cember. Its appearance and departure were gradual. I expect always to be subject to such turns, while I remain in this tabernacle

I have had no letter from your brother E. B. since the twenty-first of June. He mentions that the news of Doctor Fitch's death was almost too much for A to bear. Her affectionate heart was almost overcome. Such painful strokes of separation must be felt, while in this mortal state. But there is a state of blessedness, to which believers in Jesus are fast hastening, where sorrow and sighing shall be no more for ever..

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There is an awful putrid disorder prevalent in this part of the country and I am informed, also at the eastward, which puts a period to the lives of many, in the most sudden manner. Mr. E. U, who you recollect once boarded with us, died in a most surprising manner, last Saturday night. He was taken in the afternoon, with slight complaints, and expired before morning. The corpse was so putrid before they could lay it out, that they were obliged to wrap it in a tarpawling. This providence was the more striking, on account of the daring profanity, which, it was said, he used the day before he died. The observations I would not mention, but they were expressive of his infidel sentiments. What sensations of horror do such events produce in minds of those who believe in the scriptures !

Oh that this affecting providence might have a salutary effect upon his associates!

There is but little conversation to be heard, among any class of people this way, but upon the subject of politics. Religion seems to be going out of fashion, as though the concerns of the kingdom of Christ had lost their importance. The number of those in the circle of my acquaintance, who appear to be delighted with religious conversation, is very small; and among that precious few, I cannot name more than one, who retains that degree of animation, which they had a few years since.

But the importance of the subject does not diminish with our feelings. Dying work does not cease to go on, eternity does not shorten, heaven grow less happy, or hell more tolerable, because stupid mortals live careless about them. The delay of deth never lessens the importance of a preparation, but much inincreases it; as it lays us under the greater obligations, which, if misimproved, will increase our condemnation. The longer our day of probation is continued, the more we are ripened for heaven or hell. This solemn consideration ought to arrest the attention of every rational mind, and might well occupy his thoughts, by night and by day, wherever he goeth, or whatever his employment may be. But vain men put far off the evil day, imagining that to-morrow must needs be as this day, and much more abundant; and so live along in a self-flattering dream, until the hail of

death sweeps away their refuges of lies, and they are plunged deep in remediless despair. My time fails, and I cannot enlarge. I do not intend that any thing shall prevent my seeing Claremont this summer, but sickness in the family. Your Mother joins, as usual, in sentiments of affection, to you and all the family.

MY DEAR BEREAVED CHILD,

I HAVE received yours of 23d of April, replete with sorrow and grief. I do heartily condole with you under your very great loss. Personal experience makes me know how to pity you. But still, I must caution you against excessive indulgence of grief. I am not insensible, that it is an aggravating circumstance, that you are altogether among strangers; nevertheless it appears that many of these strangers exercise all the tenderness of friendship towards you, and manifest the kindest wishes, to afford all the comfort and consolation in their power. This must be in a measure soothing; but, alas! it is not in the power of mortals to supply the vacuum, which such a stroke must make in your breast. Encompassed with ever so many kind friends, still, you must feel yourself alone. God's

presence, and the light of his countenance alone, can satisfy a mind like yours, under such a bereavement. But this he is ever ready to give, to those who seek it in faith. Although God, in the all-wise dispensations of his providence, has seen best to take from you the desire of your eyes, and cause you to sigh out the mournful complaint, "Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness;" yet you ought to be consoled with the idea that your loss is her gain; that while you are in tears, she is rejoicing in the company of God, Christ, Saints and Angels. Oh, the superiour happiness she now enjoys in heaven, where faith is swallowed up in perfect vision, and hope in the fruition of all those heavenly joys, which mortal "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, or the heart of man conceived." With every reason to believe that this is her glorious state, would it not be cruel (even if it were lawful,) to wish her back again in this state of sin and suffering? "God's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts, but are as high above them as the heavens are above the earth." The dispensations of divine providence contain a depth of wisdom, so far surpassing the comprehension of our finite minds, that we should not presume to open our mouths in surprise or complaint. You will do well, often to call up to your mind the last advice of your dying companion, and endeav our to exercise the Christian grace of patience;

praying abundantly for entire resignation to the Divine will, however it may cross your worldly wishes and pleasures. Strive to retain that frame of spirit, that will lead you to say, under every trial, "not my will, but thine be done." If you are a child of God, the stroke you have received, though so very heavy, is a Father's rod, laid on not in anger, but in love. He corrects you with the benevolent view of bringing you nearer to himself. I wish you to read Hebrews xii. from the 5th to the 11th inclusive; and may God by his Spirit, enable you to apply it to your own case, and bless it for your comfort and consolation. It appears, by the account you give of the exercises of her mind, on a dying bed, that you have no cause to mourn for her, but for your own sins, which, doubtless, have been the procuring cause of the sore visitation. You ought carefully to examine your heart, and if possible, find out the Achan that provoked a just and holy God to come out against you, in such a grievous stroke. To assist you in this important investigation, I would suggest the consideration, whether your affections have not been inordinately placed upon your bosom friend, and she been suffered to take up that room in your heart, which Christ claimed as his due? Christ will never suffer a rival in the hearts of his children, without giving tokens of his displeasure. If any thing is suffered to usurp the throne, in a Christian's heart, he is often pleased to remove the object from his