things; and gives us all to look to the gathering together of the saints in Christ, when Pastors and Teachers, with their people who received the word, shall all know as they are known.

So many were the mercies, and so great the kindnesses of my dear Yorkshire friends, that I shall not be able, whilst on my journey, to take a due survey of them. When I am at home-which, God willing, I purpose being on Friday next-I shall be quite lost in wonder, that such a one, as I know myself to be, should ever be so highly esteemed. Indeed, it was much my desire and prayer that I might, once before I died, bear afresh a testimony in favour of the practical and experimental knowledge of Christ, and Him crucified, by which all the good that is done upon earth is done by the Lord. I have had many precious opportunities of so doing; and verily believe it will be found, in the Last Day, that my visit was not in vain the Lord. How much do I owe to the esteem and love of my friends, that they have taken such ample care that all the charges of my journey should be defrayed, and much more;-not that I desired, with much truth I can say, any gift, but fruit-the fruit of more grace, faith, and love, abounding in your souls.

Pray give my love to your dear mother and wife. Happy was I to see you all so united, and living in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost! Remember me to Joseph Hirst and Barbara, William Scholefield, and all friends.The Lord Jesus be with your spirit!

From your friend and pastor in Christ,

H. VENN.

In January 1781, Mr. John Venn took the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The event is thus noticed:

My son has taken his degree. He was very much embarrassed and agitated in mind, through excessive fear-a terrible hindrance to him in expressing himself, when examined. He has not, consequently, obtained so much honour as he would otherwise have done. The Examiners assure my friends he deserved a much higher place. My design is, that he shall stay one year at College, till he is ordained, to employ his time wholly in proper study and much prayer, as I have reason to think he will.

TO MR. JOHN VENN.

MY DEAR SON,

Yelling, March 18, 1781.

to visit Mr.

Yesterday I had a melancholy ride to dangerously ill in his bed. He sent for me. O how has he smarted, and been in terrible fear, for having loved the company of the ungodly, and given into their evil ways! He was very weak; and some of his relations were with him, which prevented my speaking so closely and particularly as I should otherwise have done. I had a little enlargement of heart in prayer; and a good deal of comfort in comforting his poor afflicted wife, who has long been serving the Lord. Nothing

is more pleasant than such employment as this; and it is always followed with the cheering influence of the Holy Ghost in the soul. My ride home was very different from my ride thither, in the frame of my mind. "He went about doing good:"—this is the pattern for every Christian. He is a counterfeit one, who does not strive to imitate it. The strength, the alacrity, the joy of the soul, is connected with this imitation. Religious people are heavy and moping, and cast down, principally because they are idle and selfish. The active, benevolent spirit of watching for opportunities to do essential service to our fellow-creatures, they often feel no more than the profane. What then avail notions and doctrines, believed to no good purpose! More especially, I look upon it as the great sin and reproach of scholars, that they almost universally neglect their fellow-creatures. They are lamentably selfish: they make no use of their learning, and the influence it gives them, and their ability to teach, as they should do every day, in setting forth the great things of God's Law, and pleading the glorious cause of God against the world and all the deluded votaries of pleasure.

Were it lawful to wish, I should wish for strength to work and labour more; for I am not yet able to preach in the week-days. Remember me to all friends. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit!

From your affectionate father,

H. VENN.

DEAR MADAM,

TO MRS. BRASIER

(ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT).

Yelling, March 27, 1781.

Be pleased to thank my Cousin for his letter.In reading of your loss, I felt for you both; but more especially, as there appeared something of a doubt, whether you could say, with full assurance, the child is blessed. I have known several Christians troubled with doubts on this head; and few things have appeared to me more strange ;-for we may say, with truth, What could God have done, more than He has done, to prove His love for the infants of the human race? They were always admitted to be members of His Church. A regard for them, he mentions as a reason why Nineveh, in which there were so many thousand infants, should not, as Jonah desired, be destroyed. The Saviour himself embraced and blessed them. Again: not a soul is destroyed for ever, but for wicked works: they are hypocrites, they are unbelievers, they are impenitent to the last, after warnings, admonitions, and calls &c., who perish. But what works have infants done, that are evil? Some are ready to say, for Adam's offence they perish. The Scripture says, they die a natural death on that account; expressly mentioning, that they have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, but never that they suffer the pains of hell. Now, can such a thought be reconciled with the character of God, drawn by Himself; as, "slow to anger, and of great kindness;" as swearing, He hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner?-It is His strange act to punish.

Nothing but a contention against His government to the last, an impious denial of His Gospel, or a base, hypocritical assent to it, draws down His vengeance. Be assured, from such evidence, our dear children, taken away almost as soon as we see them, are safe in the hands of their merciful Creator and Redeemer.

My sister gives us a good account of your health, and Mr. Brasier's;—and of your little John. Be jealous of yourself, with regard to him. He will be much as you fashion him. Dread nothing so much as self-will. Do not tire and burden him with religion, of which he can bear but a very little but ready submission and obedience, and temperance in eating and drinking, without which the body and mind must suffer, he can very well know and observe.

My health is

Mrs. Venn and my family, who are in good health, desire their love. In three weeks I may probably just catch a sight of you; but, as I can be only one Sunday from home, it will not be in my power to do more than call. very much restored; yet I am forced, I think, to pay dear for it. I am obliged to be on horseback every day, and cannot study and apply as my heart delights to do. I began to make trial in preaching four times one week; but I smarted for it for more than a fortnight; so that I must be content with doing very little indeed in my old age. Oh that I may enjoy more meditation and prayer, and communion with God, till I am with Him, whose Name is most glorious in my eyes, and His service the highest honour!