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 comfort and advice, which you most kindly administer, are extremely acceptable, and I heartily pray God to give them their due weight. For my own part, I am, and have long beeen, abundantly persuaded, that no system, but that of christianity is able to sustain the soul amidst all the difficulties and distresses of life. The consolations of philosophy only are specious trifles, at best all cold and impotent applications indeed to the bleeding heart! But the religion of Jesus, like its gracious and benevolent Author, is an inexhaustible source of comfort in this world, and gives us the hopes of everlasting enjoyment in the next.

I presume humbly to hope, that the Supreme Being will support me under my affliction; and I most earnestly entreat, that he will sanctify my sorrows to every gracious and good purpose. What the mind feels upon a painful divorce, none can adequately know, but they who have had the bitter experience of this sad solemnity. However delicate and worthy minds will readily point to themselves something utterably soft and moving upon the separation of two hearts, whose only division was lodgment in two breasts.

I am extremely indebted to your lady, for her kind sympathy with me in my sorrows, and the only return that I can make, either to herself or her consort, is my hearty prayer, that the dissolution of their happy union may be at a very distant period. I am, with the highest esteem, Dear Sir, yours, &c.