nts in Bristol, lest I should not have leisure to continue so
much in prayer, meditation, and the study of His word. Shall I not
then praise my Father for such dealings with me? Do I not even now
see this affliction working for my good? I say, therefore, after the
inward man: Father, continue Thy hand upon me, as long as it shall
seem good in Thy sight, only bless my soul!---But, brethren, do not
mistake me, as if I meant that I prayed habitually with much
earnestness. O no! I pray a little habitually, I pray now and then
much; but I pray by no means as much as my strength and present time
allow me. Therefore ask God on my behalf, that grace may be given me,
habitually to pray much; and you will surely be profited by it.--But I
could not help alluding to this point, as the Lord's kindness is so
particularly seen in this matter.

5. Lastly, I cannot omit mentioning the kindness of the Lord, in
opening the houses of some of His children at Bath, Trowbridge, and
Oxford for me, during this my affliction. These dear saints have
shown me much kindness. But while I would be grateful to them for it,
I discern the hand of God in influencing their hearts. Moreover, I
have had kind medical attendants. And you, my dear brethren, though I
have been unable to minister among you, have continued to supply my
temporal wants, for which I thank you, and in all of which I see the
gracious, loving hand of my Father, who through all this, as by a
voice from heaven, tells me: "My child, even bodily health and
strength would I give, were it good for thee." I therefore desire to
wait for the good pleasure of my God concerning this point.

Your love will naturally ask, how I now am in body. My disease, as my
kind medical friends tell me, is an inactive liver, which causes the
pain in the head, and the inability of exerting my mind for any
length of time. In addition to this, the nerves of the head seem to
have suffered through over-exertion. As medicine had been tried for
about ten weeks, and had not given relief, it appeared well, that I
should give it up for a time, and simply travel about for the benefit
of the air. My own experience teaches me, that this means is
beneficial; for it gives almost immediate relief. In consequence of
this, I left Trowbridge last Friday, and arrived on Saturday evening
at Oxford, where I am staying with dear brother and sister B. I have
here all that brotherly love can do for me, and am in every way
comfortable