Letter L. TO RICHARD REYNOLDS. Manchester, 2nd Mo. 19, 1807. My dear Friend, Without calculating who wrote last, I begin to think it a long time since I wrote to thee; and having no doubt it will be received. as it is meant, I will begin by saying, that my love, solicitude, and concern for thee, and for thy happiness, will, I believe, never experience any decrease; and I have no doubt of retaining as much of thy regard and esteem as I deserve. We have both now numbered one more year to our age, and both of us have lived a longer time than falls to the lot of mankind generally, and I hope the time has not passed wholly unimproved; nay, I trust, our fellow-pilgrims have been rather benefited by it; I have no doubt of this with respect to thee. What now remains but that, with increasing care and diligence, we endeavour to steer safe into the harbour or port of everlasting rest? and through the continued $* guidance of the Heavenly Pilot, I have a settled hope, this will be our happy experience, in the Lord's time. Whilst we are here, we may expect the waves will roll upon us; and we may be a little tossed, now and then; but they will not overflow us; whilst Jesus is in the vessel, we have nothing to fear. He who hath conducted us thus far, and preserved us in the voyage through life hitherto, will land us safely at last, I have no doubt, in His own holy and everlasting kingdom. JOHN THOrp. Letter LI. To RICHARD REYNOLDS. Manchester, 2nd Mo. 5, 1808. My dear Friend, It was very kind of thee to write to me by thy nephew Richard Ball. If thy letter had only contained an account of thy health, now in thy seventy-third year, it would have been very interesting intelligence to me; but I find thou art still busy, and no wonder, in such an extensive stewardship. Well! thine is a pleasant stewardship; but I envy no man's lot. Thou art sure thou art instrumental of much good, both to the present and to succeeding generations; and it certainly does afford a very comfortable reflection, in the close of time, that we have contributed to the comfort and accommodation of our fellow pilgrims, in our progress through this world of deep probation. And beyond all doubt, it must be pleasing to the Father of the universal family, to see some of His children, to whom He hath committed much, made willing, under his benevolent influence, to relieve the wants of others. I never had much to give, but I remember an instance, by which I was deeply instructed in the nature of Christian charity. One evening, when I lived in London, as I passed by rather a retired corner of a street, a poor woman sat, (I think with a child in her arms,) and very modestly asked charity. I felt pity strongly raised in my heart, and a language like this was feelingly raised in it, the Lord help thee ; but I passed by, and it very livingly arose in my heart, by what means? by putting it into the hearts of such as can feel as thou now dost, to relieve her. I turned back, and gave her something; but I have no need to tell these little stories to thee. We have had a very hard and severely cold winter, and that, added to the winter of age, and that I have not all the comforts I once had, though it hath not much, if at all, affected my health, I think it has a little depressed my spirits; so that I have not been able to think of moving very far from home; but acquiescence with every allotment of our Lord's providence, is not only our reasonable duty, but the only way to peace. Bristol is a long way off; if thou livedst no more than thirty or forty miles off, I would many a time come to see thee. I am ready to think, sometimes, that I seem of little use in the creation; yet, though I have no fixed employ or engagement in business, thou wouldst hardly believe how fully my time is filled up; and being now and then employed in the blessed Master's service, encourages me to hope that I do not altogether live in vain. May that Mercy, which hath followed thee hitherto, continue to support and comfort thee; and when thy day's work shall be finished, may thy latter end be blessed, and full of peace. Pray for me, my dear friend, that this also may be my happy experience. Present the salutation of my love to P. H. Gurney, to whom I wish patience, perseverance, and preservation. JOHN THORP. Letter LII. TO RICHARD REYNOLDS. Manchester, 7th Mo. 26, 1808. My dear Friend, Last sixth day evening, after an absence of more than ten weeks, I got safe to Manchester in health and peace, where I was kindly received by my relations and friends. I staid nearly four days at Worcester, and was at most of the friends' houses; and from thence I went to Coalbrook Dale, where I |