Father of mercies! against Thee often have I sinned: through Thy grace I will endeavour to do so no more! She who, Thou knowest, is dearer to me than myself, pour Thou the balm of peace into her past wounds, and hedge her about with Thy peculiar care, all her future days and nights. Strengthen her tender noble mind, firmly to suffer, and magnanimously to bear! Make me worthy of that friendship she honours me with. May my attachment to her be pure as devotion, and lasting as immortal life! O Almighty Goodness, hear me! Be to her at all times, particularly in the hour of distress or trial, a Friend and Comforter, a Guide and Guard. How are Thy servants blest, O Lord, How sure is their defence! Eternal Wisdom is their guide, Their help, Omnipotence! Forgive me, Clarinda, the injury I have done you! Tonight I shall be with you; as indeed I shall be ill at ease till I see you. SYLVANDER. [Footnote 71: Her minister.] * * * * XXVII. _Thursday, 14th Feb., Two o'clock_. I just now received your first letter of yesterday, by the careless negligence of the penny-post. Clarinda, matters are grown very serious with us; then seriously hear me, and hear me, Heaven--I met you, my dear Nancy, by far the first of womankind, at least to me; I esteemed, I loved you at first sight; the longer I am acquainted with you the more innate amiableness and worth I discover in you. You have suffered a loss, I confess, for my sake: but if the firmest, steadiest, warmest friendship; if every endeavour to be worthy of your friendship; if a love, strong as the ties of nature, and holy as the duties of religion--if all these can make anything like a compensation for the evil I have occasioned you, if they be worth your acceptance, or can in the least add to your enjoyment--so help Sylvander, ye Powers above, in his hour of need, as he freely gives these all to Clarinda! I esteem you, I love you as a friend; I admire you, I love you as a woman, beyond any one in all the circle of creation; I know I shall continue to esteem you, to love you, to pray for you, nay, to pray for myself for your sake. Expect me at eight. And believe me to be ever, my dearest Madam, yours most entirely, SYLVANDER. * * * * XXVIII. _February 15th, 1788_. When matters, my love, are desperate, we must put on a desperate face-- On reason build resolve, That column of true majesty in man. Or, as the same author finely says in another place-- Let thy soul spring up, And lay strong hold for help on Him that made thee.