his own! I fear I must not visit Kelso this season. I leave for the north on Monday, and do not expect to be home till the 25th. I fear this cuts off all hope of my visiting R— the time you mention. I do hope to be in England early in the summer, but before that I do not see my way. But I shall gladly leave myself in Jehovah's hand. Present duty is ours; neither must we consult our mere wishes. If I hear from you before I leave, I shall try and send you another line. I am glad you teach in the classes, and I think I see you telling all you know. Remember Paul; when his heart was changed, for thirty years he did nothing else than serve Jesus. He labored away in the service of Him who died for him, and plucked him from the burning. It is interesting to notice also, how often Paul told them of his own conversion. He told it to the Jews; Acts xxii.—then to Agrippa; Acts xxvi.-then to the Galatians; Gal. i. 13-16then to the Philippians; Phil. iii. 4. I think this is an example for us to do the same, cautiously and wisely. John Newton once preached in Newgate to the prisoners. He chose 1 Tim. i. 15, for his text, and told them his own history, so that they wept and he wept. Pray for me still that my way may be made plain. This is one of the blessings of having spiritual children, that you will surely pray for me. Do not cease to pray for that her eyes may be opened to see her true condition, and that she may call upon Jesus before it be too late. I must now leave you and write a little to others. I preach at Wallacetown to-night. May the Master be there! Oh he is a sweet Master! One smile from Jesus sustains my soul amid all the storms and frowns of this passing world. Pray to know Jesus better. Have no other righteousness-no other strength but only Jesus. Soon we shall see him coming in the clouds of heaven. May you be kept faithful to death. Ever your loving friend, &c.

TO M. B.

One of his flock who had felt deserted in soul.

Peterhead, Feb. 7, 1843.

DEAR FRIEND-I was very happy to hear from you. I grieve to hear of your sorrow; but Job's sorrow was deeper, and David's also, in the xlii. Psalm. If you cannot say, "I found him whom my soul loveth," is it not sweet that you can say, "I am sick of love"-he is my beloved still, though he has withdrawn himself and is gone for a time? Seek into the cause of your declension. See that it be not some Achan in your bosom-some idol set up in the corner of your heart. See that it be not some allowed sin an unlawful attachment that is drawing you away from the bleeding side of Jesus, and bringing a cloud between you

and that bright sun of righteousness. When you find out the cause, confess it and bewail it in the ear of a listening God. Tell him all. Keep nothing back. If you cannot find out the cause, ask him to tell it you. Get it washed in the blood of Jesus. Then get it subdued. Micah vii. 19. None but the Lord Jesus can either pardon or subdue. Remember not to rest in a state of desertion. "I will rise now and go about the city." And yet do not think that you have some great thing to do before regaining peace with God. The work on which peace is given has all been done by Jesus for us. "The word is nigh thee." Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The sunshine is always sweeter after we have been in the shade; so will you find Jesus in returning to him. True it is better never to wander; but when you have wandered, the sooner you return the happier you will be. "I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now." Hosea ii. 7.

Do not delay, but humble yourself under his mighty hand, and he will exalt you in due season. I have been speaking to-night. in this place to a large and attentive audience on Zech. ix. 9. May you be enabled to apply it. Remember me to Mrs. K, and also to all your fellow servants whom I know and love in the truth. Tell N- C― to make sure that she is in Christ, and not to take man's word for it. Tell E- L to abide in Jesus; and tell her brother to take care lest he be a rotten branch of the true vine. Tell W― J— to be faithful unto death.

I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in the truth. I am your loving pastor, &c.

TO THE REV. Alex. GATHERER, dundee.

During his visit to the north.

ELLON, Feb. 20, 1843.

DEAR FRIEND-I was glad to hear from you in this far off land. I am deeply grieved to hear that fever still prevails. God is pleading hard with my poor flock. I am glad to hear of your preaching on such precious texts, and hope they were blessed to many. Never forget that the end of a sermon is the salvation of the people. I feel more and more that it is God's cause in which we are embarked. King Jesus is a good master. I have had some sweet seasons of communion with an unseen God, which I would not give for thousands of gold and silver. May you have much of his presence with you! Write me to Cruden, or, if immediately, to Captain Shepherd's, Straloch, New Machar.

Ever yours in Jesus, &c.

TO ONE WHO HAD MET WITH A BEREAVEMENT.

Sorrow of the world-Incidents.

March 8, 1843.

MY DEAR- I know you will be wearying to hear from me, but it has scarcely been in my power till now; I have had so many things to do since my return. I trust Jesus is making known to you his power to calm the soul in the deepest trials. "Where is your faith?" he said to the disciples; and he says to you," All things are possible to him that believeth."

I was much afflicted for your sakes to read the solemn letter you sent me. Do you remember the words, "We must needs go through Samaria?" We are getting new light upon their meaning.

I was reading to-day about godly sorrow, and the sorrow of the world. Do you know the difference between these two?

Had this blow come upon you in your unconverted state, it would have wrought, perhaps, only the sorrow of the world-carnal sorrow-sorrow that drives us away from God-makes us murmur and complain of his dealings. Like Pharaoh, who turned harder every blow that God struck-even the loss of his firstborn only hardened him. But godly sorrow, or, more literally, "sorrow towards God"-grief that brings us to the feet of God -worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of. It is used as an instrument to bring the humbled soul to cleave to Jesus. O may it be so with you. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he shall exalt you in due season. Improve the season while it lasts. The farmer improves the seedtime, to cast in the seed into the furrows. Now, when God has made long the furrow, by the plough of affliction, in your heart, O see that you let the sower sow the good seed deep in your hearts. I trust H. B- may be made a great blessing and comfort to you next Sabbath. May you all be enabled to meet with Jesus at his own table, and to tell him all your sorrows there, and ask grace to keep you in the evil day.

I would like well to be with you; but in body this may not be. In heart I am often with you, because I can say what I was reading to-day, "Ye are in my heart to live and to die with you." 2 Cor. vii. 3.

I preached twenty-seven times when I was away, in twentyfour different places. I was very, very tired, and my heart has beat too much ever since, but I am wonderfully well. I have "fightings without and fears within" just now. Do pray earnestly for me as indeed I know you do. I wish you had been with me last night. When I was away, the people agreed to meet twice a week in the lower school-room to pray for me; and, now that I have come back, we have continued the meetings. The school

is quite crammed. Such sweet loud singing of praise I never heard, and many tears.

I stood by a poor socialist in the agonies of death to-day. He was quite well yesterday. He anxiously wished me to come and pray. O to be ready when the Bridegroom comes !

Farewell. Peace from above fill your soul, your friend and brother prays, &c.

ANOTHER TO ONE BEREAVED.

Betake yourself to Him that is ever the same

March 9, 1843.

MY DEAR

I did not think I would have been so long in answering you in your time of sorrow, but I have been more than occupied. I earnestly trust that this sad bereavement may be greatly blessed by God to you. Pray that you may not lose this precious opportunity of giving your hand and heart forever away. to the Lord Jesus. May Hosea ii. 14, be fulfilled in you all. "Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her ;" and that clear promise (Ezek. xx. 35-37), "I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." This solemn event shows you what I always used to tell you, how short your life is what a vapor-how soon the joys that depend on the creatures may be dried up that "one thing is needful"-and that Mary was wise in choosing the good part that cannot be taken away from her. You remember the first night you were in St. Peter's I showed you this preaching from Psalm xvi. 6, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage." I am indeed more than ever anxious about you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain. It is the furnace that tries the metal, and it is affliction that tries the soul whether it be Christ's or not. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, lest the furnace should show you to be reprobate silver. Do let me hear how your soul truly is-whether you can see the hand of a father in this bereavement--and whether you are more than ever determined, through grace, to be the Lord's. How sweet, that Jesus ever liveth. He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then he is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation—a rock rising above the storm. The Bible, too, is more full of meaning. Have you ever prayed over that verse (Lam. iii. 33), “He doth not afflict willingly?" O precious book, that conveys such a message to the mourner's dwelling! And does not trial bring more meaning out of that verse (Romans viii. 28), "We know that all things work together for good to them

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that love God-to them who are the called according to his purpose?" The Bible is like the leaves of the lemon tree; the more you bruise and wring them, the sweeter the fragrance they throw around. Is any afflicted?-let him pray." Do you not find that prayer is sweeter now. The soul finds vent for his feelings towards God. "Call upon me in the day of trouble-I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." When I had my fever abroad, Mr. Bonar whispered that verse into my ear. I had nearly lost all my faculties-I could remember nothing except that I was far from home; but that verse kept sounding in my ears when I was nearly insensible, "I called, and he delivered me." Are you preparing to go to the Lord's table next Lord's-day? May you indeed have the wedding garment-righteousness without works-and see the King in his beauty-and give yourself away to him, saying, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine!" It should be a solemn sacrament to you. I can add no more. Write me soon, dear G——, and tell me all that is in your heart, and whether the voice of the Comforter does not say. Be still! when death has left so deep a silence in your family. Believe me ever your friend in Jesus, &c.

TO ONE COMPLAINING OF THE PLAGUES OF THE HEART.

Passing on to glory.

ST. PETER'S, March 8, 1843.

MY DEAR FRIEND-I send a few lines to you in answer to yours. You complain of the plague of your own heart, and so you will till you die. You know little yet of its chambers of imagery. All that is ours is sin. Our wicked heart taints all we say and do; hence the need of continual atonement in the blood of Jesus. It is not one pardoning that will serve the need of our souls. We must have daily, hourly pardons. I believe you are in the furnace, but it is a short one. Soon the bridegroom will come, and we shall be with him, and like him, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. I burst through all the cobwebs of present things, and, his spirit anointing my eyes, look at Jesus as one beside me. Blessed elder brother, with two natures -God and man-ever-living, never-dying, never-changing! I was preaching last Sabbath on Heb. ix. 13, 14. "He through the eternal Spirit offered himself." It was very sweet to myself. In the afternoon I preached on Rev. ii. 4, 5, "I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy first love." I fear many of my people have done so; therefore it was very suitable. Several I see have felt it very deeply. In the evening I preached on Psalm lxxviii. 41-" They turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" on the sinfulness of limiting God. It