thing. Let the business first be taken up by ministers, and our flocks will be sure to follow. If a subscription on this scale be set on foot through the kingdom, and the fund be supported by small annual contributions from our churches, the end would be speedily and easily accomplished. The writer of this article will be happy to correspond with the individual who sent the which paper appeared in the May number, or with any of his brethren, especi ORIGINAL LETTERS. XVI.-Rev. Cornelius Winter, to Mr. Lee, Wem, Shropshire. Painswick, May 26, 1797. SHALL apology for an unreasonable delay of a letter, which, as a letter of gratitude, should have been written instantly on-the receipt of your great present, meet your eye, my very dear Sir, at this unreasonable distance from the time in which it ought to have been written? Indeed, I am ashamed to write in the apologetical strain. If it would be any mitigation of the shameful neglect, I can, with great truth, say, "I have you in my heart." Not a day passes without your occurring to my mind, especially when my palate is regaled with that fine and mellow cheese, hardly to be matched in our neighbourhood, and which would never have come to my share, but as presented by so kind and dear a friend. mortified exceedingly, on my return from Wilts, to find 1 had lost the pleasure of your company, but hope, our lives being spared, that pleasure is yet to come. In the mean while, and as soon as possible, convince me, by a line from your friendly pen, that you are disposed to forgive the delay you might justly re sent. I was I have partook largely of the affliction of the times, as it respects indisposition. At the time you was at our house, I was so exceedingly ill, that I knew not whether my return would be practicable, I have not been thoroughly well since, and some part of the time have continued very poorly. My debi But litated frame is a great hindrance to business. I either do not work at all, or I work lazily. I can indulge reading, though I am much fatigued by it. the instant I give up my mind to thinking, I am stopped in my progress. Yet I have always something to do, and something that I am obliged to perform immediately. When several concerns of equal necessity intrude upon an obstructed mind, it is difficult to determine what is first to be done. Perhaps, my dear Sir, you are pressed with the same difficulty in your department. If so, I shall have your sympathy. I hope nothing of your former complaint returns upon you, but that you are strong in body, and strong in soul; strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might Spiritual strength is of the first consequence, that we may encounter sin, Satan, and the world, by whom we are beguiled into sin; and that we may persevere in the Christian race to the end of our days. For this we are insufficient of ourselves, and should have been as indisposed as we are insufficient, had not the Lord, by his Spirit, excited in us a desire, and shown us the importance of turning our feet unto his testimonies. O blessed discovery! O free grace, that has wrought in us to will, and that has provided for us, in Jesus Christ, power to do! Independent of Jesus we can do nothing; and it is only as he worketh in us, that our motion and work can be speedy. As the sails of a ship can swell but in proportion to the quantity of wind that fills them; or the wheels of a mill (de of our shame. May this meet you under the abundance of grace, active in the discharge of what you have found necessary to be done, and yet inquiring, "What good thing shall I do?" It is good to have work before us, as well as work in hand; and if we be always employed, as we ought to be, the spirit and principle of our action will lead us to renounce the merit, and give the glory of our work to God. To be devoted to his service, and diligently walking in his ways, is an effectual security against the temptations of Satan. pendent upon the wind that moves them) are slow or swift in their motion, in proportion as the sails receive force from the wind, so we can only act as we are endued with the grace that comes from the fulness that is in Christ. Convinced of this, his direction will be our -rule of conduct: he hath said, "Ask." His promise will be fulfilled, wherein he hath said, "Ye shall receive." We shall receive according to the proportion of faith in which we ask. Great faith is not contented with a small gift. Its demand is great, and the grant will be in proportion. Therefore we have not Excuse the prolixity of this letter. I at all, or we have but in a small de- imagine you as sitting with me, only I gree, because we ask not, or are not want the pleasure of your reply to any large and constant in our application. thing I may propose. It will afford me By this observation I stand reproved. pleasure to receive good news as it may He that is instant in prayer, is not poor respect the prosperity of the cause in in grace. If the prayer offered to God which you are concerned. I hope Mr. be the prayer of faith, it will avail much. and Mrs. Henshaw, Miss Allen, and May that prayer proceed from you, my Mr. E-, enjoy much health. To as dear Sir, that shall bring, in return, many as you may mention me, I beg to large portions from the unsearchable be affectionately remembered. You will riches of Christ! and may his commu- be pleased to hear the youth I proposed nications to you enable you to carry the to your consideration is comfortably savour of his name, and make it mani- fixed with a capable and pious apothefest, wherever you go! May you have cary. His brother goes on well at Cama very long life in which to diffuse the bridge. I have intruded upon Mr. odour of that precious name! And, G- -'s patience, by neglecting to write in consequence of your knowledge of to him, but I hear his situation, notyour name being written in heaven, be withstanding some crosses he has lately ready and pleased to receive your dis- met with, promises to be useful and mission from the state of mortality, prosperous. He will learn prudence by whenever it may be sent to you. It is meeting with contradiction. Mrs. Winbut short, at longest, we have to be ter sends her respectful salutations. here. The circle of my old friends is She was not thoughtful by preventing entirely broken. The evening of my your writing, which I find you kindly day advances apace; it advances nearer intended. Now, my dear Sir, please to the night, in which no man can work. write soon, and thereby add to all the I review life past with a concern that I - obligations conferred upon have not been more active for God. Yours affectionately, Time is to be redeemed for present action, but the remissness of the past days leave the consequence. The talent, though not buried, may not be improved to all the purposes for which it XVII. is given; and any degree of neglect lays a foundation for painful reflection. It is well we have a Saviour's compassion engaged on our behalf; and that, though we cannot forgive ourselves, God, for the sake of his dear Son, is abundant in forgiveness towards us, and will own us to be his servants, though we have been unprofitable; yea, his sons, unworthy as we are to be called such. The gracious disposition of our God will not erase from our memory our neglect of him, nor our misdoings against him; neither can we avoid being confounded, when we remember that which is the occasion 4 44 in our dear Lord Jesús, CORNELIUS WINTER. Rev. G. Whitefield to Edinburgh, Sept. 23, 1741, MY LORD-Though nature calls for some measure, not so much acquaintance with the world as your Lordship, but I know it is a deceitful thing, and, without the utmost care and watchfulness, will insensibly divert the heart from God. Your Lordship is in a dangerous situation. A fear of contempt, and a love for honour, falsely so called, render religion unfashionable amongst the rich and polite part of the world. But the blood of Jesus is almighty, and can make a soul more than conqueror. Here is the fountain, my Lord, to which you and 1 must apply to wash away all our sins and all our uncleanness. Here my filthy soul has been washed from sins of deepest die; and it is yet open for all poor sinners. Come then, my Lord, and lay yourself at the feet of the blessed Jesus. He can, he will, if you believe on him, abundantly pardon you. But faith is the gift of God. I pray God give you no rest till you have received a full assurance of faith. Then will you receive your primitive dignity, trample earth under your feet, and with your heart be panting after God. Oh, my Lord, it is a blessed thing to have fellowship with the Father and the Son. I am a poor, despised minister of Jesus Christ; but I would not change my Master for ten thousand worlds. I have food to eat which the world knows nothing of. I long to have your Lordship taste of it too, and shall, as it were, travail in birth till Jesus Christ be formed in you. Your Lordship need not remind me to pray for you. Your eternal welfare is much upon my heart. Oh, my Lord, now is the accepted time -the day of salvation. The blessed Spirit is now striving with and you, ing," My son, give me thy heart. What hast thou to do any more with idols?" I hope your reply will be, Lord, 1 give thee my heart-my whole heart; and will no longer keep from thee the least part. Then will your Lordship be truly happy. For so far as we are void of God, so far we are miserable. But whither am I running? It is late. But your Lordship desired a long letter, and therefore I have taken the liberty to write thus freely. I am sensible of the honour put upon me by your Lordship, and hope I shall never betray any trust reposed in me. I pray God sanctify this, and bless our fellowship when we meet together. say I thank your Lordship for your concern about the orphans. I am persuaded you will in no wise lose your reward. I hope your Lordship received my last letter, which gave an account of my intended preaching at Kinglassy and Cowpar. May the glorious Jesus sanctify my continuance in these parts to the promoting his own glory and the good of souls. I think I can say, to me to live is Christ. It revives me to see so many seeking after Jesus. At Kinglassy the power was extraordinary. Oh, free grace! that God should make use of such a wretch as I am. I desire to lie humbly in the dust, and to say, Why me, Lord, why me? Fear not, my Lord. I have received remission of sins by the blood of Jesus. Into his arms I am just about to commend your Lordship. I pray God visit your soul with his salvation! And, hoping my humble respects will find acceptance with your Lordship, your Lady, and Lady Ann, I beg leave to subscribe myself, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, obliged, humble Servant, G. WHITEFIELD. XVIII.-The Rev. John Newton to a poor Woman of Olney. Nov. 29th, 1797. DEAR NANNEY-Why are you so cast down? It is, as you say, not probable that we shall meet again upon earth; but I have no doubt of meeting you in heaven, if I get there myself, as I trust I shall, though I am a chief sinner, for such our Lord Jesus came into the world to save. Yes, I trust you and I, as well as the thief upon the cross, shall join in the "Thou hast redeemed us to song, God by thy blood." The people that were upon the boards and broken pieces of the ship all got safe to shore; and when we come to our journey's end, we shall soon forget all the difficulties of the road, and the remembrance of our weary steps will only make our rest more welcome, and increase our thankfulness to the Lord, who guided, guarded, and supported such weak and unworthy creatures through this dangerous and trying wilderness. But how is it that, after so long acquaintance with the Gospel, you are still perplexing yourself with so many ifs and buts, and doubts and fears? Are you not yet freed from that spirit of bondage which oppressed most of the good women when I lived at Olney? Many of them seened to think that if they did not indulge a spirit of complaint and unbelief they could not be right. I have often wished they had some better way of getting their livelihood than by poreing over their lace-pillows from morning till almost midnight, which made them low spirited. But there were some cheerful Christians amongst them. Mary Lambert, Betty Abraham, and a few others, were not more comfortable than you, because they thought themselves better than you do, but because they were content to be saved as poor sinners, without any hope, or plea, or righteousness, or strength, but what they derived from the Saviour. Some of those good old women used to say, and I have often said it after them, "That grace puts much into the heart, but it takes nothing out." There are some effects of our depraved nature which cleave to us, while we live in the body, as close as our skins we cannot avoid nor suppress them; nor does the holiness of a sinner consist in being wholly freed from them, but in watching and praying against them, mourning over them, and being abased, before the Lord on account of them. We ought to be humbled for them, but not discouraged by them. These things, such as wandering evil thoughts, a backwardness to prayer, and the like, we should strive and fight against; but they are a part of the soul's sickness, which has constrained us to apply to the Great Physician. They who looked to the brazen serpent by God's appointment needed no other medicine. One brazen serpent sufficed for the whole camp of Israel. Thus the Lord Jesus is lifted up, and the word is, Look and live: be- ̈ lieve and be saved. I wish you would consider unbelief as the worst of all your sins. It is flatly to contradict him who is the Truth, He says, "Him that cometh I will in no wise cast out." The apostle, "He is able to save to the ut termost all that come to God by him." Put that and that together, and go on your way rejoicing. I am your affectionate Friend, MORNING DEVOTION. POETRY. ་་་་་་་་་་་་ THANKS to the sovereign Ruler of the sky, Another morning dawns upon my sight; Darkness and dreams my waking eyelids fly, Chased by the beams of pure and orient light. The holy angels round my bed have kept Commission'd watch, from him who never sleeps ; Protected and preserved while I have slept, I praise the God whom Israel safely keeps. Bow at his feet, my soul, and there repent The many slighted offers of his grace; And peradventure he will yet relent, Will yet bestow the smilings of his face. Shortly the hour will come, when thou, my soul, Shall hear the tumult of the world no more; When swelling Jordan over thee shall roH, Its bitter waters-and the tempest roar. Oh may the blood of Jesus be applied, Above the reach of death I then shall stand, Beyond the darts of Satan, then shall be, Planted by God the Father's own right hand, Celestial grace shall then descend on me. No change of day or night that realm shall know, There dark and stormy winter never reigns; Ne'er shall our sun diurnal journies go, Nor shall our moon enlighten heavenly plains. No temple there, nor golden altar stands, In raiment white they stand, with harps of gold, Strike harmony from every tender chord ; I hear their song, it speaks the love untold Of Jesus, their Redeemer and their Lord. 8 A J.T. INFANT JABEZ. (1 Chron. iv. 9, 10.) "And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "because I bare him with sorrow.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh! that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me. And God granted him that which he requested." KIND stranger, did you ask my name? They call me "Jabez"-- child of grief; My birth-place was the land of Judah, Stranger this my story brief. I've heard they call me "child of grief," What is it brings that trembling tear; The proud may scorn my humble lot, Great God of Israel hear my prayer, Direct my steps, supply my need'; Oh, that my God himself would bless me, Then should I be bless'd indeed. Now scanty is my earthly store, But if it be thy heav'nly will, The God of Israel hears my cry, A MIDNIGHT THOUGHT. ONCE more deprived of balmy sleep, I lay me down again to weep, Conceal'd from human sight; Let others tell their heartfelt woes, But my sad spirit seeks repose In shades of deepest night. All, all is still, no zephyr plays, While the pale moon, with sickly rays, From yonder dark cloud passes; (e.) But pause, my soul, a voice I hear, Yes, 'tis the voice of pardoning love, Then 'twill be sweet, yes, sweet to die, THE HOPE OF HEAVEN. WHAT, when the scenes of earth are faded, And the young heart's first hopes are riven Relumes the hue that earth has shaded? The Hope of Heaven. What is the joy that gladness gives, It lives through life--in death still lingers, The light of life, the "joy of sorrow," When darkness o'er the soul is driven--. Care stamps in vain the deepened furrow, In death we have the hope of heaven. JAQUES. THE MORNING STAR. (From the Poems of the Rev. R. Brown.) Ar length the star of morning glows Upon the eastern sky, Its rays around the traveller throws, And cheers his spirit, while it shows Night's drear dominion near its close, And day's long wished for season nigh. In yonder planet I behold An emblem of the seer The sinner warned, the saint consoled, Of those that cross the wave |