tent with our condition, and repining at Providence ;, a melancholy temper, and a fretful carriage. Trifling company, and worldly pleasures, will serve only to aggravate the misery, and make us inwardly mourn, that while others are in the elevations of mirth, we are pressed with a weight of calamity; whereas, by means of those sovereign consolations, afflictions may be improved to the health of the mind, and become a most salutary expedient for furthering our spiritual happiness. Can any thing be more, or equally comfortable, than the privileges recorded in that charter of our salvation, the Scriptures? There we are told, that as many as truly believe in Jesus Christ, are children' of the Almighty; that the Lord who commandeth the waters, the glorious God who maketh the thunder, the everlasting King who ruleth all things in heaven and earth, is their Father; he pities them as a father pities his own children, Psalm ciii. 13.; and that a mother may sooner forget her sucking child, than he can remit his tender care for their present welfare and endless felicity, Isaiah xlix. 15. That because we are sinners, Christ Jesus, with infinitely more than parental tenderness, bore our sins, and expiated all our guilt, in his own bleeding body upon the tree, 1 Peter ii. 24. Because we frequently offend, and always fail, our merciful High-priest ever liveth to make intercession for us, and to plead his divine merits in our behalf, Heb. vii. 25. Because we have many corruptions within, and are assaulted by various temptations without, we have a promise of the blessed Spirit to subdue our corruptions, Gal. iii. 14.; Ezek. xxxvi. 27. and renew us after the image of him who created us, Col. iii. 10. Because we are liable to manifold misfortunes, and visited with a variety of sorrows, the same Holy Spirit is promised, under the amiable character of a Comforter, John xv. 7.; Luke xi. 13. Because all flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof (the youth, the beauty, the wealth, all mortal acçom plishments, and every worldly enjoyment) is withering, and transient as the flower of the field, (Isa. xl. 6.) the Scriptures direct our view, and consign over to our faith a most incomparable reversionary inheritance; an inheritance reserved in heaven for us, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. i. 4. Are these things, I would ask the physicians, likely to deject the mind, or oppress it with heaviness? Need their patients fear an aggravation of distresses from the offer, from the enjoyment of such blessings? Much more reasonably might the bleeding wound fly from the lenient hand, dread the healing balm, and court its cure from the viper's envenomed tooth. Have these truths a tendency to engender gloomy apprehensions, as the medical gentlemen are too apt to imagine, or do these increase the load which galls the afflicted mind? Rather, what heart (that attends to, and believes such glad tidings) can forbear even leaping for joy? These are calculated to put off our sackcloth, and gird us with gladness, are enough to turn the groans of grief into the songs of gratitude. Cheered by these reviving considerations, supported by this blessed hope, the ancient Christians were more than conquerors over all their calamities; they even gloried in tribulations, because these were the appointed way to the kingdom of heaven, Acts xiv. 22. They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had, in the world above, a better and more enduring substance, Heb. x. 34. They perceived with complacency the decay of their earthly tabernacle; because there remained for them, after their dissolution, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, 2 Cor. v. 1. Perhaps we may not arrive at such heights of heroic and triumphant exultation; but surely we should try those remedies, which in their case were so surprisingly and happily successful. Upon the whole, a peaceful composure of mind, and calm resignation to the all-wise will of God; a holy joy in the merits of our ever-blessed Redeemer, and a well-grounded hope of unutterable and immortal bliss in a better world; these, these are more absolutely needful for a case like this, and will do more towards relief, than all the drugs that nature produces. And very sure I am, that these noble anodynes are dispensed no where but in the Scriptures; are to be procured no otherwise than by prayer. Other methods may stupify for a moment, but will not remove the pain, much less introduce permanent ease. I speak not this from mere speculation, or conjectural probability. I have myself experienced the efficacy of the preceding expedients for these desirable purposes. Having been a sort of veteran in affliction, I have been under a necessity of applying these consolations; and have the utmost reason to bear witness, that there are none like them. The Scriptures are the treasury of joy and peace, and the truly religious are generally the most uniformly cheerful. If you apprehend what I have here advanced on the means of obtaining true cheerfulness and solid peace of mind, may be in any measure instrumental to the comfort of your friend, you would do well perhaps to communicate it, as I presume you are not ashamed of appearing in the recommendation of the Bible. The physicians would probably sneer at such sort of advice, but the arguments will not be the less valid on that account; and if their patient be seriously disposed, such sneers would have little or no effect. Do you recollect Dr Young's lines in the Eighth Night? -Wouldst thou not laugh, This counsel strange should I presume to give- There truths abound of sovereign aid to peace. * See Letter CLX. in this volume. But these, thou think'st, are gloomy paths to joy : Or talk with threatening death, and not turn pale? Though my letter is much longer than I at first intended, and stands in need of an apology for its prolixity, I cannot conclude without giving you a fresh assurance, that amongst the great number of those who esteem and respect you, there is not one of them who more sincerely regards you than, good sir, your most obedient, and very humble servant. LETTER LVII. Weston-Favell, July 23. 1749. DEAR SIR,-THE favour you have done me, in presenting me with Mr Moses Brown's works, was far from my expectation. Please to accept my best thanks for the gift, which, I dare say, will in the perusal prove perfectly agreeable, and not a little useful. I hope the divine Providence will give his Sunday Thoughts an extensive spread, and make them an instrument of diffusing the savour of true religion. Seldom, if ever, have I seen a treatise that presents the reader with so full, yet concise a view; so agreeable, yet so striking a picture of true Christianity, in its most important articles, and most distinguishing peculiarities. Though I am utterly unacquainted with the author, I assure myself he is no novice in the sacred school, and has more than a speculative knowledge of the gospel; every page discovers traces of an excellent heart, that has itself experienced what the muse sings. I am, &c. LETTER LVIII. Weston-Favell, July 29. 1749. THANKS to my dear friend for his welcome letter. It imparted joy to my heart; and having communicated pleasure to our family, is gone (part of it, I mean) to make glad your children and your friends at Northampton. I must confess, I never was so much disheartened at your disorder as many others were, even though the physicians themselves had given you over; and though I have been often accosted by some of your cordial well-wishers with such saddening addresses, "I am sorry, sir, to hear that Dr S is gone to Bristol, without any likelihood of returning alive." I really believe that God has some signal work for you to do. He that has snatched the brand from the fire, and made it a polished shaft in his quiver, will not, I persuade myself, so soon cast it away, or break it to pieces. I have a strong presage, that almighty Goodness will continue you as an instrument to glorify his Son Jesus Christ, and to turn many to righteousness, years and years after I am gone hence, and seen no more. And I bless, together with you, his holy name, for confirming so far my apprehensions, as to begin the work of your recovery from so deplorable an illness. May he do in this case as he will in the more important affair of our eternal salvation, thoroughly accomplish what he has graciously begun! Your family is in prosperity; your olive plants thrive, and are glossy with health. I asked Sally, Where her papa was, and how he did? and her pretty little lips lisped, Very bad, and gone to Bristol. Think, my friend, when you remember those sweet and engaging children, think on that delightful promise in Scripture, Can a mother forget her sucking child? yea, she may forget, yet will not I forget thee, Isa. xlix. 15. From my heart I pity your sufferings; but if I |