is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, concerning you.' Perhaps my brother is not so much alarmed about his body, as he is solicitous that his affliction may be sanctified. Truly this should concern us most; for let what will befall the outer man, if the inner man be renewed day by day, we shall grow strong for eternity whither we constantly tend. Are you tossed and not comforted? Do you spend wearisome days and tedious nights? I have been weeping and wrestling in prayer for you. While looking upward for myself, I remembered you; for how could I forget one to whom, under God, I am so much indebted, and to whom I bear a weight of love? I thought of asking for your health, your life; for I saw beside you, your E., and around you, your children; I saw you an elder in an infant church, and exerting, as I hoped, a happy influence along the path of life; yet for all this I could only say, 'The will of the Lord be done.' My weeping and wrestling for you, my dear brother, was according to the will of God, that you might be holy and without blame before him in love; that if your soul was beclouded, the Sun of righteousness might arise upon you; that our Captain would drive back the enemy, and give you the victory; for this was all I could ask for myself. I saw, moreover, that though your life appeared in many respects to be needful, yet for you, as well as myself, another life was in reserve, to enter upon which we must die. Is there a mansion for us in the skies, and shall we not enter in? Is it the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, and shall we not possess it? To me earth is no way desirable but to live for God. And let me tell you, that of late I have thought myself near my resting-place. JB Taylor.

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I have been brought into so close a fellowship with God, that I knew not but I was breathing out my soul, to fly away. Yes, and it is the earnest, the foretaste of glory which the Lord has given me, that lifts me on high.

"The Lord is, I think, preparing me either to be more useful, or to take me to heaven. His will, not mine, be done.

"It may be that my dear brother rests under the smiles of our heavenly Father. Let us then cling close to the hope that is within us, stand firm at our station, endure with patience, fight valiantly. For this we must prepare in the inner chamber; with God in secret the harness is generally put on, and for the most part with weeping and contrition. May our hearts be bruised and healed, so that we shall be without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.'

"Should you be apprehensive that you shall leave us soon, let my brother do the work he would do. Be faithful to me-be faithful to E.-be faithful to your family, to your minister, to all.

"Let your house be set in complete order. Seek for a clear, undoubting evidence of your acceptance. Stop not short of meetness for glory and glorified society. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' The very God of peace sanctify you wholly. And I pray God your whole soul, and body, and spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus. Faithful is he who has called you; who also will do it. Only seek him with your whole heart.

"Holiness captivates my soul. It is this that gives the character of God its glory, in my view. It is this that makes the character of angels and disembodied

spirits lovely in contemplation. It is this that makes heaven desirable. And it is this that illumes my soul, and allies it to the most holy on earth. My cry is, Lord, give me wisdom and holiness. And let this be the burden of your prayer for me-that I may be wise to win souls, and holy to enter heaven.

"Let me comfort myself, saith Edwards, that it is the very nature of afflictions to make the heart better; and if I am made better by them, what need I be concerned how grievous they may seem for the present ?"

CHAPTER VI.

Last Year in College.

To a Lady in feeble health.

"Oct. 26, 1825.

"Acknowledging the receipt of your epistle, which came to hand a few days since, I am constrained to comply with your request, 'write to me.' With the other, which was, 'pray for me,' I have just complied, with tears and strong cries.

"Blessed be the Beloved that he has proved himself your elder brother-a friend always near. How relieving-O, how unburdening to the soul, is a gush of tears-sweet tears of love and gratitude! they have just flowed from my weeping eyes.

"I am glad that your spirit was refreshed by the coming of Christian friends; and for their concern for both you and me Let us not think it strange, if, when

we see the image of Christ reflected more brightly in the walk and conversation of some of his disciples than others, we are tempted to chide ourselves for not loving all equally. It is indeed written-By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one towards another;' and 'we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.' But the question is, Who is my brother? Is it one who has been baptized? goes to the commu nion-table? talks about religion? Our Savior tells us-'Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother.'

(6 Instead of adding one pain to your already accumulated sufferings, I would relieve you of all—exchange your weakness for strength-your confinement for the pleasant fields. But, I apprehend, the days of my sister, if not already gone by, are soon to be numbered. This I know does not alarm you. You are conversant with the dying hour in anticipation.

"I am seated where, by a turn of the head, I have a beautiful prospect. I can overlook a village once the scene of labors both interesting and profitable There was a revival there three years ago last spring the fruits still appear. It reminds me of the latter day, when all shall know the Lord. The fields and trees that meet my eye cause me to sing,

'Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood,

Stand dress'd in living green.'

"And the river that flows by, lifts the thoughts to the 'pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb' The grazing sheep and their fold speak, in association, of the good Shepherd, his flock and fold above.

"The sun has sunk beneath the horizon to illumine another hemisphere. Ere long our sun shall go down: may it set to rise resplendent in a better, brighter world. 'They that be wise shall shine as the sun; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.' How happy his lot who takes his departure to meet the souls whom, under God, he has sent to heaven! O, there is meaning beyond expres sion in what my soul hath felt in this view!-Pray, still pray, that a great company of sinners, redeemed from among men, may at last praise God for my instrumentality. May you be among the wise that win

souls.

"The blowing of the wind reminds me of the sailorboy, perhaps, far off at sea, becalmed, or wafted by the breeze, or tossed by the tempest; now he mounts up to heaven, then goes down again to the depths. Let our sails be wide spread to catch every breeze of heaven; nor need we take in when the gales of grace blow upon them. As one watches the pole-star to prove his course correct, so let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Thus we shall run clearmake our voyage-enter the haven fully laden--cast anchor, and lie safely moored for ever.

"I thank God for his goodness in permitting an acquaintance between souls so congenial, in this the house of our pilgrimage. Our communion has been holy be it perpetuated above. I think I was enabled to acquiesce in the will of God. I could, and in a degree unknown before, bless him for making us mutual blessings. That you had been made a blessing to me, did not seem so strange; but that I should have been made a blessing to you, seems strange indeed. The