p.

a little gratifying to hear that you find some time to read; for
in books, if you make a good selection I think you will meet
with the best of society. From them as from the purest fountains
you may derive [more?] golden maxims of wisdom and truths of
much practical importance and utility. The evidences of
Christianity instead of being slightly read as is too generally the case,
ought to be faithfully studied. Surely no work is better vouched than
the Bible, yet none perhaps is more frequently and wantonly attack-
ed. While infidelity then continues to exist it is important that
the friends of Revelation, should be well acquainted with the
external evidences which alone bear any weight with those who
doubt its authenticity and deny its authority. You say that
appearance does not answer your [expectations?]. I hope you
will not have reason to complain of his preaching - I want you
to give me the general character of his [deletion] Sermons. - The
reason I did not answer your request for "the [?] of thorns" was
siimply this I did not receive your letter until after the waggon
left - Should I find an opportunity of sending it I shall. It is
a very interesting little volume. It forcibly inculcates, by
example, the importance of pursuing with unvarying steadiness
that "short and narrow way" which alone conducts to the
peaceful shores of that happy country where are pleasures
forevermore. It points out the great folly and wickedness
of our wishing to break over those salutory restraints, which are
so necessary to keep in due subordination our lawless pas-
sions & appetites, & to check that criminal curiosity which
we too often manifest to pry into things with which we had
better be unacquainted. If we [deleted]rightly read[/deleted] were careful
to read with close attention the book of providence ever
open for our inspection, we should find ourselves [heaped?]