rejoicing in the mercies of a gracious God, who has declared, that he
will forgive the truly penitent of heart.

I write, therefore, my dear uncles, and to you both in one letter (since
your fraternal love has made you both but as one person) to give you
comfort, and not distress; for, however sharp my afflictions have been,
they have been but of short duration; and I am betimes (happily as I
hope) arrived at the end of a painful journey.

At the same time I write to thank you both for all your kind indulgence
to me, and to beg your forgiveness of my last, my only great fault to
you and to my family.

The ways of Providence are unsearchable. Various are the means made use
of by it, to bring poor sinners to a sense of their duty. Some are drawn
by love, others are driven by terrors, to their divine refuge. I had for
eighteen years out of nineteen, rejoiced in the favour and affection of
every one. No trouble came near to my heart, I seemed to be one of those
designed to be drawn by the silken cords of love.--But, perhaps, I was
too apt to value myself upon the love and favour of every one: the merit
of the good I delighted to do, and of the inclinations which were given
me, and which I could not help having, I was, perhaps, too ready to
attribute to myself; and now, being led to account for the cause of my
temporary calamities, find I had a secret pride to be punished for, which
I had not fathomed: and it was necessary, perhaps, that some sore and
terrible misfortunes should befall me, in order to mortify that my pride,
and that my vanity.

Temptations were accordingly sent. I shrunk in the day of trial. My
discretion, which had been so cried up, was found wanting when it came to