affections to solace themselves in the better part, and in the more enduring substance. And although I often viewed my base original, and my former poor, beggarly life; beggarly life I call it, for having been once sick in the lower part of Essex, upon my recovery I begged my way all through that county to London; therefore I had a large field for my mind to reflect and meditate on, and no one thing about me but a body of sin, but what a gracious God and father in Christ had given me. I often looked back, with many tears, at the undeserved and unexpected mercy of my God, and with the joys of a good hope, through grace, that I should one day see him whom my soul loves. And with much delight did my soul exult in my bountiful benefactor; and not without a lasting sense of his undeserved love to me, from which alone all real gratitude of heart flows; for all which I am deeply indebted to his free and superabounding grace. This frame of mind, and my bodily infirmities, kept my temporal prosperity in its proper place, as a nice handmaid, under God, to assist my faith, but not to become a snare; and it likewise kept my mind heavenly, and rather assisted me for the pulpit than otherwise; for the more we see his goodness the more boldly we proclaim it: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

At this time I wanted to inclose a bit of waste ground, to lay it into my garden, to make it more retired; and two gentlemen, timber merchants in

Aldersgate street, sent me up all the timber and boards that I wanted, and have found me in all the timber that has been required for repairs or alterations ever since, without either bills or demands. But God blessed the work of their hands abundantly.

When I had completed this job, a gentleman, who is a seedsman in Fleet street, came to see my premises, and found much fault at my having so little fruit, and so few fruit trees, and pressed me to give him an order. I mentioned a few different sorts, but he went on till there was no end; and wrote a letter to a noted nurseryman, ordering the different kinds, and told him they must be of the prime sorts, as they were for a person who was a judge of trees and of fruit; and that they were to be directed, For the Doctor; to be left with Mr. Baker, No. 226, Oxford street.' Accordingly they were drawn and sent; and the nurseryman wrote a letter to my friend, informing him that he had executed his orders; and, let the Doctor be as good a judge as he might, he would be bold to affirm, that his trees would bear fruit that should exceed in flavour all the pills that ever that Doctor had made up. But my friend denied it, and thought that he had gathered better fruit from the Doctor's ministry than the Doctor would ever gather from his trees; and which I believe to be true. The order sent was three hundred gooseberry and currant plants, various sorts of raspberry aud strawberries, with fourscore capital standard

trees: all of which were immediately planted, and are now in a very flourishing state; nor do I believe that above two or three of them died. This gentleman has supplied me with seeds and plants. ever since I have had a garden; and always solicits my custom, and inquires after my orders, though he has never received one farthing for them; nor does he ever intend it.

About this time a fine cow was sent me, but I do not know from whom she came. A gentleman in the Borough sent me an excellent cloth to cover a load of hay in wet weather going to market. Another gentleman sent me a cloth to cover a rick of hay while it is in building, with ropes and pullies all complete. The wise man's proverb says, "A faithful man shall abound with blessings;" the latter is true in me, but I will not claim the former; for I am by no means full of faith, but often shut up, and sadly foiled with unbelief. I speak this to my own shame, not in mock modesty, nor in feigned humility, for God knows it is truth.

It now fell out that I was earnestly invited to go a journey into the North to preach; but, having the gout in my pocket, I was obliged to postpone it till I was loosed from this infirmity; and when the cure came the cold winterly weather was come on. However, I sent to my friends of whom I had my coach, and begged the loan of a chariot. These friends supply me gratis with a chariot or chaise, or any light carriage that I may want, whenever I ask. They sent the chariot, and off I went, with

about eleven pounds in my pocket, which small sum I knew would require more frugality than I am master of to go so long a journey. However, I set off in style with this small capital; and, having been long expected by some of the Lord's tried ones, and they having now despaired of my coming, except one or two, upon whose minds it was impressed that I should come, just before my letter of information reached them; which delay sharpened their appetites. One poor soul had her work sweetly revived; another young woman, who had been long in chains, came forth to the light, and shewed herself; and, had my hand been as open as their hearts, they had sent me home with thirty guineas in my pocket; but I returned some of it back again, knowing it is more blessed to give than to receive. God threw my heart quite open when he first revealed his dear Son in me; and the transforming views that I have at times been favoured with since has kept it open to this day; so that I keep Clear market all the year round; as it comes in, so it goes out; so that neither my heart nor my pocket are standing pools, but springing wells; and not a few mumping professors and lazy hypocrites have made an easy prey of me, the devil artfully instructing his fraternity to fish after the tender feelings of those whose hearts have been made soft by heavenly discipline. But of late I have found myself better armed against these drone bees than formerly. When my bounty goes into the family of God I fret not; but it hurts

my consequence to be duped by the devil in a ser pent, or a wolf in a sheep's skin. Beloved, farewell. Excuse the length of the scrawl; matters have flowed in apace, and you see how my pen has run on. If my continually coming doth not weary thee, in a few days you may look out again; till then, peace and truth be with thee. So prays

Yours in him,

W. H. S. S.

LETTER XI.

TO THE SPARROW ALONE.

Dearly beloved in the Lord,

I HAVE been early this morning collecting materials to put you to a little more expense. I find but little union with those whose hands have gotten much; many of them being never in their element except they are boasting of their wealth; and I having none to boast of, it is like singing songs to a heavy heart. Now, that you and I may go on hand and glove together, I am going to put you to the expense of another double letter. I concluded my last with my journey to the North.

Soon after my return from this journey I dis