much you have suffered; much, perhaps, also enjoyed:  for the Lord can give songs in the night, and in a dungeon.  ‘Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;’ to them there is no want.  The Lord is their shepherd, he feedeth them in green pastures beside the gently flowing waters; if they wander, he restoreth them, perhaps with the rod, but it is the rod of love; they need not be afraid to enter even the valley of the shadow of death; their Shepherd is with them, and his rod, rod of support, and staff shall comfort them.

“I hope this has been a profitable time to you both; that you have seen more of the evil of sin, and of your own hearts, their deceitful double turnings and windings to cover and conceal the enemy of God and your own souls; more of the extent and spirituality of the divine law, fulfilled indeed in every jot and tittle by your Surety; but still doubly binding on you as a rule of life in the hand of your Redeemer, who hath bought you to himself, and taken you into his own hands, that you might be a holy people to himself, delivered not merely from the penalty and curse, but from the power and indwelling of sin.  I hope you have seen more of the unsearchable riches of Christ in all he has done and is now doing for your and his church’s happiness, and of those exceeding great and precious promises by which you are made partakers of the-divine life, and privileged to escape the pollution that is in the world through lust; more of the faithfulness of God, as a God in Christ, pardoning sin and reconciling you to himself; and day by day, teaching you by his word, Spirit, and providences.

“I am but just beginning to see that I am blind; my own character opening upon me as a sinner, in heart and tongue and conduct, against my God, my neighbor, and my own soul:  how comes it then that I am at ease in God’s world; in health, in peace, in comfort, all in an extraordinary degree as to temporals; and as to spirituals, though grieved with self, my joy in Christ also abounds.  Can I believe it?  What can I say; what can I render to the Lord for all his gifts to me?  Nothing can I do, but just take the cup of salvation, calling upon the name of the Lord, and remain an eternal debtor to his grace for spirituals and temporals.”

“JUNE 26.

“By this time you are already in port, on earth or in heaven.  Blessed alternative.  Ought I to be sad, who can say, ‘or in heaven?’ O no, I trust grace will be given to acquiesce in his most blessed will; a most gracious will it has been to me and mine.

“I wrote you in my last, that our dear Mr. M——­ leaves us next month for Britain; his errand is to state the situation of this country, as greatly in want of ministers and the means of educating ministers.  Many of his people are dissatisfied, as he has two congregations to supply, and a large family of his own.  Why should he be the man?  For my own part, I think he is the very man; and I am thankful to feel a degree of disinterestedness.