It will, I doubt not, be a great stroke to the family; but I am well assured, that to him death was eternal gain. Truly, the righteous hath hope in his death. May you and I both be found at the last day on the right hand of the Judge with our respected master! While he is tuning his harp to the praises of a precious Jesus, we have to combat with many enemies; we have many trials to pass under Before we reach the heavenly fields We shall, I am persuaded, feel our own depravity in many instances here below, ere we join with him in everlasting songs above; but if we are enlisted under the banners-the bloodstained banners of the cross, we shall certainly arrive there. Let us then seek, earnestly seek, after the one thing needful; and whilst earthly objects vanish and decay in our estimation; nay, whilst the world dies daily in our view, and its perishing things appear in their proper light-may we feel our hearts panting after the wells of salvation-our souls, with all their faculties, engaged in the noblest of all undertakings-our feet running in the good ways of God-our tongues making mention of his righteousness, and of his only-in short, may we be crucified to the world-risen with Christ--and transformed into his divine image and likeness. This, I trust, I can say is my desire, and I know it is the earnest wish of my dear friend. "I am sensible that your attachment to me is as unshaken as ever. I hope you pray that both of us may be made ministers of the gospel; and in some future day, have our wishes respecting that completely fulfilled. I am very desirous that you may be shortly placed in a situation in which you will have more leisure for reading, writing, studying, &c. O that you were going with me to Harwich. Still continue to pray for one who feels his own unworthiness for the service of his God, and yet wishes to be an instrument of doing great good to souls and if I should not be very successful in my minis try, methinks it would be reward enough to have labored for God, and not to have been employed in the drudgery of Satan." The next letter, to the same correspondent, contains a specimen of his talent for the composition of sermons at that age. It affords a pleasing proof of his early skill in the practice of an art, in which he eventually so much excelled. HERTFORD, December 3, 1805. I have sent you my thoughts upon (or rather my way of discussing) that text Mr. Knight preached from. I hope your candor will excuse imperfections. I never read any thing upon it, and it is the production of a boy. MATTHEW V: 20.-'For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.' GENERAL HEADS. 1st.-EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. 2d.-SHOW IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED THEIRS. 3d.-NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POSSESSING A RIGHTEOUS NESS NO BETTER THAN THEIRS. 1st HEAD.-EXPLAIN THE NATURE, &c. It was self-righteousness.-Luke xviii: 9. 1st. This righteousness is founded in ignorance. Of God's nature, Of the spirituality of his law, Of the deceitfulness of the heart, And of the true method of salvation. 2d HEAD.-SHOW IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD EXCEED THEIRS. The righteousness here termed 'yours' is the righteousness of Christ, which becomes ours by imputation, in the same man ner as our sins became Christ's. This righteousness thus becoming ours, exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. 1st.-In its origin. It is divine-the other human, or Satanic; as we doubt not, Satan first infused self-righteous thoughts into the minds of men, &c. 2d.-Its nature and particular properties. This righteousness Delivers us from bondage, Saves us from sin, Gives us holiness of life, Makes us victorious in death, Joyful in judgment, and Happy through all eternity. The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees cannot do this. But our Lord might also allude to that righteousness which is implanted in us, as well as that which is imputed to us, and that far exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees in its effects, which are real good works, which Spring from a good motive, Are directed to a good purpose. And have a good end. These works are not meritorious, but serve for the justification of our faith, not of our persons, and they far exceed the legal performances of the self-righteous. 3d HEAD.-NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POSSESSING A RightEOUSNESS NO BETTER THAN THEIRS. Ye shall in no case enter into, &c. 1st. Here we must necessarily dwell a little upon the nature of the kingdom of heaven.—Consider 1. The person of the King. 2. The happiness of the subjects. 3. The eternal duration of his reign, &c. 2d.-How dreadful a thing to be shut out of this kingdom. 3d.-How peculiarly striking is the language of the Saviour— ye shall in no case, &c. Notwithstanding all your professions, long prayers, alms givings, &c., Ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven! From this subject we draw a few inferences. 1.-We may learn from hence, the evil nature of sin. If all self-righteousness be so bad, what must unrighteousness be? 2. We here see the only true method of salvation—the righteousness of Christ. 3d.-How necessary is daily, serious self-examination, in order to ascertain to which class we belong. 4. We likewise infer the necessity of prayer, for instruction and grace. 5.-How dreadful is the case of the self-righteous character. 6.-The believer may hence draw some comfort. He is interested in Jesus Christ, and shall outride all the storms and troubles of life, sing the dear name of Jesus in the hour of death, and stand unmoved amidst the jarring elements, the wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds.' "May the God of hope bless us both-fill us with all joy and peace in believing-enlarge our spiritual coast-give us to see more and more of the sinfulness of our nature-the depravity of our hearts-the imperfection of our graces-the smallness of our knowledge-the sufficiency of Jesus-the stability of our hope-the fullness of Christ. May he give us to see that our names are written in heaven-may he brighten up our evidences for glory-establish our faith-enlarge our desiresand give us hungerings and thirstings after righteousness. May we enjoy the blessings of salvation-the sweetness of communion with God-the peace bought and purchased for us by Christ Jesus-and that joy in the Holy Ghost, produced by his influences-and may we learn more and more of the heights, lengths, depths, and breadths of the love which passeth knowledge. May we dwell together in that happy land, where none but the righteous can enter, and where our worship shall be undisturbed. "And now, my dear brother, I commend you to the hands of that God who doth all things well, and who taketh care of those who put their trust in him; and hoping soon to hear from you, I subscribe myself, "Your truly affectionate friend, THOMAS SPENCER." HERTFORD, December 31, 1805. "MY DEAR FRIEND.-I think myself very happy in having such a friend as you prove yourself to be. I know affection towards me is too deeply rooted in you ever to be erased by separation. Life's greatest blessing is a well chosen friend, and I do feel it so. You cannot imagine (only by your own feelings) what pleasure I take in recollecting past scenes, and recalling to the mind occurrences relating only to us, which never shall be forgotton. I hope we have the same 'friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' I am affected, peculiarly affected, when I read the solemn confessions you make of depravity, &c. You know Paul acknowledged himself the chief of sinners. When, therefore, you are bowed down under a sense of sin, look unto Jesus, there only salvation is to be found for those who, like you, are sensible of sin. But I verily believe my friend has already been washed in the fountain of his blood. Yes, I doubt not but you have passed from death unto life, and are called according to God's eternal purpose; therefore, instead of writing bitter against yourself, rejoice in Christ Jesus whilst you have no confidence in the flesh. Ah! my friend, you know not fully how I have lifted up my puny arm in rebellion against God; so that I cannot think myself a whit behind the chief of sinners. Young as I am, I am a great sinner; but blessed be God who has, I hope, given us both a good hope through grace: to him be all the glory. "I shall, I expect, be in town a day sooner than was in |