Letter XXXV.

TO RICHARD REYNOLDS.

My dear Friend,

Manchester, 12th Mo. 3, 1802.

Within a few months back I have spent many hours in the company of thy son and daughter Rathbone, to my own satisfaction, and I hope not unacceptably to them. The death of my dear friend Robert Benson, furnished an occasion for this opportunity. For fourteen years I had been intimately acquainted with that dear man, and his friendship hath been to me fruitful of much comfort. This is one of those losses (I had like to have said evils) that advanced age subjects us to; with this aggravation, that, at that season of life, the loss cannot be repaired. For him there is no cause to mourn; he has gained, I have no doubt, an admittance into the glorious Church Triumphant.

I know not whether any body may have thought it worth telling thee, that I have spent a month in London this last summer. I had for some time wished for an opportunity, in some easy way, to sit with my friends in all the meeting-houses in London; and believing it right to pay a visit to my relations there, particularly my eldest brother, now nearly seventy-three years old, in a declining state of health, and an only

sister, in much the same condition, I thought this would be a convenient time for me to accomplish my prospects, with regard to my friends. Accordingly, I was at all their meetings, and some in the neighbourhood, to my own satisfaction and peace, and, for aught I know, to the satisfaction of my friends also, for they everywhere behaved to me with the greatest kindness. I am thy affectionate friend,

JOHN THORP.

Letter XXXVE.

To

My dear Friend,

Manchester, 12th Mo. 20, 1802.

Were it not that I have a fixed disapprobation to dabbling and quackery, in diseases of the mind as well as body, thou wouldst probably have heard from me in this way before now; but I know that wounds, however skilfully treated, even under the care of the best physician, must have time to heal; and inward stillness and quietness certainly contribute much to this desirable end. But in looking at thy situation, with some degree of solicitude, and desire for thy preservation in the way of holiness and peace, there arose some sentiments in my mind, that

I thought it would be best, in the freedom of true friendship, I had almost said in the liberty of the Gospel, to communicate.

We are told, by an Authority which we are both willing to acknowledge, that "all things work together for good to them that love God," and who are willing to manifest their love by their obedience; if so, the late painful, or deeply trying event which thou hast experienced, is one of those "all things," which the Lord Almighty would bless and sanctify to thy spiritual improvement, thy increasing refinement, and perfect purification: and then, the little time thou mayst have to stay, will be abundantly blessed, both to thyself and others, by giving thee an opportunity, through Divine help, of filling up more fully the measure of thy duty, both to thy generation, and to the Lord thy God, the bountiful Author of all thy sure mercies.

Do not think, my dear friend, that now thy very dear, dear companion is removed to his place, I have no doubt, in the glorious Church Triumphant, that thou hast nothing to do, but sit down and lament his loss. This would be a poor return for the favour of having had his company for many years. It would be a poor return of gratitude to Him who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. No, no, my dear friend, we are accountable for ourselves, for all the favours, for all the mercies,

for all our time, and for the talents we have received to occupy with; and nothing but faithfulness and diligence, in doing the will of God from the heart, and making a sacrifice of our own, will ever enable us to give in our account with joy.

There is no combination of circumstances, or peculiarity of situation, in which we can be placed, wherein it will be safe for us to lay down plans for our own movements, or to circumscribe our own path. "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" is expressive of that state of mind we should aspire after; and to be able to pray, "not my will, but Thine," O Lord, "be done,” in me, and by me, in my house, in my family, " on earth as it is in heaven." This is the acceptable state, which the Lord will bless. O! that our dwelling might be here, where holy help would be afforded, to walk before the Lord with acceptance, in that way which He hath cast up for us.

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As I believe it has been thy care, (and will now be thy comfort,) beyond many others, to please and honour him whom the Lord gave to be thy husband, so now it hath pleased Him, who doth all things right, to remove thy husband to a better country and inheritance; that which I wish for thee, my dear friend, is, that thou mayst. cleave more closely, devote thyself more entirely to Him, who is a husband to the widow, the orphan's only hope, the God in whom the

fatherless find mercy; and then, I know, He will guide thee continually, and "satisfy thy soul in drought," and thou shalt be as a watered garden. He will be thy support and thy counsellor; He will bear up thy head above the troubled waters, and will enable thee to lift up to Him, the hands which are ready to hang down, and confirm the feeble knees: for, blessed be His holy name for ever, it is His delight to do good to those who love Him, and whose dependance is on Him alone.

Thus it is in my heart, from the Fountain of that consolation which is in Christ Jesus, to speak comfortably to thee, and to encourage thee in the name of Him who is " touched with the feeling of our infirmities," to trust in His name; and then He will bless thee, and thy children with thee, and enable thee to fulfil all His will.

I am, with true love to thee and all thy dear children, in which my wife unites, thy affectionate friend,

JOHN THORP.