affected by the inward supports and sweet consolations given to her husband. The reason of her receiving no good, and her loss of the convictions she had, is owing to her neglect of prayer.-If we pray, our souls shall prosper: if we trifle, and are idle, and take no pains in the use of means, we must perish. Prayer is like our food. The natural life is weak, and ready to faint, if we eat little, and without appetite; the spiritual life declines, when we have no hearty desire to pray, and are not affected with this decay.-I know she would say, "I cannot give myself in heart to pray." No, nor can you do any thing that is right!-But what an answer! God tells us, He will fulfil the desires of them that call on Him-that every thing shall be given to a praying soul; and men reply, "We cannot pray." They should speak out, and say, "We care not for His blessings! Let those seek them who need them: we do not!" This is shockingly impious, but no more than the truth: and the consequence is certain, in the nature of things-The proud must be sent empty away, while the hungry are filled with good things. Oh for hunger and thirst after righteousness a constant intense desire, which shall be satisfied!

The audience was

I lately preached at very large; but such inattention to the prayers and worship, that it quite damped me. What miserable delusion, to think sermons will profit awakened and enlightened people, when they have no heart to call upon God, and worship Him in spirit and in truth! Often call upon your people, to pray with importunity. Nothing short of this will do.- H. V.

I add an extract from another letter, in which the same point is urged which occurs in the last paragraph. Indeed, no one ever entertained a higher sense of the importance of prayer and praise in public worship, or laboured more earnestly to keep up a devout and attentive spirit in the congregation. The following extract was written after Mr. Venn had been preaching for several weeks to crowded congregations in London.

Oh that power from on high might be vouchsafed in answer to prayer! Full congregations are but poor things, if the arrows, which are very sharp, do not prick to the heart the king's enemies. This, alas! is seldom the case to what it used to be in former times. Prayer is much wanted here. I see the people greatly inattentive to the worship, and yet hearing with seeming earnestness. This will never do! Worship in spirit and in truth must mellow the heart, and dispose it to hear with humility, and desire to profit; otherwise, God's Spirit is grieved, and withdraws. The preacher may be praised, but the soul will not be profited.

MY DEAR JANE,

TO MISS JANE C. VENN.

Yelling, October 19, 1784.

Yesterday we received yours of the 14th. We can readily believe you are in too great a hurry to write much; and I would excuse you the trouble, only we want to hear of your health, and of the dear friends you are with. The very short time allotted for Yorkshire must be a great alloy to your pleasure. We shall hope one week more may be gained. I thought your mind would be affected, as you describe, with the sight of Huddersfield, and the comparison of its present state, and your connection with it in your childhood. Such scenes impress on us the awful truth, that we, in a transient world, are poor, and soon to lose the little we have here, in the smiles and loving care of those who are dearest to us. Such reflections are distressing to men who have not a more enduring substance in the heavenly world. I have felt many times, as you have now at Huddersfield; and found my relief in the hope of immortality, where all the family of Christ shall love each other with perfect love, and know no more separation by death or absence.

The old house was a melancholy object to me, four years ago. In that dwelling, how many of the excellent of the earth have been received! Within those walls, how many precious sayings, from the lips of the sons and daughters of God, have I heard! How many prayers and praises offered up by your dear mamma!-now a saint, with the spirits of the

just made perfect. Within those walls, line upon line, precept upon precept, were given, with great delight, by your father, to instruct, and sanctify your hearts unto the Lord; which His own Spirit-adored be His Name!-has made effectual. So, that could you have seen and conversed with your beloved mother, what mutual joy would you have had! for your hope, and light, and love, your mind, and affections, are all one with hers. When a few years have taken their rapid flight, you will, I doubt not, speak, and think, and feel, as she does now. This will be a change not many degrees greater than you have experienced, my dear daughter, in your soul, during the space of seventeen years, since she left me.

Now for Yelling news!-Mr. Simeon and Mr. Coulthurst have been here together. The latter improves every time I see him. Betty Field is dying -I trust, in a very good state-with great comfort, and a full view, she says, of Christ. John Gatehouse is ill, but happy-a truly meek and humble follower of his Lord. Miss M. of Gravely, also, is not expected to live. I heard, with joy, from her own lips, that the Saviour is precious to her, under all her pain and burning heat. How does sickness, and a dying bed, demonstrate the wisdom of her choice, in joining herself to the Lord, as soon as she heard of Him! Let us remember poor Miss she is amiable indeed, and very sensible. I have spoken to her, with fourteen young people who were confirmed last Thursday at St. Neot's :-our servant was among them. I spoke to them three evenings; but I could not see any impression on any one, excepting young John Alsop. I gave Miss

:

Doddridge's Rise and Progress; and particularly desired her to consider the prayers, which are very affecting. However, I do not despair. The command to us all, who know the Lord, is-" Sow thy seed in the morning; and in the evening, slack not thy hand; for thou canst not tell which shall prosper-this, or that."

We expect Joseph Scott here, to take home his wife, who is something better for our air;-though, at best, she enjoys poor health. Her soul prospers; though she laments that her children keep her affections too much below. "A sad difference," she one day said, "between my state and St. Paul's! He desired to be gone; and I wish to stay." How few of us ever get to that most blessed state-wishing to be gone! Here we have abundant cause to cry out, Lord, help our unbelief! Lord, increase our faith !

I direct this to you at Thornhill. Pray give my kindest love to them. Tell them I shall never forget the many pleasant hours I have spent with them, nor the true and cordial friendship we had in times past. I often remember them, when I am praying for my friends and fellow-citizens in Christ; and often anticipate the day, when we shall fall at the feet of the Lamb, adoring the grace in which we share, and by which we shall be saved. Remember me to Mr. Powley, Mr. Burnet, and at Mole Green. Were I to allow myself to choose, I would wish to be near my Yorkshire friends. But choosing for ourselves is not less ridiculous in men and women, than it would be in a child of three or four years old: our understanding and wisdom are no more proportioned to judge what is best for us.