orations? Therefore we remain, as at
this day, with our desires towards him, and our faces Zion-wards. What
he hath begun he will perfect, and in a little while our eyes shall
behold him, our hearts shall enjoy him, we shall be like him, and see
him as he is."

To the same.

"DECEMBER 26, 1801.

"I rejoice over my dear children, and bless our gracious God that
he has led them a sweet and most delightful sojourning among his
churches, animating their spirits by their mutual communion; blessing
them, and, I hope, making them blessings. I pray the Lord may make our
dear D---- an instrument among others of spreading his gospel,
building up his church, and pulling down the strong-holds of Satan;
and that you may be in your place a help-meet for him, in this as in
every thing else. May the Lord choose his path and direct his steps,
and yours with him. Women were helpers of the apostles and others in
Paul's days: at the same time care must ever be taken not to obtrude
in any respect. I pray that you may be kept spiritual and humble:
eminence in God's service is truly desirable, if the heart be kept
humble. If the Lord open the eyes to behold more of the extent and
spirituality of his law, the holiness and purity of his nature, the
evil of sin, and its contrariety to all that is in God; and if he turn
the eyes inward to the hidden corruptions of the heart, when it is
evident to the soul that all is of grace, then may eminent services
be safe.

"'I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,' was the exercise
of Job; and justly so. Job, who was eyes to the blind and feet to the
lame, a father to the poor, and the cause which he knew not he
searched it out: when the ear heard him, it blessed him; when the eye
saw him, it gave witness to him; who withheld not the poor from his
desire, nor caused the eye of the widow to fail; the stranger did not
lodge in the street, but he opened his door unto the traveller: all
this was true as far as the external act, and as he then thought, with
a proper temper of heart, Job could justify himself before his
fellow-sinners, Blind like himself; but when God comes to deal with
him, how different his views. Then it was, 'Behold, I am vile; what
shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand on my mouth:' even with the
very best there is cause for this exercise, could we see in the
same light.

"How deceitful