your and his church's
happiness, and of those exceeding great and precious promises by
which you are made partakers of the-divine life, and privileged to
escape the pollution that is in the world through lust; more of the
faithfulness of God, as a God in Christ, pardoning sin and
reconciling you to himself; and day by day, teaching you by his word,
Spirit, and providences.

"I am but just beginning to see that I am blind; my own character
opening upon me as a sinner, in heart and tongue and conduct, against
my God, my neighbor, and my own soul: how comes it then that I am at
ease in God's world; in health, in peace, in comfort, all in an
extraordinary degree as to temporals; and as to spirituals, though
grieved with self, my joy in Christ also abounds. Can I believe it?
What can I say; what can I render to the Lord for all his gifts to me?
Nothing can I do, but just take the cup of salvation, calling upon the
name of the Lord, and remain an eternal debtor to his grace for
spirituals and temporals."

"JUNE 26.

"By this time you are already in port, on earth or in heaven.
Blessed alternative. Ought I to be sad, who can say, 'or in heaven?' O
no, I trust grace will be given to acquiesce in his most blessed will;
a most gracious will it has been to me and mine.

"I wrote you in my last, that our dear Mr. M---- leaves us next
month for Britain; his errand is to state the situation of this
country, as greatly in want of ministers and the means of educating
ministers. Many of his people are dissatisfied, as he has two
congregations to supply, and a large family of his own. Why should he
be the man? For my own part, I think he is the very man; and I am
thankful to feel a degree of disinterestedness. Though I love my
minister, value his ministry and his person, I hope the general
interest of Christ's body is more dear to me, and of infinitely more
importance than my private comfort, which, after all, I do not believe
can suffer by parting cheerfully with its apparent food to Christ, who
himself is the sum and substance of all that any minister can be
instrumental in conveying. All means are alike to him, or no means. I
therefore rejoice in his will, and pray that the Lord may prosper him,
give him a double portion of his Spirit, and favor in the eyes of all
whose influence is necessary to advance the Redeemer's kingdom
in America.

"Our friend