Turvey, January 1808
My dear Aunt,
Affection for one so long known and loved must indeed be asleep, if I did not hasten to express tenderest concern on your account. My office and station calls me daily in one place or another, to pour the balm of consolation into the wounded breast. I cannot indeed comfort you in person; but if I may be allowed to speak in my Lord and Saviour’s name, I may do so by letter. Indeed, my dearest aunt, I shall be happy in any endeavour I can exert, to prove to you how affectionately I am interested in what regards your welfare, both spiritual and temporal. I am daily exercised amongst the sick and the weak, the maimed, the suffering and the departing, and am constantly reminded of the uncertainty of life. What a glorious light has the Word of God thrown on the otherwise dark and gloomy uncertainty which would have overhung the prospect of Eternity! How full, how free a provision has our gracious God revealed, for the salvation of sinners, who lay hold on His promises by faith! May you and I be enabled, under every trial and pang of soul or body, to flee to the strong One for help, remembering that “in all our afflictions He was afflicted!”
May the recollection of every past instance of God’s kindness, lead you to trust in Him, and to repose on His redeeming grace and love! May your prayer be constantly heard and answered, when at the throne of grace you plead what a Saviour has done and suffered for you, and supplicate for a heart thankfully resigned to God, let what will be His pleasure concerning you. I feel persuaded, you will ascribe what I have said, to a sincere affection, and a desire to contribute my mite of consolation, under the trial which Providence has brought upon you. May you meet it with the true spirit of Christian fortitude! Sanctified afflictions are the Lord’s peculiar mercies to those whom He loves. May your’s prove one of this kind. Seasons of sickness and debility, are peculiarly calculated to this end. They are often expressly sent, that as in the day of health and prosperity we are too prone to forget the Author and Giver of all our blessings, these messengers of mercy may be the means in His Almighty hands, of collecting our wandering thoughts and affections and of fixing them abidingly on Him. Receive these reflections from one who loves you, who wishes never to forget that he is a minister of Christ.
Always — your affectionate nephew,
Legh Richmond.