my privilege to make mention of you always in my prayers and it is my happiness to believe, that death itself will not part our friendship. It is from the Lord, and in the Lord: thanks be to him, I do feel myself interested in your interest-your children-connections-minister-and in whatever is for your good. And I trust it is the same with you.

I only take up my pen to inform you of what you expressed a great desire to be acquainted with. Our common friend took care of us. We got safe and soon to Winchester. I acknowledge Mr. T's favour, and add one more to the long list. We arrived in good time, about sun-set, at Reading-found our children and their children well-the little babe rather better, but still in a weak condition. Since I got here, I have been arrested, and cannot be suffered to go home till next Tuesday.

Mrs. R. sends every good wish to you that our God has to give: Mr. and Mrs. C. join. Nothing short of all this is expressed by my son and daughter. This comes to you by the waggon, which sets out from hence this day.

Mr. T. He who is your God and guide, has led you hitherto, and done wonders for you. Go on trusting and fear not. He has prospered you. He has prospered you. He has blessed you. Commit your way unto him, and he will give you your heart's desire, and wife, children, &c. &c. all shall be blessings.

Mrs. T.-May the giver of faith increase yours, that, as a wife, mother, and mistress, you may adorn your profession.

your

Miss T.-I have been courting for you an husband, and got his consent. Give him heart and your hand. Take him and try him. No evil can befal you, while his, all possible good will become yours. Herein I tread in his steps, 2 Cor. xi. 1, 2. May he be yours for ever, even my Jesus.

Miss Esther,The world's a cheat. It flatters you. Your senses join, and without Christ they will

make a fool of you. Your sister has made a good choice. Follow her example, and God will give you infinitely better things than you part with for him.

Mr. W. T.-Take my advice. I wish you well. It rejoices my heart to see you dutiful and diligent: this is from God: but do not stop here. There is an infinitely greater estate to be got than all S. Ask and it is yours: believe and you get possession. Seek it by believing, and you shall have it. My wish for you is unbounded-even the unsearchable riches of Christ. Mr. S. T.-Mind your business. Pray over it. Prayer is as needful as all outward means. I will do my part. May God command his blessing on your person, and on your trade, that both may prosper.

I have much to say to my namesake, and to Tommy and Sally, and to my own John: but I must wait a little. It is so cold, that I can scarce hold my pen : and all so badly written, that I can but just read it myself. We go to town on Tuesday next, God willing. I shall have occasion to write to Mr. T. soon, so that I can only say to him, and to you at present, That I do love you, and hope to shew it in word and deed, as long as I can write.

W. ROMAINE.

My dear Mr.

LETTER CXXXIV.

Blackfriars, April 21st, 1786.

LAST night we heard from

by the penny post, All well. O how good is our God. I delayed not. According to request a short answer. First that Mr.

did not use you well. He might have taken down the books, and my account of them; which is, that the Life of Faith, as I have revised and corrected it, comes out as my dying testimony for Christ. He has

not only

Herein,
May P.

an infinite fulness, not only to be looked at, to be believed in, but also to be made use of. most professors of the present day fail sadly. be out of the number! He has, under the care and management of his providence and grace, all things that belong to body and soul. And he allows us, commands us, to trust all in his hands-to undertake nothing with out his direction-to carry it on without looking up for his blessing; and when ended well without giving him thanks.. Here only the soul gets rest, and, by living thus, maintains it-notwithstanding the life we live in the flesh is in constant opposition: but he, who is on the side of faith is Almighty. And he says to Mr. "Trust, and be not afraid, what flesh can do unto you." May he speak that to your heart a thousand times, while you are reading the Life of Faith! Though the spring be backward, vet our spiritual spring has been very fruitful, full of life and power. It has been a fruitful Easter. The resurrection of plants and trees, at this season of the year, puts us in mind of our spiritual resurrection, and daily says, Are you alive! Are you growing? If alive, you must grow. Give my love to Mr. and tell him, that I wonder how he manages so much buisness, and so well. I have but one; and it is too much for me. Suppose he gets upon my shoulders, he will see as far, if not farther than I do. Well, for once I will let him get up. Our Easter text was Rev. xx. 6. "Blessed and holy, &c.

1. What is the first resurrection? The soul raised from the grave of sin.

2. The necessity of it. By nature dead to God, and the spiritual world. Eph. ii. 1, 2. Col. ii. 13. John. iii. 7. A man must be born into this world, before he can live in it. So into that.

3. The means by which the soul is raised from the grave of sin. of sin. 1. The Spirit, John iii. 5. 2. The word, James i. 17, 18. 3. Faith, John i. 12. 4. Evidences Spiritual senses-exercised. Spiritual things-enjoy

ed.

The senses exercised on Christ, all spiritual things in him in him dead to sin, the world, the flesh; in him blessed and holy; blessed by making us holy. The senses see, and hear, and feel, &c. what they live on. Alive as branches in the vine, as members in the body, one with the head-the same Spirit in them as in him, same life, holiness, blessedness.

Tell Mr. that I have given him a subject so copious, that he may mind his boys more and study less. My love to him, and perhaps he may not have done till I hear him. Our love to our old friend Mrs. My blessing on her dear children, not forget

ting any of yours.

Pray for

W. ROMAINE.

LETTER CXXXV.

My good Friend,

told

oppor

AS I was going to church last night, Mr. me, that he had a parcel to send to day for Mrs. I took the hint, and this morning embraced the tunity of writing a note to inform you of the publication of Mr. Adams' volumes, which I mentioned to you, and for which you said you would subscribe. The price is half a guinea. I owe more to this man (saving the honour of grace) than to all the world. May you read, as I did, to my first comfort, his lectures on the church catechism. These books I have not yet perused; but I know the man well; and I expect for myself, and I pray for you, Mrs. and brother

that every page may warm your hearts, and keep us thankful to the God of our salvation. I subscribed for twenty-five sets; so that if you know of any persons who would prize such a treasure, I should be glad to dispose of some of mine to them. You

seem to be anxious after my observations on the perusal of the Bible in 86. I had made several remarks in reading, and had put down more after I had finished.. I believe I had the paper somewhere in safe custody; but I cannot lay my hand on it now. When I meet with it, and have a leisure morning, perhaps it may travel down to ; but it will not be of present use to you, if you had it. I read for myself, chiefly for mine own state and age; I wanted to gather together in one view, the promises made to old people : for the Bible is of universal use, suited to all persons, in all circumstances; insomuch that you cannot place a believer in any possible situation, but the scripture has amply provided for his case, matter of instruction, support, and comfort. When I came to put the passages together, I could not help blessing my God for his great grace in taking such particular notice of the aged and the infirm of his family, and in promising them his help according to their needs. This has been to me, and is still, a standing cordial: so that I am a witness for God. I set to my seal that God is true; and I subscribe with my heart and hand, that he is faithful to every promise made to old age.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of November, 1786. W. ROMAINE.

You do not want at present, and you may never live to want this collection which I made for the aged and infirm. But I have a paper by me, which may be of daily use to you; on which I set a great value, because it was written about twenty years ago, and sent in a letter to my dear friend Mr. Powys of Salop, now with God. He esteemed it so greatly, that he had it printed, and used to have one of them pasted on the inside of every Bible which he either used himself, or gave away. It is so short that I can transcribe it; and I send it with my prayers, that it may be verified in your heart and life.