red, if agreeable to Mr. M----.
Write me how it was with you on this day. Now I will go to a throne of
grace for you and all of us. O keep close to the Lord; may he save you
from a dissipated, trifling, carnal spirit; may he sanctify all your
comforts, and give you a just estimation of all you see and hear: may
the Christian's portion rise more and more; and the world and its
vanities sink in your view."

"APRIL 10.

"What the Lord is going to do with his and my children I know
not; but the Samuel Elam has returned to port with a leak, after being
out nineteen days. On the day of storm, she had seven feet of water in
her hold. I hope the Lord, in mercy to you, to his church, and to me
his unworthy servant, has guided you in safety, and that the prayers
of his church were answered in your behalf. O, my children, what would
be the situation of my heart had I not confidence of your being within
the ark. I desire to rejoice over all my fears, for this unspeakable
consolation, that nothing can hurt you. I experience for you what I
did in my own case, when darkness and tempest added to the horrors of
many, while our vessel kept dashing on the rock: I, too, expected her
to go to pieces every moment; but the idea was ever with me, 'in the
bosom of God's ocean, I shall find the bosom of my Saviour.' On the
night of the 29th of March I dreamt my dear J----y fell overboard, and
I saw her floating on the billows, supporting herself by her little
chair: this is the state of my mind; yet I am thankful, and enjoy much
peace. The Lord has given me what I have asked--the salvation of your
souls. In a little time we shall all be gathered around his throne.
Well may I leave to him all intervening circumstances, as well as who
goes first, and how. O how he blesses my latter end, how he soothes
and comforts my old age; far other things have I merited, that my soul
knows; but he has not only pardoned, but comforts, and draws a veil
over my transgressions, covering them from the world's observation.
What can I say? He is God, a God of mercy."

"APRIL 17.

"I have brought the reality near me, that mine eyes may never
behold you again on earth. I can say, even of that, it is well; but
the idea of the horrors of tempest, a leaky vessel racked by the
storm, and sinking by inches; sickness, nervous timidity, and the
suffe