m we labour, we have
been almost invariably at once of one mind. (Lord, to Thee is the praise
due for this!!!) We are as much, or more than ever united in spirit; and
if the Lord permit, we desire to labour together till He come. Who that
knows the proneness in man to seek his own, and to get glory to himself;
who that knows that the heart naturally is full of envy; who that is
acquainted with the position which we both hold in the church, and the
occasions thereby occurring for the flesh to feel offended:--who that
considers these things will not ascribe our union, our uninterrupted union
and love, entirely to the Lord? Let the brethren among whom we labour
praise God much for it! Let the brethren everywhere, who may read this,
praise God for it! This union has glorified God! This union has sprung
from God! But, for this union we depend now as much as ever upon God, and
therefore let the brethren pray, that God in mercy would give us grace, to
put aside every thing that might hinder it.

4. We have had much joy on account of the scriptural conduct of many of
the children of God among whom we labour. The two churches have on the
whole shown, in some measure, that even in our day there can be love among
the brethren. I do not mean that we have been without trials on account of
the behaviour of the saints under our care; nor do I mean to say, that
either we or they have followed Christ as we might or ought to have done;
but only, that we have been mercifully kept hitherto from great divisions;
that the cases in which acts of discipline were needed (as the list at the
end of the last two years shows) were so few; that we have had much more
joy than sorrow on account of the brethren and sisters:--these are
matters, worthy to be noticed among the special blessings which God has
bestowed on us during the last five years.

5. Another mercy I mention is, that it has pleased God to keep us from
some most awful characters, who either actually had proposed themselves
for fellowship, or desired to do so, and who, so far as the testimony by
word of mouth went, could fully satisfy us. From several such individuals
who lived in open sin, we have been kept, by the Spirit constraining them
to confess, and that, perhaps, even against their own will, their wicked
deeds, which they were practicing; in other instances we suspected them,
and, on making inquiry, found out their sins.

6. Another mercy which the Lord has kindly bestowed on us