counsel, and excellent in working." I dare say you have observed the resemblance, to the former part of this passage, in the beginning of Aratus's poem, Ὁ δ' ηπιος ανθρωποισι δεξια σημαινει, &c.

LETTER CLVII.

CHRISTIAN FREDERICK SWARTZ to his FRIENDS.

I praise God for his mercy, which he has bestowed upon me. Though I am now in the sixty-ninth year of my age, I still am able to perform the ordinary functions of my office. Of sickness I know little or nothing. How long I am to stay, my Creator and Preserver knows. My only comfort is in the redemption made by Jesus Christ. He is, and shall be my wisdom: by him I have received the salutary knowledge which leads me to the favour of God. He is my righteousness: by his atonement I have pardon of my sins: being clothed in his righteousness, my sins will not appear in judgment against me. He is likewise my sanctification: in his holy life, I best learn the will of God; and, by his Spirit, I shall be daily encouraged and strengthened to hate every sin. and to walk in the way of the commandments of God. He is, and I hope he will be, my redemption by him I shall be delivered from all evil, and made eternally happy.

CHRISTIAN FREDERICK SWARTZ.

321

Others may glory in what they please: I will glory in nothing else but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Should I presume to rely on my own virtue, I must soon despair. Though I heartily wish to obey God, and follow the example of my Saviour; though I will steadfastly endeavour, by the grace of God, to subdue my inclination to sin; yet, in all this, there is and ever will be imperfection, so that I dare not stand upon so rotten a ground. But to win Christ, and to be found in him, in life, in death, in the day of judgment, was St. Paul's wish, has been the wish of all genuine Christians, and shall be mine as long as I breathe. This was not a peculiarity in St. Paul's character. No he admonishes all to follow him in this point. This close adherence to Christ will not make us indolent in our obedience. It will rather impel, strengthen, and cheer us in the pursuit of true and Christian holiness.

As this may very possibly be my last letter to you, I cannot but earnestly entreat you to follow St. Paul, that excellent pattern of true goodness. By doing so, you will easily withstand and overcome the temptations of a vain world; you will live and die in peace; and at last be received into glory.

We have known one another a long time on earth. May we know one another in a blessed eternity, where sin and sorrow shall never disturb us. Watch and pray, that ye "may be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of man," your Redeemer. I am, my dear friends, your affectionate friend, C. F. SWARTZ.

VOL. I.

Y

LETTER CLVIII.

REV. JOB ORTON to the REV. THOMAS STEDMAN.-Encouragement for the spiritual hypochondriac. Hope and joy often eclipsed even in the advanced Christian.

DEAR SIR,

August 19, 1772.

I should have written to you long ago, had not my great weakness prevented me, owing to which I was obliged to drop all correspondence, but what I could carry on in short-hand.

I thank you for your very kind and friendly letter, and all the encouragement and consolation it suggests. It is not only a proof of your friendship to me, but an evidence that "the Lord hath given you the tongue of the learned, to speak a word in season to them that are weary:"(') and in that view it gave me peculiar pleasure. The long continued dry and hot weather we have had, though so favourable to the earth, was injurious to me; weakened my little strength, and quite took away my spirits. I have been in a very languishing state, since the end of June. Within a week past I have considerably revived; though I have, and shall have, returns of my disorder, and my nerves continue in a most shattered condition: nor can I expect they will be much better, till we have cooler weather. My mind hath indeed been in a gloomy state, which I doubt not, as your very kind letter suggests, is much owing to my corporal

(1) Isaiah 1. 4.

disorder; but when eternity seems just in view, conscience awakens and alarms; youthful sins, which have been deeply and daily mourned over before God, appear yet exceeding sinful; and the sins of a professor and a minister, appear peculiarly heinous. A thousand defects and negligences in ministerial work, and especially in the pastoral care, appear then great sins. You read my writings, and see my outside only; but know not "the plague of my heart," (') the sad remains of corruptions and sensual affections, distracted, cold devotions, and little, languid love and zeal. Yet it hath been the main business of my life to do good, and I think my governing principle, to serve the Lord Christ. Worldly wealth, honour, pleasure and applause I never sought. I have been endeavouring to serve my fellow-creatures while I had ability, and have been attempting it in my present state of silence, weakness, and obscurity; and though conscious of innumerable imperfections, this affords me some comfort. I have sometimes a cheerful hope; at other times it is weak and wavering; and those fears which have torment prevail.(*) But in the darkest seasons I keep looking and crying to God for his pardon and help; that he would discover to me any latent hypocrisy or sin; and if he seeth it good, dart a ray of light and peace into my soul. I place no dependence upon any works or worthiness of my own, but lie at the foot of the cross, as a humble penitent believer, and fix all my (1) 1 Kings viii. 38. (2) 1 John iv. 18.

dependence there. I write these things partly for your warning, partly for your encouragement; but chiefly that you may the better know how to pray for me. I wish to know more clearly (and God can, if he sees good, show me) how far the body darkens the prospects of the soul, or how far remaining corruptions and failings occasion anxious fears. I daily pray, "Show me wherefore thou contendest with me."(') And I hope God will not deny a request, which his word and spirit dictate. I rejoice that your bow abides in strength, and that you have any encouragement in your labours. May the Lord increase it!

This is the longest letter I have written for some time and indeed writing at any time, especially now, is fatiguing to me.

I am, dear Sir,

Your faithful friend, and humble servant,

JOB ORTON.

LETTER CLIX.

REV. CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN to the REV. D. BROWNE.

MY DEAR SIR,

Barrackpore, June 9, 1797.

It is not probable that you or I shall live long. What seek we then? There is no fame for us

(1) Job x. 2.