ernment of Christ, the King of Righteousness and Prince of Peace; and therefore do not see the necessity of being born again, before they can see this kingdom, which none can enter but those who are first "converted, and become as little children." All these believing in the Scriptures, and the power of God, believe also in Christ; for They are one, and these know the truth of His blessed promise, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: " and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." Where then, my friend, is the distinction thou thinkest should be more strongly marked, between Jesus Christ in spirit, and His Father, dwelling in us?

I have written far more than I had a view of; but my heart was full, and I yet feel a measure of that love that beareth and hopeth all things, in which I desire for thee, as for myself, an establishment upon that Foundation, which God hath laid in Sion, and which never can be shaken. Endeavour after stillness, quietness, retirement, and resig

nation ; and in the simplicity of a little child, wait upon God, and watch unto prayer that He may be pleased to show thee, as in time past, the way He would have thee to go, and whether the path thou hast lately trodden, be the way to the wilderness, or the way which He hath cast up for thee to the city of God. Be jealous over thyself with a godly jealousy; ponder the paths of thy feet, and watch against that grand adversary of man's happiness, which first beguiled the woman in paradise, and hath cast down many of the stars of heaven, which, if they had humbly abode in a state of dependance upon Him, who appointed them their place and station, would have been fixed in the firmament of His power for ever.

I feel the love of our Heavenly Father moving in my heart for thee. I feel compassion for thy family, and for all those who may look to thee for direction; and strong are the desires that I feel, that, in that awful day when inquisition shall be made for blood, thou mayst be found pure from the blood of all men.

I am thy sincere friend,

JOHN THORP.

Letter XXXV.

TO RICHARD REYNOLDS.

Manchester, 12th Mo. 3, 1802.

My dear Friend,

Within a few months back I have spent many hours in the company of thy son and daughter Rathbone, to my own satisfaction, and I hope not unacceptably to them. The death of my dear friend Robert Benson, furnished an occasion for this opportunity. For fourteen years I had been intimately acquainted with that dear man, and his friendship hath been to me fruitful of much comfort. This is one of those losses (I had like to have said evils) that advanced age subjects us to; with this aggravation, that, at that season of life, the loss cannot be repaired. For him there is no cause to mourn; he has gained, I have no doubt, an admittance into the glorious Church Triumphant.

I know not whether any body may have thought it worth telling thee, that I have spent a month in London this last summer. I had for some time wished for an opportu

nity, in some easy way, to sit with my friends. in all the meeting houses in London; and believing it right to pay a visit to my relations there, particularly my eldest brother, now nearly seventy-three years old, in a declining state of health, and an only sister, in much the same condition, I thought this would be a convenient time for me to accomplish my prospects, with regard to my friends. Accordingly, I was at all their meetings, and some in the neighbourhood, to my own satisfaction and peace, and, for aught I know, to the satisfaction of my friends also, for they everywhere behaved to me with the greatest kindness.

I am thy affectionate friend,

JOHN THORP.

Letter XXXVI.

Το

Manchester, 12th Mo. 20, 1802.

My dear Friend,

Were it not that I have a fixed disapprobation to dabbling and quackery, in diseases of the mind as well as body, thou wouldst probably have heard from me in this way before now; but I know that wounds, however skilfully treated, even under the care of the best physician, must have time to heal ; and inward stillness and quietness certainly contribute much to this desirable end. But in looking at thy situation, with some degree of solicitude, and desire for thy preservation in the way of holiness and of holiness and peace, there arose some sentiments in my mind, that I thought it would be best, in the freedom of true friendship, I had almost said in the liberty of the Gospel, to communicate.

We are told, by an Authority which we are both willing to acknowledge, that "all things work together for good to them that love God," and who are willing to manifest their