CCCXLIV.

To my dear Old Folks.

March 7, 1810.

BETTER," says the wise man, "is the end of a thing than the beginning, and the day of death than the day of one's birth." All men are born to trouble, and a brother is born for adversity; but death is the end of adversity, and the last step in the path of tribulation. God loved us in Christ from all eternity; he rejoices over us when we repent and turn from our evil ways, and he tells us that the death of his saints is precious in his sight. Our day is almost spent, our sand is running out; the evening, the pay table, and the uninterrupted rest, are all before us, and just at hand. And remember that the grand badge of the Lord's disciples is love to one another; "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

There are two things, James, to which we must attend. One is, to be patient and hope to the end. Hope will keep our head above water; it will weigh heavy in our scale, and counteract all that Satan and his allies can suggest against it; it is "everlasting consolation and, good hope through grace." And Peter

says, "We must hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the appearing of Jesus Christ." The next thing is faith: we must not cast away our confidence, by giving ground to Satan. Every revival will animate God himself is the friend of faith and hope, and will not suffer them to be borne down.

and quicken faith.

James, God bless thee; remember me to old Peg, and to the noble one; so prays

THE COALHEAVER

CCCXLV.

DEAR FRIEND,

THE good work goes on among us, blessed be God. This world is God's stage; the conversion of souls is God's work, and preaching the gospel is bringing men under their great trial for eternity; and, as this decides the fate of men, so will the day of judgment confirm it. God takes one of a city, and two of a tribe, and brings them to Zion. As far as I can judge, thou hast gotten the earnest, which secures the prize of the high calling; the greatest of the greatest of all benefits. "The lot is cast into the lap, the whole disposal thereof is of the Lord"

the Spirit, who is our part and lot of this matter, Acts viii. 21; and condescends to manifest himself by the instrumentality of the living creature, who gives divine motions to the wheels, so as to keep them in perpetual rotation.

All the externals of the church's devotions; such as open profession and coufession; attending the means, and treading the Lord's courts; hearing, reading, praying, watching and waiting; bearing the cross, and keeping up a close walk with God; are the works of the outward or external wheels, which are said to be full of eyes, because fresh light and new discoveries are daily made to the soul by a diligent attendance on the means, whereby we obtain the light of love, the light of joy, and the light of knowledge; besides the eye of faith, which sees things that are invisible, and the eyes of the understanding, which comprehends something of the heights and depths of divine love. Thus

light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." But then there is another wheel in the middle of this, which is the life and spring of the outward wheels; and that is the quickening influences of the Holy Spirit, giving motion to his own implanted grace. He descends from the Father through the Mediator to us, and enters with all his heavenly crop of divine fruits. These spring up in our spiritual sacrifices to God, while the.

gracious speech: "He that recieveth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward; and whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." Matt. x. 41, 42. He is truly God, and the God of truth, that spake these promises; and it was the promised power of truth that made my friends obedient thereto. And, if Jesus Christ be the author of my faith, the reward is sure. In this confidence I write.

I know that the old man is still in existence; his sire is still active; and the bolt of obduracy and bar of unbelief may, and often do, straiten the Spirit, and seem to confine, enclose, and (as we think) shut us up, so that we cannot come forth but every influence of the Spirit that produceth contrition, abasement, humility, meekness, or godly sorrow, dissolves all these bolts and bars; and then faith and hope come forth out of their holes; they move in the heart, and speak from the mouth. And of this be assured, that it is not the united force of all the devils that can prevail against one fruit of the Holy Spirit. This comforter never quits his own possession, nor neglects his own productions; every fruit of his is a seed that is incorruptible

and undefiled; "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," and the reward is to all that fear the Lord, small and great. We must expect the assaults of Satan while we are in this world of sin and wo; but our Lord will not forget, nor neglect those that wait for and trust in him.

Ever yours,

THE COALHEAVER.

CCCXLIII.

Dec. 20, 1809.

I HAVE this morning had a very comfortable time in prayer, and have remembered my poor friend, and some others who are ill, as poor R. who it seems is not likely to recover. Blessed be God for a mercy seat, and for a door of hope, which is set before us; and it is an open door, which none can shut. "Knock," says the Saviour; "and it shall be opened." Faith is a key that will open this door, however close or fast it may be shut. This door is Christ Jesus; "I am the door of the sheep." And you may depend upon this, that the doors of heaven, that were open to him at his ascension, are left open for us. But this door is nearer home, and its openings and shuttings