all things: as it is my privilege, so I find it my happiness; but, alas! alas! I am a miserable learner. However, I set out afresh, and resolve. not to give over aiming at my lesson.. Do ever so well, I would do better; for I see in him worlds of beauty and glory, which will take up a long eternity to study, and, what is best of all, to enjoy. To my dear, dearest Jesus, I commend you and all yours. I am, very sincerely, yours, in our common Lord,

LETTER XXII.

W. R.

LAMBETH, Sept. 30, 1766.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I HAVE been carrying, here and there, the

sweet savour of Jesus's dear name, ever since I left you. I was in Sussex for a month, and have. heard, since my return, a better account of your

health, for which I am thankful. The Lord having appointed you for his heavenly kingdom, has also appointed all the steps which are to lead you thither. Every pain is in the covenant. Your confinement, your miscarriages, your faintings, your disappointments, not one thing that thwarts your will, but it is in God's will. Nothing can befal you, but what is ordered, contrived for you by wisdom, brought upon you by love. O for eyes to see, for a heart to receive, all God's dealings with you in this covenant view. How sweet would be your many trials, if you found them ALL appointed and managed for you by the best of friends. Learn to receive them thus.

I am going to Bath, and hope for a little leisure there to write to you a long letter. My subject is ready. After you receive it, I shall be glad to hear how your sentiments and mine agree. Pray remember me with many thanks to -. I am in debt more than I can acknowledge. My best respects to her. Pray for a poor worm.

W. R.

I

at

LETTER XXIII.

LAMBETH, Nov. 15, 1766.

AM indebted much to my dear friend, but among other things I owe you a note of hand, which I am now ready to pay. I wanted to talk with you at upon the temper and disposition of a true believer; but being prevented there, I promised to send you my thoughts upon this subject, which I am the more ready to do, to-day, because the reason of my making the promise not only still subsists, but is also increasing. A temper, directly contrary to the Christian; is spreading among professors. I see the delusion grow, and I am a witness to the baneful effects of it. How many, have you and I heard of, who want to be something in themselves, and rather than not be so, will be beholden to Christ to set them up with a stock of grace? They would gladly receive a talent from him, that, by being faithful to grace given, and trading well with it, they may look, with delight, on their improvements, and thereby hope to get more grace and more glory.

This is the Popish plan, the Arminian, the Baxterian, the Westlean-very flattering to nature, exceedingly pleasing to self-righteousness, very exalting, yea, it is crowning FREE WILL, and debasing King Jesus. I would be more jealous than I am, over you in this matter, if I had not seen how the Lord teaches you, and warns you of this rock. Your frequent indispositions are his sweet lessons, by which he would bring you to the true gospel frame of spirit, which is this-It is the proper work of the grace of Jesus, to humble the proud sinner, to make him, and to keep him, sensible of his wants, convinced, always, that he has not any good of his own, and cannot possibly of himself obtain any, either in earth or heaven; but what he must be receiving, every moment, out of the fulness of Jesus.

The devil fell by pride, and he drew man into the same crime. He promised him independence, and he still persuades deceived man to set up for himself. That is the scheme of all unawakened men-they are resolved to be happy in spite of God. The Spirit of Jesus is sent to humble this proud sinner, which he does, by giving him a view of God's holy nature, and God's holy law. This makes sin, and cousequently the sinner, hateful, discovers his guilt and his danger: if he at

tempt to do any thing to make God love him, the holy Spirit humbles him for that very thing, by shewing him the sinfulness of his motive, and the imperfection of the action. Whatever he seeks to rest in, the Spirit of Jesus detects the false foundation, till he leaves him no resource, but to believe in the only begotten Son of God. So that when he comes to Jesus, he is stripped of all, quite naked and blind, moneyless and friendless, empty of good as the devil and sin could make him. This is all the fitness and preparation for Christ, which I know of. And when Christ is thus received, the same Spirit which would let him, the sinner, bring nothing to Christ, will now make him bring all from Christ, and so keep kim sensible of his wants. He will teach the be

liever more daily of his poverty, weakness, unworthiness, vileness, ignorance, &c. that he may be kept humble, without any good but what he is forced to fetch out of the fulness of Jesus. And when he would go any where else for comfort, to duties, frames, gifts, and graces-(for pride will live, and thrive too, upon any thing, but Jesus) His Spirit makes them dry and lean, and wont let him stop short of the fountain-head of all true comfort. In short, he will glorify nothing but Jesus. He will stain the pride of all greatness,