Christ to wash away the guilt, and the Spirit of Christ to cleanse away the pollution of sin, and they should be taught, as soon as they know any thing, to consider themselves as sinners, and to pray for the pardon of sin, and a new heart and nature, in and through Jesus Christ. This my poor babe did by herself alone, as duly as the morning and evening came. But enough, and probably too much of this, which I hope you will not take ill . . . .”

One of the "brothers-in-law," of whose death mention has been made in the above extracts, was the husband of my father's eldest sister, Mrs. Webster, to whom so many of his letters are addressed. She had been married only five years, and was now left (September, 1779,) with two children, and the near prospect of the birth of a third; besides many other difficulties to struggle with. These circumstances, of so beloved a relative, naturally called forth all the tender sympathies of my father's heart; and he wrote to her several letters full of affectionate condolence, and wise and Christian counsel. Some of them I should with pleasure insert, were I not restrained by the fear of extending my extracts beyond due bounds.

We have seen the spirit with which my father, at this period, bore severe trials of one class; I shall next furnish specimens of the temper which he manifested under those of another description.

Intimations have already appeared, that the change, which had taken place in his religious views, was not agreeable to others of his family besides his deceased father. In this respect he, for a considerable time, suffered an affliction, in which, as in almost all others, those who are exercised with it, may derive comfort from reflecting, that the divine Redeemer learned by experience to sympathize with his followers. Of him it is written, "Neither did his brethren believe in him." Happily there is the less reason, in the present instance, for being restrained by delicacy from adverting to this subject, because all the parties referred to were ultimately brought to an acquiescence in their brother's sentiments; and those, in particular, with whom we are here most concerned, eventually bore that regard for his character, and that love to his principles, that I am persuaded they would have wished nothing to be withheld which raight advantageously illustrate the one, or tend to promote the other; even though it should cast a little passing blame upon themselves.

A letter of October 13, 1778, to his eldest sister, which makes mention of "a very bad and dangerous illness after his return from London," and also of "finding so much writing very prejudicial to his health," contains further intimations of the kind alluded to; and at the same time well illustrates the very prudent and proper course which he pursued, and which indeed the progress of his own mind naturally suggested to him, in treating with his correspondent upon the subject nearest his heart.

"You seemed to think, when you were with us, that I wanted to impose a set of notions upon you in religion: but that is not my aim. If you ask me what my belief is, I am willing to declare it: but otherwise I have no ambition to make proselytes to an opinion. My design is to make converts to the substantial duties of a religious and godly life: to persuade people that eternity is of most consequence: that they ought not to be so careful and troubled about many things, as to neglect the one thing needful: that our religion is all contained in the Bible: that we ought to read that book not only to learn what to do, but what to believe: that God is the giver of wisdom; the Holy Spirit the teacher of the truth: that, before we understand the scripture aright, we must have our minds opened and prepared by the Spirit of God-for the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discern ed:-in short, that we are to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and not to lean to our own understanding: that therefore we ought to be constant in prayer to God, that he would teach us the true way of salvation-for his secret is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant; -that he would preserve us from mistake, lead us to know his truth, free us from prejudice, and pride, and give us that true wisdom which is from above.- -Three years and a half I have day by day, and many times a day, done this. Since I did so, I have found myself much changed in my views and notions of religion: and, as I am comfortably assured that the Lord hath heard and answered my prayers; and as I not only feel the effect of it in myself, but see the effect of the alteration of my preaching, in the very wonderful change of many profligate sinners to a sober, righteous, and godly life; I therefore, wherein I suppose I was before wrong myself, hint it to you and others dear to me. If you think differently from me, you cannot deny that the means

I prescribe are right, safe, scriptural, and a duty. There I leave it. I profess to believe it the Lord's work: when I have used the means, I leave it to him: and my daily, and more than daily prayer for you, all and every one, is, that the Lord would set you right where wrong; teach you where ignorant; guide you to the knowledge of his saving truth; and fulfil all his gracious promises, spiritual and temporal, to your souls and bodies.-I should be glad if you would say a few words on this subject: if not, I must be satisfied to leave it where it is. We any of us may be wrong, and therefore we ought not to be too sure we are right; for confidence is no mark of wisdom. It is worth our inquiry and our prayer, and you will not find me hasty to dictate."

In a subsequent letter, December 15, 1779, while he anticipates her coming to the same views with him, he wisely says, "I have no expectation that this will be brought about in the way of argumentation and dispute, which generally do too much rifle the passions, to leave the mind open to an impartial reception of the truth." He rather expects "that, under the guidance and secret teaching of the Holy Spirit, gradually opening her understanding to understand the scriptures, and disclosing more and more what passes in her own heart, and what is revealed in the Bible, she will seem to discover it of herself."

And in a third, dated a month afterwards, he says, "Your letter, though written not without suspicions that I should disapprove it, is the most comfortable one I have ever received from you since my views of religion were changed; as it leaves me little doubt that the Lord is leading you, in the same gradual manner he led me, to a spiritual and experimental acquaintance with the truth as it is in Jesus!"

Yet, still later than this, he mournfully laments the neglect into which he had fallen with his relations on account of his religious principles; not excepting even those sisters with whom he had long maintained such full and intimate correspondence. "It is no small concern to me," he says, "that you, and indeed all my relations, should have entirely forgotten that there is such a person as I am. If indeed you do think me mistaken, then pray for me that the Lord may set me right, and recover me; and now and then let me hear something from you, if you be weary of mentioning religion. Indeed I do not forget you, not a day passes but I make mention of you in my prayers, nor a post-night'

comes, but it occurs to my mind, that formerly I used to hear from you.... I long to hear of your welfare, and should be glad to contribute to it; nor do I yet despair, that we shall one day be of one mind where we most differ: for I do most sincerely beseech the Lord to lead me right wherever I mistake, and to lead you right wherever you mistake; and I beg of you to make the same request. And I hope he regards and will answer: and then, wherever we are either of us wrong, we shall both be brought right at last, and meet like-minded in heaven."

And yet again: "When I receive no answer for a long time, I cannot but be discouraged, and led to suspect that the reason why my friends do not write is, that they do not desire my letters; and this keeps me from writing except I have business. Otherwise I will assure you, that one postnight after another I have complained with a sorrowful heart, that all my relations were weary 99 of me.

These extracts, and several things which have preceded, may perhaps present my father to some readers in a new point of view. A certain roughness of exterior impressed many persons with the idea that he was harsh and severe. It was reserved to those who knew him more intimately, to be fully aware how kind and feeling a heart he carried within; a heart which Christian principles, while they fortified the natural firmness of his character, made continually more and more tender and affectionate, and that, as his latter days advanced, to a degree that it is scarcely possible to express."

But, besides this effect of these extracts, I willingly promise myself that they may prove, in various ways, useful to many readers. Some may be taught by them what to expect, and be admonished to "count their cost," in professing themselves to be Christ's disciples. There is an opposition in the human heart to the principles of his religion, really received and acted upon, which no bonds of relative affection can overcome: and hence he assures us, that, "if we love father or mother more than him, we cannot be his disciples." To others, they may suggest important hints on the proper manner of conducting themselves under trials of this kind. Let them neither be "ashamed of Christ's words," nor too impetuously obtrude them upon unwilling hearers. The caution will be doubly needful, towards persons filling the superior relations in life.-And to all who are endeavoring to pursue a right course themselves, and

longing after beloved relatives, "in the bowels of Jesus Christ," these passages, compared with the result, which has been already stated, may afford great encouragement. Let them always remember the reply of the Christian bishop, to the weeping mother of St. Augustine, "the child of so many prayers can never be lost!"

But the most pleasing proof of the happiness as well as benevolence, which religion diffused over my father's mind at this period, is furnished by a letter to his younger sister, Mrs. Ford, dated July 27, 1779.

"Hitherto," he says, "I have kept silence, yea even from good words: but it was pain and grief to me.....I would, however, once more remind you, that you have a brotherwho was no hypocrite when he assured you that he loved you, at least as well as any relation that he had in the world, his wife and children excepted; that your interest and welfare were always near to his heart; that he would have been glad, if it had pleased God, to have had it in his power to evidence this to you by some important service: that his love is not waxed cold, nor in the least diminished, but the contrary; that he loves you as well, and wishes you better than ever; and that, seeing he can do nothing else, he never forgets, in his daily prayers, to commend you and yours, soul and body, to the love, care, and blessing of his God and Savior.-Dear sister, I can truly say with Paul, that I have continual sorrow and heaviness in my heart, for my brethren according to the flesh: but on account of none so much as you. All the rest, though not seeing with my eyes, are friendly and civil, and not willing quite to give me up: but you have totally turned your back to me:the favorite sister, whose heart seemed as closely knit to mine by the dearest and most confidential friendship, as the nearest relative ties! The very thought brings tears into my eyes, and I weep while I write to you. And what have I done to offend you?-It has pleased the Lord, through my study of his word, with prayer for that teaching which he hath promised, to lead me to a different view of the gospel of Jesus Christ, than I had embraced: and not only so, but to lead me from seeking the favor of the world, and my own glory, to seek God's favor, aim at his glory, and derive happiness from him, A happiness I have therein tasted, to which I was before a stranger-that peace of God which passeth all understanding, and which as much excels, even in this world, any thing I had before experienced, as the