have treated me with as much cordiality, as if their suits me exactly; go when I will, I find a house pedigrees and mine had grown upon the same full of peace and cordiality in all its parts, and I sheep-skin. Besides these, there are three or four am sure to hear no scandal, but such discourse single men who suit my temper to a hair. The instead of it as we are all better for. You rememtown is one of the neatest in England; the coun-ber Rousseau's description of an English morning; try is fine for several miles about it; and the roads, such are the mornings I spend with these good peowhich are all turnpike, and strike out four or five ple; and the evenings differ from them in nothing, different ways, are perfectly good all the year except that they are still more snug and quieter round. I mention this latter circumstance chiefly Now I know them, I wonder that I liked Hunbecause my distance from Cambridge has made a tingdon so well before I knew them, and am apt horseman of me at last, or at least is likely to do to think I should find every place disagreeable that so. My brother and I meet every week, by an had not an Unwin belonging to it. alternate reciprocation of intercourse, as Sam John- This incident convinces me of the truth of an son would express it;, sometimes I get a lift in a observation I have often made, that when we cirneighbour's chaise, but generally ride. As to my cumscribe our estimate of all that is clever within own personal condition, I am much happier than the limits of our own acquaintance (which I at the day is long, and sunshine and candlelight see least have been always apt to do,) we are guilty me perfectly contented. I get books in abund- of a very uncharitable censure upon the rest of the ance, as much company as I choose, a deal of com- world, and of a narrowness of thinking disgracefortable leisure, and enjoy better health, I think, ful to ourselves. Wapping and Redriff may conthan for many years past. What is there want-tain some of the most amiable persons living, and ing to make me happy? Nothing, if I can but such as one would go to Wapping and Redriff to be as thankful as I ought; and I trust that He make acquaintance with. You remember Mr. who has bestowed so many blessings upon me, will Gray's stanzagive me gratitude to crown them all. I beg you will give my love to my dear cousin Maria, and to every body at the Park. If Mrs. Maitland is with you, as I suspect by a passage in Lady Hesketh's letter to me, pray remember me to her very affectionately. And believe me, my dear friend, ever yours. 'Full many a gem of purest ray serene W. C. TO LADY HESKETH. TO JOSEPH HILL, ESQ. Huntingdon, March 6, 1766. MY DEAR COUSIN, DEAR JOE, October 25, 1765. I AM afraid the month of October has proved to the cause which you yourself assign for it, viz. rather unfavourable to the belle assemblée at to my change of situation: and, was even sagaSouthampton; high winds and continual rains cious enough to account for the frequency of your being bitter enemies to that agreeable lounge, letters to me, while I lived alone, from your attenwhich you and I are equally fond of. I have very tion to me in a state of such solitude as seemed to cordially betaken myself to my books, and my make it an act of particular charity to write to fireside; and seldom leave them unless for exer- me. I bless God for it, I was happy even then; cise. I have added another family to the number solitude has nothing gloomy in it if the soul points of those I was acquainted with when you were upwards. St. Paul tells his Hebrew converts, here. Their name is Unwin-the most agreeable'ye are come (already come) to Mount Sion, to people imaginable; quite sociable, and as free from an innumerable company of angels, to the general the ceremonious civility of country gentlefolks as assembly of the first-born, which are written in any I ever met with. They treat me more like a heaven, and to Jesus the mediator of the new conear relation than a stranger, and their house is venant.' When this is the case, as surely it was always open to me. The old gentleman carries with them, or the Spirit of Truth had never spoken me to Cambridge in his chaise. He is a man of it, there is an end of the melancholy and dullness learning and good sense, and as simple as parson of a solitary life at once. You will not suspect Adams. His wife has a very uncommon under-me, my dear cousin, of a design to understand this standing, has read much to excellent purpose, and passage literally. But this, however, it certainly is more polite than a duchess. The son who be-means; that a lively faith is able to anticipate in longs to Cambridge, is a most amiable young man, some measure the joys of that heavenly society, and the daughter quite of a piece with the rest of which the soul shall actually possess hereafter. the family. They see but little company, which Since I have changed my situation, I have found 1 still greater cause of thanksgiving to the Father to this place. The lady in whose house I live is of all mercies. The family with whom I live are so excellent a person, and regards me with a friendChristians; and it has pleased the Almighty to ship so truly christian, that I could almost fancy bring me to the knowledge of them, that I may my own mother restored to life again, to compen want no means of improvement in that temper sate to me for all the friends I have lost, and all and conduct which he is pleased to require in all my connexions broken. She has a son at Camhis servants. bridge in all respects worthy of such a mother, the most amiable young man I ever knew. His natural and acquired endowments are very considerable; and as to his virtues, I need only say that he is a christian. It ought to be a matter of daily thanksgiving to me, that I am admitted into the society of such persons; and I pray God to make me and keep me worthy of them. Your brother Martin has been very kind to me, having written to me twice in a style which, though My dear cousin! one half of the christian world would call this madness, fanaticism, and folly: but are not all these things warranted by the word of God, not only in the passages I have cited, but in many others? If we have no communion with God here, surely we can expect none hereafter. A faith that does not place our conversation in heaven; that does not warm the heart, and purify it too; that does not, in short, govern our thought, word, and deed, is no faith, nor will it obtain for it was once irksome to me, to say the least, I now us any spiritual blessing here or hereafter. Let know how to value. I pray God to forgive me the us see therefore, my dear cousin, that we do not de- many light things I have both said and thought ceive ourselves in a matter of such infinite moment. of him and his labours. Hereafter I shall consiThe world will be ever telling us that we are good der him as a burning and a shining light, and as enough; and the world will vilify us behind our one of those who, having turned many unto backs. But it is not the world which tries the righteousness, shall shine hereafter as the stars heart; that is the prerogative of God alone. My for ever and ever.' dear cousin! I have often prayed for you behind your back, and now I pray for you to your face. There are many who would not forgive me this wrong; but I have known- you so long, and so well, that I am not afraid of telling you how sincerely I wish for your growth in every christian grace, in every thing that may promote and secure your everlasting welfare. I am obliged to Mrs. Cowper for the book, which you perceive arrived safe. I am willing to consider it as an intimation on her part that she would wish me to write to her, and shall do it accordingly. My circumstances are rather particular, such as call upon my friends, those I mean who are truly such, to take some little notice of me; and will naturally make those who are not such in sincerity rather shy of doing it. To this I impute the silence of many with regard to me, who, before the affliction that pefel me, were ready enough to converse with me. Yours ever, W. C. So much for the state of my heart; as to my spirits, I am cheerful and happy, and having peace with God have peace within myself. For the continuance of this blessing I trust to Him who gives it: and they who trust in Him shall never be confounded. Yours affectionately, W. C. Huntingdon, at the Rev. Mr. Unwin's, March 12, 1785. TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, I AGREE with you that letters are not essential to friendship; but they seem to be a natural fruit of it, when they are the only intercourse that can be had. And a friendship producing no sensible effects is so like indifference, that the appearance may easily deceive even an acute discerner. I retract, however, all that I said in my last upon this subject, having reason to suspect that it proceeded from a principle which I would discourage in myself upon all occasions, even a pride that felt itself hurt upon a mere suspicion of neglect. I have so much cause for humility, and so much need of it too, and every little sneaking resentment is such I AM much obliged to you for Pearsall's Medi- an enemy to it, that I hope I shall never give quartations, especially as it furnishes me with an occa-ter to any thing that appears in the shape of sulsion of writing to you, which is all I have waited lenness, or self-consequence, hereafter. Alas! if for. My friends must excuse me, if I write to none my best Friend, who laid down his life for me, were but those who lay it fairly in my way to do so. to remember all the instances in which I have neThe inference I am apt to draw from their silence glected him, and to plead them against me in judgis, that they wish me to be silent too. ment, where should I hide my guilty head in the TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, I have great reason, my dear cousin, to be thank-day of recompense? I will pray, therefore, for ful to the gracious Providence that conducted me blessings upon my friends, even though they cease o be so; and upon my enemies, though they con- try and shrewdness of argument, those passages tinue such. The deccitfulness of the natural in the scripture which seem to favour the opinion; heart is inconceivable. I know well that I passed but still, no certain means having been afforded upon my friends for a person at least religiously us, no certain end can be attained; and after all inclined, if not actually religious; and what is that can be said, it will still be doubtful whether more wonderful, I thought myself a Christian, we shall know each other or not. when I had no faith in Christ, when I saw no As to arguments founded upon human reason beauty in him that I should desire him; in short, only, it would be easy to muster up a much greatwhen I had neither faith nor love, nor any christ-er number on the affirmative side of the question, ian grace whatever, but a thousand seeds of rebel- than it would be worth my while to write, or yours lion instead, evermore springing up in enmity to read. Let us see, therefore, what the scripture against him. But blessed be God, even the God says, or seems to say, towards the proof of it; and who is become my salvation, the hail of affliction, of this kind of argument also I shall insert but a and rebuke for sin, has swept away the refuge of few of those which seem to me to be the fairest lies. It pleased the Almighty in great mercy to and clearest for the purpose. For after all, a disset all my misdeeds before me. At length, the putant on either side of this question is in danger storm being past, a quiet and peaceful serenity of of that censure of our blessed Lord's, 'Ye do err, sold succeeded, such as ever attends the gift of not knowing the scripture, nor the power of God.' lively faith in the all-sufficient atonement, and the As to parables, I know it has been said, in the sweet sense of mercy and pardon purchased by the dispute concerning the intermediate state, that they blood of Christ. Thus did he break me, and bind are not argumentative; but this having been conme up; thus did he wound me, and his hands troverted by very wise and good men, and the pamade me whole. My dear cousin, I make no apo-rable of Dives and Lazarus having been used by logy for entertaining you with the history of my such to prove an intermediate state, I see not why conversion, because I know you to be a Christian it may not be as fairly used for the proof of any in the sterling import of the appellation. This is other matter which it seems fairly to imply. In however but a very summary account of the mat-this parable we see that Dives is represented as ter, neither would a letter contain the astonishing knowing Lazarus, and Abraham as knowing them particulars of it. If we ever meet again in this both, and the discourse between them is entirely world, I will relate them to you by word of mouth; concerning their respective characters and circumif not, they will serve for the subject of a confer-stances upon earth. Here, therefore, our Saviour ence in the next, where I doubt not I shall remem-seems to countenance the notion of a mutual ber and record them with a gratitude better suited to the subject. knowledge and recollection; and if a soul that has perished shall know the soul that is saved, surely the heirs of salvation shall know and recollect each other. In the first epistle to the Thessalonians, the second chapter, and nineteenth verse, St. Paul says, What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus As in matters unattainable by reason, and un-Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and revealed in the Scripture, it is impossible to argue our joy.' at all; so in matters concerning which reason can As to the hope which the apostle has formed only give a probable guess, and the scripture has concerning them, he himself refers the accomplishmade no explicit discovery, it is, though not im- ment of it to the coming of Christ, meaning that possible to argue at all, yet impossible to argue to then he should receive the recompense of his laany certain conclusion. This seems to me to be bours in their behalf; his joy and glory he refers the very case with the point in question-reason is likewise to the same period, both which would reable to form many plausible conjectures concerning sult from the sight of such numbers redeemed by the possibility of our knowing each other in a fu- the blessing of God upon his ministration, when ture state; and the scripture has, here and there, he should present them before the great Judge, and favoured us with an expression that looks at least say, in the words of a greater than himself, 'Lo! like a slight intimation of it; but because a con- I, and the children whom thou hast given me.' Jecture can never amount to a proof, and a slight This seems to imply that the apostle should know intimation can not be construed into a positive as- the converts, and the converts the apostle, at least sertion, therefore I think we can never come to at the day of judgment; and if then, why not any absolute conclusion upon the subject. We afterwards? may indeed reason about the plausibility of our conjectures, and we may discuss, with great indus- 13, 14, 16, which I have not room to transcribe. See also the fourth chapter of that epistle, verses Here the apostle comforts them under their afflic- nurture of the holy Spirit has produced such a tion for their deceased brethren, exhorting them plentiful harvest of immortal bliss, was as a grain 'Not to sorrow as without hope;' and what is the of mustard seed, small in itself, promising but little hope by which he teaches them to support their fruit, and producing less? To recollect the vaspirits? Even this, 'That them which sleep in rious attempts that were made upon it, by the Jesus shall God bring with him.' In other words, word, the flesh, and the devil, and its various triand by a fair paraphrase surely, telling them that umphs over all, by the assistance of God, through they are only taken from them for a season, and our Lord Jesus Christ? At present, whatever that they should receive them at their resurrection. our convictions may be of the sinfulness and corIf you can take off the force of these texts, my ruption of our nature, we can make but a very dear cousin, you will go a great way towards imperfect estimate either of our weakness or our shaking my opinion; if not, I think they must go guilt. Then, no doubt, we shall understand the a great way towards shaking yours. full value of the wonderful salvation wrought out TO MRS. COWPER. MY DEAR COUSIN, April 18, 1766. The reason why I did not send you my opinion for us: and it seems reasonable to suppose, that, of Pearsall was, because I had not then read him; in order to form a just idea of our redemption, we' I have, read him since, and like him much, espe- shall be able to form a just one of the danger we cially the latter part of him; but you have whet- have escaped; when we know how weak and frail ted my curiosity to see the last letter by tearing it we were, surely we shall be more able to render out: unless you can give me a good reason why 1 due praise and honour to his strength who fought should not see it, I shall inquire for the book the for us; when we know completely the hatefulness first time I go to Cambridge. Perhaps I may be of sin in the sight of God, and how deeply we partial to Hervey for the sake of his other writings; were tainted by it, we shall know how to value the but I can not give Pearsall the preference to him, blood by which we were cleansed as we ought. for I think him one of the most scriptural writers The twenty-four elders, in the fifth of the Revelain the world. Yours, W. C. tions, give glory to God for their redemption out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. This surely implies a retrospect to their respective conditions upon earth, and that each remembered out of what particular kindred and nation he had been redeemed; and if so, then sureHAVING gone as far as I thought needful to jus-ly the minutest circumstance of their redemption tify the opinion of our meeting and knowing each did not escape their memory. They who triumph other hereafter, I find, upon reflection, that I have over the beast, in the fifteenth chapter, sing the done but half my business, and that one of the song of Moses, the servant of God; and what was questions you proposed, remains entirely unconsi- that song? A sublime record of Israel's deliverdered, viz. Whether the things of our present ance, and the destruction of her enemies in the state will not be of too low and mean a nature to Red Sea, typical no doubt of the song which the engage our thoughts, or make a part of our com- redeemed in Sion shall sing to celebrate their own munications in heaven.' salvation, and the defeat of their spiritual enemies. This, again, implies a recollection of the dangers they had before encountered, and the supplies of strength and ardour they had in every emergency received from the great deliverer out of all. These 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 can not be unfit for reciprocal communication. The common and ordinary occurrences of life, no doubt, and even the ties of kindred, and of all temporal interests, will be entirely discarded from amongst that happy society; and possibly even the remembrance of them done away. But it does not therefore follow that our spiritual concerns, even in this life, will be forgotten; neither do I think that they can ever appear trifling to us in any the most distant period of eternity. God, as you say in reference to the scripture, will be all in all. But does not that expression mean, that being But you doubt whether there is any communiadmitted to so near an approach to our heavenly cation between the blessed at all; neither do I reFather and Redeemer, our whole nature, the soul collect any scripture that proves it, or that bears and all its faculties, will be employed in praising any relation to the subject. But reason seems to and adoring him? Doubtless however this will require it so peremptorily, that a society without be the case; and if so, will it not furnish out a social intercourse seems to be a solecism, and a glorious theme of thanksgiving, to recollect 'The contradiction in terms; and the inhabitants of tock whence we were hewn, and the hole of the those regions are called, you know, an innumerapit whence we were digged?' To recollect the ble company, and an assembly, which seems to áme when our faith, which under the tuition and convey the idea of society as clearly as the word itself. Human testimony weighs but little in matters of this sort, 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 I send you the words of the latter:'Our companions in glory may probably assist us by their wise 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." over all our present connexions. For my own part, this life is such a momentary thing, and all its interests have so shrunk in my estimation, since by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 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 should have no inclination to cultivate and improve such a fugitive business. Yet friendship is necessary to Thus, my dear cousin, I have spread out my our happiness here; and built upon christian prinreasons before you for an opinion which, whether ciples, upon which only it can stand, is a thing admitted or denied, affects not the state or interest even of religious sanction-for what is that love of our soul. May our Creator, Redeemer, and which the Holy Spirit, speaking by St. John, so Sanctifier, conduct us into his own Jerusalem; much inculcates, but friendship? the only love where there shall be no night, neither any dark-which deserves the name; a love which can toil, ness at all; where we shall be free even from in- and watch, and deny itself, and go to death for its nocent error, and perfect in the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. brother. Worldly friendships are a poor weed compared with this: and even this union of spirit in the bond of peace would suffer, in my mind at least, could I think it were only coeval with our earthly mansions. It may possibly argue great weakness in me, in this instance, to stand so much in need of future hopes to support me in the discharge of present duty. But so it is-I am far, I know, very far from being perfect in christian love, or any other divine attainment, and am therefore unwilling to forego whatever may help me in my progress. It is reckoned, you know, a great achievement to silence an opponent in disputation; and your silence was of so long a continuance, that I might well begin to please myself with the apprehension You are so kind as to inquire after my health, of having accomplished so arduous a matter. To for which reason I must tell you, what otherwise be serious, however, I am not sorry that what I would not be worth mentioning, that I have lately have said concerning our knowledge of each other been just enough indisposed to convince me that in a future state has a little inclined you to the not only human life in general, but mine in partiaffirmative. For though the redeemed of the Lord cular, hangs by a slender thread. I am stout shall be sure of being as happy in that state as in- enough in appearance, yet a little illness demolishfinite power, employed by infinite goodness, can es me. I have had a severe shake, and the buildmake them; and therefore it may seem immaterial ing is not so firm as it was. But I bless God for whether we shall or shall not, recollect each other it with all my heart. If the inner man be but hereafter, yet our present happiness at least is a strengthened day by day, as, I hope, under the little interested in the question. A parent, a friend, renewing influences of the Holy Ghost it will be, a wife, must needs, I think, feel a little heartache no matter how soon the outward is dissolved. He at the thought of an eternal separation from the who has in a manner raised me from the dead, in objects of her regard; and not to know them when a literal sense, has given me the grace, I trust, to she meets them in another life, or never to meet be ready at the shortest notice to surrender up to them at all, amounts, though not altogether, yet him that life which I have twice received from him. nearly to the same thing. Remember them I think Whether I live or die, I desire it may be to His she needs must. To hear that they are happy, glory, and it must be to my happiness.I thank will indeed be no small addition to her own felicity; God that I have those amongst my kindred to but to see them so will surely be a greater. Thus at least it appears to our present human apprehension; consequently, therefore, to think that when we leave them, we lose them for ever, 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 disinherited of their heavenly portion, must shed a dismal gloom whom I can write without reserve my sentiments upon this subject, as I do to you. A letter upon any other subject is more insipid to me than ever my task was when a schoolboy; and I say not this in vain glory, God forbid! but to show you what the Almighty, whose name I am unworthy to mention, has done for me, the chief of sinners. Once he was a terror to me, and his service, Oh what a |