vey a profpect of which his was but a fhadow. Let us look from viciffitude and defolation, to what alone is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away;* and, in the houfe of affliction and death, let us contemplate a House not made with hands eternal in the heavens.t-How refreshing to look from a family bereft of its companions and comforts to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem; to an innumerable company of angels; and to the general affembly and church of the firft-born which are written in heaven the only family which cannot be divided; the only friendship which fhall not disappoint our warmeft expectation. Glorious as this profpect is,' (perhaps you are ready to reply) I have been long in the habit of viewing it 1 Pet. i. 4. + 2 Cor. v. 1. Heb. xii. 22, 23. very indiftin&tly.-My attention has 'been fo fixed on one below, that I live looking into the Grave rather than beyond it. My fpirits are so broken, my. heart fo wounded, and my eyes fo dim with watching and weeping, that 'I can hardly read what is before me, 'or recollect what I read.-If ferious re'flection compofes me for a few moments, I foon relapfe, and feem to 'lofe fight of every fupport. I indeed feverely feel what you fay concerning "the prefent life, but I view the glories 'of the future like a ftarving creature, who, looking through the gate of the 'wealthy, furveys a plenty which but 'increases his anguish.' There is, however, this difference at leaft between your cafes; the plenty which you fee is yours, if you are really willing to accept it.-You never received a gift which was fo freely beftowed, or fo fuited to your neceffity, as as that Gift of God, which is eternal life through Jefus Chrift.*-In order to view this more distinctly, let us confider the fufficiency of I OUR PROVISIONS-For Wifdom hath built her house, she hath killed her beafts, fhe hath mingled her wine, and furnished her table.-She alfo crieth upon the highest places of the city, 'who'fo is fimple, let him turn in hither,' and to him that wanteth underftanding fhe faith, come eat of my bread, and 'drink of the wine which I have mingled-forfake the foolish and live.†' Rom. vi. 23. + Prov.xi. 1–6. D% Man, Man, indeed, is daily reminded by the Thorns at his feet, by the Sweat of his brow, and by the Duft to which he is returning, that his paradife is loft:* but Paradife regained is confidered rather as a mere Idea ;-a fubject for Poetry. That book however, which I hope you have chofen as your best companion in the houfe of mourning, like the vifion of Jacob, not only fhews the heavens opened, but difcovers a gracious Medium of communication and intercourfe, as it were a ladder let down from heaven to earth.t-A medium fo fuited to the state of man, that the weakest and vileft, who is humble enough to take hold of it as God's ordinance ;advance a step at a time, and call for ftrength to proceed; may climb by it from Earth to Heaven.t *Gen. iii. 18, 19. + Gen. xxviii. 12. Are you, my Dear Friend, among the number of thofe, who stand before God not only as ftript of their comforts, but humbled under fin as the caufe of all the defolations with which our fallen state abounds?-Open your book at the 61ft chapter of Ifaiah.-You will there perceive that most precious privilege, paradife reftored: the Creator defcending to the condition and wants of the creature, and once more holding communion with him. The broken-hearted, the captive, and the mourner, are here fhewn One mighty to fave and to relieve: and that fuch fhould not mistake their friend, our Lord when he ftood up in the fy nagogue to read, he felected this paffage, and having read it, he clofed the book with faying, this day is this fcripture ' fulfilled in your ears."*-' I am,' as if he had faid, this Deliverer and Defire of nations; the fame yesterday, to *Luke iv. 21. + Hag. ii. 7. day, |