; and although no such birds as in Britain charm the listening
ear, we have some sweet chirpers of his praise; and what is wanting to
the ear, is made up to the eye, for in beauty they excel.

"These I may enjoy; with these hold communion; for Oh, spiritual
death holds all within these walls in dismal bondage; not one symptom
of life appears, but death, as the dry bones in the valley of vision.
Why do I not wrestle more for the Spirit to breathe on them? I do
pray: but Oh, formal, formal."

To the same.

"JUNE 17, 1801.

"MY DEAR CHILDREN--Difficult it is for me to exercise patience:
the 23d, of this month will make three months since you waved the
handkerchief on board the Mars, off the Battery. I had made up my mind
not to give way to expectation short of three months; they are nearly
past: how many events take place in that space of time; how many
duties ought to be performed; how many sins are really committed; how
guilty to wish to annihilate the time that a certain event may come
round. For every moment of time we must account, and not one moment of
it can we recall. Much you have seen; much you have suffered; much,
perhaps, also enjoyed: for the Lord can give songs in the night, and
in a dungeon. 'Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;' to
them there is no want. The Lord is their shepherd, he feedeth them in
green pastures beside the gently flowing waters; if they wander, he
restoreth them, perhaps with the rod, but it is the rod of love; they
need not be afraid to enter even the valley of the shadow of death;
their Shepherd is with them, and his rod, rod of support, and staff
shall comfort them.

"I hope this has been a profitable time to you both; that you
have seen more of the evil of sin, and of your own hearts, their
deceitful double turnings and windings to cover and conceal the enemy
of God and your own souls; more of the extent and spirituality of the
divine law, fulfilled indeed in every jot and tittle by your Surety;
but still doubly binding on you as a rule of life in the hand of your
Redeemer, who hath bought you to himself, and taken you into his own
hands, that you might be a holy people to himself, delivered not
merely from the penalty and curse, but from the power and indwelling
of sin. I hope you have seen more of the unsearchable riches of
Christ in all he has done and is now doing for