the works remaining unfinished, till the decays of his bodily constitution disabled him from exerting those abilities.

The second shock of the earth, which was felt this day sevennight has given a great alarm in the city. I could only wish that those who have most reason to consider it as a judgment did not merely dread it as a melancholy event, that has no particular voice in it. Many families are flying out of town to their country houses, so that the places of public diversion are likely to be less frequented; not because they are dangerous to their virtue, but (as they apprehend) to their safety; and in hopes, as it should seem, that their guilt will be too swift or remote for the Divine vengeance. However, some, I would hope, who are using the same means of safety (for there is a prevailing expectation of another earthquake in a month's time) have a juster sense of their own duty and God's omnipoThe shaking was felt every where in London, and seven or ten miles around it, and was undoubtedly very violent, and some lights, or flashes of fire, were seen in the heavens for some time before; but so few people, except of the lower sort, were up to observe them, that I cannot get any very particular and certain account concerning them. The notion of its being merely an airquake I can by no means embrace: for, supposing the convulsion to have been in the atmosphere, it certainly shook the earth also; and as to the noise that is said to have accompanied it, I cannot yet satisfy myself, from any person who was in the open air, that the same noise was heard by them, as we apprehended, who were in the buildings that were shaken.

tence.

I am as destitute of ability to return the praise you bestow on me, as I am undeserving of it; though had I any talent of that kind, I have so superior a subject, on which to exercise it, and in your correspondence such masterly instruction.

to conceive that any one fighting in the front, who stands nearer an enemy, and to fuller view, is more open to injuries than others. Oh, dear Sir, may a Oh, dear Sir, may a good God grant you all seasonable supplies of grace, and endue you with strength, courage, and ability, as hitherto, to sustain bravely, and repulse all the attacks of your enemies!

There is one observation which I have made; that of late years (and, I think, at Norwich more than any where I ever was) there are multitudes of very disconsolate Christians; i. e. I find that both in our churches and out of them, there are those who carry about with them the most pregnant marks of an undissembled piety, who are yet very gloomy and melancholy, and subject to the most painful hesitations with regard to their eternal interests; I have always met with such, but I think never in so great an abundance as of later years. I have often been puzzled at such a disposition; and though I could find many ends to be answered by it, yet I could not but apprehend that there might be some standing reason with God for all this, which I had not yet met withal, and which I could not but apprehend must be judged a sufficient reason, when found out. I know very well how much indolence and supineness of heart introduce indifference, and this brings on a spiritual decay; and I have, in my own case (alas! too often) found, as well as by observations made on the case of others, that the committing of sin, or omitting of duty, has drawn a cloud over a person's evidences, and obliged God, in vindication of his injured honour, awfully to withdraw and hide his face: but then, dear Sir, I have often and daily found it (of late years especially) to be the case with some most diligent, watchful, and wakeful Christian to walk much in darkness. It is very manifest that these forms of treatment produce much increase in selfknowledge, and this self-knowledge leads into deep abasement

and self condemnation (the very essence of an evangelical humility), and such a view of ourselves must needs inform us of our own weakness and insufficiency. These things, I think, are true; I have, therefore, lately been thinking concerning these methods of God's treatment.

Adieu, adieu, dear Sir! May God, from on high, bless you!

NATHANIEL WOOD.

FROM HENRY COTTON, M. D.*

DEAR AND HONOURED SIR, St. Albans, April 29, 1749. I AM very much obliged to you for your late tender instances of condescension and friendship. The comfort and advice which you most kindly administer are extremely acceptable, and I heartily pray God to give them their due weight. For my own part, I am, and have long been, abundantly persuaded that no system but that of Christianity is able to sustain the soul amidst all the difficulties and distresses of life. The consolations of philosophy are at best only specious trifles-all cold and impotent applications indeed to the bleeding heart! But the religion of Jesus, like its gracious and benevolent Author, is an inexhaustible source of comfort in this world, and of everlasting rapture in the next.

I presume humbly to hope that the Supreme Being will support me under my affliction; and I most earnestly entreat that he will sanctify my sorrows to every gracious purpose.

What the mind feels upon such a painful divorce, none can adequately know but those who have had the bitter ex

* Dr. Cotton was the author of "Visions in Verse, for the Instruction of younger Minds," and some other pleasing poems. He died at St. Albans, August 2, 1788, where he had long resided, beloved and respected as a skilful and attentive physician.

to conceive that any one fighting in the front, who stands nearer an enemy, and to fuller view, is more open to injuries than others. Oh, dear Sir, may a good God grant you all seasonable supplies of grace, and endue you with strength, courage, and ability, as hitherto, to sustain bravely, and repulse all the attacks of your enemies!

There is one observation which I have made; that of late years (and, I think, at Norwich more than any where I ever was) there are multitudes of very disconsolate Christians; i. e. I find that both in our churches and out of them, there are those who carry about with them the most pregnant marks of an undissembled piety, who are yet very gloomy and melancholy, and subject to the most painful hesitations with regard to their eternal interests; I have always met with such, but I think never in so great an abundance as of later years. I have often been puzzled at such a disposition; and though I could find many ends to be answered by it, yet I could not but apprehend that there might be some standing reason with God for all this, which I had not yet met withal, and which I could not but apprehend must be judged a sufficient reason, when found out. I know very well how much indolence and supineness of heart introduce indifference, and this brings on a spiritual decay; and I have, in my own case (alas! too often) found, as well as by observations made on the case of others, that the committing of sin, or omitting of duty, has drawn a cloud over a person's evidences, and obliged God, in vindication of his injured honour, awfully to withdraw and hide his face: but then, dear Sir, I have often and daily found it (of late years especially) to be the case with some most diligent, watchful, and wakeful Christian to walk much in darkness. It is very manifest that these forms of treatment produce much increase in selfknowledge, and this self-knowledge leads into deep abasement

and self condemnation (the very essence of an evangelical humility), and such a view of ourselves must needs inform us of our own weakness and insufficiency. These things, I think, are true; I have, therefore, lately been thinking concerning these methods of God's treatment.

Adieu, adieu, dear Sir! May God, from on high, bless you! NATHANIEL WOOD.

FROM HENRY COTTON, M. D.*

DEAR AND HONOURED SIR, St. Albans, April 29, 1749. I AM very much obliged to you for your late tender instances of condescension and friendship. The comfort and advice which you most kindly administer are extremely acceptable, and I heartily pray God to give them their due weight. For my own part, I am, and have long been, abundantly persuaded that no system but that of Christianity is able to sustain the soul amidst all the difficulties and distresses of life. The consolations of philosophy are at best only specious trifles-all cold and impotent applications indeed to the bleeding heart! But the religion of Jesus, like its gracious and benevolent Author, is an inexhaustible source of comfort in this world, and of everlasting rapture in the next.

I presume humbly to hope that the Supreme Being will support me under my affliction; and I most earnestly entreat that he will sanctify my sorrows to every gracious purpose.

What the mind feels upon such a painful divorce, none can adequately know but those who have had the bitter ex

* Dr. Cotton was the author of " Visions in Verse, for the Instruction of younger Minds," and some other pleasing poems. He died at St. Albans, August 2, 1788, where he had long resided, beloved and respected as a skilful and attentive physician.