letter ii

DEAR Mr I return the sermon with many
thanks ; I am greatly obliged to you for it, and
particularly for your kindness in saying I am
heartily welcome to it. I trust the Lord may bring
me, and all dear to me, to the blessed state which
the sermon describes that of a Christian to be. I
must also thank you for your little prayer at the
end of your note, you have not one in your parish
who needs it more. You say you hope I sometimes
offer one for you ; it would be strange if it was
only sometimes, but if you knew what my prayers
are, you would beg to be left out. Indeed I am not
satisfied on that head ; for some weeks I have not
been able to pray at all, and seldom to read (I mean
in private), and it is more wretched than I can say.
Perhaps if you are not engaged, you will be kind
enough to send me a few lines to say, if you ever
knew this to be the case with any of whom you had
hopes, and what you think is the cause of it, for
I suppose it must be my own fault. I sometimes
fear the Lord's Spirit will not strive with me any
longer. I hope you will excuse my troubling you
about myself; but there is no peace, while the Lord
hides from us the light of his countenance. It will
be a happy time, when we shall have done with this
body of sin.
Yours, most sincerely

letter i

1821.
I AM glad to hear you have a good opinion of ....
I almost envy any one a strong feeling of sin, but I
am sure our wise and tender Father knows best
how to measure that out to us, in proportion as He
sees us able to bear it ; though it seems sad not
to grieve at offending such a Lord. It gives me
much pleasure to hope there are ... in this house
seeking him, whom, I trust, I at least desire to be
dearer to me than all the world. It is cheering to
see even a Christian's face. I do not expect to go
to ... either Wednesday or Thursday ; but perhaps
the less of these enjoyments we have, the more
shall we long for an eternity of them, when all
foolish worldly gossip, which weighs us down now,
will be over for ever.
Yours, most sincerely