Dear Rebecca is, no doubt, arrived safe in a better country, towards which she hath long been travelling with a steady and even pace. In a little while we may, through continued mercy and help, follow after. Thou and I, from our advanced age, can be at no great distance from the end of our pil grimage; and then, let us humbly hope, we also may be admitted to unite and be joined with all those, who, through faith and patience, have inherited the promises. In the mean time, let us contend for the faith, and abide in the patience, of which most certainly we shall have need, until our warfare be accomplished. We are now in the evening of life; there cannot be a great deal for us to do here; but if there be a little yet remaining, to finish the day's work, let us do that little well, and let us do it cheerfully. Strength will be afforded, never fear, equal to the day; and remember the holy precept, "take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." I do sincerely desire, the Lord Almighty may preserve thee, and direct all thy future movements in that way that will most conduce to His glory, and thy present and future happiness; and I know it is His blessed will thus to deal with thee, and to keep thee from every thing that can do thee hurt. So let it be, saith thy affectionate friend, JOHN THORp. Letter XLI. TO RICHARD REYNOLDS. Manchester, 1st Mo. 13, 1804 My dear Friend, It was very pleasant to me to receive a letter from thee, after so long a silence. I was well aware the consequences of the successive events which had taken place in thy family, would be likely for some time to engage thy attention, and I heard of thy journey into the west, so that I did not much expect to hear from thee until after thy return. I had no doubt thou sometimes rememberedst me, which I hope thou wilt always do; as I also have very often thought of thee, with the same desires for thee as for myself, that now, in the decline of life, we may so pass the residue of our time here, in conformity to the will and example of the blessed Master, that we may finally stand approved of Him. To thy leaving Coalbrook Dale, I have little to say; I have no doubt thou hast thy reasons for this movement. Thou hast lived long, and been much blessed, and made a blessing to many others in the place of thy present residence; and I hope this will continue to be the case, wherever thou mayst make the place of thy abode. If Bristol should furnish a comfortable home, I shall be glad of it; but if it do not, I would not have thee stay there: the whole land is before thee. I have, through undeserved mercy, enjoyed my health this last year, as for sixty-one years past, with very little interruption, and I have been enabled to move about, in the home circuit, in the discharge of my religious duty, more than in any former year; and though I certainly have, and ought to have, a very humble opinion of any little service I may Q be enabled to perform in the Church of Christ, yet, in these movements, I have been favoured with the evidence of Divine peace. My family are in tolerable health, and my little temporal affairs much as usual. I think I can say, with some good degree of truth, what I have somewhere read, "The things eternal I pursue, "A happiness beyond the view "For things by nature felt and seen; "Their honours, wealth, and pleasures mean, "I neither have nor want." It is and will always be a gratification to me to hear from thee; when thou art a little settled at Bristol, I hope thou wilt let me know where to think of thee. Do not be over anxious about any thing; be quiet, abide in the patience, and resignation, and meekness of the Holy Jesus, and in that charity which beareth, hopeth, and believeth all things. This is that name of the Lord which is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous flee, and find safety; and here, my dear friend, thou wilt be secure from every thing that would do thee hurt, and also experience an increasing preparation for a rich inheritance in that glorious kingdom, which consists in righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. I am, my dear friend, with the salutation of unfeigned love, thy affectionate friend, JOHN THORp. Letter XLII. To RICHARD REYNOLDS. Manchester, 11th Mo. 3, 1804. My dear Friend, Thy letter, dated the 29th of 10th Mo. I received the 31st. It is true, it seems long since I heard from thee before; I thought it so, but there has been no long suspension of frequent, affectionate remembrance, and brotherly regard; nor have I any fear of this declining, how seldom soever we may see or write to each other; from our advanced age, this can but continue a short time, |