at the kindness and love shewn to us, feeling ourselves unworthy of it: much more shall we be sometimes in astonishment, to consider that our Saviour should love and suffer so much for us. We shall look at Him on His cross, and weep. We shall look at our own hearts as the cause, and then weep again; and our whole attention will be to Him and His service. Thus viewing Him, the world lessens in our eyes more and more. We feel our time too important to be taken up with any thing in it. We have nothing to do here, but to serve Him in love, and watch against the sad remainders of our corruption, which so frequently remind us of our sinful condition. This is the proper state of a soul entirely attached to Jesus, the sweetest name that ever was heard!"

I know, Madam, how much these are your own feelings and views. How exceeding great the Power which can implant, and cause them to increase, in hearts so opposite to them as ours are! What a marvellous transformation of character was effected by the swallowing of a pin, which became to her a loud call to prepare to die! But for this, dress, equipage, visits, cards, pleasures, as they are called, in quick succession, would have engrossed her immortal mind! Instead of wisdom flowing from her lips, a continual effusion of idle talk;-instead of an example of meekness and heavenly affections, haughtiness, and love of pre-eminence, would have reigned in her; instead of many won by her life, and relieved in soul by her instruction, and comforted by her bounty, there would have been many confirmed

in folly and delusions deadly to the soul, by her conformity to their practice and the fashion. Here is the truth and reality of Redemption, seen and felt in its incomparable fruits!—an anticipation, in some measure, of that state we are training up for, when we shall be perpetually dead to all that is selfish, and be filled with all the fulness of God.

I am very happy that you are much acquainted with my honoured friend and patron, Lady Smyth; and how shall I be transported, if the day of her deliverance from the spirit of fear, which has pain in it, was come! It is indeed hard work to hold on in the narrow way, in opposition to the world, without the light of His countenance, and the pleasures of His holy service. I see, by the papers, Dr. Knowles has written upon the Passion of our Saviour. I hope he has found his life in those tears, and groans, and wounds, and agony, and death. It is rare for a Doctor in Divinity to exercise his thoughts upon such a subject. How is the remembrance of that adorable Redeemer gone out of this land! May we consider ourselves as witnesses for His despised truth and salvation! We shall soon, from being amongst the few, stand with the vast multitude, whom no man can number, before the Throne of God and the Lamb!- Mrs. Venn begs her best respects.

From your much indebted servant, for Christ's sake, H. VENN.

In a life of such even tenour as that which this Memoir records, an event now occurred of great

comparative interest. Mr. Venn had long desired to revisit Huddersfield, ten years having nearly elapsed since he had left it; but various hindrances prevented the accomplishment of his wish. The next letters will describe the circumstances of the visit, and some striking occurrences connected with it.

TO MR. EDWARD VENN.

MY DEAR NEPHEW,

Yelling, Sept. 14, 1780.

Though I have lost my ague since the 9th of July, yet I have but little strength. I am therefore advised to try riding by short journeys, and change of air; for which purpose I intend setting out next week for Yorkshire, and shall be absent two or three months. Mrs. Venn is afraid of the journey, and chooses rather to stay with my daughters. If this journey does not help me much, I am to try Bath waters. Thus I am taking a great deal of trouble, at much expense, to recover the health of a body impaired and old, and which, after all, can stand but a few, a very few years. But what do we not owe to our Immanuel, who opens a transporting prospect before us, when our body is decayed? He is present with us, to cheer the mind, and prevent the gloom which would otherwise oppress it; and to assure us, that we shall immediately, by death, join the vast society of spirits, perfectly free from all error and all sin-all living in the light which will not admit of disagreement - knowing the truth, and beholding each other's hearts full of

boundless love to God, and to every angel and saint around them-active, without fatigue, like the Great Father of the family-and appointed to the most noble exercise of immortal faculties, without the least corruption or abuse of them, all being incessantly employed according to the will of their adorable Author; when, instead of seeing human nature, in ten thousand instances, so depraved as to make us blush we are of the human race, we shall see it exalted and honoured, without spot or wrinkle upon it.

Such, my dear nephew, are my prospects. Though I love my family, and have from each of them much satisfaction, and would do all to make them comfortable, yet neither wife nor child can fill me with regret, should I pass into eternity before we have lived much longer together.

I write this to you in the openness of my heart, that you may see godliness is indeed great gain. O! it is worth a thousand worlds, to be ready to depart, and to finish our course with joy.

From your very affectionate,

H.VENN.

TO MISS JANE VENN.

Halifax, Oct. 11, 1780.

TELL your beloved mamma, my dear Jane, that the account of her cheerfulness and good health has made me rejoice; and without any alloy, save such as absence from her must cause. I now take pleasure in the wonderful scene passing before my

eyes. By this expression, I mean the very great degree of affection so many are expressing for me; and the delightful account I hear of so many souls walking in the light, and living in the love of Christ. Would it not bring tears into your eyes, to hear one after another, with a countenance full of love, declare they have reason to bless God for ever that they had heard my voice?

Last Sunday, I preached at Huddersfield twice. Fifty minutes was the length of the first sermon: fifty-three, of the second. No vociferation at

all, in the first in the second, very little. The church was more than filled in the morning: in the afternoon, several hundreds were in the churchyard, and hundreds went away. The gallery was so loaded, as to crack and give way during the Prayers; and was, by bringing a strong prop immediately, kept from falling. This vast congregation was silent, and still as possible. After sermon in the afternoon, I was less fatigued than I could have supposed possible, considering how very hot the church was. The hymn was admirable, and every creature joined. It was a picture of heaven!

You can hardly conceive the care they all express for me; and desire I may not preach more than will agree with me. When, from the pulpit, I beheld so vast a multitude in and out of the church, I was very awfully struck with this idea what dreadful consequences must follow, should the man they make so much of, fall into wickedness! How would the ungodly triumph, the weak be stumbled, and the Christians mourn in secret!-Pray for your father, my dear child, that God, for His own truth's sake,