for his rod and
staff shall support me; and I shall enter into the presence of my
Redeemer, white and clean, dressed in his most perfect righteousness;
angels and saints shall know me in this glorious robe; my Redeemer
will acknowledge me as his ransomed, and I shall be for ever with the
Lord."

To Mr. A.D., Edinburgh.

"NEW YORK, 1793.

"I have just been reading over my dear friend's precious letters,
and am refreshed anew by the same truths and uniform experience of
every Christian; which all amounts to this, that the Lord is the
portion of his people, and that whom he loves, he loves to the end. My
soul melts with tenderness when I recollect my fellow-travellers in
the wilderness; those dear associates with whom I have so often taken
sweet counsel; who so often comforted me with the same comforts with
which they themselves were comforted. I am also led to recollect some
who have finished their warfare; some whose trials were sharp and
long, but who, through the same grace in which we trust, were
steadfast to the end; and now inherit a crown of life--the reward of
grace, not of debt.

"I rejoice to hear that your children are promising; I think it
is the greatest comfort a parent can enjoy in this world. I have a
large share of it in my three daughters; but my prodigal is not come
to himself; he still feeds on husks, nor thinks of the plenty in his
Father's house. I had great hopes last winter; I heard he had been
very ill in consequence of very severe treatment from his captain. The
Lord has been emptying him from vessel to vessel, and I have been
waiting the issue; but mine eyes almost fail. I have great hopes that
God's time of mercy will come. I am also satisfied that it will be the
best time; but still I cry, O how long? My dear friends, I think I
would recommend it to you to _keep your children about you_. No
other had ever the influence over him that I had; and I regret that I
did not bring him with me.

"Our young Timothy, J.M., is a perfect champion for the gospel of
Jesus; the Lord has well girded him and largely endowed him; he walks
closely with God, and speaks and preaches like a Christian of long
experience: he was ordained about two months ago in his father's
church, and a few weeks after married a lady of eminent piety, and
preached all the day, both the Sabbath before and after: no levity, no
novelty appea