time, the small measure of suffering allotted to us will be accomplished, and all the tears of the redeemed will be wiped away; and I have not the shadow of a doubt before me, that this will, by and by, in the Lord's time, be our happy experience. Let us then, improve every talent, that the five may gain other five, and we finally receive the answer of "well done." Let us be faithful and vigilant, in the stewardship committed unto us; and let slip no opportunity of doing good. Let it be remembered, that our blessed Lord did not say to those on His right hand, whom He pronounced "blessed," ye have preached many excellent sermons, ye have been frequent and fervent in prayer; but, "I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me;" "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." I will not say to thee, my dear friend, go and do likewise, but continue to do likewise.* JOHN THORP. * In the letter to which this was the reply, the stewardship of almsgiving had been estimated very low, compared with that of a gospel minister; and therefore J. T. appears to have thought it right, for the encouragement of his friend, to look at the opposite side of the question; but his opinion of the insufficiency of good works alone, is very evident from many passages in his letters; see Nos. 44 and 55. Letter XLIII. TO RICHARD REYNOLDS. My dear Friend, Manchester, 12th Mo. 18, 1804. I am glad to hear thy removal to Bristol answers thy expectation. I heartily unite with thee in sentiment, that in advanced age, quietness and retirement are desirable; indeed it has always seemed desirable to me, and through life I should have sought it in a greater degree than I have done, if I could have been more hid, without hiding also the talent I have received. The account thou givest of thyself, and of thy experiences in spiritual things, though low in thy own estimation, are, so far as I know, very similar to those which ever have been, and ever will be given, by all the elect children of our Heavenly Father, when speaking of themselves, (making allowance for difference of complexion, and the different purposes for which different vessels may be formed.) I believe what thou hast expressed, concerning thyself, would be very much the language of them all, so that I have no manner of doubt but thou art walking in that way which hath been cast up for the ransomed, and meeting with a due proportion of those crosses, trials, and refining tribulations, through which the redeemed have ever trodden to glory. The enemy, as he hath ever done, seeketh to cast down when he cannot set people up; he trieth every way, so far as he is permitted, (for his power is limited,) to disturb, to discourage, and any way he can to hinder the Lord's work, the work of salvation, from going forward; but our gracious and Almighty Helper, He is the Prince of Peace, and He delighteth to encourage, to strengthen, to lift up the hands that hang down, and to "confirm the feeble knees:" He will give peace to those who love Him, and the victory to all who follow Him. O! saith my soul, that all those who know and love Him, who is the true Shepherd, who offered up Himself a propitiatory sacrifice for their complete redemption, that all who believe in Him might be strengthened, at all times to put their whole trust in Him, for they who trust in Him shall never be confounded; and to all these He is saying, again and again, for their encouragement, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." I have, indeed, in some of my letters to thee, recommended care and faithfulness in the stewardships to which, in the course of an allwise Providence, thou hast been appointed; and this I have always done, if I am not mistaken, from a feeling impression and view, at the time, that the blessed Master would be honoured, and thy own happiness, both here and for ever, thereby promoted. I have had no particular object or occasion in view; nor have I had the least apprehension that, compared with others, nay, with any other that I ever knew, thou wast at all deficient in this great duty. I am not saying this by way of apology; I know I need make none to thee; for, as it is likely that, before very many years, thou wilt go to thy treasure, I wish thou mayst, and I have no doubt thou wilt, find much laid up in heaven. I speak on this subject with freedom, because thou hast ears to hear; and because I never heard, nor ever shall hear, of any who thought they had done too much good; that they had sympathized too much with their brethren in a low estate, and been too attentive to the wants and sufferings of their fellow-creatures; and that they had taken too much care and pains to endeavour to relieve them. Perhaps I have said too much, but knowing that thou art wise to discriminate, I have no fear of misleading thee, either into right or left-hand errors; so, wishing thee the glorious reward of good labours, I remain, thy sincerely affectionate friend, JOHN THORP. Letter XLFV. TO RICHARD REYNOLDS. My dear Friend, Manchester, 12th Mo. 25, 1804. I will relate to thee, at this time, a short anecdote which I had from James Thornton, of America, one of the first of the first rank who have visited us from that quarter of the world. He said, when Anthony Benezet was in his last illness, and very near his death, he went to see him. Anthony had been long distinguished, as a lover and benefactor of mankind; but when James came into the room, he said he never had been more deeply impressed, with a sense of spiritual poverty, than he was at that time; and as he sat under these feelings, a view opened, how little all the merits of good works can avail, or be relied on, at such a time, or any thing short of our holy Redeemer. He took leave of him under these impressions, and the good man died I think very soon after, and James attended his burial; but, he said, when he entered into the house, it felt to him as if it were Divinely perfumed; something so like the opening of heaven, and a sense of the Divine Presence, as he had at no other time experienced. What a striking conformity between the death of this good man and that of his |