Christ, that he who spends most for him, gets most from him. O that my journey may be of this kind; to your profit and mine: and to Christ's glory. I know not what time it will be; but will not wait on you, without first acquainting you, and knowing what time will be to you the most agreeable.

I am sure you do not wish better than I do. All my advice is turned into prayer. You will give my love to Mr., of whom I hear good things. Mrs. R. desires her kind love to you and family. We had yesterday, such a solemn time, as I never expected to see in London. It was very truly a GOOD FRIDAY. My hopes revive for this guilty land; for them that honour me, says God, I will honour: I am sure he was honoured yesterday. Let me, my good friend, not in compliment I ask, be remembered by you in prayer. I am for my dear Lord's sake, your friend and servant.

W. R.

LETTER L.

November 16, 1780s

MY DEAR FRIEND,

WAVE after wave-trouble after trouble.

no ceasing, till we get into the haven. I do not wish you out of them, but to profit by them. The furnace is to refine gold; so faith, proved, improved, yea, perfected by trials. Mind what the great Refiner says "I will bring the third "part through the fire, and I will refine them as "silver is refined, and I will try them as gold is "tried. They shall call on my name, and I will "hear them. I will say, "It is my people," and "they shall say, "The Lord is iny God." O bles sed furnace !-What! is this the effect of being put into it? Does the Son of God appear for, and with his suffering members?-Does he keep off the evil of suffering-give patience under it, profit from it-deaden the life of sense-quicken the

life of faith-and thus bring more real good to his people from their trials than from all the comforts that ever they had? Say-It is great, an uncommon great trial: the furnace is heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. Still, this is not to destroy faith, but to refine and exalt it. The plain lesson from hence, to be learned is, we must now trust more to the Lord and less to self. His strength must be our safety, and not our weakness. His blessings must be our happiness. I write these things, because I am praying for them. It is not so much advice as prayer. I know my Lord CAN, I believe my Lord WILL help you in this time of need. Whatever interest I have with him is yours. None feel for

you, or can, more than I do.

I am thankful, however, for the grace of God, given unto you at this trying time. The furnace is intended, in the Father's hand, to prove faith, and to improve it. He puts it into the fire, like gold, that, upon trial, it may appear sterling, and that, losing nothing but dross, we may learn to trust him better. You now see and know that his trials of faith are acts of love. The burning bush, so far from being consumed in the flames, is cherished by them, and grows- Blessed be the name of our God, I find the miracle repeated in our

visitations. In faith and patience you possess your soul: yea, the smell of fire does not pass upon you. Where could you have learned what God has been teaching you, so soon, or so well? All is well. May you see more of his love in every dispensation! Trust him. Go on trusting, without doubt or wavering, and he will grant you your heart's desire. I commend myself very earnestly to your remembrance in the best place. Mention me to your divine and almighty friend, in whom I am, with my best wishes, your obliged servant.

W. R.

P. S. Our text to-morrow is-We are the true circumcision, &c. Phil. iii. 3. God fulfil it, and

give us this communion with the Trinity!

LETTER LI

May 16, 1782.

I

MY DEAR FRIEND,

COULD not neglect this opportunity of as-suring you, how much I remember you in the best place. Our Lord knows the needs must of suffering: he loves you too well to deprive you of your portion. He himself went, and ALL his go, the same way to glory. They drink of the brook in the way; and they drink it out of the cup of salvation. True, it is bitter. I find it very bitter :: as unpalatable as you can find it. But I am pray-ing it may prove more salutary to you and to me: and this it cannot do, while we murmur and ́ complain. It is sent to stop this working of selfwill. The flesh is impatient, and frets: the spirit stops its rebellion, and says-" Not my will Lord, but thine be done." Amen! May this be the