letter was written just after hearing of her eldest brother's death; having some short time before heard of the death of another brother, both in foreign lands: these circumstances are alluded to in a subsequent part of the letter where the expression treble stroke is used.

be a great alleviation to your sorrow to hear, we have had a letter from dear

;

he

says he is perfectly well, and the climate is more healthy than formerly. Oh, may he yet be spared to us, for a treble stroke would be hard to bear. Indeed, my beloved Eliza, I have great hopes that our dear has been mercifully accepted, and the work has been cut short in righteousness; nothing is too hard for the Almighty, and he had a good heart, and has, I have reason to believe, at times felt the drawings of divine love in his soul: my dearest parent has the consolation to think she told him sufficient to ease her heart on religious subjects.

For all our sakes, my dearest Eliza, take care of thyself; outward comforters avail but little, but in retirement and silent waiting upon the Lord strength is to be renewed: in quietness and confidence shall be thy strength, it is only in silence that the inspeaking small still voice is to be heard; for the Lord is not in the whirlwind, but in the small still voice: this I believe appears strange to you, as it did

to me at first; but, Oh, try for yourself. Taste and see that the Lord is good. My dearest Eliza, I can write no more, but that we all unitedly, in the bonds of gospel love, desire, that you and my dear aunt may be kept in that peace that passeth all understanding, and which those only can enjoy whose minds are stayed upon the Prince of Peace.

LETTER XI.

To her Sister Judith.

8th Month 11th, 1796.

IN a measure of that love which many waters cannot quench, nor the floods of affliction drown, do I salute thee; though absent in the body, yet as present in the Lord, in whom all his members by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, encrease with the measure of God. O, my beloved sister! What a privilege is it to feel the uniting influence of gospel love, supporting and strengthening us, and enabling us to bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ; this is the law of love, which sometimes brings me into suffering with thee, as being myself also bound with thee in those testimonies of Jesus, which must be very trying to thee, and my desires are for thee to the God