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ed by application to study, &c. will be as fit for that employ, (if the will of God) as any other. God, you know, in every thing acts as a sovereign: I will work, and who shall let it,' is his language will work by the feeblest means, and the weakest instruments. I hope you will still be kept low in your own eyes, for that, I am sure, is one quality, or rather property, of a gospel minister. At our best estate we are altogether vanity, and less than nothing. May the Lord keep us all truly humble. Luther used to say, there were three things made a minister-affliction, meditation, and prayer: that is, sanctified affliction, scriptural meditation, and earnest prayer; in which last particular I hope you are perpetually engaged. Pray, my dear friend, for direction of God--pray for grace, which is of more value, by far, than great gifts, and say in the language of resignation, hope, and faith-- Here am I, Lord, send me to labour in thy vineyard.' You have appealed to me in saying, You well know, I shall never rely on my own strength for success and usefulness. I know you will not, (at least whilst in your present mind) and I pray that God would keep you still so determined. Let us then pray, made able, useful,

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that we may both of us be

and humble ministers of the New Testament.

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I am glad to

erally hear three times a day.

find, that you gen

Young men, who

wish to be ministers, cannot hear too much of the gospel, provided they are anxious to improve on what they do hear"

I shall present the reader with nearly the whole of the following letter; and I think, that few will be found, on the perusal, who deem it unworthy of preservation. It contains a pleasing grateful (and the more pleasing as it is entirely uninfluenced) tribute to the memory of departed worth-discloses the deep attention and care with which its writer was, at that early age, accustomed to hear and reflect upon sermons, and shews how incessant and uniform was the panting of his heart for the Christian min istry.

No. 4.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Hertford, Nov. 18, 1805.

"I expected to have heard from you before now, but as I have not, it becomes me to bear the disappointment with fortitude and resolution, hoping that it will not be long before I have a few lines from you. On Saturday last, I heard that, that good and worthy man Mr. Winwood was dead. It will, I doubt not, be a great stroke to the family; but I am well assured, that to him death was eternal gain. Truly, the righteous hath hope in his death. May you and I both be found at the last day on the right hand of the Judge with our respected master! While he is tuning his harp to the praises of a precious Jesus, we have to combat with many enemies; we have many trials to pass under

Before we reach the heavenly fields,

Or walk the golden streets!*

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* Alas! lamented youth! little did he, or the friend to whom he wrote, imagine how few his trials-how short

We shall, I am persuaded, feel our own depravity in many instances here below, ere we join with him in everlasting songs above; but if we are enlisted under the banners-the blood-stained banners of the cross, we shall certainly arrive there. Let us then seek, earnestly seek, after the one thing needful ; and whilst earthly objects vanish and decay in our estimation; nay, whilst the world dies daily in our view, and its perishing things appear in their proper light-may we feel our hearts panting after the wells of salvation our souls, with all their faculfies, engaged in the noblest of all undertakings-our feet running in the good ways of God-our tongues making mention of his righteousness, and of his only-in short, may we be crucified to the world risen with Christ-and transformed into his divine image and likeness. This, I trust, I can say is my desire, and I know it is the earnest wish of my dear friend.

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Sabbath-day, Nov. 15th, I heard Mr. M

at Cowbridge, in the morning, from 1 Thes. v. 8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation.' He first shewed what was implied in Christians being of the day; secondly, enforced the exhortation of the text.

bis warfare should prove-and how soon the pious desire of his heart should be, as it respected himself, fulfilled: such and so mysterious are the ways of God-Spencer is early summoned to his rest, but his companion is left, still to maintain the conflict, whilst he mourns his losstwo men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left."-Matthew xxiv. 40.

To be of the day, he said, implied-1. a state of knowledge; 2. safety; 3. comfort, &c. In enforcing the admonition, he exhorted them to the exercise of faith and love; gave them good grounds for hope; and shewed that these three graces had a tendency to comfort and strengthen believers. In the afternoon, from Acts xvii. 30, 31. The times of this igno

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rance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent, because he hath appointed day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" He considered-1. the certainty of a future judgment; 2. the person of the Judge; 3. the circumstances of the day; 4. the necessity of repentance inferred from the text. He, indeed, is a worthy man, and appears well suited for a missionary. In the evening 1 heard Mr. L at the Chapel, from John iii. 14. For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,' &c. He said many good things, and is very earnest in the good cause. Last Lord's day we had Mr. Magain; text in the morning, Heb. vi. 11. we desire, that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.' He considered-1. the thing mentioned-the full assurance of hope; 2. shewed that it might be attained; 3. exhorted them to diligence in aspiring after it. Time and room forbid me to make any remarks upon the sermon (which was a good one) in the afternoon, from Acts xvi. 9. And then stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, come over and help us.' In discoursing on it, he

And

shewed-1. that the heathens want help; 2. that it is the duty of ministers and people to give it them; and 3. that men should exert themselves for the purpose. It appeared like a collection sermon; and he went afterwards and got a little money of a few friends at Hertford, for the mission to China.

"In the evening, having been previously invited, I went at six o'clock to Mr. K- -'s, to see the minister. I was there during family worship; and after that, Mr. M. and self went up stairs to talk a little together. He asked me about my learning, &e. then how long I had been seriously disposed, &c. He appeared satisfied with my answers, and asked me if I was not going into the country; I told him 'yes.' He asked me if I should have an opportunity of attending to my books there. This naturally led to the whole affair: he seemed glad, and asked me if I designed to be a minister in this country. I told him I wished to be quite resigned to the will of Providence in that matter. gave me some good advice; and then we knelt down, and he engaged in a short and affectionate prayer. I was much affected with the advice, conversation, and prayer.

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your

He

attachment

I am sensible that to me is as unshaken as ever. I hope you pray that both of us may be made ministers of the gospel; and, in some future day, have our wishes respecting that completely fulfilled. I am ve

ry desirous that you may be shortly placed in a situation in which you will have more leisure for reading, writing, studying, &c. O that you were going with me to Harwich. Still continue to pray

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