on, who is the
express image of his Father, and the brightness of his glory! Then,
if found in Him, we shall be received by the innumerable host of
angels who wait around his throne.
"In the meantime, sir, may I take up my cross, and manfully fight
under Him who, for the glory that was set before Him, endured the
cross, despised the shame, and is now set down at his Father's right
hand in majesty! I thank you for the kind liberty you have given to
me of writing to you. I feel my health declining, and I find a relief
during an hour of pain and weakness in communicating these thoughts to
you.
"I hope, sir, you go on your way rejoicing; that you are enabled to
thank Him who is the giver of every good gift, spiritual, temporal,
and providential, for blessings to yourself and your ministry. I do
not doubt but you often meet with circumstances which are not pleasing
to nature; yet, by the blessing of God, they will be all profitable in
the end. They are kindly designed by grace to make and keep us
humble. The difficulties which you spoke of to me some time since,
will, I trust, disappear.
"My dear father and mother are as well as usual in bodily health; and,
I hope, grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.
My chief desire to live is for their sakes. It now seems long since
we have seen you. I am almost ashamed to request you to come to our
little cottage, to visit those who are so far beneath your station in
life. But if you cannot come, we shall be very glad if you will write
a few lines. I ought to make an excuse for my letter, I spell so
badly: this was a great neglect when I was young. I gave myself
greatly to reading, but not to the other; and now I am too weak and
feeble to learn much.
"I hear sometimes of persons growing serious in your congregation. It
gives me joy; and, if true, I am sure it does so to yourself. I long
for the pure Gospel of Christ to be preached in every church in the
world, and for the time when all shall know, love, and fear the Lord,
and the uniting Spirit of God shall make them of one heart and mind in
Christ our great Head. Your greatest joy, I know, will be in
labouring much for the glory of God in the salvation of men's souls.
You serve a good Master. You have a sure reward. I pray God to give
you strength according to your day.
"Pra
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