I believe both you and I see cause to be thankful for the situation He has allotted us. Mine is not wholly without its trials, but its comforts and advantages are more numerous and important. I can truly say that if I had only inclination to consult, you would see me frequently, and my visits would probably be longer than my last was. I left you with regret, though I was coming home. I suppose your time of confinement is drawing near; when it comes I trust the Lord will be near likewise, and repeat to you the former experience you have had of His goodness. I hope Mr. T. will favour me with early notice of it, that I may join with you in thanksgiving. Our children send their love and duty. Eliza is a considerable sufferer, and we sympathize with her, but my dear is pretty well, and I trust the Lord does and will support her, whatever the issue may be. He is wise and good in all His dealings, and His mercies to us are new every morning, and numerous as the minutes of our lives. I have had a desire of living to Him for thirty years past and more, but I am a poor proficient, and a poor servant to this day; but as I live upon His bounty so I would rely upon His grace; I have nothing else to support my hope, for not only am I a sinner, but I see and feel sin in my very best, and were it not for the blood of sprinkling, and the power and compassion of our great HighPriest, despair would overwhelm me at last, but those words, (which I am sure are true,) "He is able to save to the uttermost," are an anchor of hope from which the enemy has not been permitted to force me.

I have begun to preach (on Sunday evenings,) from the Book of Jonah. It bears a near resemblance to my own history, and I need not go far, nor consult many books, to explain the workings of the heart of man, from Jonah's case. The recollection of many

parts of my past life, and many feelings of my own heart to this day, will furnish me with something to say upon it. When the path of duty led to the East, I have foolishly and obstinately set my face to the West. I have suffered by storms, which my own sins have raised, and if I never was in the belly of a fish, I have been in my own apprehensions, in the mouth of Hell! I have had my gourds likewise, and while I have been, admiring them, a worm has been sent to the root. Some of them have faded, and some of them are still spared. The crowning wonder and mercy of all is, that I am still spared myself!

We join in love and thanks to you and Mr. T. We remember all the younger part of your family with much love.

Please to remember us affectionately to Mr., Mrs., and Miss K. The Lord be with you, dear Madam, and bless you indeed. This is the sincere and bounden prayer of

Your much obliged and affectionate,
JOHN NEWTON.

Hoxton, 1st October, 1785.

LETTER VI.

MY DEAR SIR,

I ADDRESS my letter to you this time, to prevent the contents of it coming too abruptly upon Mrs. T., which might be the case if Mr. T. should open it in her presence. Our dear Eliza never went out of doors after she came home from you. She had a succession and a variety of pains and maladies, but on the 6th instant, (the day three weeks from her leaving your

hospitable roof,) the Lord delivered her from them all. This is the dark side of the dispensation; I have not time, nor words to describe the bright side, but I may hereafter attempt to draw up some brief account of her, which, if I do, will surely find its way to S. Four days we expected her dismission every hour, and though she suffered much, we could not but be thankful she continued so long. Her peace and confidence in God were abiding; her mouth was filled with words of grace, comforting or exhorting all around her. Often she declared she would not change conditions with any person upon earth, nor be willing to live longer here, even if restored to perfect health, for all that the world, or a thousand such worlds can afford. She smiled upon pain, she smiled upon death; for when she went, which seemed to be in a sort of slumber, she had reclined her cheek gently upon her hand, and there was almost a smile left upon her countenance. I can answer for her, as for myself, and Mrs. Newton, that she brought home with her a thankful sense of the great kindness she received at S., and spoke of you all with much affection and gratitude. Mr. and Mrs. T. knew, I trust, how our hearts beat towards them. I am glad of this opportunity of expressing my particular thanks to you for your very obliging attention to Mrs. N. and the dear child, for which I shall always hold myself your debtor. Could I pray as I ought and wish, I would make you large returns in that way. May the Lord God of your father be your God; may you together with his name and fortune inherit his character and spirit, and be no less respected, no less beloved, no less useful than he.

My dear sir, when sweet Eliza was dying, I almost wished it practicable to have set my door open, and invited all who passed by to come in and see what it

is to die in the Lord, and to hear what a child under fifteen could say of His goodness, and of the vanity of every thing short of His favour.

Please to give our hearty love to Mr. and Mrs. T. Remember us likewise affectionately to Mr. Samuel, and the Miss T.'s, and Mr. K., and his house.

8th October, 1785.

I am, dear sir,
Your much obliged servant,
JOHN NEWTON.

Mrs. Newton hopes Mr. T. will receive two pheasants by the mail coach to-morrow morning. This letter is directed to "Mr. Walter T-, junr."

LETTER VII.

MY DEAR MADAM,

YOUR letter, which we received last night, did us good; we longed to hear of you, and were sometimes full of fears, but when I considered whose you are, and whom you serve, I was more easy. You are in safe hands; the everlasting arms which hold the stars in their courses, are underneath you; the Lord is your shepherd and keeper, your sun and shield; why then should I fear for you? Or why should you fear for yourself? I hope you do not.

Yes, madam, the Lord has done great things for us since we came home. He sent a chariot of love for dear Eliza. We almost saw her mount. Surely she was in Heaven, and Heaven in her, before she left the earth. The manner of her dismission had a merciful effect upon us, so that, though it was in one

view like pulling off a limb, yet upon the whole we felt that praises were much more suitable for us than complaints. I still weep for her more or less every day, but I thank the Lord I have not dropped one tear of sorrow. My dear likewise has been wonderfully supported.

By yesterday's post I sent to Mr. T. and to Mr. K. the little narrative I have printed of Eliza's translation to glory. I will send Mr. T. two or three more if I can find a conveyance. I only printed for my friends; none will be published. Just at the time I wrote it, I could not have written an account fit for the public to see, but friends will have patience to hear little particulars as they occur to mind. The Lord bless and support you through your expected trial. May you again be the joyful mother of a lively and a lovely infant. We join in best love to Mr. T. We send our love likewise to every branch and twig in both the families. In particular I thank Miss K. for her letter to B.; please to tell her that I dropped several tears upon it. I love her doubly for the kind mention she makes of Eliza. The dear child has left me deeply in debt. I feel myself under obligations to every body who looked kindly upon her, or spoke kindly to her. Judge then (if you can), how we feel towards Mr. and Mrs. T. on her account. If I could make gold as fast as your mill makes blocks, I could not repay you, but love is better than gold. I will keep paying you in love as long as I live.

I purposed leaving the remaining part of the paper for my dear to fill up, but she says her head is very poorly, and has been for some days. I hope in her judgment she is perfectly satisfied with the Lord's will, but her feelings have been strong, and if her health and nerves are affected for a time, I shall have still