visited Germany, through the inordinate ambition of the present Ruler of France, the issue of the scourge may be looked for, as it regards the gospel, with good hope through grace. The very sufferings themselves tend to soften the obduracy of the human heart, and stamp 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!' on every thing beneath the sun. Thus the judgments that are in the earth are ordained by the all-wise Governor, as the most effectual means to lead its inhabitants to learn righteousness.

We have indeed to lament the wide spreadings of infidelity through every nation; but even these have done more to bring down the high looks of proud Popery, than all the efforts of Protestantism. Like the arms of the blind Sampson, they have pulled down the temple of Dagon and his worshippers; and the Israel of God should seize the occasion to emancipate theinselves from the yoke of the Philistines. Respecting the final issue of the conflict, we entertain no apprehensions. Magna est veritas, et prevalebit. Whoever stumbles on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind them to powder. When the axe of the infidel hewer, and the saw of Despotism itself, have done their appointed work, though proudly boasting against him that shaketh them, they shall be consumed together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.'

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6

In the still fearfully blind and bigotted countries of Spain and Portugal, though no ray of spiritual light seems yet to have dawned on their superstitious mind, by the present bloody contest, some mountains are leveling, some vallies exalting, to prepare the ways of our Lord, to make ready in the wilderness the highway for our God! Even the presence of the heretical English defending them from their enemies, may soften down some prejudices, though I fear the example or profession of soldiers is little edifying; and very few of them disposed or able to promote the knowledge of pure and undefiled religion. The effort indeed hath been happily made. The Spanish prisoners were sent home, with Bibles in their hands; which they received with thankfulness, and read with avidity; and more have since been distributed in Spain and Portugal. An opportunity is thus afforded to many to search the Scriptures in their native tongues; and wherever they are dispersed; they are able to make men wise unto salvation, thro' faith, which is in Jesus Christ.' The day of small things is not to be despised; and when the final result of the subsisting awful conflict shall be seen, some greater facilities will be afforded, it is to be hoped, for the admission of the pure light of truth, to dispel the clouds of ignorance, idolatry, and superstition.

In Sicily and Malta, whither horrid War hath led our brave countrymen, a few gracious souls we know are found among them. These, like the leaven hid in the measures of meal, may

eause some pleasing fermentation. At Gibraltar there was a very lively little band, who assembled to confirm, establish, and strengthen each other in the faith as it is in Jesus. All this indeed is but as the morning spread upon the mountains; but even thus, how much more hopeful than darkness and no light!

In the north of Europe, in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, and Lapland, the vital spark is not extinct. The book of God hath been dispersed among them, and faithful labourers fan the feeble flame; while the noble exercise of British charity extended to the poor, ready to perish for want by the ravages of war, hath drawn down upon their benefactors the most grateful acknowledgments.

In Russia, the Greek church maintains the doctrines of Truth in her creeds, and reads the Scriptures in her assemblies; and though abundantly overloaded with the worship of saints and the virgin, and the fooleries of superstition, a living seed will no doubt be found in the midst of them; and one branch of Dissenters, the Roskalniki, is said to adhere to a purer worship. To the honour of this government be it recorded, that our Moravian brethren at Sarepta, and several German colonies of the Lutheran church settled on the Wolga, have met with every encouragement and protection; and even an English Mission at Karass, under Mr. Brunton and his companions, hath been patronized and highly-favoured by the Emperor, and some of his nobles. The cloud is indeed no bigger than a man's hand; but if the Lord pleases to spread it over the heavens, it will portend and produce abundance of rain.

[Britain in our next.]

ORIGINAL LETTER

OF THE LATE REV. J. THOROWGOOD.

The inclosed is a Letter of the late Rev. John Thorowgood, of Barking in Essex, to a Lady, who had complained to him of the decay of spiritual affections. If you think it adapted for general usefulness, you are at liberty to insert it in the Evangelical Magazine. I am yours, &c.

Dunmow.

R. F.

My dear Sister, I WOULD have written an immediate answer to your mournful letter, had not other necessary engagements prevented me. My first moments of leisure are devoted to you; for indeed from my heart I pity you, and sympathize with you; and much do I wish that it were in my

power to say any thing to comfort you. Your complaints do not surprize me. I naturally expect something of this kind in the first years of Christianity; and, as soon as the first fervour of religious affection declines, it is usual, it is general, it is almost universal; and perhaps I should not go too far if I were to say, that something of the kind seems even to be necessary. In order to explain myself (before I make any particular remarks on the contents of your letter) you will permit me briefly to represent the usual progress of religion in the heart of man. There are, indeed, many exceptions, and much variety is to be observed in the work of the Holy Spirit;" but, in a multitude of instances, we have found its progress to be something like the following: The work of grace is usually commenced with terror, though in very different degrees, and of very different duration. Hope, peace, comfort, is at last (whether sooner or later) obtained; and when the soul is enabled to lay hold of the divine promise, and to make self-application of it, it may be expected that love and joy will be the effect of it. Those who have much forgiven, will love much. Those who were deeply sensible of their guilt, will naturally feel a proportionable degree of gratitude; and while the sense of mercy is fresh and new, it may be expected that it should give birth to the most lively and warm emotions. At such a time, how does the world appear? It is not worth a thought; and even its necessary employments, as far as they divert the mind from better things, are burthensome and disgusting.

What then are the objects of popular pursuit? They are vain and empty; and it appears astonishing how any persons can think them objects of importance. Are there difficulties, are there sufferings in the way of duty? The animated Spirit soars above them. Far from interrupting the course, they give additional life and fervour in it. Nothing then seems foo much to be done, or to be borne, for the sake of Christ. It is even sometimes a wish that some peculiar trials might occur, and furnish an opportunity for the discovery of the ardor of affection. This is a sweet season; but it is not a lasting one. Perhaps it never was durable, and never was in tended to be so. I can see the wisdom and kindness of God in granting such seasons; and I think, also, there appears to be wisdom and kindness in interrupting them. There are many lessons to be learned, which cannot well be learned unless we descend into the valley of Humiliation. It is proper that we should know ourselves; for instance, the corruption of our hearts, the inconstancy of our affections, our weakness and our deadness, and our absolute dependence upon God; and, in order to this, it is necessary that we should ga through a variety of exercises, and be in different frames.' How little, in comparison, does that person know of himself,

who is in the sunshine of spiritual prosperity! He seems to fancy that his resolutions cannot be shaken; that his fervour cannot decline. He is ready to imagine that his corruptions are dead, and will never more shew themselves; and too ready is he to censure those who walk in a state of darkness, and even to refuse them a place amongst the people of God. A very eminent believer once said, in his prosperity, That he should never be moved; but the Lord hid his face, and he was troubled. That we may know ourselves, and pity others; that we may learn to trust the Lord when we cannot see him, and to live in entire dependence upon him, it seems necessary that we should be acquainted with spiritual afiliction; and we find, accordingly, that believers, in general, have been acquainted with it. It is proper that this should be kept in mind, that we may not think our situation singular, or be surprized, as if some strange thing had happened to us. Our great concern should be, to conduct ourselves properly under the various dispensations of our heavenly Father, and to glorify him by our faith, our love, our fixed attachment, and our unwearied service, in every situation in which he may think proper to place us.

The representation which you have given of your case, is indeed a melancholy one; but I apprehend, in some things, you have expressed yourself too strongly; at least, you will permit me to observe, that your account is not quite consistent with itself. You speak of great deadness and insensibility, and yet you are exceedingly distressed, which you could not be, if you were without life and spiritual feeling. You complain of a want of reverence of God; and yet his terrors make you afraid! You mourn his absence; and yet you are not sensible of love! I can easily account for such inconsistencies, at the same time that I think it appears from them, that you are under some mistake; but I will not insist upon them. I perceive that, before I have well begun, it is almost time to conclude. I will, therefore, be as brief as possible in what remains. You complain (1st) of the power of corruption; but it is not because your heart is now more filled with it than formerly, it is, I trust, because you are now more sensible of it than in past times. If it be really your burden and your grief, if you do not entertain or cherish it, but conscientiously strive against it, your present state, in this respect, may be considered as an improving one. God is now humbling you, teaching you, and leading you to a more full conviction of your unworthiness and vileness. You next complain of your coldness and deadness; and this indeed is a proper subject of complaint. It is indeed to be lamented, that our hearts are so little affected by those great things that are revealed to us, and that have been done for us: but a coldness that is felt is not a mortal coldness, the sense of it is a proof that there

is life with it. You wish however, and you cannot but wish, that it were removed; and that the vigour of life and love were restored to your soul. You know who it is that quickens; and your applications must be made to him; and while you are diligent at the throne of grace, I would wish you to use other proper means of restoration. When your mind was formerly impressed and affected by spiritual things, in what light did you view them? What were the particular considerations that affected you? Endeavour to bring back the same ideas. Think closely of the wretchedness of your condition; - meditate upon the wonders of redeeming love. Consider what the Lord has done for you; and do not content yourself with hasty superficial thoughts; but apply your mind to these things, follow them as far as they will lead you; and probably you will find your former affections return. This is the very thing that is recommended in Rev. ii. 5. The heart, like wax, usually requires some time to soften it; and the reason why spiritual considerations commonly fail to move us, is often because they are not pursued far enough. Perhaps, we drop them, as the heart begins to soften under them: if we follow them a little farther, they would have their effect upon us. I have sometimes found it very useful to meditate with a pen in my hand; to converse with my own soul by writing. This way is, at least, attended with one good effect, it fixes the thoughts, and carries them on from consideration to consideration. Together with this, you should guard against long intervals between one religious exercise and another. Endeavour to keep alive a sense of spiritual things at all times: do not let the iron be quite cold before you again apply it to the fire. It is much more easy to keep up affection than to renew it; and our intercourse with God should therefore have but short intervals, though it be kept up only by occasional and ejaculatory ap plications to him. Public improvement depends in a great measure upon private frames. Sometimes, indeed, it is otherwise; but in general, if our hearts are serious, and we are desirous of improving all that the Lord says to us when we enter his house, we may hope for, and shall often find his presence with us. For my own part, [ can say, that when my soul has been near to God, I have never heard a sermon, however mean, from which I did not derive some profit; but when it has been otherwise with me, the best o fmeans have been attended upon in vain; but I cannot enlarge: a treatise would not be sufficient fully to discuss these subjects. I will only add, that the third of Lamentations, if you closely consider the directions, as well as the encouragements which it contains, will perhaps much assist you. That the Lord may restore to you the light of his countenance, and enable you to walk un-der a sense of his love, is the prayer of your friend and brother, J. T.