a rich, an immense inheritance in the love and presence of my Lord; whose property each individual believer is, as much as the angels themselves. In this confidence I can repose myself on His faithful arm, to be either full or bereaved, rich or poor, in pain or ease, as He shall please to appoint. Oh mighty force of redeeming love! This, applied by the Holy Ghost, is an abiding demonstration to us, that we are dear and precious in the eyes of our God. From this knowledge proceeds a power to be willingly subject, without reserve, to His holy will-an assurance that afflictions and necessities are appointed for our truest interest.

TO MR. RILAND.

Sandwell, Dec. 2.

SOME blessed times, indeed, I have had since we parted; and some at the Throne of Grace, whilst I have been remembering you, and entreating for your enjoyment, more and more, of the fruits of the death of Jesus, and of the power of His resurrection. Yet it sometimes occasions a great trial of our faith, and a painful submission of our understanding to God, to reconcile the absolute certainty of the promises in Christ Jesus, and the success and prevalence of prayer, with the experience of the people of God. When I consider the slow progress I have made, the many, many evil thoughts and desires, the continual defilement and extreme weakness and inconstancy of mind I labour under, I am ready to cry out, "Is there unfaithfulness in God? Where is His promise,?" But, upon maturer

thoughts, all this is quite necessary, to mortify my vanity, to deepen my convictions of sin, to make self abhorred, earth appear a howling wilderness, and a better and a more holy state of existence longed for.

As soon as I came here, the Earl, with as much love as you could wish he had for me, received me; and Lady Dartmouth the same. It often happens to me, that the tender regard of my friends distresses me; as I cannot divide myself, nor spend my time with them, as they desire. It is the case at present: Lord and Lady Dartmouth, with an earnestness which makes me blush, and which I cannot withstand, will not let me leave Sandwell till Monday the 11th.

CORRESPONDENCE,

SECTION II.

LETTERS WRITTEN FROM THE PERIOD OF HIS ACCEPTANCE OF YELLING, TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS SON.

DURING the early part of the year 1770, Mr. Venn was incapacitated from all exertion, by the alarming illness mentioned in the Memoir, which was brought on by excessive labour in the discharge of his ministry. In the autumn of this year he was recommended to try the effect of a journey to Bath. Whilst at that place, he received the offer of the living of Yelling, Huntingdonshire; and immediately announced the intelligence, in a few lines, to Mrs. Riland; but entered more fully upon the subject in the following letter, written from London a few days afterwards.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

TO MRS. RILAND.

London, Nov. 17, 1770.

I conclude you have, by this time, received my letter, dated last Saturday. In that you will find I am Rector of Yelling. I wrote to you of this event the very day I received the account of it from the Lord Commissioner Smythe. I had received

some intimation of his design to prefer me, the Saturday before; upon which I immediately wrote to Lady -, urging her to press for the nomination of my successor at Huddersfield; and saying in a few words what I have ever thought of dear Mr. Riland-that he is one of the best creatures living upon earth. If he is not nominated, I hope, for my own sake, his faithful labours will be joined with my feeble efforts, to promote the glory of Emmanuel, in that new place to which I am called evidently by His providence. To leave Huddersfield nothing would have prevailed with me, if my lungs had not received an irreparable injury, of which I am more sensible, by several symptoms, than ever. What I feel in giving up the Huddersfield congregation, and especially your dear sister, and some like her, no words can sufficiently express instead of being rejoiced at the providence, I barely feel resigned: and looking upon my dissolution as at no great distance, I go to Yelling as a dying man and if I am to live a few years longer, I look upon this as the appointed means of continuing my life. What new trials and exercises of faith I shall be called to, my Lord only knows: this, I am sure, will be a great alleviation of them, if we all remove together; for never shall I forget how much I owe to you both, and how much you have both shewn to me a truly affectionate spirit. I beg my best love to Mr. Riland, to your sister, and all friends. I am so much hurried, that I have no time to write to any but yourself at Huddersfield.-Adieu, my dear friend! From yours &c.

H. VENN.

It was not to be expected that the tender and sacred bonds, which united Mr. Venn with his flock at Huddersfield, could be severed without exciting deep regret on both sides: but the trial was rendered more severe, in consequence of some of his friends in that place disapproving of his removal. This drew from him the following touching appeals, which equally display his meekness and tenderness of conscience.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

TO MRS. RILAND.

London, Nov. 27, 1770. How much have I suffered these last few days! and what will be my final determination I am not now able to say: for, though I was quite clear, that, from my utter inability to do much in my office, I was not to continue in so large a sphere of action, yet, when you write to me that the dear people suffer so much, and that there is no likelihood of a successor such as I could wishwhen I consider, also, the separation which must take place from two of the very dearest friends I have, and the extreme smallness of the parish I am presented to-I am in great perplexity. I am looking up with earnest cries to Him, who has Himself most strictly charged us not to turn the blind out of his way; and who, therefore, will surely inform and direct His poor, sinful creatures, who call upon Him. I should be glad if you, my dear friend, would write