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right hand of the Majesty on high, does he appear more glorious than when while his body was held the prisoner of death; being quickened by the spirit, he preached to the spirits of the rebellious Antideluvians, who were disobedient in the days of Noah.

Will my venerable friend excuse me, if I hazard a conjecture upon a part of this parable? If I mistake not, our grand adversary is spoken of in sacred writ, as a man; not indeed as the man who is God's fellow, who sits at liberty them who are bruised; but the man, that by his cursed devices, made the world a wilderness, who opened not the house of his prisoners,but rather blinded their minds, lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine into their hearts. When the sons of God assembled in the days of Job, this enemy was in the midst of them; so he is still, and so he will continue to be, until the redeemed of the Lord shall be gathered together, when this accuser of the brethren shall be cast out into his own element, where is sorrow and fear, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

But what is the wedding garment? Is it not the righteousness of God? The finished salvation? When the maker, who is said to be the husband of the human nature, when he, as the bridegroom shali appear, and the bride, the ransomed nature, shall make herself ready, will she not then say, O Lord I will praise thee, for thou hast clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness? But unto the nature which the Saviour took not upon him, the king will say, How camest thou in here, not having on the wedding garment? Say, my respected friend, is it not more rational to suppose what is here said, is spoken to the enemy than to the friend of man? To the murderer than to the life of the world? To him who is the head of the powers of darkness, than to him who in every condition, is the. head of every man? especially when we recollect we were ever with him, crucified with him, buried with him.

It was, I humbly conceive, the fulness of our nature, in our head, that said upon the cross, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. Wherever the Saviour was cast, or whatever he suffered, we, as his fulness, had fellowship with him. When I, said he, am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.

I do but just touch upon this matter, hoping you will consider it more fully. In the mean time, I trust, I shall be able to go on in the strength of the Lord, and in the power of his might, making mention of his righteousness, and of his righteousness only; con

tinually affirming that the righteousness of the mere creature is at best but filthy rags; that in the Lord alone we have righteousness and strength; but that although we have in the Lord this righteousness and this strength, until the spirit of truth makes this manifest to our spirits, we can have neither peace nor joy in believing.

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Yes, by the grace of God, I will continue to preach him of whom the scriptures testify as the meek Moses, the perfectly patient Job, the man after God's own heart, the truly wise Solomon, &c. &c. &c. I will tell the children of men, Christ Jesus is their Saviour; that he died for their sins, and rose again for their justification; that he was their sin, their death; that he is their righteousness, their life; that because he died, they shall not die; that because he lives, they shall live also; that they are not their own; that they are bought with a price; and that therefore they are to glorify God, both in their bodies and their spirits, which are the Lord's.

Yes, by the grace of God, I shall continue to assure mankind, that he who is for them is greater than he who is against them ;` that he shall put down all power, even the power of the air; that he shall separate the precious from the vile; the tempter from the tempted; the works of the devil from the works of God; completing the destruction of the one; completing the salvation of the other.

Yes, by the grace of God, I shall continue to affirm, that to our Saviour belongeth the kingdom, which consists of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, the power to make them willing, and to destroy death, and cast him who had the power of death into the fire prepared for him and his angels; and the glory of counteracting the devices of Satan, and of doing good to the evil and unthankful.

O, boundless theme! O, unfathomable depth! O, glorious day! when every creature in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all of them being taught of God, and filled with wonder, love and praise, shall, consequent thereon, with one heart and one voice, celebrate the praises of him who loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, cheerfully ascribing to the Lamb who was slain, glory, and honour, and power, worlds without end, amen and amen.

Yes, my friend, the name of the Lord is precious to me, and has been, I doubt not, to you, for many years; and it will continue to be right precious to every believer.

Your letter breathes a true, christian spirit. You are entitled to my thanks, and I render you my utmost gratitude.

Remember me to all those who love our Lord Jesus. In that glorious name I am with unfeigned affection, your friend and brother.-Farewell.

LETTER XLI.

To the same.

ALAS! my friend, my brother, how little do we know of the future will and pleasure of our heavenly Father. When I last addressed you, the name of Mr. N. stood foremost among the number of the preachers of the truth, as it is in Jesus, in this new world. But since that period, having fought the good fight, and kept the faith, he hath finished his course, and laid hold on that eternal life which was given him, and will be given to all that love the appearing of the Lord Jesus.

I have suffered no bereavement since I came into this country, beside the death of our dear departed friend, Mr. Relly, which has affected me so deeply, I mourn with them who mourn; how great this affliction to his family, to his friends. The Sunday before last they buried him; and last Sunday was the first Sunday his hearers have been without a preacher, since the Redeemer opened his mouth, and enabled him to show forth his most holy praise. The gout thrown into his stomach became his passport to blessedness. I have a letter from his friends, requesting me to visit them, which, God willing, I shall certainly do.

Never did man labour more diligently than our departed friend, in the promulgation of the gospel of divine truth, both in private and in public; it was his sole delight, and this he did without fee or reward; never receiving from the people the smallest pecuniary consideration. He was blest with ability and inclination to follow the example of the Apostle Paul more closely than any indi

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vidual I ever knew. But, alas! his congregation is now left quite destitute. God is able to raise up such another, but at presen there is no prospect of such an event. We know no one who

preaches the truth who would take his place, and if any were disposed, they would expect to live by the gospel.

I do not now know a single preacher in this country, if I except Mr. T. of Connecticut, who is with me in sentiment respecting gospel truth, although there are many private Christians who are happy in the belief of those glad tidings, which the angels delighted to proclaim. There are, as I informed you in my last, who preach another gospel, who assure us that all mankind will finally, through their own doings and sufferings, enter into life, forasmuch as God willeth that all men should be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth. Of this number is Mr. W. of whom I have spoken in former letters, and who is now in England. He is a zealous man, and an animated preacher. We can rarely discover any difference between him and the Methodists, except where they speak of the never-ending torments of the wicked-Here he differs from them, for he supposes the wicked will be tormented only a few thousand years, or ages, or millions of years, according to the magnitude of their transgressions, until being brought to love and serve God acceptably, they will be forever happy with the Lord.

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I am, I do assure you, beyond expression distressed! What are we to do? I know what you think, and what you may say; you may tell me, I have no business to concern myself about the matter; that God will take care of his inheritance, and do as seemeth good in his own eyes; and that all his wise and gracious purposes will finally be accomplished; that the things which appear against us may be for us; that he who believeth should not make haste; that I ought to stand still, and behold the salvation of God; and that it is becoming a Christian man to cherish a persuasion that all things, that every event wtll ultimately promote the general good. All this is most true; but I am of the earth, earthy; I mourn for myself, and for my friends; for no trouble at the present is joyous, but grievous. Relly is gone; N. is gone; and frequently do I feel myself tottering on the verge of eternity-But no more-The time is short. Perhaps, ere we are aware, the angel may be sent through the midst of heaven to preach the everlasting gospel to all them who dwell upon the earth; when we shall not need any

more to say, each man to his neighbour, know the Lord; when all being, as it is written, taught of God, they shall all know him from the least to the greatest. This is my hope, and this is my expectation; and in this hope and expectation, 1 will endeavour in patience to possess my soul.

I have sent by the bearer a parcel which I request you would forward to my mother. The other letters you will be so obliging as to send as directed.

I am exceeding anxious to hear from you. God grant I may soon be indulged with pleasing intelligence from my very dear, my greatly valued, and truly venerable friend. That God, our Saviour, may bless you with every kind support, and long preserve you in the very useful character you so well sustain, is the fervent prayer of your oft obliged, and truly grateful friend, &c. &c. &c.

LETTER XLII.

To Mr. G. S. London, Great Britain.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

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AM beyond expression pleased with your last favour, nor I alone; our christian friends, as many as have had an opportunity of hearing your letter, participate with me in the sensible delight it afforded. I flatter myself you will continue my correspondent, and that you will indulge me with a frequent repetition of such consolatory favours. You also encourage me to hope that I shall be indulged with similar favours from others of my Christian, and therefore my best friends.

When the earth helps the woman, she feels, or ought to feel, the obligation she is under to her Lord and Husband, who has the hearts of all in his hand. But woe to that Christian that forms any expectations from the saints of this world. I can venture to expect candour and generosity from some kind dispositions who were never bigoted to the religion professed by the partialist; and among such I have been received with great hospitality: but when once an in

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