I try to lean them all on Him who entrusted them to me. did hear of your brother's illness, and sympathised with you in it, though I heard no particulars. Write me particularly how he is. I hope and believe that he has an anchor within the vail, and therefore we need not fear for him whatever storms may blow. Remember me to him when you write him or see him. May we both be made better men, and holier, by our affliction.

Take care of your health. Redeem the time, because the days are evil. Does the work of God still go on among your people? There is a decided improvement in the ministers here-more prayer, and faith, and hope. There are marks of God's Spirit not having left us. Remember me to Gillies and Smith, your fellow-labourers. May their names be in the Book of Life. Yours ever,

ROBT. MURRAY M'CHEYNE.

TO MRS THAIN, HEATH PARK,

During the continuance of the same illness.

EDINBURGH, February 9. 1839.

MY DEAR MRS THAIN-I was happy to receive your and Mr Thain's kind letter. It is very cheering to me, in my exile from my flock, to hear of them. I send you a short line, as I am not good at writing. I am glad you are keeping pretty well, and still more that your spiritual health seems to prosper. The spring is advancing-I feel already the softness of the wind-so that we may hope the winter is past, the rain over and gone. I know the summer revives you, and the doctor gives me good hope that it will revive me. In spiritual things, this world is all winter time so long as the Saviour is away. To them that are in Christ there are some sweet glistenings of his countenance, there are meltings of his love, and the sweet song of the turtle dove when his Holy Spirit dwells in the bosom; still it is but winter time till our Lord shall come. But then, "to you that fear his name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings." And if before he comes we should go away to be where he is, still we shall enter into a world of perpetual summer-we shall behold his glory which the Father gave him.

I feel much better than usual to-day, but I have returns of my beating heart occasionally. Jesus stands at the door and

knocks, and sometimes I think the door will give way before his gentle hand. I am bid to try the sea-water hot-bath, which I hope will do me good. I have good hope of being restored to my people again, and only hope that I may come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, that this time of silent musing may not be lost.

I am thankful indeed at the appointment of Mr Lewis. I hope he has been given in answer to prayer, and then he will be a blessing. We must pray that he may be furnished from on high for his arduous work. I have great hope that he will be the means of raising many more churches and schools in our poor town-I mean poor in spiritual things.

I hope Mr Macdonald was happy, and made others so. "Apollos watered.” May great grace be upon you all. Your affectionate friend, &c.

TO THE SAME.

Before going forth on the mission to Israel.

EDINBURGH, March 15. 1839. MY DEAR MRS THAIN-You will think me very unkind in breaking my word to Mr Thain in not writing you in answer to your kind letter by him. But I did too much the week he was in Edinburgh, and fairly knocked myself up, so that I had just to lay aside my pen and suffer quietly. My friendly monitor is seldom far away from me, and when I do anything too much he soon checks me. However, I feel thankful that I am better again this week, and was thinking I would preach again. This is always the way with me. When my heart afflicts me, I say to myself-Farewell, blessed work of the gospel ministry! happy days of preaching Christ and him crucified! winning jewels for an eternal crown ! And then again, when it has abated, I feel as if I would stand up once more to tell all the world what the Lord of Glory has done for sinners.

You have sent me a pocket companion (a Bible) for Immanuel's Land. I shall indeed be very happy to take it with me, to remind me of you and your kind family, at the time when I am meditating on the things that concern our everlasting peace. All my ideas of peace and joy are linked in with my Bible; and I would not give the hours of secret converse with it for all the other hours I spend in this world.

Mr M- is the bearer of this, and I have told him he is to call on you with it. He is one much taught of God,

and though with much inward corruption to fight against, he still holds on the divine way a burning and shining lamp.

I knew you would be surprised at the thought of my going so far away; and, indeed, who could have foreseen all that has happened? I feel very plainly that it is the Lord's doing, and this has taken away the edge of the pain. How many purposes God has in view of which we know nothing! Perhaps we do not see the hundreth part of his intentions towards us in sending me away. I am contented to be led blindfold, for I know that all will redound, through the thanksgiving of many, to the glory of our heavenly Father. I feel very plainly that towards many among my people this separation has been a most faithful chastisement. To those that liked the man but not the message-who were pleased with the vessel but not with the treasure-it will reveal the vanity of what they thought their good estate. To some, I hope, it has been sent in mercy. To some, I fear, it has been sent in judgment. Above all, none had more need of it than myself; for I am naturally so prone to make an ill use of the attachment of my people, that I need to be humbled in the dust, and to see that it is a very nothing. I need to be made willing to be forgotten. Oh! I wish that my heart were quite refined from all self-seeking. I am quite sure that our truest happiness is not to seek our own-just to forget ourselvesand to fill up the little space that remains seeking only, and above all, that our God may be glorified. But when I would do good, evil is present with me.

I am not yet sure of the day of my going away. There is to be a meeting on Monday to arrange matters. Andrew Bonar and Dr Black can hardly get away till the first week of April; but I may probably go before to London next week. I know you will pray for me in secret and in the family, that may be kept from evil, and may do good. Our desire is to save sinners-to gather souls, Jew or Gentile, before the Lord come. Oh is it not wonderful how God is making people take an interest in the Jews! Surely the way of these Kings of the East will be soon prepared.

I

I shall be quite delighted if J- is able to take a small part in the Sabbath school. She knows it is what I always told her, not to be a hearer of the Word only but a doer. It is but a little time, and we shall work no more here for him. Oh that we might glorify him on the earth I believe theres are better ministers in store for Scotland than any that havto yet appeared Tell J to stay herself upon God. Jeway

continueth ever, he hath an unchangeable priesthood. are not suffered to continue by reason of death.

Others

You expected me in Dundee before I go; but I dare not. You remember Paul sailed past Ephesus-he dared not encounter the meeting with his people. Indeed, I do not dare to think too much on my going away, for it often brings sadness over my spirit, which I can ill bear just now.

will of the Lord be done.

But the

Kindest regards to you all. Christ's peace be left with you. I shall remember you all, and be glad to write you a word when I am far away. Yours ever, &c.

TO MISS COLLIER, DUNdee.

How his silence may be useful to his people and himself.

EDINBURGH, March 14. 1839.

MY DEAR MISS COLLIER-I feel it very kind your writing to me, and rejoice in sending you a word in answer by my excellent friend Mr Moody. Indeed, I was just going to write to you when I received yours, for I heard you had been rather poorly, and I was going to entreat of you to take care of yourself, for you do not know how much my life is bound up in your life, and in the life of those around you who are like minded. I feel it quite true that my absence should be regarded by my flock as a mark that God is chastening them; and though I know well that I am but a dim light in the hand of Jesus, yet there is always something terrible where Jesus withdraws the meanest light in such a dark world. I feel that to many this trial has been absolutely needful. Many liked their minister naturally, who had but little real relish for the message he carried. God now sifts these souls, and wants to show them that it is a looking to Jesus that saves, not a looking to man. I think I could name many to whom this trial should be blessed. Some also who were really on the true foundation, but were building wood, hay, and stubble upon it, may be brought to see that nothing will truly comfort in the day of the Lord but what can stand the hour of trial. You yourself, my dear friend, may be brought to cleave much more simply to the Lord Jesus. You may be made to feel that Christ continueth ever, and hath an unchangeable priesthood, that his work is perfect, and that infinitely; and poor and naked as we are, we can appear only in Lim-only in him. But if the trial was needed by my people, vas still more needed by me. None but God knows what

it

an abyss of corruption is in my heart. He knows and covers all in the blood of the Lamb. In faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. It is perfectly wonderful that ever God could bless such a ministry. And now, when I go over all the faults of it, it appears almost impossible that I can ever preach again. But then I think again who can preach so well as a sinner-who is forgiven so much, and daily upheld by the Spirit with such a heart within! I can truly say that the fruit of my long exile has been, that I am come nearer to God, and long more for perfect holiness, and for the world where the people shall be all righteous. I do long to be free from self, from pride, and ungodliness, and I know where to go, "for all the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen in Christ Jesus." Christ is my armoury, and I go to him to get the whole armour of God-the armour of light. My sword and buckler, my arrows, my sling and stone, all are laid up in Jesus. I know you find it so. Evermore

grow in this truly practical wisdom. You have a shepherd; you shall never want. What effect my long absence may have on the mass of unconverted souls I do not know. I cannot yet see God's purposes toward them; perhaps it may be judgment, as in the case of Ephesus, Rev. ii. 5; perhaps it may be in mercy, as in the case of Laodicea, Rev. iii. 19; or perhaps there are some who would not bend under my ministry, who are to flow down as wax before the fire under the ministry of the precious fellow-labourer who is to succeed William Burns, son of the minister of Kilsyth, has for the present agreed to supply my place; and though there is a proposal of his being sent to Ceylon, I do hope he may be kept for us. He is one truly taught of God-young, but Christ lives in him. You know he comes of a good kind by the flesh.

me.

Another reason of our trial, I hope, has been God's mercy to Israel. There is something so wonderful about the way in which all difficulties have been overcome, and the way opened up, that I cannot doubt the hand of Jehovah has been in it. This gives me, and should give you, who love Israel, a cheering view of this trial. The Lord meant it for great good. If God be glorified, is not this our utmost desire. Oh, it is sweet, when in prayer we can lay ourselves and all our interests along with Zion, in the hands of Him whom we feel to be Abba! And if we are thus tied ourselves in the same bundle with Zion, we must resign all right to ourselves, and to our wishes. May the Lord open up a way

M