tain he makes no mistake in either of these points. But my head hangs down upon the occasion, through the awful apprehensions, which I ever had of the cure of souls. I am frightened to think of watching over two or three thousand, when it is work enough to watch over one. The plague of my own heart almost wearies me to death; what can I do with such a vast number? Besides, I had promised myself a little rest and retirement, in the evening of life, and had already sat down with a SOUL, TAKE THINE EASE. And, lo! my fine plan is broken all to pieces. I am called into a public station, and to the sharpest engagement, just as I had got into winter quarters-an engagement too for life. I can see nothing before me, so long as the breath is in my body, but war-and that with unreasonable men-a divided parish, an angry clergy, a wicked Sodom, and a wicked world; all to be resisted and overcome: Besides all these, a sworn enemy; subtle and cruel, with whom I can make no peace, no, not a moment's truce, night and day, with all his children, and bis host, is aiming at my destruction. When I take counsel of the flesh, I begin to faint. But when I go to the sanctuary, I see my cause good, and my Master is Almighty-a tried friend, and then he makes my courage revive. Although I

am no way fit for the work, yet he called me to it, and on him I depend for strength to do it, and for success to crown it. I utterly despare of doing any thing as of myself, and, therefore, the more I have to do, I shall be forced to live more by faith upon him. In this view I hope to get a great income by my LIVING. I shall want my Jesus more, and shall get closer to him. As he has made my application to him more necessary, and more constant, he has given me stronger tokens of his love. Methinks I can hear his sweet voice," Come closer, come closer, soul! nearer "yet; I will bring you into circumstances, that "you cannot do one moment without me." that you could always hear that voice, it would be your heaven! And indeed it is his languagenothing but love is on his tongue; but the noise of the flesh sometimes drowns his small still voice. -Comfort would flow into your heart, like a river, if the ears of faith were but open to attend to the endearments of Jesus, "Soul, thou shalt "not live at a distance from me; I bought thee "with a great price, thou art mine. When I af"flict, it is to bring thee nearer to myself; to "make thee glad in me; to bring thy heart to "me. Thou shalt not make up thy comforts in "the streams; come, come up nearer, nearer stil!

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"to the fountain-head. To make thee, to force "thee to live happy in my fulness, I will dry up "the streams, and so will I teach thee to make "me ALL in ALL." The infinitely lovely Lamb of God teach you this lesson! All his word preaches it, all his providences proclaim it. Every cross saysGo to Jesus, live near his bleeding heart, or else I shall break the back of your patience. Every difficulty says, Go to Jesus, and he will make you strong in the power of his might to overcome. The world, and all the things in it, say, and the believer has ears to hear, Go to Jesus, there is no good in us-it is all in him. Whatever comes, I go to Jesus with it, and all is well. His smiles are humbling, his rod is sanctifying, in all his dealings he is good, and doeth good.

I know these things as well in theory, as I see the words upon the paper. But to practise them is indeed hard, except in his strength, to whom all things are possible; in it, and by it, all the things we meet with will not only bring us to live more upon Christ, but will also bring us to live more to Christ. By doing the one, we do the other. He that makes him all, shews forth most of his praise. What can glorify Christ, like that believer, who attempts nothing without consulting him, under

takes no work or duty but in his strength, rejoices in nothing but in Jesus, and in his salvation. O that you may learn, my dear friend, thus to exalt King Jesus! I would have you to be ever bringing some honour to him, by making him your ALL indeed and in truth. Praise his fulness by living always upon it, and then he will make you always happy. Let him be all your salvation, and all your desire-all your salvation, as to the merit of it; all your desire, as to the efficacy of it; all your salvation in purchase; all your desire in enjoyment. So he is in heaven; O that we could make him so upon earth!

I have one favour to beg of you. Do not refuse me. You see my station-you hear my diffi culties. Will you remember me to him, who called the things that be not, as though they were. He can send to war at his cost, and for his glory. If you love me, make mention of me when you go to Court. Pray for usefulness and for humility. I cease not to mention you.

I have received Lady B's money, and have been much in gaols of late. I am confined to church people; and when I see a prisoner, a dissenter, with a wife and several children, and cannot relieve him, it makes my very heart ach. So

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I thought your gift was from heaven. I have made one family happy, and shall make others, and by and by will send you the particulars.

LETTER XXI.

W. R.

July 22, 1766.

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MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,

AM wishing for your prosperity in body and soul, but above all that your soul may prosper: and it is in the most thriving state, when you are lowest and vilest in your own eyes, and Jesus alone is eyed and esteemed. This is growth. As self is kept down, so Jesus is exalted. Oh, what views have I of this manner of growing in grace! Let me talk to you freely of it at our next meeting, as I have learned it not from books, but from God's word, and God's teaching.

I am learning, though dull, how to eye him in