the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day and not to me only, but unto all them also who love his appearing."

The prince whom thou now servest is himself at the head of his army; he is not only acquainted with, but will attend to the most minute circumstance of his people. O! what ground of encouragement is here! He knows the power, craft, and policy of every enemy, and gives directions accordingly; so that no weapon formed against his subjects shall prosper, so as finally to overthrow them. Give diligence, therefore, and attend to his commands. Be often at his footstool, and wait his pleasure. Weigh well his design, and study his orders. Behold, how consistent are all his plans, how effectual are all his purposes; his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. Fear not, therefore, to win the day, though death and hell obstruct thy

way.

Above all, be careful to distinguish the voice of thy Captain, from that of a stranger. Should thine enemies invade or molest thee, be not cast down; he is well acquainted with every circumstance, and able to deliver thee; so that at last thou shalt be more than a conqueror, through

Him that hath loved thee. Therefore fear not, keep close to him, let thine eyes be ever upon him; he has wisdom to direct thee, he has power to preserve thee in danger, or deliver thee out of it. He will not suffer thee to be tempted, more than he will enable thee to bear. Confide in him, and thou shalt never be confounded, let thy trials be what they may. Wait upon him, and wait for him. Every promise he has made shall be fulfilled, and every purpose accomplished. Whilst thou art careful to maintain his honour, depend upon it he will be careful of thy 'safety, and withhold no real good from thee. Should thine enemies at any time seem to gain ground upon thee, put him in remembrance, plead with him; he has said, "Sin shall not have dominion over you. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." In a little time thy warfare shall be accomplished, thy last enemy be destroyed, and victory declared on thy side; so that in triumphant language thou mayest say, "O death, where is thy sting? O

grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.'

CHAP. IX.

An Account of a peculiarly afflictive Dispensation of Divine Providence-Three Children die of the Small-pox in eleven Days—Kindness of Christian Friends-Peculiar Support from the Lord.

THUS being honoured of God, with what he graciously promised to sinners of the Gentiles, "Even them will I give in mine house, and within my walls, a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, which shall not be cut off:" 'I found my mind much relieved from those anxious fears with which I had long been harassed; the Lord had brought me to his holy mountain, and made me joyful in his house of prayer. I found those words verified in my experience, "In keeping his commands there is

great reward. Wisdom's ways were ways of pleasantness, and all her paths were peace. I was glad when they said unto me, Come let us go up into the house of the Lord."

My little pittance was thankfully enjoyed by us, and we were very happy in a little house which we had to ourselves. My family increased, the Lord gave us a second son, which gave my wife an opportunity of obliging a very respectable friend in the city, by suckling her infant, which it was not in her power to do herself, which was some advantage to us. We went on very comfortably for a few months, when it was the pleasure of the Lord to visit us with a scene of affliction, under which we must have sunk, but for his kind supporting hand. O how wonderfully did the Lord magnify his mercy above all his name in this trying dispensation! He indeed visited us with the rod of affliction; nevertheless his loving-kindness he did not utterly take from us, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail. I was cast down, but not destroyed.

Our dear children were first afflicted with the hooping cough to a violent degree, all three to gether; so that we had but very little rest day or night. Two of the children being at the

M

breast, we contrived it so as to sleep by the side of each other for the purpose of assisting the children, as we were often obliged to sit up with one or other of them in our arms, because of the troublesomeness of the cough. But it so happened one night, that all the children were asleep together; my wife and myself, who were almost worn out for want of rest, soon followed them. How long we had been asleep, I cannot tell; but I believe only a short time before I awoke, and rising up to see if all was well, I perceived that the bed-quilt which covered my wife, and the two youngest children, was over the lamp, which we kept burning for the purpose of warming victuals for the children, and for the benefit of light. How it came so I could not conceive, as the lamp was set as far from the bed as the situation would admit of. However, so it was, and had burnt it to a coal the breadth of my hand; but it was not yet kindled into a flame, which in all probability would soon have been the case, and the whole family might have been consumed together. But He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. O what a mercy of mercies was here displayed!

This I considered as a peculiar instance of providential care, exercised over me and my fa