From what I have faid, Sir, you fee my flate has been diftreffing. But yet I rejoice in the teftimony of my confcience, that I pleafe God. And though I defire to be all devoted to him, I see myself so unaccountably deficient, that I am unwilling to form any judgment of my real flate. But this I know, the Lord has done much for me; and fometimes I feel an affurance that I am clean through his word. I hope one day to attain all that he has prepared for me. I feel true contrition on account of the little progrefs I have made: and fee myself like a veffel on a tempefluous fea, exposed to the florms and dangers of a hazardous voyage.
There are fome perfons, if I was afked why they exift? I could only answer, Lord thou knoweft! I am one of these; and am fo deeply conscious of my uselessnefs, and feem fo incapable of living to any good purpose, that I cannot help defiring to escape from the task of life, to which on all accounts I feem fo unequal.
I hope to hear from you foon; and that you will favour with your advice and prayers, your obliged and ever affectionate Friend and Servant,
ALETTER to the Rev. Mr., on the FAITH of
Make no doubt, in this we shall agree,
That fince the grace of God for all is free,
That all who feek the precious gift shall find,
The faith, which leaves no doubt or fear behind.
Thoufands of fouls who fear the living God,
And wait obedient to his every nod,
Who would not for the world their Lord offend
May ftill have doubts and fears on them attend.
But why is this? Sure not for want of love
In him whofe bowels o'er his creatures move,
Who cannot take delight in human woe,
Nor please himself to fee us mourning go.
Would Jefus blame our doubts, if 'twas his will,
That we, his followers fhould be doubting ftill?
"O thou of little faith, why doft thơu doubt ?
Have I not faid, I'll caft no finner out?
Behold my loving arms extended wide;
Behold the cross, on which thy Saviour died?
Behold for thee the fountain opened wide;
Behold my wounded feet, my hands and fide!
Behold the rage of my malignant foes;
Behold my foul oppreft with mighty woes!
Behold me bow my princely head and die!
Why doft thou doubt my love? Say, finner, why ?"
I doubt (replies the finner) not thy love,
But this, that I have nought thy grace to move;
I doubt myself, and my deceitful heart;
I doubt I never fhall perform my part!
"Your every work which lies on you to do,
Is to believe, and bring obedience duc.
Then watch and pray: ufe every means of grace,
And humbly wait on me; and I will chafe
Your proud infulting foes from off the field,
And you fhall triumph by my power upheld.”
Sure here's enough to filence doubt and fear,
Since Chrift our mighty Head is always near
His people's fide, and to the fight leads on,
Nor ever leaves them till their work is done.
Come, then, my friend, and let us both adore
The power and love of Chrift; and never more
Conceive his favours partial to mankind;
Bat preach the grace which every foul may find.
With joy unfpeakable do they rejoice
Who now believe, and hear their Shepherd's voice,
And follow him. On all the fons of God
The witness of the Spirit is beftowed.
No less than three bear record here on earth,
To afcertain the Man of heavenly birth;
That we may know what things are freely given
To us of God, to make us meet for heaven.
No longer then let gloomy doubt remain ;
For fure these things were never wrote in vain :
This faith will peace afford; and nought but this
Can banifh forrow and create our blifs.
LADY on her Birth-Day, being The First of
APRIL.
ET others write for by-defigns,
I feck fome moral in my lines,
Which whofoever reads must bear,
Or great, or learned, or young, or fair :
Permit me then, with friendly lay,
To moralize your April-Day.
Checquered your native month appears,
With funny gleams and cloudy tears;
'Tis thus the world our truft beguiles,
Its frowns as tranfient as its fmiles;
Nor pain, nor pleasure long will stay;
For life is but an April-Day.
Health will not always last in bloom,
But age and fickness furely come;
Aré friends beloved? Why Fate muft feize
Or thefe from you, or you from thefe;
Forget not, earnest in your play;
For youth is but an April-Day.
When Piety and Fortune move
Your heart to try the bands of love,
As far as duty gives you power,
Guillefs enjoy the prefent hour ::.
Gather your rofe-buds while you may,
For love is but an April-Day.
What clouds foe'er without are seen,
O may they never reach within;
But Virtue's fronger fetters bind
The ftrongest tempeft of the mind:
Calm may you shoot your fetting ray,
And funshine end your April-Day,
The WEATHER-COCK: an Epigram.
AIL, verfile emblem of the human mind,
True to thyfelf, and model of mankind:
Thy only virtue is in them a' vice;
This moment, thus, the next quite otherwise.
Thine an effect of nature's potent laws,
As theirs felf-intereft, or felf-love the cause.
Thy various motions point which way inclined,
The fixed or varied current of the wind:
Theirs only prove how fickle are their own,
How weakly grounded, and how little known.
First this, then that; then this, then that again
Now afl a-go, and now a midler ftrain.
Such is mankind, creation's reftlefs heir,!
Than windless certain, and more light than air ?
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