GRACE and peace be multiplied to thee through our Lord Jesus Christ. I was sorry to hear by Mr. G. that you were so poorly, so weak, and so low; but a daily cross we must have or perish. "He that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me; and where I am there shall also my servant be." But our time is short, for we are much older in constitution than in years.
You are now my dear Sister, at the Royal Exchange of heaven; "Thou oughtest," says Christ, "have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury" He hath taken away from thee the greatest earthly present that he ever gave to thee; but the exchange will be that he will make himself over to thee: this I believe will be the exchange, nor have I a doubt of it, and in this change thou wilt sustain no loss, Moreover, at these trying times the mind works and the spirit sinks, gloomy meditations and cutting reflections bring fresh causes of grief; the misgiving heart under such considerations hourly conceives its fresh matter for sorrow, and this is too heavy for our frail souls to bear up under-to ponder over it adds to the burthen, and to murmur and rebel does the same.
To the Exchange we must go, and sure I am that pouring out these things hourly before the Lord, as the heart fills with it, is undoubted putting it out to the exchangers; and this well followed up will in time bring in a better stock to trade with. I mean it will bring in a deliverance, and some submission and resignation till that deliverance comes. Then thou wilt be able to exchange a few blessings, a few praises, and a few thank-offerings; and confess as I have often done, that this is a truth, "That all things work together for good to them that love God;" who will not leave thee till thou set thy seal to this, that, "God is true."
I have been sharply exercised with severe pain and with Satan's unwelcome assistance in such cases; but am much better, yet not a little weakened by these long and restless pains. Hope to see my poor little companion in tribulation next Lord's-day, if God permit. Give thy mind much to reading and prayer, and if prayer be out of season, confess and plead the worst against thy self; sometimes one arrow will fly when another will not These things will counteract the devil's cunning, and fill the mind with the word; and when the word dwells richly in us, that becomes our meditation, and is often uppermost even when asleep. God bless and be with thee, guide and comfort thee, is the prayer of, Dear Sister,
Thy friend and servant,
W. H., S. S.
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