matter, that bystanders would no longer reproach us for our divisions.

Adieu, my dear friend! Forgive my faults, pity pray for me.

and

Yours ever, in the best bonds,

H. VENN.

The next correspondent was a relative of Mr. Venn-the late John Brasier, Esq. of Camberwell, near London; who had shortly before this time returned from India, and was on the point of marriage.

MY DEAR COUSIN,

TO JOHN BRASIER, ESQ.

Yelling, Dec. 2, 1776.

We begin to reckon the days till we shall receive the pleasure of your visit, with your new and nearest relative. What a place for a new-married couple to come to spend their Christmas in!-silence and solitude-winter cold, and miry roads. Yet here I find more of that precious treasure for which martyrs bled, than I ever did in my life. Christ is company in solitude, and joy all the year round. As His beloved name is the cement and the foundation of your connexion, you will be prepared to participate in those enjoyments the world knoweth not of the view of that Incarnate God, who wedded to him His Church, not seeing in it an excellent spirit and a lovely temper, a fitness for the

conjugal relation, a heavenly aim and purpose of life;-no, when we were more loathsome than the beggar on the dunghill, and of so degenerate a spirit as to embrace our shame, and glory in our infamy-then was the time of love-then our Redeemer said, "I have betrothed thee to myself in righteousness, and in judgment, and in faithfulness; I have betrothed thee to myself for ever." Then He determined to take away the filthy garments of our own righteousness, and clothe us with the robe of salvation-to put beauty and comeliness upon our deformed spirits, and give us the same judgment and mind as He has himself; then he determined to make us meet, by changing us from one degree of holiness to another-to make us ready for the marriage-supper above, and that we should exult at the midnight-cry, with the wise virgins: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh! Go ye out to meet Him!"

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If the day of your nuptials is not past, nor the company invited, I should think you would do well to have none, or as few for your company as may be. It is of admirable use to be much in prayer on that day, that your union may bear a resemblance to that of Christ and His Church. I wish, I pray, I assure myself, it will.

Pray present my Christian love to Miss S. or Mrs. B. Love to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, and all friends.

From your affectionate cousin,

H. VENN.

CORRESPONDENCE,

SECTION III.

LETTERS WRITTEN TO HIS CHILDREN, AND TO DIFFERENT FRIENDS, FROM THE YEAR 1777, TO THE TIME OF HIS SON'S ORDINATION, 1782.

THE introduction of letters from Mr. Venn to his children, will form a new era in the Correspondence. A son and three daughters had now arrived at that critical period of life, in which the character receives its most important touches. The piety and tenderness which these parental letters breathe, will give a charm to the wise counsels they convey. The letters to his son, especially, will be highly valued by those who know the peculiar dangers which beset the entrance into life of a young man of religious education. To these letters, also, an additional interest will be attached, whilst they are regarded as the instructions of a zealous minister of Christ, in training up a son for the service which has long been his own delight and glory; and whilst it is borne in mind, that these instructions were not given in vain, but that the son lived to exemplify the sacred character which the letters themselves so vividly pourtray.

TO MR. JOHN VENN.

Bath, June 18, 1777.

YOUR letter, my dear son, was very acceptable, on several accounts: it assured us of your safe journey, and contains several Christian reflections. Let our correspondence increase.

Through the Divine mercy, we had a safe journey to Mr. Maxfield's. At Salisbury, your mamma and sister were delighted with that solemn temple. A very noble fabric it is; and was long accounted, by the votaries of superstition, in a peculiar manner the residence of the Deity. We know, blessed be His name! that we are His temple; for He dwelleth and walketh in us. On our journey, we stopped to see Mr. -'s seat. One hundred thousand pounds has been expended in laying out the grounds around it. Here is every thing to gratify the eye; and your mamma and sister were extremely pleased, and particularly with the paintings in the house. Yet the possessor of this fine place is frequently so miserable, his friends fear he will sink into a settled melancholy. O that he knew the Prince of Peace! After seeing the rich man's possessions, I had great satisfaction in paying a visit to a poor man aged ninety-six, and his wife eighty-six the husband blind, yet of strong understanding. I preached to him the Poor Man of Nazareth; and he cried out, "O, Sir! I would crawl on all-fours to hear such talk! But we be all left in the dark: our minister never comes anigh us!" Who can tell but the word spoken may be as a nail fastened in a sure

place! May you and I ever watch for opportunities of doing good, and receiving good!

We came to Bath on Tuesday last, that your mamma might drink the waters. May it please God to bless them to her! They seem, at present, to do her good. My prayer, before we set out, and every day is, that we may receive good to our souls; and already I have received an answer. In these parts, I see great monuments of the rich and tender love of our ever-blessed Saviour. Captain Scott and his Lady, who set out in the way to glory long, long after me, how have they got beyond me! He said to me, the other day: "It was worth while for us to come to Bristol, if it had been only to suffer as we have done, under the kind hand of our Lord: for now we can tell of His faithfulness and consolations, which we related before upon hearsay. His beloved wife was two months at the point of death; and he has been cut for a cancer, the disease which killed his father. Dear Mr. Fletcher, who is sinking under a painful disease, accosted me thus:"I love His rod! How gentle are the stripes I feel! how heavy those I deserve!" A third witness, a lady, who by excruciating pain has lost one eye, yet still continues in her affliction, told me, that she found, at the foot of the cross, patience and victory over all; though she suffered more than she was able to express. Everlasting praise be given unto the Lord of all Lords for such invaluable supports! Here is the faith and patience of the saints! here the power of Christ! What an office are you training for, my dear son!-to publish that Saviour, whose love can thus make