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"Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness," altogether surpassing human comprehension; and those parts of that mystery in which we are most deeply interested, we can only see into and understand, as He, who hath the key of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is pleased to loose the seals and open unto us. How necessary

then is it for us to take heed to the advice of the apostle Paul, "Judge nothing before the time; yea," said this Apostle, “I judge not mine own self."

Our duty, our interest, our advancement in the divine life, consist not in our comprehending in theory, but following in obedience, and in the simplicity of little children. Be not then, my dear friend, over anxious about the cause, the duration, or effects of thy present humiliation; but endeavour to cast all thy care upon Him who careth for thee, to put thy whole trust in Him, in whom is everlasting strength, without whose approbation a hair of thy head shall not perish. Blessing and glory, and honour be to Him, whom the Father hath appointed an everlasting and holy High-priest over the house

of God; for such a one indeed became us, who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." He sees, He marks every circumstance, every peculiarity of thy mournful condition, when the enemy may be permitted to sift and to buffet thee, and thou art "tossed with tempest, and not comforted." He sees these things, He knows these things, whose vigilance nothing can elude, whose power is omnipotent, who hath set bars and doors to the sea, and ascertained the point whereto its proudest waves shall rise and go no further. But thou knowest these things, and, I am persuaded, art disposed and endeavouring to do them; yet suffer me to express it, as it is in my heart to encourage thy perseverance in a total resignation of thyself to the disposal of Almighty power and Goodness, that God only is wise, that He "doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men;" that His judgments are true and righteous, that His ways are just and equal; that He "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;" but, in the time appointed, will surely give unto thee "beauty for ashes," and "the oil of joy

for mourning:" and though thou mayst seem to thyself to lie as amongst the pots, and esteem thyself as a broken vessel, yet it is my invariable persuasion, thou shalt again be brought forth as the dove, whose wings are covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Assuredly, my friend, if it would avail any thing to thy comfort, thou art very far from being alone in tribulation. I speak not of outward troubles; they, indeed, are light afflictions, and they are but for a moment; but of those which result from the spiritual warfare, wherein we wrestle not with flesh and blood only, nor our own concern as individuals; the impending judgments of the Lord on a backsliding generation, and the general state of the churches amongst ourselves, wherein the obvious, painful prevalence of the nature and spirit of the world, the famine of that Word whose entrance giveth life, furnish abundant cause to the living for mourning, for sackcloth, for unspeakable distress! Nevertheless, we are at seasons favoured to behold, in the vision of Divine Light, a prospect into better times;

wherein the Lord will in mercy "turn again our captivity as the streams in the south;" times wherein the Lord will more eminently appear to be with us, and the shout of a mighty King be heard amongst us; who will again make "His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire."

Thus is my faith as an individual, though, I trust, in concert with many others, strengthened to believe, that the time will come, when the gospel shall be preached in all nations, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; that "from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same,' His "name shall be great among the gentiles, and in every place, incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure offering." Thus shall the knowledge of the Lord cover the earth, thus shall the whole earth be filled with His glory; then shall the morning stars sing together, and all the sons of God shout for joy.

Upon the whole, I cannot forbear to add, that I wish myself more worthy of the sufferings of the present day; more worthy to partake in the glory that shall follow; and

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that I was more worthy to express these things in this manner to one so far above me.

My wife joins, in dear love to thyself and husband, with me; and at this time, in confirmed faith and fresh desires for thy preservation and deliverance in the will of God, I conclude, and subscribe myself thy brother in Christ Jesus,

JOHN THORP.

Letter VIII.

TO FRANCES DODSHON.

8th Mo. 23, 1778.

My dear Friend,

Although I have a particular value for thee, and count myself favoured by thy correspondence; yet conscious what I am, and indeed what all instruments are, and what they are but; and knowing that all good comes from the one Fountain of Good, and is never so effectually administered as when the living springs from thence are immediately opened in the soul, whereby I have

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