erance to spiritual-mindedness, and in as far as it gets a footing
in your heart, it will not only mar your progress, but your comfort.
Lord, feed my children constantly with 'thy flesh and thy blood,' that
they may never hunger nor thirst for this world, but grow in the
divine life, and in the joy and comfort of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

"OCTOBER 20, 1797.

"How condescending is our covenant God. All we have or enjoy is
from his hand; he gave us our being; our lives, although forfeited a
thousand times, have been preserved. 'Our bread has been given us, and
our water sure;' and not only these necessaries, but many comforts and
good temporal things have fallen to our lot; 'thou hast furnished our
table,' hast provided medicines and cordials when sick. Lord, I thank
thee for all these mercies, but above all, that we can call thee our
reconciled Father; that we have them not as the world have them, who
are far from thee, and have no portion among thy children, nor
interest in thy well-ordered covenant; but that we have them as thy
redeemed, as part of covenant provision, and with a covenant blessing,
and among the _all things_ that work together for our good. Lord,
enable us to be rich in good works. How condescending, that thou
acceptest a part of thine own as freewill-offerings, and hast annexed
promised blessings to those who consider the poor; hast said, 'He who
giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord.'

"I thank thee that thou hast laid to hand a sufficiency to enable
me and mine to eat our own bread; even that which, according to the
regulations of society, men call our own. Thou only hast a right to
call it not so, for we are thine, and all that thou hast given us; but
of thy free bounty and kind providence, 'thou hast enabled us to
provide things honest and of good report in the sight of all men,' and
to give a portion to them who need.

"I trust thy Spirit has directed my judgment in the determination
I have taken to set apart, from time to time, this portion, according
as thou prosperest us in business, and preservest us in health and
ability to pursue it. I bless thee for indulgent, encouraging
appearances, that since I began the practice thou hast added to my
stock, and that which I have given has never straitened, but thou hast
prospered me more and more. My poor's purse has never been empty when
called for, neither has my family purse. Of thine