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many storms, and tried in so many ways. But if our Lord has a cause to support among you, he will not leave you helpless, nor comfortless, nor lifeless. May you not take encouragement, from the things which your Lord has shewn you in the way of mercy and fa vour, in the midst of all your difficulties and fears, that he does not intend to kill you, and that he will not leave you to perish? Still pray and hope, and wait for a time of reviving and refreshing from his presence. Some new blessings, I hope will be sent to you by the hand of your worthy pastor, now at length mercifully restored to you, after so long an absence. As he comes back to you with a desirable addition to his health, which stood in great need of recruiting, I trust he will at the same time, have come to you again, in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ! If it be the will of the great Head of the church, to uphold you, and make you fruitful as a branch of that church, which he has bought with his blood, and which he honors with his constant presence, protection, and favour; he will provide you with friends, helpers, and resources, for supporting the ordinances and ministrations of his gospel among you. And the interpositions of his Providence, for this purpose, may be often the most confidently expected, by a bold and adventurous faith, when timid reason, and cowardly sense, and a subtle, malicious adversary, would tempt you most to despond. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord." Truly my soul waiteth upon God, from him cometh my salvation. "My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence, I shall not be mov. ed," &c.*

* Psalm lxii.

Our Bible Society, is just beginning to distribute its Bibles, with the prospect of increasing demand upon its funds, as soon as its charitable design shall be extensively known. General P. lately sent us a $50 Bank Note, informing us, that he believed he could distribute a considerable number of Bibles in his neighbourhood, with advantage. We enrolled him a member for life, and sent him three dozen Bibles. than a dozen dozen have been applied for, to supply the wants of the poor in other quarters; and it is not doubted, that applications will increase, as distributions are made. Farewell.

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ISAAC S. KEITH.

TO MR. J. S.

CHARLESTOWN, (Mass.) AUGUST 11th-14th, 1808.

MY DEAR SIR,

ABOUT the 20th of July, while we were in Middleton, Connecticut, a very acceptable letter, written by your good daughter M. our much esteemed friend, together with another from Mr. H. came safely to hand. The receipt of M's letter was acknowledged, in a long letter which J. had been writing; and it is hoped that it may have, in due time, found a safe conveyance to Charleston. As my little secretary crowded half a dozen pages of her letter to her friend, with a variety of particulars relative to our journey, the delightful scenes through which we had passed, and the many acquaintances and friends, new and old, with whom we had the pleasure of spending some time on

our way, and especially respecting our very dear friend, Mrs. W. and several of her worthy connexions, &c. &c. I refer you to those communications for the information, which I know you and all your good family would be desirous of receiving from us, after our departure from Philadelphia; and I am happy in being able to come off so well, in having your friendly wishes in this respect gratified, without being obliged myself to undertake the task, which she has executed with much more facility, and much more minutely and satisfactorily, than it would have been done by my own pen. There is, indeed, scarcely any employment more burdensome and fatiguing to me, than that of writing. Let not the three 4to sheets, which I sent you from Philadelphia, or this folio now, be interpreted as furnishing a contradiction to the preceding observation; for one principal reason of my giving you such lengthy scrawls, when I do take up my pen, is, because I do not calculate on writing often. Yet you see that I am not disposed to be ceremonious with you, as I do not wait for an answer to my long letter sent from Philadelphia, before I begin again, with some prospect, if I can find leisure sufficient, of filling up for you the formidable sheet now before me. I am indeed sorry that there was such an apology to be offered in your behalf, for omitting to write to me, as that suggested in M's letter, viz. the great debility which you felt, under the oppressive heat of the weather. In that respect, I hope from the agreeable changes of the weather, you may have experienced desirable relief from time to time; and at all events, I persuade myself, that as is your day, so will be your strength, especially in the inward man. And highly privileged, and eminently favoured, shall we respective

ly be, if the strength of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, be made perfect in our weakness; and if his grace be made sufficient for us, in all the seasons and circumstances of life, and especially in its closing scene, the solemn, trying hour of death, how important, how desirable, when in that interesting hour, our heart and flesh shall fail us, to have the Lord our Redeemer then with us, as the strength of our heart, and the portion of our souls for ever! And thus shall all be favoured and blessed, who have lived by faith in him, as the Lord their righteousness and strength. They who are prepared to die, in and through him, shall be made more than conquerors over the last enemy; and when dismissed from the labours and trials, the comforts and sorrows of earth and time, shall be ever with their Lord, beholding his glory, and partaking of his joy. May such be the happiness enjoyed by us, and by all in whose present and everlasting welfare, we are bound to feel our hearts most deeply and tenderly interested.

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From Middleton, on the 25th July, we proceeded about 10 or 11 miles to Weathersfield, accompanied by our friend Mrs. W. On the 27th we dined with the Rev. Dr. M. in Weathersfield, where we experienced a cordial hospitality, and very polite and pleasing attentions, during the few hours of our stay in that worthy family. Towards the evening we went on to Hartford, having still the pleasure of Mrs. W's company. Her oldest brother lives here, who is a very pious man, and in respect to religion, is much blessed in his family. We spent the night in the family of Mr. N. whose wife, a pious and worthy woman, is a daughter of Lieutenant Governor T. Mrs. N. had been lately called to mourn the death of a sister, the pious mother of five or six

small children, one of the victims of the fatal spotted feyer, which was then prevailing in Farmington. Having enjoyed here, a scene of mingled satisfaction and sorrow, we set out on our journey on the following day at an early hour, leaving our highly esteemed, and very affectionate friend, Mrs. W. with mutual, painful regret.

From Hartford we pursued our journey through a number of beautiful towns, and afterwards through some miles of rugged country, where the houses were few, and steeples rare, to the flourishing town of Providence, in the state of Rhode Island. There, with a large party of ladies and gentlemen from Boston, we dined; and after dinner, turning out of the direct course for Boston, we went down to Bristol, (R. I.) where, from Friday evening till Monday morning, we staid at the hospitable mansion of Mr. J. R. elder brother of Mr. N. R. of our city. He is a worthy and good man, and gave me reason to hope, that he would at length join himself to the church, which he has for many years thought of doing, but from an apprehension of his unworthiness, has till now omitted. His sister has been long in communion with the church, and is a most agreeable woman, and excellent christian. The simplicity and godly sincerity, and the cordial friendship, with which we were received and entertained by these worthy persons, and the desirable opportunity which we had, for enjoying with them the freedoms of christian conversation, made our time pass there very pleasantly indeed; and I hope it was not altogether spent in vain. On Monday morning they kindly accompanied us on our way to the ferry, two miles from their house, where we took an affectionate leave of

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