ceived from the great Deliverer out of all. Thefe quotations do not indeed prove that their warfare upon earth includes a part of their converse with each other, but they prove that it is a theme not unworthy to be heard even before the throne of God, and therefore it cannot be unfit for reciprocal communication.

But you doubt whether there is any communication between the bleffed at all, neither do I recollect any Scripture that proves it, or that bears any relation to the fubject. But reafon feems to require it fo peremptorily, that a fociety, without focial intercourfe, feems to be a folecifm, and a contradiction in terms, and the inhabitants of those regions are called you know in Scripture an innumerable Company, and an Affembly, which feems to convey the idea of society as clearly as the word itself. Human teftimony weighs but little in matters of this fort, but let it have all the weight it can: I know no greater names in divinity than Watts and Doddridge; they were both of this opinion, and 1 send you the words of the latter :

"Our companions in glory may probably affift us by their wife and good observations, when we come to make the providence of God, here upon earth, under the guidance and direction of our Lord Jesus Christ, the subject of our mutual converse."

Thus, my dear coufin, I have fpread out my reafons before you for an opinion which, whether admitted or denied, affects not the state or interest of our foul :-May our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, conduct us into his own Jerufalem, where there fhall be no night, neither any darkness at all, where we fhall be free even from innocent error, and perfect in the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jefus Christ.

Yours faithfully,

WM. COWPER.

LETTER VIII.

To Mrs. COWPER, at the Park-Houfe, Hartford.

MY DEAR COUSIN,

HUNTINGDON, Sept. 3, 1766.

IT is reckoned, you know, a great achievement to filence an opponent in disputation, and your filence was of fo long continuance, that I might well begin to please myself with the apprehenfion of having accomplished so arduous a matter. To be ferious, however, I am not forry, that what I have faid, concerning our knowledge of each other, in a future. ftate, has a little inclined you to the affirmative. For though the redeemed of the Lord fhall be fure of being as happy in that state as infinite power, employed by infinite goodness, can make them, and therefore it may feem immaterial whether we fhall, or fhall not, recollect each other hereafter; yet our present happiness at least is a little interested in the question. A parent, a friend, a wife, must needs, I think, feel a little heart ache at the thought of an eternal feparation from the objects of her regard and not to know them, when fhe meets them in another life, or never to meet them at all, amounts, though not altogether, yet nearly to the fame thing. Remember them, I think, fhe needs muft. To hear that they are happy, will indeed be no small addition to her own felicity: but to see them fo, will furely be a greater. Thus at least it appears to our present human apprehenfion; consequently, therefore, to think, that when we leave them, we lose them forever, that we must remain eternally ignorant whether they, that were flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone, partake with us of celestial glory, or are difinherited of their heavenly portion, must shed a difmal gloom over all our present connexions. For my own part, this life is fuch a momentary thing, and all its interefts have fo fhrunk in my

eftimation, fince by the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift I became attentive to the things of another, that like a worm in the bud of all my friendships and affections, this very thought would eat out the heart of them all, had I a thousand; and were their date to terminate with this life, I think I fhould have no inclination to cultivate and improve fuch a fugitive business. Yet friendship is neceffary to our happiness here, and built upon Christian principles, upon which only it can ftand, is a thing even of religious fanction-for what is that love, which the Holy Spirit, fpeaking by St. John, fo much inculcates, but friendship? The only love, which deferves the name; a love which can toil, and watch, and deny itfelf, and go to death for its brother. Worldly friendships are a poor weed compared with this, and even this union of spirit in the bond of peace, would fuffer in my mind at least, could I think it were only coeval with our earthly manfions. It may poffibly argue great weakness in me, in this inftance, to stand fo much in need of future hopes to fupport me in the dif charge of prefent duty. But fo it is-I am far, I know, very far, from being perfect in Chriftian love, or any other divine attainment, and am therefore unwilling to forego whatever may help me in my progress.

You are fo kind as to inquire after my health, for which reason I muft tell you, what otherwise would not be worth mentioning, that I have lately been just enough indisposed to convince me, that not only human life in general, but mine in particular, hangs by a flender thread. I am ftout enough in appearance, yet a little illness demolishes me. I have had a fevere fhake, and the building is not fo firm as it was. But I blefs God for it with all my heart. If the inner man be but strengthened day by day, as I hope tinder the renewing influences of the Holy Ghoft, it will be, no matter how foon the outward is diffolved. He who has in a manner raised me

from the dead, in a literal fenfe, has given me the grace I trust to be ready at the shortest notice, to furrender up to him that life, which I have twice received from him. Whether I live or die, I defire it may be to His glory, and it must be to my happinefs.I thank God that I have thofe amongst my kindred to whom I can write without referve of fentiments upon this fubject, as I do to you. A letter upon any other subject is more infipid to me than ever my task was, when a school-boy, and I fay not this in vain glory, God forbid! But to fhew you what the Almighty, whofe name I am unworthy to mention, has done for me, the chief of finners. Once he

was a terror to me, and his fervice, Oh what a weariness it was! Now I can fay I love him, and his holy name, and am never so happy as when I fpeak of his mercies

to me.

Yours, dear coufin,

WM. COWPER.

LETTER IX.

To Mrs. COWPER, at the Park-Houfe, Hartford.

MY DEAR COUSIN,

HUNTINGDON, Oct. 20, 1766.

I AM very forry for poor Charles's illness, and hope you will foon have cause to thank God for his complete recovery. We have an epidemical fever in this country likewise, which leaves behind it a continual fighing, almost to fuffocation: not that I have seen any inftance of it, for bleffed be God our family have hitherto efcaped it, but fuch was the account I heard of it this morning.

I am obliged to you for the interest you take in my welfare, and for your inquiring fo particularly after the manner in which my time paffes here. As to amusements, I mean what the world calls fuch, we

have none: the place indeed fwarms with them, and cards and dancing are the profeffed bufinefs of almost all the gentle inhabitants of Huntingdon. We refufe to take part in them, or to be acceffaries to this way of murdering our time, and by fo doing have acquired the name of Methodists. Having told you how we do not spend our time, I will next fay how we do. We breakfast commonly between eight and nine; till eleven, we read either the Scripture, or the fermons of fome faithful preacher of thefe holy myfteries: at eleven we attend divine fervice, which is performed here twice every day, and from twelve to three we feparate, and amufe ourfelves as we please. During that interval I either read in my own apartment, or walk, or ride, or work in the garden. We feldom fit an hour after dinner, but if the weather permits, adjourn to the garden, where with Mrs. Unwin and her fon I have generally the pleasure of religious converfation till tea time! If it rains, or is too windy for walking, we either converfe within doors, or fing fome hymns of Martin's collection, and by the help of Mrs. Unwin's harpfichord make up a tolerable concert, in which our hearts, I hope, are the best and moft mufical performers. After tea we fally forth to walk in good earneft. Mrs. Unwin is a good walker, and we have generally travelled about four miles before we fee home again. When the days are fhort, we make this excursion in the former part of the day, between church time and dinner. At night we read and converse as before, till fupper, and commonly finish the evening either with hymns or a fermon, and last of all the family are called to prayers. I need not tell you, that such a life as this is confiftent with the utmost cheerfulness, accordingly we are all happy, and dwell together in unity as brethren. Mrs. Unwin has almost a maternal affection for me, and I have something very like a filial one for her; and her fon and 1 are brothers. Bleffed