"YOURS of the 11th instant I have just received, and thank you for your continued concern for your poor unworthy brother. 4 "I have suffered much in my health since I wrote to you last, by the increase of my feverish complaint, which filled me with heat and horror all night, and in the day sometimes almost suffocated me with the violence of its paroxysms. Į am extremely weak, and now that warm weather which I came into Devon to seek, I dread as much as the cold, because it excites the fever. I am happy, however, in the Lord. I have not a wish to live or die, but as he pleases. I truly enjoy the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and would not be without his divine atonement, wherein to rest my soul, for ten thousand worlds. I feel quite weaned from earth, and all things in it. Death hath lost his sting, the grave its horrors; and the attractions of heaven, I had almost said, are sometimes violent. "Oh to grace how great a debtor !' "But I am wearied. May all grace abound towards my dear brother, and his affectionate S. P." 00000000000 To the CHURCH in Cannon-street. "Plymonth, May 31, 1799. "TO the dear people of my charge, the flock of Christ, assembling in Cannon-street, Birmingham; their afflicted but affectionate pastor, presents his love in Christ Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, "My dearest, dearest friends and brethren, "SEPARATED as I have been a long time from you, and during that time of separation, having suffered much both in body and mind, yet my heart has still been with you, participating in your sorrows, uniting in your prayers, and rejoicing with you in the hope of that glory, to which divine faithfulness has engaged to bring us, and for which our heavenly Father, by all his providences, and by every operation of his Holy Spirit, is daily preparing us. "Never, my dear brethren, did I so much rejoice in our being made partakers of the heavenly calling,' as during my late afflictions. The sweet thoughts of glory, where I shall meet my dear Lord Jesus, with all his redeemed ones, perfectly freed from all that sin which now burdens us, and makes us groan from day to day,this transports my soul, whilst out of weakness I am made strong, and at times am enabled to glory even in my bodily infirmities, that the power of Christ, in supporting when flesh and heart fail, may the more evidently rest upon me. Oh, my dear brethren and sisters! let me, as one alive almost from the dead, let me exhort you to stand fast in that blessed gospel, which for ten years I have now preached among you:-the gospel of the grace of God; the gospel of free, full, everlasting salvation, founded on the sufferings and death of God manifest in the flesh. Look much at this all-amazing scene! Behold! a God descends and dies, To save my soul from gaping hell !' And then say whether any poor broken-hearted sinner need be afraid to venture his hopes of salvation on such a sacrifice; especially, since He who is thus 'mighty to save,' hath said, that 'whoscever cometh to him he will in no wise cast out.' You, beloved, who have found the peace-speaking virtue of this blood of atonenient, must not be satisfied with what you have already known or enjoyed. The only way to be constantly happy, and constantly prepared for the most awful changes which we must all experience, is to be constantly looking and coming to a dying Saviour; renouncing all our own worthiness; cleaving to the loving Jesus as our all in all; giving up every thing, however valuable to our worldly interests, that clashes with our fidelity to Christ; begging that of his fullness we grace upon grace,' whilst our faith actually relies on his power and faithfulness, for the full accomplishment of every promise in his word that we plead with him, and guarding against every thing that might for a moment bring distance and darkness between your souls, and your precious Lord. If you this live, (and oh that you may daily receive fresh life from Christ so to do!) the peace of God will keep your hearts and minds,' and you will be filled with 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' may receive " As a Church, you cannot conceive what pleasure I have enjoyed in hearing that you are in peace; that you attend prayer-meetings; that you seem to be stirred up of late for the honour and prosperity of religion. Go on in these good ways, my beloved friends, and assuredly the God of peace will be with you. Yea, it after all I should be taken entirely from you, yet God will surely visit you, and never leave you nor forsake you. "As to my health, I seem on the whole to be still mending, though but very slowly. The fever troubles me often, both by day and night, but my strength increases. I long to see your faces in the flesh; yea, when I thought myseif near the gates of the grave, I wished, if it were the M Lord's will, to depart among those whom I se much loved. But I am in good hands; and all must be right. "I thank both you and the congregation most affectionately, for all the kindness you have shewn, respecting me and my family, during my absence. The Lord return it a thousand fold} My love to every one, both old and young, rich and poor as though named. The Lord bless to your edification the occasional ministry which you enjoy. I hope you regularly attend upon it, and keep together, as the horses in Pharaoh's chariot. I pray much for you: pray, still pray for your very affectionate, though unworthy, pastor, S. P." In a postscript to Mr. King, he says, "I have made an effort to write this letter: my affections would take no denial; but it has brought on the fever." 00000000000 It seems to have been about this time he wrote the following lines, which have appeared in several periodical publications, but with many inac curacies: HYMN IN A STORM. "IN the floods of tribulation, And supports my fainting soul. Mid the gloom the vivid lightnings Doth my faithful LORD appear, Floods of tribulation heighten, In the sacred page recorded, Thus his word securely stands,- "Fear not, I'm in trouble near thee, Nought shall pluck thee from my hande." Sweet affliction sweet affliction, That to such sweet words lay claim ! All I meet I find assists me In my path to heav'nly joy, But, reflecting how it led me To my blessed Saviour's seat, 00000000000 Towards the latter end of May, when Mr. WARD, and his companions, were just ready to set sail, a consultation concerning Mr. Pearce was held on board the Criterion, in which all the missionaries, and some of the members of the Baptist Missionary Society were present. It was well known that he had for several years been |