temper of dutiful children; and, if that be sad and despondent, depress their spirits, blunt and take off the edge and quickness upon which their future usefulness and comfort will much depend. Were it possible their now glorious father should visit and inspect you, would you not be troubled to behold a frown in that bright serene face? You are to please a more penetrating eye, which you will best do by putting on a temper and deportment suitable to your weighty charge and duty; and to the great purposes for which God continues you in the world, by giving over unnecessary solitude and retirement, which, though it pleases, doth really prejudice you, and is more than you can bear. Nor can any rules of decency require more. Nothing that is necessary and truly Christain, ought to be reckoned unbecoming. David's example is of too great authority to be counted a pattern of indecency. The God of heaven lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and thereby put gladness into your heart; and give you to apprehend him saying to you, "Arise and walk in the light of the Lord.””

I shall next introduce two of the most extraordinary letters to be found in the page of history, both of which evince such a triumph of faith over the feelings of humanity, as to be admirably adapted to instruct and comfort all that mourn.

The Rev. Christopher Love, was a Presbyterian minister during the Commonwealth, a member of

the Westminster Assembly of Divines, and one of the London ministers who united in a protest against the death of Charles the First. He was afterwards engaged, with mar y others, in a scheme to forward the return of Charles the Second to England. Al correspondence with the exiled monarch, having been declared treason by the Act of Parliament, Mr. Love, upon the detection of the plot, was tried, convicted, and condemned as a traitor. In his conduct, whatever might be thought of it by others, he was influenced by conscientious motives, for all accounts concur, in bearing testimony to his character as an eminent christian. Great intercessions were made to the Parliament for the preservation of his life. These all failed, and he was beheaded on Tower Hill. On the day before his death, his wife addressed to him the following letter:

"My heavenly dear,

*

"I call thee so, because God hath put heaven into thee before he hath taken thee to heaven. Thou now beholdest God, Christ, and glory, as in a glass; but to-morrow heaven's gates will be opened, and thou shalt be in the full enjoyment of all those glories which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither can the heart of man understand. God hath now swallowed up thy heart in the thoughts of

• Lives of the Puritans, by Rev. B. Brook, vol. iii. p. 129—

'22.

heaven; but ere long thou shalt be swallowed up in the enjoyment of heaven! And no marvel there should be such quietness and calmness in thy spirit, whilst thou art sailing in this tempestuous sea, because thou perceivest by the eye of faith, a haven f rest, where thou shalt be richly laden with all the glories of heaven! O, lift up thy heart with joy, when thou layest thy dear head on the block, in the thoughts of this, that thou art laying thy head to rest in thy Father's bosom; which, when thou dost awake, shall be crowned, not with an earthly, fading crown, but with an heavenly, eternal crown of glory! Be not troubled when thou shalt see a guard of soldiers triumphing with their trumpets about thee; but lift up thy head, and thou shalt behold God with a guard of holy angels triumphing to receive thee to glory! Be not dismayed at the scoffs and reproaches thou mayest meet with in thy short way to heaven; for, be assured, God will not only glorify thy body and soul in heaven, but he will also make the memory of thee to be glorious on earth!

"O, let not one troubled thought for thy wife and babes rise within thee! thy God will be our God and our portion. He will be a húsband to thy widow, and a father to thy children: the grace of thy God will be sufficient for us.

66

Now, my dear, I desire willingly and cheerfully to resign my right in thee to thy Father and my Father, who hath the greatest interest in thee: and confidant I am, though men have separated us for a

time, yet God will ere long bring us together again, where we shall eternally enjoy one another, never to part more!

"O, let me hear how God bears up thy heart, and let me taste of those comforts which support thee, that they may be as pillars of marble to bear up my sinking spirit! I can write no more. Farewell, farewell, my dear, till we meet where we shall never bid farewell more; till which time I leave thee in the bosom of a loving, tender-hearted Father; and so I rest,

"Till I shall for ever rest in heaven,

"MARY LOVE."

"This excellent letter discovers the same triumph over the world in Mrs. Love, which her husband so happily experienced. She was not only surrounded by their three children, but with child of a fourth yet she passed over this circumstance in silence; and though formerly weak in grace, yet she now enjoyed strong confidence and great comfort, and animated her husband by the most encouraging considerations. Thus, 'by faith, out of weakness, she was made strong.' The next morning, being the day on which he suffered, Mr. Love returned her the following farewell epistle:

'My most gracious beloved,

"I am now going from a prison to a palace. I hav finished my work; I am now to

receive my wages. I am going to heaven, where there are two of my children; and....eaving thee on earth, where there are three of my babes: those two above need not any care; but the three below need thine. It comforts me to think two of my children are in the bosom of Abraham, and three of them will be in the arms and care of so tender and godly a mother! I know thou art a woman of a sorrowful spirit, yet be comforted. Though thy sorrows be great for thy husband's going out of the world, yet thy pains shall be the less in bringing thy child into the world: thou shalt be a joyful mother, though thou art a sad widow! God hath many mercies in store for thee: the prayers of a dying husband will not be lost. To my shame I speak it, I never prayed so much for thee at liberty, as I have done in prison. I cannot write more; but I have a few practical counsels to leave with thee; viz.—

"1. Keep under a sound, orthodox, and soul-searching ministry. O there are many deceivers gone out into the world; but Christ's sheep know his voice, and a stranger will they not follow. Attend on that ministry which teaches the way of God in truth, and follow Solomon's advice: cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the way of knowledge.

"2. Bring up thy children in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord. The mother ought to be the teacher in the father's absence. The words which his mother taught him. Timothy was instructed by his grand-mother Lois, and his mother Eunice.