times, as my mind sinks into submission, I am permitted to feel a little quietness and peace, and sometimes, for causes that I do not clearly know, I experience considerable conflicts; but, as I said before, I have no doubt this is all in mercy. I know Him in whom I have believed, and my soul desires to bow in submission to all His dispensations.

I do not know how I come to write so much about myself, unless it be to convince thee, if thou also shouldst sometimes pass through seasons of deep humiliation and abasement, that thou art not indeed the poorest of the spiritual family. Nay, if thou wert to think thy case was not at all to be compared to others, I myself have thought so too; how often have I been ready to say,yes, thus good people may sometimes pass through these baptisms, perhaps for their further purification, or it may be to enable them to speak more feelingly to others: but what is that to me? I have reason to fear mine is rather a state than a baptism, and proceeds from the unrenewed condition of my own heart. What else can be the reason N*

why I am so insensible of good, and sit meeting after meeting as the "heath in the desert;" nay, even when testimonies are borne, I am like the deaf adder. Thus many a time, in years that are now past, hath my poor mind been "tossed with tempest, and not comforted ;" and thus, at seasons, am I permitted, in measure, to be exercised to this day. Many a time have I said in my heart, Lord, if these dispensations are intended to make me feel what I am without thee, and what I am but; that of myself I can do nothing; that "there is none good but One, and that is God;" if to convince me of this, be thy gracious purpose, surely it is enough; I am full of this conviction. Notwithstanding, when I consider what the ever blessed Master suffered for us, when He trod the wine-press alone, and gave "His life a ransom for many, "I am even ashamed to think any thing of what we meet with of the na-` ture of suffering in our daily Christian warfare. No, my dear friend, let us rather glory in tribulations also, inasmuch as we are made thereby more conformable to His blessed example, who was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”

In

I have just now, since writing the above, given thy last kind Christian letter a fresh reading; upon which I know not that I have much to remark, except that thou thinkest too ill of thyself, and too well of me. both respects, perhaps, this letter may help to set thee right. On the subject of human infirmities, I once heard (and I thought it did me good) a truly living, humble minister of the gospel say, that though he could or durst not say, that he loved the Lord his God with all his heart, and his neighbour as himself, he could say this, that he had not left off striving to arrive at that attainment. Let us, then, keep up the warfare as good soldiers of Christ. O! let us be careful and diligent in this important business. Let not the

world have too much of our time or attention; we, at our time of life, must very soon leave it. Be encouraged, my dear friend, to persevere in the Christian warfare, against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Occupy with the talents received ; attend to thy. stewardship, both of grace and the things of this life. Do all the good the blessed Master bids thee do, both to the souls and bodies

of men; and then, never fear when the day of reckoning shall come, thou shalt receive the answer of "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Let us number our mercies, and commemorate the many favours, preservations, and deliverances, that have been hitherto vouchsafed unto us, and bless the name of Him who lives for ever, for what He hath given, and for all He hath denied ; and when His fatherly corrections and chastisements may be exercised upon us, those certain evidences of filiation, O that we may be enabled, in feeling submission, to kiss the rod ! Thus would all the gracious designs of our heavenly Father be accomplished, and all His dispensations sanctified unto us.

Remember my love affectionately to thy wife, whom I wish well on her way to the heavenly country, and am, with sincere love, thy affectionate friend,

JOHN THORP.

Letter XXXIII.

TO RICHARD REYNOLDS.

Manchester, 1st Mo. 21, 1802.

My dear Friend,

Although Robert Barnard hath written to acquaint the Darby family of our safe return, yet that does not excuse me from furnishing thee with the same information,

We got home the day after we left you, a little after four o'clock; the roads were good, and our journey as pleasant as the severe season would admit; but what reconciled every thing to me was, that my mind was favoured with sweet peace, as, through great mercy, I had been made willing to do what I believe the blessed Master bid me do, without attempting more. Surely we do not serve a hard Master! Many, many times, from early age, hath my heart been filled with this acknowledgement. There never was so good a Master; who gave such excellent wages for such imperfect work; who is not watching over us for evil, but for good; not taking occasions against us, but forgiving, pitying,