Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/150

134 fine? O that I had them now! Farewell, and may the Good Shepherd of the sheep watch over, lead, and bless us all.”

It may not be amiss to insert here another letter of Mr. Carter’s, written two years before, while a delegate to the Assembly at Philadelphia, as a specimen of the letters he constantly wrote to his family when separated from them. On this occasion he had been home on furlough over Sabbath, and writes on his return to his post:—

“My dear Wife,—With the tenderest feelings I parted from you this morning. The few hours we spent together from Saturday evening until I left you this morning were hours of as unmingled enjoyment as we ever expect to enjoy this side Heaven. Truly, our Father has bountifully blessed us. O that our lives may be wholly consecrated to Him!

“The dear children! I did feel sorry that we had not indulged them with a ride this morning, it was so fine and clear and mild. May we be enabled to deal faithfully with them, and may the Lord and Saviour dwell in them richly by his Spirit. O to see them safe in the ark!

“Dear T&horbar;, you have now reached the age at which your father was enrolled a member of the church visible. I sat down at the communion table when I was fourteen years of age, and the Master whom I have served has not been a hard Master. I have reason to bless him for the way in which he has led me from that day to this. ‘Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.’ O delay not! Pray earnestly that your father’s God, the God of your mother, may be your own God, and may the Comforter manifest Jesus in your heart now and forever.